Should ultralighters embrace the cheapest stuff that works or “buy once, cry once”?
3F UL Lanshan is the go-to cheap tent, AONIJIE offers a compelling vest-style frameless pack for $75 and cheap Aegismax and Naturehike sleeping bags and quilts have hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon. Even DeputySean is bullish on the Aricxi patrol tarp.
Hard to say. On the one hand extra cheap things are usually bad. On the other hand many things which are sold with slogan “you deserve it” etc is the exactly the same AliExpress stuff but labeled differently. So, higher price guarantees nothing either.
This is my general observation, not hiking gear specific.
how do you approach it then? have you had any good experience with cheap stuff, or a bad experience with pricier stuff? do you do a ton of research or just go with your gut feeling?