this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2025
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Buy European

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[โ€“] [email protected] 44 points 4 days ago (1 children)

love of fuck, stop using this meme template with canadian douchebag/pedo

[โ€“] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago

As a Canadian, I agree.

So many different alternatives

[โ€“] [email protected] 26 points 4 days ago (1 children)

To be fair, Patagonia is more ethical than some of the EU ones, all things considered.

(Although itโ€™s absolutely ridiculously expensive)

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

Its not any more expensive than some of the European stuff haha

[โ€“] [email protected] 26 points 4 days ago

Petzl is missing, they are French.

[โ€“] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago

Drake is a rapist fuck. Use another template.

[โ€“] [email protected] 20 points 4 days ago

The last time I needed to get a jacket, I did some Internet searches and asked in three different stores, one name kept popping up every single time: Vaude seems to take this whole sustainability thing quite serious, manufactures part of their collection in Germany and guarantees fair conditions for work they outsourced.

[โ€“] [email protected] 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Scarpa is another good euro outdoor equipment brand

[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

I absolutely love Scarpa. They make the only footwear that really, really, fits my weird feet off the shelf. I just wish they made ski boots for the sane.

[โ€“] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago (2 children)

made in china all over the place

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[โ€“] [email protected] 18 points 4 days ago

What's with Vaude?

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Just bought the oldest kid their first sleeping bag: From Nordisk rather than Marmot.

[โ€“] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Decathlon is French I think?

[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago

Decathlon is involved with child and possibly slave labor through it's Asian suppliers, also the company still operates in Russia under a barely disguised name.

[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yes but a lot of their stuff is made under poor and toxic circumstances by people who get paid very little. Not the best imho

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[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

Correct. I can recommend it, their home brands are cheap, and the quality is generally good.

[โ€“] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Here's a directory of backpacking/hiking/outdoors vendors that I have bookmarked and have used a few times.

You can filter results by country( to exclude US) but also check out the cottage industry filter. Those are the little guys who are going to be hurting the most and they make the niche and better quality gear.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Vibram is also in the list (IT), and it makes rubber soles (or shoes) that are used by many other brands. I love Garmont for hiking shoes.

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Don't get anything made of GoreTex as that is produced by American comoany W. L. Gore & Associates. Fjellrรคven has decent cotton products that lasts. Personally I prefer Norwegian brand Bergans. You also have Hรคrkila (finish) and Klรคttermusen (Swedish) last one primally focuses on light weight climbing gear

[โ€“] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago

Donโ€™t get GoreTex because itโ€™s using PFAS chemicals which are harmful to the nature weโ€™re out there to enjoy.

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Don't get goretex for the simple reason that the patent has expired anyway so any company can make the exact same product under another name anyway.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

It seemed like every second person in Amsterdam had a fjall raven pack when I was there.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That's true for most of Netherlands, really.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago (4 children)

Not a recommendation, but just for completeness sake: Supedry Japan is British!

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[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (2 children)
[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago

Would explain the Canadian flag in the picture over their name.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago

They are owned by a Finnish company now. Same owner as Salomon.

That Finnish company is owned by a Chinese company. So it doesn't really matter. I try to avoid companies that outsource their production to Asia anyway. Doesn't matter if their millionaire owner live in Europe.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I thought the north face was a niche podcast group when I first saw the logo (I live outside of USA and EU) and was REALLY disappointed when I learned it's just the same thing as Gucci or something

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[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

Tenaya is a Spanish company that makes some of the most comfortable climbing shoes I have tried.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago
[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Mammut is top notch. I love their gear. I never see them in the US.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Mammut is fairly common in shops catering to non-tourists. Some of the American brands listed (Mountain Hardware and Columbia) are not brands people entrust their lives to.

SOURCE: I live in Wyoming. Only tourists wear Columbia.

PS: My wife should be sponsored by Rab. It's all she wears in the winter.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Using the same trekking boots from salewa for years, still in very good shape.

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[โ€“] Snowstorm 4 points 4 days ago

Congrat on feddit.uk for more than 50 answer to the buy EU group. Is it me or the growth is awesome lately? More people on Lemmy is nice but more like-minded people is even better.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Silly me ... always thougth Patagonia was from Argentina .... but its based in Ventura, California.

[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I get buying European, but ditching a responsible brand like Patagonia seems misguided.

If there's anything like an ethical brand, I'm pretty sure it's them.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Agreed, it's much better to ditch "European" brands like Salomon and Arc'teryx which fall under Amer Sports which is owned (besides being 45% Chinese) in part by billionaire/premium asshat Chip Wilson:

In his book titled Little Black Stretchy Pants, Wilson wrote that he is not necessarily opposed to child labour, as "working young is excellent training for life.

In October 2024, a sign went up at Wilson's home in British Columbia, which is the most expensive home in the province. The sign criticized British Columbia premier David Eby, reading "Eby will tell you the Conservatives are 'Far right' but neglects saying that the NDP is 'Communist.'"

In early 2024, Wilson expressed concern over Lululemon's diversity and inclusion policy saying in a Forbes interview: "theyโ€™re trying to become like the Gap, everything to everybody." He also criticized an advertisement made by the company featuring plus-sized women models, whom he said looked "unhealthy," "sickly" and "not inspirational." These statements were seen as offensive, with Time reporting them to be "fat-phobic". Lululemon was quick to distance themselves from Wilson's comments, saying, "Chip Wilson does not speak for Lululemon, and his comments do not reflect our company views or beliefs."

Buying ethically is not as easy as avoiding most American brands. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I see ads for FjallRaven from time to time and usually I get skeptical of products in ads. Has anyone here used their products?

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago

Very good gear and they donโ€™t use chemicals harmful for the environment (such as Gore-Tex / PFAS).

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)
[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (7 children)

While I sometimes buy some sport equipment here and while they have some very accessible products, you can get much better quality for a bit more expensive. Worth saving money for a month more but have really good hiking equipment (or whatever you are looking for).

Also, I worked for them a few years ago and their policies were very questionable. E.g. sometimes they were throwing away some products but always smashed them (like, with a hammer) so "it cannot be used if anyone finds it".

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Also if you're in the market for a new tent, Bergans makes a decent one

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

As a Norwegian, it hurts to say this but Hilleberg also make excellent tents.

Pricey buy you buy once and cry once.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Jesus 10000,- for a 3 person tent? Bit rich for my blood. I can recommend the one i linked to. It weighs very little and has served us well on several camping holidays in Denmark, Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. Equally good for wild camping as campsites and easily put up by one person. There's also enough room in the bag to just stuff it in if you're in a rush.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Orthovox is missing as well. They are German.

I can only recommend La Sportiva hiking, trekking and mountains shoes. Great quality.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Vaude is missing too.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

Good that you didn't include Jack Wolfskin. Had a few things, really shitty quality.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

My Swedish Didriksons jacket is still holding strong since I bought it in 2016

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