Budget Backpacking Gear List - Go Camping for $250
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Budget Backpacking Gear List. Go camping for under $300 - Tarp Camping, Tent Camping, & Hammock Camping options shown. lighterpack.co...
Use the link above for weights, descriptions, & product links for current pricing online using my live gear list on LighterPack.com
For an easier read, check out my full blog post here: www.sintax77.co...
Printable version of gear list available on my website's Gear List Page in both PDF and CSV format (for spreadsheets)
www.sintax77.co...
Backpack:
65L Backpack, Scandinavian Gear amzn.to/36o73td
Shelter:
Tarp, 8 x 10 amzn.to/2uQrfpp
Tent Spike, Aluminum amzn.to/2HYdkkS
Guylines w/ tensioners amzn.to/2GClFwm
Sleep System:
Sleeeping Bag, Animato 40 amzn.to/2GzfkO6
Ground Cloth, Tyvek 6' dutchwaregear....
Sleeping Pad, Foam (lots of options out there for $7 to $15) amzn.to/2IubvKA
Storage:
Bear Bag Line (25' guyline leftover from tarp setup, and small carabiner)
amzn.to/2EhrwkS
Bear Bag - 13 gal trash bag
Zip-lock Bag - Sandwich
Zip-lock Bag - Gallon
Cooking & Eating:
Matches - Waterproof amzn.to/2q3neIB
Cookpot, DIY • DIY Ultralight Titaniu...
Paper Towel Squares
Windscreen, DIY Aluminum
Spoon - Plastic Fast Food
Lighter, Disposible
Water Treatment & Storage:
Water Bottle - 1.5 Ltr, Disposable
Katadyn BeFree Water Filter System amzn.to/2HgJmYo
Tools:
Compass, Brunton Classic amzn.to/2EhOoR3
Knife, Folding Pocket amzn.to/2GBs0Ih
First Aid:
First Aid Kit
(Adhesive bandages, 1 gauze bandage, superglue, neosporin in straw tube, tealight wax candle,
6 doses benedryl, 10 doses ibuprofen, spare water bottle cap)
Sunscreen - 30 SPF 10ml bottle dutchwaregear....
Fire Starter, DIY (dryer lint and wax, or cotton balls with vasoline)
Bug Spray - 100% Deet Mini Bottle amzn.to/2GRfmnO
Clothing (Packed, not worn. For spare, sleeping, rain):
Frogg Toggs Ultralight Rain Jacket amzn.to/2Hg061J
Underwear - Synthetic (1 Pair)
Shorts
Shirt, Long Sleeve -Lt Wgt
Shirt, short sleeve
Hat, Beanie - Lt Wgt Fleece
Wool Socks - Lt Wgt (1 pair)
Lighting:
Headlamp, Olight H05 AAA amzn.to/2HYf8KO
Toiletries:
Toilet Paper
Toiletry Kit
Wet Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Additional Budget Backpacking Gear Options discussed:
Sleeping Pad Upgrade - Therm-A-rest Z-Lite amzn.to/2JvLnAn
Low Cost Hiking / Trekking Poles amzn.to/2JnUnrq
2 Person Tent Options:
Kelty Salida Venture 4.5 lbs amzn.to/2GBQkK8
Coleman Sundome half the cost, but 7.25 lbs amzn.to/2Iwunsw
Hammock Options:
Dutchware Half-Wit Hammock Body dutchwaregear....
Dutchware Chameleon Hammock System dutchwaregear....
Dutchware "Flippin the bird" hammock dutchwaregear....
Standard Nylon Tree Strap Suspension with Cinch Buckles
(simple and works with all hammocks above)
dutchwaregear....
DIY Reflectix Pot Cozy Materials:
Reflectix Wrap amzn.to/2qeOAwg
Reflectix Tape amzn.to/2qeOBjO
Approximate Cost for Each System:
Tarp Camping version $248
Kelty tent version $317
Hammock Version $352
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I think one big important tip to remind hikers and backpackers is that not all tools and resources need to have an "outdoor brand" added to them. For example, I discovered some face towels made for hiking the other day. They were around $50 for the set, 3 of them. But they said for hiking so that must be worth it? Nope... I found cheaper towels that are lightweight and made with the right materials that will suffice and for $50 I can get more than 3, about 20 of them actually. Just because it says it is for hiking doesn't mean you cannot find the same thing cheaper somewhere else by looking beyond that "outdoor brand". Some stuff though, you get what you pay for, for sure.
or you can use a handkerchief.
That plus some websites/stores are cheaper than others as well!
It’s like the mini broom and dust pan I’ve seen for cleaning tents. At the dollar store it’s like $2 but at a camping store it’s $10 lol
This is a great video, appreciate that you're a real person who's giving realistic options, as opposed to being a backpacker who swears by their 1,000$ worth of gear, when plastic bags can literally do the same job as name brand hiking gear bags.
Super video, Sean! I have 61 years of hiking and backpacking experience but I still enjoyed your presentation...great teacher! Another avenue to consider in buying gear (and clothing)are your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, military surplus outlets, military thrift shops, etc. I estimate 50% of my gear came from one of the aforementioned. Just recently I found an old external frame backpack in great condition for $7, a pair of LL Bean duck boots for $10, a Banana Republic wool sweater (still with $65 price tag) for $8 and a beautiful Nautica fleece (in my favorite OD green) pullover for $12. Last summer I found a Patagonia goretex shell and a Sierra Designs (30 degree) synthetic sleeping bag sans compression sack; both items cost me just under $25 at a Goodwill store located in a more affluent part of town. Garage sales and flea markets are hit and miss but I lucked out and found a Banded roll top waterproof 40 or 50 liter backpack (used in duck hunting) in almost new condition for $20...after considerable bartering and trade.
Alexander Weaver Agreed. Just picked up self inflating Therma Rest $100 sleep pad, mint $5. Peace
Unfortunately, here in Australia, the thrift stores, Salvation Army and 2ndhand shops have an extremely poor selection of used hiking equipment. And mostly it will be gear from K-Mart that is more suited for vehicle/music festival camping & will likely break after several uses.
Well said...but you get what you pay for! There's something's that are worth the more expensive pricetag. For example, a good fixed blade!
I have a go-cot from '89' that I'll be buried with...:)
Planning on a two month backpacking trip to Africa this summer.
I've been backpacking before (quite a few times), but I'm so so glad to have found your video.
Your down to earth, humble attitude is so inviting and I've managed to learn quite a bit thanks to your video.
Keep being awesome!
WOW!! Have an amazing time!
Love the video and the channel, great ideas.
I've been trying to do this for two years now and at first i spend a little cash on the wrong gear (like $50) which i use for car camping. I borrowed an old external frame pack and a walmart tent, so i put together the rest of the gear my self for my first hike, over the course of two years i managed to put together an okay setup, since i don't have that much cash to spare on gear this is it:
Backpack (summer 40l / winter 90l) $65.00 3-6 lbs.
Tent One man tent with double vestibule $75.00 4.6 lbs.
Cook System:
Bowl+cup+ 1lt. pot+stove+small canister $19.99 1.5 lbs.
Sleep System: Class 5 down sleeping bag $10.00 2.5 lbs. (i think)
Marmot 50 degree synth. bag $40.00 1.5 lbs.
Therm a rest z-lite $19.99 .08 lbs.
Misc: USMC field tarp/Poncho $7.00 1 lb.
-Backpack: for the pack i bought a 40l external frame pack for $35.00 that weights around 3 lbs.
I can hook things to the external frame, but got a surplus 90l F.I.L.B.E. pack that fits the frame the downside is that it weights 3lbs. w/o the frame. cool thing is that i have a winter and a summer pack for $65.00 that weights 3/6 pounds. (also i upgraded the straps and belt from another bag i had)
-Tent: for the tent i found great surplus item, from the local GI base, for the great amount of $75.00, its a single man tent with two large vestibules that weights 4.06 lbs. its not the lightest but i like the durability of the materials and space is good as well.
Sleep System: for this i found a Class 5 down sleeping bag, which is a very old brand but is pretty puffy and warm, this was about $10.00 also for summer i found a Marmot Synthetic 50 degree bag for $40.00 on sale. te total weight of both bags is around 4.00 lbs.
For a pad i use a thermarest z lite that i got for $24.99
-Cooking system: i found this awesome kit that includes a 1lt pot, a small bowl that doubles as a lid, a mug, a small stove (similar to the MSR pocket rocket) and a small canister for the whopping amount of $19.99 and it weights around 1.5 lbs.
for rain gear i use a Surplus Poncho that doubles as a tarp sometimes a bit heavy like 1lb. but it was like $7.00
and the rest is a small headlamp, small fixed knife, small multitool, some para cord and two nalgene like 32oz water bottles.
Thanks for the videos! sorry for the long comment
Im a mom so I have to gear up my kids. That's a lot to purchase. So, I really appreciate your thoughts on all this!
Moreno wool socks are a good investment!
Especially when your kids become sweaty hormonal monsters with stank foot!!
Frealz
Rainmaker here -
What a great video. I have been backpacking more than 50 years and started with some of the same gear. For example we used the large Crisco cans for our cookpots and made a wire bail handle. We used Sterno back in the day because that is all we knew of. I still use a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil as my windscreen and have for many , many years. As far as a plastic spoon is concerned, you haven't lived until you broke your plastic spoon on the first day of your trip. This is where a kitchen spoon becomes invaluable. I took a kitchen spoon long before titanium ever hit the marketplace. I tried my first tarp in 1969 and still tarp camp today unless I know bugs will be an issue.
Anyone that is just starting out with backpacking should follow the great ideas presented here by Sintax77. I loved this video even though it was long, but it had to be.
Super job Sintax77
You can refill your travel size toothpaste too. Just put the openings together with your regular size tube and squeeze. I did it for years when I traveled more for work.
I'm embarrassed to say I never thought to do that. Excellent tip, thank you! So many times that I ran out and spent a buck or too for a new travel tube before a trip when I had a perfectly good full tube in my bathroom already. 😳💁
Oh my goodness. Why didn't I think of this??? Mind is literally blown.
Wow you are very cheap
Fred.
I NEVER would have thought of that! Super smart!
Great ass idea! Thanks !
Another tip: military surplus stores sell MRE's for like 5 dollars, and they are better than those hiking food packets. And they usually come with utensils and seasonings.
True. But MREs come in many packets & each MRE will have its own accessories, meaning you will carry several disposable sporks in your kit, among others. Although you could always open it & take the main meals & entrees, and leave the stuff you don't want to take at home...
Good idea
Jonathan Tan in the military we would field strip the MREs we were carrying before going out so that you only had what you needed. Same can apply for basic hiking.
I would love to find MREs for $5. Please show me where.
@@hard2getitrightagain314 I think his $5 MRE comment is actually like 10 years old. I've not seen them that cheap since a hardware store's going out of business sale. But you can get the entrees for a pretty good deal at places like MREnation.com, or theepicenter.com/mre-meals-ready-to-eat.html
I wish I would have seen this 5yrs ago as a newbie. I bought some heavy un-needed and expensive gear. I have moved on to light weight "pro" gear, but still use the old school stuff now and then. Looking back I really have enjoyed my gear journey but something like this would have cut out a lot of mistakes. A note to all newbies, just get out there and play around and see what happens and enjoy yourself.
So for an ultralight spoon I’d use one of those red long Dairy Queen spoons for their ice cream to use in a mountain house meal.... just a thought. Thanks for the video, really shows how little it takes to get out there.
That's a great idea! I'll have to stop in the next time I pass a Dairy Queen.
Out of all the videos that I've watched. I have to admit this one was the most informative. Good job Sean.
Great normal guy video. I’m a long time car camper but want to get away from the crowds. Thanks again!
Light, Cheap, Durable.
Pick two.
Went camping for the first time last night. Converted my old pots, 🥣, staged into a nesting system and worked perfectly. I temptated to buy a new camping cookware set but I didn't, until I decided to go camping more
no three
Like your vid even though its more than 2 years old. My second backpack trip was in '81. I did counter clockwise from twenty mile ranger station compared to what you did on our Thanksgiving weekend. It led to more than 20 years of Thanksgiving weekends backpacking mostly in the Smokies. Been many times back on different occasions fishing camp on Fontana lake and taking my Daughter into the big green. My favorite place, where my soul thrives, the Smokies. No place like it.
Thank you so much for this video! I am planning a 5 day trip in the Lincoln National Forest with my daughter. This was a perfect video to give some perspective on all the hype of buying high dollar items. I appreciate your down to earth approach.
Your info is great for newbies as I started out backpacking with 60+ pound packs. That was truly humping it!
Yeah, me too. We called it just another day in the USMC
Enjoyed stumbling across your video, I've subscribed. I'm an experienced car/tent camper and am waiting on vacation to take my first crack at hiking/overnighting. I'm still working on getting gear together, and appreciate your picks. I think that I will enjoy hiking, but as you noted, I don't want to dump a boatload of money to find out that I may not. Looking forward to going through the rest of your videos!
great job on budget light backpacking gears!!! Today's market is full of cutthroat price gears. >$600 for a tent, $300 for a backpack, $100 for a titanium mug cook set. >$100 stove, >$80 tarp, $70 ground sheet?!! >$500 all in 1 must have "survival" knife. >$400 dawn sleeping back, >$120 sleep pad.... the list goes on and on. You hit it right on the point. One can enjoy the outdoors without having to spend big $$$$ on all those high price gears. All in all, the extra weight is usually less than 3.5 - 4lb. And it cost @ $250 vs >$1000!
Great video Sean. I just bought a two person, four season tent for $45 at Walmart. (due to taking out a friend new to hiking).It’s weight is about 6 pounds, which is pretty good for a four season tent with 58 square feet (it’s pack weight is a little lighter due to exchanging the steel pegs for aluminum, etc). I did some research before I bought the tent so I got all the features I wanted (two vestibules, gear loft, gear pockets, lamp loop, separate rain fly and netting, etc) and it was reported to be good in winds up to 30 or 40 mph and temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the mustard and ketchup color scheme but as long as I’m dry and warm I really don’t care about fashion. I too usually use a hammock setup and have about the same dollar amount as the tent in the hammock setup and it weighs about four pounds everything included. If I’m going somewhere I think a hammock might not work I bring the 10 by 10 silnylon tarpaulin I use with the hammock.
Very nice, sounds like a solid setup, condiments and all :)
You Americans are lucky you can get decent hiking gear from Walmart. Our local department stores in Australia (Big W & K-mart (yes, they still exist here) ) stock only cheap camping equipment, and variety is quite poor. They used to have better selections years ago, including Coleman equipment, but it's now mostly replaced with junk these days.
Otherwise you have to get them from specialist hiking/camping stores, or online, and prices have a huge markup.
Having not backpacked since the 80's, I find this video very useful in planning what I will need to bring with me (and overlooked) for some section hiking. Maybe I should add in the double patty cheese burger that will be consumed post-hike, because, that'l really weigh me down. Keep up the great videos!
Dude, excellent job! Kinda getting tired of the usual Zpack big three + airlight pad but fail to mention the $1400 set up cost. Yeah, I can afford it but I’d rather spend the extra $1200 on something else. New subscriber!
alum pie tin/turkey pan tins can be cut up for wind screens as well.
The dollar store has cookie sheets too, 2 for a buck
I can beat that:
Tent: rain fly from an old dome tent purchased at thrift store $3.00
Backpack: Older Jansport ext. frame (don't laugh they are lightweight and comfortable) thrift store $5.00
Stove: Whisperlight, thrift store $3.00
Cook Kit: Imusa 2 cup aluminum cup, Walmart $2.50
Sleeping Bag: Northface Down Mummy, thrift store $8.00
Sleeping pad: Blue foam roll up, thrift store, $3.00
Hiking Stick: my favorite wood stick from Canada, collected myself, $0.00
Total $24.50
Great video I enjoyed every minute of it. I remember my first hike, solo in December 4 years ago at 72, my pack was 45 pounds with everything but the kitchen sink. Used a Teton Sports Explorer 4000 40 Pack and a 20* Teton Sports Mummy Bag, my tent was an Ozark Trail 2 Person. One caution to new backpackers make sure your pack fits properly. Again, great video thanks.
Thanks, Warren. Glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like you've got a solid setup as well. Keep on getting out there and enjoy it! :)
I’m going on my first camping/backpacking trip this weekend and this was super helpful!
Wow, it's Tuesday and I'm thinking about starting to get into backpacking... How surreal!
I watch the videos,because it gets me out by proxy,camping is my hobby over-landing camping & hiking is favorite subject and all involved.
I've watched A LOT of gear videos and this one has got to be the most informative I've seen. Outstanding job. This guy knows what the word "budget" means!
My first backpacking/camping trip for 6 days consisted of cotton sleeping bags(Hillary by Sears) and 2 shower curtains, one for ground cloth and one for rain cover. First night rained like crazy, survived dry because a water diverting trench I dug around the ground cloth when we set camp. 5 more night of crisp dry weather. Back in the Caribbean! 1979. Got a 2 person nylon tent after that.
Lol you guessed it gearing up a second hiker (son) so they will enjoy going with, is the whole reason I’m here. Thanks for all the videos
I loved watching all your videos, I just got into backpacking at 60 and would love to see an updated $250 budget video in the future, some of the items are not available anymore. Thanks much and cool stuff!
Good vid, I just got my gear from flea markets, thrift stores or second hand online.
Used a tarp back in the day and after just 2 nights I found that I really needed a mosquito net, it's so damn annoying to fight bugs while trying to sleep so I'd say get a net if you want to go the tarp route. It's not an expensive thing to get and weighs next to nothing.
This was the most amazing 1 hour of my life. I learned soooooo F***in much.
I really enjoy the way you explain things. It's almost like having Tony Stark walk me through backpacking.
A two man tent means ONE person next to one pack. Always counts packs as "half" people, or else you leave them outside with the mice and rain. A three man tent is good for two plus packs, and you will be drier because you are not pressed against the walls in wet weather.
My fav fire starter is zip lock with dryer lint. In that bag I keep a smaller ziplock full of petroleum jelly. I put a blob of jelly in the middle of a handful of lint. Set it on top of kindling. Lights fast and jelly runs all over the roof and really ignites it. I appreciate your backpacking tips. I don’t hike often. Usually 3-4 times a year so don’t want to invest in too expensive of gear. My only real backpacking investment was my backpack cuz I already camp and have the sleep pad and bag snd tent that are all pretty light. Cuz I do camp a few times a year anyway. And take my cook system with me for impromptu hot lunches or hot coffee when not at camp, like on a long hike. Thanks for more ideas cuz I wasn’t yo get some more of my friends to join me. Once they have they love it too. So much beauty on this planet to explore. And it’s so healing
When I go backpacking with my family I bring the thermarest z-light as a backup in case any of our air pads leak. So there's a use for it even after you upgrade to a fancier pad.
Also, instead of buying a cheap new backpack or tent, find a used one on Craigslist, eBay, OfferUp, or Facebook marketplace. Depending on where you live they're easy to find.
Good ole Thermaleak. Wanna sleep in style, try a Ridgerest topper on your Thermaleak and wrapped in a bedsheet.
Really great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Enjoyed every minute - over an hour!
Great video, I spend a lot of time listening to videos as I'm doing other things & occasionally capable of glancing over to see what you're talkin about keep up the great work. This past time does not need to be expensive, however for some reason it has gotten expensive over the years. Again great work.
My pack is an ems with multiple compartments with internal frame not the commonly used one huge compartment to put everything in and an outside pocket for quick access items. I have been using it for a few years and my pack is 37lbs fully loaded. The heavy weight comes from my knife, axe, stove, multitool, tent poles with stakes,food and boots. With those heavy items removed im down to 24 lbs. My sleeping bag and tent with extra boots is strapped on the outside. In the Marines my pack was about 60 lbs so 37 is light weight for me with everything i need and want for me and my two dogs that go everywhere with me.
I purchased this pack, it is a solid choice. I have a hammock a Freebird by Dream Hammock, and a DIY under quilt from RipStop
Excellent video......I'm in the UK and $250 translates to about £190 at the current (March 2019) exchange rate so I was very surprised that you managed to get all this gear for such a price. Naturally it all depends on your budget.....to some people this is a lot of money but to others its just "loose change" so you have to choose your priorities (weight versus cost) carefully. I'm in the process of trying to reduce the weight and size of my gear. I've replaced my old 2-man dome tent which weighs 6 lbs with a 1-man tent weighing just over 2 lbs and my old 65-75 litre pack which weighs 5 lbs with a smaller 48 litre pack weighing 3 lbs. I may also invest in a lighter sleeping bag but the weight-saving will only be about 1.5 lbs so I haven't decided yet whether or not its worth doing. My current bag is "comfort" rated between -12C (10.5F) and 8C (46.4F) so its great for Winter but too warm for most of the year.
Great video Sintax!!
I’m sharing with friends who I’ve invited to do a backpacking/hiking trip with me. Your video is very informative. I’m sure it will ease their insecurities about expense. Thanks for sharing!
Great vid mate
Lots of good advice on not throwing cash unnecessarily when starting out .
I've done back packing for more years than I care to mention, (I started in 1969)
Lots of the new kit is brilliant and yup I do buy some occasionally as long as its not too pricey .
Even when I started some people became more obsessed with kit collecting than the actual hiking .
I bought a new tent 10 years ago (Golite Hex) , I'm still using it and amazingly it still works fine .
Happy trails guys
Down sleeping bag for $75. Aegis Max 40degree mummy-ish bag... 15.5 oz! On Amazon. Add SOL UL Escape Bivvy for added warmth and water resistance... $35 5oz. I've taken these two items to 20ish degrees with warm layers. Keep up the great vids.
Just started using LighterPack and using your page as a reference. Thanks for covering a low budget option to getting started. Appreciate it.
Not yet. Looking at father’s day weekend
Nice video Sean. I am trying to get my friends into hiking and backpacking or just staying outdoors for a night or two. I like your cook kit idea.
I definitely agree on the tent thing. I use a two person tent for myself and my two dogs with my gear inside
I would recommend the Ridge Outdoor Hammock, it's only about $50 when on sale on Amazon, and it includes tree straps. Their rainfly tarp is pretty cheap too at about $35 and it is a bit larger than the 8x10 and it comes with guylines and stakes.
Omg...thx for all the great info. I love to car camp but I hate having to bring all the bells & whistles....I definitely wanna down size. I'll be buying & making a few of the items on the list. It will be my son and I making the treks for some quality mom & son time. I hope to hike the Lone Star Trail in Texas sometime in Feb. but making small day hikes at camping spots just to get a feel for ultralight camping gear & how to use it. I will include a deck of cards, pass the pig game, & yahtzee for a bit of entertainment into the backpack. I love that I can still enjoy the great outdoors on a budget! I hope you continue to make budget/low cost/ultralight friendly videos. Thx for all the great tips & ideas. Goal: 2 backpacks & load of fun.
Best Wishes,
Melinda
Wow, that hour went by quick! Thank you for the review. This is the first video I've seen of yours and really appreciate the common sense approach to not getting crazy with all the gimmicky gear. This was truly helpful, thanks again!
Thanks. Iv just started buying some camp stuff. And im overwhelmed every where i look. But this vid is excellent. Helpped me loads
Excellent video, lots of good information! Side note: the lines on the coffee can correspond to measurements...first line = 1 cup, each additional line = 1/2 cup, all the way to tippy top = 4 cups. Also, never underestimate the ability of other people to be stupid...or unobservant, i keep my fuel in a bottle that looks different than my water bottles, they're RED, and labeled fuel. Just a label that says" fuel"...somebodies gonna overlook it!
Only once.
I would love to see an updated version of this video for 2019. I am trying to get together my own gear set for doing solo camping/survival videos. This has been extremely helpful. Most of the products in the description are no longer available. Great video!
Did I really sit here for an hour watching you??!!!! Thanks for the tips, first time backpacker here!!
I live in the city and am not near any trail so I have not done many hikes and really want to start love watching your videos to learn more
Spent $500 on the big three ( tent, pad, bag) and another $200 on stove, fuel, headlamp, space blankets for my homemade first aid kit, water filtration, hammock for day hikes and a 3L CamelBak for hiking/mountain biking..I plan on using this stuff for years so paying more upfront is fine with me instead of getting cheap stuff to replace in a year or two.
I love camping but I've only been backpacking when in scouts(like twice). Trying to do it now is tough w/o vids like these to shed some light, thx a bunch
There are consignment stores for outdoor gear. At one time Asheville NC had 2. Some outfitters carry used and returned items. REI has at least 1 parking lot sale from customers. Craigslist is a good resource. If you are handy with a needle and thread, online companies sell patterns and material for outdoor gear. Ray Jardine wrote a book on how he made all of his fabric gear. Good video as well.
really appreciate the video. Got hook on daytime hiking trips and have expanded into doing overnights. Pretty sure I did every mistake you mentioned. LOL. Very informative. Thanks for the info
I hit the goodwills for used water bottles. some company made 2 or 3 disgusting shades of bright yellow with big knobby lids that always look dirty... I carry my fuel in them. i was able to get the label off a bottle of HEET transferred onto one which makes it even more obvious that its not for drinking.
Wow what a lot of information. I have been viewing backpacking videos to improve my motorcycle camping gear and technique. Although weight is not as critical, although it is important to handling, space is very important. You have lots of great ideas thanks.
I use aluminum rain gutter nails as tarp stakes.
Great video. I can't believe i saw the entire video without skipping. Well made and informative. Thanks
This video is amazing, thank you so much! I'm going on my first trip soon and have shaved down the cost a lot by buying (lightly) used items. I've found some real gems from top hiker brands!
Thanks for making this video. The spark is there and I think this will finally push me to committing.
He begins the solid information and actually talking about the gear at 4:41.
I bought that pack. Works great with my bad shoulder. Carries well with moderate load only complaint is the backpad. That thing is hot! If it were a mesh, that would be a fantastic pack.
I'm sure you didn't want to recommend something you haven't tried, but there are a lot of good, inexpensive 3 pound or so tents out there for one person. I used a single Texsport that cost me 35 dollars for quite a few years till one of the fiberglass poles broke. The rest of the tent was in excellent condition but I didn't know if I could replace the poles after that many years. I just bought a 55 dollar tent by Bushnell that weighs 3 lbs. 4oz and has aluminum poles. Both similar bivy type design with full rainfly which works well for me. The rest was all right, but not very good advice on tents.
On pads, I have a Coleman convoluted pad. It's not that comfortable, better than the flats, but it seems to reset my back after I sleep on it. I've always found sleeping on something flat helps my back, but this kind of gives it a massage at the same time.
A lot of my backpacking gear was the best price, free. I appreciate this video, helped me get some gear dialed in
Oddly enough I actually started watching this last night which was Tuesday night haha finishing it today on Wednesday so definitely a long but great talk!
watched this to prepare for making a video on thru hiking the AT on a very low budget. You've got some killer low budget gear, man...glad I took the time to check this vid out!
Man! Thank you so much for this video! This is pure gold! I’m looking to get started backpacking and this is THE BEST advice and explanation video I’ve found! THANK YOU!
With regards to socks : The seam in socks, located above your toes, can cause blisters. You can get "seamless" socks with a flat seem you can't feel for a decent price. I bought two packs of 3 pairs each for about $11 and brought 5 on a trip. This allows for clean socks for three days of walking, followed by a washing day.
Just a couple of notes. I look forward to and watch your videos no matter the content for the simple reason that I like them. The other would be suggesting a foregone conclusion that everyone try the gear at home before even a one nighter. I found I am one of the 10% or so who cannot stand a gathered end hammock for more than a few minutes. I have two very good ones I tried before moving onto a bridge style. No big loss I've found good uses for them on the trail but would not have wanted to find out miles into my first hike. Happy Trails and thanks for the time you put into your videos.
Thanks for the video, Sintax. I like saving money. Good job, Bro.
I've been dying to go camping for 15 yrs now and just decided I'm not getting any younger. I'm taking my 6yr old daughter and this is hugely helpful. I want us to enjoy the trip, but not kill myself lugging all sorts of nonsense items.
Wish my mom would think like this. For camping, I’d say you could go a little heavier than usual because you won’t be carrying a lot of things with you when gathering stuff like wood.
On budget tents, the River Country Products Trekker 1 is about $50, and fantastic. You'll want to seal it up before you rely on it to keep rain out, but it's a solid little tent.
You and Dixie over at Homemade Wanderlust are the most informative backpackers on TH-cam. I have been backpacking for over 20 years. It would have been great to have a video like this when I started Backpacking. My first trip was Sheltowee trace/ Rough Trail in Red River Gorge in December, it kicked my butt. Keep doing what you are doing. I think what you are doing is helping folks get into backpacking and also potentially keeping folks out of danger. Looking forward to more great content. Thanks!
I think I ended finding stuff that's comparable in price, but I think you got me beat on weight, lol.
My first hiking tent was a decent two person tent, single wall @ 2lb and got it for $40 Canadian. Yodo brand. It worked for me for a couple of years as I got started. Long enough for me to decide what I really wanted out of a tent. Ended up spending about $125 on another tent, with side doors, double wall with vestibules, and extra long to allow my whole 6'2" to stretch out. Sold the Yodo, still in good condition, to a buddy of mine for $20. It's now his back-up tent, and fits his shorter frame better than it fit me
For those looking in 2020, as the Venture is no longer available, take a look at REI’s Quarter/Half Dome, and their Passage tents. The regularly go on sale for around $100-120. Stay clear of Alps Mountaineering tents around that price as their quality isn’t said to be as good. Kelty and Marmot have a few tents around this price point too, but Kelty seems to have discontinued their lower-priced, lighter offerings sadly.
Almost 2 years later would you change any of the bigger items say like the pack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad
Finally someone show people that they dont need to spend thousands for a hike! Nice video!
I’m working on getting my first set of backpacking gear together, I’ve got some pretty decent stuff already but this guide is super helpful for ideas on what I still need and how I can save some cash!
Great list. very realistic for needed and comfort items
you can find z lite knockoffs on ebay for under $13, search -Ultralight Foam Camping Mat Folding Beach Tent Sleeping Pad Waterproof Mattress
Awesome, thank you!
Ultralight Foam Camping Mat Folding Beach Tent Sleeping Bag Waterproof Mattress
My two Teton Sports packs both came with rain covers, and both combined were less than $100. Great packs for the money.
Awesome video with great resource info! Thank you for not being a backpacking snob. There are many of us new backpackers that want to start out slow and as inexpensive as possible. Videos like this are fantastic . Great job 👍
My pleasure. I'm glad you found it useful :)
For a budget shelter, a "tube tent" is very inexpensive, and works reasonably well. Because the ends are typically open, however, they may be of limited value in the rain. For the price, however, a tube tent (at $10 or less) should be a consideration if the weather isn't expected to get very wet.
When I was in the Boy Scouts years ago, that's what we carried on our backpacking trips, but I can only remember using it one time, and that was for shelter from an afternoon storm. By that evening, the weather had cleared, so like usual, we slept under the stars. That can be a fantastic experience if the weather permits, especially where light pollution is minimal.
for the water bottle you could also get the tops off of life water bottles to drink off of, but they also work great for flushing out water filters if you are inclined to use those as well.
Wow! Thanks for the info...I'm just getting started and this is really helpful!
I'm going to try the Walmart special with the $30 tent, $50 Coleman sleeping bag and a $72 Teton Backpack.
My only concern is weight; the sleeping bag itself is 5.2 Lbs (83.2 Oz), the tent is 5.64 Lbs (90.2 Oz), and the Teton Backpack is 5 Lbs (80 Oz).
Also the packing of the sleeping bag isn't great, it's about a 10.5 inch diameter by 16 inch wide cylinder when packed.
But I'm in for only $150 for the big 3.
My big 3 weight is already 15.8 Lbs.... Yikes
I was so into this video that I hadn't realized I was past the 40 minute mark already!
Sintax77 2- questions
1) I'm 6-6 tall, setting up a tarp over a hammock should you be able to stand underneath the tarp and not touch the tarp with your head and set your hammock up height so your arms can reach the inner Ridgeline will this cause too much wind draft under you or should your whole setup be low near the ground?
2) I have a double Nest ENO hammock and it seems like when I lay in it it wraps around me and closes me in at least 90%, is that normal or is it just the way this ENO hammock is made?
Love your hammock videos also love also seeing Denali go camping with you.
I love my Kelty Salida 2 it's so easy to set up and quickly.
Just found your channel. Yesssss! Please do a keto/ low carb backpacking video! I'd love to see that
Love all your vids bro! Keep it up you are living the dream. Peace
little advice, get the spoons at Wnedy's and use the glade freezer bags in quart and gal. size better quality for backpacking
Loved this format of yours!