Am I the only one who cringes every time you go to REI, Amazon.com , or open up Outside Online, looking at the prices on all that sweet gear we always want?

I mean really. Who has that kind of money and where do they work to get all that stuff? From the hat, jackets, boots, gloves, electronics, books, and the gear lists goes on. Just when you think the coolest piece of gear is out, you see the next big thing.

Well my friend, it's time for a revolution. The outdoor Empire is going to strike back. We have come up with a list of 3 outdoor gear pieces that anyone with a little determination and hard work can make themselves, and be proud of it too!

Making your own gear will take a little time, but in the end you will appreciate it more, feel better, learn some lessons, and obtain some skills that will serve you for the rest of your outdoor adventuresome life.

Are you ready to do something with those hands besides click a mouse button?

1. Knife
Look, every good outdoors person worth their weight in common sense usually takes a knife with them on any hike, camp, climb, or adventure. Since the beginning of time caveman have been make crude knifes with a sharp rock, a rope, and a stick. Now it's your turn.

Photo by hmboo

This may be possibly one of the more complicated pieces of gear on the list to make, but probably will be the most satisfying in the end. And their are different levels of difficulty you can undertake.

Making you're own knife is not out of the realm of possibility. If our forefathers did it, so can you. Do you know how to buy a metal file at a hardware store? Can you start a fire to heat up metal in your backyard or over a campfire? Then yes, you can make you're own knife.

Do you really think you're friends are going to care how pretty it looks? They're going to think you're awesome for making your own knife. You will be the next Rambo.

2. Hiking/Walking Stick
Have you been hiking, backpacking, or on any sort of adventure or expedition lately? Most of us own like 6 different expandable hiking sticks. I might have 10 if I look hard.

I have a pair for cross-country skiing, a pair I picked with my snow shoes, and another pair I picked up while backpacking in Colorado. Really? I suppose if I needed to sharpen them all I could make enough stakes to fend off some vampires for a day or two.

Photo by quinn.anya

I mean when you were a kid you had enough sense to find the best walking stick in the woods that fell from a tree. So now you are grown up and you think you have to buy something that goes for free on a tree?

Besides, what else are you going to do with that new knife you made? You know how to whittle don't you? I mean you used to do that all the time when you were a kid too. So, go to the woods, find the most perfect and cool looking stick on the ground. Get out your knife and shave off the bark. Buy a 2 dollar can of wood finish.

There you have it, you made you're own custom hiking stick that would probably cost you $100 in that store.When was the last time you owned a custom piece of gear?

3. Rucksack / Carrying Sack
I don't know if you have noticed it lately, but having some retro looking, old, and simple rucksack for camping, hiking, backpacking, or whatever is all the rage these days.

If you own a needle and thread, and can get your hands on a canvas type material, you can make yourself a nice rucksack to stash all your beloved supplies when heading out into the great outdoors.

Take a canvas sack, cut the size down to where you like. Poke a bunch of holes around the top, and get some shoe string and thread it through the holes. If you want to get fancy get a thick garage sack and cut it to size to fit inside your canvas sack. That's called water resistance.

Take a piece of rope, old shirt or pant material wound up, string it from one corner to the diagonal corner across on the bottom. Sew it to each corner as sloppily as you please. There you have it, a nice custom rucksack that is perfect for your next hiking or camping trip.

Want it to look cool? Find a cool canvas sack with some graphics, pretty easy stuff.

Still think you need to spend a bunch of money on fancy outdoor gear? Think again. Making your own outdoor gear is easy, and more then possible for anyone.