This is a very interesting article about the current challenges that REI is facing.
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REI Faces Financial Difficulties After Two Years of Losses
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
This week I purchased an REI product for the first time in I can't remember when. Their 650 down jacket. It's not something I intend to use frequently. Just as a mid layer on colder days as I really don't like the look of puffy coats. It's not something I'll use as a stand alone jacket much at all. Infrequent use is part of the reason I went with this product. $90 on sale vs $200+ for something similar from a Patagonia or Stio.
Not sure if this has to do with their financial troubles / staffing or their carbon footprint model, but the jacket was just thrown in a box and shipped to me. I can't recall the last time I ordered a piece of clothing and it didn't show up in some type of weather proof plastic bag within the shipping box. Well, we got several inches of rain overnight and I didn't hear the evening delivery. So, this morning I found a disintegrating box on my doorstep with a completely soaked new jacket inside. Not exactly a premium shopping experience.
Seems like a decent coat. Runs large if anyone else is looking at the same coat.
Not sure if this has to do with their financial troubles / staffing or their carbon footprint model, but the jacket was just thrown in a box and shipped to me. I can't recall the last time I ordered a piece of clothing and it didn't show up in some type of weather proof plastic bag within the shipping box. Well, we got several inches of rain overnight and I didn't hear the evening delivery. So, this morning I found a disintegrating box on my doorstep with a completely soaked new jacket inside. Not exactly a premium shopping experience.
Seems like a decent coat. Runs large if anyone else is looking at the same coat.
jimk
Well-known member
I'm not a gear guy and have no brand loyalty. Can't remember when, if ever, I've bought something significant from REI, LLBean, Patagonia. I'm the type that buys a primary, mid-winter ski jacket and holds it for 8-10 years. Motivated by price, fit, and function. Two of my more useful current ski pants were bought used. I sometimes purchase cheap, new light-weight jackets/shells and under layers from outlet shopping center stores. I have three pairs of skis, only one was bought new. I have access to a fourth pair of skis that I share with my son.
The green jacket in my avatar was a European brand (Eider-France) I wore from about 2012 to 2021. Got blue pants with it. These were a good pair of garments. Current primary ski jacket is a different European brand (Elevenate-Sweden), insulated goretex, that I got in a sidewalk sale in Aspen in 2021 for $200. It's also a good garment, but a not very glamorous black color.
On the rare occasions when I buy new ski gear/equipment my wife pushes me hard to get rid of one older piece of comparable gear. After nearly 60 years of skiing you'd think I'd be set for clothing to wear on Retro Day at the slopes, but not so
The green jacket in my avatar was a European brand (Eider-France) I wore from about 2012 to 2021. Got blue pants with it. These were a good pair of garments. Current primary ski jacket is a different European brand (Elevenate-Sweden), insulated goretex, that I got in a sidewalk sale in Aspen in 2021 for $200. It's also a good garment, but a not very glamorous black color.
On the rare occasions when I buy new ski gear/equipment my wife pushes me hard to get rid of one older piece of comparable gear. After nearly 60 years of skiing you'd think I'd be set for clothing to wear on Retro Day at the slopes, but not so
Edd
Well-known member
650 fill as a mid-layer? I just got a 700 at EMS (Outdoor Research puffy) and it would take a massive shell to cover this thing, and it's properly sized. Not waterproof but I sure won't wear it in real rain.
I have no idea what fill numbers mean in regards to "puffiness", but this isn't overbearing. I'm 5'8, 175# lately and got a medium as I had read they run big . This fits fine under my size large Stio Environ jacket. I ended up going this route as my traditional mid layer (Stio Wilcox fleece) isn't very warm. I bought it to replace a 20 year old Patagonia R2 fleece and the Stio is no where near as warm as the Patagonia was.
Been wearing the REI 650 past couple of days as an outer layer and it's been plenty warm walking around Boston for work in the 35-40 range. Blocks wind well. Has DWR, but probably not great in the rain.
That seems weird that they sent it in a box, but if it is down, then having it in a plastic bag could be problematic if there was a puncture or someone cuts the bag open and slices open the jacket. Perhaps that is the reason.
REI makes decent private label stuff that is a good value. IMHO it has gotten better.
I think that traditional retail genreally is struggling.
I was expecting it in a bag inside the box is what I was trying to say. Even when garments are shipped in FedEx bags , they are typically in a clear plastic bag as well. This was just a coat in a box that sat out all night and hence was wet when I opened it in the morning. Not something I've experienced prior.
Edd
Well-known member
Yeah, looks like I have a flawed understanding of how the fill number relates to puffiness. All I know is the jacket I bought would be fine in single digit temps with just a t-shirt on and it's puffy AF.
Yeah, that is weird.