View Full Version : How much cash do I need???
theresmorethanthis
10-25-2011, 04:28
Im NOBO and leaving in March. I would like to buy as little as possible on the trail, but not be strapped for cash if I need it, and I do not want to run out and not finish!!!! looking for a range of thoughts. Some one told me they spent $6,000. isn't this excessive? I will need a plane Ticket back to Florida when I finnish as well. I don't think I want to fool with too much shipping... seems more expensive to buy it and ship all that food.... also how available is buying any other resupply on the trail? Water filtration? and propane for cooking? should I just go alcohol?
Depends. If you want to camp in the rain while the rest of the party is in town drinking, eating pizza and sleeping in a warm, dry motel room then you can go cheaper but it won't be as much fun. I bet I spent close to $6,000 for a 6 month hike.
people who have more money, will spend more money, and have more fun.
Panzer
Don't become a town hound or seccumb to the "let's slack pack this section" syndrome and you won't spend as much money.
Trailbender
10-25-2011, 08:48
Depends. If you want to camp in the rain while the rest of the party is in town drinking, eating pizza and sleeping in a warm, dry motel room then you can go cheaper but it won't be as much fun. I bet I spent close to $6,000 for a 6 month hike.
I spent $2300 on my 2010 thru and had plenty of fun. My tent was warm and cozy, I was not tempted to sleep in a motel room. I have never considered a motel worth the price. I did stay at a hostel several times, but I took a few creek baths and washed my clothes in the creek a few times as well, mainly to experiment, to see how well it would work. I had a few beers, but I never really felt the need to drink on the trail. I was out there to hike, not party. I did hike with others off and on, and enjoyed their company, but I strongly preferred hiking alone, and it did not bother me to keep on hiking when the others stopped in town.
To answer the OP in short, the more self discipline you have with money, the less you will need. I wasn't even trying to be cheap, and actually splurged several times. If I had cut it to bare bones, I could have did it on about $1500 or so.
garlic08
10-25-2011, 10:02
Some say that a good amount is $3500 plus/minus $1000. I planned on $4500 and spent less than $3500, including worn out gear and transportation to and from Colorado (2008). I did not pass up a single restaurant meal or night's lodging if I wanted it because of funding. I was surprised at how little I spent. I also hiked a fast hike, 3.5 months, and I'm convinced that that saved a lot of money. I have also heard the range lies between $1,000 and $10,000, seriously.
Slo-go'en
10-25-2011, 12:21
First, resupply along the trail is no problem. The pickings can be slim at small town grocery stores or conveniance stores and they tend to be expensive. But it still beats maildrops and going home to 500 left over power bars if you happen to quite early.
There are way too many variables to predict how much money you'll spend. I'd have at least 4 grand put away. We've all seen many a hiker go home due to running out of money. Either they did not budget enough to start or they spent way too much, way too early by not knowing how to budget.
Jim Adams
10-25-2011, 13:47
$3000 should be enough if you use your head and don't "waste" it....just beware, it is very easy to spend too much in the beginning and run out later.
I stayed at some hostels along the way and 3 motel rooms but for the most part I used the cool and cold weather to "camp" down south and tended to stay in hostels or motels later in the summer when I really wanted air conditioning and a nice shower.
geek
OneStepCloser
10-25-2011, 13:53
they say 2 dollars a mile minimum... it really depends you could do it as low as 1200 if you dont stay at hostels/ or go into towns and stuff. me personally i plan on spending 5k(which is the average not including gear).. alcohol, showers, hostels.. maybe stay at a hotel to heal and stuff..
Blissful
10-25-2011, 14:44
$4,000 worked for me just fine. (excluding gear replacement)
Depends. If you want to camp in the rain while the rest of the party is in town drinking, eating pizza and sleeping in a warm, dry motel room then you can go cheaper but it won't be as much fun. I bet I spent close to $6,000 for a 6 month hike.
That included new gear I bought just for the trip. New tent, sleeping bag, pad, shoes and clothing. Also I went through 5 pairs of shoes at $100 a piece. I did see people dropping out due to finances so make sure you have enough. The town stops in the south will drain your money fast if you let them.
Few have complained that they had too much cash.
I've never agreed with Panzer about anything, so what the heck, I'll go ahead and agree with him that if you have access to some cash, you'll be a little more secure when unknown problems arise. That said, the AT and especially thru-hiking (at least to me) is about living in the woods - living in the woods is virtually free once you have purchased your initial gear and food is (relatively speaking) pretty cheap - I can stock my backpack for $20-$25 for a week and eat well - I can get fuel from hiker boxes and you don't even have to yogi to get fed for free once in a while if you can tell a good story to some boy scouts. I thru-hiked on less than $2,000 and did well (this was 1985 money, so double it) If, on the other hand, you think that the AT is about hiking into every trail town, sampling the local beers, eating pizza and staying in hotels with hot tubs and replacing gear at your every whim, you could easily spend $10K - it's all about your style - I backpack to live in the woods in a simple way and cherish a luxury every now and then - if you just walk from hotel to hotel you spend a ton of $$ and miss the point (in my opinion) HYOH.
theresmorethanthis
10-26-2011, 04:29
Some say that a good amount is $3500 plus/minus $1000. I planned on $4500 and spent less than $3500, including worn out gear and transportation to and from Colorado (2008). I did not pass up a single restaurant meal or night's lodging if I wanted it because of funding. I was surprised at how little I spent. I also hiked a fast hike, 3.5 months, and I'm convinced that that saved a lot of money. I have also heard the range lies between $1,000 and $10,000, seriously.
3.5 is fast... average was 20 miles every day? whats the most you did in a day? I should have $3000 to $4000, I really dont want to spend all of that.. and I think Im looking to do it in five months.
theresmorethanthis
10-26-2011, 04:48
Thank everyone for all the advice so far!! To be honest, I can drink and party and be indoors here at home. Some people really like that on the trail, but its not my goal. Im looking to be on the trail as much as possible. Defiantly gonna eat some good meals in town, and no doubt a beer will be nice. But the goal is to see the trail, do extraordinary amounts of thinking, talk and meet people off and on wile hiking the trail, and <u>complete the full length of it.</u> I guess Im gonna shoot for less than $2200, but I will have $3000 to $4000 to spend.<br><br>What gear other than shoes will I need to replace on the trail?
theresmorethanthis
10-26-2011, 04:50
Why 5 pairs??? Ive herd of 2... but five? really? what shoes?
Doc Mike
10-26-2011, 06:48
I'm planning $1000 per month, might be able to go for half that but hard to say ahead of time due to the multiple variables including weather, gear, injuries, etc.
You are on target - I would suggest that you can get by on a relatively small sum on a weekly basis for food and fuel if you stay out of towns and take a shower once a week. The larger money is spent on transportation and gear. I'm not sure if people who do these calculations assume that you are starting from scratch in terms of gear. I worked in an outfitter shop in high school in the 80s so, I was basically good to go - my guess is that a thru-hike could look like this:
50% new gear and replacements on trail - shoes at least once $900.00
Transportation (including shuttles on the trail, etc.) $500.00
21 weeks at $100 / week - should cover food and hostels* $2,100.00
Back up funds for emergencies: $ 500.00
Total: $4,000.00
If you are careful and frugal, you might have a full wallet on the way home. This assumes that you will ride the train and shuttle by bus where available - certainly fancy airfare, taxis, dinners and luxury hotels are not part of what most would consider part of a thru-hiker's budget. * $100 / week is a lot for food, fuel, and a hostel - assuming the food is $7.00 / day, the fuel, $7.00 week, and the hostel is $25.00, this should leave $25.00 weekly for play money - beer, a movie, whatever.
Yep. I wore Brooks trail running shoes, they each lasted about 500 miles. That seemed to be typical for trail runners. Of course PA, NH and ME were harder on them. I really liked these shoes, never had a blister or foot problem the entire trip. I knew from past section hikes how long they would last and planned accordingly.
Chaco Taco
10-26-2011, 07:31
I heard some in 08 spent $1000 but these are the same people that stiffed hostel owners
I'm planning $1000 per month, might be able to go for half that but hard to say ahead of time due to the multiple variables including weather, gear, injuries, etc.
I agree with your line of thinking Doc.
Gear: Equipment I replaced during my thru were a stove, sleeping bag, broken hiking poles, shoes (4 additional pr.), socks and other clothing. Total over $900.
Weather: On a few occasions I went into town during bad weather to dry out. Spent a few days at Shaw's in Monson, ME during Hurricane Irene. Depending on where you stay that could cost $100 a day including eating at a restaurant and other town expenses.
Injuries: Had to go home from NH for an ankle injury. Two weeks off the trail and $200 in travel expenses.
As you can see it adds up fast. Good to be prepared then to come up short and have to end early.
Old Hiker
10-26-2011, 07:38
Few have complained that they had too much cash.
Warren Buffet comes to mind. HEY!!! If we all wrote Warren and explained that we are hikers with hardly any money and since he seems to think he has too much, maybe he could fund an entire AT Thru-hiker class!! 2012 would be excellent!
For myself, I'm saving as much as possible as long as possible. I'd like to have 5K ready in the bank before starting. I have all my gear, so it would just be trail needs, I hope.
Trailbender
10-26-2011, 10:41
$3000 should be enough if you use your head and don't "waste" it....just beware, it is very easy to spend too much in the beginning and run out later.
I stayed at some hostels along the way and 3 motel rooms but for the most part I used the cool and cold weather to "camp" down south and tended to stay in hostels or motels later in the summer when I really wanted air conditioning and a nice shower.
geek
I found I spent more at the end, hit like 3 or 4 hostels just in Maine because I was beat up and burned out. I still liked hiking, was just ready to be done.
i'm not a thru-hiker.. i'm a section hiker but i would like to thru-hike in the future... i spend an average of 50 a week.. that even includes transportation sometimes (train to and from the trail). that's about 1000 bucks for 5 months..
when i try... i'll do it with at least 2000.. but i won't even spend that much.. i'll keep in mind my weekly budget and i'll try not to go over it.
same happens with gear. some ppl would spend $1200 on their gear. i bought all of my gear for 200. and it took a while to choose what i liked better... but i love my $25 tent, my 2 sleeping bags for 60 (both), mess kit 5... i paid 40 for my trail runners (Merrel w/ Vibram soles) at Marshall's. and i did my first hike (entire nj section) with a 20 dollar daypack from wallmart. my current backpack is a Carson 80 at $110.
HYOH buddy.. and do what works for you..
happy trails
Jim Adams
10-26-2011, 13:03
Why 5 pairs??? Ive herd of 2... but five? really? what shoes?
depends on what you wear. most light hikers are only made to last 400-600 miles. Mid weight boots or shoes will usually go 1000-1400 miles and some of the sturdier mid weight and heavier boots will go 2000-4000. You also have to understand that they break down. They may not have holes in them and still be together and look good but they may be internally worn out and start causing blisters, muscle aches, etc.
geek
Jim Adams
10-26-2011, 13:08
I found I spent more at the end, hit like 3 or 4 hostels just in Maine because I was beat up and burned out. I still liked hiking, was just ready to be done.
definitely! If I have a decent supply of cash left toward the end, I will spend it everytime just to be a little more comfortable be it food, shelter, shower, new equipment or what ever. The point that I was making was that it is very easy to hike with others that have a substantial or unlimited buget and stay in every town and eat in every restuarant and sit for a while in every bar and by mid Virginia you are broke and headed home....see alot of this every year.
geek
theresmorethanthis
10-26-2011, 14:06
Stiffing hostel owners... or anyone for that matter, is unacceptable for me.
theresmorethanthis
10-26-2011, 14:12
so then.... When plainning my money, its important to plain to spend my time with people who are more committed to the trail. I think I will be a lone hiker most of the time anyway.
Jim Adams
10-26-2011, 14:37
so then.... When plainning my money, its important to plain to spend my time with people who are more committed to the trail. I think I will be a lone hiker most of the time anyway.
you will make alot of new friends out there...some will be very committed, some will treat the entire hike like a frat party and there will be alot in between. Just use YOUR head...you know how much you have to spend...make lots of friends, have alot of fun but hike so that YOU can finish...HYOH?
example: To save money I may pass up a restaurant when others stop, I may pass up a hostle or motel, I may pass up a ride to town.....but I never pass up a liquor store...but that's just my priority.
blackbird04217
10-26-2011, 17:45
I did it for ~$1000 [not including gear/camera failure] in 2009; I very very rarely stayed in town, and had been working on about $30-45 a week on food/stuffs.
I set out to do it with $2500 set aside, but after things settled down I ended up with $1000 in the bank for it, and I was passed turning back - so I took on the challenge of managing my finances. It didn't hurt the experience in the least for me; but if you can't live without the hostels/hotels plan for a bit more. Given my experience I'd suspect $2500-3000 is plenty of money for a thru-hike; all other obligations aside.
stranger
10-26-2011, 19:30
I think the rule of thumb is if you are asking this question...then you probably do not have enough money for the trip.
stranger
10-26-2011, 19:32
depends on what you wear. most light hikers are only made to last 400-600 miles. Mid weight boots or shoes will usually go 1000-1400 miles and some of the sturdier mid weight and heavier boots will go 2000-4000. You also have to understand that they break down. They may not have holes in them and still be together and look good but they may be internally worn out and start causing blisters, muscle aches, etc.
geek
Damn skippy...most people will be lucky to get 700 miles out of a good pair of shoes, I generally get around 500, give or take
Hotels/motels are where people spend money I think...because if you stay in one, that means you are in town for an extra day, which means you'll spend more money on town food, booze, etc. Make it a goal to get into town and back out within 2 to 3 hours...that's plenty of time for a restaurant meal, resupply, laundry and a shower. I went 850 miles, as far as Waynesboro, was on the trail for about 4 months and spent between $1600 and $1700. I stopped in a town every 3 to 5 days, but I only rarely stayed in town overnight or more than a couple of hours. I got a room about once a month, and took a shower at hostels and campgrounds the rest of the time for a fraction of the cost.
Cheap motel $40
Extra town meals $25
Beer/alcohol $15
The above is guessing on the low end...my theory is every time you spend the night in a motel you're spending around $100 or more because the longer you are in town the more you will spend...do that every week and you just doubled the cost of your hike. Money is spent in towns...spend time in towns and you will spend more money.
garlic08
10-27-2011, 10:37
Hotels/motels are where people spend money I think...because if you stay in one, that means you are in town for an extra day, which means you'll spend more money on town food, booze, etc. Make it a goal to get into town and back out within 2 to 3 hours...spend time in towns and you will spend more money.
Ditto. Another way of saying this is to become a master of the "nearo", or "near zero" hiking day. And this is another illustration of my point that a fast hike is a cheap hike. I averaged 20 mpd on my hike, not to save money but because it's the way I enjoy hiking. A full day in town was a day not hiking, which is why I was out there to start with. I enjoyed making substantial progress, consistently, every day, not sprinting to town then having to stay there and rest and spend money. I only took three zeros on the hike, and two of those were to meet friends and family.
That being said, when I hiked into town late in the day, I would get a motel and a meal because I had the money budgeted. It did add up. Here are my expenses: Trail food: $800. Town food: $700. Lodging: $800. Gear: $400 Travel: $700. Town food and lodging were nearly half my expenses. If I didn't have the money (and/or was a few decades younger), I would have greatly reduced those.
stranger
11-01-2011, 17:26
Also remember that the $40/motel room doesn't exist north of southwest Virginia in nearly all cases, the south is much cheaper than the north...so what you can get by in your first 500 miles may not last you your last 500 miles.
Trailbender
11-01-2011, 17:43
Also remember that the $40/motel room doesn't exist north of southwest Virginia in nearly all cases, the south is much cheaper than the north...so what you can get by in your first 500 miles may not last you your last 500 miles.
Even for $40 a night a motel isn't worth it, personally. I stayed in only 2 on my thru, in Franklin where it was split 3 ways, and near Fontana when a friend's dad paid for it, for a couple guys I was hiking on and off with, and they invited me along. If the price included a couple meals and laundry, it might be ok, but just a bed, not worth it. I sleep really good in my tent, though, so a motel was never a temptation even on rainy, stormy days.
Im NOBO and leaving in March. I would like to buy as little as possible on the trail, but not be strapped for cash if I need it, and I do not want to run out and not finish!!!! looking for a range of thoughts. Some one told me they spent $6,000. isn't this excessive? I will need a plane Ticket back to Florida when I finnish as well. I don't think I want to fool with too much shipping... seems more expensive to buy it and ship all that food.... also how available is buying any other resupply on the trail? Water filtration? and propane for cooking? should I just go alcohol?Remember it is always better to have more money available that you may need than to not have enough. Not having to worry about money on the trail will make your hike that much more enjoyable, and will cause you less distress as far as your finances are concerned. That being said, if you are a person who is capable of hiking the trail in a low cost fashion, than naturally your overall costs will be reduced. If you are willing to camp in the woods more, and can avoid enjoying the many luxuries that are available in town than maybe you can do your hike for less. But understand that there are going to be times when you will arrive in town, and you are going to want to get a good meal, or a warm room when it is cold and wet out. To not be able to do this can be detrimental towards your overall success. Not having the money to do not just the things that you will want to do, but possibly the things that you will need to do is only going to work against you. Make sure you have enough money even if you don't need to use it all.
tridavis
11-03-2011, 20:54
Spent $9600 on my thru and had a blast.
I spent $4,950 on my AT thru-hike in Year 2000. That didn't include starting gear or the return travel back to Indiana from Maine. I had a good time, did what a chose to do and didn't want for much on the AT. From others experience and costs, my AT thru-hiking costs seem to be in the middle range for the cost of an AT thru-hike -- adjust it for inflation.
Datto
jacquelineanngrant
12-12-2011, 15:55
It is true that how much you spend depends on what is comfortable to you. I spent about $5,000 on my 2010 thruhike as a newbie. I learned alot of lessons along the way. This year I have purchased most of my trail food ahead of time. I've done the math and the cost of the food plus shipping is going to be about $1100 for the whole hike. I will still pick up cheese and fruit in towns but I hate paying over a dollar for things like Ramen. Resupplying along the trail is definately possible but the selection isnt always great and certain places its really pricey. I also found that its not going to town that kills the wallet, its spending the night or multiple nights that gets you. I am largely an introvert but I still enjoyed getting together with other hikers in town. It is harder than you think to pass up stopping when the great group of people youve met are all going into town, or youve been walking in the rain for four days straight. It looks like I'll be spending about $2500 to $3000 this year. The only gear I'll need is new shoes (used 3 pair in 2010) and I'm taking the Greyhound from NM to GA for $98. Best of luck to you! GAME 2012!
Blissful
12-12-2011, 16:10
It is true that how much you spend depends on what is comfortable to you. I spent about $5,000 on my 2010 thruhike as a newbie. I learned alot of lessons along the way. This year I have purchased most of my trail food ahead of time. I've done the math and the cost of the food plus shipping is going to be about $1100 for the whole hike. I will still pick up cheese and fruit in towns but I hate paying over a dollar for things like Ramen. Resupplying along the trail is definately possible but the selection isnt always great and certain places its really pricey. I also found that its not going to town that kills the wallet, its spending the night or multiple nights that gets you. I am largely an introvert but I still enjoyed getting together with other hikers in town. It is harder than you think to pass up stopping when the great group of people youve met are all going into town, or youve been walking in the rain for four days straight. It looks like I'll be spending about $2500 to $3000 this year. The only gear I'll need is new shoes (used 3 pair in 2010) and I'm taking the Greyhound from NM to GA for $98. Best of luck to you! GAME 2012!
This is a great post and sums it up pretty well out there.
bamboo bob
12-12-2011, 16:25
I bought all food in trail towns and never had a problem getting canister fuel. I don't use a lot of fuel but maybe bought four on the trail. They were readily available. I actually think hiking is cheaper than staying home. I'm retired so I don't lose income by hiking. Also it is cheaper to eat trail food than go out to eat twice a weak with my wife :) Town stops are not such a big deal price wise because you can split motel rooms with other hikers. Of course I only took four zero days and one was at my son's house and another at our home in Vermont but It's often cheaper to split a hotel room with other hikers, especially some cabins than the $20 you would spend on a hostel. when you figure your expenses think about the incremental cost of hiking instead of staying home. It really is an inexpensive trip. You were going to eat anyway after all. On the PCT I split hotel rooms at every town I went to , it worked great.
Gator 65
12-12-2011, 19:33
Here's the things that will add up for you ......Tipping shuttle services.Having to pay cash at lots of smaller motels.Really bad weather spells when you will be forced to "hole up" for awhile.Remember, if the weather is really bad, it's best to get into town and dry out, get organized then struggle to make 5-6 miles a day and run out of food. You wil not see good , safe weather until May
Just a Hiker
12-12-2011, 19:54
so then.... When plainning my money, its important to plain to spend my time with people who are more committed to the trail. I think I will be a lone hiker most of the time anyway.
From my experience, if you do end up hiking with someone, it really helps to have a similar "Hiking Budget".
SETX_Mason
12-25-2011, 23:55
so im guessing it will save me money being under 21,.... wont be hitting any bars i imagine
Sassafras Lass
12-26-2011, 16:58
Depends. If you want to camp in the rain while the rest of the party is in town drinking, eating pizza and sleeping in a warm, dry motel room then you can go cheaper but it won't be as much fun. I bet I spent close to $6,000 for a 6 month hike.
Sure . . . . but not everyone equates fun with blowing money on restaurants, hotels, booze, and the other trappings of socializing. You kind of make camping in the woods sound . . . . . . rather *****ty, Louis.
:) Couldn't pass up a Deliverance quote.
Hairball
12-27-2011, 02:27
I'm a minimalist and I'm budgeting about $400/month for my NOBO thru-hike in 2012. That's roughly $100/week give or take and I'm a big bargain hunter. On the other side, I DO enjoy a hot steak sub and a few beers from time to time. I suppose I will be feast or famine! LOL, I have an emergency backup if I blow out a boot or my pack explodes and I need a new one but I'm not counting on that to get me thru. I think you can be happy on less if you're used to living a frugal life. I do agree that the more money you have, the more you tend to spend. It's all relative I suppose! See ya'll out there in March (27th start date for me).
Senor Jalapeno
12-27-2011, 10:01
It is NOT more expensive to buy and ship all your food. Priority flat rate boxes! My total spent for food an shipping this year will be < $800. buying food along the way gets very expensive! (Campstores and convenience stores can get very expensive) but I'm still planning on spending $1500 on lodging and resteraunt binges and transportation
The figure I always throw out is $7,000. Nothing sucks more than wanting to do something and not being able to afford it.
I hiked with 3 thru hikers for about 500 miles in 2010 and every time 2 of us wanted to do something the other 2 would say, "How much is it going to cost?" or "Does it cost money?" or something like that. I let them get ahead of me finally because it was such a downer.
And there's nothing wrong with having too much - $7,000 pretty much ensures there'll be enough and some left over at the end
garlic08
12-27-2011, 10:50
It is NOT more expensive to buy and ship all your food. Priority flat rate boxes! My total spent for food an shipping this year will be < $800. buying food along the way gets very expensive! (Campstores and convenience stores can get very expensive) but I'm still planning on spending $1500 on lodging and resteraunt binges and transportation
I agree it's not more expensive. It's about the same. I spent just over $700 on food that went into my pack on my thru, buying along the way (that worked out to about $7 per day of actual hiking). And there are other benefits and problems in both ways, as debated ad nauseum elsewhere on this forum. Cost should not be a factor in this decision.
And it's a fraction of the total hike cost, anyway. My actual town food costs were a little higher than trail food, about $750. And I spent about that much on lodging, so, disregarding travel, your numbers are pretty close to mine. I treated myself quite well with food and lodging. A hiker's actions in towns will have a much greater effect on overall trip cost than shipping trail food.
Many hikers spend more than their entire food budget on new gear when they get to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap, 30 miles into the hike.