I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Outdoor experts have a really simple way of recognizing one another in the backcountry; they wear Arc'teryx gear. I'm not sponsored or anything by the brand (I wish), but I spend over 100 days each year in what me and my colleagues call the "Arc't zone". Over a days walk from the nearest trailhead, pushing the limits of what is possible in survivalist scenarios. Running into another human is rare in these situations, but when I do my eyes will inevitably flicker down to the deadbird (what experts call the Arc'teryx logo) on the front of their jacket. By now I check automatically and subconsciously. I see their eyes flicker down briefly to mine. No words required, with a quick nod, we know the other person is prepared. I've had this exact scenario play out hundreds of times. And when I see people in inferior gear; pata, MH, OR, I see a person who is willing to put their own safety and possibly the safety of their whole team in jeopardy for saving a few bucks or making some kind of fashion statement. These are the people I may very likely have to save in the coming days or even hours. I'm not saying adequate gear is cheap; but it's a worthwhile investment. If you want people to take you seriously in the outdoors you need serious equipment. It's that simple.