The underground industry?
Posted: Aug 6, 2007 8:58 am
Inspired by
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?t=5020
---
From a mass-market manufacturer's perspective:
- Mass-market headlamps are not generally cave-worthy, nor are they designed to be. They cannot be and leave REI's shelves at a mass-market price.
- The development of products for the mass market is driven mainly by investment strategies and by the desires of "big box" stores such as REI, EMS, Dicks, Sports Authority, Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabelas, etc...
- What chance stands the lowly caver in having the ear of a mass-market headlamp manufacturer? Well...not much.
Time to help develop the "underground" industry and market. Don't buy mass-market headlamps for caving. Don't buy your specialized caving products from X-Mart. Buy one of the many caver-developed lights. Support the "underground" industry instead of the mass-market "outdoor" industry. No-one knows better what cavers need than other cavers. I have a Stenlight. Everybody should have a Stenlight. The larger the market grows for such custom offerings, the lower the prices will become. They will *never* be as low or nearly as low as mass-market prices. But, you will be making an investment for future cavers.
It (almost) goes without saying that crappy products and services should never be supported. And if you can't find the product you need, make and sell it yourself like Scott McCrea did. Making stuff is fun.
Check out the following:
http://www.stenlight.com/
http://www.pmirope.com/
http://www.onrope1.com/
http://www.gonzoguanogear.com/
http://www.hdssystems.com/Obsolete/XAct ... AIOCC.html
http://www.bcwunderwearinc.com/
http://www.swaygogear.com/
http://howiesharnesses.com/catalog/
http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/perfect_led_light.html
http://www.speleobooks.com/
http://www.innermountainoutfitters.net/
http://www.karstsports.com/
http://www.4bobandbob.com/
http://nssbookstore.org/
http://www.caversconnection.com/
http://www.caves.org/cavestarart/
http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/
http://www.geology.com/
http://www.hodagvideo.com/'
http://www.lostcreekpacks.com/
http://www.scurion.ch/ms/index.php?lamp
http://www.bmsrescue.com/
http://www.proliteii.com/
Please add others - i know this list can't be complete!
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?t=5020
---
From a mass-market manufacturer's perspective:
- Mass-market headlamps are not generally cave-worthy, nor are they designed to be. They cannot be and leave REI's shelves at a mass-market price.
- The development of products for the mass market is driven mainly by investment strategies and by the desires of "big box" stores such as REI, EMS, Dicks, Sports Authority, Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabelas, etc...
- What chance stands the lowly caver in having the ear of a mass-market headlamp manufacturer? Well...not much.
Time to help develop the "underground" industry and market. Don't buy mass-market headlamps for caving. Don't buy your specialized caving products from X-Mart. Buy one of the many caver-developed lights. Support the "underground" industry instead of the mass-market "outdoor" industry. No-one knows better what cavers need than other cavers. I have a Stenlight. Everybody should have a Stenlight. The larger the market grows for such custom offerings, the lower the prices will become. They will *never* be as low or nearly as low as mass-market prices. But, you will be making an investment for future cavers.
It (almost) goes without saying that crappy products and services should never be supported. And if you can't find the product you need, make and sell it yourself like Scott McCrea did. Making stuff is fun.
Check out the following:
http://www.stenlight.com/
http://www.pmirope.com/
http://www.onrope1.com/
http://www.gonzoguanogear.com/
http://www.hdssystems.com/Obsolete/XAct ... AIOCC.html
http://www.bcwunderwearinc.com/
http://www.swaygogear.com/
http://howiesharnesses.com/catalog/
http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/perfect_led_light.html
http://www.speleobooks.com/
http://www.innermountainoutfitters.net/
http://www.karstsports.com/
http://www.4bobandbob.com/
http://nssbookstore.org/
http://www.caversconnection.com/
http://www.caves.org/cavestarart/
http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/
http://www.geology.com/
http://www.hodagvideo.com/'
http://www.lostcreekpacks.com/
http://www.scurion.ch/ms/index.php?lamp
http://www.bmsrescue.com/
http://www.proliteii.com/
Please add others - i know this list can't be complete!