How High-End Outdoor brands set Prices

It's just a jacket, but it will cost you more than $200, and that's on the low end.. 
Why has outdoor gear gotten so expensive? 

Note - we are not examining whether or not it's worth it. For a good discussion on value, check out this brand comparison by Casual Geographic 

Now, why the price increase?

It's not actually very clear. Despite drastically different sources for materials and manufacturing processes, most outdoor brands are setting prices higher than ever. There are a few outliers, like Patagonia and Arc'teryx on the high end, and notably, Black Diamond on the low end, but the industry average has taken a sharp journey upwards. 
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