Camping, paddling, and hiking should be fun, not a
financial burden. If you’re a hardcore 20-30-40 mile per day long distance hiker,
by all means, get the best of the best. Weekend warriors need not let high
priced gear dampen our spirits. It’s possible to enjoy the great outdoors
without spending a fortune.
Make a Plan
Start by deciding what you’re looking for, and keep these items
always in mind. You never know when you’re going to run into just what you
needed at just the right price. Shopping
at the last minute is expensive.
Give gear shopping time, put the word out about your high priority items. More
eyes and ears to the street, means more opportunities for a better deal.
Check at Discount and low cost retailers
Danskin tee shirt and shorts. |
That said, one must be careful with discount retailers. Your
backpacking tent for wilderness adventures should be of appropriate quality to
weather the storm. Your footwear must stand up to rugged terrain. My daughter
decided she wanted to give trekking poles a try this summer. Not knowing
whether she’d really use them, we started her out on cheapies from Walmart. The
first pole broke less than a mile into her first hike with it.
Use What Works
Use what works. In college, I hiked in the rain with a garbage bag over my pack rather than an
expensive backpack cover. On this note, as a college student I even used a shower
curtain whose eyelets had torn out as a ground cloth in a pinch. That said, too
cheap, is too cheap. In my efforts to be frugal, I’ve sometimes gone overboard
and paid the price.
Don’t Buy Unsuitable Gear in Your Efforts to be Frugal
Years ago as a newbie, I found myself invited on a backpacking trip in
the San Juan National Forest. I couldn’t afford the trip. To make the money work,
I bought a twenty dollar tent at Walmart. A foolish, foolish mistake.
The tent proved unsuitable for three season backpacking.
There I was on the Continental Divide trail at about 9,500 feet shivering in my
soaked sleeping bag with puddles of water all around me. It rained hard, then
snowed that night. Somehow I even managed to get chunks of slush in the water
puddles that filled my tent.
Buy on Clearance, Close Out, and Out of Season
What did I do prior to my next backpacking adventure? I
bought a backpacking tent on close out from REI. I bagged a then $249 tent for
around $90. Through high winds, storms, and temperatures that dipped below
freezing, that tent has kept me unfailingly dry and comfortable. It remains a great little tent 25 years later.
How did I approach the purchase? I decided upon my specs (must
be compact and weigh less than two pounds, and hold up in
three season winds, rains, and cold). I waited until I found a close out model
out of season, and got a great deal. In the interim, I borrowed a tent from a
friend.
Buy it Once, Not Twice
Understanding return policies before shopping can save you from being stuck with gear that doesn't work for you. What if you buy
gear, use it on a trip, and it fails? Or you find out you just plain made a bad
choice. Knowing the vendor’s return policy may just save you from buying the
same item twice. R.E.I., for example, stands behind everything they sell. With
their 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can return items if you decide you don’t
like them for up to a year.
I once bought a pair of hiking shoes at R.E.I. With a hiking
trip drawing near, I wore them around the house to start breaking them in. The
more I wore them, the more uncomfortable they became. Although I brought them
home, held onto them for a few weeks, and wore them, I was able to
return the shoes. I found a more comfortable pair of shoes on sale, so I ended
up with $30 of the refund returned to my pocket and a better pair of shoes to
hike in.
Make Your Own Backpacking Meals
Home cooked dehydrated spaghetti sauce. |
Buy Used
Buy used. Garage sales, Craig’s List, and E-Bay are good
sources for great deals. Get on a backpacking or paddling forum and put the
word out on the gear you’re looking for. You may be able to save money buying
used.
Newbies, Rent or Borrow if Possible
Getting ready to head out on your first big canoe tripping
or backpacking adventure? The experts (authors and salespeople) will direct you
to tons of equipment. You may find yourself spending thousands of dollars
gearing up for a trip. What if you go on the trip and find out it is
something you never want to do again? Then what?
New backpackers might consider renting or borrowing gear.
Only by using gear and learning what works poorly or well for you, will you
truly know what you personally want and value. It’s always better to buy once
you understand what you want and need. If this is not possible, spend away and
learn from your mistakes. I must admit, in the past mistakes have often been my
best teachers.
Final Thoughts
With your new, used, begged, and borrowed gear in hand, do a
shakedown trip. Take your new gear car camping. Better yet, go backpacking where the
walk to camp is only a short mile or two from the car. Find out how your gear
works in a low stress, easy bailout situation with spare supplies stashed in
the car if needed. This will allow you to work out gear challenges in a low
stress environment. Return or exchange gear that doesn't work for you. Once you’ve tested your gear, gear melt downs become far
less likely to hamper your outdoor enjoyment.
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