Thread: $5k plus rigs, what do you have? Favour?

@Tentman You make fair points in both of your posts, Worthwhile discussion points that should not get anyone butt hurt. I mean its the same through any outdoors recreation. How many top quality tents do you see come up on TM that have been used once? Someone bought them thinking they were going to do a whole heap of tramping and camping, and then didnt.
I think there are two ways to learn. Do an apprenticeship and take advice from someone with experience. Or buy from a shop and learn from your mistakes. Probably a good percentage do the later. I well remember being in Sportways in auckland and listening too the sales man tell a young guy that " This will snot anything in the country." by way of sales advice, and thinking I should be a prick and walk over there and help the young guy out.
When I was doing some guiding for meat hunting, 70% of animals shot were not shot where the shooter said they had aimed, and most of those guys were new too the sport and had a gun city tikka with the label still on the barrel or stock.
No one should see a thread like this and think in any way that this is what you need to be successful.
Maybe with your experience, a complimentary thread with what you actually do need would be a good idea? Because I kind of agree with you that people new too the sport are getting lead down an often expensive path.