The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge

 

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 good amount.

The inspiration for this list came as a result of 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 not only use the list as a starting point, but the 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.

On this list also include 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 are based on experience and not theory.

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

This list should suffice for most 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 be found in the next year or two at least.  Lucky one-offs aren’t going to be very consistent for the purpose of this article.  As an example, I once found 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 a definitive list, 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 than a DCF tarp either.  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 2019 list comes in at under 15 pounds and $280 total!  If you still want to keep within in 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.

Happy Trails!

–Paul Mags

Updated Jan 2019

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 want to be done.

THE SUB-$300 GEAR LIST

CATEGORY	ITEM	COST	WEIGHT IN OZ	WHERE	NOTES
Pack and Accessories	External Frame Pack	$30	56	E-Bay or used sports store	The old warrior still works. A good quality external can be bought used for little money. And they aren’t really all that heavy.
	Trash Bag for a pack liner	Free	0.625	In House	Normal household item
Sub-Total		$30	56.625
Shelter	8′ x 10′ Blue Poly Tarp	$5	40	Hardware Store	Tarps work well if set up correctly. Great link for tarp setup here.
	6 Gutter Nails	$6	3	Hardware store	Dirtbagger favorite that works well.
	Para Cord	$4	1	Outfitter	Most outfitters or hardware stores will cut down webbing and rope to size.
	3 mil Painters Drop Cloth	$4	6	Hardware Store
	Mosquito Netting	$7	4	Amazon
Sub-total		$26	54
Sleeping	Blue Foam Pad	$10	10	XYZMart Camping section
	Teton Sports 20F Bag	$50	46	Amazon	Synthetic bag and bulky.  But good enough to use w/o breaking the budget. I used a similar bag from Campmor back in the day in the New England Fall! Teton gear has been making some decent budget options.
	Garbage Bag	Free	0.625	In Kitchen
Sub-total		$64	56.625
Cooking	Stanco Grease Pot	$10	3.7	Amazon	Basic cook pot for one person
	Cat Food Can Stove	0.5	0.3	Pet Store	Easy to make. Light. Works as a pot stand. If there are burn bans, you’ll need to use something different.  See below.
	Aluminum Foil Windscreen	Free	1	Kitchen	Fold over some foil to make a basic windscreen
	Ziplock Bag	Free	.375 oz	Kitchen	For spoon, lighter, toothbrush and toothpaste
	20 oz Mtn Dew Bottle	$1.50	.125 oz	Quicky Mart	For fuel. I like Mountain Dew bottles as the green color sticks out.
	Lexan Spoon	$1.00	0.375	Outfitter
	Lighter	$1.00	0.5	Quicky Mart
	Toothbrush	Free	0.25	Bathroom	At least I hope you have one! 😉
Sub Total		$10	6.625
Hydration	(2) 1 qt. Sport Drink Bottles	$2	2.25	Grocery Store	Comes with a drink!
	Potable Aqua	$7	0.8	Outfitter	I still use these. Don’t mind the taste. 🙂
Sub Total		$9	3.15
Clothing	M-65 Liner jacket (eBay link)	$12	12	Surplus Store	Light, warm and cheap. Wear it under a rain jacket.
	Frogg Toggs UL rain suit	$16	12	Amazon, Dick’s, Wally World or similar.	Good for on-trail backpacking, not so much for off-trail. The jacket works surprisingly well. The pants need some TLC otherwise, you may accidentally rip them. The jacket runs large!
	Cool Max Running Socks	$8	1.5 oz	Target	Three per package. Good bargain! I love C9 clothing.
	ECWCS Layer 1 thermals, silk weight.	$33	10	MilSurplus on eBay	Cheap and effective.
	Fleece Beanie	$3	1.125	Home Depot in season	Your standard warm hat. Nothing fancy.
	Fleece Gloves	$7	3	Home Depot in Season	Basic gloves for warmth. Often found near the checkout aisle during winter.
	Garbage Bag	Free	0.375	Kitchen	A waterproof stuff sack for your clothing!
Subtotal		$70	40
First Aid Kit	Ibuprofen	Free	1	Bathroom	Just a basic kit for moderate emergencies, aches, and pains
	(4) 4×4 Gauze Pads	Free	0.375	Bathroom	Duct tape, bandannas, etc. works as first aid items as well
	Ziplock	Free	<.125	Bathroom
	(5) Band-aids	Free	<.125	Bathroom
Subtotal		Free	1.375
Misc	Generic Head Lamp	$3	3	Amazon	Basic headlamp. Nothing fancy. Works well enough!
	Bandanna	$2	0.375	Any outfitter	Basic, all-purpose piece of clothing. It does it all!
	T/P	Free	2	Bathroom
	Purrell	$3	2.25	Drugstore	Buy the trial size
	Ziplock	Free	0.25	Free	Use a larger sized one for all the misc items
Sub Total		$8	8 oz
Total Base Packweight and Cost		$235	227 oz/ or ~14lbs
Equipment on Self	65/35 Poly-Cotton Dress Shirt	Free	6.125	Closet	A little cotton is OK esp if you have the appropriate warm layers. Honest. 🙂 I like long sleeves for sun and bug protection
	Nylon Running shorts	Free	3.75	Closet	Most people have some sort of work out shorts
	C9 Running socks	Already bought	1.5
	Boonie Hat	$12	3.5	Surplus Store	Basic sun and rain protection
	Swiss Army Knife Classic	$15	0.625	Outfitter	All you really need…
	Used ski poles with duct tape around the handle	$10	16	Thrift store or used sporting goods store	Duct tape is for EVERYTHING! Ski poles help with hiking and tarp set up.
	Running Shoes	Free	30	Closet	Assuming most people have a pair for workouts
	Compass	$10	1	Outfitter	A basic compass is fine. Silva 1-2-3 or similar works well.
	Sunglasses	Free	1	Probably on the dash of your car right now!
Total weight and cost “on self”		$46	63.500 / 3.970 lbs
TOTAL COST		$280

HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY?

With the total 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 $53,  ~32 ounces total, and is avail. 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.

The three things you may 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 falls 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 for $120 online on eBay or REI.  The Kelty down bags are EN rated and generally true to temperature.  The total cost would be ~$400 with this one upgrade. Weight would be slightly less.
• 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 a good choice for all situations and environments.   For ~$8 and 3oz of a weight penalty, a decent canister stove can be bought. Long term use seems to be rather good based on reviews.

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• A tarp may not be the best or easiest choice for most beginners.  I think tarps are better than most less expensive double-wall tents (space, ventilation, and weathering storms), but does 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 avail on eBay or Amazon is a Big Agnes clone for a little over three pounds and $90.  Less weight if the poles and fly are taken only. Makes a spacious shelter for one. Considering the blue tarp setup is ~$20, but the same weight, this tent is only an ~$70 difference overall.   Nature Hike also sells RidgeRest and Z-lite clones, too if more comfortable padding is needed 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…

If these three items are obtained, the total cost is now ~$500. The overall weight is slightly less. 

• Other items to consider:
• 
  
  • Have a Costco membership or a friend who does? Some pretty good carbon fiber trekking poles can be bought 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 is using 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…

• Over the years since I’ve published this article, I’ve been 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” gear, I may never have gone outdoors in the first place.I think it is more important that people get outside with functional gear that works rather than what 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 good 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. 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 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 what 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 quality gear on the cheap here. Finally, some of these other articles may be of interest.