Buying Bushwalking Gear on a Budget

There’s no getting around it: Multi-day bushwalking is an expensive hobby.

Buying decent gear is the biggest barrier to entry and unlike other pastimes where poor quality equipment can at worst hinder performance, bushwalking with inappropriate gear can be fatal.

If you’re just starting out, borrowing as much gear as you can is the best strategy. However, this is not an option for everyone, and sooner or later you will have to spend some money. Even if you are buying exclusively second hand, the cost of a reasonable quality overnight set-up can very easily balloon to several thousand dollars.

Here are my tips for saving money while maximising safety, comfort and enjoyment:

Spend money on:

–Sleeping Bag: I believe a sleeping bag is the one piece of equipment you should not be skimping on (particularly if you plan to walk in a cooler climate). Buying the “fluffiest” down you can (ideally a loft rating of 800 or more) means you get a bag that is lighter, more compressible and lofts more reliably than a cheaper bag with a similar warmth rating.

–Tent: Like your sleeping bag, your tent plays a huge role in both your comfort and safety on an overnighter. It is also the item that can vary the most in terms of weight and bulk. While you should always avoid buying a very cheap, entry-level tent, you might be able to get away with a more budget friendly option depending on the places you are planning to camp.  Many high-end tents, particularly 4-season tents, are quite specialised and may be inappropriate for your intended use.

–Sleeping Mat: Cheap sleeping mats may be fine in terms of comfort and warmth, but they tend to be heavy and (more importantly) very bulky. Saving this space inside your pack is incredibly valuable and worth the extra cost of a mid-range or high-end mat. Foldable closed-cell foam mats are an option that is both light and cheap, but these will usually need to be attached to the outside of your pack, which isn’t a great option on scrubbier walks.

Don’t Spend Too Much on:

-Rain Jacket: While rainwear is obviously extremely important for safety, I think the emphasis on the quality is somewhat overstated. The reality is, in very wet conditions it’s hard to stay completely dry (even in a $1000 jacket!). A high-end shell will have some nice features and characteristics, but once you start spending over $300 on a jacket there are diminishing returns in terms of performance. For trips in wet, cold climates, it’s worth getting a jacket with a 3-layer construction, decent durability, pit-zips for ventilation and a fixed hood. In the past Gore-Tex was considered the “gold-standard” for waterproof-breathable membranes, however these days there are many competitors and most reputable brands will use membranes that have an adequate hydrostatic-head rating.

–Pack: Getting a pack that is light, comfortable and durable is another big expense. My advice is to get a smaller pack than you think you will need. This will not only save money (and weight) but will encourage more disciplined packing and improve your gear tetris skills.

Save Money On:

–Clothing: This is where big savings can be made. While expensive technical clothing has advantages in terms of comfort, fit, breathability and weight, spending more money on clothing will not necessarily keep you warmer. So long as you avoid moisture absorbing materials (eg. cotton), there’s nothing wrong with using cheaper options such as polypropylene thermals and basic pile fleeces.

–Gloves: High-end insulated/waterproof gloves can cost hundreds of dollars. For everything except alpine trips above the snowline, basic fleece gloves will be sufficient. Some walkers use washing up gloves as a waterproof shell over the top of them. Another great budget option is the insulated work gloves available at hardware stores. These are tough, very warm and don’t absorb much moisture.

–Bits and Pieces: A lot of money (and weight) can be saved by avoiding the various accessories and small single-purpose items that often get recommended. These include things like inflatable pillows, crockery/utensil kits, knives, multi-tools, micro-fibre towels, power banks, GPS devices, clotheslines, biodegrable soap and many, many more. While some of these can be quite nice to have, their cost adds up and most are far from essential. Start with the necessities, and as you progress you can decide for yourself which of these items are worthwhile.

–Food: Packaged, freeze-dried food is a big expense when added up over several trips. Many people dehydrate their own food, but this requires a lot of time and effort, as well as the additional expense of buying a dehydrator. The cheapest option is to use the “instant” food readily available in supermarkets, such as cous-cous, dried noodles and instant mashed potatoes. These can be combined with seasonings and other long-life ingredients to make very quick meals with great energy to weight ratios. There are plenty of recipes available online to get some inspiration. Don’t be too concerned about eating “empty carbs”, as carbohydrates are your primary source of fuel for the aerobic demands of bushwalking. Avoid buying prepackaged breakfasts as these can be easily replicated with things like muesli, oats and milk powder.  Many “energy” foods such as gels or fancy bars cost quite a bit and don’t actually provide any more kilojoules than cheap muesli bars, lollies and chocolate.

Maybe Save Money On:

–Footwear: Many people believe they have to buy expensive, full-grain leather boots to get into bushwalking. This may be the right choice for some, but there many other options out there, many of which are quite a bit cheaper. See these articles for more information on footwear:

https://wildernessexpeditions.net.au/footwear-in-technical-terrain/
https://wildernessexpeditions.net.au/choosing-the-right-footwear-for-tasmanian-terrain/

–Rainpants: This is a somewhat controversial one and does depend on the kind or walking you’re doing. If you’re doing trips in alpine areas that are exposed, snowy or scrubby it might be worth getting more beefy, durable pants. However, if your rainpants will only see occasional use when the weather turns nasty, it’s okay to go with something cheap, light and packable. The purpose of rainpants is not to keep your legs perfectly dry, just to create a barrier to minimise heat loss through evaporation and windchill.