Topic: Your 2021 kit thread... (Read 63325 times)

t2ylo · « **Reply #120 on:** March 11, 2021, 12:52:05 PM »

I was going to add my unbranded kit to the OLS thread that was locked just as it was getting really interesting... economic sense of imported bats versus environmental impact of imported bats... none of which applies to softs as I�m guessing they are all imported from Asia.

So here goes... you will probably have more idea than me of the styles & designs - I like bats.
So apologies that I don�t know much about the kit. I just think it looks nice.
All men�s full size.

Tatty net kit
OLS pads & custom sausage gloves

Not so tatty net kit
Very nice pads - much higher quality with lots of lovely leather detailing no idea on origin & same gloves as above

2021 match kit

I genuinely can�t remember where I got the pads - but lovely quality and again nice little leather details.
Plain pittard gloves bought as a sample from a retailer

My spare kit - probably going to be moved on to one of the kids or might venture into a bundle deal when I shift my next Quantock Cricket Bat
My guess standard OLS pads & gloves?

Finally a random pair of gloves with lovely detailing on the finger tips - no idea where I got them but great spares for the hot day/long innings combo that arrives once in a blue moon and even then u feel a bit too show pony to actually swap gloves anyway.

neptunia wallpaper

More Glue Than Wood · « **Reply #121 on:** March 11, 2021, 05:25:06 PM »

lovely sets of softs @tylo - those last set of gloves look very high quality too - v jealous!!!!

BitsandBats · « **Reply #122 on:** March 14, 2021, 08:24:03 PM »

Finally got together the majority of my 2021 gear....been through about 10 or so bats over winter so this is by all means changeable...no prizes for guessing the company I chose for 2021 match gear😂

Bats - Keeley match bats white 2.11, NHS 2.9. Garrard and Flack 2.12 and net bat although looks an absolute belter so may make a Sunday appearance....supposed so be a 'sub-4' bat however I think it'd just been dropped in the workshop, would have probably been G2 if not G1 without (not bad for �55!). Personal preference I always go heaviest for net bat so match bats feel nice and light in the hands.

Also have another Grade 1 Keeley on its way to me which I may/may not keep depending....although its yellow so either way will be off to Keeley for a matching refurb if I'm not keen.

Gloves and pads - Match kit are superior Pads and Gloves as well as FF Worx gloves (for if I manage to bat long enough to sweat), G+F net Gloves were cheap as chips feel lovely....still after a pair of Keeley net pads.

Helmet - Steel shrey helmet from 2018....tempted by the titanium however only if its at the right price as tbh this steel one is spot on. Would never go back to Masuri after trying Shrey.

Others - Moonwalkr thigh pads, bought these simply because I liked the look and fancied something different to Aeros and New Balance 4030 spikes.

Both spot on, however I am trying to source Nike Domain 2.0's however this seems nearly impossible!

Hopefully pics are attached. I have been really good this year with the bats and kept it tight however I can always let go very quickly and end up with around 6...Keen to try a H4L Pro grade particularly.

Enjoy!

Andythomo21 · « **Reply #123 on:** March 14, 2021, 10:48:54 PM »

Quote from: t2ylo on March 11, 2021, 12:52:05 PM

I was going to add my unbranded kit to the OLS thread that was locked just as it was getting really interesting... economic sense of imported bats versus environmental impact of imported bats... none of which applies to softs as I�m guessing they are all imported from Asia.

So here goes... you will probably have more idea than me of the styles & designs - I like bats.
So apologies that I don�t know much about the kit. I just think it looks nice.
All men�s full size.

Tatty net kit
OLS pads & custom sausage gloves

Not so tatty net kit
Very nice pads - much higher quality with lots of lovely leather detailing no idea on origin & same gloves as above

2021 match kit

I genuinely can�t remember where I got the pads - but lovely quality and again nice little leather details.
Plain pittard gloves bought as a sample from a retailer

My spare kit - probably going to be moved on to one of the kids or might venture into a bundle deal when I shift my next Quantock Cricket Bat
My guess standard OLS pads & gloves?

Finally a random pair of gloves with lovely detailing on the finger tips - no idea where I got them but great spares for the hot day/long innings combo that arrives once in a blue moon and even then u feel a bit too show pony to actually swap gloves anyway.

neptunia wallpaper

@t2ylo you got your match pads from me. I�m really glad you like them.👍

On a slightly different note, I read the posts on another thread regarding the price of softs etc with great interest. I got some pads & gloves made up in India because I wanted some high quality, unbranded softs. I�ve kept some of the pads & gloves for my own personal use but also ordered a few more sets just to try and maximise postage costs etc.

I love them, gloves have Pittard palms and in my opinion both the pads & gloves are of great quality. People seem to want things for nothing. The other thread mentioned branded gloves selling for �80+, I sold 2 pairs of the gloves on eBay for �32 each. I can guarantee you that once postage charges, import duties, then eBay and PayPal fees are taken into account, you make absolutely diddly squat on �32! 🥲

My intention was to make a 2nd, slightly bigger order but was just not worth my while.

Andy.

JB · « **Reply #124 on:** March 15, 2021, 10:00:36 AM »

@Sivlar13 those pads are a work of art

Real Munson · « **Reply #125 on:** March 15, 2021, 10:39:39 AM »

Quote from: Andythomo21 on March 14, 2021, 10:48:54 PM

@t2ylo you got your match pads from me. I�m really glad you like them.👍

On a slightly different note, I read the posts on another thread regarding the price of softs etc with great interest. I got some pads & gloves made up in India because I wanted some high quality, unbranded softs. I�ve kept some of the pads & gloves for my own personal use but also ordered a few more sets just to try and maximise postage costs etc.

I love them, gloves have Pittard palms and in my opinion both the pads & gloves are of great quality. People seem to want things for nothing. The other thread mentioned branded gloves selling for �80+, I sold 2 pairs of the gloves on eBay for �32 each. I can guarantee you that once postage charges, import duties, then eBay and PayPal fees are taken into account, you make absolutely diddly squat on �32! 🥲

My intention was to make a 2nd, slightly bigger order but was just not worth my while.

Andy.

This then infers charging �70+ makes someone a decent amount?

jonny77 · « **Reply #126 on:** March 15, 2021, 11:59:45 AM »

Depends what you call decent mate. But you have your dues to pay and time factored in, shipping costs on larger volumes which are incredibly high and any other overheads for storage etc. Not to mention you're offering a fully designed product rather than blank, which has taken endless hours refining, messaging suppliers over finite detailing and just looking at some of the blank ones I can see different materials used. Not even touched upon after sales service if anything goes wrong.

It's not just as easy as buy for �30, whack em out for �70 and you've made �40.

Real Munson · « **Reply #127 on:** March 15, 2021, 12:28:16 PM »

I understand that - just from a consumer point of view, circa 50% increase in cost from 5/6 years ago, is difficult to swallow. Has the manufacturing cost increased that much?

Chad · « **Reply #128 on:** March 15, 2021, 12:41:10 PM »

Quote from: jonny77 on March 15, 2021, 11:59:45 AM

Depends what you call decent mate. But you have your dues to pay and time factored in, shipping costs on larger volumes which are incredibly high and any other overheads for storage etc. Not to mention you're offering a fully designed product rather than blank, which has taken endless hours refining, messaging suppliers over finite detailing and just looking at some of the blank ones I can see different materials used. Not even touched upon after sales service if anything goes wrong.

It's not just as easy as buy for �30, whack em out for �70 and you've made �40.

If you're someone like Jonny and have your own branded goods, you'll have to pay: import charges, shipping costs from India, shipping costs to customer, time taken to contact manufacturer, time taken to sell all the stock, time taken to come up with designs and to figure out what kind of materials he would be happy to provide his customers, etc etc. On top of this, factor in the odd pair which won't quite be right - as they're made by humans (No matter how skilled, prone to having the odd mistake in sizing), ordering the right number of each size/dexterity. It's a large initial investment. On top of that, you'll have bundle sales, which cuts into profits. And then any leftover stock, you'll probably be lucky to break even with.

I have so many pairs of pads and gloves, and as good as the quality might seem initially from plain ones from OLS etc, for some of the brands, the quality of the PU, the instep, the materials for the knee cup, padding for straps and buckles, etc. You'll probably see a difference in these if you inspect both pairs side by side. (That being said, those plain pads and gloves look to be very high quality from the pictures) Most brands aren't out there to rob you blind - folk like Jonny are passionate about providing high quality cricket gear. (Have had chats with him, and the level of detail he goes into/amount of time he takes to make a decision is reflective of his passion) Please don't see the providing of softs from folk like him as 'making an easy buck' - it's quite a large business risk relative to the returns...

edge · « **Reply #129 on:** March 15, 2021, 12:43:52 PM »

I suspect at least part of the problem is there's so many small companies out there pushing to get their softs sold and adding custom feature after custom feature which pushes the cost up. Maybe that's backed up by customer demand for it, but the value side of the market is fast disappearing.

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #130 on:** March 15, 2021, 12:57:32 PM »

Quote from: edge on March 15, 2021, 12:43:52 PM

I suspect at least part of the problem is there's so many small companies out there pushing to get their softs sold and adding custom feature after custom feature which pushes the cost up. Maybe that's backed up by customer demand for it, but the value side of the market is fast disappearing.

This is a very fair point @edge - I've happily admitted on multiple occasions that the level of protection/features involved in my own softs are well above what is necessary for probably 90% of UK cricketers, and like you say unfortunately that comes at a cost.

I've looked at producing softs that would be more suited to your average cricketer and they'd certainly be more affordable, it's more an issue for me of if I'm willing to run 2 different ranges or not - softs take up a hell of a lot of physical space and I only have so much space in my current unit (and moving to a bigger unit in my area would be a pretty big jump in rental cost per square metre, which is obviously then counterproductive as the costs would need to be covered from somewhere!).

jonny77 · « **Reply #131 on:** March 15, 2021, 01:00:04 PM »

Quote from: edge on March 15, 2021, 12:43:52 PM

I suspect at least part of the problem is there's so many small companies out there pushing to get their softs sold and adding custom feature after custom feature which pushes the cost up. Maybe that's backed up by customer demand for it, but the value side of the market is fast disappearing.

Not sure if that's a dig or not?! 😂 From my perspective it's about trying to offer the quality I'd be happy with and the features I'd want, along with a nice design. All that can't be done for �30, it's just not possible. Even the 'value' end can't be done for that alone and stay a viable business. I've seen cheaper softs from small companies and some of the ones above which I've had as samples of. I've dismissed them as the quality for me wasnt what I'd be happy to supply, even at a slightly lower price point.

So suppose it depends what people define as value. Cheap in my opinion isn't value, it's cheap. Just my opinion.

Let's also not forget most people don't create brands, companies to not make money. You have to, otherwise you won't be offering products. Nothing wrong with making profit, otherwise we'd all be working for free 😢

As Adam states above I think the bigger boys can offer value ranges easier as they have the resources to do so.

edge · « **Reply #132 on:** March 15, 2021, 01:20:50 PM »

@jonny77 haha no not at all! I think you've got the wrong end of the stick when I say value though - I don't mean cheap, I mean a well-designed product that gives good enough performance while cutting back on some of the bells and whistles so that it can be sold at a better price. The equivalent of buying a G2/G3 match bat if you like, a G2 isn't gonna be cheap but gets you access to the pressing/shaping skills of a good batmaker for a lower price point than a beautiful G1 players bat - that's the value.

Certainly don't begrudge suppliers for selling top end gloves, given everyone is doing it there's clearly a consensus that it's the way forward from a business pov, and as you say that's the point after all! Just a shame for consumers (and by consumers I really mean me haha) that the �40/50 glove that has the necessary protection and comfort but a bit less pittards, embossing and carbon fibre effect seems to be a dying niche. Like you and Adam, most people are making the best softs they can - trouble is that's not always ideal for a clubbie on a budget.

Real Munson · « **Reply #133 on:** March 15, 2021, 01:28:25 PM »

Quote from: jonny77 on March 15, 2021, 01:00:04 PM

Not sure if that's a dig or not?! 😂 From my perspective it's about trying to offer the quality I'd be happy with and the features I'd want, along with a nice design. All that can't be done for �30, it's just not possible. Even the 'value' end can't be done for that alone and stay a viable business. I've seen cheaper softs from small companies and some of the ones above which I've had as samples of. I've dismissed them as the quality for me wasnt what I'd be happy to supply, even at a slightly lower price point.

So suppose it depends what people define as value. Cheap in my opinion isn't value, it's cheap. Just my opinion.

Let's also not forget most people don't create brands, companies to not make money. You have to, otherwise you won't be offering products. Nothing wrong with making profit, otherwise we'd all be working for free 😢

As Adam states above I think the bigger boys can offer value ranges easier as they have the resources to do so.

I've used smaller brands for a while - because the product is good and cheaper than the big boys, who've got lots of sponsorship/free kit to cover for the pros. My perception is that the cost benefit between choosing a GM over a Neon for example has shrunk quite alot.

billyb · « **Reply #134 on:** March 15, 2021, 01:44:04 PM »

Quote from: Real Munson on March 15, 2021, 12:28:16 PM

I understand that - just from a consumer point of view, circa 50% increase in cost from 5/6 years ago, is difficult to swallow. Has the manufacturing cost increased that much?

Cricket is just so damn expensive now. A store here is selling a bat for over $1000 USD.

Author Topic: Your 2021 kit thread... (Read 63325 times)

t2ylo

Re: Your 2021 kit thread...

More Glue Than Wood

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BitsandBats

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Andythomo21

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JB

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Real Munson

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jonny77

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Real Munson

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Chad

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edge

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Neon Cricket

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jonny77

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edge

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Real Munson

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billyb

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