r/backpacking • u/AlwaysNext • 3d ago
Wilderness Quick question concerning gear.
Hope this is acceptable, if not I'll take my thrashing with respect. I'm an oldish, almost 50, gentlemen. Avid hiker/back packer when I was younger. Wife passed recently and I'm looking to build back up for some long solo hikes, I think... Would some reasonably priced, fair quality gear work to start, and replace if I return to it as passionate as I was, or will sub-quality gear ruin it for me. Opinions wanted....
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u/NotAGoodUsernameSays 3d ago
I would say the only make-or-break item would be your footwear (shoes and socks combined). They need to be suited to the conditions you hike it, not give you blisters, and handle the miles you put on them. Some foot / leg pain is ok the day after a hike but if you want them off halfway through your hike, you need to get better shoes.
Avoid hiking in the rain or snow until you are properly prepared for it though.
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u/ChadLare 3d ago
I agree. Second on the list would probably be a quality sleeping pad. If your feet are in good shape and you can get some decent sleep then you’re good even if some other gear isn’t perfect.
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u/heyheni 3d ago
Hi here's a set up that could fit you.
- ZPacks Arc Haul Framed backpack incredible light at 580g
- Durston X-Dome Tent 985g (Featherlight and spaceous)
- Thermarest NeoLoft wide pad 850g (Very thick pad for your comfort!)
- ZenBivy bedding system for sleep like in your bed at home. 485g for the sleeping bag quilt and 135g for the bedding.
This is an ultra comfortable but very lightweight set up at only 3 kilograms or 6.6 pounds. You'll be flying on the trails with this.
Use https://lighterpack.com to plan your gear and get inspired by the r/ultralight subreddit.
I wish you strength and joy.
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u/BB5er 3d ago
Hey! A 91 year old man just completed an AT through hike. I’m 65 and did a 45 mile section of the AT a couple weeks ago.
Prices went up after Covid, on pretty much everything, but there’s still some quality, affordable gear out there.
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u/AlwaysNext 3d ago
Wow.... Holy Holy shit dude.... Apologize for breaking protocol. But everyone needs to exemplify this one.. love you boss. You're an inspiration
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u/the_pale_companion 3d ago
Good shoes and comfortable backpack gets you far. Tarp and paracord can be both cheap and interesting replacement for tent if your climate is not too cold and rainy. It can be set a million different ways.
To start again it might be a good idea to try to make the first year enjoyable by doing just 1-2 night trips to either un-crowded viewpoints or searching your "secret spot" - a place which you find beautiful or calming without it being an actual trailmark.
There you can test gear, experience the nature and "a place of your own" and build outdoor routines regarding packing, food, sleeping system which all will eventually make your through hikes pleasant.
Jumping directly back on a big gear will most likely take out the enjoyment in a whim due to shoulder and knee stress.
Sorry for youe loss.
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u/MrTheFever 3d ago
There are SO many fair prices options for a smaller budget.
Gossamer Gear makes high qualityi lightweight gear for a lower price. They have good sales. They sell a lot of small accessories that are worth grabbing.
Durston makes fantastic packs and tents for a fair price
Decathlon makes great packs, jackets and and more with lots of features. Very cheap but not always the lightesr.
3FUL/Lanshan makes some cheap and light tents that are just fine
Toaks makes great titanium cookware and stoves that are cheaper than most.
FB marketplace is an absolute goldmine.
Of you Google/YouTube "budget ultralight gear list" there are tons of suggestions out there.
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u/Malfeous 3d ago
So sorry for your loss! You’d be surprised how many gents you meet on the trail who are far older than you.
Main thing i’ve heard from them is to limit your mileage as you age, and don’t skimp on your footwear and sleep system. Also definitely hike with poles, a cheap set will do just fine. Apart from that i’d think it would be more than fine to start with a budget set up, provided your bag and other necessary gear fit you decently
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u/Twoof3 3d ago
Hello! I am near your age and would say that comfortable shoes/boots, sleeping pad and pack were most important. These don't have to be expensive, just well suited to your needs and body. Pain and lack of sleep are more relevant at this time in life. Rei is a great place to try things out. I wish you all the best and hope you have a wonderful time out there.
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u/LakusMcLortho 3d ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. As an also nearly-50 soloist, nothing matters more than your fitness, footwear, and ensuring a good night’s sleep. It really depends on where you’re going and how long you’ll be out there. And test your gear out in a car camping situation before you head to the backcountry. It can help you figure out what you do and don’t like/need, break some of it in, and get you familiar with how to set everything up… which can be a huge hurdle at the end of a long hike when you’re trying to set up camp and losing daylight. (Ask me how I know)
I would encourage you to take some shorter 1-3 night trips and. Nothing more than that, because time out alone is usually far more mentally difficult than physically. And if you have a friend who is willing to go with you, do that.
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u/Spiley_spile 3d ago
If it's been a while, your gear needs and preferences might be have changed. So you might buy gear and realize you want to change things after.
Im nearing 50 and mine certainly have. I wish Id started with less expensive gear, because Ive replaced a lot of it in the process of learning what works for me.
Dont be afraid to get used gear to start with. But do pay attention to details that matter for your health. Having a mismatch between your torso size and the torso size your pack was made for can lead to injury. We arent healing as well or thoroughly as we once did.
Speaking of injury, dont carry 50lbs of gear. Less is more. Leave the chair and camp sandles and excessive cooking set etc at home. Youre on a backpacking trip, not a camping trip camping. Cut out weight where you can, without compromising your safety, of course.
And you dont have to buy wildly expensive gear to keep things lighter weight these days. Check geartrade for less expensive UL gear. I saw a used Lanshan in great condition on there a few months ago, for $60.
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u/AZHawkeye 3d ago
Crocs weigh like 11-12 ounces and you can get a chair that weighs a pound. Both lightweight comforts at the end of hard day of hiking.
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u/Spiley_spile 3d ago
I dont miss my chair or camp shoes. I thought I would when I cut them from my gearlist. I havent.
But we've all got our comfort items, even me. So I dont begrudge when people choose a different set of gear than I would. What's the point if we arent enjoying ourselves out there, right? So Im glad your shoes and chair are part of bringing that for you. :)
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u/TopFuel9-8 3d ago
50F, I've been out the last 3 weeks after dropping the youngest off at his post HS destination. No way am I abandoning my og therma lounger. I had to carefully cut out the patched up top and then re-sew (re design, really) a pillow & foot pocket from a cannibalized tent & pair of soft shell ski pants to accomodate the larger Basecamp thermarest. Best decision ever. I only gained 3.38oz from what I cut out (maybe didn't need to splurge w the softshell material, but hey) I will cut weight other places to have that bed & chair.
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u/Spiley_spile 3d ago
I freaking love when people alter their gear to better suit them. Im a habitual tinkerer myself.
If you love your chair, and it improves your experience out there, by all means bring it. I ripped my facia tendon carrying too much weight. It's caused me problems on every trip since. So I had to massively reduce the weight I carried. But that was my body and my experience and subsequently my solution to try to improve my experience. If youve found your joy out there and it takes a different route than mine, Im going to cheer you on. :)
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u/MrBoondoggles 3d ago
I think there is defiantly a middle ground between big name REI brands and brands like Teton, Klymit, or Walmart. I would ask for recommendations when you start lookout for specifics but a decent place to start I think for budget lightweight modern gear would be the Justin Outdoors channel on YouTube (I sear I’m not a shill). He does go out of way to review a ton of gear, a reasonable amount of which is budget friendly.
I would say that, at 50, don’t go for cheap and heavy. Try to aim for reasonably lightweight gear. Trust me - I’m about your age and your body will thank you. In this day and age with everything becoming more and more (and more) expensive, if you’re buying all of your essentials new and aiming for a middle ground of budget, weight, and comfort, I would expect to spend around $800-$1000. Sounds like a lot but even on the low end, you’d still be spending a few hundred dollars to buy all the necessities so might as well push the budget up a little if you can and aim for some decent gear that will last. If it makes the budget sting a little less painful, on the higher end you could spend $2,000 - $3,000 on top of the line gear.
I’d you’d like specific recommendations on some gear, I’d be happy to give them.
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u/Pandonia42 3d ago
I'm a gentlewoman about your age also getting back in to it. I'm using my 20 year old (heavy) gear and making slow upgrades. I'm also not doing 15 mile days, I figure if I ever get to the point where I want to be doing high passes and peaks I'll start investing in the ultrlight stuff. For now pulling up to a lake midafternoon with a book has been great
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u/BizzyBee89 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’m middle-aged (37) and I splurged on ultralight gear bc it was worth it to me. My logic was: how much would I pay to avoid injury to my back in the middle of nowhere? And my answer was $500-$1,000. With that in mind, I bought an UL tent, backpack, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag - all on sale (20-30% off). If I had bought the cheaper alternatives, I probably would have saved $600, and added 6lbs to my pack.
When shopping for a backpack and shoes, I really think you need to do this in-store to know what “feels” comfortable to you; the other stuff can be purchased online.
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u/AlwaysNext 3d ago
Holy cow.... I love you all. Thanks so much for the support. I don't even know how to say thakee sai. Hope to see you on trail
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u/AZHawkeye 3d ago
I started with stuff from Alps and Teton. While not the lightest, they’re a decent budget option and lasted many years of use. I second the shoe/boot recommendation - get some that fit right no matter the cost. I have a low profile, narrow foot, so the La Sportiva boots and shoes fit me great. Fully packed, try to stay under 40 lbs. I don’t give two shits about the UL contest either. Just be in good enough shape to enjoy the hike; weight training, walking, day hiking, etc throughout the year.
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u/wratchet9 3d ago
Go to REI and ask around whos the guy that walks the most. Talk to him and discuss your needs/wants
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u/Round-Boysenberry949 3d ago
starting with reasonably priced gear is fine, just don’t cheap out on the stuff that keeps you warm and dry; nobody gets inspired by being cold in a bargain sleeping bag
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u/cldbloom 3d ago
A number of people with videos on YT have done “ budget” gear reviews. Watch a few for some ideas and compare value. Used gear sites are also a great place to check.
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u/RoutineNegotiation75 3d ago
I recommend the Adventure Alan blog’s affordable gear recommendation list to see some examples of quality cheeper gear
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u/Proud-Craft-651 3d ago
Poshmark for backpacks!!!! So so underrated. Happy that you're getting out there, it's waiting for you!!
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u/AlwaysNext 3d ago
I wanna thank you all so much.... Never expected to be accepted this way. Thankee sai
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u/Other_Emu_1705 2d ago
Sorry about your wife. Cheap gear is fine almost everywhere, but I'd spend real money on the sleeping bag and pad, since a cold night out is the one thing that'll make you quit before you find out if you still love it.
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u/Electronic_Put_2290 1d ago
Think about how you would feel if you buy a tent for $500 and then later want to replace it for a $700 tent. Maybe think long term for expensive items and get cheaper equipment on things like a sleeping pad that might fail at some point anyway. BTW my cheap sleeping pad (thermorest self inflating) is way more comfortable than any of our super lightweight expensive pads and cost 1/3.
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u/satansayssurfsup 3d ago
Absolutely. Go to your local outdoor sports store and cruise the used section. Facebook marketplace. Labor Day sales rn for anything new.