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I think I've been hit

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
When did you realize, I mean truthfully realize like a ton of bricks, that all the top flight gear in the world didn't matter at all unless you had some skills? I have recognized this, but it never really caused to me to stop and think about it. Over the weekend, I had the epiphany that I really didn't need all of the toys. My skill set is way below the quality of gear I have. Five Maxpedition packs for hiking and camping, but no idea what to take in one for an overnight campout IN MY FATHERS FIVE ACRE WOODS! Or, any local campgrounds for that matter. I'm trying really hard to go from just acquiring gear to learning how to use it to its utmost potential.

Just some examples. My cousin spent a couple months in Alaska in his early 20's, and then south America, with nothing more than a SAK. My father has hunted and camped out since he was a little kid, and more often than not had nothing more than a pen knife and a small quanity of gear in his pockets. When I was a little kid, he had a small Schrade single blade pen knife, the Winchester small spey blade trapper I got him for Christmas last year is his biggest folder ever.

Also, forget knives. I got along fine with my old LLBean backpack. A friend gave me an old two man pup tent. Until my dog finally claimed it as his cot, I had an old Sunnys Surplus sleeping bag.

I have a couple customs due this fall, after that I am going to seriously reconsider what I am doing. I love spending time outside, but I have too much crap and not enough skills, and some bills too. I don't need to learn SERE tactics, being able to live off the land for months. I just want to hone my skills and have a fun time outdoors.

Have fun guys.
 
I definitely feel you on this one. This is something that I have been aware of for a while. I started hanging out in W&SS as a result. I used to have a much larger knife collection, but now I am down to about 5 fixed blades and a few folders and multitools.

I have been trying to pare down my gear lately into what I actually need and stop focusing on getting the latest and greatest. I went on a trip recently with some guys that really drove the point home. Most people there had mostly surplus gear, not a lot of Ti or Primaloft. I am really trying to develop my skills and stop focusing on all the STUFF.
 
I'd like to think I've always been skill oriented, which isn't to say I'm not fond of new and high end gear. An expensive silnylon tarp aint much good if you dont know how to string it up, and you won't have much fun if the knots you use are impossible to untie.

It struck me that there are a lot of people who are much more obsessed with gear than how to properly use it during an argument in one of the subforums about how my puukko was going to get me in dire trouble because it wasnt a 1/4" thick bomb proof prybar. All I could say to that is that people have been using these tools for centuries and have gotten by just fine, and mines at no risk of being broken because I know how to properly use a knife.

Gear shouldn't compensate for skills, it should supplement them.
 
I always want more gear:D Money always prevents me from getting all the stuff I want though. Mainly what I look into are things that would make my outdoor experience more comfortable and enjoyable. I'd like to get a lighter and smaller tent. I'd like to get new boots as mine started to come apart on my last trip. I don't need any new knives though. Any new knives would just be for the joy of ownership and not for the need.

What I do need more than anything is better physical conditioning (loose weight:o). I don't really feel like I need more skills. I never go out to try and survive. I go out to enjoy the wilderness, see the beauty, get away from civilization, etc.
 
I accepted a long time ago that a Mora is all the knife I'll ever need. But I get new steel, new woods toys for fun! I keep a clear separation between my development of skillsets and the use/acquirement of toys. I don't buy a new blade thinking I'll have better chances about 'surviving'. That's all me, one way or another. I love playing in the woods, and sometimes I like playing with new gear. Apples and oranges.
 
I'm all about the latest and greatest gear...but practicing how to NOT use it is the best fun! :D
 
Im wondering if your going through Junkopause.
Good idea to practice skills.It can be in any location you pick even a simple day use park.On a rainy day take the tarp to the park and pitch it over a picinic table or light a small fire using your firesteel and material you have brought along to burn.
To explain my gear habit I always point out the fact that golfers arent expected to play with one club so why should we be restricted to just one piece of gear-knife multitool or other,
Dan'l
 
Went to Oregon Firearms Academy for just this reason and I cannot begin to tell you what an epiphany it was!!

I learned so much it was incredible!!!

I suggest everyone get training!
 
There is an old paintball poster. It has four guys. On the left is a guy dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a primitive paintball gun - under him it says "Newbie". Guy two has quite a bit of gear and under him it says "Novice". Guy three has a TON of gear and under him it says "Professional". Guy four looks JUST like the newbie and under him it says "Expert"

That is SO VERY true.

I brought two knives in the woods this weekend and used one. Could have TOTALLY used a Mora for everything I did.

Jason
 
I like going minimal and using my skills. I like going with all my gear and using my skills AND gear. I dont limit myself to just skills. Gear is GRAVY on top of skills, and i like gravy. I practice skills all the time, sometimes i just want to use my gear.

case in point: Your tired, cold, hungry and nearing the campsite. Its pissing rain, about to snow....would you rather quickly set up a tarp and a make a hot meal on the stove? or would you rather spend the next 4 hours building a shelter, making a cooking fire, hunting down your meal and cooking it before turning in?

dont get me wrong, i love going minimal and just using skills, BUT gear has its place too. I'm NOT a novice either yet i will bring along tons of gear to play with....other times its nothing but a knife, cup, firesteel.
 
I like the analogy that new folks are preoccupied with the one piece of gear that will cover everything. Seasoned folks get preoccupied with having multiple pieces of gear that can be tailored to a given outing. Personally I like learning about new gear and trying it out under different conditions. Learning how to use new pieces of equipment is also a good skill set as it makes you aware alternative approaches to solving the same problem. Consider the diversity of shelter options available and how they have different advantages and disadvantages. Now I'm never going to bring three shelters with me at once, but I wouldn't feel embarrassed at having my choice of tent, tarp, hammock in the garage as options to tailor what I want. Having the knowledge to know what will work and how it is optimized for what is ahead is a skillset in itself.

I also agree with Bushman5 here. I don't want to live on primitive skills for everything I do. Sometimes I want convenience because my outing has more planned activities than just training to it.
 
I have more gear than skills, but I am always rotating the gear, trying to get better with it all. I rather have the gear, and know how to use it all, than only one set. Sure, I could do with the only one of this or that, but more is more skills, in my opinion.
 
Couldn't agree more.....to much focus by most (including myself at times) on stuff, the latest and greatest, at times the topics seem to turn dramatically from wilderness survival to "stuff", some of which is survival related and needed, but some that's just shiny and pretty. I don't mean to offend anyone with my comments, so please don't take it personal, just my thoughts and I realize not everyone feels the same and I am by no means trying to force my opinions on anyone, just get frustrated (again pointing a finger at myself) by what we think we need to survive.....it's seems to be our nature anymore, we always "want" instead of being creative, improvising, or improving what we have....heck I've seen some guys do things with a slipjoint or an old worn out butcher type knife that most (again including myself) couldn't do if we had all 20 of our knives with us.

I've almost stopped myself five times already writing this to just erase it and move on, but I can't, I just feel as woodsman we have lost our way a little, to me being a woodsman in part means living simple, improvising, surviving!

Ok, I'm ducking now for the rocks that will be thrown at me. Sorry in advance if I offended anyone, my honest intention is to make us/me think about it, nothing more. Thanks
 
silenthunterstudios said:
When did you realize, I mean truthfully realize like a ton of bricks, that all the top flight gear in the world didn't matter at all unless you had some skills? I have recognized this, but it never really caused to me to stop and think about it. Over the weekend, I had the epiphany that I really didn't need all of the toys. My skill set is way below the quality of gear I have. Five Maxpedition packs for hiking and camping, but no idea what to take in one for an overnight campout IN MY FATHERS FIVE ACRE WOODS! Or, any local campgrounds for that matter. I'm trying really hard to go from just acquiring gear to learning how to use it to its utmost potential.

Just some examples. My cousin spent a couple months in Alaska in his early 20's, and then south America, with nothing more than a SAK. My father has hunted and camped out since he was a little kid, and more often than not had nothing more than a pen knife and a small quanity of gear in his pockets. When I was a little kid, he had a small Schrade single blade pen knife, the Winchester small spey blade trapper I got him for Christmas last year is his biggest folder ever.

Also, forget knives. I got along fine with my old LLBean backpack. A friend gave me an old two man pup tent. Until my dog finally claimed it as his cot, I had an old Sunnys Surplus sleeping bag.

I have a couple customs due this fall, after that I am going to seriously reconsider what I am doing. I love spending time outside, but I have too much crap and not enough skills, and some bills too. I don't need to learn SERE tactics, being able to live off the land for months. I just want to hone my skills and have a fun time outdoors.

Have fun guys.
Click to expand...

It's true, knowledge and muscle memory, and simple logic/reasoning skills will get you much farther than quality gear. It's one of the first points any good survival manual will make. I learned on inferior gear-it's the fastest way to learn what you like, don't like, actually need etc. and then once you have the skills, the quality products make life 100 times easier. Until you've had to use the crap you really can't truly appreciate the quality of better gear and will respect and maintain it better. A heavy full sized axe, tarp, wool bedroll arkansas 600 grit stone and Ontario Air Force SERE knife really makes you appreciate the RC5, North Face bag, and 3 pound north face tent.
 
Well that took place about 36 years ago for me. I am kinda easy going when it comes to equipment, Rucksack, Light weight Tarp, fuel stove, food, pad to sleep on, good sleeping bag, a good knife maybe my hatchet, Good pair of shoes, a warm coat, my hat, Matches, compass, book, etc. and a bamboo walking stick. This stuff works great for me, just easy stuff. Start slow and learn skills.
 
Really great gear is a lot more prolific than it ever was. Remember ; those manufacturers want to make a ton of money selling us stuff, and wont know the difference if it sits in a closet , or gets used on a daily basis. We must be motivated to get "out there" and use what we got , not let it sit on some shelf , and learn something in the process.
 
I approach the topic as if it were two sides of the same coin. It's good to talk about gear as much as it is to talk about skills. If you're buying gear just to have the latest and greatest then maybe you're a gear whore. If, however, you buy gear that you know will improve some aspect of your experience or to replace an inferior product with a better one(ti cup to replace your stainless for instance) than you're just a smart shopper. It should be the goal of every person who goes into the woods to be able to survive with just the clothes on your back but only fools or people who need to prove something actually do it.
 
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