This is a good list! For those who think this isn't budget enough, it's true. Fact is, backpacking ain't really a budget sport. But there are ways. 1. Find used goods; 2. Break into the hike while building up your gear - start w/ day hikes so u won't yet need half the stuff mentioned here, then go on summer overnight climbs so you won't have to worry about winter layers & R-value sleep systems yet. The more you get into the hobby, the more you'll willingly invest in advanced (a.k.a pricier) gear; 3. Join a hiking community, they'd be happy to share or lend you some items until you can buy one such as a bag, tent, cookset, etc.; 4. Explore Decathlon ; 5. If you don't mind the weight, your existing stuff will do for the timebeing - as Dan had provided some examples, a garbage bag for waterproofing and a dairy queen spoon will work just fine. That goes with all other gear. So far I've used a dead branch as a trek pole, my old school backpack as hiking bag, my house slip-ons as camp slippers, sewn fleece blanket as sleeping quilt, a car sunshade/windshield cover as sleeping pad, cooked meals from scratch, and worn a garbage bag as raincoat! Be creative.
6) Explore the army dump, even tough army stuff is generally heavier, it makes up for it in quality. a good messkit for cooking or army sleepingbag goes a long way. I still use some army stuff when backpacking.
Excellent video!! Granny packer here. For those of you on a real budget just getting started, one word, COSTCO! My hiking poles, legendary down quilts, Mountain House Food Kits, dry peanut butter, Sailor Boy Pilot Bread (big crackers), trail mix, dried fruit… all came from Costco and perform great. Garage sales in the good part of town are also a great idea. If you go backpacking and decide it’s not for you (ya sissy!) you haven’t broken the bank. If you ever find the legendary Costco down throws back in stock buy one or two for every member of your family. They stuff down to a tiny size, are covered in super light nylon. With an emergency bivy that you can buy for under $20 you could save a life. We used to carry them when cross country skiing in Alaska. They make excellent under quilts for hammock camping. I bought about 10 of them for $16 each. Great car kit blankets. I also carry the Stanley 2 cup cook set in the car with some basic “add water” food and water, of course! The Waypoint survival YT channel has 25 short videos of hacks and mods for the cook set.
I bought their 1p on recommendation from this channel and I have been very happy with the tent after a season. It's not the lightest, but for a first backpacking tent on a budget I could not have asked for better.
I just bought their short sleep pad and the sit pad. My body needs comfort if I am to survive but can’t manage too much weight. I like my legs elevated at night anyway so it seemed like a good buy. The sit pad will be nice.. will also use it in daily life.. sat in a hard plastic chair at church for a class today for 4 hrs and it sure caused me a lot of pain & discomfort! Would’ve been nice to have that pad in my purse!
@@23chnge thanks I'll check it out. I've been rocking the Energizer for a bit because of the red light but I've been looking(passively)for something brighter
For me the air pillow is worth it. After using a jacket or backpack as a pillow for about 12 years, I finally gave in and I'm never looking back. And that specific pillow is great!
Could be cheaper if you and your friends chipped in and had a large roll of “contractor trash bags” from the states shipped to you. Whatever the cost is would be divided by the number of bags you’d get, which would be a whole lot, to put it lightly. These bags are FAR FAR thicker than typical trash bags, even for us out here where they’re still pretty good at holding weight(regular trash bags). Contractor bags can hold - fully grown man’s dead body…or alive body to see if it actually worked. It held him…hefty brand is the best. Cheers
An alternative to the Decathlon Forclaz Trek 100 Down jacket is the Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Synthetic Jacket. Not quite as warm, but it makes a great mid layer / pillow, and it's synthetic so you can just wash it with everything else and occasionally hit it with some nikwax. It's about $30 cheaper and i've loved this thing for the past few years.
And for those who don’t know, synthetics keep you warm even when wet (well, damp). Down does not. So you need wool or synthetics in addition to your down and cotton layers. In winter leave the cotton at home. Alaskans have a saying: “Cotton kills”. If it gets damp you can’t get warm! It takes a long time to dry.
I came back to this video just to let you know that this video is what finally got me into backpacking and now I go at least once a week! thanks for making this!!!
There are two models of the lanshan. The regular and the pro. The pro is single walled where the regular is double walled. The double walled is a little bit cheaper but keep in mind if people buy the Pro that one does not come seam sealed you'll have to do it yourself.
After comparing the two I picked up the original non-pro. I didnt think the 3 ounce weight savings was worth dealing with condensation and having less pitch options. Main reason is for the ability to pitch just the inner. I wanted it for my fast and light summer pack and rarely have to worry about rain in the summer here so I cut my shelter down to 1lb including the carbon pole to set it up.
@@WolfPackM98c the main advantage I see with the pro is that it will work better with taller people. If you are taller than 6 ft the original lanshan 1p doesn't work as well.
@@johnschmalbach8243 + you can wipe down the condensation on the pro easily while it will inner of the regular version will block you from doing so. I would also say the pro is more a 1,5 walled tent? I have a true single walled tent and it doesnt have an inner on the sides like the lanshan pro.
It's also worth noting that adequately seam sealing the elastic tiebacks requires special technique. If you seal them like normal, they will be waterproof 98% of the time, but can wick water straight inside the mesh in very heavy rain (ask me how I know... That was a real trip changer). The solution, supposedly, is to thin seam seal with some paint thinner, then fully saturate the elastic. I'll be trying this once the weather warms.
Dan, thanks for listening to what some of us are asking. This was appreciated. Yes, you can't test every piece of gear that's on Amazon, but you did give us your take on it. Some stuff is worth the extra money, but like you've shown there are numerous ways to go backpacking without breaking the bank.
Yes to the trash bag pack liner. I’m a seasoned hiker and still use just a garage bag. I actually pack a few to hold wet things, separate smelly things, or just garbage.
A great diffuser to turn small bright lights into a hanging lantern that you may already have is the microfiber pouch for your sunglasses if it is a lighter color, especially the bright yellow pouch for Suncloud glasses, but any lighter color will work, and means you can customize the tent glow color your choice
Decathlon makes a great Backpacking chair (called the Quechua mh500) that occasionally goes on sale for $25. It weighs right about 2 lbs and has stood up to everything I've thrown at it so far. Normal price is usually $40 or $50 - Which is still a great price for the quality and weight. 5 yr warranty too
I just picked up a 2 person Quechua tent for $20 at Walmart . I couldn't believe it when I saw it . Told myself no more tents a while back , never say never. This thing is great for camping but too heavy for backpacking
The best budget anything is the gear you already have. It might not be pretty, or lightweight , but you can probably go backpacking with stuff you already own. I’m an Eagle Scout and an avid outdoors person and have litterly never owned a ground pad, Granted I don’t go winter camping super frequently, but I’ve still had lots of fun without an inflatable pillow, or a metal tracking pole (sticks work just fine). No hate towards the video. You Definitely need most everything that he talks about but just a reminder you don’t need to spend money to enjoy the outdoors
Nebo makes some great headlights, like the NEBO MYCRO lineup. The 400 is $15.00 and does have red and green plus four other levels of brightness. The 500 comes in at $24.00 and also has a large cob that surrounds the spot. The cob is great for a broad coverage light source. I have a Nebo slide that I have used a lot over the past 6 years and it is still going strong. For an affordable and very fine multi-tool you cannot beat the Rocktool 22-in-1 for $35. It even comes with a built in ferro rod. Very fine quality.
Promise this isn't facious but buy a sewing machine and learn to sew. You can buy materials when on sale and build many of your own items... items like large backpacks that need a good suspension system still should be bought but many of these items are nothing but a single layer of material, sewn in a particular shape, then occasionally stuffed with an insulation material.
Someone recently made an ultralight backpack out of ikea bags and it was like $50 and looks pretty great. He’s testing it out on a trail soon so I’m excited to see that and then try making my own
I enjoy your videos simply because you are down to earth and for that I respect your opinion on gear. Less content but better quality focusing on the things that YOU want to do won't result in any loss of subscribers especially with the quality that you put out.
Thanks for the coupon code for Flextail products. Just got the Tiny Pump Ultra Mini for $22! I thought a huge benefit for using a pump on the trail is actually deflating the air mattress way more effectively than rolling it through the dirt. 🤣
These videos have been so helpful! I bought a few of these pieces before I even started watching your videos after constant research and deal watching so I feel even more justified in my purchases now. This helped me decide on a few more items that I was on the fence about buying
FYI to people out there one cool thing I just found out you don't need any of those gps apps. Even if you're out of service your regular Google maps will always tell you where you're at, you may not be able to get directions but you'll always know where you are so with that alone it's impossible to get lost
Thank You for the video. Just started my journey of gearing up this week. Also last night I found that if you have a Costco membership you can purchase the Klymit Insulated Static V for 50 dollars through there website.
I have the granite gear crown 2 38L and I love it. Highly recommend and agreed with everything Dan said. I have the quilt version of their paria thermodown 15 and find it comfortable in underwear to 15 and highly recommend it. The Amazon dry bag set has lasted me 4 years of weekend warrior use and is still in good condition. I used a sawyer mini for about a year or two before I got sick of the low flow rate and opted for a katadyn befree, that said it was still a great cheap ultralight filter to get first.
My puffy jacket packs down into one of the pockets. I stack that on my outdoor vitals air pillow I got for free (just pay $6 shipping) last summer. Perfect pillow height and comfort.
Dan, can you please always include kg and °C on a screen when you talk about weight and temperature? Not only rating of gear but also when you speak about your own experience or anything.
Best Budget Backpacking Meals: DIY!! I use a dehydrator and vacuum sealing. Works great and they are the cheapest meals by far. Average cost per meal: $5.
Screw mountain house. You can buy knorr or lipton noodles, beef jerky, uncle bens rice packets, cans of beans can be pre opened before trip and stored in ziplocks, or presoak dry beans while hiking etc. You're so fancy with those freeze dried meals.😱🥢
Last year I after seeing all the reviews for the Trekology pillow, I picked up the Hikenture one. I has a strap as well as little anti-slip silicon "beads" on the bottom. It had a slightly higher loft (needed for us side sleepers) was cheaper than the Trekology.
Recommend shopping sales, discount stores, and thrift shops. I've found some great gear on Sierra and found my trekking poles for less than $20 on Eddie Bauer on sale.
Amazon camp chairs, check if you can return it before you try it. I got 3 types to try. One I kept for little people, one returned and wanted to return another but wasn't allowed. They all ran very small and squashed legs, all very low to ground. As Dan says... read reviews, double check measurements
As far as knifes go I'd argue that if you're going for a Swiss army knife that the medium sized knife would be more worth it. Paying just a little extra ($30 - $35) for something like the climber, hiker or camper might be worth it in the long run because they're great EDC knives in general so they're a nice balance of being affordable & practical
I am so enjoying my Crown 3 60L backpack! Went all through REI's gear, a few other places, and nothing was comfortable. Went back to what my gut said I'd love, and I do! First time backpacking in 20 years, last summer.
You can get those food bags from Walmart but they're a different brand. I fit 3 days and 2 nights of food in the yellow one and used the smaller red one for my electronics.
25:38 Dan is rocking the Fizan Compact 3 Treking pole weighing in at 158kg. Man's got some big gains for just moving that thing about like its nothing 😂
Yessss to the energizer. Only thing I’d do differently is get the bigger one. The energizer hard case is the best performing head lamp I’ve ever seen and is like 25 bucks
Great list of budget gear esp the items you already own at home! FYI, the Coughlan's plastic trowel isn't so durable - not as effective as a trekking pole but likely better than a random stick or tree branch. I have one of those Amazon chairs - $25 & still going strong 3 years later with 10-12 days a year on trail.
I have that Big Agnes sleeping pad. I use it for winter camping. It’s super comfy (side sleeper) and keeps my back warm with my quilt. Bought mine on a Black Friday sale, on the low low.
@@jeremymitoraj1715 I wanted a nice winter pad, but didn’t want to spend $200 on it. I was really impressed w the Big Agnes. The inflate sack wasn’t even that annoying like Dan was saying, at least in regards to inflate sacks in general. But I use one of those mini air pumps like in this video, but I definitely didn’t pay $40 for it… more like $12 lol
To me the best Budget headlamp is from Decathlon aswell. I got the HL100. Between 15 and 20 Bucks. Super comfortable and secure fit. rechargeable and lasts a long time.
Thank you for some more awesome content. I really like your content bro. I'm actually out camping right now. Was getting some really nice night for photography. I'm in Washington State. Got a epic view of the Olympics right now. Have a great one!
Thanks Dan I am going to look into some of these bargains. I really appreciate info like this and I am sure I am not the only one by the looks of the comments here.
Bear bag that works is a 18 x 30 woven polypropylene bag. They're around 2.00 each, but it may be hard to find in less than bulk. It's very durable and waterproof.
Thanks for keeping it real 🤣. My son and I are going on our first backpacking trip and I need to make sure I enjoy this before I go in spending lots of money. I will invest in the areas that matter most but otherwise budget it is.
Ive used the 3 pack of generic dry bags for almost 20 years. Only replaced them once. The old ones still work but arnt as waterproof anymore. Love those damn things.
Dan if you couldn't afford a insulated sleeping pad for budget reasons, could you wrap a summer pad in a sleeping bag liner and and gain some R value that way?
Great video and info!! As someone who has backpacked for almost 40 years, if you are new to it, this stuff is the kind of things you want to have. I've over the years found that I'm not going with out some things that are not high dollar, like pants, socks, saw and lighting. Other things I either just cheep on or even make myself. Some of the best advice I heard you give is, when buying something, is check the numbers, like for the down fill and r factors. Also to look at and read the reviews before buying.
Those multi-colored dry bags work OK for a while, but they don't last when you load a couple of days of food for two people. The webbing isn't sewn on well enough to withstand multiple hangings. When they fail, you can tie a knot around the open end of the bag with your hanging cord, but it's significantly harder to open and close and could potentially slip out.
If your just starting out you don't need to shell out that much for a fancy down sleeping bag. Yes, down is ideal, but you can get a cheap synthetic for $50-75 that's a bit bigger and heavier, but will still keep you warm and not break the bank.
Hey Dan! Would love to see a similar video with your pinnacle gear. Price be damned, what is the best gear, most luxurious, lightest, warmest, etc. if you have a large budget, what is the absolute best load out money can buy!
Really great video! Some brands I wasn't familiar with so will check them out. My Decathlon puffy just came a few days ago. I like it! The real test will be on my trip. For those that don't know, it stuffs into it's pocket and zips closed. I wish I had known about some of these products a few years ago! One thing missing, unless I wasn't paying attention, best budget backpacking stove! Thanks for another great video!
SE Gulf Coast Texas: 3 seasons will last you all but 2 weeks in February. I do a NatureHike Mongar2 tent (lust like the MSR Hubba Hubba, but at the fraction of the cost). Max I do a R4 pad (self inflating
Great video Dan, very informative. I use to do quite a bit of backpacking when I lived in California. Now living in Texas its adv. motorcycle riding. The cross overs are real similar. Videos like this are very helpful. Keep up the great work!!!!
Hello 👋 'Dan the Man', the answer man for all things outdoors. Thank you for sharing this most informative video. All the best to you and your family. Stay safe out there. 🤗 👋
Awesome as always Dan. Thank you for sharing and for all the hard work and time you put into your videos. Stay Awesome KEEP ADVENTURING GOD BLESS YOU 🤗HUGS🤗
Found an osprey 50l on the side of the road, found a camping pot and use my leatherman to grab it, stuff clothes in sleeping bag case for pillow, use whatever for a sleeping pad, yoga matts kinda work, hobomax boys
Little packets of Parmesan cheese, or dried herbs or spices, or maybe some dried vegetables chopped up really help to improve Mountain House meals. I like to use chopped dried tomatoes and zucchini. I like that they have quite a few gluten-free options, more than a lot of other companies. They do need a little help, though, when it comes to flavor. I can see getting some of those little restaurant packets of chile or soy sauce or other condiments to spice up the meals.
Thanks so much for this! I was on the fence about pulling the plug for a Six Moon Design Minimalist V2 - which appears to be a fantastic backpack, and has great reviews. Last year I did a lot of searching/reading/researching and I just got to the point where I was in info overload, and never bothered ordering a pack for overnighters. I watched this video last night, and today I took a look at the Granite Gear Crown2 60. BONUS - it is currently on sale for ONLY $99.95!!! I immediately pulled the trigger on THAT - looking forward to it arriving at my door! Again, many thanks!
The frog togs poncho is baller too! Can be used to lay down on for naps, picnic, changing socks, etc when not used to keep watwr off you and your pack(aince its masaive it can cover it too)
For midlayers, I just wore a £5 ($8?) charity shop wool jumper camping at a festival here in the UK. 11C night, no problems. Doesn't pack down very small, though.
I have the big Agnes air core ultra it's pretty great!! I used it down to the mid teens around 14-16 degrees I've brought it on a month long canoe trip in the Yukon I've used it out camping everything it's just great!! Super comfortable
I have my entire pack weight down to 13lbs before food and water. Ultralight MEIR tent 1.7lbs 500 Filldown sleeping bag 1lb Inflatable sleeping pad with built in pillow-1lb. That just my sleep system.
The REI Flexlite Air chair is as light as the helinox chair zero, and it has gone on sale for about $65 (normally $99) a couple times last year. There are reviews out there that list the slight difference between the two. I've been happy with the Flexlite Air and I think it's worth it at the sale price.
When I read the word " budget " I thought it'd be something around $300 tops. Bro I got my entire setup for like $120. $20 -5°C sleeping bag , some random $4 yoga mat, my school backpack ( which is actually a 27L hiking backpack from Fila but I used it for school for 2 years and here I am 2 years after school still using it and it's like I first bought it ) I think it was like $25 something like that. Fero rod $3. Off-brand lighters ( got a 10 pack for $1 ). A box of matches for 10 cents. First aid kit ( I built over time from house supplies like bandages , ointments , gels , painkillers,... ). I got 30m of cordage for $4 , I then cut it in 3. A poncho for $10. A jacket of mine . A 1.5L bottle of water from the supermarket. A foldable ambrella that is 6 years old and works like a charm. A tarp for I think $20. A hammock for $15. And finally for lighting i got myself a headlamp for $11 from Decathlon. And some freeze-dried food from my local camping store. I actually very recently bought a 50l forclaz backpack for $52 but I bought it just to upgrade so I could carry more stuff. So far it's quite comfortable and it's been treating me well.
Ive been planning to get the majority of my new gear from paria this year, all of it seems nice and legit, thouhh im debating just using my synthetic bag thats -20, but obviously takes up space
