Cheap things that work as good or better than expensive things

Hi Dave

Thanks. Neat.

Cheers

I use a lot of what's already been listed. In addition:

• I didn't see turkey bag stuff sacks. I use one for clothes, one for sleeping bag and one for food.
• Froggs Toggs rain poncho. I made a "belt" out of shock cord to keep it from flapping, and thread it through 2 loops I installed the back corners of the poncho so I can draw it up under the bottom of my pack.
• Tiny ziplocs (from craft stores or the pharmacy) to sort out meds, spices, etc.
• Water boiling system uses all recycled aluminum items (stove – Redbull cans; pot – Fosters can; windscreen – cut from disposable lasagna pan).

And, while I haven't had occasion to use it yet on trips, the Orux Maps app for Android is fantastic, and free, as a GPS replacement. And with some moderate computer skills and patience, you can create some very nice topo maps for "offline" use (no data signal), also for free.

Champion C9 Advanced Performance boxer briefs.
Having tried a wide variety of boxer briefs, I like these better than my old Underarmour O series boxerjocks, along with anything else except Starter's similar, but discontinued(whyyyy?) ones.
Perform great, and haven't gotten funky even in summer, though the longest I've gone without changing them is 3-4 days. 3, 6, and 9" lengths. They're not so "cheap" Target, but can be had straight from Champion at 2 for $15.
I bought most of mine from Marshalls at $3.99 per pair, and a few from TJ Maxx at $4.99, though.

Cut one foot of panty hose to make a micro light cook kit stuff sack.

Bread bags for boot vapor barrier liners.

Clone mini-swiss army knife

Disposable water bottles for alcohol fuel (carried inside a Foster's can cook pot)

Bubble wrap mailing pouch cozies for freezer bag meals

Aluminum beer bottles for canteens (lighter than plastic for the same capacity, and can be used as a cook pot in an emergency)

5-LED headlamp from Big 5 sporting goods (1 oz, $15)

Kikkerland FL27 LED Clip on Light for hats, ball caps & glasses ($6)

Carbon fiber tenkara fishing rig from Amazon $16(http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Fishing-Telescoping-Pole/dp/B004ORVA4K/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1417049405&sr=8-40&keywords=tenkara)

Soda can alcohol stove

Aluminum roof flashing windscreen

1-gallon cans of KleanStrip denatured alcohol

1-gallon double ziploc bag(s) for camp water and pillow

Bic lighters. Work better than any of those fancy windproof ones at altitude.

These 4.95 (!!!!), polypropylene fishnet baselayer t shirts work as good or better than most cool to cold weather baselayers out there as far as comfort, and efficiency. Mine in medium weighs 3 oz and some change. Nor are they low quality, they are the Brynje brand made in Norway. Only downside is polypropylene stink (though probably less than a shirt that has more fabric/fibers for microbes to grow on).

http://www.shopfest.com/cgi
bin/cart.exepreadd=action&key=8000M551T&reference=/cgi-bin/cart.exe%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords
%3DALL%26searchstart%3D18%26template%3DTemplatesBR_search.html

A big, belated thanks to Daryl for this. I originally paid some 35 or so dollars for an equivalent baselayer top, and that was on clearance!

I could not make your URL work, nor could I find any Brynje on the shopfest site.

–MV

I broke the link up because it was making the comment section wide. They don't list Brynje on the site as the brand, but when i received the shirts, i was pleasantly surprised that it was indeed the Brynje brand, though probably much older versions than current. Note, they do say "made in Norway" on the below page.

http://www.shopfest.com/cgi-bin/cart.exe?preadd=action&key=8000M551T&reference=/cgi-bin/cart.exe%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords%3DALL%26searchstart%3D18%26template%3DTemplatesBR_search.html

I wish they had the long sleeve version though.

+1 on the Byrne's that Justin posted above. I have both these $5 short sleeve versions and the much much much more expensive long sleeve version. Except for sleeve length and color they appear to be the same thing.

I'm finding that I prefer the short sleeve versions because they are easier to get on and off when wet than the long sleeve version.

Nylon Dress Socks

I’ve been wearing all nylon (not polyester) dress socks for backpacking, work, sports, etc. for over 40 years. They are currently the only socks I own. I usually wear two pair when backpacking.

Cheap, light, long wearing (e.g. 20+ years) fast drying.

In the 70s I’d buy green label nylon socks from Penny’s. More recently I buy them wherever I can find them. My last purchase was from Walmart.

here

Tightly woven thin nylon socks seem to stop leeches from biting through.
Of course, they can still go around.

Cheers

I too, after reading about them from Ray Jardine, went and got some cheap, thin nylon socks. I still have all of them. In essentially new condition. They dry fast and weigh very little.

>"Clone mini-swiss army knife"

I go on eBay and buy TSA-seized SAK Classics five at a time at 3 to $3.50 each.

Love this thread!
First thing I could think of is I make my own emergency fire starters. (not my idea) Take a regular Drinking straw, cut to about 2-3 inches. Take a cotton ball,that has Vaseline rubbed into it,( saturate pretty good), stuff a little bit at time inside. Tamp down with anything that will fit inside ( ink cartridge from a pen?) Clamp the end off with needle nose pliers and melt the end with a bic lighter to seal. Wipe off, so no mess, no fuss. Write on outside with a sharpy -Fire. To use slice offend, pull a little out (or all),fluff up and light withe Bic or spark from Fero rod. Like Little Sparky (Boy Scout Stores $3) Light and small for emergencies.
You can also waterproof small quantities of say, pain meds, aspirin etc.. or anything else. Of course mc Donalds straws are good for larger items. or slurpy straws. Like AAA batteries

On solo trips, I use a 6×8 tarp that weighs 9.8 ounces and cost me less than $5. Most poly tarps are heavier than silnylon, but I guess if you go really cheap they get lighter. The downside is that it’s probably less durable, but I haven’t had any problems yet.

Spending $60-70 on a silnylon equivalent would save me less than an ounce.

http://amzn.to/1FGsHFW

Shopfest hyper link

They don't list Brynje on the site as the brand, but when i received the shirts, i was pleasantly surprised that it was indeed the Brynje brand, though probably much older versions than current. Note, they do say "made in Norway" on the below page.

http://www.shopfest.com/cgi-bin/cart.exe?preadd=action&key=8000M551T&reference=/cgi-bincart.exe%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords%3DALL%26searchstart%3D18%26template%3DTemplatesBR_search.html

Thanks for the link. I did order, and the tee shirts just came. They were a closeout, but I see there are still some left.

What I got is a Brynje tee shirt, slightly v-necked, in an original package. The labeling does not match anything on the Brynje site, though so it is either an older model or one specially made for that company. It is a "Super Thermal", while the items on the Brynje site are "Super Thermo". It is Article #558 — a number I could not find on the Brynje site. The sleeves (not just the shoulder) are solid.

Bottom line — it is different, but as far as I can see good quality and should work out well. And the prices was right.

–MV

I should mention my "sleeve cap". Go down to the thrift store and get a sweater with sewn-in sleeves. Carefully un-sew one of the sleeves. Done. Wear the sleeve as a hat.

The result is light. It is longer in back, so it covers the ears nicely unless you fold the back up. Makes a nice compact winter hat.

Get whatever weight sweater you want — mine is a dress sweater and the weight seems just fine.

–MV

After breaking so many expensive "Ultralight" trekking poles, I finally decided to go for durability. Turns out that durable is also very cheap.

Just recently I was out hiking on some very rugged trails in the Superstition Mountains and it took me a grand total of 3 hours to break my brand new $95 (each) Komperdell Pole. Granted I wasn't watching where I was sticking the tip and got it stuck between a couple of rocks, but there really wasn't a lot of stress put on it. Well, it just so happened that a half hour later I met another hiker who said he just found a perfectly good Mountainsmith Pinnacle Trekking pole off the trail and he gave it to me…saved the day!

The Pinnacle is a tad heavy (10.5 oz), but I'm telling you that they are bombproof.
Retails for $19.95

Robert,

I like to group things together so I've held off posting this "sleeve mitten" until now so it could forever reside near your "sleeve cap".

I cut off about a foot long piece of the sleeves from jackets and use them for mittens.

The cuff keeps them connected to my wrists and the cut-end hangs out over/around my hands. If I want to use my bare hands I pull them (mittens-not hands) up my arm a bit and the cuff holds them there.

Insulated sleeves give me warmth. Single layer sleeves give me bug and sun protection.

With a little creativity I think one could completely outfit themselves using only the cut-off sleeves from used clothing.

"With a little creativity I think one could completely outfit themselves using only the cut-off sleeves from used clothing."
I'm not a total slave to aesthetics, but the mental imagery that inspired was a bit unsettling.

I like 'em, Daryl.

With some mods you really have something there!

I've used long merino socks as mittens (I just cut a thumb hole) with success.

Daryl,

I like it. But instead of red and blue, you should go with red and green. Then you could double as a channel marker. Remember, "Red, Right, Returning".

With respect to trekking poles, I can go much cheaper. My first was a replacement shovel handle – all of two bucks. Even cheaper was the mop handle I found on the beach – at a time when I desperately needed a pole. It worked great for several years. I do like the adjustability and ergonomics of the more expensive types. You really should have both at hand.

>"After breaking so many expensive "Ultralight" trekking poles, I finally decided to go for durability."

>"With respect to trekking poles, I can go much cheaper."

Goodwill and Salvation Army always have lots of Alpine and Nordic ski poles. Maybe $5 for two. Probably less. Various (fixed) lengths, your choice of aluminum or fiberglass. Tougher than trekking poles. Sometimes lighter, too, because of being one-piece.

Hikers break their poles. Skiers don't. So use ski poles.

Or there's Don's approach – a light wooden handle, like off a cheap mop or dust mop. And a strap, trim to length. Where a wooden pole is superior to all others is when running at a black bear to drive it off your food, there's enough mass that you can swing fast and hard onto his head. Knowing this, I'm more confident. Sensing that, the bear is not there when I arrive 2 seconds later. (Do not try this with grizzlies.)