Gear Philosophy BOCO - Buy Once Cry Once or other?

[CJ776]

Harbor freight is greatness. I bought a heat gun to change the screen on my laptop (loosen adhesive on glass) and it was something like~$10. Used it once never used it again. I could smell burning plastic when I used it, but it managed to hold for the length of the job!

[Codie]

I am a "Cheap Route" guy, except I treat everything I own (including hunting gear) like I was a "BOCO Route" person. I am plumb OCD with the upkeep of anything I own. My bow doesn't go back in the case without being wiped down with a damp cloth. My shotgun doesn't go back into the gun cabinet until all smudges, marks, blood, ect.ect have been wiped from it.

The one thing I have found that I am more of a "BOCO Route" with is sunglasses

[SFAbowhunter]

I'm a BOCO guy. I look at it like this...I buy the nice gear for mainly hunting Texas whitetails, but when I do go out of state or on some higher end hunt, I'm pretty much already prepared. I wear nothing, but First Lite clothing and I'll tell you what, I've never been more comfortable in the stand. Period. I tend to really take care of the higher end stuff though. I know what I paid and don't want to cry again if I break or lose one of those items. When I was younger, I bought nothing, but cheap stuff. Didn't have a care in the world if it broke or I dropped it walking out of the woods.

[txdukklr]

buy once cry once for sure but thats an evolution.

it started as cheapest i could find because i needed 100 things which became
spend a little more on stuff that broke because i needed fewer things which became
buy stuff that was middle of the road which became
start paying for quality


at this point if i need something that i don't have i have the luxury of spending more to get better.

example it took me 12 years and about a dozen crappy bino's to finally have gotten swaro El's. I've now owned them for 7 years and completely satisfied with them.

[sbushee]

OK, I have never heard of this First Lite clothing so I'm gonna look it up. Personally, I have found if I buy cheap, I treat it cheap and if I buy expensive I treat it better. Terrible I know, but honest

[Abcdj]

I very rarely buy new.
But with Binoculars, I go all out and buy the best. A one time purchase that has payed off well for me. I use my Swarovski's for a hour per hunt I would say. No eye fatigue at all. If I pick up my bow or rifle I only use the scope for 1 minute or so.
Everything else I buy quality older items that are well taken care of.

[Stoof]

The older I get, the better I want my gear to be. Especially if it is meant to keep my dry and warm. I save allot of money by working on my bow and guns myself. I will by used also if it is a good deal.

[harv418]

I've learned that BOCO is the best way to go about it. However, Budget dictates what I buy. when I was prostaffing, it was BOCO all the way.. with heavy discounts from my sponsors. Now that I am Self funding, I am a Buy the best that my budget can afford, and maintain it like it was the Best thing ever.

Example: I just got on my lease, and needed a 4 wheeler. My budget due to having 2 grandbabies, 2 girls in College, a son in High School, and my wife totaling her car dictated I spend less than 500. I bought a 98 King Quad for $250, Cleaned it up, replaced a few parts and it is now a beast of 4 wheeler. I would love to go get a brand new UTV, but this is a hobby for me. I am not making a living at it, nor am I depending on it for food. I take care of my equipment, and it takes care of me.

[MRW1981]

Personally I am a minimalist. Probably because I grew up with my grandpa who lived through the depression and his tightness rubbed off on me. But the gear I have is usually top end stuff. I don't want to waste time replacing something I need or have it fail me at a critical time. Although I don't know if you can consider vortex binoculars top end but I beleive they are great for their price.

[TxAg]

Figure out what you really need, then look for value. Sell the junk you don't use.

[CaptainDave]

It really depends on the item for me. I typically take the BOCO philosophy on core items such as firearms, fishing rods/reels, bows, etc. If you buy higher-end on these types of items, you will have things that will last many years.

Clothes, sometimes cheap, sometimes not. I refuse to wear cheap sunglasses, but couldn't care less on shirts, shorts, pants, etc. I own more Magellen than Columbia and hit up the Academy sale rack for camo.

One thing I originally would go cheaper on were feeder timers. Bit the bullet about 6 years ago on some Timers and 12 volt feeders; been a great investment and all are still going strong.

Like others have mentioned, if I were going on some type of high dollar, out of state hunting trip, I'd probably spend more on certain items I typically don't.

[In-Yo-Grill]

A good buddy of mine turned me onto the BOCO philosophy a long time ago and I'm glad. I almost NEVER buy retail and hunt for a bargain but only for quality stuff.

I look at the guns, bows, scopes etc that I bought, still have and will pass onto my kids. Quality counts...