The title is the snobificatiion of outdoor sports, an 8m video about MTB kooks, no other sports are mentioned. If you use the words outdoor sports to describe your sport, automatically implies you are special needs or gen z. What sports are indoors besides basketball and bowling, (bowling is more of a game than a sport)? They should have titled the video :" Why do MTB kooks swarm (similar to flies on a steaming pile of. )to overpriced gear to validate their vapid, nihilistic, sad, pathetic lives??"
Patagoochi as we unaffectionately call it. Decent but stupidly overpriced gear. Not a lot of choices ne more with the North face offering 20% off if you take their fucking stupid inclusion class absolutely ridiculous I'll stick with outdoor research they're the most reasonably priced best warranty and it's generally worn by people who actually go outside unlike Arc'teryx and the like
woow you're so ironic you pinned that comment wow. Yes unfortunately it is all true, there plenty of great gear for half the price. I guess you're just healing your gilt of spending tons of cash on fashionable outdoor brands :) good video though. have a good one Ps. just saying things outloud ironically doesn't make them less true, I don't know you but it seems that you are a spoiled bratt (I guess nothing wrong with that as long as you are aware of that fact). You can have plenty of joy on your local trails, with cheaper gear. This generation is so weird, trying to make a video with a message without the actual message or meaning, so lost. :(
“We’re going to spend thousands of borrowed dollars to do stuff we already do back home, in a slightly different place” is literally the most relatable line even spoken in this sport. Great video! Instant sub 🤘🏼
I think we are being taught to "consume" the outdoors. It's not just the stuff, it feels empty to me a lot when the point is to see something pretty and "be happy."
i quit the mountains after 23 years of powder cat guiding, fly fish guiding and climbing for the exact reasons you noted. i started living on a sailboat and cruising the caribbean with my dog. best decision of my life, i don't miss the mountain town attitude one little bit. and a great thing about sailing- the weak hearted and the poseurs quit pretty fast.
@@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953 I am taking it as - we are all in the same position as medieval peasants. All indentured to the servitude of our lords and masters. Corporate America.
I think you just Patagonia’s yourself bro. I was hoping the closing statement would be that you can actually can find the same joy, including the good times and shared experiences with friends without the expense and logistics of the insta worthy missions. Beau Miles is a great advocate of this approach with a great TH-cam channel for anyone interested.
Yeah, I gotta agree. I can't tell if the ending is irony or not. If it's not irony, it's like the message from the beginning was completely missed. If it is irony, it makes the comment section a masterpiece in doublethink! Any way, it was an enjoyable video, Good work
Patagonia actually repaired my 8 year old jacket and replaced 3 zippers that were oxidized after i had the jacket with me on a sailboat trip and didn't clean it properly. No questions asked, took less than a week, they even paid for international shipping. It is pretty awesome.
If you’re destroying xtr components and sections of your frame “every time” you ride then you have to be doing something wrong. Raced enduro for 3 years and broke 3 chains, 1 derailleur, 1 disk, and a few tires.
What really makes things go over the top is that we all feel the need to buy the best gear out there, but most people will never need to mix-max enough to actually experience the value of that gear. A perfect example is someone who goes biking or skiing just a few times per year but has spent thousands on gear. Or the person who goes car camping, but has the all the lightest, coolest looking gear on the market. It's all way over the top. The problem stems from several areas, such as: * marketing * the desire to have the same gear that the best people in the sport have. "if I can afford, why not" kind of mentality. "it'll last longer, right?" I love when I come across people who don't have the best gear, but are the best out there. It just shows how superfluous so much of the gear is. It's all minimal enhancements in the scheme of things. And the whole reason I get outdoors is to get away from modern society, which is filled with distractions that we don't need. Why bring that outdoors? It's a difficult balance, for sure.
You bring up a very important issue imo. Most of the more expensive "pro" outdoor gear we get marketed as durable/better/etc.. is actually (when it's not a total scam) designed to provide very marginal gains to pro or semi-pro athletes who can really use that advantage in competition or at their very high level of performance. We, as "regular" amateurs or enthusiasts, won't benefit from that extra technical advantagr probably like 90+% of the time we spend doing that activity, because we just don't push the tool to their extremes as the pros do. And on the flip side, with the anxiety of constantly needing upgrade our stuff to the newest model or higher spec'ed versions, we are never really extracting the most juice out of our current gear, which most likelt has a ton more to offer us than we think, if only we focused on getting better at the activity, instead of overcompensating our lack of skills and practice with new gear. The industry has definitey succeeded in making us think that if we devote our limited disposable income in the latest tech, we will be "real" athletes, which is just part of a the bigger dynamic of paying money for a supposedly quick improvement.
I have a bike I paid 3.2k for in 2021. I would say I’m in the 80 to 90 percentile of people in Colorado as far as frequency of mountain biking. You don’t need a 10k bike to crush it. Plus, most people I know with that expensive of a bike buys a new one ever 3 to 5 years and don’t take good care of them during that time.
“The only zen you find on a mountain peak is the zen you bring with you” - Robert Pirsig Tough to remember to pack, then carry on the actual outing that zen when you’re burdened down by all the latest and greatest and the desire to look cool for people who aren’t even there. Kerouac, or a friend of Kerouac said, I think in Dharma Bums, when talking about mountaineering calls, those things aren’t meant for the people below. Without setting yourself up for failure, the more minimalist, less prepared for *every* possibility you are, the more adventurous your adventures become. Don’t be careless, but don’t bring the farmhouse apron sided kitchen sink.
I have been living out of my 3000 dollar van with my second hand $300 hard tail and $500 surf board and have been traveling up down the country for last 8 moths, including gear, fuel, and everything I have spent $7000
Hat's off to you! You know what you need to bike, surf, and sleep, and you're not getting sold anything you don't need. I imagine you must find tremendous gratification at the end of each day, living within your means and loving it.
@@waylonk2453 yeah fo sure, one of the best things I have ever done, love the purity of it. After a while tho you do start to lack a bit of purpose, witch is the reason i am finishing up in a month to peruse a career in fire fighting. Also gets a bit lonely doing it on your own but you make friends on the road. But yeah no regeats it has been maxed fun, and has helped me grow a lot.
At both ends of the income spectrum there exists a leisure class. I hiked the AT last year and spent like $9000 total in six months. So less than that bike cost! I’m doing the Trans Am bike route this year and it’ll be like half that. Riding it on my trusty $1100 Giant that I got with the first stimulus check. This guys bike
This is SO well done, never seen your channel before this but this strikes an amazing balance of filmmaking, TH-cam-friendly content, humor, all while being thought provoking about consumerism
I feel like "adrenaline sports" may be a different story, but most outdoor recreation does NOT require you to break the bank on gear. Many of the items I've had the longest are from Target, thrift stores, or other budget retailers. Marketing is a powerful thing.
I mean when you want to go tradclimbing you are going to spend quite some money on gear. I am not happy about it. But ist definitivly not cheap. Abd I would absolutely not buy any ppe second hand.
@@sportenapfeltorten2095 core equipment for most of this sports is not cheap. Bikes cost a lot, skis/snowboards cost a lot, climbing gear as well. However, you will need solid base equipment to enjoy the sport you're doing. What i don't understand is marketing and pricing of secondary equipment like clothing. Climbing pants beeing more expensive than the rope you're using. How does that make sence?
@@makoko6812 You are so right! The "boulderpants" they yell at my local outdor-shop are basicly just cargo-pants. But cost upwards of 70€ And I have this problem where all my clothes that I use frequently just keeps braking. Even the stuff that is marketed for its longevity and durability. And I am thinking. Am I expecting to much? Do I use my stuff SOOO intensively? But I guess its just planned obsolecence.
@@sportenapfeltorten2095climbing equipment is in a slightly different category though, you’re quite literally putting your life in the hands of your equipment. Not so much when deciding between a Patagonia down jacket or one from decathlon.
MAN you're just too good. I really love the work you're doing. It's funny how even things like minimalism and going out into nature are packaged up and sold, when their origin was anti consumerism.
Pretty common to see in Colorado, especially by people who moved from California or have vacation homes in Colorado. So you see a big difference between the Patagonia wearing yuppies who just moved there for the outdoors and people who lived there all their life in regular clothes.
I wear my 20 year old ski jacket as a badge of honor... got the zipper redone a few years ago. The material still holds up just fine in the PNW storms.
As a mountain biker, I really appreciated this video. Sure I probably spent too much on my rig and my gear. But the sport has thankfully gotten a huge reality check over the last 12 months. Bikes got WAY too expensive, and too many people with a little too much money got into the sport causing the amount of elitism to increase. While I agree that parts break too often, I don't think people truely understand just how much punishment bikes/gear get put through mountain biking. I crash ALL the time. My pedals get caught on stuff, and I spend a lot of time going through spicy rock gardens. Bikes have gotten a lot more durable over the last 10 years, but at the end of the day, you're going off paved roads and into terrain that will break yourself and gear. Its part of the game.
I worked at a local ski slope last year and loved it, so worked at a big destination mountain this year and am sorta put off by how much the experience of skiing is sold as a commodity that wealthy people feel pressure to consume and enjoy. And gear is so expensive but you 'need' a new right specialized peice for everything. The local mountain had simpler terrain and people ride the same generic skis for 10 years, but i think people enjoy themselves way more
I was right on the edge of this lifestyle for a while. All the things you say, I was right there with you. Components! Gear! Break downs! Breathable! Outdoor coffee! Durable! Wasn't for me though. Opted for shoes and a hip bag. But you nailed this video and I still love you guys. A million times better then driving a loud ass, stinky Jeep everywhere.
I do not relate to this idea at all, and I have hiked several hundred mountains (scrambled and even climbed a few), hiked over 12,300 miles, and 4.4 million feet of elevation, mostly close to home, but also on road trips I loved. I bought next to nothing special, but what I did I sold when I stopped using them. I never cared about what I wore or the products I used.
I get it… but my 13 year old Arc’teryx hard shell I bought on sale is still waterproof and keeps me safe on the top of mountains. But it’s my ONLY jacket. I don’t have 6 for the sake of it
I can completely relate to this. The thing is, I went through a phase when I decided all the useless activities I loved were basically meaningless and that was one of the most miserable times for me. Like you said, balance is key, and a lot of these activities can be done on the cheap. As I get older it's less about adrenaline or taking trips and more about escaping the monotony, the time outside to think and get exercise.
I think when people take on hobbies they should make an effort and take pride in doing the hobby but the most cost effective way. You often learn things and create techniques for yourself if you don’t have the perfect tool for the job. Once you’ve established that the hobby you’re doing is something that’s going to stick with you, then money becomes less of a factor for what’s become your passion.
Balance is always key. The lowest environmental impact way to live is to stay at home, never buy anything, never go anywhere, don't own a car, minimise all travel, don't buy anything that isn't essential etc... but for most people that's like the miserable life starter pack. Particularly if you have a 9-5 you don't particularly like (which is the majority of people). Doing things you enjoy is important. Getting out in nature with friends and doing stuff that gives you adrenaline, dopamine, exercise and/or satisfaction is important for your mental and physical health. You can still try to do some things to minimise your costs and impact - spend your money wisely on only items you get a return from and try to keep local if you can. For example for us here in the UK there's tonnes of mountain biking within the country and there's great riding in France and Switzerland etc which you can drive to (Morzine etc). You don't need to fly half way around the world to Whistler for a 1-2 week riding holiday. You can also share gear with friends, buy 2nd hand and share rides where possible.
I remember when I was hiking through Spain I needed a rain jacket... Innocent as I am, I walked into an Arc'teryx store. Their simple rain jacket would have set me back over 300 Euro if I remember correctly :D I found a running shop that sold me a rain jacket for 15 Euro. Continued hiking for another 2 months through the mountains and still have that simple jacket...
It is hard for me to imagine life without this channel existing. It is just TOO good, I feel absolutely spoiled every time I sit down to watch your work. I don't even care about mountain biking, I've never gone, but I don't care, I got so much out of these 8 minutes and 2 seconds it's not even funny.
Totally agreed! His videos has just a very different good vibe into it, also I can't believe you're here too nathaniel ^^ I watch some of your videos as well
So funny Nathaniel Drew. I love the idea of Mt. Biking but I'm not great. That being said I watch every episode of DIALED for the content and the quality Shaffer and Jake put out. Enjoy your videos a lot as well.
yes and no You can spend as much or as little money as you really want. My MTB was purchased second hand. Spent good money on my helmets, but other than that the rest of my riding gear was either thrifted or purchased at Walmart/ Giant Tiger/ Winners. Even my camping gear was purchased on the cheap at surplus stores or on sale at Canadian Tire. People themselves are to blame for believing their experience will be exponentially better by spending a fortune on professional equipment. Buy what you need within your budget and just take good care of it.
This is a beautiful video but I find it hard to agree with. I don't believe brands/manufacturers providing expensive products (alongside a line of affordable products) and taking part in sports with said products is at all "snobby". And I find the Patagonia marketing synonym silly. That was an incredibly successful campaign that not only lined patagonia pockets, It changed consumers mind and perspective on fast fashion, including mine. The snobbery found within sports like this have more to do with keeping up with joneses and cliques imo, both of which can be easily overcome on a personal basis. Buy affordable, look for deals, use your gear for a long time and don't associate with the "culture". These sports have levels and only genuine idiots see a video of a pro with a 12k bike and assume the need 10-15k to start... When it comes to mountain biking, It's not far fetched to find a great beginner setup for less than 1500-2000. Add another $200 for gear and tools. Is that a lot to ask for that ability to float through a forest on a modern high tech bicycle? Do you really expect these fragile metal pieces (made that way by design for redundancy/weight savings) to constantly withstand abuse and never need replacing? I agree that there's a lot of snobbery within these sports but I think it's the participants and not the corporations selling the gear/the idiots shouting "you need a 10k bike to even ride in the woods!"
I'm living in a very outdoorsy city in the alps (Innsbruck) and lots of people move here because they want to go skiing, mountain biking or hiking. Haha and the consumerism in this field is huge. People spend sooo much money and it is a lifestyle and a self-image they are buying not necessarily the gear itself. It's also a little annoying because I live in this city since I was born here. And many people that move here because of "the mountains" have made Outdoor sports their personality which is a little boring 😂
Thanks for saying this out loud! Every time I see a huge built-up overlanding rig I have these same thoughts... "Outdoor" activities have been "gentrified" to some degree.
The BEST part about the overland rigs on O’ahu, is the HARDEST trail on island can be done in a lifted Impreza. Or a lifted Honda fit. After seeing a Honda fit, these ridiculously over done Tacomas and 4Runners are laughable. While they’re capable, some are just to flex on the gram.
I had the same thought watching this. The ultimate flex is your 10k mtb hanging in the back of your 180k van or 4Runner with 30k worth of shit festooned over it like Christmas tree. Being a guy who started mtb’ing in the 80’s and what we now call overlanding in the early ‘90’s, it’s just fucking wild to see the wild consumerism and prestige associated with things that used to be pretty simple and just about accessing the backcountry. That being said, today’s bikes and trails have gotten waaaay more fun. 😆
Lol exactly. A thought I have when seeing a gas can strapped to the outside of a huge built up van is "what happens to the gas can during a crash? Is it non-flammable gas?"@@Kristian_Saile
@@willemdesmond4876 yeah or the lethal projectile which is the high lift jack which 99% of them have never learned how to use nor take them off their rig making them completely gummed up and useless if you need to actually use it. The exterior propane tanks left in the outside 24/7 too. I mean yeah, load that stuff up if you need it fir a trip but just daily driving around with all that stuff in your truck is dumb, makes it handle terribly and in some cases needlessly dangerous. If you have to hang that much shit in your vehicle, you probably bought the wrong vehicle.😆
As a mountain biker, I really appreciated this video. Sure I probably spent too much on my rig and my gear. But the sport has thankfully gotten a huge reality check over the last 12 months. Bikes got WAY too expensive, and too many people with a little too much money got into the sport causing the amount of elitism to increase. While I agree that parts break too often, I don't think people truely understand just how much punishment bikes/gear get put through mountain biking. I crash ALL the time. My pedals get caught on stuff, and I spend a lot of time going through spicy rock gardens. Bikes have gotten a lot more durable over the last 10 years, but at the end of the day, you're going off paved roads and into terrain that will break yourself and gear. Its part of the game.
Imo a good solution to this is to buy stuff that's not made for racing. If it's made for racing, it's going to be pretty durable, but it's priority is not durability, but performance when the clock is ticking. A lot of bike mechanics say that a shimano 8 speed is the most durable shifting mechanism ever (pretty much less cogs = more robust everything)
Yeah true. Ice noticed too as I got better the more shit broke. Ended up swapping away my 7 speed to a single speed on the dh rig because the derailleurs got expensive to replace.
i doubt it that mtb has gotten more durable over the last 10 years. I have a a '95 gt zaskar mtb (my old race bike). i replaced it in 2016 with a salsa horsethief. It was a vast improvement over the zaskar in terms of handling but not in components durability. I continued to use the zaskar for commuting (16.000 km/year) and finaly replaced it with a new gravel bike with 11 speed 1x drivetrain . Again, vast improvement in riding but the amount off cash i spend to replace the worn components on my new commuter bike is insane compared to my 2016 mtb (1x on the commuter bike vs 2x on the salsa mtb) and certainly vs the '95 zaskar. so things will brake when riding but old stuff is just more durable.
Being fit and healthy at 73 years old after a lifetime of bicycling compared to my sister and brother who died as drunks at 49 and 60, respectively, is a good payoff. I repaired a give-away mountain bike in my 30's, commuted to work on it and still ride it. My road bike was pricey in 1982 but I raced it, commuted on it and rode many thousands of miles on it. Used skis were my norm. My Nordic skis are 40 years old. I shop at Lift-Up Thrift Store. Life has been my luxury - not endless new shit.
I used to work at a ski shop for 3 years. You’d be amazed at the mark ups. Automatic 50% on clothing. Roughly 30%-40% on hard goods. Makes you realize how dirt cheap these companies produce things and sell them from hundreds
the word "Patagonia" was mentioned 12 times in this video, more than the word "not" (10 times) and "what" (10 times). The Patagonia logo appeared 15 times.
I'm just a simple guy who recently bought a mtb to go to work, as I'm living in the countryside. Was trying to learn the basics to choose which gear to buy, and now the algorithm can't stop showing me outdoor sports. This video synthesizes how I see people who choose to do what I need to do for necessity. Not judging though, I'm glad to see people happy for doing what they like.
This video nails it. As someone who grew up mountain biking in the 90s wearing sweatshirts and vans, it’s quite shocking. My first legit complete mountain bike cost waaay less than a modern drivetrain. I understand innovation and how comfortable and efficient gear is these days, and so much of it is available on the used market. My local REI has an insurmountable amount of used gear and it’s almost all lightly used to almost new. Even mtb tires! Which is weird.. Speaking of - bikes from REI are also underrated, in my opinion, and affordable. Everyone seems to want what the pros ride because that’s how they want to ride. That usually doesn’t work out. Anyway, thank you for the great video! Also Leatt and super $$ Norrona jackets and pants have lasted me multiple PNW winters. No complaints. (Got them used 👍)
@@chadwells7562 Same with a lot of hiking. I haven't done it seriously for years and then someone asked me to help them train for the Appalachian Trail. I got on youtube to check out the new gear and technologies and oh my god... I can't say I wasn't surprised to see people paying $15 for cork massage balls for their feet. I've got a problematic foot, so a massage ball would come in handy. I went to the dollar store though and found 3 for $2 in the pet section. They're only a couple of millimeters smaller than the cork ones and are the tennis ball style. Funny thing is that they're more "ultralight" than the $15 dollar cork ones.
I see the point. But to me personally, it's not such a big deal or issue. Just just go out and do MTB. You either enjoy it or not. that's it. Great video/channel though. I'll subscribe and explore some more. Cheers guys and happy MTBking to everybody
I just got this video in my recommended and thought about clicking on it. Looking at the view count I expected this to be just another montage of random stock videos and pictures with some script talking about outdoor brands and the rise of the industry. But it was so much more. I'm glad I watched this today, it opened up a whole new perspective on adrenaline-centric sports that I am also addicted to. Please keep up the good work :)
I think an issue worth discussing is that once rich people pick up on a hobby a new ultra luxury version of the gear is created to cater to that demographic when in reality the existing gear was likely perfectly sufficient for the vast majority of user needs, yet the market subtly shifts to cater to that and everything is suddenly that much more expensive and elitist. Like you can't ride a good bike anymore it has to be some carbon full suspension pro model with all the bells and whistles even though you're actually barely using that bike to its full potential, but you are told you're not serious about the hobby unless you're dropping thousands of dollars.
Sometimes I forget that MTB is an adrenaline sport. In my teens I definitely went for the adrenaline, but now it’s all about getting into and traversing landscapes. At the same time, I’m finding that my $4500 carbon FS was probably not really worth and it actually kind of makes me mad. It doesn’t climb as well as my ‘04 Karate Monkey did (in both hardtail and rigid configs), the maintenance for pivots and suspension makes me groan every time I think about it. Meanwhile, the Karate Monkey was basically bulletproof and I could ride all the same stuff on it that I do on my XC FS bike, even when I ran it rigid. I’m kind of starting to think that a 27.5+ rigid bike might be the path forward and save me a lot of money and groaning at pivots and suspension and a press fit BB. SIMPLIFY! Also, great timing. I was just beginning to wonder how many of my “preferences” and “needs” are the sole result of marketing. I’m finding things, and this video was refreshing to see in a world of “must-have sick new gear” reviews, over-shreddy advertising, and over-tech’d… everything.
I resonate with your point about my "preferences" and "must-haves" being due to clever marketing. I don't need the most high-speed stuff, but companies are good at stroking one's ego in order to sell high-end stuff to average users. I like to think a hardtail mountain bike is what I would get if I were to enter the sport, and I'd be happy with standard, good quality stuff. No electronic shifters or carbon parts for me!
Singlespeed ti frame with a lauf fork for me. Granted I do have some fancy Paul components on it, but for most of the riding I do, it works just great.
I actually dislike full suspension bikes as I know I'm not nearly good enough to use them to their full potential. I just goof around in a rigid fatbike.
Thanks for calling out the elitism and virtue signaling. The outdoors is for everyone, but the athlete "snob" demographic can turn a lot of people off of enjoying activities or feeling left out of the pre-existing communities. Especially for POC. Let's all help each other enjoy this life more and more.
In 1998, I was cleaning out an attic at a ski resort and was told to throw out dozens of old ski school uniforms. They were nice Spyder jackets, polar fleece and pants that were probably 10 years old already. I snagged them and used them for the next 20 years until the zipper finally broke on the jacket. I bought a nice North Face coat about five years ago, and the sleeves are frayed so bad they have holes, and I'm worried the zipper will break every time I use it. I'm hoping to get one or two more seasons out of it, but I'm so disappointed in the durability of the new materials.
The is why my $6k FS Trek is gathering dust in the garage while I ride an ‘88 Rockhopper comp on trails I can reach from my front door. It’s why I hike as many miles each year as I bike on the same trails. It’s why my 11 year old nano puff is on its third free replacement zipper. Smiles per gallon and bangs for bucks are through the roof. It’s also why I only share my secret trails and camping spots with very close friends and refuse to advertise them the inter web masses.
I encourage people to spend as much money on environmental/ public land protection as they do on gear. I send the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and the Wilderness Society a certain amount monthly, plus at the end of the year when I total up what I've spent on gear I send in a supplementary amount to flesh out what I spent on "stuff" that year to various other organizations...This encourages me to spend less on crap that really isnt "necessary" as well as ( i hope) help offset my impact on the resources I cherish....
It matters that you're out doing what the gear is intended for!!! I think (but don't know for sure) that a huge portion of the consumer base is people that have been meaninggg to take a trip out west with their bike, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Or the coastal tech bros who buy down jackets intended for extreme conditions because it is in their price range, but have never taken it to the mountains. I think this could explain the decrease in durability- the portion of the consumer base that actually needs it is shrinking.
Honestly. The "top" range down gear is often much less durable than the mid range. When you shave a 600g jacket to 250g there isn't much protection left. Still very warm. But it will likely only last you one trip. While a mid range jacket can last a lifetime at the same warmth.
I think it often depends on your approach. Most people fall into the the trap of constantly buying The Next New Shiny Thing (myself too sometimes), but if you take good care of your stuff, after an initial outlay of cash, you can settle into something more sustainable and affordable.
There is still a much larger demographic of people who recreate in the outdoors with old gear and no plans to buy the newest North Face gizmo than there are consumers versus true believers in any other domain. While it is worth it to be mindful of advertising's effect, I think you're dead on that, if you avoid overbuying, you're in good territory. You can be outdoorsy without worrying about whether you're supporting capitalism or whether or not you should protest the embargo of Cuba or something.
Yes they do. And yea i do buy expensive gear at times. I buy items based on importance. If it is gear that I will use a lot and it helps keep me safe then I go for the highest quality i can. But everything else, i do my activities in whatever I have. An example: as a human that likes to trail run I will get the best vests and backpacks as I want them to last and not fuck up when I am 10 miles out in the middles of nowhere. But as far as clothing, I rock my thrift store and walmart shorts and sports bras. It makes me chuckle when I see hikers decked out in hundreds of dollars worth of gear to do a 5 mile day hike😂
Drive your Tacoma outfitted for crossing the outback back to your custom home that is on a lot that was a forest three years ago and string up some prayer flags..
This video is a very clever Patagonia ad. Even better than the "Don't buy this jacket" campaign. The psychology involved is incredibly well thought out.
Last year I was camped near Peter's Creek while bikepacking on the Montour Trail. As I was setting up camp I saw two middle aged guys on new Specialized e-mountain bikes riding up the creek itself. I talked to the fellows and they said that they had been riding the single track near the creek since they were kids, and that the e -bikes had tripled the distance they could go, and were less pain and more fun. Did this make me start thinking of buying an e-mtb my own? It sure did.
You’re fine man. Most people break things trying to look cool. Going past your limits will only make you look foolish and result in financial losses. Work up to the big sends over months, even years. MTB only brings as much risk as you’re willing to accept.
Biking was affordable but I got priced out of my love. Then I got sick which I also cant afford and now I just drive a big rig around and look at scenery. Wasting away.
Dude your speaking from my heart. I love mountainbikes but they gut so ridiculously exepensive and brands come up with new shitty ideas every other month which add (maybe) another 1% of perfomance but come with a 20% price increase. And all the magazines/websites just jump on it because they are dependant on the content but noone (really noone) ever mentions anything about maintainability and durability in their tests.
I noticed about 40 years ago that the models in ads in Bicycling magazine started going from smiling to frowning, I guess to look more “competitive.” Funny thing was the prices increased with the frowns.
As a 65 year old outdoors veteran I can confirm this message. When I got started fleece was something sheep had, breathable was what you did and every thing was available in either green or brown. I miss that simplicity.
Replying to my own post 🤦♂️ lol, thanks for the upvotes everyone. Now a segue, YT brought up a video of a man in Japan (sounds a bit spy like) who camps out in a rented mini-van. I’m hooked. When I want to relax I watch his channel. Each journey is almost exactly the same but I find it like a meditation. I identify with him. I camped in my old van with almost nothing but a mat and sleeping bag. I was free. I could (40 years ago) park almost anywhere and have a time of peace by myself in the outdoors. His content reminds of that. He has simplified his equipment and is in the moment. That’s what the outdoors means to me. I wish everyone well and hope you have many simple moments.
I live in Utah and will travel to California, Colorado, Texas, etc to go skateboarding and my non skateboard friends are so baffled that I'll travel to another state just to go skateboarding.
Currently riding a Salsa Timberjack hardtail, wearing Lowe Alpine pants purchased in 1996, ski poles also purchased in 1996, I just replaced a Patagonia jacket from 2000, and also just replaced skis purchased in 2010. I've been mountain biking since 1990 and skiing since 1980. I've found the stuff is less important to the experience than the industry would like you to believe.
It can be frustrating to try and get into a sport where people look down on those with cheaper gear or who are beginners. The BEST community of sports I have seen, exists within foiling. There’s people surfing on foils. Downwinding. Winging. Kiting. Towing. Waking. Bunjeeing. Electric foiling. There’s even jet foils. There’s guys doing it in swimming pools. And pretty much ANY foiler you meet, loves to chat about their progress and give tips and go for a sesh with you. I haven’t seen it in many other sports. I’ll finish with this: the cheap “shitty” gear you may talk down on, may be the best someone can afford. Or it’s good enough for a beginner to have the time of their life. Eventually they get hooked and upgrade. Or they just casually enjoy it from time to time and don’t feel a need to upgrade. Let the sport connect you and learn new things.
4:15 You are buying items that are essentially in beta these days, just like has been the trend for video games. You are paying to do limit testing for Forbes 500 companies in exchange for "early adoption" issues because the products aren't ready for consumers. That being said you are also using a vehicle in the most stressful environment possible within it's limits when mountain biking. Gas powered vehicles are expected to break stuff off road, even if they're built specifically for that purpose. It's rough out there. Be safe but have fun everyone 🙂
My wife’s Santa Cruz Hightower LT C is about six or seven years old and has approximately 7-8k miles on the frame bearings and the drivetrain. Do I throw new bearings in the frame and a new drivetrain on it OR get her a new bike? She’ll have joy either way as long as she can still send it…but I’m actually torn on this one. 😅
True story, I stopped mountain biking in the '90s because stuff was always breaking. Even if nothing broke, drivetrain parts wore much faster and stuff needed adjustment much more. Switched to road and never looked back. Side note, fewer injuries as a roadie also.
Sure. If you're punting around the local group ride on your road bike it'll be less expensive. If you train and race the expense is going to be near equal. If you don't race mtb you shouldn't be ripping through gear.
If you buy good equipment you shouldn’t be breaking stuff left and right. Being a bigger dude, I always used to bust road bike wheels until I bought good ones. Same thing applies to most other parts as well.
@@sugxi In the context of your reply, I've found anecdotally that road bike equipment used on club B-level rides lasts longer than MTB equipment ridden with the same effort.
People can do what they want and spend their earnings on whatever they want. What's it to you ? I don't have expensive gear because I live on a small pension but I don't tell others what to buy, what car to drive, what bike to ride. Who's the real snob here ? People just minding their own business, living as they choose or the judgemental people who think they know best ?
My friends all wanna go snowboarding with me and shit but I cannot afford any aspect of it. I used to skate a lil, more so take photos of my friends getting nasty w it, but I can’t even really afford a complete setup anymore either. The last thing I have is 4x4ing, and I only save money doing that because I can fix my own truck. It’s wack.
Great concept. Great execution. Nice job bringing some awareness to the decadent nature of our first world play. I’ve worked in the outdoor industry for 25 years. Your vid was refreshing.
I do my training rides after work on a bike trail that goes into an extremely wealthy neighborhood (Los Gatos). I wear jeans, hoodie, work boots and ride a 20 year old bike. I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I’m homeless but I rarely get passed.
Status is more important than durability to many. I live in the PNW and EVERYONE “needs” a Tacoma, 4Runner, Imported Japanese SUV, roof tent, Kashima, top of the line kit etc. It’s funny to watch.
30nyears ago I saved up and wore TNF goretex jacket and sallopettes for skiing / mountain walking, and Lowe alpine rucksack. Now TNF qaulity has dropped, and is worn by poseurs on the high st, what happend to Lowe Alpine? That rucksack is still used daily.
Great reflections on consumerism in the context of MTB and outdoor ‘extreme’ sports in general. I would argue this paradigm exists for most sport/hobbies. I think the ‘why’ responses in this video are very true and beautifully stated: joy, adrenaline, adventure, the journey, escape, self-improvement, the list goes on… it’s personal to each of and all totally legit 🤙
I think this brings up a great point... most of the excess money we spend on our hobbies comes in the time between when we can be doing them. We only get so much time off to chase our hobbies, so a lot of the time between when we get to do it is reading about it, dreaming about it, and maybe planning the next trip and idealizing what can make it better. And that is the part where consumerism takes over- making us think we are not going to have as good of a time if we don't have the best gear. Maybe if we had better work life balance in general, we could spend more time actually doing our hobbies. Then again, there are always going to be rest days.... damnit we are screwed.
"The Outside is Free! *Parking Charges Apply" Love this Shaffer - defiinitely guilty of some of the themes here sometimes. Important to be mindful of how lucky we are.
Some of us complain that paying for a spot for your tent, within sight of another tent, a bathroom, and a grill isn't camping. But there are people who complain that using a tent isn't camping.
couldnt help but notice the resemblance to jereme tanons "the eternal beauty of snowboarding" when discussing inspiring people to do stuff in the beginning of the video
I love the aesthetics of the video as much as the subject ! Wish you'd pursued the idea further though. Because it's such an important topic, especially for anyone that loves the outdoor. I gotta admit, nowadays I'm more amazed when I hear people doing crazy shit with simple, affordable and often more repairable stuff than with the overpriced sleekest thing that was marketed as a revolution but it's only a new paint & design.
I almost fell victim to buying outdoor gucci and honestly, it's hard to resist but I'm doing well. I find that being financially incapable and being critically rational with my spendings has made it an easy choice to forgo buying stupidly overpriced outdoor stuff when I can get by with cheaper items that work just as well. Take for example bicycles. My most expensive one costed me 250 USD to build and it is still performing well after heavy use for almost three years now. It just takes discipline to take care of the bike and it will take care of you. I'm not willing to shell out the amount of cash or bury myself in debt just to buy a bicycle that costs as much as a motorcycle or even a used car, and I can say the same with other outdoor gear that's just ridiculously overpriced and not even that durable. If you really love the outdoors, you can do it with just the bare minimum amount of decent gear and the rest comes down to your physical condition. Again, bikes for example, if you want to shed weight from your bike, just lose some bodyweight and ditch the overpriced coffee after your ride. And final point, most of us are just filthy casuals and weekend warriors in outdoorsy stuff, luxury outdoor gear is just meant for bragging rights and make you look like a pro. If you ask me, look at what those who actually live in the outdoors their entire lives have and use, that will give you a good idea what can work and what's just overkill.
Love seeing some Sedona footage, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Used to be in my backyard and I have a lot of wonderful memories there. I was a hiker myself through, not a mountain biker, and looking at some of the equipment costs it makes me very glad I was content to go on foot. You won't get the adrenaline rush, but the views, friends, and exercise are all there, and the slower pace lets you soak in the atmosphere more. And you don't really need any special equipment for day hikes beyond a backpack, plenty of water, a little food, and some first aid supplies and sunscreen. Obviously it's not the exact same, but if you want to travel with a lot less money spent and with a lot less stuff to lug around with you it's definitely the way.
This is obviously a Patagonia add paid for by 5g. Wake up sheeple.
The title is the snobificatiion of outdoor sports, an 8m video about MTB kooks, no other sports are mentioned. If you use the words outdoor sports to describe your sport, automatically implies you are special needs or gen z. What sports are indoors besides basketball and bowling, (bowling is more of a game than a sport)? They should have titled the video :" Why do MTB kooks swarm (similar to flies on a steaming pile of. )to overpriced gear to validate their vapid, nihilistic, sad, pathetic lives??"
@@maxdex8the joke overshot you.
nah, i huck well over that@@AG-iu9lv
Patagoochi as we unaffectionately call it. Decent but stupidly overpriced gear. Not a lot of choices ne more with the North face offering 20% off if you take their fucking stupid inclusion class absolutely ridiculous I'll stick with outdoor research they're the most reasonably priced best warranty and it's generally worn by people who actually go outside unlike Arc'teryx and the like
woow you're so ironic you pinned that comment wow. Yes unfortunately it is all true, there plenty of great gear for half the price.
I guess you're just healing your gilt of spending tons of cash on fashionable outdoor brands :)
good video though. have a good one
Ps. just saying things outloud ironically doesn't make them less true, I don't know you but it seems that you are a spoiled bratt (I guess nothing wrong with that as long as you are aware of that fact).
You can have plenty of joy on your local trails, with cheaper gear.
This generation is so weird, trying to make a video with a message without the actual message or meaning, so lost. :(
“We’re going to spend thousands of borrowed dollars to do stuff we already do back home, in a slightly different place” is literally the most relatable line even spoken in this sport. Great video! Instant sub 🤘🏼
This applies very well to Brits (me) going on holiday in Europe to get pissed
Guilty as charged. LOL.
In my defense snowboarding in the Midwest is nothing like snowboarding in the mountains lol
@@tomsellout9576this is extremely important to point out haha
Kinda true, but skiing in Missouri is not even the same sport as skiing in Utah or Colorado
Change the title to "outdoor sport snob explains why he's not like other outdoor snobs"
I think we are being taught to "consume" the outdoors. It's not just the stuff, it feels empty to me a lot when the point is to see something pretty and "be happy."
People don't connect with the outdoors anymore because they've made it too comfortable and people have become vapid.
i quit the mountains after 23 years of powder cat guiding, fly fish guiding and climbing for the exact reasons you noted. i started living on a sailboat and cruising the caribbean with my dog. best decision of my life, i don't miss the mountain town attitude one little bit. and a great thing about sailing- the weak hearted and the poseurs quit pretty fast.
As a middle class American peasant. I approve of this message.
I need that on a branded t-shirt.
As a middle class message, I approve of this american peasant
If you’re a middle class American you’re wealthier than the vast bulk of humanity. Be grateful.
@@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953 I am taking it as - we are all in the same position as medieval peasants. All indentured to the servitude of our lords and masters. Corporate America.
@@JasonWD this is way better quality of life than medieval peasants had...
I think you just Patagonia’s yourself bro. I was hoping the closing statement would be that you can actually can find the same joy, including the good times and shared experiences with friends without the expense and logistics of the insta worthy missions. Beau Miles is a great advocate of this approach with a great TH-cam channel for anyone interested.
Yeah, I gotta agree. I can't tell if the ending is irony or not. If it's not irony, it's like the message from the beginning was completely missed. If it is irony, it makes the comment section a masterpiece in doublethink! Any way, it was an enjoyable video, Good work
Beau Miles: master of the close to home practical adventure
It helps that Beau Miles lives in beautiful countryside/bush. Easier to do stuff close to home
He also travelled halfway around the world for his adventures. So after doing that you probs don't mind some stuff close to home lolz.
The best way to have experiences is to not film yourself the whole time.
Patagonia actually repaired my 8 year old jacket and replaced 3 zippers that were oxidized after i had the jacket with me on a sailboat trip and didn't clean it properly. No questions asked, took less than a week, they even paid for international shipping. It is pretty awesome.
I find pristine Patagonia jackets in thrift stores for about $5.00 all the time.
That's because you paid for the jacket 10 times over.
If you’re destroying xtr components and sections of your frame “every time” you ride then you have to be doing something wrong. Raced enduro for 3 years and broke 3 chains, 1 derailleur, 1 disk, and a few tires.
What really makes things go over the top is that we all feel the need to buy the best gear out there, but most people will never need to mix-max enough to actually experience the value of that gear. A perfect example is someone who goes biking or skiing just a few times per year but has spent thousands on gear. Or the person who goes car camping, but has the all the lightest, coolest looking gear on the market. It's all way over the top.
The problem stems from several areas, such as:
* marketing
* the desire to have the same gear that the best people in the sport have. "if I can afford, why not" kind of mentality. "it'll last longer, right?"
I love when I come across people who don't have the best gear, but are the best out there. It just shows how superfluous so much of the gear is. It's all minimal enhancements in the scheme of things. And the whole reason I get outdoors is to get away from modern society, which is filled with distractions that we don't need. Why bring that outdoors? It's a difficult balance, for sure.
You bring up a very important issue imo. Most of the more expensive "pro" outdoor gear we get marketed as durable/better/etc.. is actually (when it's not a total scam) designed to provide very marginal gains to pro or semi-pro athletes who can really use that advantage in competition or at their very high level of performance. We, as "regular" amateurs or enthusiasts, won't benefit from that extra technical advantagr probably like 90+% of the time we spend doing that activity, because we just don't push the tool to their extremes as the pros do. And on the flip side, with the anxiety of constantly needing upgrade our stuff to the newest model or higher spec'ed versions, we are never really extracting the most juice out of our current gear, which most likelt has a ton more to offer us than we think, if only we focused on getting better at the activity, instead of overcompensating our lack of skills and practice with new gear. The industry has definitey succeeded in making us think that if we devote our limited disposable income in the latest tech, we will be "real" athletes, which is just part of a the bigger dynamic of paying money for a supposedly quick improvement.
I have a bike I paid 3.2k for in 2021. I would say I’m in the 80 to 90 percentile of people in Colorado as far as frequency of mountain biking. You don’t need a 10k bike to crush it. Plus, most people I know with that expensive of a bike buys a new one ever 3 to 5 years and don’t take good care of them during that time.
“The only zen you find on a mountain peak is the zen you bring with you” - Robert Pirsig
Tough to remember to pack, then carry on the actual outing that zen when you’re burdened down by all the latest and greatest and the desire to look cool for people who aren’t even there.
Kerouac, or a friend of Kerouac said, I think in Dharma Bums, when talking about mountaineering calls, those things aren’t meant for the people below.
Without setting yourself up for failure, the more minimalist, less prepared for *every* possibility you are, the more adventurous your adventures become. Don’t be careless, but don’t bring the farmhouse apron sided kitchen sink.
I have been living out of my 3000 dollar van with my second hand $300 hard tail and $500 surf board and have been traveling up down the country for last 8 moths, including gear, fuel, and everything I have spent $7000
Real shit
Hat's off to you! You know what you need to bike, surf, and sleep, and you're not getting sold anything you don't need. I imagine you must find tremendous gratification at the end of each day, living within your means and loving it.
@@waylonk2453 yeah fo sure, one of the best things I have ever done, love the purity of it. After a while tho you do start to lack a bit of purpose, witch is the reason i am finishing up in a month to peruse a career in fire fighting. Also gets a bit lonely doing it on your own but you make friends on the road. But yeah no regeats it has been maxed fun, and has helped me grow a lot.
At both ends of the income spectrum there exists a leisure class. I hiked the AT last year and spent like $9000 total in six months. So less than that bike cost! I’m doing the Trans Am bike route this year and it’ll be like half that. Riding it on my trusty $1100 Giant that I got with the first stimulus check.
This guys bike
It's the way to do it. Not paying rent or working 40 hours a week so you have time to cook for yourself and live cheap is the way to do it
This is SO well done, never seen your channel before this but this strikes an amazing balance of filmmaking, TH-cam-friendly content, humor, all while being thought provoking about consumerism
Aren't we consuming thought-provoking content? On TH-cam, with ads in the middle. There is no escape.
I feel like "adrenaline sports" may be a different story, but most outdoor recreation does NOT require you to break the bank on gear. Many of the items I've had the longest are from Target, thrift stores, or other budget retailers. Marketing is a powerful thing.
I mean when you want to go tradclimbing you are going to spend quite some money on gear.
I am not happy about it. But ist definitivly not cheap.
Abd I would absolutely not buy any ppe second hand.
@@sportenapfeltorten2095 core equipment for most of this sports is not cheap. Bikes cost a lot, skis/snowboards cost a lot, climbing gear as well. However, you will need solid base equipment to enjoy the sport you're doing. What i don't understand is marketing and pricing of secondary equipment like clothing. Climbing pants beeing more expensive than the rope you're using. How does that make sence?
@@makoko6812
You are so right!
The "boulderpants" they yell at my local outdor-shop are basicly just cargo-pants.
But cost upwards of 70€
And I have this problem where all my clothes that I use frequently just keeps braking.
Even the stuff that is marketed for its longevity and durability.
And I am thinking. Am I expecting to much? Do I use my stuff SOOO intensively?
But I guess its just planned obsolecence.
@@sportenapfeltorten2095climbing equipment is in a slightly different category though, you’re quite literally putting your life in the hands of your equipment. Not so much when deciding between a Patagonia down jacket or one from decathlon.
@@willbaker8884
Jup
Absolutely.
I was just thinking that its inherently still not a super cheap activity. Like running or so.
MAN you're just too good. I really love the work you're doing. It's funny how even things like minimalism and going out into nature are packaged up and sold, when their origin was anti consumerism.
Well said
Pretty common to see in Colorado, especially by people who moved from California or have vacation homes in Colorado.
So you see a big difference between the Patagonia wearing yuppies who just moved there for the outdoors and people who lived there all their life in regular clothes.
@loafofmilk7680 move to Kansas that's where i'm from nobody want to move there
I wear my 20 year old ski jacket as a badge of honor... got the zipper redone a few years ago. The material still holds up just fine in the PNW storms.
As a mountain biker, I really appreciated this video. Sure I probably spent too much on my rig and my gear. But the sport has thankfully gotten a huge reality check over the last 12 months. Bikes got WAY too expensive, and too many people with a little too much money got into the sport causing the amount of elitism to increase.
While I agree that parts break too often, I don't think people truely understand just how much punishment bikes/gear get put through mountain biking. I crash ALL the time. My pedals get caught on stuff, and I spend a lot of time going through spicy rock gardens. Bikes have gotten a lot more durable over the last 10 years, but at the end of the day, you're going off paved roads and into terrain that will break yourself and gear. Its part of the game.
I worked at a local ski slope last year and loved it, so worked at a big destination mountain this year and am sorta put off by how much the experience of skiing is sold as a commodity that wealthy people feel pressure to consume and enjoy. And gear is so expensive but you 'need' a new right specialized peice for everything. The local mountain had simpler terrain and people ride the same generic skis for 10 years, but i think people enjoy themselves way more
I was right on the edge of this lifestyle for a while. All the things you say, I was right there with you. Components! Gear! Break downs! Breathable! Outdoor coffee! Durable! Wasn't for me though. Opted for shoes and a hip bag. But you nailed this video and I still love you guys. A million times better then driving a loud ass, stinky Jeep everywhere.
I do not relate to this idea at all, and I have hiked several hundred mountains (scrambled and even climbed a few), hiked over 12,300 miles, and 4.4 million feet of elevation, mostly close to home, but also on road trips I loved. I bought next to nothing special, but what I did I sold when I stopped using them. I never cared about what I wore or the products I used.
I get it… but my 13 year old Arc’teryx hard shell I bought on sale is still waterproof and keeps me safe on the top of mountains. But it’s my ONLY jacket. I don’t have 6 for the sake of it
I can completely relate to this. The thing is, I went through a phase when I decided all the useless activities I loved were basically meaningless and that was one of the most miserable times for me. Like you said, balance is key, and a lot of these activities can be done on the cheap. As I get older it's less about adrenaline or taking trips and more about escaping the monotony, the time outside to think and get exercise.
I think when people take on hobbies they should make an effort and take pride in doing the hobby but the most cost effective way. You often learn things and create techniques for yourself if you don’t have the perfect tool for the job. Once you’ve established that the hobby you’re doing is something that’s going to stick with you, then money becomes less of a factor for what’s become your passion.
Well said.
Balance is always key.
The lowest environmental impact way to live is to stay at home, never buy anything, never go anywhere, don't own a car, minimise all travel, don't buy anything that isn't essential etc... but for most people that's like the miserable life starter pack. Particularly if you have a 9-5 you don't particularly like (which is the majority of people).
Doing things you enjoy is important. Getting out in nature with friends and doing stuff that gives you adrenaline, dopamine, exercise and/or satisfaction is important for your mental and physical health.
You can still try to do some things to minimise your costs and impact - spend your money wisely on only items you get a return from and try to keep local if you can. For example for us here in the UK there's tonnes of mountain biking within the country and there's great riding in France and Switzerland etc which you can drive to (Morzine etc). You don't need to fly half way around the world to Whistler for a 1-2 week riding holiday. You can also share gear with friends, buy 2nd hand and share rides where possible.
I remember when I was hiking through Spain I needed a rain jacket... Innocent as I am, I walked into an Arc'teryx store. Their simple rain jacket would have set me back over 300 Euro if I remember correctly :D I found a running shop that sold me a rain jacket for 15 Euro. Continued hiking for another 2 months through the mountains and still have that simple jacket...
It is hard for me to imagine life without this channel existing. It is just TOO good, I feel absolutely spoiled every time I sit down to watch your work. I don't even care about mountain biking, I've never gone, but I don't care, I got so much out of these 8 minutes and 2 seconds it's not even funny.
Totally agreed! His videos has just a very different good vibe into it, also I can't believe you're here too nathaniel ^^ I watch some of your videos as well
So funny Nathaniel Drew. I love the idea of Mt. Biking but I'm not great. That being said I watch every episode of DIALED for the content and the quality Shaffer and Jake put out. Enjoy your videos a lot as well.
I actively dislike mountain biking, but this dude seems to be okay.
yes and no
You can spend as much or as little money as you really want. My MTB was purchased second hand. Spent good money on my helmets, but other than that the rest of my riding gear was either thrifted or purchased at Walmart/ Giant Tiger/ Winners.
Even my camping gear was purchased on the cheap at surplus stores or on sale at Canadian Tire.
People themselves are to blame for believing their experience will be exponentially better by spending a fortune on professional equipment. Buy what you need within your budget and just take good care of it.
This is a beautiful video but I find it hard to agree with. I don't believe brands/manufacturers providing expensive products (alongside a line of affordable products) and taking part in sports with said products is at all "snobby". And I find the Patagonia marketing synonym silly. That was an incredibly successful campaign that not only lined patagonia pockets, It changed consumers mind and perspective on fast fashion, including mine. The snobbery found within sports like this have more to do with keeping up with joneses and cliques imo, both of which can be easily overcome on a personal basis. Buy affordable, look for deals, use your gear for a long time and don't associate with the "culture". These sports have levels and only genuine idiots see a video of a pro with a 12k bike and assume the need 10-15k to start... When it comes to mountain biking, It's not far fetched to find a great beginner setup for less than 1500-2000. Add another $200 for gear and tools. Is that a lot to ask for that ability to float through a forest on a modern high tech bicycle? Do you really expect these fragile metal pieces (made that way by design for redundancy/weight savings) to constantly withstand abuse and never need replacing? I agree that there's a lot of snobbery within these sports but I think it's the participants and not the corporations selling the gear/the idiots shouting "you need a 10k bike to even ride in the woods!"
Well said. I was thinking along the same lines as you. 😁
I'm living in a very outdoorsy city in the alps (Innsbruck) and lots of people move here because they want to go skiing, mountain biking or hiking. Haha and the consumerism in this field is huge. People spend sooo much money and it is a lifestyle and a self-image they are buying not necessarily the gear itself.
It's also a little annoying because I live in this city since I was born here. And many people that move here because of "the mountains" have made Outdoor sports their personality which is a little boring 😂
Mountain biking is how I have fun, and I would pay any price for the happiness it brings me.
Thanks for saying this out loud! Every time I see a huge built-up overlanding rig I have these same thoughts... "Outdoor" activities have been "gentrified" to some degree.
The BEST part about the overland rigs on O’ahu, is the HARDEST trail on island can be done in a lifted Impreza. Or a lifted Honda fit.
After seeing a Honda fit, these ridiculously over done Tacomas and 4Runners are laughable.
While they’re capable, some are just to flex on the gram.
I had the same thought watching this. The ultimate flex is your 10k mtb hanging in the back of your 180k van or 4Runner with 30k worth of shit festooned over it like Christmas tree. Being a guy who started mtb’ing in the 80’s and what we now call overlanding in the early ‘90’s, it’s just fucking wild to see the wild consumerism and prestige associated with things that used to be pretty simple and just about accessing the backcountry. That being said, today’s bikes and trails have gotten waaaay more fun. 😆
Lol exactly. A thought I have when seeing a gas can strapped to the outside of a huge built up van is "what happens to the gas can during a crash? Is it non-flammable gas?"@@Kristian_Saile
@@willemdesmond4876 yeah or the lethal projectile which is the high lift jack which 99% of them have never learned how to use nor take them off their rig making them completely gummed up and useless if you need to actually use it. The exterior propane tanks left in the outside 24/7 too. I mean yeah, load that stuff up if you need it fir a trip but just daily driving around with all that stuff in your truck is dumb, makes it handle terribly and in some cases needlessly dangerous. If you have to hang that much shit in your vehicle, you probably bought the wrong vehicle.😆
No doubt.
As a mountain biker, I really appreciated this video. Sure I probably spent too much on my rig and my gear. But the sport has thankfully gotten a huge reality check over the last 12 months. Bikes got WAY too expensive, and too many people with a little too much money got into the sport causing the amount of elitism to increase.
While I agree that parts break too often, I don't think people truely understand just how much punishment bikes/gear get put through mountain biking. I crash ALL the time. My pedals get caught on stuff, and I spend a lot of time going through spicy rock gardens. Bikes have gotten a lot more durable over the last 10 years, but at the end of the day, you're going off paved roads and into terrain that will break yourself and gear. Its part of the game.
Imo a good solution to this is to buy stuff that's not made for racing. If it's made for racing, it's going to be pretty durable, but it's priority is not durability, but performance when the clock is ticking. A lot of bike mechanics say that a shimano 8 speed is the most durable shifting mechanism ever (pretty much less cogs = more robust everything)
I remember when roadies used to wave to one another. Now they’ll pass without a look
Yeah true. Ice noticed too as I got better the more shit broke. Ended up swapping away my 7 speed to a single speed on the dh rig because the derailleurs got expensive to replace.
Yes as a mountain biker and motocross rider i understand you
i doubt it that mtb has gotten more durable over the last 10 years. I have a a '95 gt zaskar mtb (my old race bike). i replaced it in 2016 with a salsa horsethief. It was a vast improvement over the zaskar in terms of handling but not in components durability. I continued to use the zaskar for commuting (16.000 km/year) and finaly replaced it with a new gravel bike with 11 speed 1x drivetrain . Again, vast improvement in riding but the amount off cash i spend to replace the worn components on my new commuter bike is insane compared to my 2016 mtb (1x on the commuter bike vs 2x on the salsa mtb) and certainly vs the '95 zaskar. so things will brake when riding but old stuff is just more durable.
The ski lift tickets within driving distance of me cost an average of $100/day. No wonder it's seen as a rich people sport.
And consider how much more this would be true for people who don’t live within driving distance of snow.
Being fit and healthy at 73 years old after a lifetime of bicycling compared to my sister and brother who died as drunks at 49 and 60, respectively, is a good payoff. I repaired a give-away mountain bike in my 30's, commuted to work on it and still ride it. My road bike was pricey in 1982 but I raced it, commuted on it and rode many thousands of miles on it. Used skis were my norm. My Nordic skis are 40 years old. I shop at Lift-Up Thrift Store. Life has been my luxury - not endless new shit.
Well said
I used to work at a ski shop for 3 years. You’d be amazed at the mark ups. Automatic 50% on clothing. Roughly 30%-40% on hard goods. Makes you realize how dirt cheap these companies produce things and sell them from hundreds
the word "Patagonia" was mentioned 12 times in this video, more than the word "not" (10 times) and "what" (10 times). The Patagonia logo appeared 15 times.
I thought you guys in the states only have like 15 days of holidays a year, when do you actually do this stuff
Sick days? I had enough vacation (holiday) this year to be gone for 2.5 weeks.
I'm just a simple guy who recently bought a mtb to go to work, as I'm living in the countryside. Was trying to learn the basics to choose which gear to buy, and now the algorithm can't stop showing me outdoor sports.
This video synthesizes how I see people who choose to do what I need to do for necessity.
Not judging though, I'm glad to see people happy for doing what they like.
This video nails it. As someone who grew up mountain biking in the 90s wearing sweatshirts and vans, it’s quite shocking. My first legit complete mountain bike cost waaay less than a modern drivetrain. I understand innovation and how comfortable and efficient gear is these days, and so much of it is available on the used market. My local REI has an insurmountable amount of used gear and it’s almost all lightly used to almost new. Even mtb tires! Which is weird.. Speaking of - bikes from REI are also underrated, in my opinion, and affordable. Everyone seems to want what the pros ride because that’s how they want to ride. That usually doesn’t work out. Anyway, thank you for the great video!
Also Leatt and super $$ Norrona jackets and pants have lasted me multiple PNW winters. No complaints. (Got them used 👍)
Dirt biking went through this 30 years ago and is now the sole provenance of people with a lot of spare money
Same with REI brand clothing and gear. I have a 20 year-old REI rain jacket that still keeps me dry. I did have to replace the zipper once.
@@chadwells7562 Same with a lot of hiking. I haven't done it seriously for years and then someone asked me to help them train for the Appalachian Trail. I got on youtube to check out the new gear and technologies and oh my god... I can't say I wasn't surprised to see people paying $15 for cork massage balls for their feet.
I've got a problematic foot, so a massage ball would come in handy. I went to the dollar store though and found 3 for $2 in the pet section. They're only a couple of millimeters smaller than the cork ones and are the tennis ball style. Funny thing is that they're more "ultralight" than the $15 dollar cork ones.
This one hits hard on me. I stopped mountain biking years ago because it was just too expensive compared to what I could get out of it.
As someone who lives in the commercial tech hellscape that is Boulder, CO, this was cathartic.
You had me at the Fear and Loathing font.
Ralph Steadman
Was my first thought!
Hey Shaffer, great work! I went to highschool with this kid, and your videos are outstanding, which is no surprise at all!
I see the point. But to me personally, it's not such a big deal or issue. Just just go out and do MTB. You either enjoy it or not. that's it. Great video/channel though. I'll subscribe and explore some more. Cheers guys and happy MTBking to everybody
I just got this video in my recommended and thought about clicking on it. Looking at the view count I expected this to be just another montage of random stock videos and pictures with some script talking about outdoor brands and the rise of the industry.
But it was so much more.
I'm glad I watched this today, it opened up a whole new perspective on adrenaline-centric sports that I am also addicted to.
Please keep up the good work :)
I think an issue worth discussing is that once rich people pick up on a hobby a new ultra luxury version of the gear is created to cater to that demographic when in reality the existing gear was likely perfectly sufficient for the vast majority of user needs, yet the market subtly shifts to cater to that and everything is suddenly that much more expensive and elitist. Like you can't ride a good bike anymore it has to be some carbon full suspension pro model with all the bells and whistles even though you're actually barely using that bike to its full potential, but you are told you're not serious about the hobby unless you're dropping thousands of dollars.
This is one of the best things I've seen in a very long time on this platform
Sometimes I forget that MTB is an adrenaline sport. In my teens I definitely went for the adrenaline, but now it’s all about getting into and traversing landscapes. At the same time, I’m finding that my $4500 carbon FS was probably not really worth and it actually kind of makes me mad. It doesn’t climb as well as my ‘04 Karate Monkey did (in both hardtail and rigid configs), the maintenance for pivots and suspension makes me groan every time I think about it. Meanwhile, the Karate Monkey was basically bulletproof and I could ride all the same stuff on it that I do on my XC FS bike, even when I ran it rigid. I’m kind of starting to think that a 27.5+ rigid bike might be the path forward and save me a lot of money and groaning at pivots and suspension and a press fit BB. SIMPLIFY!
Also, great timing. I was just beginning to wonder how many of my “preferences” and “needs” are the sole result of marketing. I’m finding things, and this video was refreshing to see in a world of “must-have sick new gear” reviews, over-shreddy advertising, and over-tech’d… everything.
I resonate with your point about my "preferences" and "must-haves" being due to clever marketing. I don't need the most high-speed stuff, but companies are good at stroking one's ego in order to sell high-end stuff to average users. I like to think a hardtail mountain bike is what I would get if I were to enter the sport, and I'd be happy with standard, good quality stuff. No electronic shifters or carbon parts for me!
Singlespeed ti frame with a lauf fork for me. Granted I do have some fancy Paul components on it, but for most of the riding I do, it works just great.
I actually dislike full suspension bikes as I know I'm not nearly good enough to use them to their full potential. I just goof around in a rigid fatbike.
Thanks for calling out the elitism and virtue signaling. The outdoors is for everyone, but the athlete "snob" demographic can turn a lot of people off of enjoying activities or feeling left out of the pre-existing communities. Especially for POC. Let's all help each other enjoy this life more and more.
In 1998, I was cleaning out an attic at a ski resort and was told to throw out dozens of old ski school uniforms. They were nice Spyder jackets, polar fleece and pants that were probably 10 years old already. I snagged them and used them for the next 20 years until the zipper finally broke on the jacket. I bought a nice North Face coat about five years ago, and the sleeves are frayed so bad they have holes, and I'm worried the zipper will break every time I use it. I'm hoping to get one or two more seasons out of it, but I'm so disappointed in the durability of the new materials.
The is why my $6k FS Trek is gathering dust in the garage while I ride an ‘88 Rockhopper comp on trails I can reach from my front door. It’s why I hike as many miles each year as I bike on the same trails. It’s why my 11 year old nano puff is on its third free replacement zipper. Smiles per gallon and bangs for bucks are through the roof. It’s also why I only share my secret trails and camping spots with very close friends and refuse to advertise them the inter web masses.
May I ask how you manage to "total" an XTR crankset?
I encourage people to spend as much money on environmental/ public land protection as they do on gear. I send the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and the Wilderness Society a certain amount monthly, plus at the end of the year when I total up what I've spent on gear I send in a supplementary amount to flesh out what I spent on "stuff" that year to various other organizations...This encourages me to spend less on crap that really isnt "necessary" as well as ( i hope) help offset my impact on the resources I cherish....
OMG Yes! Been going backcountry for 45 years. Things have changed.
It matters that you're out doing what the gear is intended for!!! I think (but don't know for sure) that a huge portion of the consumer base is people that have been meaninggg to take a trip out west with their bike, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Or the coastal tech bros who buy down jackets intended for extreme conditions because it is in their price range, but have never taken it to the mountains. I think this could explain the decrease in durability- the portion of the consumer base that actually needs it is shrinking.
Honestly. The "top" range down gear is often much less durable than the mid range. When you shave a 600g jacket to 250g there isn't much protection left. Still very warm. But it will likely only last you one trip. While a mid range jacket can last a lifetime at the same warmth.
I think it often depends on your approach. Most people fall into the the trap of constantly buying The Next New Shiny Thing (myself too sometimes), but if you take good care of your stuff, after an initial outlay of cash, you can settle into something more sustainable and affordable.
Used outdoor gear is the move man. Half the price for stuff some dude used 5 times for one season.
There is still a much larger demographic of people who recreate in the outdoors with old gear and no plans to buy the newest North Face gizmo than there are consumers versus true believers in any other domain. While it is worth it to be mindful of advertising's effect, I think you're dead on that, if you avoid overbuying, you're in good territory. You can be outdoorsy without worrying about whether you're supporting capitalism or whether or not you should protest the embargo of Cuba or something.
Yes they do. And yea i do buy expensive gear at times. I buy items based on importance. If it is gear that I will use a lot and it helps keep me safe then I go for the highest quality i can. But everything else, i do my activities in whatever I have. An example: as a human that likes to trail run I will get the best vests and backpacks as I want them to last and not fuck up when I am 10 miles out in the middles of nowhere. But as far as clothing, I rock my thrift store and walmart shorts and sports bras. It makes me chuckle when I see hikers decked out in hundreds of dollars worth of gear to do a 5 mile day hike😂
Sounds like something a middle class snob would say 😂
@@avril.227touché 😂
Drive your Tacoma outfitted for crossing the outback back to your custom home that is on a lot that was a forest three years ago and string up some prayer flags..
This video is a very clever Patagonia ad. Even better than the "Don't buy this jacket" campaign. The psychology involved is incredibly well thought out.
Most wholesome and down to earth video i've seen in a while, it felt nice.
Thanks for saying these things. I hope this video blows up.
thank you for saying this out loud! the commodification/wealth flexing in the outdoor world, especially over the last couple years, makes me sick
Last year I was camped near Peter's Creek while bikepacking on the Montour Trail. As I was setting up camp I saw two middle aged guys on new Specialized e-mountain bikes riding up the creek itself. I talked to the fellows and they said that they had been riding the single track near the creek since they were kids, and that the e -bikes had tripled the distance they could go, and were less pain and more fun.
Did this make me start thinking of buying an e-mtb my own? It sure did.
This is the kind of video my dad would have loved. I wish I could send this to him.
I had one takeaway from this video… I must not be riding my MTB hard enough 😬
You’re fine man. Most people break things trying to look cool. Going past your limits will only make you look foolish and result in financial losses. Work up to the big sends over months, even years. MTB only brings as much risk as you’re willing to accept.
Did anyone missed the fact that this video was shot really cool 90´s style? Fresh and creative.
Biking was affordable but I got priced out of my love. Then I got sick which I also cant afford and now I just drive a big rig around and look at scenery. Wasting away.
Dude your speaking from my heart. I love mountainbikes but they gut so ridiculously exepensive and brands come up with new shitty ideas every other month which add (maybe) another 1% of perfomance but come with a 20% price increase. And all the magazines/websites just jump on it because they are dependant on the content but noone (really noone) ever mentions anything about maintainability and durability in their tests.
I noticed about 40 years ago that the models in ads in Bicycling magazine started going from smiling to frowning, I guess to look more “competitive.”
Funny thing was the prices increased with the frowns.
As a 65 year old outdoors veteran I can confirm this message. When I got started fleece was something sheep had, breathable was what you did and every thing was available in either green or brown. I miss that simplicity.
Replying to my own post 🤦♂️ lol, thanks for the upvotes everyone. Now a segue, YT brought up a video of a man in Japan (sounds a bit spy like) who camps out in a rented mini-van. I’m hooked. When I want to relax I watch his channel. Each journey is almost exactly the same but I find it like a meditation. I identify with him. I camped in my old van with almost nothing but a mat and sleeping bag. I was free. I could (40 years ago) park almost anywhere and have a time of peace by myself in the outdoors. His content reminds of that. He has simplified his equipment and is in the moment. That’s what the outdoors means to me. I wish everyone well and hope you have many simple moments.
Very well edited, it kept me interested.
enjoyed this video, and the camerawork and production was pretty cool :)
This is the reason y I ride a rigid 90’s mountain bike, and ski 100$ used park skis. Good vid
I live in Utah and will travel to California, Colorado, Texas, etc to go skateboarding and my non skateboard friends are so baffled that I'll travel to another state just to go skateboarding.
Currently riding a Salsa Timberjack hardtail, wearing Lowe Alpine pants purchased in 1996, ski poles also purchased in 1996, I just replaced a Patagonia jacket from 2000, and also just replaced skis purchased in 2010. I've been mountain biking since 1990 and skiing since 1980. I've found the stuff is less important to the experience than the industry would like you to believe.
It can be frustrating to try and get into a sport where people look down on those with cheaper gear or who are beginners.
The BEST community of sports I have seen, exists within foiling. There’s people surfing on foils. Downwinding. Winging. Kiting. Towing. Waking. Bunjeeing. Electric foiling. There’s even jet foils. There’s guys doing it in swimming pools.
And pretty much ANY foiler you meet, loves to chat about their progress and give tips and go for a sesh with you. I haven’t seen it in many other sports.
I’ll finish with this: the cheap “shitty” gear you may talk down on, may be the best someone can afford. Or it’s good enough for a beginner to have the time of their life. Eventually they get hooked and upgrade. Or they just casually enjoy it from time to time and don’t feel a need to upgrade.
Let the sport connect you and learn new things.
Great Patagonia ad!
this is probably the best outdoor film ever made that doesnt actually show any 'rad' action!
4:15 You are buying items that are essentially in beta these days, just like has been the trend for video games. You are paying to do limit testing for Forbes 500 companies in exchange for "early adoption" issues because the products aren't ready for consumers.
That being said you are also using a vehicle in the most stressful environment possible within it's limits when mountain biking. Gas powered vehicles are expected to break stuff off road, even if they're built specifically for that purpose.
It's rough out there. Be safe but have fun everyone 🙂
My wife’s Santa Cruz Hightower LT C is about six or seven years old and has approximately 7-8k miles on the frame bearings and the drivetrain. Do I throw new bearings in the frame and a new drivetrain on it OR get her a new bike? She’ll have joy either way as long as she can still send it…but I’m actually torn on this one. 😅
new drivetrain and bearings
Beautiful as usual. Also that “durability” tracking part was sick. Loved it. Weird fonts tho😂 Loved them.
True story, I stopped mountain biking in the '90s because stuff was always breaking. Even if nothing broke, drivetrain parts wore much faster and stuff needed adjustment much more. Switched to road and never looked back. Side note, fewer injuries as a roadie also.
Sure. If you're punting around the local group ride on your road bike it'll be less expensive. If you train and race the expense is going to be near equal. If you don't race mtb you shouldn't be ripping through gear.
If you buy good equipment you shouldn’t be breaking stuff left and right. Being a bigger dude, I always used to bust road bike wheels until I bought good ones. Same thing applies to most other parts as well.
@@chadwells7562 I'm with you there, which is why I run 36 hole wheels and 32 mm tires on my "fast" road bike.
@@sugxi In the context of your reply, I've found anecdotally that road bike equipment used on club B-level rides lasts longer than MTB equipment ridden with the same effort.
This was actually the most beatifully, best produced video i have seen in a while
What ever happened to the good old days when a guy could just start running with a pair of old shoes and a hat across rural America?
People can do what they want and spend their earnings on whatever they want. What's it to you ? I don't have expensive gear because I live on a small pension but I don't tell others what to buy, what car to drive, what bike to ride. Who's the real snob here ? People just minding their own business, living as they choose or the judgemental people who think they know best ?
My friends all wanna go snowboarding with me and shit but I cannot afford any aspect of it. I used to skate a lil, more so take photos of my friends getting nasty w it, but I can’t even really afford a complete setup anymore either. The last thing I have is 4x4ing, and I only save money doing that because I can fix my own truck. It’s wack.
Great concept. Great execution. Nice job bringing some awareness to the decadent nature of our first world play. I’ve worked in the outdoor industry for 25 years. Your vid was refreshing.
God damn, that was great! Subscribed and it didn’t cost me a thing 🤘
lol I loved the line "literally buy into the idea of being above consumerism"
I do my training rides after work on a bike trail that goes into an extremely wealthy neighborhood (Los Gatos). I wear jeans, hoodie, work boots and ride a 20 year old bike. I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I’m homeless but I rarely get passed.
The description with affiliate links really ties it together.
Dude the camera you’re using is so cool wtf
Well thought out arguments. Was expecting a bit more a biting end instead of the odd shift back to a positive tone. But well done!
Thanks!
Status is more important than durability to many. I live in the PNW and EVERYONE “needs” a Tacoma, 4Runner, Imported Japanese SUV, roof tent, Kashima, top of the line kit etc. It’s funny to watch.
Don’t forget SUBs 😂
30nyears ago I saved up and wore TNF goretex jacket and sallopettes for skiing / mountain walking, and Lowe alpine rucksack. Now TNF qaulity has dropped, and is worn by poseurs on the high st, what happend to Lowe Alpine? That rucksack is still used daily.
Great reflections on consumerism in the context of MTB and outdoor ‘extreme’ sports in general. I would argue this paradigm exists for most sport/hobbies. I think the ‘why’ responses in this video are very true and beautifully stated: joy, adrenaline, adventure, the journey, escape, self-improvement, the list goes on… it’s personal to each of and all totally legit 🤙
The damn internet man. Everything's a hype which everyone just has to get in on. Then it becomes marketed, and the soul gets sucked out.
I think this brings up a great point... most of the excess money we spend on our hobbies comes in the time between when we can be doing them. We only get so much time off to chase our hobbies, so a lot of the time between when we get to do it is reading about it, dreaming about it, and maybe planning the next trip and idealizing what can make it better. And that is the part where consumerism takes over- making us think we are not going to have as good of a time if we don't have the best gear. Maybe if we had better work life balance in general, we could spend more time actually doing our hobbies. Then again, there are always going to be rest days.... damnit we are screwed.
"The Outside is Free!
*Parking Charges Apply"
Love this Shaffer - defiinitely guilty of some of the themes here sometimes. Important to be mindful of how lucky we are.
Some of us complain that paying for a spot for your tent, within sight of another tent, a bathroom, and a grill isn't camping.
But there are people who complain that using a tent isn't camping.
couldnt help but notice the resemblance to jereme tanons "the eternal beauty of snowboarding" when discussing inspiring people to do stuff in the beginning of the video
It is like the same monologue
I love the aesthetics of the video as much as the subject ! Wish you'd pursued the idea further though. Because it's such an important topic, especially for anyone that loves the outdoor. I gotta admit, nowadays I'm more amazed when I hear people doing crazy shit with simple, affordable and often more repairable stuff than with the overpriced sleekest thing that was marketed as a revolution but it's only a new paint & design.
I almost fell victim to buying outdoor gucci and honestly, it's hard to resist but I'm doing well. I find that being financially incapable and being critically rational with my spendings has made it an easy choice to forgo buying stupidly overpriced outdoor stuff when I can get by with cheaper items that work just as well. Take for example bicycles. My most expensive one costed me 250 USD to build and it is still performing well after heavy use for almost three years now. It just takes discipline to take care of the bike and it will take care of you.
I'm not willing to shell out the amount of cash or bury myself in debt just to buy a bicycle that costs as much as a motorcycle or even a used car, and I can say the same with other outdoor gear that's just ridiculously overpriced and not even that durable. If you really love the outdoors, you can do it with just the bare minimum amount of decent gear and the rest comes down to your physical condition. Again, bikes for example, if you want to shed weight from your bike, just lose some bodyweight and ditch the overpriced coffee after your ride.
And final point, most of us are just filthy casuals and weekend warriors in outdoorsy stuff, luxury outdoor gear is just meant for bragging rights and make you look like a pro. If you ask me, look at what those who actually live in the outdoors their entire lives have and use, that will give you a good idea what can work and what's just overkill.
Love seeing some Sedona footage, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Used to be in my backyard and I have a lot of wonderful memories there.
I was a hiker myself through, not a mountain biker, and looking at some of the equipment costs it makes me very glad I was content to go on foot. You won't get the adrenaline rush, but the views, friends, and exercise are all there, and the slower pace lets you soak in the atmosphere more. And you don't really need any special equipment for day hikes beyond a backpack, plenty of water, a little food, and some first aid supplies and sunscreen. Obviously it's not the exact same, but if you want to travel with a lot less money spent and with a lot less stuff to lug around with you it's definitely the way.