The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge

The original source of the photo unknown.

Of all the posts on my site, this article is one of my most popular in many ways. The list, I think, has inspired others to make similar lists. And is referenced a fair amount.

The inspiration for this list came from a discussion on AT-L way back in 2005: How to make a gear list for a beginner that is reasonably light and not too expensive? The direct inspiration for this list was from on discussion on Whiteblaze.net led by Sgt. Rock, a retired 1st Sgt in the Army and an experienced backpacker. This list is my contribution.

This list is a complete gear list. A person can use the list as a starting point, but they can plug in their gear as they upgrade or swap out to different equipment. How do I know? In many ways, this minimalist list is my list. 🙂 I think the key to going light is not what you bring, but instead what you don’t carry.

This list also includes an explanation of why I chose this gear.  The gear choices aren’t theoretical and something plucked off a website, but the equipment I’ve used or similar enough. In other words, the options get based on experience and not theory.

My list is more focused on Intermountain West or similar for prime three-season conditions: More sun exposure, colder nights at elevation, less rain.   

This list should suffice for most on-trail backpacking from about the Fourth of July through Labor Day.

You won’t see 40F bags on this list. Nor will you see more robust rain gear either. Everything is a trade-off and varies based on place, conditions, time of year, or even hiking style.

I wrote the original version back in 2005-ish. I’ve updated it over the years.  Gear changes, and some items no longer become available.   If anything, the equipment has become correspondingly better for the price. Lighter, too.

I also tried to get items that aren’t one-off and can reasonably get purchased in the next year or two.  Lucky one-offs aren’t going to be very consistent for this article.  For example, I once saw a $5, 300 wt Patagonia fleece in a thrift store. I would have a hard time finding this item again. On the other hand, I can pretty consistently find Ultralite Frogg Toggs for ~$20 a pair without too much hassle.

This list is not definitive but rather a way for someone to get out backpacking and enjoy themselves. Take what works from the list and apply it for your use. The point of this little exercise is not to get hung up on gear, but rather to get OUT and ENJOY yourself. It is a misnomer that you need a lot of money to backpack.  And the best way to learn about backpacking is not discussing gear online or going to gear sales but is actually to get out there. 🙂

To emphasize, I also think this list works as an excellent minimalist list. While a Home Depot tarp is not the choice of shelter for all, it is not functionally different from a DCF tarp.  In other words, as you have more money or different preferences, you can easily swap in a “better” piece of equipment without changing the basics of the list itself.

Note this 2021 list comes in at under 15 pounds and $290 total!  If you still want to keep within the budget (more or less), considering some of the UPGRADE items listed at the bottom of the article. The sleeping bag, in particular, will be the biggest-bang-for-the-buck.  The Frugal Deluxe List comes in at just under 10 lbs for a complete three-season kit for just over $400.  Works well for something such as the Appalachian Trail with frequent resupplies, small water carries, and well-defined tread.

Happy Trails!

–Paul Mags

Updated Jan 2021    Now with a Frugal Deluxe Kit for 9.5 lbs and just over $400. 

Have more money than time? Want something a bit of a step up? Check out The Budget Backpacker – A complete gear list for a little over $800 that is light, functional, and easily assembled.  Or perhaps you are looking for a multi-purpose kit? Something for day hiking, base camping, three-season plus backpacking/mild winter, trail work, and maybe even day use snowshoeing? Check out the Jack of All Trades kit. Perfect for when money, time, and space is limited…but when multiple outdoor activities get desired.

THE SUB-$300 GEAR LIST

.

HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY? Consider the Frugal Deluxe Kit

With the full list coming in under $300, you still have some room to purchase some better gear.

One possible upgrade, but with a caveat, is the pack. An external frame pack works well on trails but is admittedly old-school. The 3F UL Pack is $72 (with a coupon),  ~32 ounces total, and is available. Via AliExpress.   The pack has received some good reviews. You will come in at just over $300 and with a kit weighing in at 12.5 lbs.  Pretty darn impressive. However, not everyone wants to use frameless packs. YMMV.

An even less expensive model, and one you’ll want to swap out the bag, is the Modase 40L mentioned by many since I updated the list in 2019.  The pack works best for a weekend or so use or something such as the Appalachian Trail with its well-defined tread, ample water, and frequent re-supply.  If you adhere to this minimalist list and swap in a lighter bag option too, you have a sub-10 lbs base pack weight and just over $400!  Awesome…

The other three things you want to upgrade?  In my opinion, I’d update the sleeping bag, the stove, and the shelter.

• The sleeping bag is the item I’d suggest upgrading when you can. What I suggested is perfectly fine for beginners use. As mentioned, I used a similar Campmor bag for my initial forays, including fall backpacks in New England.  However, I’d upgrade to a better bag that is lighter and less bulky if you have the funds. If you purchase a good but affordable bag, you’ll only be a little over the $300 limit and have a very good overall kit, in my opinion.
  • The Kelty Cosmic down can still be found used for about $120 online on eBay.
  •  The Kelty down bags are EN rated and generally true to temperature.  The total cost would be ~$400 with this one upgrade. The weight would be slightly less.   
  • Additionally, if you are willing to try out quilts, the Econ Burrow 30F quilt for $160 at 24 oz is an excellent bang-for-the-buck piece of kit for three-season use.
• The alcohol stove is a good budget choice. But with increasing open flame bans in the American West and even in the Appalachians in the recent past, an alcohol stove may not be the right choice for all situations and environments.   You can purchase a decent canister stove for ~$8 and 3oz of a weight penalty. Long term use seems to be rather good based on reviews.

.

• A tarp may not be the best or most straightforward choice for most beginners.  I think tarps are better than most less expensive double-wall tents (space, ventilation, and weathering storms) but require a bit more practice and skill than most beginners may have.
  • AliExpress and similar now have some budget tents that have received decent reviews.  This NatureHike CloupUp2 tent available on eBay or Amazon is a Big Agnes clone for a little over three pounds and $120.  Less weight if the poles and fly get taken only. Makes a spacious shelter for one. Considering the blue tarp setup is ~$20 but the same weight, this tent is $100  difference overall.
  • I’ve had multiple readers now (including the comments below) mention the  River Country Products One-Person Tent.  A $39, two-pound tent. Not too bad!
  • Nature Hike sells RidgeRest and Z-lite clones; also, if you need more comfortable padding with better R-Value. I used the Z-lite clone successfully on multiple hikes.   NatureHikes sells many other designs “borrowed” from others.  The ethics of purchasing something that is obviously directly copied from another manufacturer is another ball of wax…

In summary of the Frugal Deluxe Kit, swap in the above:

• Modase 40L pack
• Econ Burrow 30F quilt
• Z-Lite Clone from AliExpress (cut down)
• Generic Canister stove
• River Country Products One-Person Tent 
• …and I’d swap out the FrogTogg pants and get some  Body Wrapper Dancing Pants for $18 and 3.5 oz.  I used them for years and work well for all but the harshest (cold) rains and bushwhacking combo.

With this Frugal Deluxe Kit, you have a sub-10lb base pack weight that comes in at just over $400.  Works well for something such as on-trail weekends or even the Appalachian Trail with frequent resupplies, small water carries, and well-defined tread.

• Other items to consider:
• 
  
  • Have a Costco membership or a friend who does? Some pretty good carbon fiber trekking poles you can buy for ~$30. 
  • Like the idea of a tarping? But want something lighter? The Equinox Tarp is only ~$100 and ~14 oz for an 8×10 tarp.  I used this model on the PCT and still use it on occasion. There are “better,” but you can’t beat the price for something this light and functional.
  • Lots of good budget items of various quality (the Z-Lite clone is good; the sleeping bag has very mixed reviews) from this link found on the UL subreddit originally. Some of the links are outdated. This AliExpress specific link is more frequently updated and has a lot of goodies, too.
  • What no phone or battery bank listed????  If a person uses this beginners list, what phone to bring is not the most critical item or how to charge a phone. I’ll bring my phone on weekend trips as I recognize the utility. However, I never carry a charging bank during short trips. And I assume many beginner weekend hikers are in this category, too.  CalTopo now has an app for Android in the Beta phase that looks promising, however.

   

• And Finally…

Since I’ve published this article, I occasionally get lightly admonished because I am suggesting gear that is not ideal, and people will upgrade anyway. Well, here’s the thing. Way back in 1996 and 1997 my I carried items not too different from the above gear.  I learned enough to not use cotton blue jeans and a sweatshirt, but otherwise used what I had at home.

I used an external frame pack as I could not afford the $400 in today’s money for a pack (pre-small pack manufacturer days!). The old Campmor sleeping bag kept me warm well into the New Hampshire Fall. And I wish I knew about the liner jacket! I used an old acrylic sweater instead and a windbreaker.  But I did just fine.  I made an A-frame with a tarp. Or borrowed my buddy Tim’s Eureka tent with fiberglass poles that probably weighed seven-pounds.  :O The AliExpress specials would have been far better!  My stove was one I now use for truck bivys.  And my cookpot was a castoff Mom let me borrow for trips. Polypro served me well as recently as 2010 or so.

You get the idea. I was warm, dry, had fun, and became addicted to the outdoors in all kinds of weather.  With gear worse, heavier, or possibly bulkier than what I have listed above! Sure, when I saved more money and knew what worked for me, I bought “better” gear. But if I had waited to save money to buy “better” equipment, I may never have gone outdoors in the first place. It is more important that people get outside with functional gear that works rather than the latest Internet Dogpark Walking Gear Guru says you should have and then wait until you have the funds to buy it.

A photo from my first solo trip:

That’s all that mattered to me. Not what imperfect gear I used to get there. And the equipment listed above is far better than what I initially used. 🙂

Notes:    

• The FREE designation is for items around a typical household
• The weight and prices do not include consumables like food or fuel.
• Or taxes, but typically does include S&H.
• Maps are something you need but are very much trip dependent. CalTopois an excellent website for printing out maps.
• Campmor is an online store with everything for reasonable prices!
•   Sierra Trading Post will have name brand gear on clearance
•   eBay will often have bargains on name brand and generic goods
• Amazon has an incredible amount of outdoor goodies and clothing. If you (or a friend) have Amazon Prime, that helps a bit, too.
• AliExpress and similar outlets now have some decent starter gear that is lightweight, inexpensive, and functional.
• Don’t be afraid to buy used! Whiteblaze.com, Backpackinglight.com, Craig’s List, Facebook groups, Reddit /r/GeatTrade, etc. have some excellent deals at times
•  You may very well have some equipment already (clothing items like hats, gloves, jackets, etc.).
•  This list will require some leg work on your part: buying the gear and clothing on sale. The winter type clothing is often sold cheaply during hunting season in XYZMart stores. Many ski stores and big-box sporting good stores (e.g., Dick’s) will see the stuff cheap at the end of the winter. The same goes with XYZMarts as well when they are bringing in their Spring clothing.    Don’t be afraid to bargain shop!
•  Other places to bargain hunt are www.rei-outlet.com, thrift stores, local stores having sales, yard sales, used sporting goods stores, and classified ads.
•  This list does not have the lightest or the best gear but will get the beginner outdoors fairly comfortably in prime summer weather. Biased towards Colorado hiking. Other areas can get away with a  lighter bag (for example)
•  This gear will let a beginner be reasonably comfortable on their first trips. As the beginners gain more experience (or money), they will want to go out for longer trips.  A beginner should buy and adjust their gear accordingly as experience, comfort levels, and preferences dictate.
• Though this is a bargain list, it is also a minimalist list. A better pack, sleeping bag, shelter, etc., within the list framework, will still leave you with a lightweight list with no extras. In other words, this is an excellent list to build upon for lightweight backpacking in general, I think. Part of lightweight backpacking is not so much what you take; but instead, it is what you do not take.

• You can also read more about Dirt Bagging here and more info on getting the quality gear on the cheap here. Finally, some of these other articles may be of interest.