Newbie Question: Why do people not like mixing gear?

[doulos]

I have been hanging for almost 3 years now and I have started camping along with it and for me I have noticed that people don't like to mix gear from company to company to get a better hang. For example I like my Eno Atlas Straps with HH Zip Expedition that I have tied the ropes together and placed Black Diamond Carabiners on the ends. I have also modified my rain fly greatly to get a very snug fit.

What I see is a lot of modification but not taking the best from each company and using it for the best hang. Sure I know a lot of you are obsessed with Dutch Clips (which after seeing a video on them I am too) and whoopie slings but for the newbie hanger this can be very daunting task researching these things.

So do you guys mix gear or are you die hard ___________ fans?

[DuctTape]

Sir Mix-a-lot here.

[lori]

Use what works. At last count I have gear from at least 50 vendors... three different hammocks. JRB and Warbonnet and Hammock Gear quilts. Homemade gear. If it's quality, and I need it, it's a shoe in.

[canoebie]

I mix a lot, I can think of at least 10 vendors on HF that I have gear from. I intend to continue to spread the love and $. Design ideas vary and I like to mix and match stuff.

[Boston]

I'm a die hard "Boston Gear Company" fan.

[Bubba]

I mix up gear although for shipping to Canada, it's easier to get many things from the same vendor.

[dakotaross]

Oh, I think you're wrong about most people not mixing it up. Sure, there's a lot who don't, and perhaps that's because "the best" from each supplier is a very subjective thing. Takes some willingness to try things first, and then some experience in knowing what you want that makes whatever it is that fits your needs "the best". Agreed that the Atlas straps are darn easy to use, but for many, they are not "the best" option. Weight is an issue, and perhaps more important, bulk. Also, the "adjustment" with those is fixed, whereas most folks like being able to "dial-in" with greater control.

[Ratdog]

Mixed
Wilderness Logics tarp, repurposed Kelty footprint tarp
Grand Trunk, Warbonnet, DIY hammocks
Hammock Gear Top quilt
Arrowhead Equipment Underquilts
DIY Whoopies
Whoopislings.com stuff
Straps from a couple places
Camp Nano carabiners
Madrock carabiners
Dutch clips
DIY ridge lines
ENO Atlas straps
ENO bugnet
DIY bugnets
BIAS ridgelines and straps
DIYGearSupply odds and ends
Ripstopbytheroll fabrics
HF For Sale goodies
HF PIF goodies
DIY CRLs with Dutch bling

The list goes on but even if I narrowed it down to a single setup, which will never happen, it would still be mixed.
I purchased stuff early on, as I learn to splice or sew, I pass my old stuff on to extended family members and friends.

[nothermark]

Not a complaint but there seem to be a smattering of very satisfied as in friends and/or employee's of some of the companies. There is also a contingent of folks who are defending how much money they dropped. Between them they create a noise level around what they support. We also appear to get astroturfed by some startups. I would not want to have to sort out who is who and do not mind them once I started figuring out what was going on. It beats not getting any information. I turn it into another form of media literacy like figuring out the bias of various network news programs. ;-) I think that you will find a lot of folks are here reading compared to who commenting and a lot of the quiet one's mix and match as well as DIY but choose not to talk much. Now I need to get busy and order a WB hammock with two HG quilts and pick a cuben tarp to go in my Zimmerbuilt pack. Need to remember to order whoopee's for the hammock though! If that does not max out the plastic I can add a Ti pot. ;-))

[bayoubomber]

I have been hanging for almost 3 years now and I have started camping along with it and for me I have noticed that people don't like to mix gear from company to company to get a better hang. For example I like my Eno Atlas Straps with HH Zip Expedition that I have tied the ropes together and placed Black Diamond Carabiners on the ends. I have also modified my rain fly greatly to get a very snug fit.

What I see is a lot of modification but not taking the best from each company and using it for the best hang. Sure I know a lot of you are obsessed with Dutch Clips (which after seeing a video on them I am too) and whoopie slings but for the newbie hanger this can be very daunting task researching these things.

So do you guys mix gear or are you die hard ___________ fans?

I've got gear from just about every Cottage industry company!