$300 challenge

“Can anyone out there get totally outfitted for ~$300 and have a base pack weight under 15 pounds (before food and water)? Please list sources and weight. That's rarefied air!”

“I could tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya.

What's totally outfitted anyway? Getting outfitted for summer costs nothing when compared to getting outfitted for winter...”

“stole this off another list:

Pack-- Camp Trails Scirocco- 3 lbs 1 oz-3500cui- $40--Campmor.com
>
>Bag-- Coleman Kodiak- 45 deg.-- 2lb 2oz --$70 through Coleman or other
>sporting goods stores
>
>Tent-- 8X10 tarp nylon, coated-- $33--23 oz-- Campmor.com
>
>Stove and cook set-- Trangia--$25-- 14 oz-- REI.com
>
>Utinsels--Lexan soup spoon .25 oz.--$.75 Campmor
>
>Water Purifier-- Portable Aqua-- $5-- 2oz--REI
>
>Sleep pad--Ridge Rest-- $15--14 oz--REI
>
>Knife- Swiss army- $12--1oz-Campmor
>
>Lighter-butane-$1- .5oz-Any store
>
>Water bottle-Recycled-free-2 liter -2oz
>
>First aid/repair kit-Home made-free-8oz
>
>Light-Eveready Penlight-AA-$4-4oz- any store
>
>Toiletries-free-5oz
>
>Long johns-Duofold polypro med wt.-$20-12oz-Campmor
>
>Boots- Hi-Tec - $25- various stores
>
>Fleece top-Target- $22
>
>Socks-$5 for 2 pairs- polyester- local drug store
>
>Shell top-Target-$20-7oz-
>
>Stuff sacks-Trash compactor bags-$4
>
>Total cost---$299
>Total pack weight w/o food or water-about 13 lbs”

“$0.59 bottle of dr pepper
$1.47 three moon pies
$1.50 hanky
$FREE stick
-------------------------
$3.56

place moon pies and dr pepper in hanky. tie to stick. hit the trail!!”

“Rad? No beer? You'd never make it far from the trailhead.”

“$.59 bottle of Dr. Pepper. Where in the world do you live. I can't get a bottl of pop for less than $.90”

“I'm impressed and some what humbled Space dawg. That is a pretty good list.

One Gold Star for Space dawg.”

“no name pack $39.95 from meijers. 2700 cui 1lb14oz
army poncho, free (contact recruiter) 1lb 5oz w/ small bungee cord(1)
fleece sleeping bag $15 sports authority 2lb1oz
No stove or mess kit
First need h2o purifier $75 1lb 8oz
Minimag lite w/2aa batts $12 4 oz
2liter platypus bag w/ drink tube $15 rei 6oz
Victorinx swiss champ knife $65 7oz
First aid kit free homemade 10.5 oz
50' nylon cord $3 meijers 3 oz
matches (in ziploc bag) free at 7-11 party store
Shoes new balance 877 free, old running shoes to worn for running 1lb 6 oz
Sox, 2 pr reg white cotton dont know cost i already have em for everyday use 6 oz
Hanes pocket t-shirt $3 Wal Mart 8oz?
Army pants free( see recruiter) 1lb8oz

Total cost 227.95 and 12.5 lbs. This is for a wknd.”

“Victorinox Swisschamp knife $65 7oz

my God, man. this is one fifth of your cost.”

“Actually it (the knife) was a gift rad. My dad bought it for me in 1988. I included it because the only time it gets used is on BP trips.”

“Join the Armed Forces and they will outfit you for free. Okay so it weighs more than 15LBs, but I guess that is the trade off you pay in order to be able blow things up.”

“How about replacing the $65 Swiss Army with an $7 French Opinel single blade knife. Weights about 4oz. Use the spare $58 to buy an old spoon. Bend the last quarter of the spoon handle around to form a tight 'U'. Go to Burger King and use this spoon to lift a used styrofoam hamburger container out of the dumpster. After washing you now have a free plate to eat out of. Also you can use this plate to scoop up water from any old stream to drink. No need for the Platypus. Then use it to scoop up leaves and rake them into a nest. Now you don't need a sleeping bag. Now that you don't need the sleeping bag use the $15 to buy something really practical...a pawn shop guitar to store your new stuff. Be sure to get one with a strap because then you don't need the no-name pack. Use the $39.95 to buy some ...”

“...reality???”

“I can't remember the last time I saw a styrofoam hamburger container.”

“Holy Cow Dooky! Has everyone gone nuts. Out of 12 posts a grand total of 2 are actually on subject. I love thread deterioration but so soon? If its really an issue i'll pretend i dont carry the knife for Rad and Solitary, but i still will.
BTW solitary burger king doesnt use styrofoam anymore. And we all appreciatte your dumpster diving trip report. You seem to really be good at it. I adimre your spoon inginuity, how ceative. But $58 is a bit much for an old spoon. FYI this is "thebackpacker.com" not "thetrashpicker.com".”

“start at Goodwill. You never know what stuff you can find cheap. I've found a few lightweight stuff there. DOn't know if you'll make your weight goal, but you can meet the cheap goal.”

“Baso4 - your not getting outfitted for free by joining the armed forces! Dont ya remember the part about selling them 4 years of your life! Thats got to be worth more than $300 even to the person with very low self-worth.LOL!”

“shhhh!! spam will kill ya if he hears talk like that!!!

sign 'em!
shave 'em!
shoe 'em!
and ship 'em!”

“LOL@ Solitary! That?s some damn special spoon there bubba! I can see it now?[wavy dream sequence fades in] The local police driving past the dumpster at Burger King and the only thing they can see is Solitary?s a@@ hanging over the dumpster.

"What ya doin? there fella?"

Solitary jerking upright with his spoon held in his hand with the Styrofoam burger container dangling from his super spoon.

"What? Huh? Oh! I?m goin? campin?!"

I gotta get me one!”

“Hey. and where's everyone getting all these free medical supplies from for thier first aid kits anyway? That stuff is expensive!”

“Rosey-First aid stuff stolen from grandmother's medicine cabinet.”

“Pack: Vortex 4500 ($249.98)
Bag: TNF Solar Flare ($307.32)

Well I just broke the bank, I am impressed with space dawgs post, Not bad at all. Now how about a good downhill full suspension mountain bike under 23lbs for under $300!”

“Orbit: You dreamin'”

“I've been in HEAT for the spectra made Kelty Cloud. The things is totaly stripable down to ~1.5 pound but the ~$550 is like a ice cold shower.”

“Fun question, especially for a tightwad like me who is too lazy to carry more than necessary, and also likes to SHOP!

pack, Stansport 3500 ci, 2#,$25 at Target (clearance)

bag, Greatland Grand Canyon, 2.5#, $40 at Target

tent, Peak 1 Cobra, 4#, $70 at Sports Authority (sale)

stove & fuel, Markill Devil with Peak 1 canister, 1#, $25 at local outfitter

pot, grease saver w/ foil lid, .5#, $6 at Wal-Mart

microfleece top, .5#, $10 at just about any discount store

microfleece pants, .5#, $5, JC Penney Outlet

nylon wind pants, .5#, $3, Goodwill

Pacific Trails rain jacket, .5#, $3, Goodwill

Polypro top & pants, 1#, $20(set), Wal-Mart

Thermarest UL 3/4, 1#, $65 (ouch!), almost anywhere

Swiss Army Classic, 1 oz, $10, Target

plastic mug, 5 oz, $2, anywhere

plastic bowl, 5 oz, $2, anywhere

Coleman 2AA headlamp, 6 oz, $8, Shopko

iodine tabs, 2 oz, $3, anywhere

pop bottles, plastic spoon - free

I usually carry a few more items than this (such as camp chair, camera, book, etc), but I could get by with this list as a minimum, not including food.”

“Camp Trails Catskills pack, big-ish, but not very expensive.
Sports Authority

Eureka! Aurora 1, 5#, $125.00 online.

WalMart bag, inexpensive. WalMart.

Foam pad - cheap, light, bulky-ish.
WalMart

"canoeing" stove and fuel cannister. Big-ish, sotra heavy, bulky-ish.
WalMart

Sweetwater filter. You know about them.
Sports Authority


Stainless camping pot. Light, cheap.
WalMart

Plastic spoon.

Blue metal 16oz mug. Light. Cheap

Headlamp. Cheap.
WalMart

Plastic flashlight (2 AA's). Cheap.

Appropriate clothing,

Neccessary food.

Two 20oz Gatorade bottles.

Minimalist firstaid kit.

Knife. Free.

Compass. Map. Toiletries.


Open first item.
Cram all other items into said item.
Hike.”

“Wenaha Pack. A hundred hundred pounds. Eleventy skillion dollars.
REI

Katrillion pounds of dog food. Walasa kabasa dollars.
Winn Dixie

8x8 Tarp. Reeeeeeel heavy. Free

Poncho. Cheap. Not reel reel heavy
WalMart.

Hundrety'leven feet of rope. Gertretle pounds. Free.

Two 20oz gatorade btls. Usually empty.

Wait til gojo fills up the pack and puts it on my back so I can walk in the woods and look at things and smell them and listen then we stop and eat and sleep in the woods.”

“Here's a 10-lb., $100 gear list - sorry, I don't even try to do links - you'll have to cut & paste. I knew I'd seen this somewhere, I just couldn't remember where to find it without looking around a little.

http://ourworld-top.cs.com/lighthiker/contents.html”

“Baso.
Man you are right. Where else do you get to camp, hike, and blow stuff up? It isn't light work though.”

“Geeeezzz....not spam postings in here too!”

“SARboy's right about the thrift stores. I got two down vests for under $5 each at at thrift store. I bought most of my car-camping cooking stuff at thrift stores.

Don't forget garage sales. Our scoutmaster got a Northface tent, MSR stove, and thermarest pad at a garage sale for $50 total.”

“I brought this to the top for the sake of the newbies.”

“at $3.56, i've still got the best deal.”

“1. Strip naked and cover yourself in mud.

2. Charge unsuspecting backpacker's campsite while howling like a snow monkey.

3. They'll most likely run off. Take their gear.

Works like a charm.”

“You do that around these parts yer jest as likely to get shot and mounted on some redneck's wall.”

“If'n I had to...I could!

(Knowing what I know now!)”

“"mounted"?

you've been watching too much 'deliverance'!”

“Gee thanks Sarge, that was sweet of you! ;-) Now if only I could find gear that cheaply up here...”

“I was thinking about including some of these lists on my web site under "Getting Started". I think it would be great for someone to be able to have a nice list of stuff that is relatively cheep and keeps their back frombeing broke.

Anyway. Do I need permission from the respondants, Matt the webmaster, or anyone? Any thoughts?”

“no, you can use my dr pepper and moon pie getup, dude!”

“Thanks Rad, I did use it once, but I took Coke and HoHos.”

“sweet! customization is what it's all about.

i say we have a little rascals ECT. that would be great!”

“Wenaha Pak at RIE - eleventy ponds - six for dollers
Dog food in refreezerater bags at Krogars - hunnert ponds - ninny dollers
Flee coller AT Krogars - sevendy twelfteen ponds - a dollers

Thats treetenth ponds and ate dollers for seben monfs of walkin in the woods and sleepin in the woods.

(o:3”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, what a knee-slapper! Someone is posting as if they were a mentally retarded dog! How clever and cute!

It is also more than likely the sign of one very sick bastard. Remember David 'Son of Sam' Berkowitz? Eerie.

Please call me at 1-800-DRLAURA before it's too late.”

“Go 'Daddy of Sarabelle' Jo
MOOOOHAHAhahahaaaaa!”

“BTW -
She's not mental - she just has no concept of weights and measures. Still, tho - she ain't too bad for a "to years old".”

“Yea, so what's Dr Laura's excuse for being a dumb a$$.”

“Sarge, feel free to use my list if you want. On re-reading I noticed that I had neglected to mention a first aid kit, something I would never go without, even if it was just band-aids, neosporin and painkillers. In a worst-case scenario, I would plan on using clothing, hiking poles, or whatever to stop bleeding and immobilize an injury. I also didn't mention rope for hanging food, and this is something I always have for overnight trips. Frequently we just use a plastic grocery bag and a stick to hang food out of the reach of our local varmints. In bear country you would obviously need a more heavy-duty system.

This is not by any means a list of all of the gear I have; some of it is heavier and/or more expensive. I was just trying to comply with the rules of the "challenge". Whenever I go out I take many things into consideration, like how many people are going, what the weather will be like, the length of the trip, etc. Then I go to my personal "gear store" and select the items that will best meet the needs of that trip. I assume that most of us use a similar approach. Since I am somewhat of a control freak I usually pack everyone's pack (for family trips), not just my own - that way I know that everyone will be carrying their fair share of the appropriate gear, and that the kids will have appropriate clothing for the conditions.

I should also mention that I spend my lunch hour almost every day looking through clearance items at discount stores and/or visiting thrift shops and garage sales. This is how I manage to find bargains on gear and clothing (especially important when outfitting kids). For example I recently found polypro underwear at Wal-Mart for two dollars per piece. Thermax glove liners for $1.90 a pair - bought enough for the whole family at that price. $40 for a North Face tent, $4 Thermarests, should I go on? Someone who is not a dedicated shopper will not find these kinds of bargains. My usual tightwad strategy is to find an item I want, and then wait for it to be marked down at least once, if not twice, depending on how badly I want/need it. Sometimes I lose stuff by waiting too long - the store will junk the items or someone else will buy them. But frequent visits to my favorite stores are occasionally rewarded with incredible bargains.

Dr. Laura, I usually agree with you but I like Sarabelle, even if her alter-ego is a semi-demented human! You need to lighten up sister!”

“$300 for gear is hardly a challenge. When it comes to cheap trekking, it would be hard to beat my first backpacking trip. This was an unplanned trip kind of forced on me. I bought no gear, except a trail map ($5), and some food (about $5).

My gear, all of which I already owned:
1. A youth sleeping bag from Target (about $10)
2. A plastic tube tent ($5)
3. A frameless canvas backpack from Holiday store ($7)
4. A water bottle ($0)
5. A first aid kit ($5)
6. A pair of workboots from Kmart (about $15)
7. The street clothes I wore, plus an extra wool sweater and a windbreaker from my existing wardrobe.

My Food: a loaf of bread, a jar of peanuts, a small jar of pickles, couple of candy bars.

The story of this trip belongs in a thread on the foolishness of youth, but I will give the background here. I was touring New England on a motorcycle in August, 1983, and came up to Baxter State Park in Maine. I was disappointed to find that motorcycles were not allowed inside the park, and decided to move on to another destination. At Millinocket (the first town on the way out), I stopped at a store to buy some food. There I noticed some maps of the Applachian Trail. With a moment's hesitation, I bought a map, and headed back to a trailhead near Abol bridge. That is how I began a 13-mile trek to Mt Katahdin, with almost zero previous experience of off-road hiking, and not even much "book knowledge" about hiking.

The only things that I really missed - a compass and a pair of real hiking boots, and maybe some more food.”

“I have a link to this thread on my site and wanted to make sure it was still here.”