Honestly, buying gear would be much easier if I didn't have a history with EVERY apparel company on the market. I could close my eye's, press my finger against the monitor, and let chance dictate my purchase. When you have 1000's of products to choose from, and no one being honest about what's good, or bad, you're leaving it to chance.
I don't don't have the luxury. I've sold just about everything, and have dumped companies on a regular basis. Oh, and it's not always about the apparel. No product is perfect. Often I've kick products to the curb simply because the Company "behind" the product sucked. A customer had an issue, and the "company" could careless. The sale was complete; their only goal. I end up disappointed, the customer is disappointed, and the manufacturer is booted to the curb in seconds.
I learned a LONG time ago (and I've been doing this for over a decade) that if the company behind the product drops the ball once, you don't automatically give them a second chance. 9 out of 10 times, it'll happen again.
So again, why Firstgear?
"Todd, why not Olympia, Joe Rocket, Aerostitch, Tourmaster, Roadgear, S&S, Klim...?" The list goes on and on. Simple, while many of these companies may make great products, I'm looking for the COMPLETE package.
- WELL MADE
- PRICE RIGHT
- LONG SERVICE LIFE
- INNOVATION
- OUTSTANDING WARRANTY
- COMPANY SUPPORT
- BROAD PRODUCT LINE
- A HUGE BASE OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS
Have there been issues? Firstgear doesn't live in a alternate universe. Of course, but I have never been disappointed in how they resolved these issues. Each time I was impressed, and they've exceeded my expectations.
I also use their products. I use a Kathmandu jacket for the winter, and a Mesh-Tex jacket in the summer. I wouldn't be caught out in the cold without my heat jacket, gloves and socks. I'm not spoiled, I've just figured out that EVERY ride is more fun when I'm comfortable...
Let me give an example of the INNOVATION I mentioned earlier. The Kilimanjaro and Kathmandu jackets both come with a armor called d30. I'm not going to explain WHY this stuff is amazing, since this video is worth 10,000 words.
"Google" Firstgear. Read the customer reviews. As you weed through the hundreds of positive comments, remember that only 1 in every 50 HAPPY customers take the time to leave a review. 1 in 5 UNHAPPY customers make sure too...
Soon Firstgear will be hitting the market with a rain proof heated liner, vented mesh boots, and several updated jackets. If you're in the market for a new ANYTHING apparel, you owe it to yourself to look HARD @ Firstgear. You'll be glad you did.http://www.helmetharbor.com/firstgear-kathmandu-jacket/http://www.helmetharbor.com/firstgear-kathmandu-jacket/http://www.helmetharbor.com/apparel/
