Once you go cottage, you never go corporate again

[Benwaller]

In defense of REI I think it important to note that without big retailers like REI a whole lot of people would never have gotten into the outdoors to begin with, the net effect of which would have been a reduction in the number of folks committed to protecting our wild, natural places.

You gotta' start somewhere.

Ben

[Hawkwind]

In defense of REI I think it important to note that without big retailers like REI a whole lot of people would never have gotten into the outdoors to begin with, the net effect of which would have been a reduction in the number of folks committed to protecting our wild, natural places.

You gotta' start somewhere.

Ben

Agreed (original post) and Agreed! From time-to-time I still shop at EMS or REI. I am hard to fit for tech wear and I do not like to sew my own clothes!

But these days I much prefer to put my money into cottage industries and have been doing so as much as possible.

[sr1355]

Now
Hammock- Custom sized Papa Smurf Dream
Suspension- Papa Smurf Tree straps/Shug's Amsteel whoopies
Bottom Insulation- My custom down design from Turtle UQ’s
Top Insulation- My custom down design from Underground UQ’s
Tarp- Wilderness Logic Big Daddy

Total Weight – 4.15 lbs
1.4 % of body weight

Weight reduction 3.16 lbs

Glad I could help you with your new TQ, look forward to some field reports from the trail this summer...

[jayf124]

Great post!

Although I appreciate weight savings.....my support for the cottage industry is more about quality products made by great people, human interaction/genuine concern for customers and outstanding customer service/support.

As a matter of fact, I would be willing to accept a little extra weight if I was deciding between a purchase from cottage and corporate.

So hats off to Warbonnett, Jacks r Better, Ultralight Adventure Equipment, Mountain Laurel Designs, HammockGear, Gossamer Gear, ZPacks, Dutch, MountainGoat, 2Q & ZQ, StickPic and Arrowhead Equipment. You guys ROCK!

And I know there are many others out there (that I haven't had the opportunity to deal with) that are doing great things for us!

Jay

[TZBrown]

+1 on a great post

Once you find out how good the small maufacturers are, and how much they listen, and will do custom work.

You never are satisfied with the box store stuff after that.

Unless it is for pretty mundane stuff, like shoe insoles

[UrsaMajor1887]

+1 on a great post

Once you find out how good the small maufacturers are, and how much they listen, and will do custom work.

You never are satisfied with the box store stuff after that.

Unless it is for pretty mundane stuff, like shoe insoles

I can make you custom insoles, but you will need to send me your feet so I can make the impressions

[jbphilly]

I'm a big fan of REI, I think they have a pretty great inventory, and their store-brand is usually of equal quality to the more expensive ones, and a lot cheaper. I love the place. It's especially great being able to buy a pair of hiking boots, knowing that if they turn out not to be comfortable I can get a full refund.

That said, they don't have much in the way of ultralight gear, and their hammock-related selection is just hopeless. Every hammock-specific item I own is from a cottage manufacturer and I like it that way. Still, if REI were to start stocking whoopie slings, WBBB's, and Wilderness Logics tarps, I would think it was a great thing - more exposure and distribution for the makers, more "mainstream" campers being exposed to the best ways of hammock camping - win-win.

I also don't get why most of the larger hammock manufacturers aren't producing items of the same caliber as the cottage manufacturers, but hey, all the more reason to support small business!