The biggest cost associated with backpacking is the initial investment in gear. Once you have collected the necessary gear, usually there is very little cost associated with this sport. The most common recurring costs you may find include gas money & daily fees to access certain wilderness areas and parks. However, there are many wilderness areas that are free to use.

There are many factors that play a role in the overall total price for the initial gear investment. In a previous post, we mentioned the gear we would suggest considering. However, when you’re just getting into the hobby, the cost can be a little daunting and uncertain. With that said, purchasing your gear can be an extremely fun and exciting process too. To simplify things a bit, we have summarized gear into the following categories:

1. Durable/Highly Functional: Sometimes heavier equipment or equipment that uses a cheaper, lightweight materials like aluminum. Also, could be something like waterproof synthetics that tend to weigh more than water-resistant down.
2. Lightweight: Usually the most expensive products that feature materials like carbon fiber, water resistant down insulation, Goretex jackets, titanium cookware, etc.
3. Cheap: Cheap sounds bad, and it certainly can be, but there can be some good, less expensive outdoors products on the market. Startup outdoors companies are great brands to discover. These products may not be made with the lightest materials, but they can offer durable options that are affordable. However, you are always taking a risk in investing in products with less credibility because you may not know its true quality until putting it to the test.

As with most things, you get what you pay for. However, as mentioned above, there are some really great brands that offer great products at reasonable prices. For example, REI Co-Op has a wide variety of great products cheaper than most of the competition. On the other end of the spectrum, there are smaller “cottage-style” backpacking/outdoors companies that offer high-quality, custom products, but you will pay a premium for these. We really like these style companies – they are super cool. However, we didn’t discover these brands until we were fully immersed in this hobby. Contrarily, you can find great less-known start-ups that will offer their products for less as they get themselves off the ground and build brand recognition. For example, Montem makes great aluminum trekking poles for a fraction of the cost. To discover worthy startups worth a shot, check out Kickstarter.

Below please find a breakdown of pricing for backpacking essentials:

Backpacking Packs: $100 – $600+ (depends on size, brand, mass-produced vs. custom, material, etc.) … we both started out with great Osprey packs (46L – 50L) for less than $200. Since, Chris has upgraded to a lighter-weight custom pack by Mountain Laurel Designs, which was close to double in price.  

Trekking Poles: Price can range anywhere from $50 – $200 per set depending on:

• Weight (modest weight vs. ultra-light options)
• Material (aluminum vs. carbon fiber)
• Brand (Montem vs. Black Diamond)
• Side note: Consider cork grips as they dry when your hands sweat. This one little tip can make a noticeable difference in comfort.  

Sleeping Bags: Pricing can range from $60 – $600+ considering the following factors:

• Temperature Rating (the lower the temperature rating, the higher the price tag)
• Down vs. Synthetic Insulation (down is more expensive however their are pros and cons of both insulation types. For example, down will not keep you warm if it gets wet or is compressed)
• Brand (for example: REI Co-Op vs. Enlightened Equipment)
• New vs. Used
• Weight
• Single Bag vs. Double Bag (sometimes a double bag is worthwhile for couples embarking on this journey together)

Camp Kitchen: There are a few essential items we recommend for cooking and meal purposes:

• Pot (for boiling water) – $20 – $100
• Spoon/Fork/Knife Utensils – $2/$3 each
• Mugs – $10 (cheap, plastic, lightweight option) – $50+ (Ultralight, titanium option)
• Camp Stove (tablet vs. wood-burning vs. alcohol vs. canister stove systems)  – $20 – $200+

Hiking Boots/Trail Shoes: 

• Trail Sneakers $80+ (depends on whether or not they are Goretex, this year’s latest style, sales promotions, etc.)
• Boots: $90 – $400 (depends on brand, material, this year’s latest style or a previous year’s, sales promotions, etc.)

Sleeping Pads: $35 (non-insulated pads by less known brands) – $350+ (insulated, double sleeping pad). A pretty average price for insulated sleeping pads is anywhere between $120 to $220.

Backpacker Meals & On-the-Go Fuel: $4 per two-serving meal – $16 per two-serving meal (depends on the meal selection & dietary requirements).  

Headlamps: $10 – $100+ (pricing is dependent on the strength of lumens and other features such as Bluetooth, battery backup, etc. We purchased $30 Petzl headlamps and spent an additional $20-$30 for the rechargeable battery option.)

Apparel: 

• Insulated Jackets (down vs. synthetic): $150 – $500+
• Wool Garments (depends on brand and item): $40 – $150+
• Wool Socks – $12 – $25 per pair
• Midweight Layers: Pricing depends on material (wool vs. synthetic) $30 – $150+
• Baselayers: Again, pricing depends on garment material (wool vs. synthetic) $30 – $120+
• Tights: $60 – $100+

Tents: $140 (REI Co-Op 1 Person Tent) – $1,000+ (MSR All-Season 5 Person Tent)

Pricing depends on the following factors:

• Capacity (1 person vs. 4 person+) – we spent between $500 & $600 on a three-person, three-season Big Agnes tent (yes, that is a lot of money, but we love our tent, it is light-weight, and Big Agnes customer service is the bomb!)
• Season Rating
• Weight
• Brand
• Durability

Budget-Friendly Tips: 

Trust me, we get it. You’re not made of money. Neither are we. Sometimes we find ourselves dreaming of the gear we wish we had. Until we reach that point of ownership we save up, constantly visit the brand’s website, keep up with their social pages, and even pretend like today is the day we are going to make that big purchase. And as great as that all sounds, and as exciting as that may be, we must remain practical and within our means. So, we have found some really great ways to do just that.

As mentioned in a previous post, we highly recommend signing up for the REI Co-Op membership. You get great perks like member-only coupons and best of all, access to the REI Garage. The REI Garage is SO cool! If you don’t mind lightly used items, or sometimes barely used items, you can take advantage of some great deals on some awesome items.  A great majority of these items are from highly sought after, well-know brands, but only Co-Op members have access to these products.

Never rule out buying used, especially when you’re just getting into it. Also, considering borrowing someone’s gear before you really dive in to ensure you have a true passion for the hobby. We will not lie to you: purchasing your gear adds up quickly, especially if you are purchasing everything as a single person. We were extremely lucky that we both wanted to get into backpacking together. We were able to split the cost of the items we planned to share (our tent, cookware, two-person meals, etc.).

Our final tip is to consider newer outdoors brands. Start-ups that are doing well, but still not as well-know. For example, as already mentioned, Montem is starting to pickup steam. They offer great, high quality trekking poles for $50! If you decide to purchase trekking poles from Black Diamond (they are also a great product and what we use) be prepared to spend an upwards of $120. The point is, both are great brands and Black Diamond has created their following & reputation based on the high quality products they provide. However, Montem offers a highly functional, durable product as well, but only opened their doors in 2016. Since doing so, they have received a majority of five-star ratings from their consumers. By offering their trekking poles at a lower price, they have offered us budget-conscious folks the ability to obtain a quality product without breaking our bank accounts.

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