Fill Free Time

When planning on going backpacking, there are a lot of components to think about regarding backpacking gear. For a beginner, it is a good idea to start with a basic list of essential supplies and then build from there. Another thing to consider is whether to go with light or ultralight supplies. The benefit of light or ultralight backpacking is that the hiking part of the trip is more enjoyable when only carrying a base weight of twenty pounds or less versus over twenty with a normal load.

Discount backpacking gear is much easier to find as the sport becomes more and more popular. There are many different companies today that supply discount backpacking gear, as well as trade shows where the gear is sold at a discounted price. In addition, discount stores that did not carry backpacking items in the past are now beginning to carry these items as the popularity has increased, and beginning backpackers do not want to invest a bunch of money just to try out a new sport.

So Many Choices

In reading any number of backpacking blogs, a person will quickly discover that there is not much consensus on any product in the backpacking and camping world, even backpacking food! Each backpacker has his own personal affinities regarding packs, tents, sleeping bags and stoves, so it is difficult to determine what brands or types of gear are considered the ‘best’ backpacking gear overall.

That said, there are some general things that every backpacker looks for in certain types of gear. These are the things that novice backpackers should keep in mind when shopping for backpacking gear. The best backpacking gear in every area is the kind that works best for that particular backpacker in those particular conditions.

Beginning backpackers should not always go out and buy the most expensive equipment for backpacking, since they do not yet know if the sport will be one that they will continue throughout their life or if they will be done with it after their first real excursion. Plus, even experienced backpackers do not necessarily buy the most expensive supplies, knowing that the medium or even cheap backpacking gear suffices in most situations.

How Cheap is Cheap?

There are some items that a consumer can not get around paying close to one hundred dollars for, such as the tent. A solid tent is essential, so even when looking for cheap backpacking gear, a buyer should not go too cheap. One solid tent is the Granite Gear Vigra that runs at close to one hundred dollars. A couple of other choices are the Osprey Ather 45 or the GoLite Jam. All of these tents are also light, at about thirty ounces. Check backpacking gear reviews for other tents that have the same features as these do and look for sales. Another essential item that is on the more expensive side is the tarp, which runs at about fifty dollars. Beyond this, a ground cloth and stakes will run about twenty dollars, putting the total amount for shelter just under two hundred dollars.

For a novice backpacker, the larger backpacking camping gear needed is fairly obvious: tent, pack, and sleeping bag. It is always good to follow a backpacking gear review when choosing those items in order to make an informed decision. The smaller items needed in order to have an enjoyable backpacking excursion are the ones most likely to be forgotten by beginner hikers and campers. These smaller items fall into three categories: clothing/wearable’s, kitchen items, and miscellaneous but still essential items.

Backpacking camping gear requires a lot of research and hands on experience in order to decide what gear is the right pick for any particular backpacker. If a hiker is just going on a day trip where he is hiking out and back, maybe cooking a meal on the way, but is not staying overnight, is going to need much different supplies than a hiker going on a week-long camping trip.

The best way to choose backpacking camping gear is to try it out beforehand. Borrowing camping gear from a friend or renting it from an outdoor supply shop is a good way to get a feel for the best backpacking gear. Everyone has a different preference about the type of tent they like, sleeping bag they love to snuggle in, and stove to cook their favorite camping meal

For a beginner backpacker who is looking for backpacking gear for the first time, there are so many choices out there it is difficult to decide what is the right choice in backpacking gear. Thus, a backpacking gear review that gives the main features that solid backpacking equipment should have. The three biggest items to buy, both in weight and in price, are the tent, sleeping bag, and the backpack, as well as the gear that goes with each one.

Tent

There are many backpacking gear reviews that talk about the specific features that make one tent better than the next, and the local specialty backpacking store employees will also be able to tell all of those special features. The first decision when buying a tent is what size to buy – deciding how many people will normally be sleeping in the tent. Most backpackers will buy a two person tent even if they will be the only one sleeping in it the majority of the time. The reason for this is that it will give them more room for supplies within the tent which allows for a more comfortable sleeping condition.