Is every UL backpacker rich? Challenge Accepted!

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

I decided to start a different thread about a similar topic.  Why don’t we turn all of this creative energy into a solution.  Here is that challenge: can you develop a UL kit that cost less than $100?

Guidelines

A kit designed for the optimal season along the AT, JMT, PCT

Designed for at least 7 days

Single person, cooked meals

No used gear, all new (sale items ok)

Target weight ~10 to 15 pounds

If it can’t meet the $100 threshold, how low can you go?

Let’s see what people come up with!

[Kattt]

Cool idea Jon. Hopefully you won’t get links to a similar thread from 8 years ago, because it is worth doing again.

 

Ps. Someone did suggest just a tazer on the trail ;)

[Chad M]

This is an absolutely amazing idea. Look forward to reading these.

[Ken Thompson]

Well optimal time along the JMT, PCT will have zero rain. Good opportunity for savings.

The taser is a sound concept.

[Jeffs Eleven]

Carry a taser to the next camp, Deploy taser (after they finish cooking, but before they eat), eat, sleep.

….Wake up and carry Taser to next camp.

We’ve been approaching thru hiking all wrong.

[Kattt]

^^^ yup that was the plan.

 

sorry for the thread hijack..

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Will the Coscto $20 down throw work?

[James holden]

ask the folks on reddit UL …

half of those bums are poor college students that cant even afford their next pack of ramen …

amazingly enuff they all seem to be able to get out regardless

;)

[Scott Kilcoyne]

^HEY I take offense to that! ;)

[Greg F]

I think you have to go cheap if you want to hit the $100 mark. So I think the goal should be minimizing the cost of quality 5-10yr backpacking kit

For a sleeping bag a Kelly cosmic down 20 for $150 that you can likely get for $100 on clearance.  This is a decent bag that will be a good investment for everyone.

For a Pad you get to live with the $10 blue foamy until you save $60 for a klymit to be more comfortable.

for a tent a skyscape scout for $125 @ 2lbs again has good quality, protection and value

for a pack you get whatever for $100 on clearance from a reputable brand

So that’s $325 or so for the big 4

you make an Alchy stove and buy a grease pot.

use clothes from home and if rain isn’t a concern an emergency poncho if it is you can pick up a precip for $50-$60 on clearance.

So for $400 depending on how heavy the persons existing clothes are gets you a sub 15lb  reasonably high quality and reliable kit.

[Matthew / BPL]

Jon, I’ve been comfortable with a Costco down throw at ~45° in a TT Notch wearing shorts and a sweatshirt. I don’t think I’d want to go much lower than that, particularly if the hiker was taller than me (5’6″).

[Russ W]

Taser idea is brilliant! In general, here is what I would do if < $100 were the goal:

Backpack- Quick search on Ali Express yields tons of options. A 2 lb. 40 liter pack can be had for less than $30. Alternative at Campmor is Outdoor Products in the $20-$50 range.

Tent – Outdoor Products backpacking poncho. No need for pack cover, use as shelter. $30 but probably cheaper or homemade options. Get some aluminum gutter nails at Home Depot for stakes.

Treking poles – Homemade with bamboo or something. I carved up a Christmas tree for my AT thru back in the day. $0

Alcohol stove – catfood can. Hardware cloth for support. Drink bottle for fuel. $2

Cooking Pot – Foster’s Beer can. Find or empty one. $3

Quilt – Costco down throw. $20

Sleeping Pad- myog using reflectix.

 

[Link .]

Hiking Adventures $100 Ultralight Backpacking Gear List & Review .

[Jeff Patrick]

There is a sticky on r/ultralight with a bunch of options to put together an ultracheap ultralight gear list.

I think you could probably put a pretty respectable list together for $5-600 if you are willing to shop sales/used. And for $1,000 you could probably get a really good kit.

If you limit the hiking to summer areas where bear cans aren’t required, then your cost of entry is pretty low and you could use clothes you likely already have.

When I go backpacking for a weekend, I can have anything I’d need/want to fish/hike/be protected stay warm and dry probably from 15 degrees up for 12ish lbs. My non-ultralight hiking buddies probably have 10 more lbs of gear than me but aren’t going to cope with as wide of a variety of circumstances as I could.

If you are comfortable going out less than fully prepared and keeping trips shorter at first, you could probably get a decent starter summer kit for $300ish. 2014 Fushion 50 for $100, costco down blanket for $20, tarp $100ish? I don’t really know, water filter $20, thermarest $20, cookgear $30, ebay pancho $10, costco down jacket $20. Something like that would generally work for summer at just around $300 and around 8-9 lbs. Giving you about 5 lbs to play around with and still have a pretty good baseweight. Plus if trip is short food and water would keep you between 20-25 lbs.

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