Shields vs break out boards

When I first started out with Arduino I though that shields was a great idea. Just plug them on top and start coding. Great for a programmer.

Then I got more shields and wanted to stack them on top off each other because I need there combined functionality but now the troubles starts.

First of all they wanted some of the same ports. For some shields that could be configure to use other port but not for all. And then I saw some strange behavior on some ports. E.g. pin 2 I use on my QuadCopter for one of the motors. But my shields made the pin unstable somehow. I know only basic electronic but what I found out was that some of the pin was used in some shields for some undocumented features or leds.

And then when I got my MEGA board some of the shields was not working correct which actually was stated in the docs.

So now I most of the time uses my shields as break out boards, so why not get them in the first place :)

Shields are a good place to start but in the long run I recommend break out boards - and they are quit easy to use. Just tin some pin headers on and use jump wires and you are good to go.