In reply to gethin_allen:
> (In reply to UKC Gear)They are the same spec and price as standard DMM kit So these are for people who just want Alpkit stuff for the name or possibly the colour. So just buying in something from a already well known producer and just sticking the Alpkit name on it and selling it just for the name seems wrong.
I do see your point, but I think you've answered your own questions. They have already said they want to work with DMM and this is a limited run. The colour thing might swing a bit of business their way (aren't DMM prowires all blue/silver?)
It sounds like neither AlpKit nor DMM have finalised what their future arrangement might be, and they are just "seeing how it goes". Of course AlpKit aren't going to undercut DMM's prices on products made for them by DMM. Maybe there's a pipe dream of DMM branding its cheaper gear (do they a low-cost solid gate QD, for example?) as AlpKit, if it works out, and keeping the DMM name for the jazzier stuff? I dunno.
Don't forget, DMM don't do sleeping bags or roll mats or titanium mugs or rosewood chopsticks - maybe they fancy a bit of that action.
I'd quite like some orange QDs actually, might order some
As for the "buying them in", well that makes sense to me, and answers woolsack's point as well. AlpKit would struggle to break into the "safety-critical equipment" market on their own (just look at all the threads on this site asking "are Kong nuts any good? Is Quechua gear any good?" etc.