Negative side of Gear

We often look at the pros of ever item we talk about, but rarely the cons. I think it is a good idea to start this topic to talk about the bad points/problems of the gear we use. This will make others expect the common problems in an item.

I'll start.

Headlamps that arnt LED but just the old bulb, have good visability but kill the bateries very fast. Also the light is yellow rather than white (which bothers me).

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Surefire LED flashlights with a TIR lens have a bright central beam but no peripheral(?) light. Crying or Very sad

knives, they get dull. solution, take a sharpener with you. result, twice as much gear. Also you may have to use honing oil which could leak in your pack (i know i know worst case senerio) and soak all your gear in oil. Another thing is anything with batteries (gps/flashlight/other) with them dying right when you need them.

	flashlightfreak9 wrote:
	Surefire LED flashlights with a TIR lens have a bright central beam but no peripheral(?) light.

Flashlightfreak...

I just got a Surefire E2D as my EDC/outdoors flashlight. I mistakenly thought it was an LED... have been debating whether to exchange it for an LED, but I do have to say that the thing is BRIGHT! I can see why Surefire says it can temporarily blind an adversary. And it's definitely built to last.

LED or incandescent?! Ugh!
I know, I know... this issue was discussed in another recent thread. Jury's still out for me, though.

LOL, you should have gotton a catalog before you bought. Smile

I didn't the first time, either. Embarassed

The clip on the battery compartment of my Princeton Tec Solo Headlamp broke the other day. It won't stay closed now. Crying or Very sad

I sent Princeton Tec a message about it and it is covered under warranty, but I'm wondering if it's worth it sending to New Jersey. I was looking at getting a new headlamp anyway.

What do you guys think? Confused

Weight.. more gear = better prepaired for more situations but too much leads to a backbreaking hike every time you go.... this could make you tired quicker and it could make you more likely to leave your gear at home when "just going fora quick hike"...

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People to contact if you have a problem

When guns become outlawed only outlaws will have guns.

Yup, your back needs to be comfortable enough that you WON'T leave it behind. Don't carry around all kinds of stuff you arn't going to need, take out everything from your pack, look at it, and make sure that you actually need it.

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-Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day.

-Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!!!"

Yeah, I do that all the time. It's constantly a balance between needs and how much weight you can carry. The current configuration suits me well. Cool

all great points. Very Happy

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One of the downsides to any piece of gear for me is if whatever it is only has one practical use.
I like stuff that can be used for multiple things.
Duct tape-paracord-aluminum foil-plastic bags-a good knife are all fairly light weight , but cover a BUNCH of necessaties.

On the other hand , things like binoculars-rope-batteries or any gear that's bigger than it needs to be are likely to become a burden.
The fact that I might actually need some of that stuff is what makes me carry it.

I guess it depends on what I'm setting out for & if I'll be alone or with someone else.
Alone you need to carry a wider range of stuff & you need to make some decisions about what to haul, but if someone is with you , the two of you can share the load.
It's nice to have one person carry the water for the both of you for example & I try not to have each person carrying duplicates of the same stuff. One guy carries the big knife & the other one carries the little knife. Kinda like a team approach. Switch off if you feel like it.
As long as you stay relativly close together it works.

Cliff

All gear is a pain in the Butt Mad

I want a magic wand so i can just say " Abracadabra " i want Fire ! .... Shelter !,.....food cooking !
Oh ya, totaly sweet man Cool

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A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

	Drummer Dave wrote:
	I want a magic wand so i can just say " Abracadabra " i want Fire ! .... Shelter !,.....food cooking !

You mean to tell us that you don't have one of those yet Wink

?????

I think that's a hint for everyone as to what Dave wants for Christmas Razz

Check at WalMart...I'm sure they sell SOMETHING like that Laughing

Cliff

^ Not a Harry Potter one, Its got to be a Survival magic wand Laughing

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

But of course. Wink

Where can I buy mine? Laughing

Ok...so if anyone is out in the woods & sees a guy prancing around with a Magic Wand , it could be........never mind.

Cliff

I dont prance Rolling Eyes

......... i Frolic Laughing

Why you Little !

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

	Drummer Dave wrote:
	I dont prance ......... i Frolic Why you Little !

not much better dave........ Laughing

Fonly wrote:

	Drummer Dave wrote:
	I dont prance ......... i Frolic Why you Little !

not much better dave........ Laughing

LOL

..... No Doubt. For the record, ive never " Pranced " or " Froliced " Razz

Im just a lean mean Hiking Survival Machine Twisted Evil

>> Now lets stay on Topic << Cool

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Last edited by Drummer Dave on Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:43 am; edited 2 times in total

Definetly agree with the led flashlight problem, but I have a solution! I carry both a petzl tikka plus headlamp and a dorcy 1watt hawkeye. The tikka plus suffers from total inability to focus, but is good for short range area illumination. It has three brightness settings and a strobe feature. On the lowest setting (and lets face it, sometimes you just need some kind of light, any light.) it runs 150 hours on 3 AAAs (which probably weigh as much as the housing and strap). The dorcy hawkeye is heavy compared to the tikka, but is still very light versus, say, a maglite. Since it has a single high power led, it can use a reflector to give a pretty focused, long range beam. It makes the tikka look pale in comparison. On 3 AAAs, it runs 25 hours.

Because they're both AAA, I can swap batteries at will and one set of spares can go in either.