Hiking gear can get expensive, no question about it. Finding cheap hiking gear is awesome, and you probably have a lot of things from around your house that you can reuse so you don’t need to go out and buy new gear.
Hiking Clothes
- Fleece: Most people have a fleece of jacket or pullover in their closet. I have a super old quarter zip from Lands End that I like even more than my Patagonia Synchilla. Fleece works great as a midlayer especially if you’re expecting rain. Fleece is synthetic, unlike cotton, and will help keep you a little warmer, even when wet.
- Athletic Shorts: You don’t need fancy hiking shorts. Any athletic shorts you like will work great. They may not be as durable though, so be careful sliding around on your butt.
- Leggings: I love hiking in leggings when it’s colder. Any brand that you like will do. But again, they won’t be as durable as hiking pants.
- Tennis Shoes: Everyone may not agree, but you can hike in your tennis shoes. It may not be as comfortable, and they are not going to be as durable, but you will make it in your tennis shoes! I don’t recommend doing anything too strenuous, but before investing in hiking shoes, try hiking in your normal tennis shoes to make sure it’s something you enjoy.
- Bandana: If you’ve ever read a hiking checklist, you’ve probably seen a Buff on the list. A buff is a great clothing item as it has so many different uses. While not quite as versatile, a bandana is great to shade your neck, dampen and help cool you off, wipe your nose, and even be used as a pee rag (I always use a pee wrag when backpacking). And you’re more likely to have a bandana lying around. If not, they’re very inexpensive.
Pack Options
- Day Pack: Any backpack you have at home will work just fine for your day hike. While a lightweight pack may be more comfortable, you only need something to hold your gear, layers, and snacks. Any backpack can do that.
- Rain Cover: If you are backpacking and are worried about rain soaking your pack, bring a large, black trash bag. It is a lightweight, cheap, waterproof (as long as there’s no holes) rain cover that you probably have at home. The contractor bags are also a great option to line the inside of your pack with if you want to make sure everything inside stays dry.
- Kid Carrier: There are some very nice kid carriers designed for hiking that I highly recommend. But if you already have a carrier you use for you baby or young child, you can definitely bring that on the trail. I used my Solly Baby Wrap and Ergobaby Omni360 from the time my baby was a newborn. They are not designed for hiking but worked just fine on the trail.
Emergency
- First-Aid Kit: You don’t need to go out and buy a specific day hike first aid kit. You can put yours own together with things around your house. Some things you can include are bandaids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, moleskin, tweezers, gauze, medicine, and whatever else you find necessary.
- Fire-Starter: While a waterproof fire-starter is preferred, if you want something you can start a fire with in an emergency, bring matches or a lighter and keep them in a ziploc bag. That will help keep them dry if you do get caught in the rain.
Random
- Gear Repair Kit: If you have a down jacket, or anything with a nylon material, it’s helpful to have something to repair it if it gets a hole. You can buy tenacious tape which is used to repair tears. But in a pinch, duct tape will work great! Just be sure to cut it out in a round shape to patch the hole. If it has corners, they will be more likely to lift and peel off.
- Sit Pad: I talk a lot about my Thermarest Z-Seat pad. And I love having that thing to sit on and keep me off the dirt and snow. But if you want something you may have at home, or easily accessible, a gardners’ foam kneeling pad will work beautifully. They’re sold everywhere, even the Dollar Tree (one of my favorite tips for finding cheap hiking gear). And you might already have one lying around your garage!
- Trekking Poles: While you may not have designated trekking poles, I have seen some people use their ski poles on the trail for that extra stability. If you’re a skier, try them out and see if you find them helpful!
Hiking is a fun activity than anyone can do. Don’t let the overwhelming amount of gear for sale stop you from getting out and enjoying the trail for yourself! Try finding cheap hiking gear, or better yet, use what you have and start hiking. Be sure to check out my other hiking posts for more tips!
