Acquiring gear, on the cheap

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
(Probably better called 'emergency' gear)

I was goofing around the apartment yesterday and found the remnants of my girlfriend's 'spring cleaning'. She had sorted through her makeup case to throw out what she didn't want, and threw some in the garbage. I had told her to save anything with a mirror, but you know girls...

So I happened upon a compact she ditched (I had to ask her what you call those things just now, I swear) and pulled the mirror out of it. Free is good for a mirror considering the ones in the camping aisle are usually $5-$7. This one will of course lack that little 'spotting' hole, but there are ways around that.

I've now got a very compact spare mirror for kits for nuthin. I also went ahead and epoxied it to the back of a sharpening plate, both to keep two things in one place and to provide support for the mirror.

Anyone else got particularly good places/methods to find 'free' gear?
 
awesome man, I am gonna keep my eyes peeled for one my wife ditches! Its gonna be hilairious to see suvivalists looting the makeup isle at wally world.

I once had a buddy bring me 35.mm film cans from the shool picture factory here in sedalia they were tossing. These were for big rolls spliced together, nice tins.
 
If nothing else, activities like that makes you think about alternate uses for stuff. That comes in really handy when you need to McGuyver your way out of a situation. My dad is a master of doing that. I'm trying to pick up the skill.
 
a compact she ditched (I had to ask her what you call those things just now, I swear)
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Suuuuuure. Well, if nothing else at least you know how to accessorize for the woods, Spooky!:p Just keep some blaze orange lipstick and you'll be fine.
 
I'm constantly on the lookout for little zippered bags for gear bags, or tins for...whatever I can stow in them...
 
I have mik crates loaded with empty tyleno bottles and altoids tins, scraps of leather from the mrs. discarded purses. coffe cans....Hell I have a blow tube made from a broken radio antenna and some oxygen tubing. One persons trash is another persons treasure.
 
Spooky, since you brought up the idea of your 'girlfriend's' :rolleyes: salvagable trash, a mirror in particular, something that should be considered, especially if you hike alone, is a magnifying mirror (often used for applying makeup). Very useful if you get something in your eye and there's nobody along to help you remove it.

Rockywolf: I'm constantly on the lookout for little zippered bags for gear bags, ...
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Pencil cases from dollar stores are a good resource for this.

Another thing I scrounge is empty, large metal coffee cans. I put the word out at work for anybody that buys their coffee this way. Quite a few companies have switched to plastic cans and they wouldn't make very good hobo stoves. :(

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Spooky, since you brought up the idea of your 'girlfriend's' :rolleyes: salvagable trash, a mirror in particular, something that should be considered, especially if you hike alone, is a magnifying mirror (often used for applying makeup). Very useful if you get something in your eye and there's nobody along to help you remove it.

Doc
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Be honest Doc - you are just looking for black heads before you head out on Friday night dressed in Paris Hilton's finest couture.

It is okay man... we still love you.

TF
 
I find the best way to get free gear is to just to keep my eyes open and be nice to people. :)

My freinds who know I am into outdoors have given me tons of gear over the last couple of years. 7 boxes of .45 ammo, 20 boxes .22 ammo, three lanterns, two stoves, a case of butane canisters for my pack stove, fishing poles tackle boxes, and a dozen or so knives. a few bags and packs etc.

Not everything is a gem, some need work, but i always take the stuff, if i can fix it and use it I do, if i dont need it i pass it along to someone who needs it more.

I am also not above dumpster diving or stopping to check a roadside pile if something catches my eye.
 
When we have spring cleaning week here there are hundreds of people who toss out lots of usefull stuff- coolers, lanterns, tool boxes, fishing equipment, bikes, among other things.
 
j williams said:
Doc, are those pencil pouches watertight? I seen em, but never tried one out...
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No sir, I don't believe they are, but they are handy for keeping small stuff organized. I use a couple in my tool box for meter leads, jumper wires, etc.

Talfuchre: Be honest Doc - you are just looking for black heads before you head out on Friday night dressed in Paris Hilton's finest couture.
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And just for the record, that would include panties!

Doc
 
Where I live there are a series of Mennonite run thrift stores in all the small towns around here. They have have been a gold mine for clothes, jackets and stuff for camping-car etc.
Latest $5 find was a brand new zip off sleeve safari like jacket with many pockets, inside cargo pocket, hood etc. It is tossed, loaded, in the car for trips now it is warmer. Other things I have got cheap include packs, snowshoes and various duffelbags. Also candles, 2 nearly new 7" HQ Carbon steel butcher knives, sewing materials, including a machine, leather handbags for the leather, canning jars, and the list goes on.Worn hockey stick trimmed makes a great hiking staff for my son. Someone's quality camera case replaced the flimsy nylon one that came with my small waterproof binos for 50 cents.. I am always dropping in to see what can be got cheap or modified.
Maybe this isn't quite in topic, but if any of other forumites have shops like these in their area take a look.













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