olyclimber Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 To make actual outdoor clothing again?? Notice board, some actual climbers there, including one that posts here occasionally (or at least did!) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/401693_eddiebauer27.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Interesting. My dad still has a couple down parkas from Eddie Bauer that he used on some big glaciers a long time ago. He liked them back in the day. Now they might belong in an amusing history museum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Interesting. I had no idea that Eddie Bauer ever made "real" outdoor clothing. I wonder what the price will be... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 (edited) In 1963, James W. Whittaker, the first American to climb Mount Everest, was wearing an Eddie Bauer parka. His whole expedition used and wore Bauer's products. (from Wikipedia) Edited February 27, 2009 by Jake Porter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassgowkiss Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 oh yeah, some token dinosaurs will mane it happen. no disrespec to the guys, but they are not so cutting edge now. maybe they should get some names on the list from under 30 category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Back in the 70s EB would have huge sales much like the ones REI does. They still had stuff that might actually be useful in the outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 true he isn't under 30, but Seth is a relative young buck compared to the rest of those guys. but true having those BIG NAMES doesn't mean they'll make anything worthwhile...though it might translate into higher prices. most of the innovation in clothing has not been in the design anyway...its been in the fabrics, which would be better developed by hiring chemists, not climbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I guess they did figure out that they needed to market their, "climbing," products with well known climbers. Ed V and Seth may be happy they've got a sucka to pay them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtguide Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Back in the 70's MAD Magazine did a hilarious satire on Eddie Bauer, centering around what they (MAD) called the parka and sleeping bag filling of "goose liver down". Featured was a "goose liver down" stuffed parka 10" thick, with about 327 pockets, pockets on top of pockets,and a 100 lb. goose liver down-stuffed sleeping bag (Keeping you toasty down to 714 below zero!!). There was also a goose liver down-stuffed canoe (with 144 pockets, of course),an arctic goose liver down-stuffed compass, and a goose liver down-stuffed butt-warmer for going to the latrine(with special searchlight for midnite latrine runs), all with multiple pockets, drawstrings, and made of "ballistic-grade bulletproof,airtight, watertight,radiation-proof and fireproof camoflage nylon." All of this crap was so heavy that by the time the enthusiastic outdoorsman had lugged it home, he was too exhausted to go anywhere and spent the weekend at home on the couch with a beer watching football on TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raindawg Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Back in the day, Eddie Bauer was a genuine "expedition outfitter" before they sold out to khaki pants, pastel polo shirts and signature SUV's. They were especially famous for their down goods suitable for extreme conditions on mountains or polar regions. My dad took me there c.1973 and it looked more like the North Face store. They had lots of specialty clothing, technical climbing gear and I even recall some sort of inflatable raft for sale. I got my first copy of "Freedom of the Hills" (2nd edition)there. REI seemed to be on a similar trajectory but at least still sells technical gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dechristo Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Their expedition goose down toilet paper is especially nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 (edited) brings new meaning to being goosed Edited February 28, 2009 by pink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korup Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Even 10-15 yrs ago they still had some good ski wear and outwear in the catalogs. "Let's make casual clothes for soccer moms!" "No, let's make golf clothes! And yoga pants!" "Let's make 'core outdoor clothes again!" Good luck differentiating from MtnHardware, TNF, and all the other lame ass wanna-be outdoor brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtguide Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Their expedition goose down toilet paper is especially nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obwan Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 I believe that during WWII that EB made Down sleeping bags and jackets for high altitude flyers, but don't quote me on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 they were major suppliers of the military as per the wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bauer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 OMG the Military-Industrial-Eddie Complex! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Good luck differentiating from MtnHardware, TNF, and all the other lame ass wanna-be outdoor brands. I'm always curious what makes a "real" outdoor brand. The major factor seems to be it not having been "discovered" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraken Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Say what you will about the designers. Given that every RMI guide will be outfitted with all First Ascent gear, they will receive prompt, honest and critical feedback. They will find out real quick if their stuff is worth its weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dechristo Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 If the manufacturer gives First Ascent, they're likely to receive first assent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I hear every order of a down jacket comes with a FREE SUV! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WageSlave Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 If the manufacturer gives First Ascent, they're likely to receive first assent. Is that a decent purely on your ass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obwan Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Whatever happened to those EB Ford Explorers - probably in the same boneyard as the Edsel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Got a pair of EB Down pants, circa 1964. Looks like they were pretty Hi-Tech for their period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollinWoods Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Thats interesting. Maybe North Face will start making decent stuff like back in the day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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