A definite self-confessed gear freak, I am always intrigued by the different costs involved in obtaining equipment. Some things can be improvised or recycled for nothing or next to nothing, while a high end product in the same category can cost a comparative arm and a leg. It is instructive to compare the different levels.

Here is an example of what I mean. Let's take Match Containers (for $800):

Cheap: recycled 35mm film container. No Cost - reasonably effective - might have to cut down some matches to fit. These are actually becoming a bit rare in the digital age.

Standard: Coghlan's Orange Plastic container. $2.00 or so. Be sure the lid is screwed on tight, but very effective.

Top End: Exotac Match Safe. $27. Nice design with some impressive features. Practically jewelry. A close competitor in cost is the K&M unit.

How about Water Bottles?

Cheap: Recycled Gatorade or equivalent sport drink bottles (one quart). No cost. Light and strong. About the only drawback is that the lid is separate and can be lost.

Standard: Nalgene container. $8 more or less. One liter capacity. Lid is attached, but bottle is heavy - also bombproof. Lots of alternatives in this general price range.

Top End: Exotac Titanium water bottle. $85 with titanium cap. 27 ounces capacity. Probably extremely tough. Probably a bit heavier than the Gatorade bottle. I don't have one for comparison.


So you can go into the field with matches and a water bottle, on one hand spending nothing and at the other end putting down over 110 dollars.

I will leave it to a braver soul than myself to discuss knives or firearms. What other categories can you describe and discuss?