Thread: How much do you spend on gear?

My dogs, easily my biggest investment.

If I were to add up thier purchase prices it would put me into a five figure number already, then there is the cost of keeping them on top. Hate to think what the big kennels with multiple imports would cost!

The rate youre going you can tell us soon

Still cheaper than motocross

*edit* or jetboat racing aye @Twoshotkill!

Originally Posted by Pointer

Still cheaper than motocross

*edit* or jetboat racing aye @Twoshotkill!

Or children!!

Lets see, rifle WW2 Mauser $10 new Army Surplus 40 years ago
Green River skinning knife $20 about 30 years old. Looks like a bit of N08 wire bit still holds an edge
Swanny with hood and holes $40 new 30 years ago
Shorts Long moleskins don't ask..Keep in cage when not beng worn
Puttys Old blanket cut up
Boyangs Spare bootlaces
Boots $150 Hi top about 5 years ago.
Belt pouch First aid kit,needle+suture. Pull thru+patches and small oil tube.

And the most important a candle wax topped blank to clear the barrel when you arse over and use the rifle as a walking stick.

Originally Posted by Pointer

My dogs, easily my biggest investment.

If I were to add up thier purchase prices it would put me into a five figure number already, then there is the cost of keeping them on top. Hate to think what the big kennels with multiple imports would cost!

Many many years ago my wife worked as a "kennel maid" for a lady who had 30 Border terriers and 9 or so Jack Russell in here breeding kennels. Nasty little fuckers they are. All were imports as they came with her when she moved back to NZ from UK.
I shudder what it would have cost to import 40 or so dogs from the UK to NZ.
She reckoned it was the best job she ever had. All her charges were all ways pleased to see her.

Try not to spend too much as the fishing also has to come out of the budget. Bought as MSR tent recently, light but even on special was expensive. boots and gps expensive but at least they last a long time

I am on a budget so try and research everything before i buy it. Over the years i have found packs and waterproof/ breathable jackets made by hunting brands tend to be much worse than those made by generally tramping/ hiking companies like macpac.

I will research the shit out of something I want, then search for the best price on the internet and get it from the states usually. Like others said, buy quality, pay once and make it last. Even though a lot of my clothing and equipment is basic I buy the good quality stuff. I cant bring myself to buy something like a jet boil, I'm old school I still make fire.

Originally Posted by Pointer

Still cheaper than motocross

*edit* or jetboat racing aye @Twoshotkill!

Yip!!!!
I recon it would be cheaper to own a chopper!!!

way to much lol

I've caught myself trying to put a figure on this before and stopped myself quickly ;-)

Let's see... Good reason to finally do a quick count up to see what I've put into this hobby:

Rifle+scope $1600
PLB $500
Suppressor (and fitting) $400
GPS $300
Tent $200
Pack $200
Fleece camo jumper + shorts $150
S/bag $120
Head torch $100
Gloves $60
Knife $60
Rifle bag $50?
MSR pot $30
Gas cooker $15
Misc gear like rechargeable batteries, bore snakes, gas canister, cutlery, cleaning kit, bits and pieces... $500

So that's a few $k there and I've probably spent a few more k on stuff that didn't work out or wasn't really fit for purpose. I've bought a lot of hiking gear from places like Bivouac and found a lot of it wasn't suitable, like packs and clothing that made too much noise or didn't have the right storage etc. Mostly I didn't know what I should be looking for.

I usually spend good money on gear I know I'll be relying on and for other stuff I buy the cheapest I can get to see if I'd use it (then pay good money if yes). Sometimes this works out extremely well... like the $15 folding cooker I got from ebay that has far outlasted the crummy $90 Primus one that doesn't even come in a waterproof box so won't light when it gets wet...

I've also got loads of use out of the $40 Nepalese-made knockoff North Face pack I bought in the Himalayas on a motorbike trip 18 months ago. It has carried far more heavy stuff than it ever should have! Very trusty.

I have some decent boots too but just use them for hiking now. I prefer my trail running shoes for hunting since they're much quieter, dry quickly, more agile... (strong ankles, no sprains).

Buy once, cry once... Never keep receipts...
Mate I used to race motorbikes with would spend $5k + on extras on a new bike before he ever rode it. Every year...
His mrs found a receipt for a $60 riding jersey and went off her face that he would spend $60 on a shirt to go get muddy LOL

Originally Posted by Spanners

Buy once, cry once... Never keep receipts...
Mate I used to race motorbikes with would spend $5k + on extras on a new bike before he ever rode it. Every year...
His mrs found a receipt for a $60 riding jersey and went off her face that he would spend $60 on a shirt to go get muddy LOL

When I raced motorcycles seriously the budget averaged 30k a year, man hunting is cheap no matter what gear you have to have!

I used to budget $15k a year to race mtb,and I got free bikes and a lot of free gas.

Huntings cheep in comparison