Cheap tips & tricks ?

“Anyone have any cheap tips or tricks for new backpackers like me? I have already found a few tricks and tips like tyvek sheets for tarps and tent footprints. Also homemade wood gas stoves and alcohol stoves.Please share any tips you have. Thank you :)”

“Plastic mesh produce bags (like one's onions or lemons or limes sometimes come in) for pot scrubbing. Empty liter soda bottles for water.”

“aluminum gutter nails for tent stakes

make camp shoes from insoles from shoes plus shoe laces

string belt from gutted 550 cord plus a cord lock”

“Go take a hike!”

“A good thrift store snow suit instead of sleeping bag.”

“braided plastic bags for cordage...carry water in a condom in a sock...Pepsi Can stoves, cut the handles off of EVERTHING to save weight, drill holes where you can to remove extra material (also to save weight)
wear running shoes on trail instead of boots, research cuben fiber, research what items you need (like the ten essentials), then buy the cheapest, lightestones you can find....

That will lighten your load so you can carry your Cell Phone, GPS, IPOD, FRS radio, Spot Locator, Night vision Goggles (for Night hiking),flexible Solar Panel and extra rechargeable batteries...once you have done that, buy a GUN, get a large DOG,
and scdule a through hike on the Appalachian Trail to show off all yer new STUFF.

P.S. You'll hear a lot of fool nonsense about Leave no Trace (LNT)...don't believe that BS...NOBODY is fool enough to carry out weight of anything you can burn in a bonfire built from trees you cut on the side of the trail....that's what the trees are there for..build large fires and STAY WARM, scare the bears away with the fire..then you don't have to do stoopid stuff like haul a bear canister around or hang a food bag where the coons an' squirrels can get it....”

“when I was first getting into backpacking I made a list of everything I needed, and then a list of cool things I wanted. Then I put aside like $5 a month and saved for the things I needed. If I didnt have those things, I went without or borrowed them. Go on hikes with other people who have gear. Also go to thrift stores and garage sales, you may find things that are cheap there. Also you want to look for things that are useful for more than one thing. This saves weight and money. Bandanas are one thing I never go without on a trip. They are pot holders, cleaning cloths, bandages,and somthing to keep my hair out of my face. Go on a couple of trips with experienced hikers and watch what they have what they do, I learn somthing new every time I go on a trip with people.”

“LOL @ ST.”

“The classic dirtbagger is Ray Jardine. His book "Beyond Backpacking" describes making lots of your own gear.

Myself, I enjoy the adrenaline rush of buying expensive new stuff.”

“Adventuregirl is right about the bandanas. Try to have everything serve multiple roles. I once used bandanas as a swimming suit because there were people around that did not appreciate me swimming the way God intend, I was born that way.”

“When you get home from your trip make a list of everything you wanted but didn't have. Then as you unpack make another list of everything you had but didn't use.
Do this 3 or 4 or 7 times until the only thing on either list is your 1st aid kit.”

“Instead of carrying a gallon of water, bring 4 liters of wine. A gallon of water is just over 8 pounds while 1 liter of wine is only just about a pound.”

“thanks for the great advice super troll... and nimrod.. bring only wine plus slash and burn everything.. check. everyone else thank you for the advice. im slowly building up my gear so i dont have to drop alot of cash at one time this spring when i start. What do you guys think of woodgas stoves ?”

“can't say as I ever used one - did a Zip in the somewhat distant pass - OK but heavier than I liked

you may find some opinions over on Hikin' Jims blog: http://www.adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/”

“for other tips and tricks you may want to check some of the other blogs like http://www.briangreen.net/search/label/Tips%20and%20Tricks”

“Buy it right, buy it once, so you don't have to keep on buying the same stuff by different manufacturers (unless you are a gear whore, and there are plenty on this site). Get the lightest, best constructed (often, this means simple design) stuff on the market. This may not equate to "cheap" initially, however, it will save you money in the long run from things like knee replacement surgery and owning a bunch of crappy gear that weighs a ton and sits in the bottom of your gear box(es) gathering dust becaue you finally realized there was something way better on the market. Look for this stuff on closeout or buy used.”

“I can't think of one single person on this site who qualifies as a gear whore...but only because I have selective memory.”

“well duh - Fridge definitely qualifies”

“Cheap Tip:

Never bet on a horse with 4 white stockings.

Cheap Trick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBQ9dm7zaQU”

“People will debate the merits of carrying a handgun...you're better off with a nice rifle. A lot of people carry handguns now..

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/barrett/m82a1-rifle-50bmg-29in/

..its on sale with free shipping!”

“Buy a canister of Countrytime lemonade. After using the powder cut off the "dome" inside just above the threads. This will hold your Pepsi can stove, stand, lighter and windshield in a nice tight package, and then doubles as a nice large mug or bowl in camp.”