MH: Is it me or are they the new TNF?

“In January, 2006, I purchased the MH Exposure II Parka from REI. I had hopes of possibly expanding to 4 seasons. I haven't, yet. The jacket has seen a maximum 2-3 weeks of bad weather. Almost immediately it started pilling on the inside section of the sleeves, below the elbow.

In the first week of last Month, I wrote them a detailed email and asked if it were me, can I do something, etc. etc. Not hearing from them, I wrote again in the early days of this Month. Still no answer.

Yesterday, the zipper failed. The slider does not slide.

I've never had a zipper fail. More importantly, I've never had product inquiries completely ignored by a Gear Company.

I think the jacket goes back this weekend and I'm pretty sure I'm done with MH.”

“Aern't they owned by columbia now?”

“bear, thanks for the information, you MIGHT want to casually mention you do coorespond with a large number of (or a number of Large) avid hikers/backpackers....I have found that the "bad news' information tends to get some action.

Good luck dude.”

“MH played fast and loose with the weights of their sleeping bags also a few years ago.”

“Looks like the MH website is current and no mention about them being sold to anyone. Looks like a separate company to me.”

“PORTLAND, Ore. (April 1, 2003) – Outdoor apparel and footwear leader Columbia Sportswear Company® (Nasdaq: COLM) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Mountain Hardwear, Inc. The aggregate consideration was approximately $36 million, including approximately $30 million in cash and $6 million in debt assumption. A wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear merged with and into Mountain Hardwear effective March 31, 2003. As a result of the merger, Mountain Hardwear is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear

Knew I saw that somewhere.”

“They'll here about my review on the forums. After I take it back.

BTW - it was made in China. ;)

And can anyone recommend a decent shell for 200-250?”

“NOt a shell but I am sure it would take out 200 to 250 people......

”

“I haven't had any problems with my MH tents but if what LtHiker says about Columbia acquiring was accurate, and I have no reason to doubt him, then quality and customer service could have slipped. Columbia really isn't a bad company but I don't think their main focus is extreme outdoor equipment. In the early days of TNF and MH that was the entire focus.”

“I have a MH soft shell and have had no problems. Cannot remember the exact name of it, but I purchaced it from prolite, great website.”

“Knew I had seen this on the MH website a few days ago,

"General Questions about Our Company

Why did Mountain Hardwear decide to become part of Columbia Sportswear?
In 2003, Mountain Hardwear decided to sell the assets of our company to Columbia Sportswear. We continue to operate and design our products independently of Columbia Sportswear in Richmond, California and we are still managed by the same founders and designers that started the company in 1993. The combination is a good fit considering Columbia Sportswear's strengths as a company. By using their operational expertise in areas such as warehousing, accounting systems, and international distribution we are able to concentrate on designing the best products possible.
Will the quality of Mountain Hardwear products change as a result of their partnership with Columbia Sportswear?
Columbia's focus is on creating value oriented products at the mid-level retail market and Mountain Hardwear's focus is on designing leading-edge products for the technical user. Columbia Sportswear wanted to find a company that complimented their market position, and not compete with them. The quality and innovation of our products is what attracted Columbia and we continue to work very hard at maintaining that focus.
Where are your products made?
Mountain Hardwear manufactures products in many countries around the world, choosing our manufacturing partners based on product quality, industry experience, dedicated and honest working relations, human rights issues, environmental concerns, and economics. Our gear is made by people who believe in craftsmanship. We make small production runs of complicated technical equipment and are, therefore, selective about the materials we use and who produces them. We assemble materials from all over the world—aluminum poles from Utah, fleece from Massachusetts, down from China, Europe, and the U.S., zippers from Japan—all from companies that share our philosophy of creating the best possible gear. We want to be assured that the gear we sell, gear on which the buyer sometimes stakes his/her life, is as good as we can make it."”

“All they had to do was email me back within 6 weeks. Vasque, MSR, SD. All got back to me within a week.

Why would I buy something else from them if they can't be bothered with any type of customer service?”

“Just a thought but try calling them. Maybe there is an e-mail conflict.

1-800-953-8375

E-mail is great and all but I have had several problems with lost e-mail.
last edited: 2/14/07 5:48:26 PM”

“too bad. I am still wearing 10 year old MH fleece and a down jacket.”

“MH started its downhill slide a few years ago. They were originally a company made up from the guys who started Sierra designs. They wanted to get back to designing gear for real outdoor folks and get away from the corporate crap. I am paraphrasing a little here but basically I was told ..."We got tired of running a big company and wanted to get back to hands on designing and testing gear. We're not corporate guys, were backpackers and climbers".

Well, they got too big and became part of the same crap they left.

Amy was doing product testing for their premier ice climbing shell a few years ago. When she got the prototype she realized the hood wouldn't fit over her helmet. She called the rep and was told that they decided the college crowd didn't’t like how the larger hood looked when rolled up into a collar, so they made the hood smaller. She went into a rant about how their only real technical jacket should at least be able to be used by a real climber.

They sent her a new jacket a couple months later….with a larger hood.

It’s all about how ya look to some, not how you will actually use the product.

The small company's are still the ones who usually supply the most innovative and useful gear.
last edited: 2/14/07 8:03:01 PM”

“Bearmagnet I hate to hear about your luck with MH;

I think and would hope that it might be an isolated incident for your parka though, because I have owned the Exposure II for about 4 years or so and have had no problems, but of course in manufacturing any variable including the day it was made can have an effect on quality.

Keep us posted on your outcome.

I would definitely think twice about dealing with a company that will not go the extra mile to solve any such issue.”

“Bear not sure why you go unanswered I had some questions on MH sleeping bags that they had answered in 2 days. It also took TNF the same amount of time to answer questions on their sleeping bags as well.”

“as long as there's a pocket for my MP3...that is what's really important.
:p
(kidding, of course)

I remember when TNF was bought out...by Playtex or something, wasn't it?

argghhh”

“And so it goes. Sad really, MH made some excellent gear. I have pants and shorts by them that are going on 7! I wish I could replace them with something of the same quality.”