Budget Backpacking Gear List (Under $1,000)
Are you just getting into long-distance backpacking and don’t want to invest thousands of dollars on high-end gear right out of the gate? Here is an example of a budget-oriented lightweight backpacking gear list that that will get you on the trail for just under $1,000.
Instead of suggesting just one item for each category, I have listed several popular options for important gear items (like backpack, shelter and sleeping bag) for you to choose from. If you would like to see the gear I use myself, check out My Lightweight Backpacking Gear List.
The Big Three (Backpack, Shelter, Sleep System)
Weight: 9-10 pounds, Budget: ~$600
These three items (technically four, if you count sleeping bag and pad separately) are the foundation of your lightweight backpacking system. They get used more than anything else, make up the bulk of your gear weight and will take the biggest chunk out of your budget.
Budget Lightweight Backpacks (Under $200)
- Option A: REI Flash 55 (42 ounces) REI
- Option B: Granite Gear Crown2 60 (38 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option C: Osprey Exos 48 (41 ounces) Amazon REI
Budget Backpacking Shelters (Under $150)
- Option A: Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 (56 ounces) Amazon
- Option B: Eureka Midori Solo (59 ounces) Amazon
- Option C: Kelty Late Start 1 (53 ounces) Amazon
Budget Sleeping Bags (Under $200)
- Option A: Kelty Cosmic 20 (38 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option B: Marmot Trestles Elite 20 (38 ounces) REI Marmot
- Option C: REI Zephyr 20 (40 ounces) REI
Budget Sleeping Pads (Under $50)
- Option A: Thermarest RidgeRest SOLite Reg (14 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option C: Thermarest Z Lite Sol Reg (14 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option B: Alps Mountaineering Foam 625 Reg (14 ounces) Amazon
Clothing Worn
Weight: 2.9 pounds, Cost: ~$150
These are clothing items that are typically worn every day on the trail. Hiking clothing should be lightweight, comfortable, breathable, durable and made from synthetic fabrics, wool or silk (no cotton.) Since these items spend more time on your body than in your pack, they are excluded from the “base weight” calculation, but are included in your “skin-out weight.”
- Shoes: Asics Gel Venture 7 (21 ounces) Amazon
- Socks: Adidas Athletic Quarter Socks (2 ounces) Amazon
- Shirt: Russell Athletic Performance T-Shirt (5 ounces) Amazon
- Pants: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants (12 ounces) Amazon REI
- Underwear: Champion Tech Performance Boxer Briefs (3 ounces) Amazon
- Hat: Dukars Wide Brim Sun Hat (3 ounces) Amazon
- Sunglasses: 3M Tekk Safety Glasses (1 ounce) Amazon
Clothing Packed
Weight: 2.3 pounds, Cost: ~$150
These are clothing items which typically spend more time in your pack than on your body. They are used primarily for staying warm and dry in inclement weather, in the evenings in camp and as spares for clothing that needs to air out between uses (like socks and underwear.) Because they are usually stored in your pack, these items are included in the “base weight” calculation.
- Insulated Jacket: Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece Vest (10 ounces) Amazon
- Rain Jacket: Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite 2 Rain Jacket (6 ounces) Amazon
- Base Layer Top: Duofold Lightweight Thermatrix Shirt (7 ounces) Amazon
- Base Layer Bottom: Duofold Lightweight Thermatrix Bottoms (7 ounces) Amazon
- Warm Cap: Condor Microfleece Watch Cap (1 ounce) Amazon
- Gloves: Aegend Microfleece Gloves (1.5 ounces) Amazon
- Spare Socks: Adidas Athletic Quarter Socks (2 ounces) Amazon
- Spare Underwear: Champion Tech Performance Boxer Brief (3 ounces) Amazon
Cooking & Hydration
Weight: 1.1 pounds, Cost: ~$50
These items are used for cooking, eating and cleaning dishes as well as storing and treating drinking water. This example provides carrying capacity for up to 4 liters of water. You may need to adjust this up or down, depending on how much water is available where you hike.
- Camp Stove: Etekcity Canister Stove (3 ounces) Amazon
- Cook Pot: Stanco Grease Pot (4 ounces) Amazon
- Pot Cozy: Home-made Pot Cozy (1.4 ounces) Instructions
- Spoon: HumanGear GoBites Uno Spork (0.5 ounce) Amazon REI
- Pot Scrubber: 1/2 Scotch-Brite Pad (0.4 ounce)
- Hydration Reservoir: Platypus Hoser 3 Liter (3.8 ounces) Amazon REI
- Water Bottle: Aquafina Bottle 1 Liter (1.5 ounces)
- Backup Water Purification: Aquamira (3 ounces) Amazon REI
Survival & Miscellaneous
Weight: 1.2 pounds, Cost: ~$100
These are items used for navigation, fire starting, first aid, gear repairs, personal hygiene, organization and other various tasks. Though some of these items may not get used very often, it is still wise to carry them, because they can make all the difference in an emergency.
- Map: Trail Map (3 ounces)
- Compass/Thermometer: Silva Forecaster (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- Light: Foxelli Headlamp (3.2 ounces) Amazon
- Multi Tool: Swiss Army Classic (0.7 ounce) Amazon REI
- Fire Starter: Mini Bic Lighter (0.4 ounce) Amazon
- Backup Fire Starter: SOL Fire Lite Kit (0.6 ounce) Amazon REI
- Whistle: SOL Slim Howler (0.2 ounce) Amazon
- Tape: 50″ Duct Tape (0.6 ounce) Amazon REI
- Cord: 25′ Guyline (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical .3 Kit (3.2 ounces) Amazon REI
- Wash Rag: Packtowl Personal Towel (0.7 ounces) Amazon REI
- Toothbrush: Folding Toothbrush (0.7 ounces) Amazon
- Phone Charger: Smartphone Charger (2 ounces)
- Stuff Sacks: Outdoor Products Dry Sacks 8L, 4L & 2L (3.2 ounces) Amazon
Items Worn or Carried
Weight: 1.7 pounds, Cost: ~$50 (not including cost of phone)
These are non-clothing items which are typically carried in your hands or on your body. They are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation, but are included in “skin-out weight.”
- Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber (15.6 ounces) Amazon
- Fixed Blade Knife: Morakniv Craftline Basic 3.6 inch (4 ounces) Amazon
- Smartphone: Your Phone & Accessories (7 ounces)
Consumables
Weight: ~20 pounds
These are items which get used up as you go along, so they have to be replenished regularly. Since the weight of consumables is always fluctuating, they are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation, but are included in your “full pack weight” and “skin-out weight.”
- Food: 5 Days Backpacking Food (160 ounces)
- Water: 4 Liters Water (140 ounces)
- Fuel: Small Fuel Canister (7 ounces) Amazon
- Toilet Paper: Toilet Paper (1 ounce) Amazon
- Hand Sanitizer: Purell (1.2 ounces) Amazon
- Wet Wipes: 5 Wet Ones Singles (1 ounce) Amazon
- Spare Batteries: 3 AAA Lithium (0.8 ounces) Amazon
- Body Powder: Gold Bond Powder (1.8 ounces) Amazon
- Toothpaste: Travel Toothpaste (1 ounce) Amazon
- Sunscreen: Travel Sunscreen (1.2 ounces) Amazon
- Lip Balm: Carmex (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- Bug Repellant: Repel 30% Deet (1.5 ounces) Amazon
Budget Backpacking Gear List Summary
Base Pack Weight: 14 pounds, Cost: ~$1,000
There are several methods for calculating pack weight. “Base weight” includes all packed gear, but does not include consumables, clothing worn and other items worn or carried. “Full pack weight” includes packed gear, food, water, fuel and other consumables. “Skin-out weight” includes everything packed, worn and carried. Here is how our example gear list stacks up: