Moving away from First Lite

[TheArdentOutdoorsman]

Although I own multiple pieces from Sitka & Kuiu, pieces I couldn't live without like the Jetstream jacket & Attack pants, more than half of my clothing is First Lite. FL merino broke the ice for me and I just found myself gravitating to FL throughout the years. However I see FL branching out and expanding in multiple directions, in rapid fashion and no longer seem to have a singular focus on innovative gear for the hard-core hunter. I get notifications they've made camp moccasins, dog blinds, decoy bags, swamp stools etc and frankly I have not been impressed with the new big game additions lately. FHF new harness under the meateater umbrella, runs over $300 if setup for to hold a rangefinder. As someone who's entire career has been made in manufacturing sales, the alarms go off in my head that with this approach First Lite quality will start to suffer and the innovation will become lackluster. Rinella and Meateater seem to be pursuing a strategy to chase maximum profits and are willing to make anything they can attach the FL logo to. As they've grown exponentially, I hear less and less of the contribution to conservation efforts which is one of the reasons I supported the company to begin with. Studying Rinella, the guy lived in NYC for quite sometime and now has a diminished relationship with his brother who shares the deepest passion for outdoors and conservation so that tells me the writing is on the wall. Steve's good old boy roots, conservation First mindset and dedication to a niche have been overtaken by corporate business and limelight. All my rant being said, I believe my money will be spent less and less on the meateater brand. Just curious if anyone else has had the impressions I have had.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I think all the “big” name brand “western hunting” tech gear companies share a similar problem that you speak of, scale up and quality will go down. Not saying that it has to but seems like it is pitfall of mass production

 

[voltage]

It appears the MeatEater plan is to by high quality brands and scale them (Phelps, DSD, FL, FHF, etc.). Generally as scale increases, quality decreases.

I have a mismatch of brands, but I also don't buy much clothing anymore. I have everything I need.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I agree, I haven’t been too impressed with my most recent first lite purchases. I own a little bit of everything and surprisingly I think my Pnuma stuff is some of the best quality gear. .

 

[Hnthrdr]

On that note I won a skre jacket, from an archery fundraiser shoot and so far have been super impressed with its construction. I’ll wear it this muley season as a softshell, it’s a little too warm for me for archery

 

[Gutshotem]

I haven't purchased anything yet, but these guys are on my radar:

FORLOH | 100% Made in the USA | Hunting & Outdoor Clothing & Gear

Premium manufacturer of American-made jackets, pants, shirts, and tops for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, watersports and other outdoor activities partners with Willie Robertson, best known for starring in and executive producing A&E's Duck Dynasty. He is also the founder of Buck Commander &...

forloh.com

 

[Oregonboy]

I agree and have also moved away. I think they're clothing items are comfortable, but they didn't last or preform as well as others I had. Too bad too, I really like the Fusion camo pattern.

 

[justinspicher]

After I sold all of my first lite, I went to used outdoor clothes. I spend way less money and have way less issues.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Good for you, OP. I won't call FL clothing bad, but compared to the stuff from Sitka and KUIU, it's like comparing a Remington 770 to a Blaser R8. I too love buying used when possible, but even then, quality hunting clothing can be expensive. Amortized over years, any price difference between brands and new/used is trivial. My go-to KUIU setup is largely unchanged since 2016, and I've beaten the piss out of it. The price per hunt — or each time I wear it — is likely pennies by now.

 

[camelcluch]

Orgin is American made.

 

[ELKhunter60]

Although I own multiple pieces from Sitka & Kuiu, pieces I couldn't live without like the Jetstream jacket & Attack pants, more than half of my clothing is First Lite. FL merino broke the ice for me and I just found myself gravitating to FL throughout the years. However I see FL branching out and expanding in multiple directions, in rapid fashion and no longer seem to have a singular focus on innovative gear for the hard-core hunter. I get notifications they've made camp moccasins, dog blinds, decoy bags, swamp stools etc and frankly I have not been impressed with the new big game additions lately. FHF new harness under the meateater umbrella, runs over $300 if setup for to hold a rangefinder. As someone who's entire career has been made in manufacturing sales, the alarms go off in my head that with this approach First Lite quality will start to suffer and the innovation will become lackluster. Rinella and Meateater seem to be pursuing a strategy to chase maximum profits and are willing to make anything they can attach the FL logo to. As they've grown exponentially, I hear less and less of the contribution to conservation efforts which is one of the reasons I supported the company to begin with. Studying Rinella, the guy lived in NYC for quite sometime and now has a diminished relationship with his brother who shares the deepest passion for outdoors and conservation so that tells me the writing is on the wall. Steve's good old boy roots, conservation First mindset and dedication to a niche have been overtaken by corporate business and limelight. All my rant being said, I believe my money will be spent less and less on the meateater brand. Just curious if anyone else has had the impressions I have had.

Honestly, I'm disappointed with where the Meateater brand has gone from a selfish perspective and will not support the high level of commercialism it has turned into. Steve came from humble beginnings and probably made the same decisions about chasing the dollar that most people would have made - but for me, I used to LOVE watching his stuff when his gear didn't always match and he didn't always hunt the highest rated places. It was something a blue collar hunter could relate to.

Now it's more like watching an infomercial when he does something and he really doesn't seem to like talking to the public anymore based on people I know who have run into him where he currently lives. Maybe I would get that way too if I walked a mile in his current shoes - I don't know. But at any rate - I'm done with Meateater. Not saying their gear is bad or anything. Just don't like the direction they have gone.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

All of FL's suppliers and transporters, including all of the companies that produce products or offers services, that directly and/or indirectly allow FL to make product are allowed to be "greedy". I have not seen WKR complaints on that front.

All of those workers are perfectly fine being as "greedy" as they can be. Lots of "pro worker" noise on that front from the WRKs in the recent past.

But the entity putting it all together as FL is not allowed to be "greedy".

Got it.

 

[LoggerDan]

I cannot say anything bad about the Omen rain jacket.

 

[Steelhead]

My gateway was also the merino stuff and shirt and hoodies and I still use them. Outside of those items though I look elsewhere.
But for FL and Rinella...
It's a business (MeatEater), things should be done with a purpose and I'm fairly confident this was the business plan all along. As someone stated Rinella is a college educated dude and lived in NY for years. What started as Rinella as a figurehead, voice, image, ethos, branched into gear with the purchase of FL and further diversification and now the business boulder is moving at a momentum to sustain itself and be significantly profitable in a field where so many fail or flounder.
It has to be an incredibly hard thing to do, to run what has become a large, diversified company with ties into the MeatEater brand but also gear, clothing and conservation AND still keep a "down to earth" touch with the community. The good ol' boy presence, even folks like Cal, are impacted when the individuals now have a significant role/position in the company and people to be accountable to, employees and now acquired companies.
Look at some of the struggles Black Rifle Coffee goes through as they grow into a big-boy company and every time a skeleton from a closet emerges or someone talks sh!t they get slammed...as they open new shops, gear, sponsors etc...
I think there are more plans in terms of conservation now that the revenue is coming in. Now that a foundation has been established business/income-wise. For FL specifically who knows where that's going ultimately. I've never had a chance to check out their brick and mortar in Hailey but always wonder if I'd be confused on what I find there LOL.

 

[Crow]

I do like the FHF bino harness and newer accessories, but I'm frustrated like everyone else by the prices. I've enjoyed Steven's books immensely and my sons and I have watched all the MeatEater seasons, though the last one seemed... forced? I'm more of a fan of Cal's hunts and conservation mindset personally. For clothing, I'm fine with the stuff that works and which I can afford, so a lot of Eddie Bauer pants and Redhead puffys. For merino layers, I don't think you can beat the MTN OPS stuff, though I do find them a little "culty" in their advertising. The "battleground" merinos are really comfy and warm and have lasted through a lot of use.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Buy from them for their product offering… This recent trend of “I only buy from companies that support xxxxx” is really weird to be typing up on your Apple or Samsung phone. The hypocrisy is real.

I get ribbed a bit from other “hunters” because I wear a lot of patagonia and Fjallraven “woke” pieces. Guess what. They flat out, outperform whatever they are wearing in the field most of the time. I buy the product because it does what I need it to do. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about any technical clothing’s “stances” on crap. Not interested.

 

[woods89]

Buy from them for their product offering… This recent trend of “I only buy from companies that support xxxxx” is really weird to be typing up on your Apple or Samsung phone. The hypocrisy is real.

I get ribbed a bit from other “hunters” because I wear a lot of patagonia and Fjallraven “woke” pieces. Guess what. They flat out, outperform whatever they are wearing in the field most of the time. I buy the product because it does what I need it to do. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about any technical clothing’s “stances” on crap. Not interested.

Preach it! I agree.

 

[TheArdentOutdoorsman]

Buy from them for their product offering… This recent trend of “I only buy from companies that support xxxxx” is really weird to be typing up on your Apple or Samsung phone. The hypocrisy is real.

I get ribbed a bit from other “hunters” because I wear a lot of patagonia and Fjallraven “woke” pieces. Guess what. They flat out, outperform whatever they are wearing in the field most of the time. I buy the product because it does what I need it to do. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about any technical clothing’s “stances” on crap. Not interested.

That's all fine and good, freedom of choice is a great thing. I'd never give someone grief for wearing brand X. I personally, do like knowing where I've contributed my hard earned dollar, and I do that with many things other than outdoor gear.

 

[DenimChicken]

There was another FL thread recently. Can’t remember if it was in general discussion. Lots of similar opinions. Politics and personalities aside, I haven’t found a niche that FL fills that isn’t already filled by another piece of clothing that I already have. I’d try it but have heard some recent grumbling about quality and sizing.

For the other Meateater brands, I do like my FHF bino harness.

 

[Huntin_GI]

Their CS was crappy before the started acquiring all these different brands. Their products do not stand up to repeated abuse. As they get bigger, this will get worse.