Cheap Gear – How to Dirt Bag and Deal Shop Like a Professional

[Erro]

Wow Sarge - another great article!

I think I'm going to return my brand new name brand rain gear and fleece and hit the thrift shop!

Thanks for taking the time to put this (and all the other great stuff on hikinghq.net) together for us.

My suggestion: Have you seen the new line of Ziploc bowls? The lids SCREW on! They're "disposable" but seem to be strong enough to take a real beating. Can handle the heat of cooking in a microwave. And best of all - they're light and CHEAP!

[SGT Rock]

Thanks TH. Hey, do you guys also bring a set of postal scales into the store

[SGT Rock]

Dang, sorry about the screw up of the aricle during the update, the connection here is VERY bad and that sometimes happened. Luckily I keep a "latest version" on my laptop.

[Skidsteer]

Thanks TH. Hey, do you guys also bring a set of postal scales into the store

Don't laugh, Sarge. I'm thinking of getting one of these for just that purpose :

http://saveonscales.com/product_mech...penscales.html

[jlb2012]

windscreen material - if short windscreen use the side walls of 12 ounce soda or beer cans - z fold two together and crimp at the fold - if need taller windscreen do the same thing using "tall boy" 24 ounce beer cans - material is easily found along side roads for free.

[Pennsylvania Rose]

For kids (I have five): Hand down everything to the smaller ones. Kids don't need boots - tennis shoes are fine. But, if you do get boots for the big kids (my oldest two twist their ankles all the time when they carry loaded backpacks), they can be handed down, too. Or make friends with other camping and hiking families and set up clothes/gear trades. I traded an extra stove for my 2nd baby carrier (we had two babies, but one carrier). Kids can also use your old clothes - ones you've "grown out" of or shrank in the wash (I've done this to several wool sweaters and socks, and some long underwear). Buy long underwear big so they can use it for a couple of years. Christmas time is a good opportunity, too. I mentioned to an aunt years ago that the kids love fleece. Every Christmas she sends each of them Old Navy fleece sweaters and pants; usually one size too big, so everyone is set for at least a year. The little kids now have a closet full of warm stuff.

I love this article, Rock! Even as the penny pinching goddess that I am, I've been fretting over how to outfit 3 teenagers who have become serious backpackers and are determined to thru as soon as they graduate high school - of course, I'm going, too - so imagine the money we'd have to spend! I've been hitting the MYOG sections a lot lately, and now all the resources I need are in one place.

[Lanthar Mandragoran]

Wow, Rock, that was brilliant... it's going on my permanently bookmark list (and will be forwarded to the scouts in the troop I help out with)

[Spock]

SGT Rock,
I have a dandy cheapo gear spreadsheet that a user can modify for his own purposes and needs. Is there a way, presuming it is desirable to do so, to post spreadsheets here for folks to download? BTW, it comes to under $140. But as with all cheapo lists, one's shopping ability and opportunity can play a big part. Finding 'deals' is not assumed in the sample sheet.

[Alligator]

Make it a zip file and add it to your post as an attachment.

[SGT Rock]

Like Alligator said, post it as an attachment. I can do some more updates and post that in the article as a link.

[titanium_hiker]

this would be perfect for those children's groups that take kids hiking (like the scouts) - but for non "outdoorsy" clubs as well- parents can flip about the cost of gear etc etc.

What license is this article released under, Sarge? If it's CC I'd like to make a derivative for Australian conditions.


TH

[Doctari]

OH WOW!!!!!





I wish you had posted this when I was starting out all those years ago. AND, I still learned a few things. My forehead hurts now from going "DUH / slap" cuz so much was so obvious AFTER I read it. Absolutly FANTASTIC article, thank you!



Doctari.

[SGT Rock]

this would be perfect for those children's groups that take kids hiking (like the scouts) - but for non "outdoorsy" clubs as well- parents can flip about the cost of gear etc etc.

What license is this article released under, Sarge? If it's CC I'd like to make a derivative for Australian conditions.


TH

As long as we get citation and a link, we don't care if the info gets used by others.

Send it in good health!

[goatmilk]

This is an excellent article. It must be very fulfilling to make your own gear and to be self sustaining off this gear. As I continue to plan my hike I'm constantly taken in by the marketing hype. This article puts a very important idea into perspective: Hiking does not have to be expensive.

Thanks for the great advice and ideas.

[dixicritter]

Don't laugh, Sarge. I'm thinking of getting one of these for just that purpose :

http://saveonscales.com/product_mech...penscales.html

Trust me he wouldn't be laughing, more likely considering buying one of those for himself so that maybe his wife wouldn't be so embarrassed to shop with him...

[Alligator]

Don't laugh, Sarge. I'm thinking of getting one of these for just that purpose :

http://saveonscales.com/product_mech...penscales.html

Those pen scales only go 3.5 ounces. You say you're driving all over and making a lot of stops for your business? Probably a lot better than having a postal scale in your pocket .

[Skidsteer]

Those pen scales only go 3.5 ounces. You say you're driving all over and making a lot of stops for your business? Probably a lot better than having a postal scale in your pocket .

All together now:

"Is that a postal scale in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

[Krewzer]

All together now:

"Is that a postal scale in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

ROFLMAO....now that's cheap.

[SGT Rock]

Added that zip file attachment.

[Skidsteer]

This is a good time of year to revisit your local thrift shops for winter clothing.

Big outfits like Goodwill and Salvation Army are putting out winter clothing donated this past Summer because of the changing seasons.

I scored a Patagonia Micro-puff in perfect condition and an REI Gore-Tex raincoat with a missing zipper pull last week for $7.00 each.