Buying gear is, IMHO, kind of like hunting.

In hunting you study your prey, you figure out its habits, where it hangs out and where it goes. Then you begin the hunt by stalking it, by setting up the situation to get the desired outcome. Then, when the time is right, you strike with everything you have because you're not going to get a second shot.

Shopping for gear is kind of like that. You study gear. You carefully consider how and when it is used. You talk to and read stuff from experts. Read reviews from everyone. You try to get your hands on the gear to get a feel for it. You compare every possible factor. You wait for sales and cruise auctions. Then, when everything is right, you spend your money.

If you do it right you get top quality gear that fits your needs to a tee, does everything you want, at the lowest possible price. For field use you get some great gear to use. For collectors, you get a trophy of your shopping, hunting, prowess.

I've done it with survival gear. Still do occasionally. But as I've got older the fact that survival hasn't changed in a few thousand years means that useful innovations that are worth paying for are few and far between. Once I find something that works well I'm set for a very long time. Once I have the work, home, carry, vehicle, and reserve slots filled I'm set. Set for a very long time.

What can I say? As a collector I'm a failure.