Base Layers and Thermo Underwear

[ski9]

One of the top ASRA racers just launched a new company which is making great base layers and thermo-insulating underwear at killer prices:

http://www.bergwear.com/

Def worth a look....

 

[billski]

One of the top ASRA racers just launched a new company which is making great base layers and thermo-insulating underwear at killer prices:

http://www.bergwear.com/

Def worth a look....

but is it any good? says who?

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm into Icebreaker and other merino wool base layers these days. More comfort, no static, no stink, no oil (well less, still gotta transport the stuff).

 

[RootDKJ]

They only take Paypal (who I don't trust).

 

[wa-loaf]

They only take Paypal (who I don't trust).

Just don't keep a big balance with them. Revolution money is competitor that's growing if you want an alternative.

 

[dl]

i don't see any real differentiator with this line. i'm scratching my head as to why they felt this was a market segment that presented any sort of opportunity. with large players like under armour coming after this business, you better have something special or different in order to get attention (i.e. CWX).

 

[ski9]

but is it any good? says who?

Twenty plus years as an international buyer for a Manhattan clothing company and skis a 1.35 ASRA handicap...I haven't seen or talked with him since he launched this project, but I assume he'll be collecting testimonials and other feedback.

 

[ski9]

They only take Paypal (who I don't trust).

I'm just curious when someone says that...I often ask them if they hand their credit card to 16 year old waiters with more comfort than using PayPal's 128 bit encryption?

But, hey, to each his own...

 

[RootDKJ]

I'm just curious when someone says that...I often ask them if they hand their credit card to 16 year old waiters with more comfort than using PayPal's 128 bit encryption?

But, hey, to each his own...

nope, I don't eat out

 

[ski9]

nope, I don't eat out

It's cool if you don't have a credit card. Nobody judges about something like that. It's not that I'm a PayPal groupie, but I buy a ton of gear on eBay and PayPal sure makes things simple. And it has the same encryption level as my bank...

 

[ski9]

i don't see any real differentiator with this line. i'm scratching my head as to why they felt this was a market segment that presented any sort of opportunity. with large players like under armour coming after this business, you better have something special or different in order to get attention (i.e. CWX).

From reliableracing.com:

Under Armour Cold Gear Mock Men's
Item: 26362
Price: $49.95

Under Armour Cold Gear Legging Men's
Item: 26363
Price: $49.95

I have both and they rock. Spending over $200 every couple of years for my wife and I sorta sucks, though.

 

[BergWear]

Our products have been produced adhering to the highest standards in apparel manufacturing. In addition we are inspecting each and every piece before sending it out to our customers.

The fabric we use has been subjected to rigorous lab testing and been rated acceptable and significant in regards to its properties.

While we are not posting any testimonial on our web page, we have so far received only positive replies form satisfied customers.

There is a public comment on John Gaddy's blog which you can ready here: http://featofstrength.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html. He describes his experience training in the gear on August 24. John Gaddy is a former martial arts world champion who will attempt to break the Guiness World record in rope jumping to benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

 

[BergWear]

We feel there is a need to offer a product that functions and performs similiar, but at a better price level. Not everyone is willing or able to spend the price some of the established name brands charge for comparable items.

 

[BergWear]

We aplogize for the limited payment options available. In addition to PayPal we also offer check payment. We are still a startup and focused on keeping the expenses down to offer the best pricing we can. Using a merchant account to allow the convenience of Amex, Master or Visa card checkout would just add on to that. Aside from that PayPal accepts most major credit cards for payment.

 

[riverc0il]

Twenty plus years as an international buyer for a Manhattan clothing company and skis a 1.35 ASRA handicap...I haven't seen or talked with him since he launched this project, but I assume he'll be collecting testimonials and other feedback.

dl's point about this being a fully saturated market with a huge name (UA) eating up market share and intensifying the competition still stands though. This guy could be the best business man in the world with a superior product, but he is chasing a market with no opportunity in the low and mid segments. Even the upper end is pretty well tapped. If it isn't new tech that is far superior, its probably going to be a rough start to his business regardless of quality.

 

[RootDKJ]

It's cool if you don't have a credit card. Nobody judges about something like that. It's not that I'm a PayPal groupie, but I buy a ton of gear on eBay and PayPal sure makes things simple. And it has the same encryption level as my bank...

That's hardly the case. It's more along the lines that I'm too cheap and a better cook then most.

 

[Moe Ghoul]

He's probably hoping that the product has enough appeal to take some market share and get gobbled up by a bigger name. It's a great way to make a bundle and retire to do important things like ski.

 

[severine]

Just don't keep a big balance with them. Revolution money is competitor that's growing if you want an alternative.

I don't consider Revolution Money Exchange to be any better. When I set my account up with them, they were supposed to do the 2 deposits to verify the linked bank account. They only did one and I've spent months now trying to get an answer as to how to fix this...and I never get a response to my emails. I'm not really interested enough in RME to bother with calling them. But I figure if they won't email you back (and their site is the one that has a button to email them with problems, so it's not like I had to try hard to contact them in that manner) then how reliably are they running their business in general? I'd rather not find out.

 

[ski9]

dl's point about this being a fully saturated market with a huge name (UA) eating up market share and intensifying the competition still stands though. This guy could be the best business man in the world with a superior product, but he is chasing a market with no opportunity in the low and mid segments. Even the upper end is pretty well tapped. If it isn't new tech that is far superior, its probably going to be a rough start to his business regardless of quality.

It's funny how we so brainwashed...me included. Example: I keep links for eBay stuff. One is search results for "racing" in the downhill skiing category; the other is for "soccer". In the soccer search, there are thousands of team jerseys, most of which originate in Hong Kong or Thailand. Including shipping, they generally sell for about 40% of what you can buy them for at Dick's, or other US retail outlets. But I used to scoff at knock off crap from Hong Kong until I bought a Manchester United jersey for $28 (delivered) and compared it to my "official" Umbro version I'd had for years from Dick's (it cost around $85).

And what do you know...same thread count, same patches, same stitching, same everything.

Of course there are knock off's and rip-off's coming out of these countries...Dick's and other big US retailers sometimes buy those, too...and I understand that the authentic team jerseys have an even greater level of hand stitching and overall quality than both eBay's Hong Kong stuff and Dick's.

Bought in America is usually a very different thing than 'made in America'.

I guess the bottom line is that even though I outfit my family with the best possible gear, I don't necessarily choose the highest priced stuff hanging in American stores as some sort of guarantee for quality and value.

Under Armour, after all, was just some start-up by an ex-Maryland football player a little over a decade ago. Wasn't the market "completely saturated" in 1996? And Under Armour recently announced it was going the way of Nike and shifting much of its manufacturing to a gigantic plant in.....


China.


BTW, here's the key to this business practice: 童工

(That's Chinese for "child labor".}

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm getting a pair..