Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

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Koda
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Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Koda » January 12th, 2012, 6:05 pm

A recent thread left my curiosity open as to how much it really costs as the cheapest initial investment to get set up for basic backpacking.

When I thought about this, I realized there are probably a dozen "categories" one could build a list around, so here's mine "cheapest minimal with good UL equipment"... this is for someone who knows they are going to be a backpacker and get out there, but does not have a lot of money to spend. They want the nicest they can afford. For this study, I'm only going to focus on the "baseweight" ... here is a quick shopping list...
Totals: $493.24/140.15oz/8.76 lbs

Next I'd like to see a list with the cheapest gear without regards to weight.... like say a ol blue tarp vs UL tarp. total economy setup.. but im outta time...
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

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arundodonax
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by arundodonax » January 12th, 2012, 7:26 pm

I'll bite.

Pack: Golite Jam - on sale right now for $70 - with unnecessary straps removed, 24 oz
Shelter: Golite Poncho Tarp - $80 - 7 oz (but doubles as a poncho, so really 0 oz? :D), or a SMD gatewood cape for more coverage, at about $50 and a few ounces more.
Sleeping Bag: Something used off backpackinglight.com, e.g. this Golite bag (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... 117#489117) - $100 - 29.5 oz
Sleeping Pad: Gossamer Gear Nightlite Torso - $12.75 - 3.3 oz
A sheet of scrap Tyvek off of a construction site - Free - 4 oz
Stove: Caldera Cone and Stove - $35 - 3 oz
Pot: K mart Grease Pot - $6 - 2.5 oz
Aluminum Foil windscreen - $.05 - .2 oz
Mini Bic Lighter - $.50 - .5 oz
Headlamp - photon microlight clipped on to a hat - $6 - .2 oz
Water Bottles - two left over 1L ( I like the shape of the smartwater bottles) - Free - 2 oz
Water Treatment - Aqua Mira, repackaged in droppers - $9 - .4 oz

Plus, of course, clothes, other necessaries to round out the ten essentials, first aid, TP (if you must).

Totals: $319.30/76.6oz/4.78lbs

Of course you're better off to find stuff used on BPL.

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Koda
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Koda » January 12th, 2012, 7:45 pm

arundodonax wrote:
Plus, of course, clothes, other necessaries to round out the ten essentials, first aid, TP (if you must).

Totals: $319.30/76.6oz/4.78lbs
sweet. this is what I was looking for. $173 cheaper and 4lbs lighter. The voice of experience speaks... thanks :)

I almost picked a tarp or the 6MD cape but thought for all around bugs/shelter the 6MD Skyscape Scout was a better choice.
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

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CampinCarl
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by CampinCarl » January 12th, 2012, 8:26 pm

Koda wrote:
[*]Exped Sleeping pad$54.93, 12.5oz
Interesting, I was thinking of getting this since it was on sale and so light, but instead I just got a lite-core rei sit pad to extend my 3/4 length thermarest guidelite (rockin' it old school :D ). I also was concerned that the exped would be too cold with such a low R value. The lite-core sit pad will function as a seat while dayhiking and backpacking as well, so I won't be bringing my thermarest trekker chair anymore. I am not trying too hard to go ultralite yet.

I will be interested in following this thread to see what set-ups people are using or would recommend. Good stuff already!

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Koda
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Koda » January 12th, 2012, 8:33 pm

CampinCarl wrote:
Koda wrote:
[*]Exped Sleeping pad$54.93, 12.5oz
I will be interested in following this thread to see what set-ups people are using or would recommend. Good stuff already!
Some of the things on my list I do not have or have used... like the exped air mat. I just wanted to find items that kept the baseweight under 10lbs and cost the cheapest. The fun part of this thread will be to see others set-ups. I suspect the cheaper the cost the more creative one gets, it will be fun to see and a benefit to anyone starting out.
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

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Grannyhiker
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Grannyhiker » January 12th, 2012, 8:44 pm

Lots of articles and gear lists for low cost lightweight backpacking out there on the Net. I suspect that inflation has made some of the costs on the older lists understated. I bookmarked most of these a couple of years ago when one of my grandsons (then 18) was asking about backpacking gear.

http://hikinghq.net/dirtbag.html--"Dirtbagging and Deal Shopping" by "Sgt. Rock"--surprising how much can come out of your own closet, kitchen, basement, garage, recycle bin, thrift stores, big box stores

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... 00034.html--"Backpacking Light 101"--go to the last chapter, "Ultra-Light, Ultra-Cheap." It's 11 years old so some of the specific brands/models are gone, but the general principles haven't changed. The rest of this free online book is worth a read, too.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... _list.html--excellent article on outfitting new Boy Scouts; just as applicable to adults! (free article)

http://lytw8.com/uploads/Cheap_Ultralight_Gear_List.pdf--a recent list, mostly from Wallyworld.

http://www.gossamergear.com/wp/wp-conte ... Henley.pdf--Mark Henley's "Ultralight and Ultracheap--10 lbs. and $200"

http://hikinghq.net/300_challenge.html--"Sgt. Rock's $300 Challenge"

http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gea ... cheap.html (many of the links are broken, but the advice is good. Especially note the advice to rent or borrow the more expensive items when just starting out. The good links are included in my list above.)

Also, in the encyclopedic "Mark Verber's Recommended Outdoor Gear" http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/index.html, which I recommend to everyone, each section ends with a description of low budget options for that particular system.

Excellent general articles on gear selection and other aspects of backpacking (not necessarily low-budget) in the left-hand column here: http://www.backpacking.net/

Lots of good ideas in the beginning posts here; hopefully lots more to come from PH readers!
Last edited by Grannyhiker on January 12th, 2012, 9:31 pm, edited 4 times in total.

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Grannyhiker
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Grannyhiker » January 12th, 2012, 9:06 pm

Uh, mods, could one of you please move this topic to "Gear Talk"? Thanks! Koda, I'm sure this thread will get more attention there! I hope this thread keeps going!

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mayhem
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by mayhem » January 12th, 2012, 9:13 pm

Interesting topic so my first several back pack trips 0$ I owned nothing! Not even hiking shoes or boots! So if you have friends that have it all u can benefit from them! I was even told anytime I wanted to use or go along I do not need to buy anything except fuel for jetboil!
Shoe Shine Boy Has Left The Building!

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Eric Peterson
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Eric Peterson » January 12th, 2012, 9:31 pm

Can we just see how it goes in here for awhile mods?

Give it a few days maybe and then move it if it looks sparse?

Great topic Koda! Been thinking a lot lately of how to get lighter! :)

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Grannyhiker
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Re: Minimal Cost Backpacking gear list...

Post by Grannyhiker » January 12th, 2012, 9:35 pm

My reason for asking for the move is that a few weeks or months in the future, it will be lost in the shuffle in this very busy section. Anyone looking for this information in the future will go to Gear Talk.

Koda, you started the thread, what do you think? It's really up to the moderators, though.

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