11 Cheap Gear Alternatives Thru-Hikers Love
It sounds silly, but you can lighten your pack a lot by trading out heavy gear for garbage. Here are some low-cost accessories thru-hikers swear by.
Yeah, having the latest and greatest gear is nice. But you know what’s even nicer? Saving that cash and putting it toward the hike of your dreams. With a little ingenuity, you can turn that well-loved Goodwill gear, the bargain-bin Target purchase, or even your recycling into equipment that performs on the trail. Start with these 11 thru-hiker hacks, and get creative from there. —The Editors
A SmartWater bottle (instead of a Nalgene)
Disposable bottles weigh 1/4 as much as Nalgenes, cost about 1/18th as much, and come with a free drink. A lot of hikers also prefer SmartWater bottles because they fit on a Sawyer filter (arguably the most popular water filter), and because their tall, skinny design makes them more packable. But they aren’t as durable as Nalgenes and you can’t do the old ‘boiling water in a bottle’ trick to heat up your sleeping bag on a chilly night—unless you want melted plastic and water in your bag.
Read more cheap gear alternatives thru-hikers love, written by Maggie Chuckles Wallace here.
November 1, 2024
Backpacker
At BACKPACKER, we inspire and enable people to enjoy the outdoors by providing the most trusted and engaging information about backcountry adventure in North America.
We are committed to honesty, respect, and cooperation in all our relationships.
We understand and respond in a timely fashion to the product and service needs of our consumers.
We take a leadership role in educating and partnering with others who share our interests and values.
We support programs, policies, and behavior that encourages protection of our current wilderness areas and well-considered designation of new ones.
We are committed to display the highest quality of compelling photographs and inspiring stories.
We provide our industry with superior service, resources, and audiences. </p>
We promote sustainable, low-impact use of wilderness.
We support and encourage one another to innovate, lead, grow, take risks, share ideas, and express a passion for the wilderness.
Explore More Content
Media Mentions
This stuff flat-out works and this bottle from Sawyer is easy to apply, lasts for six weeks or six washes, and is less than $20.
Media Mentions
Smart backpackers now combine a lightweight filter like the Sawyer Squeeze with chemical tablets as backup – a system that processes water from alpine streams and desert potholes alike.
Media Mentions
This insect repellant's permethrin spray provides long-lasting insect and tick protection for clothing and gear, effective for up to 6 weeks.
From the Squad
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
