Cheap gear that's better than expensive gear

[Alan]

I got a $25 headlamp from Amazon that's brighter and lasts longer than the $80 name brand one I had before. Sometimes you don't need to spend a fortune. What cheap gear do you use that works better than the expensive stuff?

 

[Wadlow Palerider]

I normally fish with a Shimano open face reel but you cant hardly beat a Zebco 202 fishing reel, especially for kids !, As far as pocket knives go, Im a big fan of Case, but Im told for the money, a Rough Rider will cut just as well. As far as handguns go, Im a big fan of Sig Sauer semi auto's and S&W revolvers, but my buddy has a 9mm HIgh Point. I don't think I'll ever own a High-point, but he speaks well of it. He said it feeds what ever ammo you load in it and he can hit with it as well as any gun he owns.

 

[MC2]

I sold a Surefire x300 for $225 and replaced it with an Amazon copy for $27.
The Amazon was brighter and an exact copy of the 300, except for the battery compartment cover.
The x300 did have a better cover.

Now, before y'all go throwing rocks at me for buying a China copy, consider A LOT of our "manufacturers" have their products made in Chinian and put their label/logo on it.

Last year at ShotShow on the bottom floor there were untold numbers of booths of China scope makers that would put any company name on their scope for you...

I got into Hawke Optics early and they were originally a UK company, now their boxes say Born in the UK, but all are made in China.

Don't get me started on the tractor engines made in China and painted with in the company colors...

 

[Redhawker]

The Zebco 202. Been around since 1961. I'll bet 80%+ of people started out fishing with a Zebco 202.

 

[Lt Choate]

The Zebco 202. Been around since 1961. I'll bet 80%+ of people started out fishing with a Zebco 202.

I'll second this one. Very forgiving and reliable.

 

[Mark37082]

I’ve been in the “you typically get what you pay for” camp for a long time. I’m not sure this is the a financially sound approach on many purchases. If I’m going to buy something that is going to have limited use and will not hold its value over time, it really doesn’t make sense to pay for premium quality. I’ve been looking at adding a BFS reel and rod to my fishing equipment. I’m struggling with my decision. I’ve always been a fan of Shimano reels and premium quality rods, but do I really need to spend $400 vs $200 on this purchase? Will the quality and functionality of higher end outfit be justified? I can tell you that I will cry longer if I buy the higher end outfit, and it ends up on the bottom of the river or lake.

 

[Wadlow Palerider]

Mark37802 - Tough call isn't it? Ive spent extra $$ for an item and wouldn't use it because it was just too nice to scratch in the woods or too nice to risk it falling overboard. I think its about personal satisfaction. What item(s) are you content with. I think its the ones your comfortable using daily, and so what if it gets some character marks along the way. That just makes it yours. I get what your saying! Ive been on a fixed income for almost a year now. I have to be frugal with my spending but I don't want to go cheap and be unhappy with my choices. I tend to look for middle of the road items for the things I'm sure to use. I misplaced a pocket knife once that I gave close to $200 for. I was sick about it! My grandson found it outside, next to the house where I had been weed eating. (3 months later)
I skeet shoot once a year with some friends who bring some really nice shotguns as they shoot skeet often. I take my $500 Mossberg, Embarrassing ?- a little. I don't hit hit as many skeet as they do, but I have a good time just the same and my shotgun, like theirs - has yet to malfunction (personal satisfaction),