What people need to remember is that price is not a reflection of quality, there are gems and junk at all price points.

As always, another well thought out and executed video. Thumbs up. I have noticed an interesting facet of human psychology especially in bushcraft circles that pertains to this subject. Many many people tend to think that if they just had expensive product XYZ they would be a much better "bushcrafter," woodsman etc . However in the end Bushcrafting is NOT about equipment so much as it is about knowledge, skills and experience. The very best of equipment in the hands of a novice cannot even begin to compare with inexpensive but serviceable equipment in the hands of a truly skilled person. Of course that is not saying that one should not own expensive but good equipment. In the end each of us need to govern our own lives based on our own judgments. My decisions and judgments that I use to govern my life are based on my set of experiences, environment etc and so therefor seldom can be applied to another person since their experiences and environment may be quite different than my own.

Recently I’ve revisited old gear I had purchased in the past. In doing so I’ve found a new appreciation for it. “Better than I remember!” was a common feeling. Perhaps that is the clarity that comes with time and developed skill. Love the hike & coffee series! Cheers from Ontario :)

Thank you for your wisdom. You had some excellent points. “The more you know, the less you carry.” Mors Kochanski’s infamous quotation applies to so many outdoor activities. The skills and knowledge acquired through learning and experience will inform decisions on kit. I’ve discovered so much learning from Mark and his contemporaries on their reviews, demonstrations, and research. Learn, learn, learn and apply your knowledge to your purchases.

Really enjoy these coffee and a chat videos and this one in particular has been particularly interesting and thought provoking. My parents instilled In me the ethic of purchasing the best that one can afford, it would sometimes take them weeks to decide on a purchase ,much more difficult to get information back then and entailed actually visiting several shops and large apartment stores. I work with tools for a living so it’s important to not waste money on poor tools and I feel the same about camping and bushcraft gear. The one thing I did get caught up on was the titanium thing,I purchased quite a lot of pots and accessories in Ti but ultimately realised for most things there are better and thankfully cheaper options, Ti has its place but under a very limited set of uses for me personally. I think many folks like to collect things myself included but I have been having a purge and if I don’t use it or it doesn’t have special sentimental value it has to go, I’m finding that to be quite therapeutic. There is a lot hype and media exposure about ultralight gear and it has its place of course, light is good if you have to carry it but may not be entirely necessary if the distances to be covered are relatively small and not huge elevations to be climbed, one will normally have paid a considerable premium for weight reduction. Finally I would like to add that purchasing things locally made or designed is one of my goals with gear these days, it’s a premium worth paying to protect creativity,craftsmanship and jobs in one’s own country or protect companies who spent time and money on R&D wherever it’s from as so much gear is copied these days and is often inferior to the original.

Great series! I really appreciate content like this, where you elaborate on topics related to hiking and the outdoors. It's very informative and enjoyable

50+ years out is the woods here, one thing about better tools and less experience with those tools, is that often a better tool is slightly safer. For example, if you are using an axe in a backpacking situation, it is likely going to be a camp axe at around a 24" handle, and the shorter the axe handle the more dangerous the axe is to use, this is because a miss can hit your leg. It's pretty hard to hit yourself with a full sized axe, but unless you are in the woods specifically to build something with an axe, that is too heavy to carry. An excellent axe, like the Council Tools Camp Axe is both sharper, holds an edge better, is easier to sharpen, and the handle fits better in your hands, and is less likely to slip. This means, when you are limbing or cutting, you don't need to swing as hard, and the less force you need to use to make a cut, the less dangerous it is to you. I've witnessed way too many people just be lucky they were not seriously injured by an axe glance into their own leg, especially when they are inexperience and/or tired. People will get into a campsite late, try and gather some firewood, and end up with an axe strike on their own leg. Often, those with more skill, can actually get by with a lesser quality item, because skill overcomes that deficit, but most people don't have 1,000+ hours on an axe, so I'd suggest getting the tool that is the safest, even if it costs substantially more. If a Council Tool axe is out of your price range, use a folding saw instead, save axe work for at home when you are practicing, and save up and buy the tool that that is safer. Safety is the actual backcountry is your paramount concern. It doesn't matter if you have a satellite communication method, if you are injured, you need to be able to stabilize yourself until rescue arrives, and even knowing your location, that can take some time.

You really hit the nail on the head with marketing changing our want to a need. I find the best way to find needs is actually go camping or backpacking. Most times you'll findout you don't need everything you think you would. Another thing people seem to do is buy things to show others. Don't worry about what others have. I find the best place to look for quality is sleeping gear. Nothing worse then a bad night's sleep. One thing I picked up from ww2 grandparents. Buy what you need but don't waste money. I miss the old military supply stores. You could equipment yourself like a soldier for cheap. Now that stuff is expensive and collected. Knives have lost me. I don't believe production knives are worth the crazy prices nowadays. I use a Mora Garberg, BPS adventurer or a SRK-C mostly Don't see any reason to spend $200 on marketing. My money nowadays is going into my Van im making a camping traveling machine. Have a bed with steel walls beats a tent anyday. We are definitely living in very strange times. I most say for the first time in 55 years i don't feel the safety of the woods anymore. It used to be a place to escape to. Now it's just as dangerous if not more in some places. Maybe its because of my area but people are not as friendly as they used to be.

Some real wise words here. I especially like the idea of matching tool level to skill. It could be that you find that you lose interest before developing skill. In this case, then money will not have been wasted on something far exceeding your undeveloped skill. Loved the scenery shots and the view of the lake. Felt like I was at camp!

I've been obsessively collecting stuff for my awesome ikea hobo stove. That, too, is a blast.

I think there’s no way around it…you must pay for quality gear. There’s a point of diminishing returns, though. Do I, as a backpacker that goes out a few weekends a year, really need to shell out hundreds of dollars more for the latest ultralight gear that shaves ounces off my pack weight? Probably not. It may be different for someone hiking the Appalachian Trail, though. I actually made the decision recently to use the gear that I already have, and stop chasing the trends. For example, I daily carry my Spyderco Delica that I got 5 years ago. The VG-10 steel is fine for what I need it to do, and it sharpens up easily!

You figure out you're "needs", your "Wants" and the "nice-to-haves"...

Value can also be attributed to sentimental. So many great perspectives! Great coffee day!

I looked at the Keith titanium pour over coffee set for a couple of years before I finally purchased it. Your video review was the final push required for me to pay the high price. However, I use that beautiful well crafted coffee maker every morning and truly enjoy it. I didn’t need that item, but it sure provides lasting pleasure.

Very comprehensive and honest analysis 👍

Tree looks like it was hit by lightening. I've seen other trees with similar marks . It may have not been the main strike but was a culprit of a spark coming off another main blast.

Excellent words of wisdom. In general, the more time you spend on something, the more you'll get from the pricey incremental improvements the 'better' version offers. Great examples of this are beds and office chairs: if you work at a computer full time and sleep 8 hours a day, you're spending 2/3rds of your day in bed or in a chair, and a slight increase in comfort will compound over time to less back pain, more restful sleeps, more energy on your days off, etc.. Haven't had Java Blend yet though I've heard good things about their single origin offerings. Rampage has been great (thanks for the suggestion!), Kicking Horse can be delicious if it's fresh as well. Just Us is a classic but I've had a couple swings and misses with their coffee, but generally it's very good. Thanks for another great video Mark.

Very thought provoking video sir. I myself have had many expensive knives and gear over the years. But due to a house fire that took nearly all of it, I have had to start over again. So I am back to the Mora's, Bps, and Beavercraft blades, and Mora hatchets!! I do have a hardware store hatchet and a Marbles one as well. But in all honesty, I don't mind as they fill the role that I really need. Needs vs Wants, the never ending battle lol!!

I’m of the opinion that if you start with the basic item and truly master it,the knowledge gained in that learning process will greatly enhance your experience and shorten the time and cost of getting the ultimate tool . Starting out you just don’t know what you don’t know. So get a basic Mora, in fact, get two, one in carbon steel and one in stainless. Work with each one, alternating between them. In a month or two you will have a preference, based on your actual use. Who knows, in a couple of months, you might just change your mind, again, based on your experience and new knowledge. I guarantee you in the end, the real satisfaction and joy is to be found in the skills and knowledge gained, not in the gear.

G'day Mark, its kinda weird sitting here in 12 deg C, overcast and rain, ..... watching you in glorious weather ; ) Anyway, fantastic subject mate and very well put !!!!! There is indeed a shipload in it. Great point on skill level. I reckon its fair to say with experience one can get to the stage of being able to discern value, (quality/price/suitability for one's MO), just by looking at it, especially in store. Though in fairness ....... not always ; ) Mind you there's only so much I have access to in my particular locale ...... that's where you and other commenters come in, and I sincerely thank you all for it ; ) Yes, my modest collection of cutting tools and torches is more than anyone really needs, though it is a hobby within itself, ...... so there's a fair bit of "want" involved ; ) I will say ....... never compromise on a tent, ...... I've got only one ...... and I know how to use it ; ) Cheers Duke. P.S. yep certainly looks like fire damage, apart from a lightening incident, I was think'n maybe someones misplaced hot tent chimney. Also, since you folks get snow, could have occurred closer to "ground level". In any event, birch being birch, I'm surprised the whole tree didn't go up in flames ; )

For me I like to try to make something I want first. If I'm not able to do that or what I'm trying to make isn't working effectively then I'll buy the cheapest version of what I'm after. If I feel I have some skill and can use a cheap version of something then I will consider upgrading to a more expensive version amd trult invest on that piece of gear. A lot of the time a diy piece of kit will work well enough to meet my needs. That burn on the Birch is a head scratcher. Not something I've run across before. Thanks for sharing Mark.

Have Been There 7 Done That Great Discussion Mark. Thanks For This ! ATB T God Bless

Two good examples of using cheap vs expensive for me are my knife and a quality water filter. I started with a basic Mora knife, then found my preferred knife that would be the “one”. I use a Grayl filter bottle quite a bit, and have used a Geopress for years. It is definitely not a necessity but it has definitely made my life easier. It was not cheap, but worth it. Recently I decided to buy another one, so after years of using the standard Geopress I opted for the titanium one. It was a major investment, but with the experience with my original one this new one will see me through many years of service and will be more functional than the old one. The old one will be a backup. Short of it is I see if I will really use an item by getting a value one, and if it works out I don’t mind spending on something I will have for a lifetime.

A story about a different topic that is relevant here. When I was in the UK as a kid I played football (soccer). Every start of the season during initial practice or selection you got 2/3 kids turn up in brand new expensive first division team replica everything kit. They seemed to think this made them better footballers and they always got outclassed sometimes to the point of tears. It didn't seem to be that they were outclassed that was the issue it was they were outclassed by kids in scruffy old not top of the line kit. Somehow the expensive stuff entitled them to be better. Didn't matter that the scruffy kids practiced all year and jogged most mornings, this is why their kit was scruffy, it was well used. These kids in the expensive kit were in their deluded way trying to take a shortcut. Id like to think adults know better but you still see the short cut people in most outdoor hobbies/activities. Buy whatever you want but your big outlay is time and effort, time is a valuable thing, priceless.

A good example for me is I really want the Keith Titanium Pour over cone. I have the Dollarama silicone one that I use everyday. Do I need to spend all that money to basically achieve the same Goal? No. Ill keep my dollar store pour over. Hunt for Quality vs Garbage not always reflected in the price. Case in point BPS knifes or Mora they do every thing you need and more for a decent cost. Great Video. Makes you question your gear and your choices.

Great discussion, Mark. I think the term you were describing is "bias confirmation", where I'm looking for opinions from others to justify my own decisions and likes. Your points and categories are well reasoned. I'm in the same boat as you (all hands on deck!) as an enthusiastic hobbyist. In my heart, I know that the vast majority of it is either redundant, superfluous, or simply ego-driven, for many of the reasons you suggest. I think that most of us get caught up in "ooh, shiny!" purchasing, which is fine... if it makes me happy, then why not? We all have to find our particular balance point. Is it weight vs durability? We know that we pay a lot more for lighter weight when we get into counting grams. But a cast iron pan isn't much fun to lug around on a day trip. Then again, I may be carrying an extra fifteen pounds around my waist, so why be mesmerized by saving a few ounces with a new doodad? Also, new vs used... I love a bargain, and I hate buying at retail prices. If I can find something in good used condition, I may well prefer to purchase it that way, depending on cost savings and warranty issues. Caveat emptor. Branding vs OEM - especially with regards to overseas-manufactured items like titanium cookware... if I know what I'm looking at/for, I'm thrilled to bypass inerrant marketing costs by buying clones or commodity versions. Again, sometimes I don't know what I'm missing until I compare hinges, for example, thickness, etc, or in many cases, lack of quality control or warranty, which of course may be drastically reduced in lower profit products of otherwise same manufacture. Making vs buying - you really nailed it. I've made countless stoves of all sorts, some of which have been real disasters and some of which I still use. Same with tarps, tents, knives, etc. Best thing I can say is that the process of building or making gives me real insight into the value of my own time spent researching and making plus costs of materials and supplies. Suddenly, the extra $40 doesn't seem like too much. Economy of scale! In the end, I think there is tremendous value in questions like these and the "$100 bushcraft challenge". We can do it on a limited budge - isn't that the whole point?

I own alot of good, cool, expensive, proven knives. For many of the reasons you mentioned. However, in my opinion, my best and favorite is the mora 2000 I bought used in a gun shop for $ 9.99, its so awesome I had to make a leather western style sheath for it. It just rocks at everything and is easy to sharpen well.

Thank you for this IMPORTANT Video, Mark 🥰

While I admit, you can find great deals with low costs, I find that most quality items have a commensurate higher cost. As such, I have found that purchasing truly quality products yield greater satisfaction and longer life spans even at higher prices. My dad used to purchase $5 saw blades and I would buy $25 saw blades that lasted 10x longer (THAT was a LONG time ago...). We would often laugh about that.

Great video as always! I am thrifty/budget with most things, but I will say when I can I buy good quality items that are slightly used at a much lower price. I also like to make my own gear whenever possible. Thanks for sharing with us Mark and I hope you are doing well and continue to enjoy the outdoors.

Hi again. You probably know this, but you can buy coffee in “tea-bag” style. I used to buy Robert Timms coffee bags for work. 🤓🇦🇺☕️

Tree burn suggests a liquid fuel two burner stove flare-up, from over charging fuel tank, at higher elevation. (Don't ask how I know.) I always measure "quality/value" as a function of performance per dollar spent. Some stuff works/lasts longer, but at a luxury price point. I have no problem replacing gear showing it's age AFTER I've gotten commensurate use out of it. Impulse buying for me is always ignited by premium quality items offered at bargain basement prices, if it's something I'll use 'probably'. I'm happiest finding something cheap that serves as well as the premium stuff; funny you should mention Mora knives.

Great video Mark. I see started off very basic with small stove TomShoo. I can say I splurged when I bought Firebox Stoves, largely based on videos and reviews. Gen 5 and nano are great stoves, but still, didn't meet my needs for 2 persons. I love my Picogrill 85 and 235 stoves. Light weight and perform well. Mark my SkyeMac stove is my perfect stove. I use this stove many times a week. Talk about budget and versatile.

Thank you so much for this video Mark. Your videos set you apart from so many others that "review" gear and give their opinions. I really value your distinction between Needing and Wanting a piece of gear. I have several twig stoves and had been happy with most of them but when you reviewed the Uberleben stove, I had to buy it, and have never regretted the purchase, It is now my favorite and most frequently used stove. No need to look iinto any others. I didn't need the stove but now can clearly see the benefits of owning one. Thanks again for your excellent videos!

I like your videos. I even got something because of your channel. No gear, but Robert Frost's poems.

PERFECT EXAMPLE . Keith titanium 250ml mini teapot , it cost way too much but I absolutely love it now , it's used every day and can be put on an electric ring , induction hob, also canister stove , so it can be used outside , it is ballistically built of titanium and has a built in strainer for loose leaf tea , it really is unashamed solo luxury , not easy to find anymore making it quite illusive , I would guess KEITH have not shifted too many of these at this price point , though they never seemed to have been reduced , hope you audition one here one day as I really would like your thoughts on such an objet d'art .

60 years ago I mostly lived outdoors. My family was poor so I had few “toys” and outdoor gear. I made it just fine with seasonal clothes and 6 inch boots. On a day hike this all you need. Wanna spend the night out? Find a good spot and sack out in a bivy & blanket. Do you think it will rain? Have a reflective survival blanket and pull it over you. Don’t overthink this!

I got into hiking and camping forty years ago as part of the Duke of Edinburgh program. As a high school student, I was paying for all of my gear on a tight budget. I can remember that the limitations of a short list of simple gear was frustrating for someone new to the hobby. I learned to adapt and improvise.

I look for quality in tents or sleeping bags and mats, I don’t backpack, too old with some mobility issues but still tent camp. Some other things I go modest but good like Mora or Opinel knives etc and yes some inexpensive stuff. I’d like to think I’m in the happy medium range. Good video thanks.

Wise words, besides the skills level balance for buying gear I would suggest to not forget the passion for gear a person wants to own just because that person can afford buying nicer stuff to enjoy even if the skills level isn’t up to the quality gear👍🏻

Just subbed, very interesting topic, i really enjoyed that, thanks

I purchased a TSC (tractor supply store) Smith and Wesson full shank knife BEFORE the pandemic. It was a clearance Item so i got it for $ 12.00, and I bought a off brand little hatchet at the same time for about $ 15.00. hadn't used them until I was able to install my Vevor wood stove last Year. I now use these two Items all the time when I need to refill my kindling wood and shorten downed limbs that i can use for burning this Winter. I am happy with my purchase as i am learning how to boutan (?) the knife. Thank you for posting this video.

Great video🙂 There are also collectors. People invest in knives. I have a friend that has TONS! It took him a long time to consider himself a collector though. I think there is some kind of stigma to it in the outdoors community. Nothing wrong with it if you have the money IMO. I wish custom people would work more on lighter knives. I started with a companion and tried to get custom knives. They always end up staying home because they are so heavy though

Thanks for this video, you gave a lot of great advice. 👍 I too share the same thought process when looking to buy something; I weigh the pros and cons to justify my purchase. With the exception of random impulse buys I do every once in a while...😉 Take care and Cheers!

Hi 👋 Mark. You Hit The Nail On The Head,,,,,,I Don't Get Chance On Weekends To Get To My Camp Much (Family Life) But When I Do Go,,,,,,,I Want Quality Knives & Gear That Will Last Me A "Lifetime" Figuratively Speaking Of Course. I Don't Regret Buying The 3V Steel Version Of My SRK & I Know It Will Outlast Me. I'm Doing Alot Better Now At Sharpening My Knives Up & I Don't Let Them Get Rock Dull Neither. (Like You Said Is The Key) Thanks For All The Advice & Suggestions & We Shall Chat Later On. Take Care.

Good take aways.

I think if you have a little extra money, and are camping out, spend it on a quality shelter, like a strong tarp, if you’re not interested in making bushcraft shelters; and then, if you’re out in cold weather, get a good sleeping bag. Clothing next, especially footwear. Cutting and cooking tools come later, i think, though some cheap things can be a little dangerous. So learn the risks. Anyway, i find a lot of people buy camping gear only to lose interest in it. You can get good deals second hand.

As a shooting enthusiast, I can relate to the sidearm choices. My first centerfire handgun is a 1917 Smith & Wesson, a .45 ACP revolver. Love that gun, still have it after almost 50 years! 😊 "Old" doesn't mean bad, at all...I'm getting old, too!

I’ve been frugal most of my life. I was a teacher without much extra cash. Now I have some extra cash, but have trouble spending a lot of money for high quality. I have repeatedly made the mistake buying cheap and ending up replacing it with a more costly item. This has been a lesson that was hard to learn.

I would have mentioned that some equipment needs a lot of practice. I started with a siege stove and I struggled to even get a fire at first. It's been a year and a half, and today I made coffee and then brown rice in a clay pot (40 minutes for the rice.)So, you have to practice using your gear to get it figured out.

Money was very tight when I got my li'l instant family our first tent. (the missus had a son of 13) It was a huge 12 person tent, or eight with center diner/living area. Material was as tarp material..noisy with oodles of Alu. poles. We worked as a team getting the huge cheapish tent perfectly set. Wagging tails us all and was all we had..up at gramp's old digs farmland. Takedown/fold/pack, and surely dry was team too. Any boo boos in manufacturing as stake gromets we delt with. Dry during rain, mosquito free..breezes. ~ In walked the early nineties Eureka Wind River Tent, as said my friend had one to check out before purchase. Knives? lol, yeah. Knowledge 'n skill. ~ Cave manning twaddle ~ sometime in the eighties my stepfather gifted me some, as I thought novelty shiny as mirror bladed Bowie type to aid past wounds. Bam I tossed it to a drawer thinking as something as from a tourist town like Wis. Dells. 35 years later: Brian, that's a high worth Western Bowie knife, highly collectable if into such. research says 1968 version Bowie never used. crikey, I want to go chop saplings/sharpen for fishing 'n meats on a stick. Sometimes old holds quality wanted/ needed on a budget. ~ How many grandpa's knives need rescue from his ol' tackle box?

I suspect the burn mark in that tree is from someone hoisting up a lantern either a gas or pressurized liquid fuel one and the radiant heat baked the resin out of the bark heating it just short of ignition. There is likely a branch about a foot up from the burn that has rope marks, could even be on the opposite side of the tree depending upon how the tree leans. Finding value in the gear you buy stems from having realistic expectations and understanding of the way you will use it. If you are just camping out in the yard with the kids, a cheap $50 dollar tent may suffice if it leaks you can retreat indoors and build a blanket fort behind the sofa. But if you are depending on it to protect you and your family 2 days hard paddling up the creek in foul weather... other criteria will come into play.

👍👍👍 .. a very good discussion .. thanks 😊. Price is relative .. and inter alia, a function of manufacturing and 'marketing' costs (marketing .. remember, nothing is 'free' 😏), supply and demand and .. 'what the Market is prepared to tolerate'. The way I see it is to, if wishing to 'give the hobby a go', do one's research beforehand, 'cut one's teeth at / towards the bottom of the price scale (beg, borrow, 'forage' from home is even cheaper) and then take it from there. Thus, if one decides that it is / or not, for one .. no major loss, less pain and the 'teething' gear can always be passed on to other aspiring 'greenhorns' 😊.

Good discussion, thanks for sharing YAH bless !

I'm a neighbor from the Philly area, but grew up in Buffalo. Nova Scotia is still beautiful. If you go visit Scotland, you'll see the resemblance. The water there is black due to the peat filters.

Starbucks has a line called origami which is those same kind of pour over setups as what you demoed here. It is a pretty clever setup; it’s almost completely flat and when you squeeze the sides it pops open into a pretty stable pour over cone. I like to keep a couple in my camping kit for when I just don’t want to be bothered with using my Aeropress. You can also let it drain and then put it back in the pouch to pack out. Only downside is I think they are primarily for the Asian market so they might be hardish to find. Also a little more money than doing it yourself but I appreciate the convenience of them. Having a friend stationed in Japan who can send them to me stateside is also a plus 😂

I still got a Hultafors ok4 knife that cost me 16 euro, and it's practically indestructible ;) The trick is finding the good stuff, and it's not necessarily the most expensive in my experience. that tree seems lighting to me..

My neighbor used a truck with a lift to do the very same thing to my trees all around his fence. I filed vandalism charges against him, and at the moment it seems to have stopped... also it could be a stray lightening strike...i watched one in the early 70's in Germany. Lightening strikes from the top, and another comes from the ground, and meets the one from the top!😱

Given the caveats (most if not all covered in the video) of need>want>nice, skill/ecperience>gear and weighs nothing/goes with you, and figure out your use/reason, budget and do the research comparing items and vetting manufacturer/seller: One area I highly recommend not skimping on is anything that is potentially life saving if you ever need to use it. For example chinese tourniquets might be cheap and be a quarter the cost of a gen7 CAT, but the cost of a funeral is many times that. Another is most handheld tools. Good tools can when cared for proper can be used hard through multiple generations and still be good for multiple more after. A third off the top of my head would be something of particular or personal importance/significance or "once in a lifetime" opportunities, if you go cheap there you'll likely look back with regret wishing you hadn't. On a more personal note, dont cheap out on relationships with those you care about. That's one "expense" well worth the investment.

Not one for fancy coffee, but I can't stand instant in most forms. The best "instant" form I've had is Name brand "coffee bags", like tea bags in a foil pouch that you steep in the water after you boil it. But I have usually carried a stove-top percolator, and that's my go-to.

I thought I’d let you know, I’m not the one who suggested the coffee filter…😉 I’ve owned and shot quite a few firearms, and I wouldn’t mind owning a classic police long barrel 38 special. As for the burn spot, I think the tree watched too many of your videos and tried to start a fire using birch bark…..🥴 ✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦✌️

The mountains are calling and I must go.

Temps there at the moment are like here in Kentucky...just have to get used to them...🧐😱

Hi Mark, you hit on a couple of good points in your talk. I just bought the Fire-Maple version of the Trasia cooking system with the stand, burner, windscreen and pots and pans. I paid more than I had intended to due to a confusion in price in CAD $ and USA $, my mistake ow well it is a good set. With the IPSIC computations do you still shoot and usr the 38 special? I have used one several times in commotions and really liked it with handload wadcutters. I wish I had bought one when I had the chance.

Cold Steel fits that knife profile, many useful designs, good steel, not a lot of $$...

I dont know much and it does look like a burn mark, but could that be the start of Chaga on that birch?

For the question, I’m gonna have to go with fireflies, or saskwatch. And Mark, you were a shooting guy? I never would have guessed. I do a lot of shooting, but it’s more into precision shooting…..can’t afford all the ammo in IPSC. 😔.

Video on your knives?

i learned "buy once, cry once" doesn't work for me.

Cost and quality determine value in my opinion. In my opinion ‘cheap’ is low cost, low quality and should Never be bought. Example the current ‘Rambo Survival’ knives. Budget/inexpensive would be low to moderate price and decent to good quality Example would be a Mora knives. Expensive, well thats above my pay grade. Custom/handmade, top of the line William Collins Knives.

I enjoyed your talk. I tend to buy mid-range stuff. I mostly do day-hikes for fishing. I don’t need titanium. My Chinese-copy twig stove does the job. I did buy a Firemaple Arcti kettle, the handles and lid work better. Finally, if I want high-end, I try to buy second-hand. Most of my Columbia clothing is from eBay. 🤓🎣🛶🇦🇺