Jeff Garmire on trail in forest in rain
Jeff Garmire on trail in forest in rain

Ultra Budget Backpacking Gear List: The Cheapest Way to Thru-Hike

Much like most sites that post gear roundups and backpacking lists, I have not tested any of the gear I am going to mention below. But here is my attempt to sell the list to you: through a thorough aggregation of reviews, anecdotes, and customer experiences I have curated a gear list that keeps in mind both the meager budget of thru-hikers while also satisfying the most basic needs on the trail. How was that? Will you read on?

I thought it would be fun to see how cheaply I could assemble a kit for a potential thru-hike on a long distance trail. I tried to stay in the 3-season range because if I were only curating a list for a desert hike it would be too easy. So, if you happen to have a budget of $267.75 to completely outfit yourself for a thru-hike, here is the cheapest way you can put together a hiking gear list strictly from Amazon.

See the full list from Jeff Garmire on his website here.

Medya Mansyone

This spray protects you from tick-borne illnesses and is essential for outdoor adventure.

Hook & Barrel Staff
Sit wèb

Medya Mansyone

Streams, waterfalls, and rivers can quench your thirst in the wild, but they may carry dirt and impurities.

Dinal Jain
Ekriven

Medya Mansyone

Sawyer Squeeze is the longer lasting and more reliable filter, which should affect the choices of thru-hikers.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor