Hikermor, expense is in the eye of the beholder. The prices at Cabelas and REI make me cringe. I could no more afford a $95 backpack or a $300 sleeping back than I could fly to the moon by flapping my arms.
But overall, I still maintain that SAR people have a lot invested in their equipment.
Sue
Not to hijack the thread, but I have talked to people from both Cabellas and REI and they even are like "I have no idea why we charge so much." One of the guys at REI said "Just go online to Oregon Mountain Co-Op and buy this bag there. It's 70 bucks cheaper." I did.
I've only met one person who has ever gotten anything out of REI and that's the only person I know who bought the REI Club Card thing. He's also one of those guys who drives a Subaru Outback, dresses like he hikes and camps...but never hikes or camps. Ever. It's a "Trend" thing to clothe yourself in REI where he lives.