My first tent purchase many years ago cost me around $75 (really only suited to low level 1 or 2 season spec), yet only the other day I saw a higher spec tent at my local Tesco's on sale for $5!!



http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-0497.aspx

Ok it might have glass fiber poles and steel pegs (easily replaced to save weight) and the tent only suitable for low level 2-3 seasons) but it was only $5.00.

Some gear is overpriced though for little gain in performance. Take for example the Thermarest Neoair sleeping mat. Spending almost $150 to shave off possibly 100-150 grams over something like a $60 Multimat Adventure Superlite 25 just isn't worth it IMHO. But some folks will always want the latest and the newest and the lightest.

Which leads on to the question - what is the worst bit of kit i.e. the most disappointing useless overpriced piece of c**ppy kit you have had the misfortune to purchase?

i.e. I cannot understand for example why anyone would drop nearly $30 for a Maglite AA with incandescent bulb.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/...-or-301070.html