Low Cost Backpacking Outfit, Can it be done?

[scrivner]

Hello,

I’m at a party in LA explaining the joys and benefits of backpacking/woods and mountain wandering to a friend. A guy who had been listening says, “That’s all elitist crap. I’ve been in those stores. I know how much that stuff costs. Poor kids can’t do any of that.”

This guy is a school principal in the inner city. He’s well meaning. He cares about his kids. Is he misinformed? I must admit that I had no idea where to tell him to go to get low cost gear. Nor did I have any idea how much it would cost to outfit a kid (teenager) with low cost gear that would be adequate. But, I gotta believe it can be done.

On a volunteer basis I’ve taught survival skills to dozens of teenagers, many of them inner city kids, taken them into mountains and forests with nothing but the contents of their pockets, or in some cases, a few odds and ends in book bags, and taught them to get by for fairly long periods. But those were kids who wanted to learn wilderness survival, a fairly small group. Backpacking is a different thing and could attract a larger group, which I think would be a Good Thing. Over the years I’ve seen the benefits of keeping kids feet in the dirt as much as possible, and off city streets.

I can teach a kid to get by (survive) with almost no gear. And I can take a kid shopping at, say, REI, and get him outfitted with decent fairly lightweight gear for we might think of as a modest budget. But how do I outfit a kid whose family has, maybe, at maximum and that’s a stretch, a hundred bucks to spend? Can it be done for a hundred bucks? How about less? Fifty bucks?

Not talking about making gear, that’s out of the skill set of this group. Nor do these folks have sewing machines, time to do the work after working two jobs, or a car to drive to wherever they would have to go get materials.

Donated gear is a non-starter. I was turned down by a number of well known companies a few years ago when I wanted to take a group of inner city kids to walk the John Muir Trail. Wound up financing the whole thing myself. Not in a position to do that now. Don’t think it would be any different today. Donating to high profile athletes seems to be OK, a group of poor inner city kids not so much.

I know this site is all about the AT. But in the short time I’ve been hanging out here I’ve seen more good will and expertise (and less frank rudeness) than on any other site.

Anyone care to offer suggestions?

Thanks,

Scrivner

I'm also posting this on the general gear forum.

[Skidsteer]

Got you covered:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=206678#post206678

Lots of good ideas.

[JAK]

Yeah he is misinformed. You can definitely gear kids up to hike summer overnights for under $100, even under $50. Unless you are talking totally buck naked. Closer to $100 in that case, but that includes clothes and stuff that can also get street use.

Not at REI or places like that though. Thrift stores. Places like Marden's in Maine.

Like most problems its not the technical that stops you, its the political.

[hopefulhiker]

When you are going to be out there for six months you can justify spending more money because it prorates out..

Sgt Rock has a good article on backpacking on the cheap...

But here are some quick ideas... You can go backpacking with the cheap blue tarp or just a big piece from a roll of plastic. You can use those cheap blue pads or air mattresses to sleep on. Plus the army navy store has poncho liners and field liners for jackets.. The Goodwill store has good fleece jackets and nylon shirts and shorts and used boots and other clothes.. For packs you can get large day school packs that will work at yard sales.. Trash bags have tons of uses too. Also zip lock bags are good. For sleeping bags I would go with trying to get a relatively good used down one on the internet.. Probably where i would put the most of the money.. For a pot there is the Wal mart grease pot and a cheap alcohol stove....

[Pete Moss]

Alot of times sites like Craigslist, for that matter even here, have people getting rid of gear they no longer need or want, for dirt cheap. It's just a matter of thinking outside the box about the stuff you NEED and keeping it at just that. Also, patience with your shopping. I found a lightly used Gregory pack at a yard sale for 20 bucks, the guy just hadnt used it in a few years.

[JAK]

Teach them to fish.

[Wilson]

I have had a lot of hobbies, got into a lot of different activities, backpacking has been probly the least expensive of all of them to get started.

[aaroniguana]

My gear was collected and upgraded over the course of three years (less than most people, i'm sure) but many items were used or thrift shop finds, outfitters going out of business sales, eBay and a few gifts. Looking it over, I think I have less than $400 invested, but that's just cash, not the time I spent shopping, travelling, etc. See for yourself.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=33782

My goal was 15 pounds, $300.00. I came close.

[jesse]

I made most of my gear. That was the only way I could afford good stuff. Backpacking might not be cheap, but compared to almost any other outdoor sport or hobby it is. You can't ski, hunt, fish, boat, and on and on, cheaper than you can backpack. The most expensive part is all the stuff you get, only to find out later you don't need it.

[LIhikers]

I've gotten backpacks from local thrift stores for $5 and use them on the rare occasions I can talk nieces and nephews to go out with me and my wife. Also, in the heat of summer, at lower altitudes, you don't need a sleeping bag as a $15 fleece blanket will do. It won't be ideal, but how many kids can sleep under a big, heavy, cheap, plastic tarp? That will probably come out to $5 a head. Good shoes and socks may be the biggest needed investment, get creative with the rest!

[Feral Bill]

Some years ago I organized backpacking for kids at a treatment center where I worked. Mountain Gear rented us sleeping bags, packs and pads for half price, we got warm clothes at a thrift store, bought blue tarps and a few odds and ends and borrowed the rest from my stuff. Total cost was about $20 a kid for three day trips. The boys trip had pouring rain, the girls record heat. Everyone had a great time.

A kid could certainly be outfitted with useable gear for cheaper than a couple pair of name brand sneakers, or the proceeds a of a part time job.

[scrivner]

Guys,

Thanks for all the info. I'll put it to good use.

Scrivner

[shelterbuilder]

Hey, here's another wacky idea - talk to some of the local Boy Scout troops in your area. They may have some old equipment that they no longer use, and might be willing to sell it at "bargain-basement" prices (or loan it to you on condition that it be returned in reasonable shape).

[OBOZ]

scrivner I just wanted to commend you on what you are doing. It takes a good person and alot of patience in what you do.
Is it possible to have a fund raiser? Hit up the large businesses. They love the publicity and they tax write off their donations. Just an idea.

[smokymtnsteve]

No It Cannot Be Done

[Nomad94]

Hello,


Anyone care to offer suggestions?

T

How many students? What conditions? How many days?

A start (price totaled at bottom)-

Outdoor Products external frame - $40. http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=14470847&memberId=12500226&catalogId=40000000226

Slumberjack 40 deg. bag- $30
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39202871&memberId=12500226&catalogId=40000000226

Blue foam mat- $12

Knollwood bivvy- $26
http://www.amazon.com/Texsport-Knollwood-Bivy-Shelter-Tent/dp/B000P9EZNO

Esbit tabs (12 tabs- 24 meals)- $6
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=1057&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1

ESbit stove- $10
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/campmor/search/main.jsp?command=text&ip_text=esbit&image.x=7&image.y=12

Camper 'kit in a bottle'-- water bottle, multi tool, flash light, aid kit, poncho- $13
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8586950

Lightweight alum cookwear (2 qt & 1 qt pots)- ~$8

------------------------------------------------------------

Price of tent/cookwear items split between 2 students (shared gear)

$120

Items are definitely missing, but this is a start (pretty lightweight as well).

I've used many of the items & have no problem recommending. The texsport is a decent tent if ***plenty*** of seam sealer is used (and an extra set of poles carried- fiberglass, kids...). The pack is excellent-- very much like the old Coleman composite frame. Very sturdy, very wide range of adjustments (probably 4.5 ft-6.5 ft on that universal frame even though it is labeled a youth pack). I've had a slumberjack bag & liked it. Haven't used esbit but some here are happy. Probably safer than just about any other 'stove' out there. Sterno is still very much alive as well (what we did 20 yrs ago). Aluminum pots are widely available at bargain dept stores (walmart/kmart) & sometimes dollar stores as well.

Stuff sacks (even water proof), ground clothes, ponchos and other assorted reqs are at the dollar stores. Plastic utensils, zip-lock style tupperware, garbage bags are 'free' (bring from home, buy in bulk for cheap, etc)

Shipping is often free w/lg purchases from most of the suppliers...

Campmor has been great to work w/over the years- recently gave my nephew's scout troop 15% off of their total outfitting cost...

[quasarr]

it's a common misconception that lightweight gear costs lots of money. Sure if you go to REI and tell them "outfit me with your lightest gear!" you'll spend a fortune. (ultralight espresso maker? better bring two, in case one breaks) But if you use what you have, buy some at thrift stores, and make your own, there's no reason to spend more than the $100 limit.

for example, an MSR Whisperlite costs about $80 - pepsi can stove costs $0. Titanium pot, $50 - K Mart grease pot, $6. Nalgene bottle, $10 - Aquafinia bottle, $1. The list goes on and on!

As others have mentioned, thrift stores are a great place to start. Of course it depends on where you live. If you live in a place like Boulder, the thrift stores will have a lot of great hiking stuff! But pretty much anywhere will have plenty of shirts and fleeces, possibly a good rain jacket. I go through shirts and look at the labels. Any shirts 100% silk, wool, nylon, or polyester work good for hiking.

For a shelter, a poly tarp might work for your group. Ray Jardine talks about these in his book. It's just a big square of 3 mil polyethylene, costs about $2 and can fit 3 people underneath. A pebble in each corner, some stakes, nylon line and the tarp is ready to go!

I think it's great you're introducing the kids to the great outdoors!!! :sun

[quasarr]

forgot to mention this - making gear. you said the students won't be sewing or anything like that. understandable! but I think an alcohol stove is a good project, and making one saves a lot of money over a canister stove.

simple alcohol stoves like the Supercat can be made in a few minutes with no special skills or tools.