SPLURGE TOR SAVE?

A GUIDE TO WHICH CAMPING GEAR DESERVES YOUR HARD-EARNED CASH, AND WHICH GEAR TO SKIMP ON

- HILARY WHITE

Going out into the woods, lying on the ground, eating glorified, rehydrated wood chips (this isn't always the case - shout out to all the tasty backpacking food brands out there!): How expensive could such a hobby be?

Well, because you're a reader of this publication, I'll bet you already know the answer to that question. The answer is, "somewhat expensive," which can be perplexing, considering that we outdoors people elect to trade our homey, creature comforts for experiences that at times tend to be more "creature" than "comfort."

However, if you scrutinize the purpose of every item in your camping inventory, you can discern what really needs to be premium and what can be sourced from a garage sale or from online marketplaces. We're here to help you make those judgment calls. Read on to discover on which items you can safely pinch some pennies, and on which you'd better splurge.

SHELTER

You may have heard of the "Big Three" in camping circles. The shelter, or tent, would fall into this category, along with sleeping bag and backpack. The Big Three are your main concerns when spending time in the wilderness. Therefore, these will be your biggest expenses.

The tent is a splurge item because, as of today, lighter weight or ultralight gear will usually cost more. This is because lightweight yet durable materials like Dyneema, which is a "super-plastic" fiber that is 15 times stronger than steel at the same weight, naturally cost more than heavy-duty stuff like canvas or polycotton fabrics.