Best Backpacking Gear on a Budget

  It’s no secret that the biggest barrier to entry for a lot of outdoor activities is cost. And every year, backpacking gear  manufacturers come out with the latest and greatest technologies, which feature thinner and more advanced materials, lower weights, and—you guessed it—higher price tags. But the reality is that you don’t have to break the bank to get outside, and there are plenty of well-made products available that are built to handle rough outdoor use. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of good backpacking gear on a budget, including everything from a   backpacking tent ,   backpack , and   sleeping bag   to   hiking shoes   and a   down jacket .

  Budget Backpacking Equipment Backpacking Tent:   REI Co-op Passage 2 ($159) As your home away from home on the trail, you’ll want to look for a reliable tent that balances interior space and comfort with weather protection, durability, and price. Ultralight tents (which hover around 2 to 4 pounds) are currently all the rage, but their upgraded fabrics and poles often increase the price to $400 or more. For budget shoppers, we recommend REI Co-op's Passage, which costs a reasonable $159 for the two-person version. This design checks all the important boxes: easy-set up with an X-shaped pole structure, quality and long-lasting materials, and decent interior space and livability with two side doors and vestibules. The main downside of the Passage is its all-in weight of 5 pounds 10 ounces, although leaving behind the included footprint will save you about 7 ounces (the tough floor material makes a footprint unnecessary on most surfaces).

Backpacking Pack:   REI Co-op Trailbreak 60 ($149) An ill-fitting and uncomfortable backpacking pack can easily ruin a trip, so it’s an important product to get right. As a result, this is a category where we recommend avoiding going overly cheap. REI Co-op offers a high-value solution in their Trailbreak 60: For $149 (half the price of the premium competition), you get decent-quality foam padding, plenty of exterior storage—including zippered pockets on the hipbelt—and a highly adjustable backpanel. You’re not going to match the low weights, premium fabrics, or custom fit of a high-end model, but the REI is a proven choice, and its 60-liter capacity is a nice match for overnight or shorter multi-day treks.

Sleeping Bag:   REI Co-op Trailbreak 20 ($109) A sleeping bag decision should start with insulation type: synthetic or down. If you want to stick to a tight budget—something many first-timers are aiming to do—synthetic is the way to go. REI’s polyester-filled Trailbreak 20 is nicely equipped for most 3-season adventures with a “Comfort” rating of 29 degrees (a less warm  Trailbreak 30   is also available), smooth interior with an adjustable mummy hood, and an included compression sack. What you compromise with this fill type is weight and packability. At nearly 3.5 pounds, the Trailbreak is more than a pound heavier than many down alternatives, and it can be challenging squeezing it into a backpacking pack. If you’re looking for a longer-term investment or want to keep weight down,   Kelty’s Cosmic Down 20   may be worth the extra money. For about $60 more, you get 550-fill-power down in place of synthetic, a similar temperature rating as the Trailbreak, and a d...

Sleeping Pad:  Nemo Switchback ($55) It’s hard to beat an inflatable sleeping pad in terms of comfort, but if saving money is your priority, a foam pad is the way to go. Not only are closed-cell foam pads like the Nemo Switchback half the price of the most affordable air pads, but they’re also built to last. You can strap the Switchback to the outside of your pack, drag it through the dirt, use it to sit atop the prickliest of pine needles—even employ it as a snow sled—and it still won’t pop. And take it from us: You’ll be much more comfortable on a $55 foam pad than a $150 inflatable pad with a hole in it Comfort aside, the biggest downside to a foam pad like the Switchback is its lack of compressibility, but most casual backpackers won’t mind tacking it onto the outside of their pack. If you’re unwilling to compromise on an air pad, the  Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra  is one of our favorite budget models, retailing for a reasonable $100 (it’s also warmer with...

Backpacking Stove:   GSI Glacier Camp Stove ($30) There’s nothing quite like a hot meal at the end of a long day on the trail, which is why most backpackers carry a compact camp stove. Feature-rich models can cost upwards of $150, but our budget option here is the GSI Glacier Camp Stove, which retails for just $30. And it does the trick: With the Glacier, you get a rugged build with a strong cooking platform and reasonable boil time of 2 minutes for half a liter. Weighing 5.9 ounces, the GSI is reasonably light, although upping your budget to the  $50 MSR PocketRocket 2   will save you more than 3 ounces.   Keep in mind that the GSI doesn’t come with a pot for cooking food or boiling water, so you’ll need to purchase one separately. We like the MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot as a nice budget option, or you can always check your thrift store for something relatively lightweight. On the other hand, it’s worth considering an all-in-one starter set like the   Soto Amicus S...