Kathmandu

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Kathmandu

4 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 19, 2025

  If you started your wardrobe over from scratch, what would you buy? (US)

  I recently moved overseas to a much, much colder continent so I did have to a) declutter and sort through everything I own, b) pack the clothes I needed for the year in a single suitcase and then c) collect a lot of new stuff to suit the new climate. I also might have a few contrasting choices as I'm a young-ish woman who likes dressing up and wearing interesting pieces (e.g. there's not a single grey thing in my wardrobe). I brought with me: **Tops:** 10-ish t-shirts, most from second-hand stores or small businesses; 3 cotton longsleeves (to be transparent, they're all Taylor Swift merch); 1 merino wool and 1 merino/silk blend long sleeve; 1 thermal shirt; 1 corduroy button up/light layer; 1 men's linen button up; 3 sports jerseys for working out **Dresses:** 4 thrifted cotton dresses - 1 mini, 2 midi, 1 maxi **Outerwear:** my Kathmandu raincoat and another rain-resistant jacket; 2 sweaters; 1 puffer jacket **Bottoms:** 3 thin cotton or linen pants (all fun patterns); 1 pair of hiking pants; 2 pairs of bike shorts; 2 mini skirts; 1 thermal pants; Lululemon leggings **Shoes:** black RM Williams boots; brown blundstones; white converse; teva sandals. The converse are falling apart (4-ish years old?) so will need to be replaced by another everyday walking sneaker and I'm keeping an eye out for brown leather boots to better match some outfits. Plus socks & underwear, swimmers, hats, beanie, bags etc. I've purchased another merino wool long sleeve, some soft cotton lounge/pyjama pants, some wool/polyester trousers, some thermal leggings and some jersey trousers from Uniqlo, a coat from a vintage store, and a Patagonia fleece from a second hand store. I also bought some 100% wool trousers from a second hand shop but they accidentally ended up in the wash and shrunk (still feeling their loss). This is tiding me over well for now, but I'm still building up my collection of athletic/hiking/outdoorsy gear and hoping to do that as sustainably as possible - sourcing secondhand, buying from reputable (and inevitably expensive) brands, choosing natural fibres etc. Also on my list: another sundress (but holding out for the perfect one), a pair of leggings more suited to running (as opposed to yoga) and a long gingham skirt. Long (sorry!) but I've been thinking about my wardrobe a lot this year so had lots of thoughts to put down!

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• #2Jun 3, 2025

  Caring for your clothes, will drastically increase their lifespan

  The ironic thing is that my Patagonia clothes are terrible quality. Kathmandu for life.

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• #3May 2, 2025

  Winter coats rain proof

  Why not look at Macpac or Kathmandu? Or get puffy coat to layer under a raincoat? I’ve got Patagonia and it great but there are other brands that are just as good for less. Ultimately I think you should wait till you’re there.

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• #4Jan 3, 2025

  BIFL Wool leggings and long sleeve undershirts?

  It’s a New Zealand brand, and pretty expensive, but icebreaker does really nice merino wool garments and undergarments. Other NZ brands that are cheaper but would be difficult to buy from overseas would be Kathmandu and Macpac. Icebreaker is the best, but I have merino wool thermals from all three brands that have lasted for 10+ years of regular wear and saw me through 4 years of living in the bottom of the South Island and hiking in Stewart Island

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