Gear collector or gear user?

Gear collector or gear user?


Are you a person who love to read or watch reviews on for example YouTube, buying gear, building kits more then actually using the stuff? Well, it's OK - you aren't exactly alone.

I have been watching a lot of YouTube channels where the trend is, and have been for some while, to review something and in most cases then state that it is a must have item. In most, that is in my opinion pretty much all, cases you probably don't need it. These YouTube channels constantly "review" gear, some are "sponsored" by the manufacturer, and it is in the channel's interest not to give a bad review on that item of gear. It is probably so that if they did they wouldn't be sponsored in the future right?

Lets take knifes for example. Personally I have to confess that I got more knifes than I probably going to need during my lifetime. I also try to make my own knifes but that is more of a hobby of mine. I don't think of myself as a collector nor can I give a clear reason why I ended up with some many knifes. It simply happened as I'm sure many of you can relate to. I got some knifes from known brands, both some more expensive (at least in my opinion) and some more "budget friendly" too. I even have several of the exact same manufacturer and model of some knifes. Mostly because it wasn't expensive, although I admit that that term is relative as usual, and that I enjoyed that particular knife. I would also like to state as a matter of fact that a knife doesn't become, for example, more durable or functional the more expansive it is. If guys like for example Mors Kochanski, who have been teaching survival skills for more then 40 years (as of 2018), didn't need more that a basic Mora knife to get the job done then you most likely don't either. Yeah, I know it's though but it is true - really.

Back to the YouTube reviewers. My personal alarm goes on if the gear "suddenly" shows up on several channels at about the same time. That makes me a tiny bit suspicious. More so if they also do an unboxing (personally how is that even related to how the gear perform???  I just don't get it and assume that it is "content" related), followed by a first impressions and then some initial use where the gear goes through some "tests". These tests generally includes some cutting, battoning it through some "though wood", making some feather sticks, using the spine for some tinder preparation and in conjunction with a ferrocerium rod to make a fire. Perhaps gutting and prepare fish or game but that is not usually the case. Rarely do I see any long term reviews which would better reflect how it performed and what it's strengths and weaknesses were. Mostly the gear reviewed are forgotten for the next new, really "essential", gear to have. And so the cycle continues...

How do you not fall into the I-think-I-really-find-that-item-(probably)-very-useful-and must-buy-it trap then? First, let me say that if money isn't a problem, you got space for the stuff, and your wife/husband (or equivalent) and mother-in-law has no objection you can probably do whatever you want (and get away with it!) congrats, if that is the case by the way. If that isn't the case I would like to propose these simple guidelines to help you out making your decision easier:
- Is the gear doing anything that the gear you already own can't do?
- Does it provide or add essential functionality to gear you already got and can therefore replace it?
- Have it been available on the market for some time or even been revised/updated? Gear that don't work as intended don't sell and therefore disappear.
- If possible, can you try it out before buying it?
- Do you actually have an intended use for the it, like now, or is it a it-could-be-useful-later thing?
- Can't the money spent on this particular gear be more useful invested elsewhere?
- If it is a knock-off it's probably better to buy the original. It usually is as they say: you get what you pay for.
- If bought, do you have to "hide" it from your other half (AKA wife/husband/partner) and then gradually "introduce" it? Yeah, I know -  I can relate, not judging, I'm just asking...

Well to summarize this up, as a wise man said: If you don't need it then you shouldn't buy it and don't buy stuff that you don't know how to use. Also gear isn't a substitute for knowledge. Well, I'm paraphrasing here but I think you get what I mean, later!
Plats: Sverige

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