Non-expensive house-brand gear

[Tinker]

Rule #1: Never buy a "bargain" sleeping bag.
They are anything BUT! Unspecified fill material which may lose loft is not a bargain. That said, they're fine for summer overnight use.
Rule #2: Make sure you follow rule #1.
I believe that you can use generic tents (especially if you intend to stay at shelters often) and get by - better yet, buy a silnylon tarp and put any kind of tent underneath. Unless your floor leaks like a sieve, you'll be fine. I use a Walrus (now REI) Bug Hut 2 when hiking in summer with my son. We put it under an Equinox 10x12 tarp and do just fine for long weekend trips. Total weight is around 4 lbs.
Cheap footwear can be fine, too. Buy what fits well and replace it when necessary.
Don't scrimp on socks. Bad socks can cause BAD blister problems due to the amount of moisture they hold or the abrasiveness of the material or weave.
I have, however, found the Omni-wool socks (a friend bought them for me at Sam's Club, I believe) to be just as good as Smartwools for half the price. Google them.
I sold my Hennessy Hammock Ultralight A-sym Backpacker hammock and use a $20.00 top loader from REI (closeout) and an ENO bug net under a variety of tarps. Cheap and easier to enter/exit, and don't require over & under quilts, just a snug bag to pull over the hammock when it's cold (I leave the netting at home after first frost).

There's nothing wrong with contacting some of the "cottage" manufacturers for seconds or returns. I just got a $240.00 tent for $100.00 because I was willing to take one with a few minor stitching flaws which was, essentially, a "practice model" and, as such, is a part of the history of the maker Lightheart Gear. Perfectly functional, and I am testing it for her (though I'm not sure I can sleep soundly going back to ground dwelling).
Some good backpacks can be had from Sierra Trading Post (as well as nearly everything else). Some of the clothing is simply colors which didn't sell, or either end of the size spectrum (in raingear, getting a size (or two) larger than you usually would often helps greatly when you need to vent in hot weather.
Sure, you can go cheap, but go carefully!

[XCskiNYC]

I realize the old adage "You get what you pay for" sometimes applies, especially when it comes to gear, but has anyone bought house-brand backpacking gear and it served them as wonderfully as the high-priced stuff? I'm talking about brands like Coleman or Ozark Trails. I bought a pair of hiking shoes (trail runner style) off the shelf @ Wally World for $22 and they are holding up beautifully, just a little wear on the inner liner. Of course most of it is walking the local roads, but I have close to 200 miles on them. I think this is great based on the regular sneakers I buy there for $10-15 and they wear out in 6-8 weeks, maybe 3 months if I'm lucky. Anyone else have a similiar experience?

I just put 34 trail miles on a $30 pair of Coleman hiking shoes from K-Mart similar to what you're mentioning (hard, rugged sole; lo-cut suede/mesh uppper).

Sometimes the special details of hiking gear are worth paying extra for. Like I just changed my kitchen from a $2 Teflon milk-heater pan and a plastic cup ($0.99 I think) to an Optimus Weekender cook kit ($24.99).

The total weight on the pan and cup was 14 ozs. The total weight on the Optimus kit was 7.8 ozs.

All together with this savings and various others, pack weight on my last hike got whittled from 37 lbs down to 34. That's a good thing.

Another plus of the Optimus kit is that it all fits together, thus storing in less space, and the inner space of the Optimus allows for more storage area for little odds and ends.

In terms of materials, both the $2 pan and the Optimus kit are both lightweight aluminum with TEflon coating.

As far as thru-hiking, some people say the AT will grind down anything you throw at it so it's best to keep investment, where possible, to a minimum.

[mkmangold]

Bought a pair of Ozark Mountain hiking shoes at Walmart after reading a comparative test article that praised them. After a couple years, I have to ShooGoo the pads back in but that's about it.
On the other hand, if you seriously utilize your hiking staff as I do for more vertical ascents and to pitch my tarptent, do not go with the cheaper brand. I believe when it comes to safety, go with quality.
One of the mills here in Wisconsin (I can't recall the name just now) has annual odds-and-ends sales where I buy wool socks in bulk, sometimes for as low as $2.50 a pair.

[XCskiNYC]

Another great alternate product: generic headlamps instead of Black Diamond et al:

There's the $5.99 K-Mart LED headlamp (3 ozs. with 3 AAA batts). I've used mine on a few outings so far, 6 days total, and it's still going strong on the original set of batteries.

AFAIK Walmart doesn't have anything this inexpensive, or at least the one where I had the chance to peruse the Walmart stuff did not, though they have a cute LED lamp made to look like a lantern (4 AA's, 8 ozs. including batts).

Home Depot has 3-AAA LED headlamps, $4.99 each and also in a 3-pack for $14.99.

[Mags]

[quote=XCskiNYC;893459
AFAIK Walmart doesn't have anything this inexpensive, or at least the one where I had the chance to peruse the Walmart stuff did not, though they have a cute LED lamp made to look like a lantern (4 AA's, 8 ozs. including batts).

[/quote]


It is not quite that inexpensive ($6), but at Wallyworld is a a 2 white/1 red LED headlamp that is 2.5 oz, comes with 3 AAA batteries and just under $13 or so.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10233057

[berninbush]

Recently at Walmart I got an Outdoor Products backpack (I think the make is "Avalanche 8.0" or something like that but I'd have to look.) It has a sternum strap, hip belt, interior pouch for a water bag and hose (made to work with the Cyclone bags also sold at Walmart), a clip to hold the end of the hose so it doesn't drag in the dirt, and two removable stays that serve as a very lightweight/minimal frame for heavier loads. I took it on a 13 mile hike over Labor Day and was pretty happy with it.

[mister krabs]

Recently at Walmart I got an Outdoor Products backpack (I think the make is "Avalanche 8.0" or something like that but I'd have to look.) It has a sternum strap, hip belt, interior pouch for a water bag and hose (made to work with the Cyclone bags also sold at Walmart), a clip to hold the end of the hose so it doesn't drag in the dirt, and two removable stays that serve as a very lightweight/minimal frame for heavier loads. I took it on a 13 mile hike over Labor Day and was pretty happy with it.

If it's the Skyline 8.0, I bought the same one. I like it alot. Here's a post I made about it on BPlite.

[berninbush]

Nope, that's a different style from what I got. I'll try to post a picture. Same company, though. Mine is a nice light green color, has a drawstring top, and a pocket lid. It doesn't have the hip belt pockets... wish it did, that's a nice feature!

[Blue Jay]

I have plenty of cheap stuff that has lasted thousands of miles. My best is a small, almost bivy, Coleman that I bought at a yard sale over 20 years ago. Too much condensation for cold weather but it has never leaked. In warm weather almost all my gear is yard sale/good will. As others have said the exceptions are packs and sleeping bags, as good ones are almost impossible to find.

[Jack Tarlin]

I also get my headlamps from Wal-Mart. I support small independent Outfitters as much as possible, but I simply refuse to spend 48 bucks for a flashlight.

[Petr]

If you search Craigslist nationally (from the main screen, not your local one) there are some good deals to be found. I snagged a very lightly used 2.1 pound 0 degree Sierra Designs Snowlight bag for $99 bucks (shipping included) from some guy in Provo, Utah that retailed for over $300.

[berninbush]

The Outdoor Products pack I got is the Arrowhead 8.0. (Not sure where "Avalanche" came from in my mind... oh well. They do seem to like the number 8.)

I'm trying to attach a couple of pictures to this post. We'll see if it works. Sorry they're kinda dim... it's late and my living room is not well lit.

[sbhikes]

I like to get things from thrift stores and craft stores when I can. Clothes, mostly.

I tend to buy new gear so I like to buy products from Equinox. Equinox seems to have things that are both cheaper and lighter than most other companies. I have their 8x10 tarp, bivy and rain chaps. The cottage makers often have really good prices plus their stuff is lightest of all.

[XCskiNYC]

Old Navy has a nice line of all-poly sports-oriented shirts called RecTech for $10.00, sometimes marked down to $8.00. They come in black, white, red, navy, gray, and green.

They are similar to this product:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___91438

[Wise Old Owl]

I think a good backpack and sleeping bag can go a long way with a thru hike and the wear and tear. But you can get good deals on that too. Like last year's model or one someone is selling.

I am always amazed how UL stuff shows up a tenth of the price at various websites.

[Rocket Jones]

If it's the Skyline 8.0, I bought the same one. I like it alot. Here's a post I made about it on BPlite.

Based on your posts, I went to WallyWorld last night, checked out the packs and walked out with the Skyline. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and features on this $30 day pack, but my favorite part might be the color choices - subdued blue or subdued green. I hate gear that comes in colors like "Instant Retinal Burn" or "Screaming Chipotle Rash".

[tnwolf51]

hey i use an ozark trail tent had it for years now never any problems fits the bill just right and very light weight as well.7x7 dome 2 person.

[BigFoot2002]

If I had a choice of which tent to sleep in during high winds, I would choose my Coleman Inyo over my Big Agnes SL1. And it's about one third the price.

[Jester2000]

Whether you buy cheap gear or expensive gear, it all costs the same. It's just a matter of how you pay for it.

[remington79]

I'm a firm believer in my Colman Peak 442 Feather. I've been using this stove since 1992 and I've never had a problem and I haven't rebuilt it either. I know it's heavier than some stoves but it doesn't need a windscreen and I've never had to use preheating paste to get it going in the winter. (I think part of that is because the generator goes through the middle of the burner heating the fuel up. The other version where the generator goes to the side has problems in cold weather)
I was on a trip in Philmont back in 95 and one of the guys on my trip had a MSR stove. he lost a filter to it and wasn't able to use the stove the whole trip. He ended up carrying dead weight for 60 miles.
I will continue to carry my 442 and white gas. It's served me well and its self contained with no parts to loose. If this stove ever goes out I'll replace it with another.