I'm going to give it to you. Keep it, for free. I'm actually taking it backpacking this weekend. So it really does pay to borrow. If you're not quite ready to commit to buying expensive gear, think about renting. REI and many local outfitters and gear shops have rental programs.

The great thing about renting is that it gives you an opportunity to try different kinds of equipment. I rented a bunch of different kinds of cross-country skis before I finally bought some.

And I actually bought the same model that I rented. Most places that rent gear sell it at the end of the season or at the end of every two seasons.

So you ask them, "Hey, can you tell me when the rental sale is? It's usually very inexpensive, because it's used, right? I have a friend whose goal is never to pay more than 50 percent of retail for gear. And I think that's actually not super unrealistic. There are just tons of places to get good, inexpensive gear, so I will share a few with you.

But before you head to a discount gear site, try buying from people you know. You can put something out on Facebook: "Hey, I'm looking for a new backpack. Does anyone have one they're selling? Craigslist is also a good place to look.

A lot of times people think they're going to like backpacking, and they go out, and especially if they got money, they buy all this really nice gear. And then they go out once, and they're like, "Aw, man!

I was just cold and afraid of bears the whole time. I'm getting rid of my gear. Another place to look for discount outdoor gear is in resale stores.

In some places, you'll find actual outdoor-specific resale shops. We definitely have them in Colorado. Wilderness Exchange , for example. Here in Colorado, and I suspect in other outdoor destinations, a lot of tourists dump outdoor gear that they don't want to take home. So you can just go to like Goodwill and pick up really nice fleeces and tech jackets.

And even skis sometimes. It's crazy sometimes what you find at Goodwill. Sometimes you don't find anything, but definitely check it out. Bonus tip: If you're going on vacation to an outdoorsy place, definitely swing by the thrift shop and pop some tags.

No, don't steal stuff, but definitely check it out. If you live near an REI, definitely get on the email list for the garage sale. Because you know how you can return everything to REI within a year?

It's actually a really nice policy, right? When people return gear, REI can't really put it back on the shelf and sell it new. So they have what's called a garage sale where they sell all their returns that are often very lightly used.

You can get amazing deals, like an Osprey backpack for half price. Again, it's kind of a crapshoot. Sometimes it's awesome, and sometimes you really don't find anything.

But you'll never know if you don't go. If you're a fan of discount outdoor gear, one website worth joining is called The Clymb. The Clymb holds 72 hour flash sales where you can buy gear for up to 70 percent below retail.

Sales feature select items from brands like Mountain Hardware, Keen, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research, and more. To take advantage of these, you need to join the site.

You'll then receive emails about new promotions. The plus side: The Clymb is a great way to snag discounts on outdoor gear that rarely goes on sale.

One potential downside: if you want something specific, you have to be patient and wait for what you want to come along.

So it's best to go into it with an open mind! Want to check it out before you register? Use my affiliate link to have a look around The Clymb.

A lot of my mountaineering students really love Sierra Trading Post. It's a retailer stores and online that sells a lot of closeouts older products that didn't sell and "seconds," which are products with slight cosmetic flaws.

Their deals kind of range. Some of their stuff's almost full price, and some of it's super, super cheap. Other outdoor gear discount websites to check out: CampSaver.

Some local gear stores also sell "seconds" for a discount. For example, at Wilderness Exchange mentioned above, you can buy brand new carabiners with practically invisible color defects for a few bucks off. And when I went on to become an assistant instructor for that class, I got a slightly better deal.

Moosejaw is an online retailer of The North Face, Arcteryx, Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, Big Agnes, and many other top outdoor brands. So how do they save you money? Three words: awesome rewards program.

And you can apply this credit any time you buy. These savings really add up, so be sure to sign up! Eventually, some of you are going to come to a point where you're going to want to buy a lot of gear. You'll get into multiple outdoor sports. Or you'll get into mountaineering, which, holy balls, there's so much gear to buy.

You obviously want to spend the money on trips, not on the overpriced gear. So what do you do? REI actually has a credit card that gives you dollars back in your dividend.

You only get it once a year, and the refund percentage isn't huge, so you have to use your credit card for lots and lots of stuff. Paying your rent, paying your car payment, etc. And I'm sure some people get a lot more than that.

So that's a thousand dollars of gear just for paying your bills and buying stuff you would anyway. By the way, you know you're in Colorado when you're at a restaurant, and everybody pulls out their credit card to pay the bill — and they're all REI credit cards.

Happens all the time. I'm hopefully going to move to Mexico part-time in the next couple of years, but I will still be a Colorado Mountain Club member.

Some of them even have free shipping. Pro deals do have some restrictions on what you can do. You can't buy for friends or family. All sales are final, so you really do have to know what you're going to get. But once you're in their pro deal program, you basically go to a website called ExpertVoice.

And then you look at all the brands available and buy what you want. It's amazing. You can buy bicycles. You can buy a giant rack for the roof of your car.

I just got a big shipment of Mountain House dinners. It's like my supply for the year. And that's all through my pro deal at Colorado Mountain Club. Do you guys have any tips that I haven't covered? I know you all are outdoors people.

You buy some GEAR. If you've got another good place for your fellow dirtbags to shop, go ahead and drop it in the comments. And if you have gear questions, definitely hop in the Facebook Group and ask away!

Originally published August 6, Last updated April 18, Colorado 14ers. Mount Rainier. Blogging Resources. Travel Insurance.

Gift Guides. Morning Routine Checklist. Free Breathwork Session. FREE Colorado 14er Starter Kit. Training Plan Workbook. Walk 2 Hike 4-Week Training Plan 4 Weeks. Soul Explorer 6-Month Life Coaching Program.

Rainier Training Plan. Work with me. Privacy Policy. Book Now. August 6, Gear , Learn Hiking. Sarah xx. Before you go on a massive shopping spree So that being said, here are some ways to get free and cheap gear: 1. Share gear with others on your trip For your first few trips, try to borrow all the gear that you can, other than maybe your clothes and your boots.

Borrow from friends and neighbors Use your social networks to see if anyone has what you need gathering dust on a shelf. Rent some gear If you're not quite ready to commit to buying expensive gear, think about renting. Gaia GPS - Download offline maps for easy navigation! Learn how to plan your route, create GPS files, navigate offline, and even print you own maps.

Please read our disclosure for more info. Find Your Next Dispersed Campsite Learn how to find the best campsite locations BEFORE you head out. Easily identify camping areas Find free camping on public land Use offline apps to locate sites Learn through video tutorials.

Learn more. Our Top Pick. Scepter Water Container The Scepter Water Container holds 5 gallons of water and is incredibly durable. Buy on Amazon. Buy at REI. Reliance Luggable Loo The Luggable Loo is a simple, yet effective portable toilet. Rumpl Puffy Blanket The Rumpl Puffy Blanket is the coziest camp blanket around.

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler The Yeti Tundra 45 is simply the best cooler on the market. Gaia GPS Premium Gaia GPS is our go to app for offline navigation while camping, hiking, biking, and more. Get Gaia GPS Premium. Buy on Amazon Buy at REI.

Exped MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad The Exped MegaMat 10 is the most comfortable sleeping pad on the market in our estimation. Mountain House Adventure Weekender Kit This pack of six Mountain House meals is perfect for your weekend dispersed camping trip.

Coleman Outdoor Camping Table A good camping table is the heart of your outdoor kitchen. Coleman Classic Camp Stove The Coleman is a classic for a reason. NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair The NEMO Stargaze is the ultimate in camping comfort.

Anker Portable Power Station The Anker Portable Power Station is the best in class for charging electronics at your campsite.

Adventure Medical Kits Explorer The Explorer series from Adventure Medical Kits is stocked with a complete set of supplies for four people for up to seven days. Leatherman Signal Multi-tool The Leatherman Signal is the top all around multi-tool to bring on your next dispersed camping trip.

Download Our FREE Dispersed Camping Cheat Sheet. Get the FREE Cheat Sheet. Check your email for your cheat sheet! Leave a Comment Cancel reply Comment Name Email Website Δ. About Us. Tour du Mont Blanc. West Highland Way. Laugavegur Trail. Walker's Haute Route. Coast to Coast Walk. National Parks.

TOP 5 CAMPING FAVORITES FOR 1. Take Control of Your Route Planning Learn how to plan your route, create GPS files, navigate offline, and even print you own maps. Learn More.

Some things I've found so far are the Biopod Nature from Grüezi bag (here), looks amazing but unfortunately quite expensive; as well as used (or Yes, you can leave things to mark your site. No, dispersed camping requires an occupant. Voting closed 2 Dispersed camping, also known as free camping, is simple enough but still requires one to have the basic necessities and gear to be adequately prepared

Video

Free Camping Gear - Here are the gear and supplies most people need for dispersed camping and boondocking. Adapt this checklist to create a list of exactly what you need Some things I've found so far are the Biopod Nature from Grüezi bag (here), looks amazing but unfortunately quite expensive; as well as used (or Yes, you can leave things to mark your site. No, dispersed camping requires an occupant. Voting closed 2 Dispersed camping, also known as free camping, is simple enough but still requires one to have the basic necessities and gear to be adequately prepared

It's crazy sometimes what you find at Goodwill. Sometimes you don't find anything, but definitely check it out. Bonus tip: If you're going on vacation to an outdoorsy place, definitely swing by the thrift shop and pop some tags.

No, don't steal stuff, but definitely check it out. If you live near an REI, definitely get on the email list for the garage sale. Because you know how you can return everything to REI within a year?

It's actually a really nice policy, right? When people return gear, REI can't really put it back on the shelf and sell it new. So they have what's called a garage sale where they sell all their returns that are often very lightly used.

You can get amazing deals, like an Osprey backpack for half price. Again, it's kind of a crapshoot. Sometimes it's awesome, and sometimes you really don't find anything. But you'll never know if you don't go. If you're a fan of discount outdoor gear, one website worth joining is called The Clymb.

The Clymb holds 72 hour flash sales where you can buy gear for up to 70 percent below retail. Sales feature select items from brands like Mountain Hardware, Keen, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research, and more.

To take advantage of these, you need to join the site. You'll then receive emails about new promotions. The plus side: The Clymb is a great way to snag discounts on outdoor gear that rarely goes on sale. One potential downside: if you want something specific, you have to be patient and wait for what you want to come along.

So it's best to go into it with an open mind! Want to check it out before you register? Use my affiliate link to have a look around The Clymb. A lot of my mountaineering students really love Sierra Trading Post. It's a retailer stores and online that sells a lot of closeouts older products that didn't sell and "seconds," which are products with slight cosmetic flaws.

Their deals kind of range. Some of their stuff's almost full price, and some of it's super, super cheap. Other outdoor gear discount websites to check out: CampSaver. Some local gear stores also sell "seconds" for a discount. For example, at Wilderness Exchange mentioned above, you can buy brand new carabiners with practically invisible color defects for a few bucks off.

The defect doesn't impact the function or safety of the biner. Not ever outfitter or gear store does this, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Some outdoor clubs and outfitters will partner with retailers to provide discounts to members and students.

For example, when I was a mountaineering student through Colorado Mountain Club, I got a 10 percent discount at Bent Gate Outfitters in Golden. And when I went on to become an assistant instructor for that class, I got a slightly better deal.

Moosejaw is an online retailer of The North Face, Arcteryx, Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, Big Agnes, and many other top outdoor brands.

So how do they save you money? Three words: awesome rewards program. And you can apply this credit any time you buy.

These savings really add up, so be sure to sign up! Eventually, some of you are going to come to a point where you're going to want to buy a lot of gear.

You'll get into multiple outdoor sports. Or you'll get into mountaineering, which, holy balls, there's so much gear to buy. You obviously want to spend the money on trips, not on the overpriced gear. So what do you do? REI actually has a credit card that gives you dollars back in your dividend.

You only get it once a year, and the refund percentage isn't huge, so you have to use your credit card for lots and lots of stuff. Paying your rent, paying your car payment, etc.

And I'm sure some people get a lot more than that. So that's a thousand dollars of gear just for paying your bills and buying stuff you would anyway. By the way, you know you're in Colorado when you're at a restaurant, and everybody pulls out their credit card to pay the bill — and they're all REI credit cards.

Happens all the time. I'm hopefully going to move to Mexico part-time in the next couple of years, but I will still be a Colorado Mountain Club member. Some of them even have free shipping. Pro deals do have some restrictions on what you can do.

You can't buy for friends or family. All sales are final, so you really do have to know what you're going to get. But once you're in their pro deal program, you basically go to a website called ExpertVoice. And then you look at all the brands available and buy what you want. It's amazing.

You can buy bicycles. You can buy a giant rack for the roof of your car. I just got a big shipment of Mountain House dinners. It's like my supply for the year.

And that's all through my pro deal at Colorado Mountain Club. Do you guys have any tips that I haven't covered? I know you all are outdoors people. You buy some GEAR. If you've got another good place for your fellow dirtbags to shop, go ahead and drop it in the comments.

And if you have gear questions, definitely hop in the Facebook Group and ask away! Originally published August 6, Last updated April 18, Colorado 14ers. Mount Rainier. Blogging Resources.

Travel Insurance. Gift Guides. Morning Routine Checklist. Free Breathwork Session. FREE Colorado 14er Starter Kit. Training Plan Workbook. Walk 2 Hike 4-Week Training Plan 4 Weeks. Soul Explorer 6-Month Life Coaching Program. Rainier Training Plan. Work with me. Privacy Policy.

Book Now. August 6, Gear , Learn Hiking. Sarah xx. Before you go on a massive shopping spree You should always have one in your vehicle — both at home and while traveling.

The other one can be kept with you at the campfire, in case it gets out of control. Camping Chairs and Table — Like the sleeping mat, this is an area where I suffered far too long with inexpensive, inferior products.

Traditional straight-backed camping chairs are ridiculously uncomfortable. and did I mention how comfortable they are? The matching table was of similar quality and worth the money. I was surprised how useful having the little side table actually was.

They are incredibly comfortable, super easy to put together and break down, and most importantly… THEY LEAN BACK! You can simply lean back and look up at the night sky!

I nearly always have two knives on me: the stainless steel which resists moisture and corrosion Opinel 8 , and a carabiner multi-tool. A Leatherman is also a classic option, but takes up more space in your pocket and the blade is shorter.

I recommend getting a hatchet that has a hammer or mallet head on the non-blade side, which is useful for driving tent stakes. Having a well-stocked first aid kit — and knowing how to use everything in it — is a crucial part of wild camping.

This is an area where you will be grateful that you have a vehicle, as you are not limited by size or weight like you would be on a backpacking trip. Five Day Cooler — A five day cooler is another critical piece of your equipment, and is not an area to cut costs on.

The Coleman Extreme cooler is one of the most battle-tested pieces of equipment in my camping gear, and it has never failed me.

Square coolers make up for the volume lost in length by adding depth, so you really have to dig to get to the items at the bottom — no thanks! Pro tip: Make your life easier at night by getting a cooler light. The very short version of my advice for how to pack your clothing: dress in layers and expect a lot of variation in temps.

Bring a variety of clothing you can wear in layers so you can adjust as the temperature fluctuates. Make sure to have at least two pairs of jeans in case one gets wet or dirty. Have a good waterproof jacket see options below , just in case it rains or snows!

Merino wool is the best! Our typical dinners were meat, baked beans, and bread toasted over the fire. We occasionally roast peppers, corn, onions, or other veggies as well. Breakfast was boiled eggs or peanut butter with toast and coffee.

We usually did not re-start a fire and cook bacon or sausage, because we would only spend one night in each location. Coffee was brewed over the propane stove. If you are looking for information on finding great wild camping locations, click HERE. If you are looking for information on taking a cheap cross country road trip, click HERE.

Lastly, for a list of the best back road by state, click HERE. I am not a camper and never will be, but I found this article to be very interesting.

Thank you! Take Back Roads Merch - Now Available! Click on the SHOP button below. Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…. Continue reading. October 14, September 26, Scott. Click HERE Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Watching the sunlight start to glow on the hills overlooking our wild camping site in the Mojave Desert Dispersed Camping Gear The Most Important Piece of Camping Equipment — Your Tent!

We had already secured my Qwest tent with the substantial rocks you see here — but even that was not enough! The Second Most Important Piece of Camping Equipment — a Great Sleeping Bag! Vice Grip Ratchet Set and a bit set , including torx, screwdriver, and allen bits A long flathead screwdriver — or even better, a Multi-bit driver!

Even a small campfire can kick up a lot of sparks! Comfortable Camping — Great Gear for Upgrading Your Life Outdoors Camping Chairs and Table — Like the sleeping mat, this is an area where I suffered far too long with inexpensive, inferior products.

Back to Top The Best Camping Cookware This is an area where you will be grateful that you have a vehicle, as you are not limited by size or weight like you would be on a backpacking trip. Folding Campfire Grill — Get the extra large. This option has great reviews, and seems like it would be a good alternative to consider.

If at all possible, it should be either a Griswold or a Wagner Ware , and if all else fails, a scrubbed and reseasoned Lodge is acceptable. Head to your nearest antique shop or garage sale and start searching!

If you are lucky enough to have a Cast Iron Dutch Oven , by all means — bring it. Pro Tip: once hot, the flat surface of most cast iron dutch oven lids can double as a small cooking area, OR you can stack hot coals on it for a more uniform cooking temp inside the oven. An excellent alternative is a deep skillet with a lid , which combines the benefits of a skillet and a Dutch Oven.

An excellent albeit pricey alternative is a WhisperLite Gasoline Stove — which is what we carried. A hand-pressurized tank filled with regular gasoline at the pump, a WhisperLite is typically for backpacking adventures.

Long handles will save your fingers from burning. Food Storage Five Day Cooler — A five day cooler is another critical piece of your equipment, and is not an area to cut costs on. Back to Top Clothing for Dispersed Camping The very short version of my advice for how to pack your clothing: dress in layers and expect a lot of variation in temps.

Back to Top Dispersed Camping Supplies and Other Provisions Food: Have a couple kinds of meat in your cooler to cook over the fire… or do like we did and stop for food every day or two. Only buy enough for each meal. Fruits and veggies that are easy to store, wash and eat — apples, peaches, pears, peppers, corn, etc.

Munchies Cheese Fix was hands down the favorite snack of all the trips! Jerky — a convenient and filling source of protein on the go. Try to get local sourced jerky — lots of different kinds of meats and preparations are out there! Trail mix — another convenient and filling source of protein and carbs, a good option for those wanting healthy snacks.

We always had a loaf of bread and peanut butter handy, and hard boil eggs early in the trip.