Portis

Just got back from the local Walmart and Target and i am astounded. I can't believe the technical winter wear that they have this year. Last year i scoured both stores and couldn't find anything. So I bought more expensive stuff online.

Several months and hundreds of $$ later, they are getting with the program. I did go ahead and pick up a slightly heavier balaclava and some nice lightweight fleece gloves at Target.

Walmart.

Carrying synthetic Wool/Polypro LS undershirts and pants. Rated for high intensity workouts. (says on package) $14.95 each.

Target

Light weight fleece Balaclavas $8. Midweight balaclavas, $8, Heavy (and i mean heavy) weight balaclavas. THese heavy things prob not great under helmet. They also have fleece neck gators, and lots of fleece gloves etc.

Also carrying wicking, 0 cotton, Long Underwear for around $14 i think.

A person could get some pretty decent cycling gear for little money. Too bad I already have too much stuff.

vrkelley

It depends on the time of the year you shop. Sept, Oct, and Jan seem to be the best times to get stuff...They tend to run out fast too.

N_C

I think it is great to shop at Target & Walmart for winter clothing that will be used for cold weather cycling. I do it. But keep in mind because it is often made with lower quality materials it will wear out faster then the more expensive stuff you find online, etc. Despite the fact it does a good job of keeping moisture wicked away from your body, etc.

The only time I ride in cold weather is if it is a ride I paid to participate in or I am riding as a volunteer for/in something. This year that total was 3 times. So for me at least it is no big deal to buy cheaper cold weather riding clothing at a Target or Walmart.

But if you do a lot of riding in cold weather you may want to spend a little more at a better store for higher quality clothing. Because in the long run you'll find it would have been cheaper to do so after you start replacing the cheap clothing bought at a discount store over & over again with more cheap clothing.

Daily Commute

It's probably worth experimenting with the cheap stuff. If it works, great, if not, you haven't lost much. But some things are worth paying more for, especially if you commute through a cold winter. My $35 Mountain Hardwear Balaclava got my down to 7F last winter. I woundn't trust cheap fleece in those conditions.

Guest

Check out Sierra Trading Post (I think it's www.sierratradingpost.com) for cheaper, high quality winter riding clothing. They have fantastic bargains sometimes, and I frequently get my stuff there. If you use the Bargain bin area they have, it can be up to 80% off.

Target and Walmart is nice for the short term, but I find the clothes just don't last as long as the stores where they specialize in name brand exercise clothing.

Koffee

thechrisproject

I think you're wrong. Those are both horrible places to shop.

Wulfheir

i don't shop at walmart because they destroy mom & pop operations by undercutting. they also are the largest retailer on planet earth and have the power to help labour exploitation (including child exploitation) in less fortunate countries, yet do nothing about it but grow their bottom line. but that's just the opinion of this left-wing vegetarian socialist. and i don't shop at target because i've never seen one.

Portis

Whatever. I seriously, doubt that you are going to make much of an impact. You only hurt yourself by paying higher prices than you would have to but whatever turns your crank.

thechrisproject

Well, now that's just not true.

dobber

My local Wally has been fairly well stocked with the Starter DriStar / DriFit apparel. They've shifted the inventory more towards cool / cold weather stuff of late (mock turtlenecks, long sleeve wicking, pants, etc).

As for the WalMart detractors, tough tittie...........

dobber

Right, paying more than you have to is smart. I often pay more then list. Why pay $20 for some UnderArmour Coldwear Leggings on EBay when I can shop locally and pay $55.

Heck, I should just give the local merchant a blank check.

iovnow

Needed some long pants to ride in. All my normal pants are just too baggy. Stopped by and got the starter wind pants. Thanks for the heads up.

Spocher

Boo on Walmart. Shop at Target, same stuff but it's not Walmart. =p

thechrisproject

You inferred my point incorrectly. What I was getting at was that you hurt other people by shopping at Walmart. Yes, it costs more to not shop at Walmart. But it's better for your community, better for your conscience, and ultimately better for people all over the world. As for it costing more, tough tittie.

The argument that "I should pay as little as I have to" is overly simplistic. With that justification you might as well just steal things. "Why pay more? I can get it for free!" I'm not saying that any of us would really use that justification to steal things. I'm just saying that it's too simple and economics and human rights are not that simple.

In short: there are many reasons to pay more than you need to.

I don't know how your ebay example is relevant here. And I apologize for hijacking this thread with my opinions... but hey, isn't that what internet message boards are for?

dobber

Arguing Wally-World is like arguing chain lube.

Wulfheir

Actually, it's nothing like arguing chain lube. To my knowledge, chain lube hasn't been accused of destroying small independent business or contributing to labour exploitation, bordering on slavery, world wide.

slvoid

You obviously haven't been using the correct lube...

Wulfheir

lol

dobber

Perhaps those small independent buisness owners should be a little more competitive, either on pricing or sevrvice. And what would the supposedly exploited labourers be doing otherwise?

PS: I like to lubricate my chain with a blend of mineral spirits and motor oil. I wear a helmet but do not go commando in my riding shorts.

Wulfheir

Indie stores can't touch them on price because of buying power. In my experience, I've seen better service provided by the smaller stores. The supposedly exploited labourers would quite honestly probably be doing nothing otherwise. That's what makes the issue so tough. From a business standpoint, it does not make sense to pay a worker more, when you know that there is a line-up outside your door of people willing to do his job for his current wage (or even less). From a moral standpoint, it would be nice to pay them a wage that is representative of the gain you make off of them. Having said this, I'm not going to stand in front of a wal-mart and tell a struggling family that they should go next door to pay more. I have friends and family who shop there because if they didn't they wouldn't have new school clothes, new bikes, new whatever they need. I empathize with them, believe me. I'm fortunate enough to have found myself in a situation where I'm able to vote with my wallet, and therefore do so, much to the critisism of those around me. I don't want this to come off as a "I'm right, you're wrong" thing. Knowledge is power, and the power I gained from the above, I've altered my spending habits.

Spocher

They'd be working at indie stores....

slvoid

Thousands of indie stores all over the place with enough business to support themselves huh...

cryogenic

I've noticed in my area that Target often has better deals on many things than Wal-Mart does. However, when you work a wacko schedule like I do and don't get off work til 2am, where else is there to shop after work? Wal-Mart and not much else. In most cases, wal-mart is generally the last place I check for anything I want as mediocrity seems to be the norm there. When I buy things, I prefer higher-quality stuff that wal-mart just does not and never will carry. Hence, my shopping there is limited, though not for the reasons those of you have given above. Wal-mart has always just been the "jack of all trades, master of none" as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather shop for cold weather clothing at a local sporting goods store or outdoor outfitter type store (River Sports Outfitters is one of our better ones).

KrisPistofferson

Check it out
It affects you, and the luxury of deniability get slimmer every time wal mart metastasizes.

Portis

This is a thread about buying Winter cycling clothes at Walmart and Target. Your opinions of either of these companies have nothing to offer that is helpful. Please limit your replies to the subject and quit being self righteous.