Cost of equipment

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XSrcing

Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
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The cost decent camping equipment is absurd. Most people can't/won't go out every weekend so justifying $100 on a poncho that you can sleep under seems absurd. $200 for a bivvy? No thanks. I've been looking around this and other campin/backpacking/survival forums and some people carry over $1000 worth of gear for a weekend camping trip! I love being outdoors. Hell, I moved from Dallas, TX to the Pacific Northwest specifically for that reason. But I almost never go camping without a car because I simply cannot afford the gear.

Another thing that irks me on this and many forums is the elitism. People will only recommend the top of the line equipment and will often look down on someone for using something lesser that is in their price range. This is not the thread for that.

I know there is some equipment that should you should not cut corners on for the sake of personal safety, so that is not what I am discussing.

Now that I'm done ranting, why don't we start a thread based solely on gear that someone on, say, a college student's budget could obtain? Or better yet, things they can make from inexpensive items?

Sorry for sounding so irritated, but I just saw the price for a hammock that was over $500 and it didn't include a scantily clad woman serving you drinks with little umbrellas in them.
 
If you look around you can find decent gear for relatively low prices. I was once in your shoes - poor college student with kids - so I know how you feel.

You can often find good stuff for cheap on ebay. Used gear often has a lot of life left in it. If you want to buy new gear, here are a few suggestions:

Tents - look at Eureka and Kelty for quality that does not cost an arm and a leg. And if that is too expensive, start with the small tents at Walmart, they may be heavier but you can get a few years out of them before they start to fail.

Bags - Again, look at Walmart. Heavier, but they work, you can find a 20 degree bag for under $50 without any difficulty. And if you watch for sales at local outdoors stores, or periodically check closeouts at places like REI or Campmor, you can do very well. I got a 20 degree North Face bag (Trinity) at a local store for $49 on sale, and it weighs 2lb 13oz.

Same thing for packs, look at the less expensive offerings by Kelty, Jansport, etc.

Just look around, it can be done. I know that on a budget you can't outfit all at once, but do it over time. I have done that, and it took years to get the gear that I now have (admittedly out of your range, but I make that point that it tooks years).
 
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Hmmm, whenever I'm out for a weekend backpacking I think what a cheap hobby it is. You buy most of the gear once in a long while. Sure it could be a big upfront cost if you start with nothing and you're not working. Anyway, I have a different perspective.
 
I guess it depends on what you want and what you're doing. Definitely as the weather gets nastier, you need to spend more money.

Anyway, for summer camping (read: warm), there's a tarp and hammock setup described at hammock forums. It weighs 13oz, and costs $360. From my research, that should keep you cozy down to about 60 degrees. After that, you'll need to add some bottom insulation to it. Many people get along with ground pads put underneath them in the hammock. The trend, though, is to use underquilts which are like sleeping bags but hang under the hammock to keep cold air from circulating below you. If you want to buy one, it'll cost about $250 and up. If you want to make one yourself, you can probably do the job for around $100.

Is all of that too much money? Well, I just read an article (can't find it back) by a guy who manufactures a sleeping tube out of a couple of large trash bags and duct tape. If it's raining when he wants to go to bed, he just throws his sleeping bag in there and accepts being a bit wet. At the end of the trip, he throws the garbage bags away and then starts all over again for his next trip.

For something sturdier, there are many, many people who think all you need is a US Army poncho tent. You can find them at your local Army Surplus store. Price varies depending on the store, but I'm sure it's affordable on a college student's income.

Also look for US Army surplus external frame backpacks. They'll probably cost less than anything else you can find in the backpacking market.
 
There are several ways of viewing this problem. I know guys who go on extended backpacking trips 20-30 times per year and they have some really nice gear. But they use it quite a bit so it is worth it to them.

John Muir hiked all over the Sierras in street clothes with a knapsack containing bacon, biscuits and a bedroll.

I still use a heavy Vietnam era sleeping bag, GI poncho and a backpack I bought on sale. I'm cheap when it comes to gear, I'd rather spend it on knives I guess. It really depends on what you are doing, how often you can get out there and how extended your trips are. But my point is there is no way you need to spend a lot to enjoy the woods by any means.
 
Paris Hilton. She will serve you the drinks -- I don't know about the little umbrellas but I hear she likes Coke. And she can afford that $500 hammock for ya, too!

I think there's room here for the basics, the gear that gets the job done, rolls up in a cheap duffel, and leaves you money to spend on food besides. We talk about knives like Moras, sometimes, and with so many new knifemakers, even custom work -- real custom: your specs, their skills -- isn't too expensive.

Looking for a few good suppliers helps. Sportsman's Guide, Cheaper Than Dirt. Check out the dealers here on BF for good deals and discounts. You definitely do not need the greatest and best to have a good time outdoors. Just realize that some of the high-end is available for a reason. There are people who spend serious time under difficult conditions, and need to give themselves that extra edge.
 
XSrcing said:
The cost decent camping equipment is absurd. Most people can't/won't go out every weekend so justifying $100 on a poncho that you can sleep under seems absurd. $200 for a bivvy? No thanks. I've been looking around this and other campin/backpacking/survival forums and some people carry over $1000 worth of gear for a weekend camping trip! I love being outdoors. Hell, I moved from Dallas, TX to the Pacific Northwest specifically for that reason. But I almost never go camping without a car because I simply cannot afford the gear.

Another thing that irks me on this and many forums is the elitism. People will only recommend the top of the line equipment and will often look down on someone for using something lesser that is in their price range. This is not the thread for that.

I know there is some equipment that should you should not cut corners on for the sake of personal safety, so that is not what I am discussing.

Now that I'm done ranting, why don't we start a thread based solely on gear that someone on, say, a college student's budget could obtain? Or better yet, things they can make from inexpensive items?

Sorry for sounding so irritated, but I just saw the price for a hammock that was over $500 and it didn't include a scantily clad woman serving you drinks with little umbrellas in them.
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I think that you are mischaracterizing this forum. For every thread that features an expensive item of gear, there are three or four where people talk about things they have made themselves. For every thread that sings the praises of a high-end production or a nice custom knife, there are threads about the humble Mora and the virtues of a SAK. I just don't see the elitism you are describing. None of the regular W&SS crowd would push a newcomer towards high-end gear just for the sake of it. Nobody is looked down upon for posting a trip report featuring entry-level gear. There is a whole thread about people carving their own spoons.

Gear can be expensive. Very expensive. It often doesn't have to be, though. And when looking at an item of gear that will see regular use, you have to weigh initial cost against durability. I found the initial cost of my camp stove to be pretty steep, but it's still working fine six years later. I probably would have had to replace a cheaper stove in that timeframe. If I wanted to, I could make a coffee can stove instead.

There is no need to own high-speed, low-drag gear like $200 ponchos to get some trail time. Some people invest in these things and enjoy them, but plenty of us make do with cheaper gear.

I would really enjoy reading and contributing to a thread about budget W&SS gear. But I don't want to see a good community of helpful people characterized as elitist.

All the best,

- Mike
 
some great replies here, ebay is your friend, and don't forget craigslist...I've gotten some great items for a fraction of the price. Secondhand is new to you! Also, work your googlefu, there are some hidden gems and sales out there that happen everyday! My first tent was a target brand, and it's still going strong (needed a minor repair, but that was due to loaning it to a careless in-law. Keep your eyes open, and your feet on the trail! Good luck!
 
Hate to say it (as I am on a college student's budget), but you often get what you pay for in gear- and you pay for how roughly you treat it. As an example, a very good (but maybe not waterproof and up to ultralight hikers' standards) sleeping bag can be had for $120-$200 and if properly maintained will last many years, barring very heavy use or accidents.

Gear that has won some editor's choice or similar publicity will often cost more than it should, because people will buy it despite the price.

What is bad is when you're trying to buy a full set of gear all at the same time- like I have been. You can buy cheap now, but if you decide to upgrade in only a year or two, you've lost money over buying the "upgrade" from the get-go.

A recommendation is to hunt ebay, amazon, and other sites for sales, and don't be afraid of very lightly used gear that someone decided to sell. The lifetime will be effectively the same in your care as if it were new.

-I use a Coleman Fyrestorm Titanium stove. MSRP is $220. It cost me $100 from ebay, new in the box via a liquidator. It'll burn gasoline, which is about the cheapest fuel out there.

-I just caught a full Big Agnes (which is a costy brand, but well made) Seedhouse SL1 tent for $70 under the MSRP on ebay, then found the footprint and gear loft for 20% off both with free shipping from another site. The footprint costs a lot for what it is, but will do wonders for the lifetime of the tent- a worthy investment in the long run. I expect to be using it for quite a few years given how well the larger model I own has held up over the last 4 years.

- Not camping gear specifically, but I bought spare Li-ion batteries for my Panasonic camera from amazon. The two were listed under used, but turned out to be "opened package, never used." They cost less than 1/3 the MSRP and were several dollars cheaper each than the cheapest new ones I could find.

I do have one reccomendation for specific gear: Jansport's carson external frame backpack is cheap and nigh-indestructible. I've been using a carson 90 tall for at least 8 years. It has never failed me. I think you can pick up the regular model for only $80.
 
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Aaand, to add something substantive:

Tarps can be expensive, especially if you want lightweight ones. An alternative is to purchase a large waterproof tent footprint for an outdated tent model. Outfitters sometimes keep a few of these around and sell them off on the cheap once the tent has been replaced by a new model. I picked up a large and lightweight footprint at the beginning of the summer, and it served me well through the season. It came with eyelets and tie-down straps, and cost less than $30 - not a bad deal, IMHO.

All the best,

- Mike
 
It's all around my friend, you just have to open your mind and see the gear through the woods. I used to use $400 hiking boots, $300 backpacks, $500 sleeping bag and so on and so on. I much prefer the "tactical" looking gear now and it serves me much better when playing in the mountains. $100 Maxpedition backpack, $80 5.11 Tactical boots, $50 North face sleeping bag from eBay and so on. Trust me, it's all there.

Also, depending on what your doing or where your going, your life will depend on your equipment, it's ok to save a few dollars but what's your life worth?

If I can help you out I will gladly do so, contact me and we'll see what you need and what we can do for you.

Stay safe my friend.

-Tim
 
XSrcing said:
The cost decent camping equipment is absurd. Most people can't/won't go out every weekend so justifying $100 on a poncho that you can sleep under seems absurd. $200 for a bivvy? No thanks. I've been looking around this and other campin/backpacking/survival forums and some people carry over $1000 worth of gear for a weekend camping trip! I love being outdoors. Hell, I moved from Dallas, TX to the Pacific Northwest specifically for that reason. But I almost never go camping without a car because I simply cannot afford the gear.

Another thing that irks me on this and many forums is the elitism. People will only recommend the top of the line equipment and will often look down on someone for using something lesser that is in their price range. This is not the thread for that.

I know there is some equipment that should you should not cut corners on for the sake of personal safety, so that is not what I am discussing.

Now that I'm done ranting, why don't we start a thread based solely on gear that someone on, say, a college student's budget could obtain? Or better yet, things they can make from inexpensive items?

Sorry for sounding so irritated, but I just saw the price for a hammock that was over $500 and it didn't include a scantily clad woman serving you drinks with little umbrellas in them.
Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from. You are on the frontend of your lifetime earnings curve. I am on the backend of mine. Cost is a major consideration for me in buying outdoor gear. A five hunderd dollar sleeping bag? A $300 pack?

If I had a prepaid credit line for $3,000, I could easily spend it in a day on camping and backpacking gear buying all the latest and greatest stuff. But I don't have, So I have been picking up one piece at a time when I have the spare cash and run across a deal. Like the Marmot sleeping bag I got on eBay for about $30 to replace the one I got from a second hand store (new) for $8.

It does take some patience and willingness to hit yard sales, flea markets, Craigslist, eBay, etc., but there are some excellent deals out there on mid-level equipment and closeouts or used top of the line stuff. You may go through a lot of dirt cheap make-do stuff before you get your gear list like you want it, but it won't keep you from getting out there in the meantime.

And the gearheads with disposable income frequently sell their almost new but out of style gear at half of retail or less. You can also post your own "want to buy" ads on this and most other outdoor sites.
 
Many forums are about people convincing themselves, by convincing others that their top-line gear is worth what they payed for it. What I see here is people celebrating getting outside despite having a limited budget, either in time or money. The guys with moras post along side the guys who have high dollar productions, and customs. In many ways I wonder why I've spent as much as I have on gear, especially now that most of it will go into storage as I won't be shipping it around the world. maybe I'm a bit of a hoarder as I can't bring myself to get rid of some of it. I'm convinced that someday I'll use it.
My advice, decide what you need to have a safe and good time, then go figure out how to fit it into your budget. Maybe you'll find more gear at home-depot than REI but it will be your gear, how you want it, more custom than anything from a catalog. You'll be amazed how easy some DYI gear is to make!
 
As mentioned, military surplus gear is a route many people take for budget gear. Craigslist, thrift stores, and the local buy+sell can be great resources as well. No need to spend $200 on a poncho you can use as a tarp, I can get milsurp ponchos(with grommets for use as a tarp), for about $30 locally. There's always good old blue tarps(or whatever colour) for $10 or so that will do the trick. Deals can be had looking on buy+sell boards on online forums(like here).

Hennessy hammocks are a little more than $100, no need to spend $500 on a hammock system. I've seen plenty of "roll your own" hammock articles online as well.
 
Dude, relax man check out your local surplus stores and the camping section of Wal Mart both places have great deals.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
Dude, relax man check out your local surplus stores and the camping section of Wal Mart both places have great deals.
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Blasphemy!!! :eek:

FYI, my Coleman Max65L pack from Walmart cost $75. My Coleman Max stove cost $30. They also have cheap Sterns raingear, hydration bladders, water bottles, mag fire starters, space blankets, compasses, coreless toilet paper and hiker's first aid kits. My Everready headlamp and OneEggWonder skillet came from there too.
 
I did not mean to stereotype all of you as elitest. I'm sorry if it came across that way. Out of all the sites I go to, this is the only one I am active on because it really is more about getting out there than showing off your Ferrari tent that sets itself up in 3.6 seconds. I really have learned a lot (and used up almost an entire wood pile making fires using every method I can).

I have always been a person who loves to get an cheap/inexpensive item and find ways to make it more efficient/stronger/etc. That is what I am really looking for. I see ingenuity as a campers/survivalists most important tool.

I realized I'm still ranting so I going to go make something instead of sit on the internet.
 
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