If this meme resonates then it’s time we come clean with you. Soldier Systems Daily isn’t written for you. We appreciate you visiting, but please understand that we write stories about the tactical industry for those that insist on performance. Quite frankly, some of the stuff we cover is downright expensive but we’re ok with that.
Inexpensive is fine, but cheap isn’t what we’re shooting for. Please don’t come in and complain about prices for the gear we cover. We don’t care and either do the folks that we actually write for. They understand, it’s the cost of performance. However, if you actually know that something promises a lot but doesn’t deliver, speak up, with facts. We’re all ears.
Remember, buy quality; cry once. Regardless of price.
I always love the inside posts directed at one or two people on the planet.
Stop feeding trolls.
AMEN!! Good kit costs money but if it’s reliable, it’s all worth it.
I’ve always tried to get the “best bang for my buck”. Usually this means expensive, but not always.
Winning. Glad you put that out there.
You speak too much truth, my friend. You are 100% correct.
These people need to realize the astronomical differences in quality between “high-dollar” and their perceived notions of what is acceptable. I learned quickly that saving money on gear in garrison meant paying for its failure in the field, and I know that if they really depended on their gear like many of your other readers, they wouldn’t be so quick to cry foul.
I’m happy to pay more for something I know is going to work, and work well, rather than a piece of gear that will “suffice”.
Do $400 “dead bird pants” perform 4X are well as the issue pants? or even 30% better?
Not really, they probably haven’t even been tested in a government lab for flame resistance like those issue ones have.
Price=quality in most cases, but not always. Sometimes price is kept artificially high in order to create the PERCEPTION of quality, that’s why there’s Minimum Advertised Prices
Arc’teryx Talos pants are at the same price point as Crye AC pants and don’t blow out the crotch the same way. You’re dealing with a lot of question marks and “probably”s but guys coming back from the field have other stuff to say. Really, you’re free to say whatever you want about whatever you want; just know that you sound really ignorant to people who know better.
I see you don’t like questions, but here’s another one.
Can PV2 Snuffy use the Talos when everyone else in the squad has the issue? Can he even afford it?
98% of the trigger pullers who fight for a living can’t afford all this high speed gear. Even if they could, the SGM wouldn’t allow it.
The only ones the Gucci kit applies to are the mall ninjas and the SOCOM types who do want they want, wear what they want, and have never hear the words “requirements validation” or “budget justification” because they’re special.
It even says so in their unit name.
I see. Because average Joe can’t/won’t want it then it’s worthless and worthy of ridicule? I guess we shouldn’t have any specialized equipment for our armed forces, then.
That’s up to his chain of command.
If you personally want access to this type of stuff, selection is twice a year.
Regarding the kid in the picture: hence the popularity of South Pole “puffy jackets” vs. Featherd Friends down parkas on the street.
Anyone who actually uses their gear for work buys the best they can. The trolls who complain about prices are more than likely people buying it to look cool or trying to pose as a person who wears gear professionally. And these folks aren’t worth wasting another breath on. They’ll complain about anything because they don’t understand the value of quality.
it’s doesn’t matter if you get burn
either by an ied or price
but i rather wear nomex
It depends on what you’re doing. So far, the customer that has driven most of their products hasn’t asked for it.
Essentially, there has been some pretty extensive testing of NYCO uniforms used in conjunction with full PPE including balaclavas, goggles and gloves that has shown that you won’t get burned in a flash over event.
Wait a sec, hell with all of that. Are you telling me that you are wearing non-FR products and then complaining about it because they aren’t FR? That is dumber than hammered owl shit. Why am I even bothering trying to provide facts to someone that stupid?
People ask why there’s a $250 Surefire torch in a Bladetech bucket holster on my work duty belt, “We already got issued a torch”. Then theres the Leatherman and basic IFAK… The majority around us are either too trusting of the crap we get issued, have lost interest, never had interest, have no idea or cannot afford it. If it makes you more effective and sometimes makes life a little more comfortable then it’s worthwhile. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
I swear, these tactical bloggers have no idea what memes are and how they are meant to be used. I’d start this statement off with ‘Sage’ but no one would get it, and even Scumbag Steve would be truly disappoint.
In regards to the context, you have to admit there are those with enough insight to state whether or not a piece of gear is ‘worth it’ even with incredibly high costs, but the quality is generally there already. The purpose of blogs like this is seeing the bleeding edge of tactical gear technologies. And anyone familiar with bleeding edge technologies, you pay the price for the coolest, newest stuff price be damned! However, even I can admit there are some brands and pieces of gear that seem exorbitantly expensive for what they offer. Thankfully those prices are falling to the wayside, and new methods of manufacturing are advancing the industry.
Know your audience. In this websites case it’s tactical fanboys. There is no ArcTeryx in Afghanistan.
It’s amazing what you don’t know
The site gets roughly 25,000 views a day. That’s great but don’t kid yourself these views are not coming from the pentagon. Don’t get me wrong really like the site but your audience are amateur consumers plain and simple. The brass at Fort Bragg aren’t coming here to add items to their shopping list. Joe tactical range day is.
It’s amazing what you don’t know.
These incredibly high prices you claim against, are the price of R&D. Just like any other state of the art technology in formula 1, nascar, WRC, etc etc, eveything sound like fcking overpiced, but it’s just the pricey difference between winning or losing. Take that to tactical industry and for the folks that really need that gear and will get 120% out of each piece of it.
Sure it isn’t meant for everyone, I don’t need ceramic brakes or that kind of expensive ultra permonfance things for my car, but professionals will feel the difference. A guy at garrison won’t need that extra boost, but the guy at the tip of the spear will jump for loading 1Kg less in his heavy load.
1 kg reduction for extra 100$ seem overpriced for morons out there. They think that 100$ extra for a 200$ piece will mean 50% weight reduction. Get back to earth jojo
I can understand R&D on electronics and such. But for a company like Arcteryx to take an off the shelf jacket; slap some multicam on it and charge double is ridiculous. It’s taxpayer abuse and it’s why they don’t market to the military; because they know it won’t sell. They market the tactical fanboys.
Arc’teryx is the worst when it comes to inflated prices. Plus, it’s made in China. I’m not paying $500 for a jacket made in China. I almost bought one of their softshell jackets one time because it was 60% off (at a certified dealer shop), so it would have been around $120, until I saw the Made In China tag. Which is funny because of all the chest beating on their website about “in house” manufacturing, and North American based manufacturing. I’d rather buy the Condor softshell for a 1/5 of the price. Still made in China, but just as good in my opinion. I didn’t really see anything that impressive with the Arc jacket I looked at. Looked like any other softshell jacket out there.
When I read stuff like this, the words start to form in my head so that they sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. You can lay two manufacturers coats down side by side. Maybe you can’t, but I can tell the difference in quality right there by materials and construction. If I put them on, the fit block is going to tell me even more. Generally, things cost more because it costs more to build them. In the case of Arc’teryx this is certainly true.
For some odd reason there is this almost maniacal hatred of Arc’teryx lately. I find it amusing, like teenage boys who’ve never even kissed a girl talking about sex. The incorrect stuff people yammer on about is amazing.
You guys do realize that Arc’teryx is a Canadian company right? And they do make both trade and Berry compliant products when needed? But, they don’t run around telling folks that every product they make is made in the US, because they don’t have to be. You also realize that they have a MUCH larger commercial line as well as a very high end luxury clothing line? And…they remain in business and turn a profit even though some of you didn’t buy their products. Why? Because the folks who actually can tell the difference between them and a knock off brand respect quality and performance and realize that is an investment.
While this should be a whole article, it is important for SSD readers to know that there are some materials and constructions that are simply unavailable in the US due to the lack of domestic infrastructure. If Americans didn’t want to buy 6 pair of drawers for $5 then we might actually have a robust American textile industry. But since everybody buys foreign made clothing, that’s where it continues to be made and that’s where companies invest in infrastructure. This includes the high end stuff. It’s made overseas too in some of the same factories. Very high end stuff. The Chinese (and others) will build whatever you ask for and are more than capable of doing it. That means .99 underwear as well as $500 jackets.
Go take a class on manufacturing and learn what it takes to develope and build something. Capture ALL of the costs involved. Than come back and speak intelligently on how tough this business is and what a reasonable profit based on investment is.
It’s amazing what you don’t know
Same goes for you, FRag boy
I know a couple of things. One is that you’re a troll who has a very finite command of the English language which is what we use here on SSD. I long ago said that if you don’t have anything useful to say, say it somewhere else, which is what you’ll be doing from now. Good bye and good luck.
Arc’teryx is every bodies whipping boy. Nice kit but common. Does every thing you make need to be so expensive? Some of your idea will be less painfull. $30 for a ball cap? really? It’s clothing, not a hight tech wiz bang. Sometimes yes, it a great intricate design so it adds up. But it does seem on average….
I am a fan of ArcTeryX clothing. I’ve owned two of there consumer goretex jackets and they are top of the line. I just don’t understand the price hike in their LEAF line. ArcTeryx does make some of the best clothing out there; it’s just insanely priced in LEAF
If you knew as much as you profess to know, you’d understand it.
All the Arc’Teryx gear I’ve seen has been amazing BUT… I’d much rather destroy three $100 jackets at work than one $500 jacket… Whether it was issued to me or not, out of principal.
That’s a fair comment. What are you doing to destroy jackets?
Fantastic site guys, such a wealth of knowledge coming directly from the industries that are supplying the demands of those users.
Lets be clear, these items are developed because of a need, basic principal of innovation.
Tactical Fan Boys are not the driving force behind a lighter and more efficient armour carrier and neither are the wealthy spelunkers the drivers for the innovation of new clothing for tactical use.
The driving force for anything to be developed is reporting from the end users and I would hazard a guess that for anything to have any kind legitimate go at saying that they are ‘Tactical’ they need to speak to the operators.
Broad comments like “In The Ghan the only use X’ are ridiculous.
Firstly because, when did you do a whip around and get a 100% count on what is there?
Secondly, only though having items take outside of their cozy ‘Tacticool-Airsoft-Paintball-weekend Bushwalk’ does a company find the data they need to develop the best.
Finally, all of this costs money, whether its sending Joe developer out into the carpark to drag himself around on the gravel to find where the wear patches are, or whether 100 trial jackets have been sent to a group to destroy and review, then updated, sent out, destroyed again, reviewed etcetera until a true quality jacket is decided upon and then finally commissioned.
Put simply, If Arc’Teryx did not do the job, either tactical or otherwise, they would not be bought by the industry, and either they would redevelop or not sell.
No company will continue to sell something no one is buying, neither will people continue to buy something that is overpriced and not doing the job.
What one person thinks is overpriced another will gladly pay.
Case and point are the different disciplines, shooters will spend all the money on a comfortable, light, durable and practical rig.
A Medic will spend what is required to do their job also.
Anyone who can claim that ‘Issued is all you need’ or ‘If you’re not shopping green you’re paying too much’ are fools.
Your job and your ability to do your job are directly related to your commitment to better your own abilities; to do that you need to spend money to find what works and what doesn’t.
I personally own far too many Medkits, all of which have been; the cutting edge, not worth it, the best, the worst, usable, unreliable and the best laid out kit since (insert brand here) at one point or another.
If you cannot justify spending the money then you are either not sure what you require to do your job better or you are not doing you job properly.
Does this mean spending the highest price on everything? No.
The ability of critical thinking is required. If you lack the ability to discern from what is needed and what is not and what is practical and what is just adding something else on to make it seem innovative, then the problem is not the developer but you.
Thankfully, there are those out there you can ask for advice, read comments about practicality and also see what the industry is moving toward shaped by the end users.
If only there was an internet site that prided themselves on this and not catering to the Fan boys or to fill their own pockets………
If only
99.99999% of the population just don’t have a clue (me included) as to cost for clothing production. Just the materials alone. But a surefire light you can see and ASSUME costs related to a high tech item. Whether we are right or not. people would be surprised as to how little it costs for some of thier consumer products and the reverse is also true. You don’t know what you don’t know.