tvashtarkatena

Now, let me get this straight. If you have a whole house to yourself, it's more...no wait, less...yeah, that's right, I think...less efficient than if people, let's see, share, yeah, that's right, share a house. That's fucking amazing. Thanks for posting.

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Well, that's what a Mediterranean climate will do for ya. It's funny how quickly freezing your ass off can pry open your wallet.

It's good, but it's been posted before.

I tend to drool, so moisture will be an issue.

Let's do the time warp again. Awesome.

I take "Now" brand glucosamine & chondroitin with MSM daily available from iHerb.com; a cost effective source for higher quality supplements. At 48, my joints are fine, and I'm not dead or in a wheel chair yet, but it's not like I can 'feel' any difference. The literatures say's it's helpful, and it's not very expensive.

Doesn't matter. It's a good one. Particularly relevant this week.

You're a bit late. Blake and I have already exchanged friendly PMs, kissed, and made up, and I've toned down the post you so helpfully quoted and moved to Spray. As for the largely unintelligable post prior to that...you might try laying off the breakfast bong hits, dude.

Well, affording only one jacket is a completely different discussion. This discussion, as I understand it, is 'why the hell do people buy these ultralight sweaters? I sensed a little arrogance on the part of FF so I decided to give them some long time customer feedback. I argued that the ultra light sweaters are a viable, logical, and versatile choice for backcountry users such as myself as well as urban users for several reasons. My viewpoint is that, if you want to run a successful business, listen, don't preach to your customers. If I could only afford one down jacket (yeah, right...who on this board couldn't skimp a few beers and buy whatever they wanted gear wise) I'd buy the warmer FF of course. It's the only jacket I've had for damn near 20 years now up until my recent purchase. The thing's got more patches than Vista, but I love the fucker and refuse to retire it. But I've had a need for something lighter, less bulky, and not so warm for a long time now. Well, I've finally filled that need with someone else's product. Anyway, if I came on strong, my apologies. We're all friends here. Just don't tell me I look fat in my new sweater, man.

This is an amazing re-run of the 'yes they do/no they don't' Iraq fiasco. I couldn't believe Bush could be stupid enough to invade Iraq in late '02, but, after seven years of constant train wreck, I've come to realize that the man's faculties are so dull that there's no fuck up too great for him. Even more heartening: my countrymen voted him in...twice. This singular and painful fact leads me to believe that America will continue to face tougher times ahead, because we are apparently no longer capable of recognizing impending disaster and acting constructively to avoid it. Time and time again, we choose salve over substance, and postponement over proactiveness, and, most particularly, myth over reality. But we are a nation of myth junkies. We're one of, if not the, most fundamentalist of first world nations. In a grotesque extension of Manifest Destiny, we overwhelmingly believe that we are entitled to 'lead' the rest of the world. We still believe in our own nearly absolute power, based on our singular decisive victory against Japan 60 years ago (let's face it; we played a sideline role in Europe; Russia really defeated the Axis), despite the abject failure of that power in two wars against primitive foes, the rise of China, and the fall of our own economy. In short, we're a nation of addicts: always dissatisfied, always paranoid, always needing to be in control, and never actually in control. Frankly, this fucking national neurosis is growing a bit tiresome.

Well, aren't you special. I'm not sure what exactly you're agreeing with, unless that it's cool to pontificate how other folks 'should' be making gear choices. There's no shortage of that kind of arrogance in this biz. I just don't happen to subscribe to it. The market, as indicated by the popularity of Montbell/WM, etc ultra lite offerings indicates that FF and the BLAKE METHOD are wide of the mark on this one. I just happen to agree with the market and explained why. If I were FF, I'd be taking notes. This is the kind of 'honest' feedback that companies almost never get and always need, whether they know it or not. Add to that that I happen to be a long time FF customer: I've purchased 5 of their sleeping bags and still have 4 of them. In any case, if you don't like some of the opinions on this thread, there are plenty of others you can grace with your omniscience.

I'm guessing that Halifax's aesthetic dissapproval of the technology has killed the market.

Same old shit from the same asshole What's incredible to me is that there are still morons in this country who actually still believe this fucker.

It's a good one, but it's already been posted.

I wouldn't know. I don't own any. Don't you have a pagetop you need to get back to?

skiboards.com offers Summit (w/o binding) and Hagan (binding incl.) brand backcountry skiboards.

Fawk no. The CIA hates Cheney, and vice versa. Cheney built his own ad hoc intelligence arm to trump up the evidence for the Iraq invasion. He also parasitized the military's intelligence capabilities when his buddy Rummy was in. Now, it seems that he just strains against his tire chain, a lone junk yard dog who want's a piece of something...anything.

Why listen to the CIA when you've got Cheney?

The fact that they sold out of all the ones in stock shows just how much trouble they are having competing for customers. Right... Down Sweaters, for those times when you want to pay $200 to be "almost warm"! Down/insulating jackets are primarily worn when you are at rest, and in need of some quick (usually temporary) insulation. I can never remember a single instance where I was too hot standing around in a down jacket (unzipped?), and too cold without it on. I'd love to be one of these people who (apparently) stand around at cold winter belays or frosty alpine mornings and suddenly get overheated due to a few minutes of sedentary down jacket wearing. However, in lieu of such a superhuman metabolism I'll take an insulating coat that weighs 3 ounces more and can keep someone much warmer or warm them much faster. Better a warm 'michelin-man' than a cold fashionisto. Um, FF doesn't understand the sweater market because of a) the 'dumb customer' arrogance they've revealed on this thread and b) they don't make one. They make jackets, and fine jackets at that. I've got one. Love it. Too heavy for mid summer use. Patagucci, Montbell, and Western Mountaineering all make sweaters, light jackets, jackets, and heavier jackets - the full line of customer choices, and, after all, that's what it's all about. FF doesn't. Oh, and BTW, FF is also ignoring the 1 lb down sleeping bag market segment. I've got several of their bags, but for a midsummer offering, I'll shop elsewhere. If it's cold enough to need a full jacket, I bring one. By your logic, Blake, I should bring a 2 pounder on every trip, because, hey, why not be warmer? But I'll choose a 7 ouncer, thank you, because it fits in my pack pocket when I'm climbing, and I don't need to bivvy in the damn thing. Nothing FF makes is that level of portable and compact. And I'll leave my 9 oz softshell I don't need in midsummer home, save 2 oz, and actually be warmer. Pretty illogical, I know. Of course, this isn't the BLAKE METHOD. We don't have the BLAKE METABOLISM. Frankly, my metabolism must be the opposite of yours. I've had a need for a a down sweater weight garment because my down jacket IS too warm, and bulky, and heavy, for years. No, not the BLAKE METHOD. More the Jim Nelson method, really. Carry only what you need. You're also way off base about pricing. FF stuff is significantly more expensive than, say, Montbell. I got my sweater for $112, no tax, free shipping, not $200. Only 80% cheaper, not very significant. It retails for $140 - still way cheaper. And finally, do you think city folks might want something that looks good, is really warm for the weight (but not necessarily warm enough to bivvy in), and easily fits in a purse or computer bag? Gee, ya think? Hey, FF: you're in the CLOTHING business, and, as REI figured out about a century ago, that's primarily the URBAN CLOTHING business. What your customers use the product for is their choice. I recall reading a story about how the Ben Davis pants factory down in rural Texas couldn't figure out why they were selling so many XXXL sizes. Can you say gangsta? Hello. And finally, the fact that FF or any store 'sells out' of something could say more about their poor inventory planning or pricing than anything else. Is there market expanding? Are they not addressing whole market segments when competitors have a full product line that is (as in this case?). I realize that you're not a business dude, but your argument? Come on. When a business says "We can't figure out why...", they're losing market share to someone who can. In this case, it's painfully obvious why. And Marylou's customer service comment has been echoed by friends; just this weekend, in fact. Heads up FF...if you even care, that is.

Any of hugh homos touch my scarf I'll killya.

I wear a scarf, bitches. Microfleece. Fuckin love that thing.

R HU TLKN 2 HURSLF?

I snagged a Lowe Alpine softshell for about $65 down at that discount outdoor place in PTown and it is the shiz for colder conditions. Wicks like a mofo; repels wet snow, dries quick, breaths, cuts the wind, not too hot when the sun comes out. Amazing stuff. Put that sucker on with some schoeller pants and life is good. I'm completely sold on softshell fabrics. Fuck wearing plastic bags. Maybe you just got the wrong stuff. As for Feathered Friends; sounds like they just don't understand the sweater segment of the down garment market. When shopping for one, I found that they didn't have a competitive offering, price or weight wise. Maybe someday the customers they compete for will 'smarten up', but somehow I don't think that's where the problem lies.