How to Save On Backpacking Gear

Many have never been camping before. The main reason is the fear of not having sufficient gear. If you don’t know what you’re doing you might spend a fortune on camping gear.

Just about every camping equipment is expensive. Hiking boots, stoves, sleeping bags, tents, backpacks and trekking poles cost a lot of money. Depending on the terrain, you might need crampons, gaiters, balaclavas and other special equipment. If you are hiking with children you might want to have a child carrier.

This is a lot of money for a lot of people. Yet there are still a lot of people who don’t have that much money to spare that enjoy hiking and camping with little problems. Manufacturers like to make you think that you need all this stuff and all the expensive features.

The truth is camping is about going back to basics. You don’t need the state-of-the-art equipment. Use whatever you have at home if you must.

Check out the gear tips below that can really cut your costs:

- Down Raincoats are very expensive and they make you sweat when you hike. Multiple layers will keep you warm and offers you can adjust if it gets too hot by removing the layers. Avoid using cotton for layers as they absorb water and makes you wet. Use synthetics and wool instead. Synthetics dries easily and keeps you dry. Wool keeps you warm even when it’s wet.

- A windbreaker can be good option for a cheap waterproof outer shell. You only need expensive parkas when you’re going for an expedition under harsh conditions.

- You can almost always get away with a cheap camping tent by applying a seam sealer to it. This should be done before every trip and should be reapplied when necessary. Cheap tents can be found at your local Walmart. Remember to check for tears. Unless you’re on an expedition or just backpacking, you don’t really need an expensive tent.

- A lightweight sleeping bag can cost you a lot of money. A zero degree sleeping bag should be good enough for the mountains in most cases. Use a chemical warmer and some layers of clothing to keep warm inside your sleeping bag. If you’re not backpacking and weight is not an issue, you can even be without the sleeping bag. Just use whatever suitable bedding you can find that doesn’t have to cost the mortgage but make sure you insulate yourself from the ground.

- Blisters are your worst enemy when you’re hiking so I don’t recommend cheap hiking boots. However if you’re just camping, you can wear just about any footwear as long as you’re comfortable.

- There are still quite a few places where you’re allowed to build campfires. This eliminates the need for camping stoves. If not, there are a lot of cheap and practical stoves out there. You can either buy it new or used or you even just borrow them.

- Instead of trekking poles you can just use a strong enough stick. I’ve used it for a few years without any problems. Some people may argue that cutting out sticks from the forest is bad for the environment and I recommend that you avoid cutting out walking sticks on the trail but the process of making those expensive trekking poles takes an even bigger toll on the environment.

This list is pretty basic but covers the most common concerns people have told me about. Camping gear doesn’t have to be overly expensive.

Of course the tips here may not apply to every situation. Sometimes you need specialty equipment e.g. gaiter but whenever possible you can use what you already have.