Digital gear is cheaper, lighter, and FAR more compact.

can’t say you’re wrong there, its just that when something has a mechanical handle or button it seems so much more reliable (touchscreen cars, anyone?)

Secondhand junk

truly? I had considered buying things pre-owned would mean that they had proven their durability? (In addition to sidestepping ethical concerns, as presented by buying new) i guess theres many kinds of second hand. does military surplus count?

Given the World landscape, I’d say the picking will be slim for a good long while.

Hey, won’t need to look for surplus when conscripted, right?

I’ve heard similar advice around purchasing restauraunt quantity plastic wrap, so that’s great advice!

just quickly replying again because my last could have come off wrong, I do genuinely appreciate the advice, I’ll just need to find out how to find these sorts of scenes.

Ok, I will try to find more dying people in my area, thank you!

I myself yearn to still be able to buy analog and mechanical things (varying, obvs; i.e im in good health so i dont need an electric salt shaker, etc) but they’re weirdly uncommon now, you just cant repair electrics the same :( (through random prodding, lol)

thank you for the appraising method reccomendation! I did also wanna quickly say that when I say local I don’t mean ‘artisinal’ but more 'i would rather avoid shipping costs, unneeded transport (for sustainanility reasons), and if you source things overseas, it’s likely a bigger name i.e, prone to enshittification. Is that odd? should I bite the bullet and even buy second hand from overseas?

also, I’ve tried looking at surplus, but it’s really hard to sort through (feels like its your mentioned cheap chinese copies), or is being sold for ‘collecting’ (i.e vintage and very expensive)

I’ve never been good at finding these things, would you know any methods or resources for finding these ‘small, niche bramds’?

yeah, i absolutely agree. I tend to want very little, which helps me to not have to be buying things too often, especially since I go for things that are simple enough to serve some function without much else. Does ‘simple’ stuff that is made today have a similar quality to things that have proven their durability over years?

Recycled jeans is actually a really good suggestion that I hadn’t thought of, I’ll look into it, thanks :). May I ask where you bought the military jackets, even if it was just ebay or something? I’d like to expand my knowledge of storefronts, and I am horrid at searching for them.

thank you for the recommendation :) I’ve looked at military disposal sites local to my area before, though they’ve seemed a little off, but I will redouble my efforts. Do you know of any good ways to find sites that sell proper used mil/pol gear, rather than just being named so?

apologies for the doomer title, I’m just truly out of my depth and hoped it would bring more eyes over :)