I need cheap camping equipment ideas?
March 17th, 2010 | by admin |I’m going on a cycling trip camping,fishing etc.I have about $50 to spend for camping equipment.I need a sleeping bag,pad,tent,food what else should I gather to add to my equipment?
Thank you.
Instead of spending the bulk of your money on a tent ($60+) and pad (at least $40 for a decent Therm-a-rest), you can pick up a parachute hammock on Amazon.com for $17. It comes complete with carry sack, hanging ropes and weighs in at less than a pound. Depending on the weather, you can supplement the hammock with just a regular tarp and some rope for an additional $10. I feel like your best bet would be to pick up a simple fleece liner bag ($10) and a wool blanket from home as sleeping bags can be quite pricey and cheap bags are more trouble than good. As for food, I tend to bring things that require little/no prep work and clean up. This includes cans ($4), hot dogs ($2), bread($1), potatoes/yams($1). Grand total is about $45 ($35 if you don’t include tarp). That leaves you $5-15 for last minute items you might need (ex. flashlight, first aid kit, batteries, beer, etc)
8 Responses to “I need cheap camping equipment ideas?”
By Karle on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
for 50 bucks u will need to hit local yard sales and or flea markets…….maybe good will and salvation army stores…….
ur going to need a pack of some sort to carry all ur gear while on a bike…..a gun is almost mandatory……knife of course is….a machete is more useful in most cases than a hatchet is(especially if u need to deal with snakes)…..water purifier…….unless ur only day tripping and can buy enough water along the way……
unless ur idea of a good trip is squatting over a hole in the ground with ur stomach hurting like hell for days on end….usually u don’t get sicker than that but it is possible….other stuff is needed….but seriously 50 bucks is a little cheap…..
first aid kit of some sort is a must……
matches…..rainproof container…….
fishing pole that is small enough not to mention tackle box……
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By J on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
yeah, the sleeping bag you’re going to have to find at a yard sale of some sort.
pad–you can get that green foam from a few outdoor stores for pretty cheap. otherwise an old blanket would do, though you better not have that directly on the ground if it rains.
water purification–even iodine pills seem too expensive for you, but you can purify water with bleach. it’s something like two drops per liter (but look that up).
tent–i have doubts you’ll even find one at a garage sale for less than $50. you’ll need a plastic tarp from your garage. maybe you could make yourself into a human burrito with the plastic tarp and blanket. granted, you’ll have condensation problems.
fishing–i’d think a stick, line and a hook would do just fine.
food–sounds like your budget allows for Ramen noodles and only Ramen noodles.
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By stormgale89 on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
sleeping bag – unless your biking in nearing 0′C temperatures, a small backpacking sleeping bag from walmart should do fine, I found one for $22.99, works beautifully, mine is a mountain tops back packer.
or you could get a cheap rescue blanket at a salvation army for $10, your choice.
sleeping pad – get a yoga mat for $10, works fine on a budget.
tent – get a emergency blanket or a 6×8 tarp(under $5) and make a lean-to shelter with it, get some cheap 3/16th rope and get a couple sticks, works fine, your only looking to keep from getting wet, not to be in the lap of luxury.
food – ramen noodles, .25c-.50c each meal, maybe get some instant rice and bouillon cubes too, you should have most of the food you need for the trip in your own home/apartment.
cooking stuff – I’d bring a small pot from home and I’d make a pepsi can stove and get some gas line antifreeze with methylated spirits or alcohol in it nothing with isopropanol, it works.
utensils – just either take them from home or swipe some plastic ones from burger joints.
fishing – I use a pill bottle wrapped with 30lb test braided fishing line and a assortment of fishing hooks, weights and swivels in the pill bottle, works fine, here’s some instruction to use it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8QlBC_LRWI&feature=related
just to say, $50 doesn’t get you far, I think you can squeeze out a little more to get a better kit, $50 is a bit too cheap.
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By ♫ La vita è misteriosa ♫ on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
What are the climate conditions? For some situations, $50 worth of gear is instant death.
Let us know and we may be able to help you further.
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By f100_supersabre on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
$50 WON’T MAKE IT, even at MOST yard sales.
You NEED a good sleeping bag, a pack, food you can buy on the way, fishing tackle since you intend to fish, tent and pad optional, AND, of course, a cycle (and repair items.)
You ALSO need fire-making and cooking equipment, fresh water container, water treatment tablets, (iodine preferred,) and a GOOD knife with sharpening stone (preferably a whetstone.)
MOST else is optional.
Some would say everything but the water container, and knife is optional, AND in a "survival" situation they would be right.
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By Jonny on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
Flint, knife, and a 12 gauge. Thats all I ever take. Everything else can be acquired as you go.
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By Jay M on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
Instead of spending the bulk of your money on a tent ($60+) and pad (at least $40 for a decent Therm-a-rest), you can pick up a parachute hammock on Amazon.com for $17. It comes complete with carry sack, hanging ropes and weighs in at less than a pound. Depending on the weather, you can supplement the hammock with just a regular tarp and some rope for an additional $10. I feel like your best bet would be to pick up a simple fleece liner bag ($10) and a wool blanket from home as sleeping bags can be quite pricey and cheap bags are more trouble than good. As for food, I tend to bring things that require little/no prep work and clean up. This includes cans ($4), hot dogs ($2), bread($1), potatoes/yams($1). Grand total is about $45 ($35 if you don’t include tarp). That leaves you $5-15 for last minute items you might need (ex. flashlight, first aid kit, batteries, beer, etc)
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What I listed is pretty much my summer pack minus the blankets. It’s cheap enough to not worry about breaking/losing anything, extremely lightweight and easy maintenance.
By gs on Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
If you are on a bicycle you need to carry your gear on the bike not your back. You can use hard plastic bins with rain proof lids. I saw a cyclist use kitty litter buckets. Hose clamps to hold it to the top rack and strap metal to go to the wheel nuts, a bit of caulk to seal. Google cycle touring and you’ll find the ideas. Even with no money you have to think warm and dry. Plastic sheeting with some light rope makes a lean to. Remember the bug spray. Get the best mummy bag you can find and pack it in a plastic bag inside a water repellent stuff sack. You can find all sorts of info on cycle touring/camping on the web. About .com , Ride the road.com, bikely.com, mayq.com ,tourvelo.org. cycle tourer.co.uk(very good) bicycletutor.com. Search and you can find anything on the web.
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