What can I get at Walmart?

[Lefty Red]

From my experience in cycling, I quickly learned that a bike shop will take an el cheapo item, put a picture of a bike on it and triple the price.

I've seen the same thing in outdoor gear too. Walmart sells a trowel for under $5 that REI sells for $16. I bought neither one since sticks are free and I have an extra tent stake.

I understand that my experience as a weekend and short trip backpacker doesn't fully qualify me to evaluate gear for the long haul. I've seen though, through trail and error, some of the things where I needed/wanted to spend some dough - almost anything with down or wool, a lightweight tent, Osprey packs, I've also used a few things from Walmart that seem to be cheaper and as functional as need be: grease pot, HEET, butane gas, wool socks, synthetic base layers (which will end up smelly but are cheap enough to replace), a beanie/skullcap/tuque, a head lamp. My question is - what other things could you good folks suggest I get at Walmart (or other discount) store?

[BirdBrain]

TP, tent stakes, Deet, Absorber towel, compass, paracord,... thinking.

[BirdBrain]

Don't buy tent, sleeping bag, pad, pack, etc at discount store. Too important of items to skimp and end up with heavy item and inferior quality. IMHO

[Rasty]

They sell a three piece roll-top stuff sack set for about $10. Permithrin, Starter brand clothing.

[Lefty Red]

Thanks y'all. I did spring for the expensive stuff (for me) - tent, sleeping bag, pad, pack - tent = Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2, Sleeping bag = Montbell Super Spiral, sleeping pad = Klymit and packs = Osprey.

Those roll top bags from Walmart are pretty good. The permethrin is a great idea. I have a Starter brand fleece and a couple of dry fit shirts. I'll look through there other stuff too.

Keep it coming!

[brian039]

The stuff sacks they have there have worked fine for me. Also the Starter shirts that you mentioned are fine as well as the shorts. I bought a Coleman stove that is equivalent to the MSR Pocket Rocket that lasted me until Vermont. The Dry Ducks rain gear could work too, though they are likely to rip at some point.

[Tuckahoe]

My local Walmart doesnt have a large selection. Persoanlly I would not buy my pack, sleeping bag, or tent there. But they do carry CCF pads, stuff sacks and dry bags, pack covers, cook pots, utencils, lights, and consumables like fuel cannisters.

[wcgornto]

I find the Walmart Outdoor Products stuff sacks to be better, much better, than the Sea to Summit ones that too quickly leak heavily at the seams.

[Rocket Jones]

Spare batteries for your headlamp.

In the kitchen accessories aisle look for aluminum disposable oven drip pans - cut one up for a stove windscreen.

Automotive: reflective foil windshield screen - cut it up and reassemble with duct tape for a pot cozy.

Blue foam pad in the camping section. Too thin and uncomfortable for my old bones, but I carry a torso length in the winter for an extra layer of insulation on top of my sleeping pad. Another piece makes a great sit pad so my butt doesn't freeze and/or get muddy when it's cold and rainy.

Pretty good trail mixes in the grocery section, and I've taken a liking to the Jack Links Steak Nuggets. Easier to chew than jerky - tastier too - and mixes well with instant mashed potatoes for a real rib-sticking meal.

I also got a sleeve of their store-brand lemonade mixes. The drink mix is ok, but the cardboard sleeve is perfect for short trips if I want to carry some crackers without being crushed. Add a chunk of cheese, a chunk of summer sausage and a few olives in a small ziplock and you'll have a lunch to make your buddies jealous on day 2 or 3.

Speaking of... freezer ziplocks in the quart size for freezer bag cooking. And the giant 5-gallon size ziplocks for keeping your dry clothes dry in your pack.

So many possibilities...

[Wise Old Owl]

Blue foam is gone at several walmarts... suggest a super center - add polypro shirts can be had if you look hard enough... its cheaper as it is all from china - the bike shop has overhead to pay for... just like Starbucks is on every extensive corner or high real estate.

[Chuckie V]

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These are my preferred thru-hiking shoes, via Wally-World. Starter brand, $16 a pair. They last about 300-400 miles a pair and come in a wide array of colors.

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This stuff works too and can be found at most Wal-Marts.

There was once a thru-hiker named Wal-Mart Joe, who outfitted almost his entire collection of stuff from Wal-Mart, and for both the AT and the PCT. He said "too many hiker types put too much emphasis on the gear itself and not its intent." He also said couldn't afford thru-hiking had it not been for Wally-World.

[Starchild]

Walmart is not bad for a initial outfitting, that is before understanding how you want to backpack and what equipment you wish to get. Using Walmart in this was gets you some very usable equipment on the cheap. As you go you will learn which way you would like to go, what items you want to upgrade, what items work find from Walmart.

It also allows you to go from the bottom level of cost right to the top end and have that ability not to buy at the mid-range. For instant Walmart sells a tent for $20 that is made for 2 children that one adult can use if they sleep diagonally (I think it's called the scout), It comes at 2-3 lb range, which is pretty good and I've heard that people did use such a tent for a thru. Once ready you can come up to the $400 cuban fiber tent of your dreams that you saw at a campsite, so that initial $20 tent will most likely go into storage which seems not so bad compared to starting with a $150 tent that will be stored.

[rocketsocks]

I already have several, but Swiss Army Knifes, the small ones with scissors are sold there, not sure if there's a savings to be had there???

[Alligator]

I buy lots of those dry fit shirts. They don't cost much but I wait for them to go on sale. They have them in the kids section too.

Some Walmarts sell freeze dried meals as well, if you are so inclined.

I don't find much at Sam's Club gearwise, except last Christmas I got two leatherman's for $30, one of which was a CS, the other was full size I will use it for car camping. Food of course in bulk, including Clif bars regular size plus the kids size. Oh, my Sam's did have some raingear that looked like Frogg Toggs but was a different company.

[mak1277]

Completely functional trekking poles for ~$20. Especially if you haven't used them before, it's nice to start out with some that won't cost you $100.

[Lefty Red]

This is awesome, getting some great tips. Too late on the trekking poles - my wife got me a set of Black Diamond Z-Poles for my birthday. I saw some FroggToggs at Walmart the other day but I'd already ordered some from the company (a jacket). We made a trip to Sam's to pick up some Minute Rice, Clif Bars, Nuts and so forth to repackage for trail food. My wife is on a special diet (gluten free) , so eating convenience store food won't work that often. It's funny when we figured out we'd need at least 17 cases of Clif Bars, 400 packs of oatmeal etc.

[rocketsocks]

Completely functional trekking poles for ~$20. Especially if you haven't used them before, it's nice to start out with some that won't cost you $100.

That's what I did, still not sure if I like treking poles yet, but the investment was minimal, something like $14 bucks I think, good idea Mak!

[atmilkman]

Some Walmarts sell freeze dried meals as well, if you are so inclined.

+1 on these. Coleman brand. Depending on the store some pretty good selections. I like them and they're only just over 5 bucks not 8 or 9 like the big name brands.

[BirdBrain]

+1 on these. Coleman brand. Depending on the store some pretty good selections. I like them and they're only just over 5 bucks not 8 or 9 like the big name brands.

Those things are very tempting. Too much salt for my tastes. I do not put salt on anything or in anything. We will be dehydrating and making own. But very cost effective choice for those that don't mind the salt.

[Old Hiker]

Coleman soap sheets - MUCH lighter than liquid soaps, easier to use. Careful with the iso propane tanks - some work with the Coleman stoves, some don't Don't know if it was an single bad one or not. My Pocket Rocket has had no probs with any brand.