Cost of equipment

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! .
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Reject the hiking yuppyism. Most of stuff is crap anyway.

Most of those clowns won't last more than two days beyond when they run out of protein bars anyway.

Learn to use what you have. And learn to improvise.
 
nemoaz said:
Reject the hiking yuppyism. Most of stuff is crap anyway.

Most of those clowns won't last more than two days beyond when they run out of protein bars anyway.
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This sounds like a sweeping generalization to me.

It's one thing to say that you don't need high-end gear to have a successful and enjoyable outing. This is true and is supported by everyone posting in this thread.

It's something else entirely to dismiss all high-end gear as the province of wealthy amateurs who can't hack it in the real outdoors. This simply is not the case.

There are plenty of examples of high-quality gear that comes with a premium price tag and delivers on its promises - silnylon tarps, for example, are way more expensive than entry-level tarps, but they are also highly effective and lightweight. Same goes for tents and sleeping bags: Mid-range and high-end items are often comparable in terms of functionality, but the more costly offerings tend to be lighter as well. My first sleeping bag was a Canadian Tire model. It was warm. It was bulky. My current sleeping bag is not top-of-the-line, but it is respectable. I paid a premium for a lightweight, compact down bag that adds very little weight or bulk to my pack, which makes a difference on long outings.

A reasonable, balanced perspective makes sense here. You certainly don't need costly gear to get by, and most of us spent years using low-end gear and still came away with great memories. But sometimes when you pay a bit more, you also get a bit of added value. That needs to be acknowledged, too.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I think that's a little extreme Nemoaz. Is my whisperlite less stove than the one I made from beer cans? No, both do the job, I can get by with the beer cans, and often it is the better option, but for some stuff the dollars are well spent. I could go backpacking with just a heat-sheet, save money, but I prefer my mummy-bag. in my opinion dollars well spent. a walmart bag a third the price would be less than a third as warm, and I need to be warm. could I get by, sure, would I do it often, no. Isn't that the point, enjoying being out? Yes there are people who buy gear to replace skill. but there are also those of us who try to spend as much as we can where our skill tells us we need to. Every person and every environment is different, and everyone has different needs. I wouldn't refer to a Polar crew in $900 parkas to be idiots, fact is sometimes the gear you need has a price.
 
Some of you people need to get a grip on your egos. It's not a contest.
Do what makes you happy. Whether that's sitting in the dirt rubbing sticks together, or hiking a trail in the latest techno-garb with a GPS telling you where to go shouldn't matter to anyone else.
Gear is just a means to an end. I know I love mine. Not because some pieces of nylon sewn together particularly intrigue me, but because what I carry allows me to concentrate on doing what I most enjoy in the time I have to do it.
 
nemoaz said:
Reject the hiking yuppyism.
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smiley-laughing002.gif
 
there are starting to be some used backpacking gear stores too. There is on in bellingham washington if you live anywhere around there. The name of the store is backcountry essentials. They told me that a third of there inventory is dedicated to used second hand gear. They had lots of name brand gear to at very god prices....hope that helps!
 
SilentDave said:
there are starting to be some used backpacking gear stores too.
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Hey we have a couple of those. Didn't realize there was one nearby until I went to look up the name. Not necessarily used, even. They're called "Second Season Outdoor Consignment".
 
our Play it Again Sports has used backpacking equipment as well- I think they are a US chain
 
i have to agree with what most everyone has posted also. if there is a will there is a way no matter what. one thing i haven't seen mentioned but it possibly was is to check all the big chain stores like dicks, gander,bass pro, cabela's when stuff is out of season. you can find some pretty damn good clearance items for a heck of a deal. and definitely hit up craigslist and garage sales. often people have no idea or just don't care what they are selling and want it gone.

also like everyone says you really don't need much just the desire to want to camp. don't get discouraged you don't always have to have the latest and greatest. just get stuff while you can and get out and enjoy the outdoors
 
Gear is always a tradeoff between cost, weight, functionality/durability, and availability.

If you want the least cost, then accept the weight penalty, reduce the need for functionality by being more picky about timing and location, and wait for it to become easily or cheaply available.

The only time gear has to be expensive is when it must be light, highly functional, and immediately available.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
....another great resource is REI, if you become a member they have twice a year sales on the goodies that are returned as part of their no questions policy on returns...I scored a Delorme PN-30 GPS for 50 bucks, fleece blankets for five bucks and my beloved Montrail GTX hiking boots for 22 dollars. Now I had to wait for five years to put all this together on my budget but its all well spent, when I am cozy in those big ol' Sequoia's.
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Too true. I scored North Face pack boots listed at $130 for $28. I worked a few blocks away from the store, and it meant waiting in line (in my suit and tie).

The huge sale twice a year can really get you some great stuff for cheap. I grabbed a nice day pack for $25 (normally $100).

I tend to spend more on knives than camping gear right now. I am just coming out of 3 years of law school, and about 6 years of school before that, not including 2 years living in Bulgaria as an unpaid volunteer (not only unpaid, but paid my own way for 2 years) So I know about being poor. I am in a decent paying job now, but my student loan payments are $1200 a month (I carried no loans into law school.....that is all from 3 years of laws school).

I have two kids, and money is tight. In the past few years, I have still bought about 2K in knives, so it is all about priorities.

I have a decent pack for hiking. A sub par couple of tents. Some very heavy sleeping bags.
 
Most of us don't start with the best equipment or you have some very good equipment mixed with lower priced stuff. You learn as you go.
 
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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Join the Army or the Marines they will give you everything you really need and some stuff you don't. Some of it may not be the greatest but Hell its free and they pay you to use it
 
My first backpacking trip was done with borrowed gear. Borrowed a backpack, sleeping bag, and shared a tent. At least my boots (Army surplus) were my own.

Later, I rented gear from a mountain shop when I went out. I couldn't afford to buy, but I could afford the rental fees. Renting may be "penny-wise and pound-foolish" but it was what I did to get out there.

Still later, I bought a good sleeping bag and surplus stuff. Used tarps instead of tents. Come to think of it, I still use tarps instead of tents.

Start slow and find out what you really need. You may find that you don't need as much fancy stuff as the backpacking magazines would have you believe, and you might also find that a $250 backpack is worth it's weightlessness in gold.
 
Great ideas here.

REI is a great resource. They sometimes will have used/repaired gear for killer deals.

Also, purchases from REI have very little or no hassle if there is trouble with them.

If you are in the PNW, there are many hiking clubs here. Meet some people and you'll be surprised how much stuff heads your way.

I have extra stuff that I pick up when I can just for people like you. Often it goes to scouts.

Get creative. $$ is needed, but not lots of it. I will say though, that good footwear is a must.
 
KerriTM said:
Join the Army or the Marines they will give you everything you really need and some stuff you don't. Some of it may not be the greatest but Hell its free and they pay you to use it
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Just keep in mind that the stuff they give you that you don't need will still have to be carried. Also keep in mind that there will be some items which they won't issue, and you won't need, but will be required to buy in order to match up with some packing list dreamed up by a general with too much free time and not enough field time.
 
XSrcing said:
I understand what you are saying, redpoint, but you must realize that the $180 used bag you sold is far beyond the means of me. That is unless I wanted to go into the wilderness with nothing but an empty bag.

I knew this thread would spark some controversy but a lot of people just don't understand the level of "cheapness" that some of us have to deal with.

Maybe in many years When the economy improves and my skills (Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo mecahnic) are in need I'll be able to spend $180 (2 days pay now) on an piece of used equipment.
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Wait, what? You make $90 a day and you're complaining about the cost of gear? I dunno what your budget is like, obviously, but I've got a wife and infant to support, I don't even make $90 before taxes and I'm happy with the gear I can afford. You must have some expensive tastes, bud. :grumpy:

My typical overnight gear in mild-warm weather, minus food:
GI rain poncho: $19 from A/N surplus
EMS Rucksack from the 80's: $5 from thrift store
Wool blanket: Free from lost & found giveaway at work
Boonie hat: $1 from thrift store
Mora Clipper: $12 from Ragweed Forge
Headlamp: $20 from WalMart
Fleece-lined sweatshirt: Free (Accidentally stole it from a drunk friend)
Jeans: $Dunno
No-name boots: $60 from A/N surplus store (surprisingly good too).
GSI cup: $12 on Amazon
Stainless water bottle: $5 from WalMart
MMHW DV8: Ok, it's a bit pricey but it's the end-result of several good trades. You could probably effectively substitute it with a $30-40 Condor Machete.
Some might call me out on the fact that I brought along my Spyderco Bushcraft and my KelTec 9mm on my last overnight. The Keltec, while not an expensive gun to begin with, was also the end-result of many good trades and many will argue that you don't need a gun to sleep in the woods in the first place (Let's leave that argument for another thread, shall we?) It should be noted that the Spydie is a factory second that was only $90. I forked over 8 hours of labor for that knife and I am happy I did.

I'm probably forgetting a few things but I assure you, I didn't break the bank on anything I bring with me. Use some patience and gray matter, read the numerous threads in W&SS on cheap or homemade gear and keep your eyes open for deals.
 
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