I'm learning a lot from reading the replies. When she asked me that question, I hadn't really thought of it all in those kinds of terms up until that point.

Now I'm about to pull the trigger on buying a really good knife (possibly an RSK MK1), and some other items that I have researched to be of MUCH better quality than some of the things I've been carrying on my person.

I'm now thinking in terms not of how much an item costs, but of how much it would be worth to me to have it and it perform under any conditions, no matter how bad it gets.

My knife is decent, but my life is worth more than the $21.97 price tag it carries. Same for a compass, a flashlight (also looking at Doug's improved Photon), and other items.

I've become of the thinking that for your BOB stuff where you have spares, it's okay to have GOOD quality stuff. But for your EDC, only the BEST of each item (and I'm not talking best name brand, I don't buy into fashion, only function).