Thought I could save money on a field kit by going cheap. Big mistake.

Bought a $35 trowel set off Amazon for a volunteer dig in Nevada and the handle snapped on my second scrape. Had to borrow from a guy the rest of the weekend. Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way with gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendyprice2d ago

Oh man, that stings. I think what people don't realize is cheap gear actually costs you more in the long run when you factor in the lost work time and the social cost of having to beg off someone else. @gavinb97 your story about the shovel bending like a paperclip is exactly what I mean - that Army surplus stuff was built to last through actual wars, not just a weekend. It's almost like the really cheap stuff is designed to fail so you have to buy another one later. Between the embarrassment and the hassle, I'd rather just save up for something decent from the start.

thompson.reese7h ago

Nothing like paying $20 to cosplay as an early hominid for a whole weekend. Learned that lesson the hard way too, now I just treat cheap gear like the warning label it is.

gavinb972d ago

Bought a $20 shovel from a big box store for a weekend camping trip and the blade bent like a paperclip on the first rocky patch I tried to dig. Spent the rest of the trip using a stick like some caveman. Ended up borrowing a buddy's old Army surplus entrenching tool and that thing held up like a tank. Learned fast that cheap metal just folds when you actually need it.