$300 Challenge

[SGT Rock]

I use some mini-gaiters.

[eyahiker]

Hmmmm. Will have to get a pair and try them, only have the tall ones now, a little heavy thought MSR's with the vent......which are great but they cook the salt on your legs.

[SGT Rock]

There was a guy on the trail this year named French Connection. He took a pair of hiking socks and cut the foot part off, then used the leg part as a pair of ultralight giters for keeping the junk out of his shoes.

[Jersey Bob]

at least 10 characters

[eyahiker]

Wow. I'll have to test my merrells one weekend, see how it goes. THanks for the suggestions!

[magic_game03]

any of you folks know Ronnie the Israeli? does anybody know about his '02-'03 sobo hike?

I met him and jackblack at little laurel shelter in NC/TN area and he told me about purchasing his footwear. he said campmor was selling some cheap hiking shoe that went on sale for about $15 so he bought 10 pair. from Katahdin to Little Laurel he had only use 4 pair and so the rest he would use on the PCT/CDT.

Talk about cheap!

two more points about cheap foot wear. first, natives all around the world in rugged areas go shoeless. second, boots can be just as problematic as lightweight footwear; I've stubbed more toes lugging around heavy boots at the end of a long day than I could ever imagine in my NB-806's.

[eyahiker]

good points about the native populations of the world. I would love to try to hike barefoot. Really!


Anybody game for a warm weekend next year?

[Peaks]

Perhaps it's me.....but the whole idea on skimping on the footwear seems like a mistake. Thoughts?

I don't know what you mean by skimping. What is important is to find footwear that fits your feet. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean that it's going to be compatable with your feet. And many people get away with some bargin basement footwear. You need to find what works best for you. Take the time for get what is best for your feet.

[SGT Rock]

Sure, I got my $220 Asolo goretex boots for $40 on a clearance sale - would that be considered skimping or just getting a bargin? I mean they are quality boots, and they do fit, but they turn out to be a lot more than I ever need especially on the AT.

On the other hand, I get my running shoes at the Military Clothing Sales store for a good price. they fit really well, dry fast, support my feet exactly how they need to be for high stress, high impact activities, and I don't need camp shoes or town shoes anymore. Am I skimping at this point because they are only $35, or would it be better if I paid $200 for trail runners from REI or something?

I think the trick is to find out what works for you and not worry about traditional gear standards have been for the last couple of decades.

[skysappr]

Backpack, Homemade $7 materials 18oz

Bag, Modified army patrol, $45, 24 oz

Pad, 18x28x3/8 FT Irwin thrift $1, 6 oz

Shelter,Homemade same $7 as pack, 16 oz

Gutter nails, $5, 5oz

2.5 gal ziplock bag, from home, .1 oz

Field jacket liner, issue, 12 oz

Polartec fleece bottoms, issue/modified 8 oz

Nylon rain top, gift from wife, 12 oz

Fleece gloves, $5, 2 oz

Fleece hat homemade from issue pants, 1 oz

Thorlo hiking socks, $5, 2 oz

Coolmax socks, $3.50, 1 oz

NB 485 running shoes, $50, 26 oz

Alcohol “ION” stove, recycables, .1 oz

Kevin S type screen, $1 oven liner, .2 oz

Mirro non stick pot, $6, 6 oz

Kevin S pothandle, $1, 1oz

Gatorade cup(SGT Rock type) Recyclables, 2oz

Lexan spoon (reduced), $2, .1oz

Homemade bear hanger complete, Backpack material scraps, 550 chord from riggers, 4 oz

2 x 2Lt outdoor products bladders, $20, 14oz for pair

Hikers friend gravity filter, 2.5 gal ziplock bag, $16 filter, 8oz

Garrity headlamp and squeeze backup, $17 total, 2.2oz

Tool logic knife set w/red led and other gadgets $18, 2oz

Stansport trecking poles, $38, 20oz





Total’s: $232.5 Oz 192.7

Some items other than base pack weight, shoes treck poles etc

[TDale]

Great list!

[hustler]

Warren Doyle I've heard gave a presentation one year at trail days on how to do a "walmart" hike. I didn't think it could be done until I was shopping at "sprawl-mart" the other day. They had some really cheap and light packs for sale, they also had a 45 degree, 3 pound bag (would have to use compression sack). I was so convinced that you could do this hike, that I am sponsoring one of my friends in 06 to do the elusive walmart hike. I hope to put a list together for you guys but I'm working too many hours each week trying to pay off my debts from my recent thru-hike. I really don't like walmart because they are an evil corporation, but the hike must be done.

[SGT Rock]

Maybe you could get Wal-Mart tos sponsor you LOL!

[magic_game03]

good start Skysappr, I think your list is a bit short though.

toilet paper? (leaves are free and add no weight )
lighter or maches?(of course two sticks always works )
no gaiters?
do you expect your pack to weigh more than your shelter?
rain cover or inner pack liner for rain storms?
what's the 2.5 gal ziplock for? it's huge couldn't you get away with a 1 gallon
what about maps or companion?
you mention two bladders but you forgot the hose and mouth piece unit weight?
how about shirts, you going shirtless?
you might want to consider one small piece of cotton material like a bandanna, that synthetic stuff sucks for keeping sweat out of your eyes and it doubles as an emergency compression pad for lacerations.
any blister control, maybe ducktape?
tooth paste or mouth wash?(you could get away w/o tooth brush if you use your finger but then you might have to consider disinfectant soap to wash your hands with first)
camp shoes? (it sucks to walk around in wet shoes or barefoot in mud)
2.2 ozs for head lamp? does that include batteries?
how about fuel and fuel bottle?


sorry skysappr, not trying to bugger you out, I just think you may need a little modification.

[SGT Rock]

Bringing this back to the top on request.

[Skyline]

This is a thread I bet Warren Doyle could add something worthwhile to. That guy knows cheap. And he seems proud of it.

[SGT Rock]

Yes, I would love to see Warren post a good cheapo list to this thread.

Posting again to move the thread up. Anyone got any good gear lists that meet the criteria?

[berninbush]

Question..... I'm more or less a newbie at backpacking, but I wonder why I don't see more about Ozark Trails tents? Yeah, I know, they're Walmart brand and the outfitters would turn up their noses... but they're very cheap and not too bad. I've spent some reasonably comfy nights in them, away from bugs and rain, which is all I care about.

Right now I have one tent that is literally a child's toy. It came in a box with a child-size chair and sleeping bag, and it looks like it should never leave the back yard. It's about 5' by 6' and just big enough for me to sit up or lie down. But I can sleep comfortably in there with my 42-lb dog. (In fact, in a previous one that I had the same size, I slept there with my dog and my sister!) And while I don't know the exact weight, it's no big deal to carry. I also have the "Hiker Dome Tent" if I want a little more space... I like that one a lot.

The only really bad Ozark Trails experience I've had was with the new style of "Junior Dome Tent." It claims to be 5' by 6' but the weird shape of the floor barely left me room to lie down, and a basic design flaw meant that the roof accumulated a gallon (no exaggeration!) of water in a rainstorm and leaked like a sieve. :-( I wish they'd left well enough alone with the excellent old design.

Anyway... why does no one ever talk about these tents, even to disparage them? They cost 1/10 as much as the "good" stuff. I think they're at least worth discussing.

[Spock]

SGT,
I asked under your dirtbag thread, but let me ask again here: Can I post a downloadable spreadsheet here? I've got a $140 cheapo gear list that would be, of course, more useful to folks if they could plug in their own stuff. It's in Excell, groups gear categories, summarizes, gives weight and cost subtotals and totals.

[Skidsteer]

Question.....
why does no one ever talk about these tents, even to disparage them? They cost 1/10 as much as the "good" stuff. I think they're at least worth discussing.

From my own perspective...because I've come across these types of tents on trail; abandoned, collapsed, full of rainwater and a blight on the landscape.

They obviously did not perform up to the standards of their owners(slobs and litterbugs as may be)so they, in a fit of disgust, left them to rot.

But I admit I've never tried one for backpacking personally, so I wouldn't mind hearing more about your experiences with them. Anytime I can go cheaper is good so long as it performs.