Cabelas Instinct

[mtswampfox]

think we all went through a progression, for me it was small sporting goods stores like in my home town then a gander mountain came to town then cabelas and bass pro came at the same time. now i look back and laugh. [ and sometimes cry at all the dough i spent]

 

[2ski]

Cabelas has its place....I like to go "window shop" and have the opportunity to get my hands on a few things I'm interested in. Then I go find them for cheaper online. You can get some pretty good deals sometimes. I got a pair of Kryptek rain pants for $100 this spring so I was pretty happy with that.

I have never bought anything that was worth a darn from Cabelas that was branded Cabelas. Knife at the Billings grand opening because it was super cheap from their xpg line....rusted on the first use and its heavy. I may have to see if I still have it and take it back to them. When I first started looking at a backpack about 10 years ago to do some backpacking, the reviews for the Cabelas pack that I was looking at were bad. We bought my Dad a rod and reel combo for lead-core fishing and the first weekend out, the reel busted. Sent it back. A few years later, I was using his rod while he was at a meeting during a fishing trip, and I hung up on some rocks. Did the 10 lb test line break? Did the 18 lb lead core break? Nope. The rod snapped in half. I won't say I'll never buy a Cabelas brand item, but it will be a low end item that I don't need to "perform" for me.

Based on some of the prices on that Instinct line, I would say they are trying to compete with Badlands levels of companies.

 

[colonel00]

Just because it has a Cabela's brand name on it doesn't always mean it is cheap crap. Here is an example that I noticed in my local store. They started carrying a line of XPG headlamps that looked really familiar...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-XPG-RGB-II/1716920.uts

It is just a repackaged and rebranded Princeton Tec Remix headlamp. I have one and really like it.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Prin...on+tec+remix&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

Anyway, Cabela's is marketed to an average consumer, not a hard core enthusiast that spends hours every day reading forums and doing research. You can find some sweet deals in the bargain caves.

One last thing, these are my new favorite pants. They have 4-way stretch and zip off legs. I had one pair I wore recently on a trip and I liked them so much I went back and bought two more pairs before they pulled them off the racks. I plan to wear these pants for my hunts this year.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clot...=SBC;MMcat104797080;cat104262480;cat104073480

 

[bivouaclarry]

Cabela's strategy is to "map and gap". They map the market prices then position their line in the "gaps". GoreTex loves this as it means their product is sold from one end of the pricing spectrum to the other. They get Sitka to sell GoreTex high end and Cabela's to sell it mid and low level.

I would guess Cabela's is sourcing from Gore owned mills and using them to private label. That way they know they don't have to pass Gore's quality checks for PTFE lined products.

What's funny to me is that the same Gore PTFE liner in the Instinct line at $299, Sitka sells for $500+. Both have to pass the same quality standards for stitching, waterproofness, ect. Sitka may be selling a higher end fabric for their outer liner, but both jackets have to pass the same tests.

 

[BOW1144]

I got the catalog this week in the mail, it looks pretty but not interested. It was a good attempt, and It may fool a lot of peolple who are one over by just the Cabelas name. Just looking through the specs on the products shows that it is inferior gear. There "ultra light" back country two man tent weighs in at over 5lbs! come on. This is just a pig with lipstick on it...

 

[littlebuf]

Don't they still sell kryptek?

 

[husky390]

Don't they still sell kryptek?

The selection at the store near my house has been very thin lately. But that could change now that they are gearing up for hunting season, and it is available on their website. You'd look pretty good in your truck dressed in Highlander head to toe with matching Highlander seat covers.

 

[husky390]

I looked through that catalog and didn't see a single item that interests me. It's sad when I can look through an entire catalog and not see a single item that I want. Not sure if that says more about them or me.

I don't mind Cabela's and their customer service has been great. They have their place for some items with me, such as ammo or reloading components but I understand where you're coming from, especially when it comes to gear. My assumption is that most of us have moved on to higher quality gear that they do not offer. With that said, I bought a pair of their microtex pants when they were on sale, they're okay and I can tell I like my Kryptek pants better and so far I've been happy with their Meindl Perfekt hikers. But anymore I will wander through the store just to look. It amuses me to see their used guns priced higher than new guns.

 

[MuleyFever]

Being from WI I would say Cabelas serves the whitetail hunting community in the Midwest and back east very well. I bought a ton from them and could get everything I needed to hunt whitetails through Jan in WI from them. I was very happy with what I bought from them.

I moved to Utah 3 years ago and I have not bought one item from Cabelas since I moved and started hiking and backpacking seriously.

 

[luke moffat]

I guess I am in the minority here. I happen to like a lot of what cabelas sells.

Their outfitting tents (XWT and Guide Models) are pretty hard to beat for the money IMO.

Their pack frames (I have used several) haul much better than many of the hunting packs in their price range though they aren't as "cool" cause they are external and not internal.

I used a pair of dry plus rain pants for 5 years or so straight before retiring them. They no longer made that line anymore. But I for one will atleast take a look at the line. When (not if) the time comes to replace some of my stuff I'd like to be informed about some of the stuff. Just cause the gear doesn't have a "K" in it doesn't mean its horrible. For some things it might be just what I'm looking for. Though I still like my "K"imber rifles, "K"ifaru packs, "K"ryptek puffy vest, "K"uiu rain gear, and even some of the offerings from Sit"k"a.

Likely not super quality and probably has room for improvement, but what product line doesn't when first launch. I'll give them a chance and follow the line just to see what they are all about.

 

[husky390]

Just cause the gear doesn't have a "K" in it doesn't mean its horrible. For some things it might be just what I'm looking for. Though I still like my "K"imber rifles, "K"ifaru packs, "K"ryptek puffy vest, "K"uiu rain gear, and even some of the offerings from Sit"k"a.

But then you wouldn't be Kool. I forgot to add their Outfitter XL cot and sleeping pad is awesome. I had to sleep on that cot for the first two weeks I moved to CO until my furniture arrived. Since I changed tent setups I don't use the cot as much but the pad works great in the back of my Expedition.

 

[littlebuf]

The selection at the store near my house has been very thin lately. But that could change now that they are gearing up for hunting season, and it is available on their website. You'd look pretty good in your truck dressed in Highlander head to toe with matching Highlander seat covers.

I thought so. Lots of guys here that would never buy anything cabelas sells but then Kryptek is pretty popular on here? I personally wouldn't buy that stuff either but I just wanted to point that out, cuz that's what I do ...

 

[luke moffat]

And I for one appreciate it LB.

 

[Brock A]

And I for one appreciate it LB.

Having LB as a hunting partner is probably one of the greatest things to happen, never a dull moment. Talking about this stuff in person is so much better than the "Internet" version of him, lol.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I thought so. Lots of guys here that would never buy anything cabelas sells but then Kryptek is pretty popular on here? I personally wouldn't buy that stuff either but I just wanted to point that out, cuz that's what I do ...

Not sure about the difference between Kryptek and Sitka?

Sitka costs more?

 

[littlebuf]

Not sure about the difference between Kryptek and Sitka?

Sitka costs more?

You can't peel the pockets off Sitka pants ...

 

[Ryan Avery]

You can't peel the pockets off Sitka pants ...

I have with the 90% pants

 

[jmez]

I like Cabela's and still buy a fair amount of stuff from them. I've always had good luck with their "branded" products and will go check this new stuff out at the store.

Not sure why so many refuse to buy from them? Especially on a site where customer service seems to be the single most important factor in buying decisions. Cabela's literally wrote the book on that front.

 

[PA 5-0]

I guess I am in the minority here. I happen to like a lot of what cabelas sells.

Guess my other post got deleted but I am with you Luke. I have two bins of Cabelas hunting clothes that have been used and abused for decades. All of it still in service.

 

[Manosteel]

Like most here I made the progression form locale store to cabelas to speciality online stores. But with that said I still love going into my local cabelas to window shop and generally look at stuff. Every now on then you will find a great deal. I have in the past used their microtext pants and shirts and was happy. Bought a bunch of Kryptek on a huge sale from them last year and wished they still carried the stuff locally.