The Trap of Brand Loyalty

Like many of you, I really enjoy gear of all types. I am constantly on the lookout for the next and best piece of equipment that will bring my gear hunt to an end. Unfortunately, this will never be the case as new products are constantly being designed, manufactured, marketed, and advertised. One excellent example is the SHOT Show that takes place every year in Las Vegas. Companies pack the halls to showcase their next best piece of gear. The ultimate goal of these companies is to get us to spend our hard earned money on their products.  And it usually works very well. It is capitalism at its finest. God bless America. 

Some “gear hunters” fall into the trap of brand loyalty and then stick to one company at the exclusion of all others. I see this with companies such as: Maxpedition, 5.11 Tactical, Blackhawk, SureFire, Streamlight, Glock, Colt, etc. The list can go on and on.  Even I have fallen into this trap a time or two. But not anymore.  When we fall into the trap of brand loyalty we become very myopic and miss out on the opportunity to obtain great gear and products from a variety of different companies. This makes no sense and only limits us in our quest for the best and most useful gear.

Like many situations in life we must remain open to new ideas. We must remain flexible and adaptable to changing markets, companies, and products.  It is always wise to keep your options open. Variety is the spice of life so they say. You state:  But I love my (fill in the blank brand.) Fine, if you have a company that makes great gear then buy from them. But, do not exclude other options from different companies. Also, remember that competition among gear companies is very real. Companies that fail to produce quality products tend to go away. When quality slips from a good company or fails to improve from a substandard company then they will eventually go out of business. If you stick with one company because they make a great product that fits your needs then don’t sweat it.  Sticking with them because you feel obligated for whatever reason then it is time to reconsider your options. If companies want you to maintain brand loyalty then they need to continually produce superior products at a reasonable price. Gear is big business and it is up to the companies to live up to our expectations. As consumers we decide who stays and who goes out of business. Commercial Darwinism at its finest.

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