Gear investments, what do you regret?

[NUGGET]

Damn, that’s a real bummer. You should contact SG and see if they’ll take care of things for you. Been using SG packs exclusively, for all my hunts now, going on 6 years and zero issues. Give Kirt a call, I’m sure he’ll make things right.


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You're really missing out on the full value of buying a Stone Glacier in my opinion. The Customer Service is second to none. That frame would have been warrantied for sure. And that buckle, they have others available such as the auto lockers, that are a bit beefier as well. I know thats your own personal experience and regret with that piece of gear, but had to say something that might help you.

[/QUOTE]

Yes I contacted them and they did say to send it in. The problem is the trust in the gear has been broken. The frame blew out the bottom at 30 lbs in it. I couldn’t imagine if that would of happened on a hunt. I would of been in serious trouble.

The pack is very expensive and to pay to ship it down just adds more costs to a piece of gear now I can never trust. And upgrading the buckles would just be more $$.

Everyone told me to get the pack fixed and then place it for sale on here. I can’t do that. I honestly don’t feel like anyone should have it. I’m going to fix the stitching myself and replace the buckle. It will make a nice pack for the wife on trips with the kids when not much needs to be hauled around.

I try not to buy into the hype on products. But it happens to us all eventually. I remember when the kifaru bikini frame came out and the desire to want one. Luckily I talked myself out of it. Two friends bought them and within two years neither had the frame anymore. Both frames fell apart on them.

So at the end of the day I’ve went back to the original pack I used before. It’s a few lbs heavier but it gets the job done. And Im not going to continually talk bad about SG. This is a one and done thread for me. Because it is my biggest regret to this day on any gear purchase I’ve done.

*edit*. I did want to mention that SG customer service is top notch and responded quickly to my questions etc.

 

[Decker9]

I will probably get shunned here, but I don’t buy into the “it’s the best” just because I paid big.
My biggest regret is buying a Swarovski ats 65 hd. It’s bought and paid for so I will use it, but if I lost it tomorrow, I would not waste the money on another.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Polaris Ranger, My tacoma will go about everywhere that thing will go and has a heater. Also seats my kids in the back.

 

[NUGGET]

I will probably get shunned here, but I don’t buy into the “it’s the best” just because I paid big.
My biggest regret is buying a Swarovski ats 65 hd. It’s bought and paid for so I will use it, but if I lost it tomorrow, I would not waste the money on another.

Are you saying you can’t see the quality between the swarvo and other brands? Or the swarvo hd and the non hd?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Here are a few items:

1. Low to mid-range Vortex scopes: Every one I purchased the past few years have failed.
2. Wished I had bought 10x Els instead of my 10x SLCs.
3. Wished I had just bought my Beretta A400 first instead of buying the A300 and then the A400 a month later (super sale so I had to).

 

[steadytowingandshot]

Sitka Hudson Jacket. I'm not even big and the way that thing is cut is just awkward to me. It is absolutely not worth what I paid, and it is absolutely not as warm as advertised.

 

[Mosby]

I bought a Leupold scope on a custom rifle several years ago that I've always regretted. I love Leupold stuff, just not that specific scope. I don't like the reticle, the magnification or the adjustment knobs.

I really didn't want the scope, it wasn't the scope I requested for my rifle and I let the gunsmith convince me that I was wrong and I would love the scope after using it. In hindsight, I figured he made a mistake or had this scope sitting around, mounted the wrong scope on my rifle and didn't want to make it right. It was the last rifle I ordered from him.

That scope has sat on a shelf for years. I keep trying to find a rifle to put it on and haven't yet.

 

[Carr5vols]

Vortex binocular adapter, I hate that thing.

 

[douglasfir]

I bought several used, older packs before buying a new high end pack. All that money selling and shipping those packs could've paid for the pack I ended up buying and sticking with.

I regret buying a two-person backpacking tent. It's too heavy for solo backpacking, and with two people, I wish I'd gone with a three-person tent. If I was doing it over, I'd probably just buy a pyramid tent like the Black Diamond Mega Light and use it for everything. If I wanted a floored option with bug protection, I'd get a lightweight 3-man tent like a Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 or something from Tarptent.

 

[Base14]

Expensive waders. I barbed wire fence is going to put a hole in 1k waders as well as $100 waders. Buy cheap and buy a new pair every couple years.

 

[Cody_W]

As it has already been echoed, buying cheap the first go around. For some folks that’s good enough, but I’ve had to many times where buying lesser gear comes back to get me. It’s it seems to always happen when you need it the most. That being said to the guy who can’t justify the price, build a list of what’s most important to you and work down the line.

 

[Cali hunter]

UA clothes and Danner boots.

 

[RDG_RNR]

I’m really disliking the Vortex HSLR 4-16 that I put on my .300 WSM. Eye relief is terrible and always takes an extra few seconds to set up for a shot.

 

[Decker9]

Are you saying you can’t see the quality between the swarvo and other brands? Or the swarvo hd and the non hd?
[/QUOTE]

Particularly, between my Swarovski ats65 hd and my pentax 65ed. Optically, 99% of most eyes won’t tell the difference. The pentax is half the price, and a lighter unit.

On that note, 5-6 years with my pentax, Iv never had a problem. The Swarovski eye piece, had to be sent back for warranty within my first year for getting moisture in it.

Dont get me wrong, the ats is a fabulous top of the line spotter, but the pentax will do 99% of what the Swarovski will do. I guess I expected the wow factor to be bigger between the two when I ordered my Swarovski, but I was wrong.

 

[NUGGET]

Are you saying you can’t see the quality between the swarvo and other brands? Or the swarvo hd and the non hd?

Particularly, between my Swarovski ats65 hd and my pentax 65ed. Optically, 99% of most eyes won’t tell the difference. The pentax is half the price, and a lighter unit.

On that note, 5-6 years with my pentax, Iv never had a problem. The Swarovski eye piece, had to be sent back for warranty within my first year for getting moisture in it.

Dont get me wrong, the ats is a fabulous top of the line spotter, but the pentax will do 99% of what the Swarovski will do. I guess I expected the wow factor to be bigger between the two when I ordered my Swarovski, but I was wrong.
[/QUOTE]
I get that. I've never tried a pentax but now I'll keep my eye out for one. I haven't seen an affordable spotter that compares to the big brands. I like the swarvo spotter I own, but I have the same feelings regarding my binoculars like you do the spotter. Theres some affordable options out there very comparable to my EL's.

Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[JeffRaines]

I will probably get shunned here, but I don’t buy into the “it’s the best” just because I paid big.

No shunning here. I have some stuff that is nice that I paid big for, but at the same time I also have some stuff I didn’t pay big for and I don’t regret it a bit. I save where I can!

Expensive waders. I barbed wire fence is going to put a hole in 1k waders as well as $100 waders. Buy cheap and buy a new pair every couple years.

I will say this is one place I paid big for and honestly, I’ve had a pair of Simms Guides for 6 years now with no issues. Maybe I’m lucky in this regard - I’m certainly not lucky in any other ways

As far as regrets - I had a pair of Weatherby Vanguard Wildernesses that I purchased on the word of a ton of people about how great they shoot. I don’t know if it was an issue with these rifles because it was when they first came out but they were some of the worst shooting rifles I’ve ever had.

 

[Scottyboy]

Custom rifle from Alamo precision. The second it cleared my FFL I had them sell it at half of what I paid. A terrible experience and one I regret ever going down the path of thinking I needed/wanted a custom build

 

[JeffRaines]

Custom rifle from Alamo precision. The second it cleared my FFL I had them sell it at half of what I paid. A terrible experience and one I regret ever going down the path of thinking I needed/wanted a custom build

Ouch.

 

[SonnyDay]

Perhaps airing my own ignorance here... but buying Cabela's Red Head Bone Dry pants and jackets for me and my son. At the time it seemed like a sensible way to save $1,000 on gear before a late fall hunt in the Colorado mountains. I have since upgraded piece by piece to truly waterproof and much lighter-weight outer layers....

 

[Trogon]

Building a custom 308win rifle. Love that thing, shoots amazing, but... just isn’t worth the cost. For hunting distances and backpacking / beating the bush it’s not worth it. Custom only makes sense if you have a specific caliber & bullet in mind not available off the shelf, say a fast twist 270wsm with 170 bergers.