Cheap things that work as good or better than expensive things

I'll also add that in the past I've bought expensive down and synthetic fill jackets, but have in the past few years gotten insulative jackets in the $10-$40 range that have done everything that $200 jackets do. I doubt I will ever pay a premium for a name brand down jacket again. The cheap ones do just fine.

also the frog toggs rain jackets are approx. $20, they do a fine job. I don't recommend the pants though as they take too much damage and the material is weak, it must be protected and repaired with duc-tape when torn. Plus don't the frog toggs jackets breathe as good as the best top-end event jackets?

I got a Patagonia DAS parka with several tears in it this year at a garage sale for $30. Patched it up good as new. Does that count?

Tons of things. I love my Stanco grease pot for solo trips, and I have a ~$10 2L aluminum pot I use for group cooking. I honestly don’t understand why anybody would pay the premium for titanium cookware.

Mora knives can hold their own against products 10x their price.

And my favorite: a Tramontina 14″ Bolo machete, purchased from Baryonyx knife company with their “special grade” service to fix up the fit and finish. For $6 they turn a cheap blade into a beautifully functional tool.

The bottom 3" of a half-gallon, HDPE milk carton is lighter, more wide-ranging in temperature, and easier to clean up (by hand or in the dishwasher) than any purchased bowl.

the best cheap spoon I've found is the McFlurry spoon from McDonalds. I've used one for years. Great spoon.

LOL! me 2, I use the mcflurry spoon too.

I have only purchased my hiking shirts (Polyester athletic shirts) from Walmart or Target. The Starter and C9 brands respectively. Many I've found on clearance for $6-7. I've never used anything else but have never had a desire to spend 10x as much on a product from a name brand. Maybe I'm missing something but I just want something light, fast drying, and blocks the sun from burning me. My Target specials do just that.

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I totally eschew Ti cookware (pots, fry pans, mugs & utensils).

Ceramic coated or anodized aluminum spreads heat far better than Ti, is lighter and much less expensive.
My little "one egg skillet" from Wally Mart is aluminum with ceramic non-stic coating. I cut off the skillet's handle and use my pot gripper. Works great for Freeze-dried omelets and pancakes! I use a mini Lexan spatula if I take the skillet.

The only Ti in my pack is my Trail Designs Sidewinder stove and that's only so it can withstand the high heat of the Inferno gassifier wood burning insert.

And I got an inexpensive long handled Lexan spoon B/C I broke my MCDonalds long spoon. (Stepped on it.) :o(

I'm a cheap ***** and everything I use is cheap gear. My GG Vapor Trail is probably the closest to quality I own, but that was cheap from gear swap. My vargo ti canister stove was on sale for $25. Black diamond headlamp on sale for $30. A 3 oz, .9 liter stainless steel pot on sale for $12 (see a pattern here?). I did purchase a sawyer filter at full price ($40 I believe at the time).

I've never paid more than $100 for any single item. I don't get out much, so I make due. Other than some things being heavier than more expensive UL gear, it all works well.

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Actually I've been able to get as light as ul with many of the "cheap" purchases I've made.

I have bought some gear that doesn't seem to have cheap but effective equivalents, for example, my warbonnet blackbird hammock.

I go to REI and I see an entire wall of water bottles. Really? Mine are two re-used juice bottles that are the perfect size for my pack's side pockets. Cost = Free

My drinking cup is the cut-off bottom of a plastic mayo jar (I like it because it holds 16oz and has a wide bottom so it never gets tipped over). Cost = Free

And my woodstove is (or was) an IKEA silverware wash/dry container, cut up for better airflow. Cost = about $6

Instaflator – for 99¢ is lighter than and works as well as any battery-powered inflator and is quicker than small pumps. Not as cheap as blowing up the pad by mouth but much easier (especially at altitude) and doesn't introduce moisture to the inside of the pad.

My headlamp is a relatively cheap Princeton Tec that cost under $20 on sale. I turn it on and light comes out, just like the $80 headlamps, and at the same weight.

I agree about Champion shirts from Target — but for a weekender only. For a longer trip the antimicrobial found in more expensive shirts is worth it.

Sea2Summit aluminum long-handled spoon, much cheaper and lighter than Ti. And yes it still cost more than a free plastic spoon but it won't melt and it's strong enough to use as a stake if needed.

Windshield sun reflector for FBC cozy and for camera case/protector.

I cut open a Fedex envelope for a free tyvek sitpad/doormat.

Generic meds in the first aid kit.

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Was going to say Frogg Toggs, but someone already said that.
Fancy Feast stove is always a good cheap option.
Tyvek for a number of things, mainly used as a ground sheet.
Reflectix – cheap cozies or sleeping / sit pad.
Blue foam sit pad. Just cut up a cheap $10 sleeping bad and you have 4 sit pads. Work really well in the winter.

Some might not consider this a deal, but Gaia Gps. I'm not affiliated with them, but if you already have a smart phone, for $20 you can get yourself a solid GPS app with better usability than even the cheap $80 Garmin.

> And my woodstove is (or was) an IKEA silverware wash/dry container, cut up for better airflow. Cost = about $6

Weight?

Cheers

Common Bic lighters, instead of all those deluxe heavy things.

Cheapest baseplate compass I can find – works just as well as the really expensive and heavy ones.

Empty rocket-base 1.25 L PET fizzy water bottles – FREE, lighter and easily as strong as the fancy/heavy/expensive ones.

Simple 1st aid kit: Band-Aids and micropore tape. Plus clean handkerchief and some TP.

Then there's the usual range of my MYOG stuff … :-)

Cheers

Definitely love the free tyvek mailers. Use one for stakes and trowel and I got a another lovely tyvek stuff sack with my MLD Exodus;)

And the ones from MLD also include identification tags for when you get just a little off track and are found in the Spring.

Windshield cover FBC cozie +1

Campbells soup in cup cup for hot drinks for a few grams.

Window shrink wrap ground sheet

Powerade bottles (fit in my pockets better than gatorade)

westcott Ti mini scissors, better than a knife most of the time 4$

Opinel #6 when the scissors won't work. 12$

Tj maxx "8" brand shirt $8

I use the inflatable hospital pillows for my pillow. Super light, and cheap.
I use some 1/8 inch furniture padding foam to lay by the fire.
I use hospital latex gloves under my gloves in winter just in case the rain gets through.
Aluminum foil wind screen, and a gallon ziplock freezer bag with the corner cut off to fill sawyer squeeze bags.

Roger –

It's 3oz, and my MSR Titan kettle fits inside so the soot doesn't go everywhere.

army surplus wool glove liners: $4

Wells goatskin work glove shells: $15

Swedish army surplus leather/breathable fabric gauntlet mittens with liners: $20 for 3 pairs

Swedish army cotton anorak (my softshell for dry-cold):
$15 (had to buy 2 though at $30)
bonsues: I can wear it next to a fire, and it's more durable than any synthetic shell. Likely more breathable in dry-cold too.

campfire for cooking and warmth: free! :)

Down jacket from Meijer: $25

Fleece jacket from Meijer: $20

Mora knife, 4 inch fixed blade with sheath: $12

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