Backpacking on a budget

[CatfishKev]

My first backpack tent was the eureka solo, good sized one man and pretty light. I road out a 2 day storm in it and only hit the edge ounce or twice. Hahha

I'm able to wedge everything in it with me and have room to move a little.

I stick my bow in between the fly and nest just leaning it against the nest.

69.00 bucks online new and I still have it and use it every year.

There's one for $30 used right near me. For $30 I can't see why not to pull the trigger on it.

[CouesFanatic]

This looks like a good 1 man tent: https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU?ref=ast_p_ep

 

No stakes needed for the tent, looks like the fly may need some. The Eureka Solo needs lots of stakes.

[Delw]

personally I would stay away from kelty bags. had a deer hunt early november in north rim 6 years ago, was scouting every weekend for 2 months. one day in OCT we went up I forgot the bags. had one good one and 2 cheap ones(grabbed wrong box) there was 3 of use. my daughter i and a friend. daughter got the good bag (it was 0 degrees when we arrived at 10pm.) I got one sleeping bag and buddy got the other one. 2 am we froze huge fire going.

since we were going to be there for 3 or 4 days we went in ferdona and bought 2 more bags. both keltys at some high end back pack store they were like 200 bucks each. we froze out butt's off. he ended up using the towels in my truck and I ended up useing 2 bags. daughter slept like a baby. I ended up sending mine back for a full refund to which I was supsised. the ones I got was rated at -20 the one my buddy got I think was -10 maybe it was 0 degrees.

 

daughter had my old coleman PEAK and a wool indian blanket. the 2 things I always bring.

 

I been back packing alot when I was younger. in 82 I got 3 peaks best dang bags you can ever buy, there heavy but there warm. the 3 trips we took to colorado wilderness areas at 10k feet and above) no problems. My buddy got a peak and so did my Father for those trips.

 

Anyway backpacking is rough in AZ only due to water and down south due to scorpions yes there even out in the snow down south. just start a fire and watch the ground crawl.

take the kids if and only if they can carry there own bags and enough water. we always use tarps when packing in as we can make a shelter out of anythign if the weather turn bad. a space blanket saved my life and a budies life one day in colorado dad always made me carry one when I was young. so it grew in my head and was a normal thing to carry. funny that day dad was at base camp and I took the day pack with my space blanket. 70º all of a sudden turned to a blizzard.

 

a few important things to have is nylon ropes 50 feet

space blanket

few tarps

water in AZ lots of it.

wool blanket and a good sleeping bag

matches and lighters. you break alot of matches when your hands are cold numb and wet and it hurts like heck.

in Az a hand gun and a few mags for snakes, down on the border I would suggest a small ar and definately another adult.

a hammock is also nice as well and comes in handy if there are trees around.

 

basic common sense is also required

one kid is fine but 2 I would take another adult if I were you. as crap happens. boy scout leader busted his leg(compound fracture) in Japan on our back packing trip into the wilds of Japan for 1 week when I was a kid. we had 2 adults and about a dozen kids. the other scout leader had to hike back to the train tracks and sit and wait for a train that only came ever 6-8 hours( there was no train stop) they saw you and would stop or let you off).

we kids had to grow up really quick. we carried that guy out and all our stuff in a day and a half. met the other scout leader coming up the creek with some villagers for help.

BTW all our back packs and tents were old miliary stuff (this was in like 71 or 72 heavy green Canvas with poles which work nicely for a makeshift stretcher. we was a big guy so it took 4 kids to carry him out. he got dropped a few times

.

[wildwoody]

Campfire.com always have great deals on quality backpacking stuff, . Stoves, bags, tents, lights and more.

[CatfishKev]

I got the eureka solo. Less than 3 pounds for $30!

[Curtis Reed]

I got the eureka solo. Less than 3 pounds for $30!

Good for you! Backpacking is a great pastime. If anyone doesnt think weight matters, youve never hiked 90 miles in 6 days with all your gear on your back.

[CatfishKev]

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/spo/d/rei-2-person-tent-camping/6621661441.html

 

Anyone recognize this model? It's a two p3rson for $75. 5.5 pounds.

[CatfishKev]

 

I got the eureka solo. Less than 3 pounds for $30!

Good for you! Backpacking is a great pastime. If you dont think weight matters, youve never hiked 90 miles in 6 days with all your gear on your back.

I hope I never have too! I'm thinking it could be a pretty fun family thing to do together.

[MT_Sourdough]

For summer time trips, I use a Eureka Zeus 1 Classic. It's an inexpensive freestanding tent that weighs 3 lbs and 7 ounces with poles, stakes , guide lines and in tent sack. It is 41" wide and 3 feet tall inside height. That is as small as I want to go these days. Its a single walled tent, but I have ridden out some storms in it and stayed dry. If I was heading out when there is a strong chance of really foul weather, I'd then look for a tent with a full rain fly. Or pack a lightweight waterproof tarp to sub as a rainfly.

[MT_Sourdough]

I am bringing this thread up one more time to say that I have one of those Eureka Solo bivy tents that I will never use again. If anybody in the Prescott area wants it, you can have it.

[AZkiller]

Any of it is cheaper than a trailer and a ranger. Have fun learn as you go

[dmoto]

Bumping this thread as Camofire has a smoking deal going right now on a SD Nightwatch FL tent.

[PowellSixO]

Outdoor Vitals has some great gear for a great price. It's not dirt cheap, but their stuff is pretty good quality. I have a pretty decent setup that works well for me.

 

Sleep Sytem:

Chill Gorrila Fortress Tarp (1 lb 8oz with straps and everything / $90)

Outdoor Vital Hammock (1lb with straps and everything $70)

Outdoor Vital 20 Degree Underquilt (2 lbs 4 oz. $180)

Outdoor Vital 0 Degree Sleeping Bag (2 lbs 10 oz. $240)

Outdoor Vital Ultralight Sleeping Pad Insulated R4(1 lb 2 oz. $80)

Cork Handle Trekking poles

 

 

When I have trees and I know it's going to be warm outside I can get away with just the tarp, hammock, sleeping pad, and underquilt.

 

When it's cold I just add my sleeping bag to the mix.

 

Putting the sleeping pad in the hammock works great by the way.

 

If I won't have trees to tie up to, I leave the hammock, and bring my trekking poles to build a shelter with the tarp.

 

Minus the trekking poles I'm sitting at 8lbs 8 oz for a complete sleep system that is warm down to 10-15 degrees, super comfortable (best night sleep while camping ever), off the ground and snakes, good for rain and snow, and doesn't have to be set up on level ground. It's not the lightest setup you can come up with going the hammock route, but I also didn't break the bank doing it either.

 

I bought all the stuff off amazon, and have roughly $650 in the gear. I don't think that's too bad considering some people will spend more than that on a sleeping bag or just the tent.

[CatfishKev]

After reading this thread several times and checking out some of the YouTube channels mentioned here is where im at.

 

Syntaxx77 and darwin onthetrail have some great YT videos on camping ultralight on a budget.

 

Used eureka solo tent. Under 3 lbs. $30

Cascade mountain tech carbon fiber trekking poles. 1.5 pounds. $45

Trekology ultralight pillow 2.9oz. $15

Outdoorsmans lab ultralight inflatable pad 15.5oz $42

Thermarest z lite pad. 1.1 pounds. $20 (will combine them when really cold)

Aegismax UL envelope goose down bag 1.3 pounds $92

Aegismax UL goose down bag for the kids 15.5 oz $83

 

So for me I'm at 6 pounds for sleeping system and tent. That's not bad for $200 and it's at least a good starting point. We will see about this $92 bag but darwin onthetrail gave the bag and the outdoorsman pad great reviews. Also very good reviews on Amazon.

[Curtis Reed]

After reading this thread several times and checking out some of the YouTube channels mentioned here is where im at.

 

Syntaxx77 and darwin onthetrail have some great YT videos on camping ultralight on a budget.

 

Used eureka solo tent. Under 3 lbs. $30

Cascade mountain tech carbon fiber trekking poles. 1.5 pounds. $45

Trekology ultralight pillow 2.9oz. $15

Outdoorsmans lab ultralight inflatable pad 15.5oz $42

Thermarest z lite pad. 1.1 pounds. $20 (will combine them when really cold)

Aegismax UL envelope goose down bag 1.3 pounds $92

Aegismax UL goose down bag for the kids 15.5 oz $83

 

So for me I'm at 6 pounds for sleeping system and tent. That's not bad for $200 and it's at least a good starting point. We will see about this $92 bag but darwin onthetrail gave the bag and the outdoorsman pad great reviews. Also very good reviews on Amazon.

Great choices. You are certainly geared up now to get out there once you get a pack. I want to do a section hike of the AZ trail in october. Sections 18-21 (Superior to Sunflower). 86.6 miles. Think about something like that. The Comete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail book is phenomenal. Also the Guthook app for the AZT on iphone and android is fantastic