View Full Version : Thru-Hiking on a Budget
Jack Tarlin
01-14-2009, 17:54
On a recent PCT thread, MOWGLI expressed an interest in seeing a discussion on hiking the A.T. on a budget.
Well, here it is.
Quick reminder. This is the "Straight Forward" section of the website, i.e. posts shold be confined to the very specific subject of the thread, i.e. how to save money and spend less while hiking on the A.T.
I'm sure lots of you have all sorts of suggestions and I hope this turns into a useful dialog.
I have all sorts of ideas on this subject and once started an article dealing specifically with the subject. Right now, tho, I'd like to see what some other folks have to say about this. If you have some thoughts or ideas on good ways for folks to save money while on the A.T., please feel free to share them.
Well there is Weathercarrot's article: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=22959#post22959
Johnny Swank
01-14-2009, 18:31
Jack,
Here's some stuff I've written on this subject in the past. I probably need to update some of the info myself, but it's a start.
Thru-hiking on the Cheap
http://sourcetosea.net/thru-hiking-on-the-cheap/
Budgeting for a Thru-hike
http://sourcetosea.net/budgeting-for-a-thru-hike/
Cutting Down on Town Time
http://sourcetosea.net/thru-hiking-cutting-down-on-town-time/
jersey joe
01-14-2009, 20:41
The absolute best way to save money on a thru hike is to stay in the woods. Avoid towns and zeros.
The absolute best way to save money on a thru hike is to stay in the woods. Avoid towns and zeros.
Thanks for starting the thread Jack.
Excellent point Joe. Towns are money sinks. Resupplying along the way is another way to save bucks - on postage and on food that you lose interest in eating midway through your hike. I would also recommend to most hikers to avoid Trail Days the year you are hiking, and come back the next year. Taking 2-4 days off in a trail town gets expensive - even if you are staying at a hostel that asks or a minimal donation.
this is more of a before you hike way to save money and i've mentioned it recently in a couple threads: to save on equipment purchases
buying previous year's models... which requires patience and time while searching
Blissful
01-14-2009, 21:07
Even preparing for the AT there are plenty of ways to save money when gathering gear. Look for used items at Goodwill and thrift sotres (like clothing) and yard sales (I got my thermarest seat cushion for fifty cents). Look for other hikers getting rid of stuff on sales boards (I'e gotten Big Agnes sleeping bag and pad). Now is a great time to buy as many outdoor shops online and off are having huge sales. And if you find a pair of shoes that work, start buying them on sale now so you will have them for your hike. (I have four pairs of trail runners ready for my 2011 hike that I got at great sales as I know they work for me)
Right on Blissful.
Gear won't get you to Katahdin, or Springer if you're going SOBO. Do you need the latest Leki poles? Nope. A wooden staff will do. Do you need a $300 tent, or a $250 rain jacket? Nope. Do you need $150 boots? Nope. A GPS? Definitely not! Need a cell phone? No.
Don't be lulled into thinking you need a bunch of stuff to complete the trail. Every year somebody completes the trail after making most or all of their gear. And there are some great DIY forums here on this site. What you really NEED is a desire to be out there.
Johnny Thunder
01-14-2009, 21:36
A cheap hike is a simple hike. The easy things are typically cheaper. Why spend money on an expensive tent when a tarp will do? You can get by with one 20 degree bag. No need for an inflatable air mattress. I saw hikers get by without pads at all. Alcohol stoves are cheap and simple to keep working.
Mentioned before that "walking the black road" is the only way you can spend money.
WArning..a boiler plate, copy and paste post coming up. ;)
Quality Gear on the Cheap: If you read those glossy outdoor magazines, you'd think you need a $300 pack, a $300 shell and a $300 fleece. You do not need expensive gear to enjoy backpacking. Often the brand name gear, besides being expensive, is heavy, bulky and overkill for what is supposed to be for the simple joy of walking.
Though written for the Appalachian Trail, the general concepts apply for quality gear on the cheap:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=206678#post206678
Some additional information I will add is that you should invest in a decent sleeping bag. The Campmor down bag is rated to 20F and is known as a good budget bag.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=86896&memberId=12500226
If you are looking for a light, compressible and warm jacket check out an army liner jacket (mentioned in the above article, but deserves to be emphasized) : http://tinyurl.com/2dfgpk
(http://tinyurl.com/2dfgpk)
If you don't mind a bit of sewing, you can make a Montbell Thermwrap clone for less than $20 with the above liner jacket. A men's large comes in at 12oz! Considering a Montbell Thermawrap is $150 and weights 10oz, the cheap way is nice for those on a budget on who need something warm, light and cheap!
Check it out: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41034
Needlong underwear, hats, socks, hats, mittens, etc? Check out Warm Stuff Distributing (formerly known as the Underwear Guys) http://www.theunderwearguys.com (http://www.theunderwearguys.com/) (Fiddle Head here on WB helps run it, too!)
All the basics at excellent prices. The items tend to be off-brand, surplus and/or factory irregulars. However, I personally think the off-brand, surplus or irregular is as good (and sometimes better than) the Patagucci clothing. Sometimes warmer, sometimes lighter weight... always cheaper!
Finally, for high altitude/desert hiking I suggest a long sleeve polyester dress shirt for the princely sum of $4 from many thrift stores. I've used this type of shirt for literally several thousand miles of backpacking.
The shirt has a handy front pocket that I can stick a map in, too! For AT hiking, you can get a short sleeve version....
Johnny Thunder
01-14-2009, 22:02
You can also find standard insulation and athletic clothing at discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Max.
Here are 2 little suggestions. I wanted a piece of Tyvek for a tent footprint. I got a huge wad of the stuff from Lowe's for free. Lots of lumber, et al comes wrapped in it; when they unwrap the merchandise, they throw it out. My piece had many tears and holes, but I found a big enough area to fit my tent.
Second, I used an old foam sleeping pad to cut and sew a coozie for my cookpot. It fit just right.
Buy cheap shoes. Personally, I don't care that the plain white reeboks I got at Sears are not cool looking. What they are is often under priced because nobody wears things like plain white Reeboks because they aren't cool. This results in 25 dollar shoes if you get them on sale. Which as most consumers know, everything in department stores is on sale right now.
I got my fleece at Wal Mart for 12 bucks, it would have been 10, but I needed a tall. It kept me plenty warm at night. The same as any 50 dollar fleece anyhow.
Sure a lot of cheap shoes are just that, cheap. But a smart shopper can find shoes very under priced if they are qilling to take uncool colors of uncool brands.
I hiked a couple hundred miles in a pair of DC skate shoes I had sent from home that were already well over a year old. They felt great. For me, hiking it what I walk around town in anyway just makes more sense than using some special hiking shoe or boot that my feet aren't used to.
If the shoe fits.
Ron Haven
01-14-2009, 23:12
The absolute best way to save money on a thru hike is to stay in the woods. Avoid towns and zeros.Joe,I will agree with you and Mowgli both
Thanks for starting the thread Jack.
Excellent point Joe. Towns are money sinks. Resupplying along the way is another way to save bucks - on postage and on food that you lose interest in eating midway through your hike. I would also recommend to most hikers to avoid Trail Days the year you are hiking, and come back the next year. Taking 2-4 days off in a trail town gets expensive - even if you are staying at a hostel that asks or a minimal donation.But I also think if they were running short that making a few dollars along the way in trail towns helps.
Also Jack Tarlin,
What do you think of this.Somewhere here on Whiteblaze putting a message board for people such as myself to list available work or work for stay.I usually have some work in very busy season to help maids in the laundry,sweeping the walks and keeping parking lots clean and even some work available at the hiker bash.This maybe is a little off topic but it may help to make a dollar along with saving one too!
Lone Wolf
01-14-2009, 23:15
most that do work-for-stay spend it on booze, drugs and cigarettes
Alligator
01-14-2009, 23:25
I scored 3 or 4 nice hiking shirts at Walmart last fall, both sleeveless and short sleeve for $6/each. They aren't heavy either. I kept watching for them in the clearance rack but they never got marked down.
joshua5878
01-15-2009, 10:05
I scored 3 or 4 nice hiking shirts at Walmart last fall, both sleeveless and short sleeve for $6/each. They aren't heavy either. I kept watching for them in the clearance rack but they never got marked down.
My local FL Target has a great selection of both long sleave and short sleave Champion brand Poly blend shirts, no cotton. On sale for $8.99. Then they have 100% Polyester "boxer briefs" snug fit for 7-8 bucks.
I saw this stuff @ outfitters in GA & NC for as much as 50 bucks for one pair, or 1 shirt!!!
Somebody on W/B also turned me on to Sierra Trading Post where they sell "Wicker" brand long underwear tops and bottoms. Expedition weight, mid weight and light weight tops and bottoms for way under 20 bucks. Some of them where as cheap as 11 dollars! I am outfitting both my brother and I so this represented huge savings to me!!!
Johnny Swank
01-15-2009, 10:47
The absolute best way to save money on a thru hike is to stay in the woods. Avoid towns and zeros.
So true. I took over 30 zeros/town days on my thru-hike, and only 6 on our Mississippi River trip (3 of those were to dodge a hurricane). I figure about $100/town (with motel/hostel/meals/beer/etc) average, and that adds up in a hurry.
So true. I took over 30 zeros/town days on my thru-hike, and only 6 on our Mississippi River trip (3 of those were to dodge a hurricane). I figure about $100/town (with motel/hostel/meals/beer/etc) average, and that adds up in a hurry.
I think that's where you get folks telling people that you need $5000 to hike the trail. You surely don't "need" $5K. You might WANT it though. Big difference.
I find that some hikers end up going into towns because the friends they met on the trail are doing the same thing. Nomad ('98) gave me some great advice. He said that the group ahead of you or behind you is usually as nice or nicer than the group you are currently hiking with. I have to agree. As a result of that advice, I never spent more than about 2 weeks with any individual along the way.
Ron Haven
01-15-2009, 11:30
most that do work-for-stay spend it on booze, drugs and cigarettesThis is very true,but with some extra work it may allow them to save the money they set a side.
I think the only really useful contribution I made to previous hike cheap threads was he following idea...
While saving up for a thru-hike, or long section, you can practice what you hope to be doing, which can include...
1. Doing some daily walks to test clothing and reduce transportation costs.
2. Doing a weekly walk to the grocery to resupply like you plan to on the trail, to see what sort of food you can buy, and what you like to eat, and maybe use nothing more than a kettle for preparing meals.
3. Including an exercise program, of which the walking is already a good part, in order to get in shape but also to simulate more closely the energy and food and appetite during your hike.
4. Avoiding fast food and restaraunts, or at least limiting them to what your budget on the trail might be.
5. Other such things as might develop and simulate and test the discipline, isolation, trials, and pleasures and rewards of life on the trail. This might include reading at night before bedtime.
PatrickONeill
02-18-2009, 02:21
I did not see anyone state it, but GOODWILL and SALVATION ARMY have incredible deals on jackets shirts, and , occasionally books and gear.
I am going shopping tomorrow, well today, at The Salvation Army because weds. they have 50% off clothing!!!!
And the price is already ridiculously low.
They consistently have clothes that appear to have never been worn, or only once or twice, dress shirts for $2 - $5, major brand names, and then take another 50% off.
Every Goodwill and Salvation Army in every city I have ever lived is the same, always have a special discount day, and senior discount day, etc.
And my friends are CONSTANTLY asking me where I get my clothes.
I just think it is insane to go high-end on clothes, even if you have the money, when you can help out a great organization and keep more of your cash.
BTW, has anyone used army navy surplus clothes and gear on the trail?
hopefulhiker
02-18-2009, 09:45
Dehydrating your own food can save a lot of money over the store bought stuff. It gives you more control over what you are eating and you can buy in bulk... Of course it does cost to mail drop..
Avoiding towns, except for necessary trips, like mail drops is a way to save money. Not drinking or smoking is another way..
I would not count on it but I was absolutely surprised at how much trail majic there was. If you go with the flow of the crowd of North bounders the chances of being around for it are increased.. Unfortunately a lot of thru hikers get used to this great treatment and then end up getting a sense of entitlement...
garlic08
02-18-2009, 10:49
As a corollary to the avoiding towns rule, I found out that a faster hike is a cheaper hike, too. More and longer days of hiking means fewer days on the trail which means less money spent. Many don't consider that the most enjoyable way to hike the AT, but if you're on a budget....
I think money can be saved by buying food along the way. Higher grocery costs are offset by easier logistics, less postage, and again, a faster hike with less time spent in towns.
Slo-go'en
02-18-2009, 12:23
Saving money on gear before your hike gives you more money for the hike, but don't be too cheap about it or you will end up having to replace stuff on the trail.
If you stay at a hostel which has a kitchen, buy stuff to cook for dinner during the town run instead of eating out. Team up with several others to split the cost and made a good dinner.
Only spend one night in town. If you need a zero day to rest, do it the first shelter out of town, bring extra supplies for that day.
Get an Ingles savings card at the first one you shop at, you'll likely run into more than a few of them along the way down in the south.
jersey joe
02-18-2009, 12:31
As a corollary to the avoiding towns rule, I found out that a faster hike is a cheaper hike, too. More and longer days of hiking means fewer days on the trail which means less money spent.
Excellent point garlic. You can certainly save money by hiking the trail in a shorter amount of time.
Celeritas
02-18-2009, 12:35
Excellent point garlic. You can certainly save money by hiking the trail in a shorter amount of time.
Do you think you could also save by hiking slower, thus using less energy, and having to eat less food?
Time your town stops for morning. If you want to treat yourself to a meal, breakfast is less cost. Even the AYCE is less expensive in the afternoon at most places. Also, the AYCE may have a "salad only" bar. If you want a beer, buy it and get out of town and you can drink it on the trail.
Do you think you could also save by hiking slower, thus using less energy, and having to eat less food?
No. I don't think so. On balance, it would equal out or cost more.
The Weasel
02-18-2009, 12:46
Saving money in towns on zero days:
1) Share motel rooms (be honest at check-in). Many will allow 4 to a room (if you're willing to share beds). Check for free breakfasts. A $100 Holiday Inn for 4 with full breakfast is cheaper than a $30 solo room.
2) Share laundry loads with others; few hikers have a full load on their own. Don't use dryers.
3) Get cash without fees at Post Offices and groceries as "cash back" on purchases, instead of using ATMs.
4) Go to church on Sunday or even midweek. Many have "coffee hour" afterwards and sermons are generally free. (Shower first!)
TW
jersey joe
02-18-2009, 12:47
do You Think You Could Also Save By Hiking Slower, Thus Using Less Energy, And Having To Eat Less Food?
No.
This isn't for everyone, especially UL people, but stay out longer. I usually pack for about 5-7 days of food at a time. The longer I'm out the less I want to go into town because there are so many chores to do. The logistics of town chores is enough to make me want to zero in itself.
Also, if you are taking a zero/nero days, buy most of your food you'll be eating for the next day or two at the grocery store. Do you like to drink? Go out for 1 or 2 and then get a 6 pack to share later. I am usually disappointed by restaurant meals anyway. (Unless I am at home in New Jersey...mmmmm)
I haven't thru'd, but I would guess a shorter hike WOULD be cheaper. Face it folks, most people who do long hikes on the AT, of the 7 or 8 month variety, ususally get to that number through the amount of zero days they take. Not always, I know, but that's what it seems like (I was off all summer and read alot of TJ, ok?) I'll never do a 4 month hike because I'm not a fast hiker, but I doubt I'll be out longer than 6 months.
Rockhound
02-18-2009, 13:05
Do you think you could also save by hiking slower, thus using less energy, and having to eat less food?
no
jersey joe
02-18-2009, 13:08
I'll never do a 4 month hike because I'm not a fast hiker...
Common misconception...
...doing a fast hike doesn't usually mean you hike fast. Usually it means you hike for a larger portion of the day and take less zero and nero days.
Rockhound
02-18-2009, 13:10
Also avoid the group mentality. You hook up with some people and all of a sudden a quick stop in town for a $30 resupply can become a zero with 2 nights lodging, dinner out and a movie and all of a sudden that $30 turns into $150+.
Common misconception...
...doing a fast hike doesn't usually mean you hike fast. Usually it means you hike for a larger portion of the day and take less zero and nero days.
Fair enough, but I usually do hike all day. Well, for me all day is 10-12 hours in the summertime. Sometimes I can hike all day long and only make 16 or 17 miles depending on terrain.
So, in my case I don't hike fast enough to do a 4 month hike like that. I could never maintain a 20-25 mpd pace on the AT day in and day out.
Hi you know now days almost all your fast foodplace have $1 menus you can get still eat in towns just get stuff off the $1 menu this inc. BG/ WENDY/ MCDOL/ARBY/ROY ROGER/CHECKER JUST A FEW THAT HAVE $1 MENUS
:cool: