27 Affordable Pieces Of Gear From Backcountry

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21 hours ago

A pair of Goodr OG polarized sunglasses so your peepers are protected from that big, bad, beautiful sun as you traverse the earth. These come in tons of fun colors so you can really go for it in your outdoor look if you want, but they've got the classics, too. Something for everyone!
Price: $25 (available in 14 colors)
A Hydro Flask 8-liter insulated tote so that picnic you meticulously planned stays cool as can be as you trek down the trail or through the park on your way to the perfect spot.
Promising review: "I love my Hydro Flask insulated tote. It's perfect for bringing lunch to the office or a couple of beverages to the park for an afternoon hang. I would agree with other reviewers that the design is very vertical. I don't have an issue with it and will just put my frozen meal or Pyrex container on its side. Overall, I'm very happy with my tote, its ability to keep my food cold, and its durability over time." —Koly SPrice: $49.95 (available in five colors)
A CoolNet UV+ Buff you can wear all sorts of ways in order to keep the sun off your head or neck, cool down, keep your hair back, etc. And for all my Survivor fans out there, yes, this is what they wear on the island! Is that why I got one initially? Yes. Have I been impressed with how useful it is out in the wild? Also yes. You can't say reality TV never taught me anything.
Promising review: "In my experience, this 21-inch buff length is a bit excessive for wearing as a bandana or as a face mask, about 17 inches is perfectly adequate for both purposes, and those extra inches are mostly unnoticeable. I wear this on my forehead, and a shorter version of a CoolNet UV+ as a mask to avoid sunburn during mountain excursions above the snow line. It's more reliable than sunscreen. It's breathable enough to use with glasses, without too much fogging, when the temperature is above freezing." —Aleksandr APrice: $24 (available in nine patterns)
A Black Diamond Astro 300 headlamp so you can navigate your campsite, do a little night hiking (planned or unplanned), read in your tent, and do all your other after-dark tasks hands-free. A huge upgrade from a flashlight!
The headlamp comes with AAA batteries so it's ready to go out of the box, but you can get some rechargeable AAA batteries here if you want to be fancy like that. Price: $24.95 (available in two colors)
A camp chair to help you take a load off after you spend all that energy setting up, cooking dinner, and cleaning. Oh yeah... it's stars and marshmallow time.
Price: $44 (available in two colors)
An Osprey 5-liter Daylite sling bag perfect for day hikes where you want to bring some water and snack-age without getting weighed down. I've yet to find an Osprey bag I'm not impressed with. We get it, showoffs! You're amazing at making outdoor backpacks!
Price: $49.95 (available in 10 colors)
An inflatable sleeping pad so at long last you can finally get a good night's sleep outdoors. Fully inflatable pads are especially good for all my fellow side-sleepers out there who tend to wake up with hip pain on other types of pads. Those days are behind you thanks to this wonder, which sneaks in at just under one pound.
Heads up, the R-value (a fancy measurement of how insulating the sleeping pad is) of this sleeping pad is pretty low at 1.4, which is all to say that this pad will be best used in the summer! During the spring and fall, you might get a little chilly during the night unless you layer it over a closed-cell foam pad or another insulating ground layer. But when the weather is super warm, you're good to go. The more you know! Promising review: "I freaking love this mat. I have a lot of back problems and needed a second mat that would be nice, lightweight, and not too hard, but not just foam. Oh my gosh, this is a great mat and a great price. So easy to inflate, and I was able to get it packed up easily, too. Really light. I only have a 40-liter pack and it took up very little room. Highly recommend. It is super long and wide enough to sprawl out a bit and supportive enough to side sleep. I pair it with a thin soft foam roll I found at a thrift store, and it feels like a bed." —AmeliaPrice: $54
A compact LED hanging lantern with a collapsible carabiner for attaching virtually anywhere and three brightness modes, so yeah, you could say it's ready for anything. Oh, and it has a water resistance rating of IPX4, so if it gets splashed by some unexpected rain, no biggie!
The lantern comes with the AAA batteries it needs so it's ready to go out of the box, but you can get some rechargeable AAA batteries here so you're prepared when those run out of juice eventually!Price: $9.95
An Edelrid climbing harness if you're finally ready to stop renting from the gym and invest in some climbing gear of your own. A harness becomes a friend very quickly — it's with you through all the literal and emotional highs and lows of the sport — and getting your own is a very heartwarming moment. Enjoy!
Promising review: "This is a great entry-level harness that can handle just about everything you throw at it. I was attracted to this harness because it has an adjustable waist that will slide over the webbing. This is great for anyone who is between harness sizes and wants maximum adjustability. Edelrid is not as popular in the states, but the brand and product quality are top-notch." —AndrewPrice: $45.47 (originally $69.95; available in sizes S–L)
A Sea to Summit ultralight spork because as grown-ups, going on an outdoor adventure is one of the only times we have an excuse to use of these bad boys! Save yourself from packing a few pieces of silverware and swap for this fun little ultralight aluminum utensil instead. Niche gear is the most fun, after all.
Price: $9.95
A Salomon bottle belt so you can stay hydrated and hands-free, which is all the more important with hot summer weather incoming. A simple adjustable belt keeps both the bottle and zippered pocket with a key clip nice and secure.
Price: $45 (available in two colors)
A Kelty tarp to get yourself and your fellow campers some shade and rain cover should you need it. And if you're super hardcore, this could be your shelter for the night!
Promising review: "Just used this car camping this past weekend in the Adirondacks and it was perfect!! It was a little tricky to put up with high winds, but it held up super well once we got it situated and in place. It survived 15-20 mph gusts, mid-heavy rain, and snow!! Absolutely loved it and worth the price." —Alyssa PPrice: $64.95+ (available in two sizes)
A mini retro lantern that's, first of all, just plain adorable. And yeah, I suppose it'll also help light your campsite and the inside of your tent on its high, low, or ~warm low~ settings while hanging gracefully from its metal handle.
The lantern runs for up to 200 hours on the lowest setting with two AA batteries, which are included! — so it's ready to use out of the box. Price: $14.95 (available in three colors)
A Mammut Skywalker 3.0 helmet to keep that noggin of yours protected when you're sending your outdoor projects or belaying your pals. You don't want to be caught without your helmet on when your climber yells "rock!"
Promising review: "Very comfortable, light, and does not heat up your head. I just used it to hike Middle Teton, the last part of the trail, and thankfully no falling rocks were kicked by other hikers." —AnulaPrice: $52.46 (originally $69.95; available in four colors)
A Therm-a-Rest camp pillow because camping doesn't always mean forgoing all of your favorite creature comforts. It even has a smart little drawstring feature that lets you adjust the firmness so it's exactly to your liking.
Promising review: "Decided to try this pillow out after reading the reviews and researching other brands. I didn't want to spend too much right now, as I'm new to camping and not backpacking. What I like is that the large size is perfect for me and it's very comfortable. I have used this several times now, and each night I sleep great with this pillow. The material is soft and easy to fold up for traveling. I love the fun mushroom design, and the colors are vibrant. I'm glad I went with this pillow and the size large. I usually like a flatter pillow so I don't have a stiff neck. This was a great choice and had no issues. It was perfect and definitely recommend!" —Andreana APrice: $25.56+ (originally $31.95+; available in three colors)
A Kelty Mistral 20-degree mummy sleeping bag whose floofy synthetic insulation will keep you toasty warm in three seasons of camping and backpacking weather. Pull that little drawstring hood around your little face and get ready to snuggle up like a bug in a rug.
Fun fact: Synthetic fill will still keep you insulated in the unfortunate event of it getting wet, but down fill won't! Just one of the pros of synthetic fill (along with being much more budget-friendly!). I haven't tried this specific Kelty bag, but the three-season bag I do have, I've taken out for a LOT of nights over almost five years. It's still in great condition with tons of life left! Price: $69.95+ for men's (available in regular and long lengths) and $69.95 for women's
Or a Kelty Rambler 50-degree sleeping bag if you're only planning on going out in the sweltering summer and just need a light layer to stay cozy. Even on car camping trips, packing a little lighter (and staying cooler and drier) is almost always the right move.
Price: $59.95 (available in three colors)
An Outdoor Research sun hat so you can stop squinting for just one dang sec! I've got big love for big hats outdoors. They double up on the work your sunglasses and sunscreen are doing, making them all the more effective, and... listen, I also like how I look in big hats, sue me.
Promising review: "It is very hard to find a hat that has excellent coverage. I finally found the best hat: the Sunbriolet by OR. I have bought four and will buy more because one might get lost. A wonderful and protective hat." —Margaret RPrice: $44.95 (available in sizes M–XL and seven colors)
A Snow Peak GigaPower manual backpacking stove for building out your cook kit with as little weight as possible. That's right, this comes in at just 2.6 ounces! Pretty exciting stuff if you're the kind of person who keeps a spreadsheet that calculates your pack's base weight.
The stove doesn't have an integrated igniter, so you'll need to bring a lighter along (or a piezo if you're feeling really fancy), but you're probably already doing that anyway! And just a reminder that you can't buy fuel canisters online, but you can get them in-store (or in the local camp shop or hostel next to where you're getting on trail if you're in a backpack-y place). Price: $32.95
A pair of classic Crocs because boy oh boy are they a popular camp shoe! Super lightweight, über comfortable, waterproof, and the secret GOAT of outdoor outings.
Price: $49.95 (available men's sizes 4–10, women's sizes 6–15, and in 10 colors)
A Black Diamond ATC belay device that you almost certainly recognize if you've been hanging out at the rock climbing gym or crag lately. This simple and elegant tube-style belay device comes in at $25 and will get you started belaying top roping or lead climbing with a partner. Sure, there are designs with more bells and whistles, but it's also great to master the basics, and having one of these on hand in a pinch is always a good idea.
And hey, you're saving a ton of cash (about $75 when sales are off) by not opting up for the Grigri just yet! My rock climbing gym is super old school and even requires everyone to do both top rope *and* lead certification tests on an ATC. If they see it as a need-to-know, so do I! Price: $24.95
A Kelty four-person, three-season tent so you and your nearest and dearest have the perfect place to lay your heads after yet another perfect day outdoors. Kelty makes such sturdy, thoughtful gear, and this tent should be no exception with a ventilating "sunrise window," nice big vestibule, reflective guy lines, mesh storage pockets, and a carrying case.
A nice rule of thumb for gauging tent size is that they can fit the number of people listed (in this case, four), packed like little sardines *or* one less person and everyone's gear fairly comfortably. And with a three-season rating, this tent should be perfect for all of your spring, summer, and fall trips! Coming in a price point that hovers at around $150 (depending on sales), it's hard to find a better deal on a tent that will *actually* keep you dry, toasty, and comfortable. A worthy investment! And while I haven't tried this exact tent, I can say that everything I've tried from Kelty (mainly sleeping bags) has lived up to their ratings and reputation.Price: $169.95
A pair of Mountainsmith Tellurite adjustable trekking poles because if you haven't treated yourself to hiking with some, you're in for a real treat. They help you go up mountains of course, but I think they're underrated when it comes to coming down, especially if it's super steep.
Cork handles are *so* much more comfortable than the rubber or plastic ones you often find on trekking poles at this price point. They also absorb moisture, helping to prevent blisters without getting funky. Score! Price: $48.71 (originally $64.95)
An ultralight and watertight medical kit because it's always better to bring first aid and not need it rather than the alternative. It only weighs 3.6 ounces and is double waterproofed against rain, snow, and brief accidental dunkage, so no more excuses.
The kit is suited for one to two people on one to two-day trips and has all the basics and beyond, like bandages, moleskin padding, basic medications, a splinter/tick remover, and anti-itch wipes. Price: $36.99
A plant-based insect repellant spray to keep biters at bay thanks to the lemon and eucalyptus oil that also happens to smell great and doesn't harm your gear.
PS: This repellent is DEET-free. Price: $9.99
A GSI Outdoors Crossover Kitchen Kit so all the fiddly little extras you want to pack as the designated camp chef are all ready to go in one convenient, lightweight package. Prep and cleanup will be especially improved. Lookin' at you, cutting board and scrubby pad.
The kit includes the following: compact scraper, scrubby pad, cutting board, pivot tongs, pivot spoon, pivot spatula, spicer, soap bottle, oil bottle, camp towel, and totePromising review: "This was a gift from my partner, and I thought it was a bit silly at first. However, it is well thought out, and I have used it several times. From the quick overnight backpacking trip when you want to do more than rehydrate a meal, to 10 days of car camping with a group of strangers, this thing has saved the day several times. It has everything you need and nothing extra, although I've added a pot scraper and a folding wash basin. The bottles are a pain to clean if you leave oil in them for an extended time, but they are also easy to replace if necessary. I've heard some folks complain about durability, but I've had this set for two years now without a problem." —orgidie1812045Price: $39.95
An Eno TravelNest hammock that comes with included straps and folds down super tiny, so setup literally couldn't be easier. The perfect little add-on to stick in your day pack for a mid-hike nap or bring along on a camping trip to create an extra hangout zone.
Price: $54.95 (available in three colors)