North face copies, etc

itamar · Dec 21st, 2006, 17:35

When I visited Nepal I saw in Phoukara and Kathmandu many travel shops who sells excellet North face copies (Made in Nepal) and other trekking gear. Expecially catched my eyes Wind-stopper fleece jackets and Gortex products (which where slightly less in quality).
Of course, the prices were very low compared to the originals.

Are these kind of things available in north India too?

osgeek · Dec 21st, 2006, 18:05

I've seen Nike, Adidas and other brands' copies in some shops, so I think you will get what you want in north India. The price could be anything from 1/3 to 1/10 of the original depending on how hard you bargain. Also, it might work for years without trouble, or might break up in a few months/weeks of use.

Nick-H · Dec 21st, 2006, 18:15

Gortex is seriously waterproof.

I wonder how waterproof 'gortex' would be?

itamar · Dec 21st, 2006, 20:51

This thread focuses trekking gear copies, not general western brands. The question is if good fleece jackets, gortex and stuff like these can be found in north india, as can be found in Nepal. In Nepal they copy gear exactly as in the original brand, like North Face, even with the logo.

I guess anyone who've been in Nepal knows exactly what kind of shops I mean.

Nick-H · Dec 21st, 2006, 22:13

But does it perform?

Takes more than a logo to keep water outside, but not trap perspiration inside

If the answer is Yes! Or even, Yes, but it will only last one trip --- then it sounds like a pretty good deal!

itamar · Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:46

the Gortex copies looked a bit shady but the Fleece products were excellent. I'm using some for more than a year. Anyway - of course the logo is not important, but in nepal it will be hard to find gear that doesn't got North face logo on it.

So - are those stuff available in north india too?

Merchant · Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:55

All these branded items are made in developing countries, then pasted with a logo and marked up exponentially. Gortex is polyester. If you find an item you like, buy it.

itamar · Dec 22nd, 2006, 07:14

Its not the point.
I'm just asking for availability!
But if you get into it: In nepal you can see in one shop the real products aside the copy ones. Most sellers will be kind enough show you the differences between them. North face might produce their products in the far east, but not in Nepal.

But now ENOUGH. we're back to AVAILABILITY OF TREKKING GEAR IN NORTH INDIA.

edwardseco · Dec 22nd, 2006, 09:09

This is one that baffles me. Like Nick I think functionality on a trek trumps fashion every time. Se la vive..

Nick-H · Dec 22nd, 2006, 10:28

Sorry, itamar --- but you can be assured that if anyone knows the answer they will say. Notwithstanding a certain amount of side chat

itamar · Dec 22nd, 2006, 19:21

A frustraiting side-chat about the Emperor's new clothes...
Of course brand blindness is wrong, but its not the topic here.

kidsan · Dec 22nd, 2006, 20:21

i must say that i have never come across good quality copies in india. Iv seen some so-called TNF gear but it's very obviously copies and even the stiched-on logo has been pretty obviously copied. Maybe there are better ones around...

one reason iv heard for good stuff in nepal is that it is not actually fake. A lot of the real stuff is made in the east (mostly china) and the factories make more than they're supposed to and then sell it on the side...maybe someone can confirm this?

vistet · Dec 22nd, 2006, 21:03

I bought a North Face bag in Leh , at a very low price , can´t find any difference with the real stuff . Down seems regular quality.

kolobar · Dec 29th, 2006, 19:23

There are different kind of copies available in Nepal. If they are made in Nepal they would use a cheap poliester, sew a jacket and put a label on. You can see same product labeled with different brands.
On the other hand, copies made in China are trying (quite succesfully) to copy certain model of a certain brand. Most of famous brands have factories in China. Chinese buy their used machines, use cheaper materials and dont charge "brand value", "research and development costs", "hi-tech solutions" etc. which make original brands expensive.
For sleeping bags and down jackets, they will as a rule replace down with feathers which much easier slips through stiching wholes and after some nights/days spent in a cloud of feather your jacket/sleeping bag is empty.
If you use copies to walk around KTM they are worth buying but I would avoid them for serious mountaineering.
I think the only place in India where these copies are available is Leh.

cyberhippie · Dec 29th, 2006, 22:42

Paharganj Delhi, you will find all kinds of fakes here. There was a Russian member who bought a North Face rucksac He/she seemed more than happy with it. So much so the member got a bit angry when I suggested it was fake (it was, I know Paharganj very well). I bought a fake Janssen day bag and the quality was just fine!!
Check stitching etc just to be sure!!

Dec 21st, 2006, 17:35	#1
itamar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 45	North face copies, etc When I visited Nepal I saw in Phoukara and Kathmandu many travel shops who sells excellet North face copies (Made in Nepal) and other trekking gear. Expecially catched my eyes Wind-stopper fleece jackets and Gortex products (which where slightly less in quality). Of course, the prices were very low compared to the originals. Are these kind of things available in north India too?

Dec 21st, 2006, 18:05	#2
osgeek osgeek Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 50	I've seen Nike, Adidas and other brands' copies in some shops, so I think you will get what you want in north India. The price could be anything from 1/3 to 1/10 of the original depending on how hard you bargain. Also, it might work for years without trouble, or might break up in a few months/weeks of use. __________________ India Photoblog at: www.indiasnaps.blogspot.com

Dec 21st, 2006, 18:15	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,693	Gortex is seriously waterproof. I wonder how waterproof 'gortex' would be? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:46	#6
itamar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 45	the Gortex copies looked a bit shady but the Fleece products were excellent. I'm using some for more than a year. Anyway - of course the logo is not important, but in nepal it will be hard to find gear that doesn't got North face logo on it. So - are those stuff available in north india too? Last edited by itamar : Dec 22nd, 2006 at 07:15.

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Dec 21st, 2006, 20:51	#4
itamar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 45	This thread focuses trekking gear copies, not general western brands. The question is if good fleece jackets, gortex and stuff like these can be found in north india, as can be found in Nepal. In Nepal they copy gear exactly as in the original brand, like North Face, even with the logo. I guess anyone who've been in Nepal knows exactly what kind of shops I mean.

Dec 21st, 2006, 22:13	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,693	But does it perform? Takes more than a logo to keep water outside, but not trap perspiration inside If the answer is Yes! Or even, Yes, but it will only last one trip --- then it sounds like a pretty good deal!

Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:55	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	All these branded items are made in developing countries, then pasted with a logo and marked up exponentially. Gortex is polyester. If you find an item you like, buy it.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 07:14	#8
itamar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 45	Its not the point. I'm just asking for availability! But if you get into it: In nepal you can see in one shop the real products aside the copy ones. Most sellers will be kind enough show you the differences between them. North face might produce their products in the far east, but not in Nepal. But now ENOUGH. we're back to AVAILABILITY OF TREKKING GEAR IN NORTH INDIA.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 09:09	#9
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,153	This is one that baffles me. Like Nick I think functionality on a trek trumps fashion every time. Se la vive..

Dec 22nd, 2006, 10:28	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,693	Sorry, itamar --- but you can be assured that if anyone knows the answer they will say. Notwithstanding a certain amount of side chat

Dec 22nd, 2006, 19:21	#11
itamar Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 45	A frustraiting side-chat about the Emperor's new clothes... Of course brand blindness is wrong, but its not the topic here.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 20:21	#12
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nouakchott Posts: 696	i must say that i have never come across good quality copies in india. Iv seen some so-called TNF gear but it's very obviously copies and even the stiched-on logo has been pretty obviously copied. Maybe there are better ones around... one reason iv heard for good stuff in nepal is that it is not actually fake. A lot of the real stuff is made in the east (mostly china) and the factories make more than they're supposed to and then sell it on the side...maybe someone can confirm this?

Dec 22nd, 2006, 21:03	#13
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,766	I bought a North Face bag in Leh , at a very low price , can´t find any difference with the real stuff . Down seems regular quality.

Dec 29th, 2006, 19:23	#14
kolobar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: beside a lake Posts: 155	There are different kind of copies available in Nepal. If they are made in Nepal they would use a cheap poliester, sew a jacket and put a label on. You can see same product labeled with different brands. On the other hand, copies made in China are trying (quite succesfully) to copy certain model of a certain brand. Most of famous brands have factories in China. Chinese buy their used machines, use cheaper materials and dont charge "brand value", "research and development costs", "hi-tech solutions" etc. which make original brands expensive. For sleeping bags and down jackets, they will as a rule replace down with feathers which much easier slips through stiching wholes and after some nights/days spent in a cloud of feather your jacket/sleeping bag is empty. If you use copies to walk around KTM they are worth buying but I would avoid them for serious mountaineering. I think the only place in India where these copies are available is Leh.

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Dec 29th, 2006, 22:42	#15
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Paharganj Delhi, you will find all kinds of fakes here. There was a Russian member who bought a North Face rucksac He/she seemed more than happy with it. So much so the member got a bit angry when I suggested it was fake (it was, I know Paharganj very well). I bought a fake Janssen day bag and the quality was just fine!! Check stitching etc just to be sure!!