As piggy back to the previous post, I found an interesting write-up about gear testing, and the how its easy (definitely me included) for consumers to want the “best gear” but that the high-end gear may not be the best thing. For the record, I own way too many jackets for a single person, and I’m still learning how to turn off the “want better gear” voice.
"We as consumers often have a tendency to look at a product and think, "Is this the best gear?" when the real questions are, "What was this product designed to do?" and "What do I do?" Clothing and climbing gear is slowly becoming more and more specialized; I was looking through an ancient catalog the other day and there were about three pieces in the "Jackets" section, and about four types of carabiners. You know what the average shop looks like now, and likely own a jacket for light aerobic activities, one for pure rain, one for dog walking, etc. The point of this is that we have to understand our own needs pretty well in order to buy anything appropriate.
So somehow consumers have to figure out what the designer made the product to do, and match that with what the consumer will actually do with it. I think one of the greatest improvments in design and sales could come not from more advanced technology, but better educational information on the packaging.”
from Gravsports: Gear Testing