Paying premium for premium gear has always been a great controversy all over forums. War between fans of Strider vs Spyderco vs Buck vs SAK vs whatever knife brand you like has been going on forever. Same went for flashlights as why pay $120 for Surefire or Gladius or HDS when $10 Maglight would do. And of course why not get a casio g-shock or seiko instead of omega or rolex which will do exactly the same job.

In the end I was lucky enough to have some expandable income that I was able to put into some premium gear and when some of it proved to be worth it others were just a waste of money. But in the end it is your personal choice of what to get and don't fall into the trap that more expensive is better since I learned that lesson with Kifaru packs the hard way. I just wish I had most of my cash back that I blew searching for a perfect light, knife, pack etc etc... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> but at least it was fun.

But the thing that makes me really angry are people who won't even talk to you unless you have certain kind of gear. In order to join the special exclusive society you have to own exclusive gear otherwise you are not worth somebodys time. I guess idea that somebody maybe can't afford such gear or doesnt need it is unacceptable. And sometimes your skills are perceived as diminished becasue of the gear you own since as an expert you should have known better.

_________________________
Matt
http://brunerdog.tripod.com/survival/index.html