In spite of all the bashing of cheap gear, keep this in mind-not everyone needs top quality gear or clothes and most people probably either can't afford it or don't want to spend the money. I've got pretty good stuff, but not what I would consider the "best" of everything, depending on what it is, but I've been collecting stuff for a long time, so that has made it possible to be choosy.

Don't not go out just because you don't have everything or you have cheap gear. Instead, plan trips where if you have a gear failure or the weather overcomes your clothes, you can retreat to your car or a shelter without undue risk. You don't have to be miles from safety to have a good time and get experience.