Bargain Alert - outdoor gear deals worth a look
- Thread starter el manana
- Start date
WilliamC
Thru Hiker
Browsing on the phone, I missed the Lite part on the women's one. I'm tempted.
I think that's a mistake. That photo looks like the Flashpoint jacket.
Balagan
Thru Hiker
In my experience, Sportpursuit have been good with returns.I'm uncertain like you guys, I did read the returns policy before hitting [Buy]
Worst case scenario, I will get a normal Rab Alpha Flash with a nice discount, otherwise it could be something close to a hoodless Nitro for half the price. Either way is fine. I also got an Alpha Freak. Not quite @Chiseller Alpha syndrome yet....
Odd Man
Thru Hiker
Balagan
Thru Hiker
Don't worry, it was just a tongue-in-cheek reply to Lempo's Alpha Male joke.
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Padstowe
Thru Hiker
Cheers for that, I was looking for a power stretch pro pull on for winter camping, at £55 best price I found
It doesn't matter that I may have bought 2 pairs of merino 120 tights & a pro thermal jacket aswell
Odd Man
Thru Hiker
I just thought I share my way of getting deals on Amazon, in case someone's interested.
There's two tactics I use.
1. I put the item I'm interested in the shopping basket and save it for later. Everytime the item changes pricing, it shows up on the basket page, like this:
So if I see a nice price drop, I can just quickly buy it off. This involves frequent checks on the basket page in order not to miss a deal.
2. I use a Chrome add-on called Keepa. It lists the price history of the item and even allows one to set up email alerts when the price drops to certain level. I've managed to buy $150 UA outdoor trousers for $28 using this method. It gives one indication when the prices might be going down and what's a good deal. Here's an example. The graph shows on the product page after the product information.
This shows that GG Virga was $76, half price, a year ago, so I'm looking out if the price drops around that and have set alerts when it drops under $100.
There's two tactics I use.
1. I put the item I'm interested in the shopping basket and save it for later. Everytime the item changes pricing, it shows up on the basket page, like this:
So if I see a nice price drop, I can just quickly buy it off. This involves frequent checks on the basket page in order not to miss a deal.
2. I use a Chrome add-on called Keepa. It lists the price history of the item and even allows one to set up email alerts when the price drops to certain level. I've managed to buy $150 UA outdoor trousers for $28 using this method. It gives one indication when the prices might be going down and what's a good deal. Here's an example. The graph shows on the product page after the product information.
This shows that GG Virga was $76, half price, a year ago, so I'm looking out if the price drops around that and have set alerts when it drops under $100.
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WilliamC
Thru Hiker
Has anybody (@el manana, @Balagan?) received their Rab Alpha Flash Lites from Sportpursuit yet? Ours were delivered to relatives in the UK yesterday, but we won't get to see them for several months and I was wondering if any of you have had a chance to check them out.
Balagan
Thru Hiker
@el manana should be your man as my package is still in transit. And, unlike me, he also has a non-Lite Alpha Flash to compare with.
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Helen E
Ultralighter
Not a current bargain but if you're interested in getting an Olight and are happy to wait a while, sign up to their online newsletter: their website does one-day flash sales from time to time and emails the newsletter list with a code. I got 45 per cent off a Baton I, idly logging in to my emails at 11pm one night...
Thanks to @Snowonher for drawing my attention to the Olight in the first place: I can't believe how much light it kicks out for the size.
Thanks to @Snowonher for drawing my attention to the Olight in the first place: I can't believe how much light it kicks out for the size.
Micksjoiner
Ultralighter
https://www.phdesigns.co.uk/snowline-waterproof-down-jacket
Abit out of my price range.
25% has already been took off
Abit out of my price range.
25% has already been took off
Balagan
Thru Hiker
The package has arrived at last and I'm mighty chuffed!
The Rab Alpha Lite is very thin (100 wt fleece territory which should make it Alpha Direct 80 indeed) and it is 192 grams in size large (instead of 275 for the regular according to Rab's website). It's constructed just like the regular so will probably have the same water retention issues but I'll see if that bothers me or not. I'll also see if the pocket gets seam-ripped or not. This must have been a limited run as the paper label is a generic Rab label with only the product reference on a sticker (whereas the Freak has a label with printed specs).
Even better is the Alpha Freak Pull-On which is actually lighter than advertised (350 vs. 425 grams). This is basically slightly less than Patagonia R1 weight but it felt like my Monkey Man Fleece when I tried it on. The elastic panels are made of Power Grid (just like the R1) rather than the spandex-style of the Alpha Lite.
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Arne L.
Thru Hiker
Padstowe
Thru Hiker
Mine came today aswell, I second everything you say there (I don't have scales but for my size M my hand was telling me sub 200gr, so glad am not losing it) It does feel like it wouldn't take any abuse, it feels that light. I even had the Monkey man hooded jacket out to compare it with the freak pull-on I got aswell the other day, they look somewhat the same in the body, feel somewhat the same on, so much so I started asking myself is it the same?
TinTin
Thru Hiker
I know these shouldn't really be on here because not Ebay but in view of discussion of Alpha above I thought I'd post them. Very tempted by the Flash Lite but a bit to lite in colour
Rab Alpha Freak £60 on Sport Pursuit
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1939270
Rab Mens Alpha Flash Lite Fleece Jacket £40
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1939150
Rab Alpha Freak £60 on Sport Pursuit
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1939270
Rab Mens Alpha Flash Lite Fleece Jacket £40
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1939150
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bazpoint
Backpacker
Hello, long time lurker very rare poster - just thought I'd chime in to say thanks for flagging the RAB Alpha stuff above.... I also went for both in a medium, and I do have a scale so I can tell you they came in at 179g for the Alpha Lite medium, and 329g for the Alpha Freak medium. I found the fit slightly more generous in the Freak, I almost wish I had gone for large for the lite (usually wear medium in most stuff). Like Balgan, I'm happiest with the Freak... I've been lusting after an R1 for ages & this feels like it could put that desire to bed... for now at least The Lite will definitely have its uses though. Anyway, nice bargains, good shout.
The Lite will definitely have its uses though. Anyway, nice bargains, good shout.
Balagan
Thru Hiker
That's whereI got mine. It's actually £60 or 70€.
TinTin
Thru Hiker
Corrected it. Whats the benefit of the Alpha Freak over the jacket, just the hood? What weight is the Freak.
Balagan
Thru Hiker
329 in medium and 350 in large (both actual weights). Over which jacket? If it's the Alpha Lite (or regular) this is a lot warmer as it uses Polartec Alpha 200, vs Alpha 120 for the Norrona Raw and Rab Alpha Regular and Alpha 80 for the Lite. Basically it's the weight of a Patagonia R1 (i.e. a smidgen more than the Norrona) with warmth closer to an R2. The windproof hood is pretty good too.
TinTin
Thru Hiker
I'm very tempted by the Alpha Lite jacket. Should work well with my OMM Aether. Or should I go for the Alpha 120 version, or is my £10 waffle weave Decathlon fleece near enough to make me keep my pennies in my pocket.