$300 Challenge

[Amigi'sLastStand]

can i use my sewing machine and just get a bolt of silnylon?can each and every peice be homemade?

Make your own silnylon and save the $$$

[SGT Rock]

Bringing this back up on request.

[Tha Wookie]

Question:

Can you spend it on raw materials?

Would you have to buy a sewing machine or is that already there?

A good question about going cheap came up on the thread Shoestring Budget. One of the neatest threads I ever saw was called the $300 challenge over on www.thebackpacker.com. Since that thread had been dead a while, I figured I would start a new one here.

The rules - you have $300 to spend on a pack. Temperatures expected should be about 40 degrees F and above - maybe good enough for an AT thru-hike starting in April. The goal is to build a complete pack with clothing, shelter, cookware, first aid, etc. You can assume that certain things may be already owned by a non-backpacker like a toothbrush, spoon, etc, but these weights must be included. The base pack weight (weight without food or water) should be less than 15 pounds.

Who is game?

[Tha Wookie]

whoah....


I just saw the other threads..... looks like I'm not the only one who'd rather make the best gear!

[Mags]

I had to laugh a few months ago.

Backpacker Magazine did an article similar to the one on Whiteblaze. (I think they may have called it the $400 challenge or something similar instead! No lie!)

There were even some suggestions extremely similar to what WB users suggested. One suggestion was to look at thrift stores in places that are outdoor areas. Boulder, CO was specifically mentioned!

I wonder if outdoor mags (BPer writers in particular?) are getting some article ideas from scouring the hiking BBSes ? Not saying the magazines are doing it per se..but some free lancers may be getting their ideas from this place and others... Rather funny.

[SGT Rock]

Question:

Can you spend it on raw materials?

Would you have to buy a sewing machine or is that already there?

For my rules - no you wouldn't have to count the cost of your sewing machine but you would have to count the materials you got to make it. An example is my new winter hammock I spent about $8 to make and then throw in the Sil-nylon tarp (that stuff is a PITA to sew) for $40.

whoah....


I just saw the other threads..... looks like I'm not the only one who'd rather make the best gear!

Absolutely. It is amazing how much money you can save by DIY gear and people can rapidly figure out that they can make stuff just as good as some of that high priced stuff.

I would love to see Tha Wookie's idea of this list. I bet you have some good ideas to save money.

I got this one back up because a couple of guys I work with are getting into hiking and they found WhiteBlaze. One was telling me about WhiteBlaze without knowing I am a regular here. So anyway, he was talking about getting some new gear and how expensive it is - so I pointed him at the Dirtbagging article and this thread.

[Marta]

One was telling me about WhiteBlaze without knowing I am a regular here.

That is a hoot!

[Captn]

Walmart 2600 cu in Book Bag $ 20
Campmor Poncho Tarp $ 45
Equinox ultralight Bivy (backcountrygear.com) $ 60
Walmart head net $ 2
Lafuma warm n light 600 40 degree down sleeping bag (sports basement) $ 85
Blue pad from Walmart, trimmed $ 7
Scrap Tyvek for Ground cloth free 8 coat hanger stakes free
stuff sacks and pack liner, etc. Trashbags free f
fuel bottle - cast off soda bottle free
Beer Can Pot w/ coathanger wire bail and foil lid free
Soda can stove and "z stand" pot support made from a coat hanger free
Spoon from home free
mini Bic lighter $ 1
Dryer lint and a spare mini bic in a ziplock bag for emergency fire starter$ 1
Walmart knockoff paracord $ 2
Shopping bag for food and bear bagging (double bag it) free
Knit hat from home free
Insulation - use sleeping bag and poncho n/a
Walmart Fleece Top $ 10
Walmart Nylon Shirt $ 7
Walmart polyester workout pants (warmer than nylon) $ 10
Shorts - swimsuit from home (please leave the speedo's out of it) free
Walmart Nylon Dress socks $ 4
Shoes - tennis shoes from home free
water bottles - use soda/gatorade bottles free
Aquamira $ 12
first aid - make from home supplies in ziplock free
Small bottle of Dr. Bronners soap $ 4
Toiletries from home in a ziplock free
small swiss army knife (classic) $ 10
Toilet paper from home in a ziplock free
Compass - walmart $ 4
Flashlight - walmart headlamp $ 8
Alcohol $ 5
Hand Sanitizer $ 1
cotton bandana $ 1
$ 299 total

[SGT Rock]

Looks like a good list Captn

[jesse]

Sounds like a fun challenge. It may take a while. Last sunday I bought about 12 yds of nylon, 4 yd of sil-nylon at the $1 bin at Walmart. I am kicking myself for not getting some fleece that was also $1/yd. I may go back tonight. Should be able to make all clothes except underware, socks and shoes cheap.
I'll be back!

[Mags]

I wrote mine a while ago. It is more aimed for 3 season backpacking in Colorado. I figure the ideas should apply to anywhere, though.

Due to not being able to copy and paste the formating too easily, I'll just post the link:
http://www.magnanti.com/miscwritings..._challenge.htm


Just my .02 contribution.

[SGT Rock]

Good list Mags.

[Bootstrap]

Switching from my expensive Asolo boots to my $35 Nike running shoes was one of the best decisions I ever made.

How does that work if it rains? My Vasques are nice and waterproof, even in days of hard rain. The main reason I haven't switched over is that I worry about getting caught in that kind of rain again ...

Jonathan

[dessertrat]

Are we allowing used gear? That seems to make it easy.

[SGT Rock]

They get wet. At the end of the day I take my shoes off and they dry out by the next morning.

Waterproof doesn't mean dry.

[SGT Rock]

Are we allowing used gear? That seems to make it easy.

Maybe, post your list and I will adjudicate it LOL. If you are grabbing some $400 pack you bought a year ago and saying that is good - well that won't count. But if you bought a backpack at a thrift store that was used that is allowable. And no donating your pack then buying it back to cheat.

[Dirtygaiters]

Make your own silnylon and save the $$$

Is there really a lot of monetary savings. You can get silnylon from online for $5/yard. Uncoated ripstop nylon + silicone + mineral spirits + paint brushes would surely cost more than that, wouldn't it?

[Jim Adams]

SGT Rock,
I don't know why but I carry stakes for my tent when tenting but always make my stakes while tarping. If you make them from available materials in camp (quick and easy) you don't have to carry any in your pack. Just a thought.

geek

[Mags]

How does that work if it rains? My Vasques are nice and waterproof, even in days of hard rain. The main reason I haven't switched over is that I worry about getting caught in that kind of rain again

The boots many not let rain in..but the tops of the boots do.

As with Sgt. Rock, I switched to trail runners (partially) because the boots always endeed up gettig wet and took forever to dry.

As always, YMMV.

[Bootstrap]

The boots many not let rain in..but the tops of the boots do.

With a good pair of rain pants covering them, I did pretty well in pouring rain for 2 days straight, which is all you can ask for.

On the other hand, they *are* heavy ...

Jonathan