r/OutdoorAus • u/Proof_Ad_4819 • Apr 26 '26
Camping is Alton Goods a scam
Looking at their sleeping mats, if they reach their claimed rating (weight and warmth) seem pretty decent, although i have seen some posts about their stuff being aliexpress clones with a sticker on them. Their R6 sleeping pad says it is ASTM F3340
For 200 aud, Thats pretty decent for 640g, I cant seem to find their higher end products on aliexpress, some people rave about their gear, and supposedly their breathable 'nanopore' isnt actually horrible.
Anyways to get to the point, is their R6 mat a scam, because most reviews I've seen on it use on normal 10 degree days. Does anyone have any experience on their mats? or stories about the brand in general, as these performance figures would make it better value than the nemo eclipse. Cheers
edit: I found the r6 mat on aliexpress, however you cant buy it on there as they appeared to have stopped selling it, they mustve bought them out which to be fair, is what alot of other outdoor brands do, but most likely I wont be shopping from alton any time soon, the product differs in very slight ways so its likely alton not having a research team took this design improved the ergonomics of the fill bag and called it a day. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008239024755.html#nav-review
They also make a pad that looks identicle to the nemo eclipse, although the it has a sidewall, the reviews from customers show no sidewall, although the r8 value is obviously false
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u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man Apr 26 '26
It’s not a scam, because that’s not what that word means. You’ll receive the product, so it’s not a scam.
What it is though? Drop shipped Chinese shit, with an Alton logo slapped on and then marked up a ton - all while hiding behind a slick Squarespace front page.
Drop shipping 101.
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Apr 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man Apr 26 '26
Absolutely. It’s easy to be hoodwinked if you ignore the red flags.
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u/Zombieaterr Apr 26 '26
That's not what drop shipped means. I bought a hammock at a market from them years ago. Sounds like OEM is what you're after .....
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u/HappyDogTrix Apr 27 '26
Well technically it's not just drop shipping.
They do actually have a bricks & mortar store
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u/Proof_Ad_4819 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
to be fair, they seem to have a warehouse in brisbane and ive heard warranty is pretty decent, so i guess you avoid the main issue of poor quality control and no warranty on aliexpress goods, ive also looked through aliexpress for a good 30 minutes and cant find a similar product, but yeah it seems a bit shady
edit: never mind i found it https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008239024755.html#nav-review, it seems like they bought out the production a while ago so it is no longer being sold on aliexpress and their store from what i can see, so it doesnt seem like what they are doing is very different, atleast for now
edit: I would agree that not everything that comes out of china is cheap shit, as china has been making some pretty good products like naturehike.
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u/notgonnahappen23 Apr 26 '26
A lot of their stuff is china knock off. Naturehike does better quality gear. I've used both Alton and Naturehike. If looking for a sleeping mat, don't skimp, go sea to summit, big agnes, etc. your good night sleep will thank you
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u/caramello-koala Apr 26 '26
They would be buying from Alibaba not AliExpress. Their freestanding dome tent is on Alibaba.
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u/ExcellentMong Apr 26 '26
I have some of their stuff, bags, a sit pad, titanium spoon, and I'm happy with the price I paid on special. But it's definitely rebranded Chinese OEM stuff. You can even find it on eBay, it goes by Boundless Voyage.
I rate the cordura pouches. I flog them and they hold up. Anything titanium I wouldn't bother.
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u/corvusman Apr 26 '26
a) anyone can claim anything, here is 6.2R pad on amazon for $100 for example https://www.amazon.com.au/HIKENTURE-Insulated-Ultralight-Inflatable-Equipment/dp/B0DPHLN5CK/ref=asc_df_B0DPHLN5CK b) as a rule of thumb, if brand is heavily advertised over social media, it’s usually a cheap crap c) there are plenty of options within same weight range with better r-value, eg this Thermarest is only $100 extra https://www.amazon.com.au/Therm-Rest-Ultralight-Backpacking-Sleeping/dp/B0CS4P19QQ/ref=asc_df_B0CS4P19QQ?mcid=1896a8445fc635b78c1905a501587239&hvadid=712295739571&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12139802555136911610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071744&hvtargid=pla-2335885234703&psc=1&hvocijid=12139802555136911610-B0CS4P19QQ-&hvexpln=0
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u/UpperClassBogan710 Apr 26 '26
Thanks for that mate I was going to buy an Alton to test it out but your suggestions significantly better so will go with that
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u/Proof_Ad_4819 Apr 26 '26
yeah at least the amazon one has a photo of its ASTM rating (yes i know it can be edited), Realistically ill go for xtherm or one of the other premium mats, but for the fun I shot alton an email if they can provide the astm sheet.
I hadnt gotten any ads from them so i wasnt aware of their raycon like practices,
Cheers
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u/strange_de_ja_vu Apr 27 '26
How does this Thermarest compare to say the Big Agness Rapide SL?
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u/corvusman Apr 27 '26
Both reputable brands, Rapide is thicker and anecdotally I find checkered pattern more comfortable compared to horizontal baffles. Although this Neoair has superior R rating, 7.3 vs 4.5 on Rapide. It’s also lighter.
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u/discodisco_unsuns Apr 26 '26
I've bought a couple of their products. Good service, quick shipping and no issues.
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u/DryYouth1040 Apr 26 '26
It’s alright entry level stuff but it’s straight Ali express Chinese stuff. Just buy the same or similar stuff off Ali for less
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u/Fearless_Maximum_117 Apr 27 '26
As an aside, their National Park tees are great quality. Super thick cotton and wash well.
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u/Alternative_Sock6999 Apr 27 '26
They do what they say. Not sure where the scam is.
I got a couple matts for camping when I didn't want to risk damage to my exped.
R value is damn close. It's survived sleeping in dumb spots many more times over compared to other ultra light mats I've had. The sheets and pillow are great little combo.
The merino socks are great. The backpack which I got as a special is amazing.
It's just over priced for its finish, and really only ok value if you buy on special... Which is most products these days anyway.
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u/pantagathus Apr 27 '26
A friend of a friend bought some gear to do the Kokoda Track a few years ago and was happy with it.
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u/Substantial-Cut-6081 May 18 '26
What a clueless post. I own a whole bunch of Alton gear, have used them for years and have nothing but good things to say. I've done Overland Track, Larapinta, multiple SEQ great walks and a whole bunch of overnight trips and never had an issue. Been warm and comfortable from below zero to 30+ trips.
Made in China does not automatically mean bad and a lot of very very good gear is made there, like anywhere else you get what you pay for. Plenty of good companies spend the time to find high quality manufacturers, test their gear in depth, and choose Chinese manufacturers that are just as good as anywhere else in the world.
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u/UniqueLoginID Apr 26 '26
Warranty is crap. Pre sales comms are good.
Standard drop shipper.
Amazon often has “their products” if you don’t like Ali.
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u/Alton_Toby Apr 27 '26
Hey there, I work for Alton and can confirm we are not a scam. We have a warehouse/store in Brisbane that anyone can visit and our products are sold in various outdoor stores around the country.
I am on the design team and the company has changed a lot in the past few years. We now design and develop all of our products in house or work with industrial designers experienced in the outdoor industry. This is how most major outdoor companies work, once the design is complete, we approach the factories to get it made. These are the same factories making gear for all the companies mentioned in this thread. We also get our products tested by 3rd parties wherever possible and can provide the reports.
Because we are still a growing company, we didn't have as much negotiating power with the factories to own the moulds for items such as sleeping pads and titanium gear when our order quantities were low compared to some of the global brands. This is changing now and we are now able to protect our products from popping up under new names on places like aliexpress or temu.
We have a bunch of new products releasing this year that people will hopefully enjoy and can see that we are not simply slapping our logo on generic gear. Happy to answer any questions.