Budget Backpacking Gear: Cheap 10 lb Ultralight Kit [~$500]

Quality backpacking gear has a reputation for being pricey, but I’m here to show you that it’s entirely possible to put together an affordable ultralight setup on a $500 budget.

That’s right; you can get your hands on a brand-new backpacking gear kit with a 10-pound base weight without having to max out your credit card.

I’ve spent over $3,200 on my current ultralight setup, so I know how expensive backpacking can be. Naturally, many of my readers have seen my kit and asked for more affordable recommendations. I can’t blame them, after all, because the gear on my backpacking list isn’t exactly cheap.

So, I scoured the internet for the best budget gear, tested a bunch of it in the field, and asked fellow backpackers for their favorite affordable recommendations. This article is the result of all my tedious research and gear nerdery.

Every piece of gear I recommend in this post is well-reviewed, widely-used in the backpacking community, and will help get you into the backcountry for a sliver of what you might pay otherwise.

Let’s dive in. It’s time to save some money. Read Noel Krazomil's Budget Backpacking Gear List here.

IMESASISHWA MWISHO

October 18, 2024

Imeandikwa na
Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha

Maisha Packable

Media Mentions from The Packable Life

Vipi dunia. Mimi ni Noel Krasomil, mtu nyuma ya Maisha ya Packable. Mimi ni kutafuta njia, kutafuta mpango, utengenezaji wa chakula mitaani, blog-obsessed 30-kitu kutoka Colorado, Marekani. Nimekuwa mwandishi wa safari ya wakati wote kwa zaidi ya mwaka, bila mwisho mbele.

Niliunda Maisha ya Ufungashaji ili kuhamasisha wengine kusafiri, kuongezeka, na blogu kwa kusudi - kukua kwa nguvu, umakini zaidi, na kuhamasishwa zaidi kila siku barabarani. Nataka kukupa changamoto ya kufunga nyepesi, kusafiri kwa muda mrefu, kuongezeka zaidi, na blogi smarter.

Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

The Sawyer Mini is super lightweight, fits in your pocket, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water.

Menachem Kossowsky
Mwandishi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer’s picaridin spray works up to 12 hours, and the company’s picaridin lotion is effective up to 14.

Bruce Ingram
Mwandishi wa Kuchangia

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

The Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter earns our top pick for its unbeatable mix of weight, longevity and versatility.

Meg Carney
Mwandishi wa Kuchangia