Ultracheap Backpacking

[pastavore]

I would love to be a high end gear junky, and I would really like to be an ultralight gear connoisseur. But unfortunately I have other expensive hobbies (cycling, children) so all my adventures need to be done on a budget. So I thought maybe a thread on bushwalking bargains and/or ingenious use of materials might be fun.

I had been scouring ebay without much success for a pack ( to replace my travel style pack), tent ( to supplement my existing one so the kids have somewhere to sleep), sleeping mat ('cause I'm old) and bag (so I don't have to keep borrowing).

Eventually came across a link to Holiak hire here in Melbourne, and today picked up a Oneplanet ridegback 2 person tent, a oneplanet rucksack, a down sleeping bag and a quite elderly thermarest, all for about $130.

Yep, all very well used, but good, strong gear and perfectly functional.

[perfectlydark]

Im in the same boat. Keep on ebay/gumtree is my advice, watch for aldi sales (every 6 months orso they seem to wheel out outdoor stuff, quite a bit of it is very good for the price). My favorite bit of gear is my aldis tent which for $70 I couldnt fault. Bought a backpack too but that wasnt quite worth it $40 but its pretty crappily built and wont last more than a few walks

[Strider]

The best way to save both money and weight is to ensure as much of your gear as possible is multipurpose. E.g. a pillow will only ever be a pillow, but a piece of spare guyline has no limits to its application.

[wayno]

keep trawling the shops online and the bricks and mortar ones for the sales until you find what you want, hopefully at your price

[Joomy]

Im in the same boat. Keep on ebay/gumtree is my advice, watch for aldi sales (every 6 months orso they seem to wheel out outdoor stuff, quite a bit of it is very good for the price). My favorite bit of gear is my aldis tent which for $70 I couldnt fault. Bought a backpack too but that wasnt quite worth it $40 but its pretty crappily built and wont last more than a few walks

Obviously there is also the gear swap forum here and over at chockstone. On most of these gear swap forums there's generally a combination of well-used gear which is very cheap but probably has a reduced life span, and little used gear which is cheaper than the new stuff but still not "cheap".

[dannnnn]

good idea for a thread!! my usual sources are sales, buying from the US and buying second hand gear on here!!