Equipment Selection: Bonus Tips
So hopefully you have read our article on how to select your own kit and equipment (if not, it’s here, take a look!). Since then we’ve realised we have a bit more to share with you about kit selection, for some points it’s just a bit more to think about, but there’s also a few bonus pieces of information that might help you too.
No free lunch
We spoke briefly about trade off in our previous article, i.e. when you make an item fulfill more than one function you are likely to run into a situation where there are competing factors. This is where as one function gets better the other(s) gets worse. This can be seen in a lot of situations, but a prime example of this is a multitool, so we wanted to walk through this one in particular.
Are any of the tools on a multitool, be that a Swiss army knife or folding plier type, as good as a single tool which only does one of the functions? Even the knife blades on them are not as good as a dedicated blade optimised for the task you are using it for. However in many outdoor situations it is common to make the choice to take a multitool of some type. It is understood that each of the tools or functions that it has are less useful or robust than a dedicated tool with a single function, but they do take up less space and weight than a full toolbox and will get you through in a pinch. Just think, every time you go outside do you need a variety of different sized screwdrivers, can opener, bottle opener, pliers, wire cutters, file, scissors, small thin blade? Probably not. Would any one of these tools be helpful in fixing a bit of equipment in the field? Probably. Whilst conducting one of these maintenance tasks, could you get away with a slightly difficult to use, not great version of the tool? If so, then a multitool looks like a viable option.
This thinking is not just reserved for tools, you can use the same thinking for clothing as well. Does a jacket that has been designed for one specific purpose fit the activity you are doing better than a jacket that tries to do it all, and how does this fit with the rest of your layering system?
When looking at equipment see if you can place where the designers traded off one function for another, this can help you see if the item will then fit into how you are looking to use it.
Cost per Use
When considering the price of an item it can be worth considering the cost per use. If you consider the number of times that you intend to use the product, and divide down the number of expected uses the result can help you justify the purchase. It also can help with focusing on quality where you will experience it most. If you are only going hammock camping a couple of times a year for a couple of nights each time, probably not worth spending a fortune on it. However, a pair of boots that you will use most weekends, and a couple of week long trips in a year would be worth spending more on.. The type of equipment where this type of thinking does not work too well is emergency equipment. For such items, we would always recommend getting the best that you can afford. In those dark moments when you need a piece of emergency equipment, you will be glad of every penny you spent.
A few quick tips on keeping the costs down:
Get an idea of how much an item usually costs and watch out for it in sales. Some of those “deals” are not as good as they first appear
Sign up to retailers mailing lists as there are often discounts. Even 5% or 10% across all your gear soon adds up.
Watch the time of year you’re buying things. Often the best time to pick up gear for a good price is at the end of the season that it is intended to be used in e.g. Winter kit in spring, or tents in autumn.
Discount schemes (if you are lucky enough to have one with your work/profession) can sometimes be helpful for outdoor gear.
Where does it all come from?
It is worth considering at this point where your morals lie with respect to the environment, animals, and other people. There have been numerous initiatives to highlight the potentially questionable practices in the outdoor equipment industry. If you are interested it is worth looking into the following topics:
Merino wool and the practice of mulesing sheep.
Live plucking down (yes it is as bad as you think), the Bluesign(R) approval process.
Leather, and how it is sourced.
Plastics, and how they are sourced.
Microfibers, and their proliferation in the environment
Oeko-Tex certification.
B Corp Certification.
Support for repairs/Ability to repair.
Get hands on if possible
This may come as a shock to some, but despite the age in which Katrina and I grew up in, and our preference for online shopping (over driving miles to shops and wander around in towns and cities aimlessly wandering around shops), there are times when it can be beneficial to pick up the potential item and see how it feels. A big non-negotiable one which we always go and try first is boots. For anything that has to interact with your body for extended periods, be that clothing, tools, or paddles, there is no replacement for picking it up any seeing how it interacts with your body. A handle that works for one, may not work for another, the same for the fit of a garment. A phenomenon to watch out for though is a physiological phenomenon that occurs when a person puts a garment on they can take ownership of it at some level. A well known sales trick is to get customers to try on the garments, and they are much more likely to make a purchase. Watch out for this trick! If trying items, always try more than one (if possible) and do not linger with any one item for any length of time. Try it on, if it does not feel right straight away, then it does not fit well enough for you to wear it for days on end outdoors. Also never try on an item that is outside of your budget.
Do you have any tips on selecting kit that we haven’t covered? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you through Facebook, Instagram, or simply by dropping us a message.
