WOULD YOU BUY? American Made, High Quality Hunting Pants?

[Jeff Martin]

Guys,

I know many of you, like me, have seen the hunting clothing technology and clothing provide hunters better options than ever before. However, companies like KUIU have really pissed a lot of folks off in the process. (i.e.: lack of inventory, not american made, etc..)

With that said, this has me thinking and wanted to ask the question:

Would you buy American made, high quality hunting pants if you the company was really focused on pants and perhaps a top (merino) of some type? A company that would not over extend on ideas and focus on a core pants and top? I am unaware of a KUIU, SITKA type pant made in america these days.....

Assume price is slightly higher but not drastic...
assume high technology pant, not cheap
Assume design is similar to the current market

Would you get behind a company that did not have every product under the sun?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[dotman]

Beyond clothing used to do this, not sure if they still do. Wildthings has the pants but no merino top.

 

[Shrek]

I was looking at Beyond clothing but they were bought out and the focus seemed to change and the website became too much to deal with. I'd love to see a hunting focused clothing company and would buy what I coild. Reaching the market would be the battle though. Not many have heard of the boutique domestic makers like Beyond , Wild Thing ,Grey Wolf Woolens , and Day One Camo.

 

[LJ Buck]

I would pay extra. not a ton but some

 

[keepitwiredtight]

With that said, this has me thinking and wanted to ask the question:

Would you buy American made, high quality hunting pants if you the company was really focused on pants and perhaps a top (merino) of some type?

Absolutely! I work in American manufacturing and do my best to support quality American made products. Kifaru, Stone Glacier, EE are great examples of this. Price is just one aspect of cost. And it's cost us a lot to ship our factories overseas. (as evident by the current avg. US household income)

 

[HawkCreek]

I'd like to see more domestic made options. I'm getting ready to drop some cash on a pair of Fjallraven pants, we'll see how they work out.

HPG is expanding into the clothing market. I try to support them as much as I can as they try very hard to use US materials and labor. If they ever came out with pants I'm sure they would be very well made but that's probably not going to happen for years if at all.

 

[hodgeman]

I'd try them for sure.

I've expressed the opinion before that many companies trying to make a whole host of products rarely get more than a couple or three really right.... might be easier to concentrate on the couple you knock out of the park instead of the rest of the catalog.

 

[charvey9]

I would pay a little more, but would need to be the same or equal quality, weight, performance, etc.

 

[tttoadman]

I have no problem spending a few dollars more for something made in the US.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Absolutely! I work in American manufacturing and do my best to support quality American made products. Kifaru, Stone Glacier, EE are great examples of this. Price is just one aspect of cost. And it's cost us a lot to ship our factories overseas. (as evident by the current avg. US household income)

Those are great examples of assembled in America.

It's complicated, but in a short way of putting it, there is a reason why about the best you can do is assembled.

 

[5MilesBack]

I just wish companies would stop sending their clothes manufacturing to countries where the average man height is 5'6". Perhaps if the Netherlands were making these clothes, it would be easier to find clothes to fit.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Lol, true story

 

[airlocksniffer]

Definitely. It's great many of our high quality pack options are made in the USA. Too bad most clothing is made overseas. Not to say First Lite, Kuiu, Sitka, etc don't make great products. For me it's not a quality thing. Chinese and American workers can both make excellent or crappy quality products. I'd just rather see my fellow countryman with jobs making those pieces and supporting their family, the economy, etc. It's probably more complicated but when these high end clothing companies send their manufacturing overseas, it's not to give the consumer a better deal, it's to make more money.

 

[KHNC]

If it costs more than Sitka does now ,I probably wouldn't pay it. I think we should be able to purchase an American made product for at most the same amount as Sitka. Those prices are already super high.

 

[MattB]

This comment is not directed at anyone on this site, but is conveying experience that a good friend's wife learned the hard way: what people will tell you they would do on an internet forum, in a survey, or in a focus group can be VERY different from what they will do when they actually have to make spending decisions. My friend's wife invested a significant sum of money into an idea that all the folks she queried (very professionally and scientifically I might add) wholeheartedly said they would support, but once she brought the idea to market many of those same people would not support it.

 

[Jeff Martin]

Thank you all for responding. I appreciated it. Although I am in the corporate world my family runs a very successful retail clothing business and are well connected. I have a few nickels I might throw at this idea. It obviously will take much more time to explore and research but it gives me encouragement to explore more. Thanks

 

[6mm Remington]

This comment is not directed at anyone on this site, but is conveying experience that a good friend's wife learned the hard way: what people will tell you they would do on an internet forum, in a survey, or in a focus group can be VERY different from what they will do when they actually have to make spending decisions. My friend's wife invested a significant sum of money into an idea that all the folks she queried (very professionally and scientifically I might add) wholeheartedly said they would support, but once she brought the idea to market many of those same people would not support it.

Some folks might be like that but not all, and certainly not me. I specifically search out products such as the clothing for my hunts and if I can I try and find USA made stuff. I want the quality to be as good or better and I do not mind if I pay slightly more for it. I was good tough well made products. Good wool like Filson for example. Their stuff is worth it.

 

[BroodBuster]

I think the problem you will find is that very few, if any, Americans want a job sewing pants 40 hours a week.

 

[dotman]

Thank you all for responding. I appreciated it. Although I am in the corporate world my family runs a very successful retail clothing business and are well connected. I have a few nickels I might throw at this idea. It obviously will take much more time to explore and research but it gives me encouragement to explore more. Thanks

If you can make a small company and keep your focus, the group here at Rokslide would probably give it a shot as long as your prices aren't crazy. Maybe use Kryptek patterns, FL I think will also license their camo and asat plus a few solids. Maybe a business model similar to kifaru and EE, keep a limited inventory and build when ordered with a small wait. Also the tall skinny guys would love it if you made a normal waist with a crazy long inseam.

 

[airlocksniffer]

I think the problem you will find is that very few, if any, Americans want a job sewing pants 40 hours a week.

I think the millions of long term un and underemployed Americans would beg to differ. The talk of recovery from the great recession is mainly directed at Wall Street.