UKC

So what does everyone think?

Expensive?

Worth it or overpriced?

I've handled this kit in Austria, Cham' and Andorra, and to be honest I'm not so impressed, but it appears they are the new big kid on the block? (not new really but recently throwing their weight around) Given the reviews at www.backcountry.com.

see:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/brand/100000575/Norr%F8na.html?s_kwcid=nor...

My real curios is that how can gear be so expensive, with little or no real design imput?

In reply to Gaz lord:

What?

Plenty of decent hardshell and/or softshell jackets in the UK are 200 quid. That's US$300 and the jackets in that link are around that or less. There's plenty of jackets around costing more than US$300. Cotswold have Mountain Equipment Changabang at 300 quid = US$455!

The Norrona gear I saw years ago (Denali and the Alps) was well made, but heavy over-engineered 3-layer gore-tex. This looks much better.

No real design input? They don't look exactly the same as any other brand I've seen and they look quite well designed. How much do you want? At least the top model of each type seems to have a decent hood that covers your face in a storm, which is more than I can say for most jackets available now, UK or or otherwise. Scandinavians don't have a reputation for turning out crap quality anything (except popstars).

Perhaps the latest job in a growing succession of design failures from Berghaus is more your cup of tea:
http://www.berghaus.com/griffin/product/elysian_orange.html

I recently tried on Rab and Mountain Equipment jackets, looking for a new hardshell. Apart from the mediocre fit and dated design, pull tabs and cords ripped off in the shop. How long would they last in real use? Rubbish. Norrona would be hard pressed to do worse.

D

In reply to Gaz lord:

Norrona is pretty good stuff... but not technical cut nor made for that. They make pretty stellar semi technical to steezy skiing gear...

In reply to HeMa: Thats what I was thinking.

In reply to Gaz lord:

Norrøna are stepping out of the fjords and fjells, according to their new magazine and there leader Jørgen Jørgensen says "The time has come, he says, to conquer Europe". Norrøna has enjoyed a captive market in Norway, holding a prestige position, high in the minds of Norwegians young and old, however I feel they might be hanging on to hard to this old small market. It is true their gear is well made, robust and rugged, but I think it looks dated; the cut is too basic compared to other brands available. Arc'teryx is becoming increasingly popular in Norway, it looks good, does the job and above all else it’s prestigious! The company seems stuck with gortex, but this probable has something to do with the locals just thinking that gortex is it, and the word gortex is often used to describe a good water proof jacket. Two years ago I was invited to a trade show in Bergen, I have absolutely nothign to do with the trade but I got dragged along. Eider gave a presentation and showed off their new range, and then did Nørrona, I felt Eider really had the edge with design, colours and performance.

Saying this I have one gortex pullover jacket by Norrøna, and although it’s okay, I think my paramo is better. I also have a cotton pullover jacket by Norrøna, which I think is really good.
I think they will find competition in europe very stiff, but they do have being Scandinavian on their side and many people think anything from Scandinavia must be good!

For what it is, yeah its over priced, its just a gortex jacket.

In reply to Damo:

Haglöf produces some stinkers along with some great stuff, and you probably haven't come across Halti a Finnish make which does some really weird stuff. Scandinavians seem obsessed with Gore Windstopper, Haglöf sells truckloads of jackets made out of the stuff, yet it is absolutely rubbish. My one is a really well designed, cut and sewn jacket made out of the worlds most pointless fabric which is both remarkably unwater resistant yet at the same time as being highly unbreathable. Yet shops here are full of the stuff.

There is also a lot of tradition that is only slowly making its way out - hence Haglöf used to do these green jackets that seemed to be made out of suede with goretex behind them, and weighed about the same as a weeks backpacking equipment!

In reply to TobyA:


A lot seen in TK Maxx recently. My 'good kit' radar was fired, but, as you said, it seemed a little weird...

In reply to captain paranoia: have seen it there too, wasnt too sure what to make of it though!

In reply to Gaz lord:


I've had a quick look at some of the new Norrona stuff, and it looks pretty good, with some lightweight waterproofs with some clever design features (although I didn't personally like those features!). It was however ridiculously expensive, even compared to the ME Changabang, and I couldn't see anything that justified that expense. I won't be buying it unless I see it cheap, but they may be worth a look in the future.

In reply to captain paranoia: They've never had the rights to use Gore materials for some reason - perhaps never felt the need to. So without Goretex in their line I reckon international appeal was always going to be limited. They used their own brand water-proof breathable material, and over the years have come up with some pretty technical designs for climbing clothing. But I get the feel that it is too technical for the domestic market (Finnish climbers covet Patagonia, or Arctryx or Millet - like everyone else) whilst not being known internationally.

Like lots of companies in smaller markets they have a bit of monopoly going on at the level of the general public so can perhaps rest on that laurel. Most people buy their outdoor gear here from general sport shops. At least in recent years Halti seem to have ceded the more slightly more technical market to Haglöf, and the really technical market to the N. American brands and the top European brands that get sold in the very few climbing shops. They do some very specific stuff though - ski jumping suits for example - very weird and cool technology. I think they're quite into the MTB scene as well.

In reply to Gaz lord:

seem to be popular with the scando crowd in cham. i liked how the trousers had a removable braces panel so they can convert from salopettes to trousers. i hope they do well if only for their bright colours but i fear that i wouldn't fit any of the trousers which are made for 6ft+ northern europeans.

In reply to Gaz lord:

Expensive kit, Nice TV ad though

youtube.com/watch?v=Jj6-gwMWItU&

Seems you can only get Norrona through Tamarack outdoors, not many other dealers at the moment.

http://www.tamarackgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Norrona.html

When talking about price, dont forget that its a Norwegian brand, should effect it a lot imho. Lovely stuff thou. Of all the scandi brand klattermusen is the one to go for!

In reply to Scarab:
Aha! Another person who knows of klattermusen!
Do you know anywhere that stocks them? I had a pair of their event trousers that i bought in Finland and I have just destroyed them with my crampons.
They were Event with huge cordura panels running from the backside around the legs and then down to crampon patches.I have no Idea of model type though....
If you are looking for another Scandanavian brand, 66 degrees north from Iceland is rather good also. Designed for cold wet climates, like Scottich winter.
However, Some of the Narrona stuff is Extremely expensive in the UK, but as said before it is from Norway, Which is Expensive anyway.

Will

In reply to Paul F:


nah, the best ones the one with the hot chick in it.

And incase anyones wondering the tune is BIGBANG To The Mountains

In reply to Will_jameson: My klattermusen Mithril trousers are the absolute best outdoor garment i have ever owned. They do everything from cragging, long trad, ice, to ski touring with aplomb. Expensive, but after eight years of hard use, a new zip and some minor crampon hole repairs they are still going strong! Awesome kit!

In reply to Will_jameson:

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/page32.asp

had some bits and pieces of Klattermusen, as a retailer they could probably get hold of other stuff.

In reply to Will_jameson:

No idea of stockist. Bu you can buy the stuff directly from www.Klattermusen.se No fancy shop though, but still doable.

In reply to Gaz lord:

Exactly buy direct.


Most interesting is klattermusens backpacks, really revolutionary. Havent used one thou...

In reply to Scarab:

Mountain Spirit in Aviemore stock both Norrona and Klattermusen!!