Gear on the cheap

[AmonStone]

Not sure if this is anyones bag, but I enjoy going yard saleing on the weekends sometimes.
I've found that it can be a great place to find used gear cheap.
Now just realize though, that alot of times, it's not top of the line stuff.
Someone who buys a NorthFace tent isn't someone who goes camping just occasionally.
That being said, I've found great stuff for pretty small money.
Tents for 5 or 10 bucks. Sleeping bags for about the same.
The jungle hammock that I use now I bought at a yardsale for 5 bucks for a pair of them. They were bought new at an Army surplus store only a couple of years before, and were only used a couple times.
People have camping gear they just want to get rid of and aren't too interested in making a fortune.
I've heard time and time again that they bought the gear, went camping and hated it.
Give it a shot.

[Bilko]

I would imagine finding high quality camping gear at a yard sell is like finding a girl friend, you got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess.

[jrwiesz]

I would imagine finding high quality camping gear at a yard sell is like finding a girl friend, you got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess.

I like frog legs.

Just sayin'. :sun

[ChrisFol]

Back when was I was a broke law student living in student housing and various apartments I would find that at the end of every month, leaving tenants would offer items up for sale and at the end of the semester when students left for home or for their new job, they would only pack what could fit in their car.

These days most of this stuff is found on Craigslist, rather than pin-up notices on building walls, but I digress.

Cheap gear as always been available, and while you will not find the latest Montbell down jacket, it is great to pick up low cost fleeces, trail runners, boots, backpacks etc. Various Goodwills, Arcs etc are good places for clothing too-- synthetic shirts and fleeces galore-- certainly at locations near universities.

[Stoviegal]

I live near a university and find the local Goodwill an excellent place to shop for clothing layers. It was like shopping in a candy store last time I was there, I picked up a few Merino wool, lambs wool and silk sweaters all for around $3-$4 a piece. All in excellent condition. I rarely ever shop retail for layers anymore. There's always lots of good stove making goods. I haven't had much luck finding actual camping equipment though.

[Ox97GaMe]

I dont shop retail for layers either. Thrift stores and yard sales work for me. I have found a few other items simply by chance, like water purifier, head lamp, cook stove. But I dont think that would be the norm. There are treasures to be found, but I wouldnt have to count on finding them in order to gear for a long hike.

[Freedom Walker]

A couple of years ago I found a new Gregory Lasson backpack at a yard sale. It wasn't priced so I asked how much. I was shocked when she said $10. A friend of hers brought some stuff by and told her to price as she saw fit, so she didnt know what she had. Now the pack is too heavy for a thru, (7lbs) but it is great for weekend hikes. You never know what is available at yard sales.

[Mags]

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/outdoor/gear/Product___40065
(http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40065)

Need long underwear, hats, gloves, socks, etc? Check out Warm Stuff Distributing (aka The Underwear Guys) (http://www.theunderwearguys.com/) . Run, in part, by the well-know thru-hiker Fiddlehead, it features the basics for very reasonable prices. It is mainly surplus, seconds and irregulars. I find this type of clothing is not functionally different from the Patagucci clothing, is sometimes lighter and it is always less expensive!

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://astore.amazon.com/pmagcom-20/detail/B000TXUCUG)
If you don't mind a bit of sewing, you can make a Montbell Thermawrap clone for less than $20 with the above liner jacket. A men's large comes in at 12oz! Conidering 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

(http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41034)
For high altitude/desert hiking I suggest a long sleeve synthetic shirt for the princely sum of $4 from many thrift stores. (Old uniform shirts, acrylic shirts from Blair, rayon blends, heck,,.even the 65/35 blends are fine!) I've used this type of shirt for literally several thousand miles of backpacking.

[fiddlehead]

Thanks Mags.
And to all the hikers on this site that have helped us stay in business so long.

[millergear]

And don't forget most hiker Forums (including WB) have FS sections. I've been buying / selling stuff to feed my (fickle) gear addiction at these for years w/o spending big $$$ to try things out.

[10-K]

If you need sunglasses, Steep and Cheap is the place to go.

I think every other item is a pair of sunglasses these days...

[Rocket Jones]

Need long underwear, hats, gloves, socks, etc? Check out Warm Stuff Distributing (aka The Underwear Guys) (http://www.theunderwearguys.com/) . Run, in part, by the well-know thru-hiker Fiddlehead, it features the basics for very reasonable prices. It is mainly surplus, seconds and irregulars. I find this type of clothing is not functionally different from the Patagucci clothing, is sometimes lighter and it is always less expensive!

+1 on The Underwear Guys! Great prices on great gear.




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://astore.amazon.com/pmagcom-20/detail/B000TXUCUG)
If you don't mind a bit of sewing, you can make a Montbell Thermawrap clone for less than $20 with the above liner jacket. A men's large comes in at 12oz! Conidering 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!


Absolutely! If you shop around online, you can find the liners in black as well as OD green and in sizes up to 4x too.

[Ladytrekker]

I walked up on a garage sale and saw a coleman fold-n-go two burner stove still in the box. I do alot of camping so my step got faster as there were alot of people there. I grabbed it asked how much and got if for 10 bucks brand new never used. They are about 75-80 new.

[Blissful]

best buy for me at a yard sale = fifty cent Thermarest seat cushion, went in '07 going in '10.

[JRiker]

payed $3 for two poncho liners. those things normally run $20+ at my local surplus store...