Yes but than I think there are very few honest reviewers out there. I always buy a "backpacker" and "outside" magazine to look at new and coming up recommended gear and realize that a lot of good stuff is being bypassed because manufacturer failed to send in a free sample to a magazine or maybe mediocre review is being given because manufacturer never invited anyone for night out or lunch. I know how much that affected our camera sales when I worked behind the counter long time ago, for a free t-shirt or a key chain I was willing to sell you junk. Also manufacturers who have a lot of petty cash available and shower reviewers with gifts and free stuff usually get the most favorable write ups. Maybe I just become cynical and an old goat over the last few years but I see it more and more especially that I use most of the gear to do real work instead of just local park walking. Also there is a lot of crappy or just average equipment out there that is being hyped out of proportion by somebody who has ?internet authority?. I guess posting on the web and writing articles does make you an expert on stuff even thou the last time you used the equipment was about 10 years ago to sharpen a pencil. But I do love the web reviews because there is always somebody like me or you writing about stuff that went good or wrong. Unless of course it doesn?t sit well with the moderator and you get banned so you just go someplace else (like me and Doxa for example <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ). But we can do with few honest reviewers who are not affraid to write how it is without fear of being out of the job for writing the truth.

I grew up with firm belief that leather/wool/silk and surplus army gear are the way to go in any outdoor activity. I than discovered technical clothing such as fleece and Gore-Tex. I bought on sale a fleece top, vest and rain jacket from company called Lowe Pro. Never looked back on surplus stuff again. That was almost 7 years ago and I still have the items. Now if you look around in the US, Lowe Pro is not really up there when it comes to climbing/technical gear. Why? Because they made excellent gear but didn't want to stroke the reviewers. They believed in making quality gear with keeping the price low which should have earned them a proper reputation. Well they failed. A lot of other manufacturers who managed to "place" their product in proper spot by giving it away were getting a spotlight even thou their gear was average.


Ps.
I think I bought a skull ring from the guy that sold you a cross necklace. My finger had this awesome green band that would make a proper landmark for amputation.