Columbia sportwear - does it really exist?

vermooten
vermooten Posts: 2,697
edited September 2008 in The bottom bracket
I admit I'm shallow, and lazy. But I reckon that if Columbia are willing to heave lorry loads of cash into pro cycling then hell! I'm gonna buy some of their gear as a "thank you".

Problem: they don't seem to sell it anywhere. I rang the UK distributr, they gave me the name of a chain in Manchester that sells the stuff. Went to one shop, the guy was obnoxious and didn't help me, but I found not one Columbia item. Tried their other shop, found one pair of waterproof pants with the logo on, nothing more. Tonight went to Black's, the guy told me that they didn't have any and weren't plannning to get any more. "There isn't much of it about."

Soooooooooooo.... I mean: WTF? Why publicise something that no-one can buy?

(Yes I know I can buy it online but I'd like to see it first. Rather buy it in a shop.)

Thoughts?
You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

Manchester Wheelers

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Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    They are really big here in the states. You find their stuff everywhere. They sell it all
    so to speak. Started out selling snow ski wear and now sell all kinds of "outdoor"
    clothing and gear. Advertisements on the television all the time.

    Dennis Noward
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I'm not sure I'd want to buy any - it's not fantastic quality - akin to Peter Storm and Regatta stuff. Snow & Rock and Cotswolds stock it too I think. I bought a pair of their GoreTex shoes once and they fell apart in about 6 months.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • floosy
    floosy Posts: 270
    I get mine from snow and rock....
  • I think the comparison with the Peter Storm cack is a bit unfair - I've had a pair of those 'sawn off' style shorts/trousers for a few years now and they've done pretty well - they've endured many mountain and camping trips as well as everything the kids have thrown at them.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    I think the comparison with the Peter Storm cack is a bit unfair - I've had a pair of those 'sawn off' style shorts/trousers for a few years now and they've done pretty well - they've endured many mountain and camping trips as well as everything the kids have thrown at them.


    I'm the same way. No problem with their clothing.

    Dennis Noward
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    I bought a pair of their cargo trousers in TK Max in Carmarthen the other day for £12. they are very nice - originally £50 or so. Superb pub wear.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    vermooten wrote:
    I admit I'm shallow, and lazy. But I reckon that if Columbia are willing to heave lorry loads of cash into pro cycling then hell! I'm gonna buy some of their gear as a "thank you".

    Don't waste your time and money with Columbia.

    Thisis where it's at.

    :wink:
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    iainf72 wrote:

    Don't waste your time and money with Columbia.

    Thisis where it's at.

    :wink:

    I'm nowhere near cool enough for that stuff.
    Dennis Noward
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I have a pair of shorts that must be going on 15 years old now ? I never noticed they were Columbia til this year - so they are pretty good quality to last this long.

    They are still sold in the UK http://www.gaynors.co.uk/shop/656/289/index.htm
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    They are all over Hong Kong also - I agree that their stuff isn't top quality, but it's alright. Nice range of UV protection shirts. I wonder if they'll branch out into cycling gear now?

    By the way, IanF72 - have you been out for long? :wink:
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    pottssteve wrote:
    By the way, IanF72 - have you been out for long? :wink:

    Out as someone who knows that Rock and Republic would impress they laydeez more than Columbia? Yes, yes I am :D
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • I've got a fair bit of Columbia kit. It's all decent stuff and it's lasted an awful long time. No concerns as to quality from my experience anyway!
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    robbarker wrote:
    I bought a pair of their cargo trousers in TK Max in Carmarthen the other day for £12. they are very nice - originally £50 or so. Superb pub wear.
    Do you have a separate 'pub wardrobe' Rob?

    I have an image in a man decked out in advanced materials which wick away spilled beer and protect the body from bush-related encounters* on the way home...


    *of the horticultural kind.
  • I think 'Blacks' stock Columbia....and I think there's a Nissan X-Trail Columbia Special Edition as well
    'How can an opinion be bullsh1t?' High Fidelity
  • They dont appear to be as good as Patagonia for example.

    If you want a decent fleece with a cycling tint then google 'Ground Effect New Zealand'

    I had a look at the Highroad Sports webstore and there is little in there of interest either.
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    ianf72,

    I'm glad the stuff works for you as a ladymagnet. I suppose I'm secure enough in my ability to impress even when dressed like a sack of sh*t.. :wink:
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    I had to get a pair of shorts as I burned the a*se out of the pair I was wearing by falling off the dry toboggan in Alpe d'Huez :lol: , they turned out to be Columbia, although I didn't realise it at the time.

    My OH loves sifting through the crap at TK Maxx quite often, so I sometime find myself in there, as someone earlier suggested they seemed to have quite a bit of Columbia stuff in (bit hit and miss though).

    Have you tried Ellis Brigham?
  • I've seen a fair bit of Columbia outdoor gear around the UK, plenty in the US, always seems fairly good quality for the money/ But I have never seen any Columbia cycling gear ever. The OP's opriginal question I think was referring to cycling gear - has anyone seen anything made by them for sale anywhere since they are now sponsoring a team?
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Errr - do the cycling strips count ? ;-)


    (i guess they arent made by Columbia - but I've not seen one in the flesh)
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    randellp wrote:
    I've seen a fair bit of Columbia outdoor gear around the UK, plenty in the US, always seems fairly good quality for the money/ But I have never seen any Columbia cycling gear ever. The OP's opriginal question I think was referring to cycling gear - has anyone seen anything made by them for sale anywhere since they are now sponsoring a team?

    I read on the "Pez" site a while ago that it's in really bad form to wear any team jersey/
    shorts if you're not on that team.

    Dennis Noward
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    cougie wrote:
    I have a pair of shorts that must be going on 15 years old now ? I never noticed they were Columbia til this year - so they are pretty good quality to last this long.

    They are still sold in the UK http://www.gaynors.co.uk/shop/656/289/index.htm
    Swede who lives in Carlise got his from there.
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    randellp wrote:
    The OP's opriginal question I think was referring to cycling gear
    I was actually after the jackets and t-shirts and that. Ended up buying Berghaus.
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • dennisn wrote:

    I read on the "Pez" site a while ago that it's in really bad form to wear any team jersey/
    shorts if you're not on that team.

    Dennis Noward

    Sure I agree it's a bit embarrassing to wear team or national kit, but again, the question is, do Columbia now make and sell "generic" cycling clothing, seeing as in my experience of their other outdoor gear it's reasonably cheap and durable?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    randellp wrote:

    Sure I agree it's a bit embarrassing to wear team or national kit, but again, the question is, do Columbia now make and sell "generic" cycling clothing, seeing as in my experience of their other outdoor gear it's reasonably cheap and durable?

    The Columbia web site doesn't show any cycling gear yet.

    Dennis Noward
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    I heard that GORE was a sort of Cycling arm of Columbia...but this may well be a complete lie.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Jez mon wrote:
    I heard that GORE was a sort of Cycling arm of Columbia...but this may well be a complete lie.

    Ain't true, AFAIK - two completely separate (and competing) operations.

    No reason why Columbia should start making cycling gear just because they are sponsoring - they wouldn't be the first clothing manufacturer to sponsor a team and not make a clothing line. Hell, the Rapha womens team wore "Rapha" gear that was actually manufactured by Nalini.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'

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