Target Eddie Bauer gear

“I noticed in a magazine ad for Rokk that one of their packs looks just like the EB pack I got at Target. I looked at the Rokk website, and the packs from Target are the same as some of the Rokk packs (except for the colors). It looks like some of the EB tents and sleeping bags are the same as Rokk, too. Has anyone ever used Rokk gear?”

“My guess is that outdoor gear, as with bicycles and home electronics, is mostly made by a very few contractors in Asia. After sharing factories, sharing designs is just another way to cut costs for certain brands.”

“My pack is made by "American Recreation Products", which has the same mailing address as Rokk, so it looks like they really are the same. A review on backpacker.com says that the Rokk Minaret (the same as the EB Expedition) is good if you have a small budget and keep the load under 35 lbs.

http://www.backpacker.com/article/0,2646,329,00.html?”

“American Recreation Products is a large conglomerate that owns many outdoor gear companies including Rokk, Acadamy Broadway, Kelty, Everest Elite, Pangea, Ridgeway, Sierra Designs, Slumberjack, Travasack, Trek, and Wenzel.

American Recreation Products is a subsidiary of Kellwood Company (NYSE:KWD), a $2.2 Billion marketer of apparell and camping gear. ARP being their "outdoor division".

What the connection between Eddie Bauer and Rokk is, I don't know. Although it wouldn't surprise me if Kellwood has something to do with Eddie Bauer.

I don't have any personal experience with Rokk gear, but the owner of Packlite told me that he is not very impressed with Rokk packs (said the quality and durability is questionable), but that Rokk sleeping bags are great. Good quality and material, and innovative design. i.e. Polortec in the foot boxes, arch across zippers.”

“Very interesting, thanks.”

“So I take my buddy out to buy his first pack. We go to the upper crust gear shop and can't find jack squat. It was all either too pricey ($225+), too heavy (6lbs.+), or just plain fugly. So say, "Hey, let's just drop by Target` and see what they have."

We found the Eddie Baur pack that is 5,500 c.i., weighs aournd 5 lbs., has a built in rain cover, kewl pockets like on the Danas, top pocket/fanny pack, water bladder sleeve, sleeping bag compartment with zippered devider and all for $99! Is it bomb proof and indestrucable? No but it is a fine pack for the money.”

“Two weeks ago it was on sale for $79.00”

“Did you see those tiny "display" sleeping bags...that could be used for babies!”

“Nigal, give us a report after a season's use. I will be interested to know how it holds up and how your friend likes it.”

“Kleetn, a season's use might add up to 4 uses. That's why I was not so worried about stearing him towards the Eddie pack. I plan on swapping him my Gregory pack so I can try it out and see how it is under weight. The only place I could see any type of corners being cut was the zippers, but then again, it's ALWAYS the zippers, ey?”

“Nigal, that would be even better (to get a report from an experienced dirtbagger).”

“Give one to a boyscout! It won't be a matter of IF it will get destroyed, but when.”

“Yeah, but at least he can split his gear up between 70 of his closest chums. LOL!”

“I haven't used mine for a trip yet, but I think that it will be well worth the $79 price. The fabric and seams look pretty good. The zippers look OK, definitely not top of the line. I think that the weak point of the pack will probably be the frame/suspension. I guess that I will find out when I go on an outing with it.”

“Or you can do like the rest of us and walk it around town for a few miles and see how it feels.

Um, we do all do that, don't we?”