Hiking Gear on a Budget
Mar 8, 01:56 pm by Editor
For many people getting the gear for overnight hikes can be an expensive exercise. Many sources quote the cost at around $1000 for the equipment to get started, which is undoubtedly out of the reach of many people. However, depending on how long you intend to hike for and the climate you will be in, this activity can cost far less. This article explains how a keen beginner, Ann, managed to start out hiking without breaking her budget. The gear that she has bought isn’t meant to last forever, rather it is a starting point and will be replaced with better quality as she can afford it.
One of the first things needed is a backpack and they come in many different sizes, features, quality etc. A decent backpack often costs upwards of $150, however there are cheap ones available from auction sites and wholesalers. They may not last you a life time but they will last long enough to make sure that you intend to continue hiking. Ann bought a 85 litre backpack on an auction site for $50 including postage, it has all the necessary harnesses and is fully adjustable. So far in testing it appears more than adequate for her needs. Ann also needed another pack for anyone that would join her, mostly her teenage children, and she found one at a flea-market for $15, it was a Caribbee pack, around 65- 75 litre and in used but good condition.
Lightweight tents, intended for hiking, generally start in price at around $130 (although I have seen one for $99). On of the main considerations for a tent is the weather, if you are camping in snow you will need a better tent. Not wanting to fork out $100 just yet, and planing to hike in good weather, Ann considered the following options as far as shelters go:
-An old cheap tent she found in the shed only weighed 2kg or so but needed 2 poles and a tarp. (It also has holes in the floor)
-Cheap dome tents in a discount store for $10 seemed very light but unlikely to be waterproof or strong in a wind.
-She found 2 light tarps in a discount store for $6 each, a mosquito net for $10 and a tent pole repair kit for $6 (light carbon poles she adjusted to size). She plans on running a rope between two trees (or poles) and hanging one tarp over it with the other as a ground sheet. This is often called a hoochie or hutchie in Australia. The mozzie net can hang from the rope under the tarp and have its edges held under the ground sheet. Some lightweight pegs can be used to hold the sides out where needed, and she might add some short ropes so the sides can be a foot or so off the ground. Ann figures that this kind of set up would be more flexible than a tent and intends to only sleep under the net in fine weather.
-Ann found many designs for homemade hiking tents online that she considered trying and perhaps will one day.
-While looking for ideas online Ann found some ideas for hammock camping so she intends to try that sometimes as well. Hammocks are a great lightweight and low cost option.
Sleeping bags and mats are quite important for hiking as the rest you get at night makes all the difference the next day. Again, if you are hiking in snow then you need an appropriate bag for warmth. Ann decided to stick with the cheap sleeping bags she already had, they weren’t very warm but were reasonably light. The ones she wanted from the camping store were $80 each and weighed 700g. Another option in a hot climate is a sleeping bag liner instead of a bag.
Ann’s sleeping mat is a very cheap yoga / camping mat cut to 3/4 length. The self inflating models are great, but the retail around $70 and up.
Many hikers these days use bladders and hydration packs for their water. Bladders cost at least $10 each and while useful are hardly necessary. Ann will be using empty softdrink bottles.
On many trails it is not possible to have a fire for cooking so a small stove of some kind is needed. The Trangia style fuel stoves are type to get Ann’s attention but of course the price tag was again too much. Ann found a website showing how to make one from a cat food can and did that. It cost less than $1 and weighs so little its not worth weighing. She is also considering making a billy and small pan out of cans.
I hope that you have gained some money saving ideas from Ann’s resourcefulness. Finding alternatives for gear can not just save money but also make the whole process of preparing for and going hiking more satisfying. Links to many of the sites Ann looked at are found in the hiking directory at www.aussiehiking.com.au.
Copyright 2007 Narelle Davison
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