Low Cost Loadout

  •   Category Price Weight
  • Big Four $652.00
    7.07 lb
  • Water and Food $91.00
    0.57 lb
  • Misc $133.00
    2.47 lb
  • Total $876.00 10.11
    lb
    • oz
    • lb
    • g
    • kg
  • Worn 1.3 lb
  • Base Weight 8.81 lb

The Idea

Create a gear list that strikes a balance between several criteria:
- Relatively low cost
- Reasonable weight
- Readily available online
- Established brands
- Items have a solid reputation
- Provides a decent level of comfort
- Source the items from cottage companies/retailers when possible

Many "low cost" loadouts sacrifice comfort in the name of either weight, cost, or both. That's great for experienced backpackers that know what they're willing to do without in order to save money or weight, or those who have a small budget and no wiggle room. But often those lists create a very uncomfortable, or even miserable, first experience in the back country and people get turned off to backpacking. This list aims for a middle ground. It's not the lightest, nor is it insanely heavy. It's not incredibly expensive, but also not the cheapest. These items will last years if you take care of them properly, and will see you through many adventures. Cottage companies and retailers are linked whenever possible, although some items are only readily available through Amazon. I hate putting more money in Jeff Bezos' pockets, but for certain products other retailers are inconsistent in stocking said item or are consistently sold out.

You don't need to get all of these at once, either. You can often rent gear from a local outfitter, or borrow from friends and family. You may find things on sale that fill a certain slot, and that's awesome! Never be afraid to consider second-hand backpacking gear. Just be smart about it, protect your purchase in case you need a refund, and examine the gear in-person whenever possible. Use payment services such as PayPal to ensure you have the ability to recover your money in case it's a scam, or the product is misrepresented.

Tents

I've chosen the Lanshan 1P as a good compromise between weight and cost. It's a double-wall tent, which is what most folks new to backpacking will be familiar with. Single-wall tents are lighter, but also more expensive and require some familiarity in dealing with their quirks; namely, that condensation can become a major issue if not dealt with properly through site selection and air flow. Being a double-wall tent, the Lanshan 1P also has the advantage that you can carry just the inner tent when there's no chance of rain, significantly lightening your load AND allowing you to stargaze

Sleeping Pads

Due to steep price of inflatable pads, I opted to layer a regular + a short Nemo Switchback pad. Sleep with your torso on the doubled area, and your legs on the single layer. Your torso will be on an R-value of 4, which is a solid 3 season setup. This was the best possible combination of weight, price, and R-Value I could find. This combo also has the advantage of simplicity and durability. If you can, test both air pads and CCF (Closed Cell Foam) pads at a local outfitter, or borrow what you can from a friend. Spend a night on them at your house/apt, and see how you sleep. Some folks love CCF, and others hate it. Don't assume you'll be a fan of a specific type of pad until you try it out. Due to REI's union busting practices I actively discourage people from being their customer, but for some folks that's the only local store they have. If that's your situation, get a membership (it's free) so you'll have a 1-year return window.

Last updated

With the idiotic tariffs being put in place, prices have increased significantly on almost every item on this list. Prices and links updated September 2nd, 2025