Why do people think what they own is awesome?

[boom]

Some call it product loyalty. Brand loyalty.

Across the board. Sony TVs, ford trucks, dodge, whatever. People love their brands. Forums spring up around "stuff". It is absolutely amazing to me.

This forum is not immune to it.

There are some diehard gear fans here. Kuiu, Kifaru , etc.

You should see the Mathews or Elite forums. Rabid fans.

I like some things from some companies. But I think they can make stuff I hate as well. I like too mix and match. My camo is all over the place.

I love watching our dynamics as consumers. Cool stuff.

 

[luke moffat]

I have Vortex binos, Zeiss Spotter, Leica Rangefinder, and Leupold riflescope so I guess you could say I'm pretty brand loyal

 

[littlebuf]

i only think stuff that doesn't fail or break on me is awesome. just turns out some company's do it better than others. for instance i drive a toyota truck for a hunting rig. your big super cool F 350 on huge tires and super loud motor is indeed cooler and i like them, but you cant follow me in the woods and mines going to break less.

 

[goodgrouper]

I'm in the construction biz and I know a guy that HAS to have all matching tools, worst part is they're all DeWalt. Doesn't matter if Milwaukee or Makita make a much better option for a certain tool his have to be yellow. Drives me nuts. My trailer is full of every brand out there.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I think a

Trying to delete this post and can't figure out how to do it on my phone. So there you go.

 

[boom]

Super interesting point. ^^^^

 

[Floorguy]

I was with you until you said mismatched camo I gots to match. Otherwise people at the gas stations think I'm homeless.

 

[Brock A]

Sitka, Kryptek, Kuiu with C4E merino on. As long as it works I'll rock it! I have an order of first lite showing up tomorrow too ;-)

 

[60x]

Yeah I think the bow guys are a pretty brand loyal bunch..
Me not so much...
I do not own any Kryptek,Sitka,First Lite,Kuiu but I may soon. I buy what work for me and sometimes I get lucky and people give it to me. I do like my Swazi, my north face my ok archery bow but if I am loyal to anything it's swarovski.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Some people's stuff is awesome. Some is the most awesome for the price. Some of it sucks and they still think it's awesome.

If I'm happy with a brand, I'll go back to it. But, that doesn't mean I'm oblivious to everything else out there.

How many people do you know would like to admit that they bought a shitty product?

I drive a Dodge, but would buy a Toyota if they weren't so expensive. I have Zeiss binos when I could get by with Vortex. Makes no sense, right? For most of us, me included, life is about balancing the best quality you can get at the price that you can or are willing to pay. Sometimes you save some good money and other times you end up tripping over nickels to pick up pennies.

Consumerism (is that even a word?) is very interesting.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I think a

Trying to delete this post and can't figure out how to do it on my phone. So there you go.

Totally been there

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

A lot of guys have to justify the expense to themselves and it sucks to think you threw down $1000 plus on a bow that's not the best or camo that's mediocre.

 

[kodiakfly]

A lot of guys have to justify the expense to themselves and it sucks to think you threw down $1000 plus on a bow that's not the best or camo that's mediocre.

How many people do you know would like to admit that they bought a shitty product?

I think this is the case for a lot of people's brand loyalties, followed by what's the coolest/most popular and they actually have no real idea why it's the best, other than "everyone else likes it!" I think the guys and gals that know enough to know that many brands make many good and bad products and that some work better than others and differently for different people, are the ones that aren't too brand-loyal or at least don't make a huge deal about "their" brands.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I agree. I like my Hoyt now but my PSE worked just fine as well. I'd prefer matching camo but that's just cause I feel sneakier I've had good Chevys and fords and Toyotas and dodges, I prefer Ford trucks but that certainly doesn't mean they are the best or that I won't own one of the others in the future. Largely with the people I know, saying " mine is the best" usually means "I'm to cheap or inexperienced to know better".

 

[LostInSpace278]

I have to laugh at the whole camo talk. Not matching, people thinking your homeless...lol

Before I even read this post, I was thinking of a few guys I ran into last year while hunting. First off they couldn't believe I got my Saab wagon in the same places they got their jacked up trucks. It is not about what you drive, but how you drive it...

Secondly, and I really did laugh out loud, in front of them. I was not wearing matched camo. These guys where camo'd (is that a word?) to the nines. They start explaining how there camo was the greatest and how much it cost. This is where I had to laugh...My response, " And you went and ruined that great camo with a blazed orange vest." They promptly left.
Is the real tree camo you get at wally world any different than the real tree camo you get at Cabelas? Nope, the clothes may last a little longer...but hide just the same. There are some products that are far superior to others, but it usually doesn't last very long until every one else is either copying the idea and improving it.

My only brand loyalty is Red Wing Boots, because they do not make my feet hurt after 12 hours.

 

[rodney482]

Field use dictates awesomeness

In order to appreciate awesome gear one usually experiences crappy gear first.

 

[unm1136]

Sorta related...

George Carlin asked: Have you ever noticed that every one else's stuff is shit and your shit is stuff? A house is just a big pile of stuff with a cover on it.

All my camo stuff, gore tex, and all my insulation is USGI surplus because it works. I can afford to buy it, I can afford to wear it out, I can afford to replace it, and I can get it on Ebay shipped to my door for a really good price.

I really want a Highlander Nomad, but EVERYTHING else that I have is multicam. Really tough decision. Multicam works really well in my area, Highlander should work just as well. But until the kids are out of the house, surplus multicam from fleabay is the rule of the day. When Robin Williams discussed camouflage in Good Morning Vietnam, he commented "What is this camouflage? Make a statement. If you are going to fight a war, clash? So Highlander will win out when I get my Nomad and Camp Bag.

pat

 

[SHTF]

Unm that was awesome. Love that.

 

[Sam Millard]

Field use dictates awesomeness

In order to appreciate awesome gear one usually experiences crappy gear first.

Well said!!

 

[charvey9]

Not everything that works is awesome. There are tons of good products out there that work really well. If you are going to call it awesome, something needs to set it apart from the rest of the stuff that also works. Maybe its the lightest, fastest, strongest, best combination of desired qualities, etc.

The word awesome is certainly over used for sure, but sometimes its understandable based on previous experience. For example, if you used a trash bag to haul around your gear, a blue Jordache PVC backpack from 1980 might be pretty awesome.

Justs my opinion.