Doing our homework when purchasing products should indeed involve a responsible and ethical formula. The question thus becomes, what is a good formula for making purchases?
When it comes to hiking and backpacking gear there is no shortage of choices. Clothing, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, quilts, pads, stoves, headlamps, trekking poles, gadgets and an endless list of “luxury” items that we are willing to carry into the backcountry. We have always advocated to try and support small cottage companies and buy local when possible with an emphasis on quality over price. But that formula has been changing as we dig a little deeper into the origins of the products we buy and how they impact, not only the economy, but the lives of others, including ourselves. All this, while maintaining a desire to acquire quality merchandise designed for our needs that provide what they promise at a price we are willing to pay.
Making the choice of where to buy can be a daunting task in and of itself. Based on certain criteria such as, buy direct, Black Friday, through a brick and mortar store, used vs new, online, scratch-n-dent or store bargain bins, the choices are vast. If that were not enough, there is the breakdown of the product itself. There are the choices to buy, or not, based on weight, size, price, brand, reviews, fit, comfort, marketing, word of mouth and memes. All of which affect how we buy, though we would have to lean towards most people probably use some sort of price – quality blend as the most likely used formula for making a purchase.
But, there is more. How often do we consider where these products are made? How often do we consider the ethics of the company we are purchasing from? Is price, availability and the speed at which we can get the item our first priority? Are we willing to wait longer if the company and product are more in line with quality over price. Would we consider ethical shopping? Is this more politics than a mere shopping experience?
Labels, labels and more labels. Made in USA, Made in China, Made in _____ is only the beginning. Other factors can easily come into play here. Assembled in_____, manufactured in_____, assembled with imported parts and materials from _____ and the list goes on and on. It can be quite overwhelming to to make a purchase if you are concerned with more than just a price, reviews and product specs.
Speaking of reviews, if those reviews are even legitimate, which is another story altogether. There are five star, four star, three star and, well, who goes below that anyway unless your looking at how bad a product is, and you should. Hopefully making a purchase is more than just “I want it now and I want it cheap”. Granted there is nothing wrong with spending your hard earned dollars responsibly, an honorable trait, there is much, much more to consider.
The politics of buying. Is the company ethical? Are the products you are purchasing ethical? Are they built to last? Are they manufactured in a manner that would reduce the carbon footprint? Is there a warranty, a good warranty? Does the company stand behind its products? Does any of this even matter? It should.
There is no denying that we live in a much smaller world now. Supporting local is good practice on so many levels. But there are times when that is just not possible or desirable. Doing our homework when purchasing products should indeed involve a responsible and ethical formula. The question thus becomes, what is a good formula for making purchases? Good question!
Our formula, going forward, will not just be quality over price. This is more of a “when the stars align” approach. We intend to look local when possible, branching out from there. Finding the right company as close to home that will meet certain criteria. Made with products that support our local economy and are responsibly sourced, not only for the environment, but our physical well being as much. We have found that companies who meet such criteria are not only environmentally friendly, but ethically run in all departments as well. The price tends to be a little higher, but we feel good about supporting such foundations. That, and, the products are of higher quality, made to last and are backed.
Keeping in mind, not all hiking and backpacking outings are the same. There are just so many different factors that can play a part in what you need. Trail length, weather, climate and geographical location alone will drive these decisions. From there the shopping begins. The choices mount. The questions begin. Everyone is different, their needs are different and the amount of money they will spend is different. How that money is spent will be a unique formula to say the least.
The gear we choose to take with us is our lifeline. From keeping us safe and comfortable to getting us in and out of the backcountry. We count on our gear, relying on it to perform as described and last a good amount of time. Paying for this and what is behind the product is well worth the effort that goes into purchasing them. A sound formula not only for us, but the company, its employees, the local economy and so forth. Is it perfect, no. We are just trying to do our part with what we have. Something, we’d say, should be everyone’s formula, that is, to do the best they can with what they have, in doing so, we can all make a difference.
Though not perfect, our gear to date has been a slow learning experience and continues to evolve as do we.
Debbie’s gear list from the Colorado Trail in 2019
Miller’s gear list from the Colorado Trail in 2019
Peace,
MAD
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