As a Canadian, I agree.

So many different alternatives

Its not any more expensive than some of the European stuff haha

I absolutely love Scarpa. They make the only footwear that really, really, fits my weird feet off the shelf. I just wish they made ski boots for the sane.

Decathlon is involved with child and possibly slave labor through it's Asian suppliers, also the company still operates in Russia under a barely disguised name.

Yes but a lot of their stuff is made under poor and toxic circumstances by people who get paid very little. Not the best imho

Correct. I can recommend it, their home brands are cheap, and the quality is generally good.

A notable omission from that list is Montane. I think they’re UK based?

Or Taiwan.

Haix shoes are made in Serbia, iirc. I'm wearing nothing else since years. Once had a problem with the lace holders on a pair, they told me to send them back and actually repaired them. I'm kinda convinced.

That's true for most of Netherlands, really.

Some Fjällräven stuff is nice, but the kånken backpacks that are so popular are overpriced garbage. Pretty much any other serious brand offers better features for a lower price.

Don’t get GoreTex because it’s using PFAS chemicals which are harmful to the nature we’re out there to enjoy.

Don't get goretex for the simple reason that the patent has expired anyway so any company can make the exact same product under another name anyway.

I was surprised by this when I first learned it back in the day, perception make me think it was Japanese (paired with the fact their sizes tend to run small).

I used to love the quality of their t-shirts and jackets; but have struggled to find anything that appealed to me from them over the last few years..

..sad reading their Wikipedia page to see they’re seriously struggling financially, and this one quote really felt like a kick in the ‘nads: “A 2023 Observer article referenced critics suggesting that Superdry was a “dad” brand "beyond redemption”.

Would explain the Canadian flag in the picture over their name.

They are owned by a Finnish company now. Same owner as Salomon.

That Finnish company is owned by a Chinese company. So it doesn't really matter. I try to avoid companies that outsource their production to Asia anyway. Doesn't matter if their millionaire owner live in Europe.

Mammut is fairly common in shops catering to non-tourists. Some of the American brands listed (Mountain Hardware and Columbia) are not brands people entrust their lives to.

SOURCE: I live in Wyoming. Only tourists wear Columbia.

PS: My wife should be sponsored by Rab. It's all she wears in the winter.

I'm switching a lot to mammut. Their clothes are like nothing i have ever worn before. Their ultralight clothing line is like wearing nothing.

Yeah their stuff is pretty good in my experience as well. I have an external shell for at least 8 years, still looking new.

While I sometimes buy some sport equipment here and while they have some very accessible products, you can get much better quality for a bit more expensive. Worth saving money for a month more but have really good hiking equipment (or whatever you are looking for).

Also, I worked for them a few years ago and their policies were very questionable. E.g. sometimes they were throwing away some products but always smashed them (like, with a hammer) so "it cannot be used if anyone finds it".

= Aldi Sports!

Very good gear and they don’t use chemicals harmful for the environment (such as Gore-Tex / PFAS).

Yes, It's basically the foundation of outdoor gear in Sweden / Norway.

Very popular and durable

Yeah, awesome durable gear

I get buying European, but ditching a responsible brand like Patagonia seems misguided.

If there's anything like an ethical brand, I'm pretty sure it's them.

North Face used to have good products, then got big and especially during COVID when a lot of middle class took up outdoor activities during travel restrictions it went the way of patagucci

Haix did for my shoes.

Patagonia does. But it is American.

My kids Didriksons winter suit lasted two long seasons (6 months of snow) of constant abuse until she grew out of it.

As a Norwegian, it hurts to say this but Hilleberg also make excellent tents.

Pricey buy you buy once and cry once.