There are some cases where you care very little for the branding of a product, pure functionality is what you're looking for and nothing more. Stem bolts, tire plugs, inner tubes - aside from a few specialist cases, the question is simply 'does this do its job?' If the answer is yes, then no further considerations are required.
However, there are some cases where the element of the 'boutique' starts to set in. Delightful overengineering - quality surplus to requirements, but so intrinsically desirable you can't help but be captivated.
But to tickle a fancy is one thing, whether the purchase can fully be justified is quite another. With that in mind, let's take a run through some of the most exquisite products currently reduced for Cyber Monday, and see how the they stack up against their more thrifty competition. Let's call this 'Boutique vs Budget', first up with round #1...
Round #1
Weighing up the two pumps, despite the existential ruminations courtesy of Silca Super Pista, I think it's a clear win for the 'Budget' in this round with the Topeak takes the JoeBlow Urban EX.
Round #2
I was ready to give this to the budget option - functionality ahead of form, price ahead of prettiness.
But actually, I really like how Wolf Tooth has squeezed all those different tools into such a sleek design. It looks good, it's compact and it's going straight on my Christmas list - though that might be all that I get!
Round #2 goes to Boutique.
Round #3
Titanium is an excellent material for many applications. To be sure, it can perform the task of a bottle cage masterfully as well. But for the difference in price versus the difference in experience or execution of the task, I would have to say that the aluminium bottle cage wins.
And just to nip any speculation in the bud: yes, I am biased towards the Topeak Shuttle bottle cages that I actually use - and yes, that has affected my conclusion.
Round #3 goes to budget!
