Akta Apparel is "Another MTB Company"

 Pants are $156, jerseys are $70-$80.

 And $174 for shorts :-/ No thanks. My almost identical TLD shorts I got off Aliexpress for $15 are going on their 3rd season now.

 There seems to be plenty of expensive brands, but not many budget brands.

 @taskmgr: Inflated prices isn't the same as inflation. No shorts cost $100+ to produce (in quantity) unless it's those Victoria Secret ones with the diamonds.

 @rhamej: I don't ali express but about half my riding jerseys are Target or Walmart athletic gear - I've been wearing the same batch I got when I lost my luggage on a trip about 10 years ago for... 10 years. They're getting ratty, but they're just as nice to use as any branded bike stuff that costs 5X as much.

 @rhamej: which ones?

 @Glenngineer: @Glenngineer: I’m gonna give you that, there’s some ethical reasons to shop elsewhere, but the economics of things makes a compelling argument for just purchasing what you need at Target and Walmart.
Couple of quick counter points, brought to the fore by the recent Rampage/ESPN debacle.

When you support the lowest cost/greatest profiteering option, you’re using your money to reinforce the choices and decisions made by those corporations. Those companies might, but not likely give back directly to the communities that you live, work, play.

Supporting those smaller, admittedly sometimes pie in the sky thinking small companies (Alta, 7mesh, etc) you are, a lot of the time directly supporting those communities.

Those companies might be going out of their way to produce a less harmful product, paying their employees a better wage, supporting their athletes well, etc

I’m not gonna judge, you can definitely find reliable gear cheaper, just want to nudge you into another direction with your hard earned money. It might not go as far, but you can feel confident while standing with me on this soapbox…….all in good fun,
Keep fit, and have fun out there.

 @taskmgr: Nice copy/paste definition. I took economics, thanks. Design/research isn't really necessary/mandatory for textile production. It's all been done. Multiple times. Ever wonder why good shorts all tend to look similar? Because why change what works.

Then all that's left is to get some bids from production facilities and have a few meetings about sustainable fabrics/cost/optics/etc.

As for me doing it...startup capital is a b.

Almost forgot...gotta have a catchy name that'll appeal to the folks wearing skinny jeans without annoying normal folks too much. Like "genuine" or "real" (akta means this, btw...lol).

 Prices seem quite good for higher end sustainable/eco friendly fabrics. Cheaper than NF and 7 Mesh with an eco story. I’m interested. Last TLD/Fox stuff I used didn’t last too long….

 @taskmgr: I didn't say walmart had nice business practices, I said they have cheap functional shirts. And do you really think any of the big 'slap a label on it' brands are getting their product from anywhere else, or different?

 @onawalk: I try to avoid walmart in particular - but as I stated, I was on a trip without luggage.

 @taskmgr: ...Again, haven't gone to the website but like bikes, you can clothing "tailored" to your needs just by heading to the far east. If these guys are trying to design in-house/local etc then good on them, and they'll have to see how the market treats them.

However, no one should be mad that you can ride in some knock-off TayLD shorts for $10 or build a 6kg road bike for less than a couple grand. Not everyone needs or wants $200 shorts that could be grated on your very next ride. And if you can get what you want for $10-$20, then I'm not sure inflation is the problem, it's that you and your $10-$20 item have serendipitously found your way to each other after you decided not to pay $200 and someone else decided they can, through whatever their process, sell what you want for $10-$20.

 @rhamej: That's CAD my man more like 2$ USD haha

 @iammarkstewart: "ride in some knock-off TayLD shorts for $10 or build a 6kg road bike for less than a couple grand"
You just described me,but my road bike is 6.3kg.
For the price of a pair of these shorts I have a full drawer of clothes,say what you will but someone who doesn't make much money and wants in on this sport has got to make compromises.

 @taskmgr: Rapha is owned by the grandsons of WalMart founder Sam Walton, one of those grandsons is on the board of directors for walmart. So, technically, yes, walmart makes really nice cycling apparel.

 @taskmgr: Same argument rephrased. Waste of air.

 @taskmgr: Yeah Yeah Yeah !!! We are not here to design and produce them, I don't argue with researched and materials but 174 pants 159, shorts 80 jerseys for start up company is a non start up.
what you rather 10 Cents from the every Mountain biker or 40/50 from a few hundreds,. I choose the the first make quality a good prices makes and you get fame and fortune!

 @covekid: I agree. I was about to grab some new NF pants but think I'll give these a try. Still supporting a local eco friendly business, and I can save a few bucks....

 With how many people I see wearing Amazon/AliExpress shorts and jerseys, it blows my mind that no company has come in at the middle tier of pricing. People would buy $50 shorts with a real brand behind them, rather than $30 Formebik, Rususko, ect. from Amazon. Until this brand comes along I will continue buying $15 fake Dharco, Commencal, Santa Cruz, etc jerseys from Ali Express.

 @rrolly: there are tons, take your pick.

www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20221025133436&SearchText=mtb+shorts&spm=a2g0o.productlist.1000002.0

 @foes05: unfortunately the business case is better for the 40/50 from a few hundreds. Less risk, less manufacturing, less warehousing, etc. Every brand wants to sell "luxury" goods now.

 @covekid:
Yeah but NF is actually made in Vancouver and they will repair their stuff. Plus fit and fabric is exceptional (especially their wool).

 @Marky771:
Are these actually made in Canada?

 @taskmgr: I think the point is that they’re not bringing anything new to the table. I’ll go buy old t shirts at goodwill and wear them til they’re dead. Buying anything new isn’t “sustainable”. There’s plenty of resources without purchasing newly made products that cost a tenth of most peoples paycheck

 @taskmgr: the next thing you should Google now that you’ve got such a solid understanding of inflation is possessive pronouns.

 @rhamej: Frankly, buying and reinforcing that AliExpress shit makes you an arsehole. You are choosing to support sweat shops, awful working conditions, child labour, and the awful environmental policy that goes along with it.

When I had no money I was just buying my kit second hand, end of season sales, or just non sport specific clothes. Let's not pretend like any of the current crop of jerseys and pants are required to enjoy mountain biking. Don't make another humans life a misery so you can have the latest flashy delicateFOX TrendWear.

 @L0rdTom: The idea that all things made in China come from sweat shops with next to slave conditions is like saying everyone in our countrys have perfect work conditions and salary.
Most people working in those factories have a way better life than when they were starving surviving on basic agriculture in undeveloped regions across the country.
I don't like buying a counterfeit article,but I also don't like giving someone a profit of 80%+ just for them to shake the affordable/cheaply made image on their product.
Because most of these brands gear is not worth the money they ask.

 @nozes: I agree that not all Chinese factories are quite the same, having visited a few for work. However, if I learnt anything it's that you will get what you pay for, and when they are quoting bottom prices, you are getting dirtier factories with worse conditions and no waste control policies, not to mention quality control.

There is a reason that the cheap stuff is SO cheap. You don't have to pay for the fashion brands like TLD and Fox, but Endura etc are putting out cheaper but quality products and (hopefully) auditing their factories, unlike the AliExpress crap.

 People have a consumption probably man. They always want it cheapest as possible and then just buy more to put in a landfill. I use ride NF gear because it is made in Canada and supports North American manufacturing. Just sent in two pairs of shorts and a merino jersey to get repaired so I can keep my shorts and jersey going for another season. Buy better and keep your gear longer. People’s perceived idea of value is all f*cked up. That’s why shit is so expensive now, people can’t stop buying things.

 There is a lot of negativity in PB comments.

Where did you find out the manufacturing location info? I was looking for it on their website, didn't see it, and assumed they're producing in Asia.

 I think we are all feeling the squeeze on the increased costs of goods. My salary is not increasing at the same rate as the cost of goods, so I have to be very careful about how I spend my money. I am always willing to spend a bit more for a product that is eco-friendly, as long as its also durable and lasts a long time.

 Where do you see they are made in North America? I can't find that anywhere.

 @Bm1117: This. People buy a $10 new pair of shorts and feel like they're getting away with something, and I guess they are - but the rest of the cost is offloaded onto the environment and/or terrible wages and working conditions for whoever made it. If you can't afford sustainable clothes new, wait for the sale or buy something used. Fast fashion ain't the answer.

 @ABhardtail: Good call! I misread the article and their Website. They are based in North America but don't mention anything on the manufacturing location, my bad

 @AleG It does seem a little negative these days, doesn't it haha?!

One correction, our product isn't produced in North America. It is all in Asia. There seems to be a misconception that just because something is made "locally" it is better quality, or better working conditions. From a designer perspective, I've seen the spectrum of quality, and sadly it is not directly correlated to its price or where it is made. The same applies to working conditions. We are incredibly proud of our manufacturing partners, one of which I've had a relationship with for over 15 years!

Cheers, Travis

 @AKTA-mtb: Thanks for the clarification, appreciated!
I wish you good luck and much success with your business.

 @AleG where does it say the product is made in North America?? I would be very interested in this-but do not see it mentioned.

 @AleG Also, recycled material uses less water? do you have any sources on that? I've read one too many articles on the high water usage to get a used plastic bottle and turn it into polyester.

 @yakimonti: Previously replied to ABhardtail that I misread the article on that point, and AKTA-mtb took the time to correct that information just above as well.

 @yakimonti: that what their Website states. They also have a sustainability page with more info if you want to see by yourself.

 @AKTA-mtb:
Fair point, but I’ll still shop local when I can. Some companies are doing it all (made in Canada, eco friendly, sustainable fabrics, and durable). Would’ve cool if you could do some pieces local to dip your toes in the water.

 @AleG ...Not disputing what you have to say and not trying to be negative, but all you've done is buoy the spirit by listing some things you like about an untested product with a lack of info that you, most importantly, haven't purchased yet. You even prognosticated as such with "We don't know much about quality yet as this is a new brand".

I don't think it's negative to say I found the marketing video annoying with a lack of useful product info, that others have concerns about finding info on the sustainability and origin, and that a lot of people make pricing a priority consideration when looking for new gear/bikes.

In this context these are empirical, quantitative things that can be debated. I agree with you, and am not surprised by, other subjects and conjecture that fill up with mean-spirited bad actors. I just don't think that gear pricing and marketing is that kind of subject. Looking forward to your ride report when you finally consider and buy some Akta gear.

 chance missed

 I mean.. Did you take a look at the "Sustainability" page on their website, explaining the eco-friendly fabrics, or did you just type the comment without even looking into it?

 It says in several different places (in the article) that they use recycled materials for this or that (example: The gloves).

 What you mean, this is ground breaking...

 @bashhard this is for you and all the other people who can't do any research before complaining. go look at their website.

here copy and past this in your browser ----->>>>>> aktamtb.com/pages/sustainability

 @Phthalaten: The thing is: With a press release, a company should try to get across their key selling points. I want to read it and find out whether it might be interesting for me or not. This press release did not give me any of the information I was looking for. Of course, I can always do some research on their website or somewhere else. But they lose possible buyers if they can not get their message across before the interest is lost. To me, this press release did not give me a single reason to buy these products instead of others and hence I do not hit their homepage and do my research on the products

 @bashhard: what are they supposed to do? write a novel on this post? thats why they have a webpage. seems like they touched on all the things important to them and gave us the path forward to look more into it. If your attention span is that short. thats another thing altogether.

 @bashhard: so the press release piqued your interest in their sustainability claims but instead of typing in their web address, you typed this comment. Great work.

 @taskmgr: Can you click for me, too? And make airplane noises, please. I like those.

 @noapathy: yeah you got it. what kind of airplane?

 @bashhard: Come on boss, just say ah f$#k, sorry I should have checked out the web page before running my fingers on the keyboard. Right, that would have been easy, and lent you some credibility.
I’ll be honest, from the first paragraph my eyes rolled back at the idea that any of this was any more special than any other mtb specific piece of clothing, but I did a quick check, a little browse, and low and behold, some decent info was to be found.
@taskmgr noted they can’t write you a novel with every press release, so if you have questions, you can either try to seek answers……or type away in the comments about how they haven’t met your needs with the press release. You made your choice, but you can always change it

 @onawalk: yeah that is true!

 @taskmgr: Geez, I'm not sure. I remember something about a hangar. You pick, but don't get it wrong or I'll throw a temper tantrum again.

 @taskmgr ...No, they don't have to write a novel but instead of some people riding in some vague branded gear they could be using that video as a sales pitch and showing features. I mentioned it in some other release video post...a bunch of people riding around in "some new gear" isn't what makes me want to look at the website. I was a bit intrigued by the 3DO pocket thing but now I'm not because they focused on their "athletes" riding around.

Hearing and seeing who the people of this company are, who "wanted to create a line that answers to the riders. Our products have been designed from the ground up based on a foundation of premium eco-friendly fabrics. We’ve refined our product through constant feedback from our team, countless test sessions and meticulous rewrites", telling their story instead of just another ride edit would get me way closer to their website and an order.

But that's just me. YMMV.

 @taskmgr: Not a novel, but something that will convince me to ditch the Ion and Fox that I usually buy for the similar priced brand that nobody knows anything about

 @pakleni: i just bought some new fox pants earlier this year. fox defend. ripped 2nd ride. poorly placed vent punch outs. i'm hard on stuff so always up to try new gear. same with a buddies nf stuff. its literally falling apart on him haha

 Fair point, opportunity missed. It's a fine line of giving too much information and boring readers, but we definitely could have elaborated. Looks like someone has covered us and linked to our sustainability page. Cheers!

 @noapathy: what about a A-10 Thunderbolt? NEeewwwww BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 You’re over-thinking this.. Other companies don’t start from the ground, and we all know the ground is quite eco-friendly as it’s made almost completely from dirt

 @taskmgr: Even if you take your time to go to the AKTA website, they do not tell what this Bluesign and GRS Labels are in detail. Not even a Link to this labels.
"Bluesign is an independent auditor that ensures fabrics pass the highest environmental standards along its entire production process. " How can I be sure this is not just some PR mumbo-jumbo ?
e.g. Food produced in Switzerland with BIO/organic certificate has a way higher standard than the EU has. So the question is what is the standard. Just passing the standard does not tell you how high this standard is.

If someone tries to sell me something I want facts not a good story. And if I have to dig too deep to get these facts I'm out of the game.

 @squarewheel: I'm heading to Veloplus to buy myself a pair of eco friendly & environmental sustainable trail shorts said nobody ever

 @squarewheel: what are the alternatives? Does fox, tld or even nf have any sort of designation similar or even try to start using recycled materials? For a startup to do this with competitive pricepoints is impressive. Look at prices in other industries. Patagonia isn't cheap. Compare solgaard to other companies, etc etc.

 @taskmgr: If you have more information than you can fit in the press release, please use a link. We do not live in the stone age. The same goes for listed labels on the homepage. A link helps if not enough information is given.
I am not saying the product is bad. The information is not readily available, that's all.

 @squarewheel: they did use a link. At the bottom of the page links to their website which has more information....

 @dperras Cheers! Appreciate it.

 "Lets have PB promote it too? Their user base would have a hard time criticizing $175 shorts that don't have pads or liners."

 Maybe you didn’t read, this stuff is made for riders. All that other stuff is made for.. the people that don’t ride. They really couldn’t have made it more clear. Do you want to actually ride that 8k rig, or just look at it? Hello

 Gloves are priced low so that you can safely go rob a bank to then buy the rest.

 @mi-bike: And guilt free, too. Because the gov't will take care of replacing the funds. Sustainability!

 Yep....$25 for my "mtb" specific shorts from Aamazon, complete with that same groovy zipper pocket and stretchy parts...they've taken a few tumbles and are fine, and even if they do rip I won't be upset

 

 Decathlon, thrift stores and sales racks for me (plus the occasional Handup item).

 Agreed! Why are all the inseams so short?

 @pimpjitsu: Because the average person is pretty fat now, so a lot of people buying size L pants are 5'8

 I better add them to my save searches then

 @pimpjitsu: Disagreed ! Why are all the inseams so long ?

 NF has done long legged trousers for a while now

 At 5'3" I'm under the impression that the vast majority of brands do longer leg riding trousers. I might have to order a pair of these so I can not look like MC Hammer for once in my life.

 @DC1988 As a small startup we had to focus on our SKU count. A "long" version of our pants is definitely on our list.

 Lulu Lemon is the answer for tall folks
ABC Warpstreme slim pants. Best and most comfortable riding pants I’ve ever found and all the way up to the 37” inseam I wear

 @strahan haha was waiting for that. IYKYK.

 @AKTA-mtb: haha, I was wearing one of your old Lavan jerseys the other day and it's still going strong! Good luck with the new venture! Will.

 @wake-n-rake: Stoked to see the odd Lavan jersey still going. Cheers!

 Are we allowed to say nice things here? Didn't know...

 I received an pre-production sample after giving some early feedback during the design and testing fitting stages. The knee pad is very comfortable to slip on and stays put nicely due to a just-right amount of silicone grippers and a generous upper sleeve. That long upper sleeve also prevents pressure points, even after wearing the pads for an entire day. The D30 insert is shaped well, and also features a decent number of small cutouts to help with breathability. Another thing I appreciated is the ease of removing and installing said insert when I wash the pads. No struggling to get things back together. The materials feel good and the stitching has been staying put so far. I have about 2 dozens rides on them and they seem no worse for wear after all those rides and washer+dryer cycles. I can definitely recommend them.

FWIW I'm 6ft tall, 180lbs, 33" inseam, and the large pads fit perfectly.

 It needs to happen!

 deal breaker. I don't need to strap into my pants like they're snowboard bindings.

 I have a pair of Fox shorts with just 1 button to secure the waist and they always come open on rides. I don't know why the belt is not more popular, it's the most comfortable and reliable solution I've found.

 no joke! google translates confirms. Opps.

 @bsedola ...Agreed. My other big preferences are zippered pockets and no included liner. My preference in liner fit/shammy is not the same as the short/pant fit...one size definitely is not fit all when it comes to an included shammy.

 "Trail Short - It's just like our pant, but less material" looks like they finally reached their marketing lingo limit.

 Plus $15 shipping to the United States.

Hopefully this marketing company can survive this recession

 I don't know what this means, but it made me laugh. Bring on the RideNF tear-aways!

 boi, go cut me a switch and roll us a squre before me and your new momma spank that ass UP. We're lookin good tonight, velvet kid

 lets see that big boy meat, is what they are helping foster. duh

 @alexsin - the inseam is actually graded on the shorts. From 30cm on the XS to 33cm on the XL. Definitely a struggle to nail that fit for every body size and shape. Feedback from our team and product testers has been spot on.

 there is an hoodie option from POC with a big pocket on the back

 Doesn't the jersey kind of need to be tight to keep everything from bouncing around in the pockets?

 @blazekelly: As long as the elastic at the opening is tight, the jersey can still be looser. I have resorted to 2xl jerseys that are loose but the pockets keep the goodies in them in place nicely. Unfortunately, the jersey is too long and the back hangs down.

 The tall leg cuff is really nice. No gorby gap, has nice overlap with chamois. and does a good job of keeping the pads in place. Also spreads the grippers across a wider area so no hot spots after wearing them for hours at a time.

 aktamtb.com/pages/warranty-crash-replacement-returns they've got a crash replacement policy.

 @sino428 as posted by someone else, we have a crash replacement, repair and satisfaction guarantee. We stand behind our product, and want to keep our customers stoked. We've definitely built a product that holds up to crashes. Our very first prototypes are still going strong today!

 @AKTA-mtb: lots of commenters here showing a desire for more length. You guys could be one of the few companies to offer a longer option for shorts (15.5" inseam in XL?) and a 34" inseam for the bigger pants? If you build it they will come!

 @AKTA-mtb: Thanks for the reply. I'm likely going to be in the market for some knee pads in the spring and I'll keep these in mind.

 It got you to comment, maybe our strategy worked...

 It’s called reverse psychology, bro. C’mon

 Our Trail Knee pad has additional shin coverage, not full coverage, but around 2" more than typical knee only pad. We thought this was a good balance of additional coverage for a pedal friendly pad.

 @AKTA-mtb: I appreciate the nod to shin coverage, but it's not quite enough for the east coast where the trails spit up grapefruit sized rocks into your shins when you really start cooking. Many a dented lower shin around these parts....

 haha thank you for that.

 Super funny the polarization in the 'sustainability' topic...meaning, on one side you have people that want to do their best with their buying choices to reduce impact on planet and with that, you have to pay higher prices (better materials that try not to rape planet as bad as cheap mass produced fabrics....better wages for workers, because a healthy and happy worker is sustainability too, cleaner systems, etc.....factory that is in location that reduces air freight, etc etc).....but then there are people that are cool with Target, TJ max "I got a poly shirt for 9.99 bro! screw your high price MTB gear" which means, you will buy more of those and support fast fashion, the machine, etc etc....and thats fine for you. How do we get to the point where everyone is concerned? maybe we dont?

 @kawkaw - we'd be so fired up to see you riding in Cashmere! Please send pics.

 This feature is permanent. It will not wash away over time.

 @AKTA-mtb: So you have developed a fabric that wont deterioate, at all, when washing? That must be some new nasa-level breakthrough.

 I wish i worked for a bike company. just another useless pleb.