Low Budget Equipment 2019

[simplefool]

Hultafors Heavy Duty craft knife. Cheap and cheerful but durable. Cut, slice, poke and pry, batten wood, it does it all for under a fiver.

https://www.frankhoward.com/mobile/...9e3VyMigTWLag98Bgi-I8X7yHattZ91RoCYf0QAvD_BwE (Not affiliated).

I take mine camping with me everywhere, but it wouldn't be my first choice for day hikes, obviously. It sees more use than any other knife I own because I'm not afraid to use it, has taken everything I've thrown at it and when it does eventually break, it's easily replaceable. Bargain.

 

[Janne]

Do not choose the swimming trunks with an inner nylon mesh. They rub your skin raw.
I get that from time to time. Too stupid to remember and learn!

 

[Janne]

Hultafors Heavy Duty craft knife. Cheap and cheerful but durable. Cut, slice, poke and pry, batten wood, it does it all for under a fiver.

https://www.frankhoward.com/mobile/...9e3VyMigTWLag98Bgi-I8X7yHattZ91RoCYf0QAvD_BwE (Not affiliated).

I take mine camping with me everywhere, but it wouldn't be my first choice for day hikes, obviously. It sees more use than any other knife I own because I'm not afraid to use it, has taken everything I've thrown at it and when it does eventually break, it's easily replaceable. Bargain.

That is exactly why I have been preaching the Morakniv mantra/ prayers for years.
Buy, use, abuse, break, buy new. No sweat, no tears.
Yes, it is nice with a knife hand crafted from Unobtanium by mountain dwarfs, but .........

 

[Broch]

That is exactly why I have been preaching the Morakniv mantra/ prayers for years.
Buy, use, abuse, break, buy new. No sweat, no tears.
Yes, it is nice with a knife hand crafted from Unobtanium by mountain dwarfs, but .........

That's all very well unless it breaks when you're out in the wilderness. I love my cheap Frosts knife (before Mora took over) but it has a stupid weak tang so I can't abuse it! Give me a full tang knife any day for full-on camp abuse

 

[Erbswurst]

Yes, a good inexpensive full tang knife with good leather sheath I am still searching for my beginners collection.

Perhaps it's the best to discuss that in a seperate thread untill we got a genius solution to add it here in the end.

 

[simplefool]

That's all very well unless it breaks when you're out in the wilderness. I love my cheap Frosts knife (before Mora took over) but it has a stupid weak tang so I can't abuse it! Give me a full tang knife any day for full-on camp abuse

I totally agree but if I was in an environment where I was reliant on specific items to keep me alive I wouldn't realistically be looking to include kit in my list from the budget end of the spectrum anyway.

For most uses though, the Hultafors is a little workhorse.

I've got a couple of more expensive knives but in all honesty they've turned out to be vanity purchases really as they see such little use!

 

[Erbswurst]

This polyester- cotton mix Solognac Steppe 300 hunting trousers are really good. And as you see very cheap.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/steppe-300-trousers-brown-id_8155548.html

That is the short version in the same fabric:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/bermuda-shorts-100-green-id_8368339.html

This belt is very tough, and fast drying.
You can easily shorten it with a sharp knife. Close that metal end after it with the thumb and not with pliers!

Very good for traveling and backpacking:
It doesn't make any noise if you open and close it. That's very good if you come late in a youth hostel bedroom!

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/x-access-belt-brown-id_8368668.html

 

[Erbswurst]

I bought last year this socks in olive, perhaps they are just currently out of stock and will come back. If not take the beige ones! That isn't a fault if it's hot.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/mh-900-high-x2-beige-id_8384542.html

The price is meant for two pairs.
One pair you wear, the other goes with swimming breefs and spare T-shirt in the rucksack.
In most conditions you don't need more spare clothing, even on longer journeys.
Especially if you take trousers and shorts with you.

If not, you could take swimming shorts as spare clothing instead of swimming breefs in summer times and use in winter times the waterproof trousers.

In summer times the poncho is enough and you don't need waterproof trousers and jacket!

In cold conditions this woolen socks are the better option:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sh520-x-warm-mid-g-socks-id_8502663.html

 

[Bishop]

Vango Explorer II 60L capacity rucksack £30 at Charlies Direct and only available in a nice shade of Forest Green. Has a good size hip-belt and being half the price of anything similar makes it a strong contender for anybody on a budget. Alternatively for those wanting something different there's a glut of South African assault vests kicking around at the moment for about the same price. Smaller capacity but lots of attachment points plus chest pouches that help balance the rig so you walk more upright.

 

[Erbswurst]

If someone wants to use this equipment, he needs a rucksack of minimum 40 litres, no military chest ring or Y- webbing!
Sorry, we recommend here low budget stuff to beginners!

----------------------------

In cold, whet and windy conditions waterproof jacket and over-trousers are a good idea.
That suit here is tough, light and relatively cheap.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/100-w-p-jacket-khaki-id_8396906.html

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/100-w-p-overtrousers-khaki-id_8396905.html



So, if you now add some water and food to your equipment you can start to your first overnight adventure!

I think I didn't forget anything.

That equipment and packing list you also can use for a several weeks long summer hike or city and hostel backpacking tour.

It isn't necessary to carry more stuff around!

As you see all that clothing is civil looking, so you can use it in your normal civil life too. That isn't a special equipment, that's an all round equipment for every day, round the year always and everywhere!

And that's another reason, why it is cheap.
You theoretically don't need more stuff all your life, ok, gloves, cap and shawl perhaps.

What is still missing here are some good boots.

Good boots are expensive.
Good boots have to fit.
Good boots are the only point where we can't really save a lot of money.

You could try this:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/fleshside-mtd-hunting-boots-dark-brown-id_8370072.html

Or this:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/trek-500-mens-waterproof-walking-boots-brown-id_8384362.html

I don't own this boots. I just tried them on and had a good impression.
If they should fit well to your feet, you can try them.

They seem to be a good offer.

 

[Erbswurst]

This little pouch is water proof.

I own two of them, one for the smart phone and one for the charger and cable.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/waterproof-pocket-x-acc-orange-id_8384333.html

 

[Robbi]

do you have shares in Decathlon ?

just asking.

 

[Janne]

That's all very well unless it breaks when you're out in the wilderness. I love my cheap Frosts knife (before Mora took over) but it has a stupid weak tang so I can't abuse it! Give me a full tang knife any day for full-on camp abuse

It is all about technique. I have only rver broken the tip of old knives made in Mora, never the tang.
But then I do not batton. Cut only.
Battoning is a new ‘thing’ in the Bushcraft world.

 

[Erbswurst]

No Robbi!
I am just traveling a lot in France, where I find that shops every corner.

Because a lot of people asked me there which equipment I recommend, I started to try it out, and I discovered that compared with every other French and German shops I get the best deal if I buy Decathlon hunting clothing.

The stuff is available in 44 countries all over the world and if one gets the Decathlon card before he starts buying stuff there he can use the world wide warranty in every shop by just using this card. You don't need to collect receipts of your stuff and take it with you at a world journey, you just need that card, if something should break.
Just give them your Decathlon card before you pay, and all the deals you ever made are remembered by the system.
I bought an airmat in Colone, discovered a fault and changed it within 5 minutes in Lyon. That's Decathlon service!

English is spoken world wide and so I recommend in a British forum stuff that people can buy everywhere in the world.

The only other stuff I know where we can get such good quality for such a little price is military surplus. But not everybody likes it and it isn't the best choice for stealth camping and international travelling.

But yes, I recommend surplus stuff too, especially Austrian stuff in polyester cotton mix fabric.

For example this new trousers for 20 €.

http://army-warehouse.com/10-servicecard-artikel/202-bh-feldhose-m75-neu.html

The whole shop is full of incredible cheap stuff in olive green in very high quality.

neu means new, gebraucht means used.

Most clothing exist in pure cotton and in a polyester cotton mix version, just tell them which version you prefere.

I don't know other civil looking clothing in that quality for such incredible low prices.

Should similar offers of other shops exist, please tell it us!

 

[Nice65]

If someone wants to use this equipment, he needs a rucksack of minimum 40 litres, no military chest ring or Y- webbing!
Sorry, we recommend here low budget stuff to beginners.

Wow, a whole thread where you could have put all the links into one post instead of 24 and saved making such a mess. 24 posts from you, 7 from other members. Then when someone pipes up with a recommendation for decent low budget kit, you start introducing rules without even discussing the merits of the suggestion!

All you’re doing is looking at websites, mainly Decathlon, and posting links.

 

[Erbswurst]

No, I bought and used most of this equipment for very long times.

Just the boots, the rucksack, the mess tins and the long sleeve shirt I don't own, but I know it of course. Polish and Czech military stuff we find in Germany every corner, and the shirt I simply didn't buy, because as a smoker I want to have a second pocket at the shirt.

This boots Decathon offers I don't own because I wear high quality boots which are hand crafted by a German shoemaker master in my individual measures. I usually walk a lot and so that's a sensible Idea for me.

It's probably my fault that you didn't understand it, but I tried to explain it before.

Some of the other recommendations in this thread got a like from me.
But stuff I don't know I do not comment, that's all.

I don't know if that's rubbish or a good recommendation.

 

[Erbswurst]

I don't own this boot, but it seems to be made in high quality for an outstanding low price.

https://www.schuhjaeger.at/shop/marken/schladminger-eigenmarke/schladminger-art-100-zwigenaht.html

Made in Italy at the Austrian Border in a 5 men workshop, exclusively sold via Schuhjäger in Austria since more than 40 years.

 

[Erbswurst]

That heavy boots are an outstanding good offer too.

http://army-warehouse.com/10-servicecard-artikel/197-bh-feldschuhe-i-leicht-feldstiefel-neu.html

The whole internet shop is worth a look.
Most stuff is very cheap and original Austrian Army equipment.

Neu means new
Gebraucht means used.

 

[z_bumbi]

I used a short candle for many years and left the torch in the first aid kit.

In Germany and France sometimes it's totally black in the night. Very different to Scandinavia. No idea how it is in Britain.

Some drips from the candle are very helpfull as fire starter by the way.



The Geonaute compact 50 snap hook compass should be ok for the beginning.
If you can't see the sun that helps a bit.

4 £ is an intelligent investment here.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/compact-50-snap-hook-compass-id_8397810.html

Good quality compasses cost some money. But usually we stay in the beginning on the ways and do not walk through the Scandinavic tundra. So this small thing should be ok. The quality isn't bad. Later it can be used as a back up.

Take the blue one, so you can find it if it falls down. Unfortunately they don't offer it in orange or red what would be better.

If you go hiking, take a hiking map with you!

Regarding light, have you been in Scandinavia during any other season than summer?

Cheap kit list för Sweden during three seasons.
Kitchen: borrow a trangia, put a note on facebook etc and you will find someone who have one. Aim for a 27 but take a 25 if it's what you get hold of.The first times a thermos and some sandwitches will do. Works for daytrips and thats a good start.

Cloths
A set of rain wear and good shoes/boot/wellingtons. If you allready have a jacket in goretex or similar use it. Trainers works if it's not to wet or snowy, for boots buy something that you can use during winther (or use something you allready own). For the rest use ordinary streetwear or trainingwear, it works okey in the beginning and in most cases a long time after that.

Backpack
Your goal isn't go be out for weeks so most backpack works. A onesling bag also works för shorter trips. After some trips you can start scanning the second hand market.

Thermos
Dig deep in your funds and buy a thermos by the brand thermos.

Knife
Buy a Mora 511, costs less than 4 euros and works for most tasks.

Kipmat
Second hand or buy a cheap new one. If hooked on the outdoors buy something with more isolation etc but keep the old one för daytrips or when there is a risk that the good one will puncture.

Tent
Borrow or buy a middle pricerange. Cheap = rubbish, expensive = mostly for winther or tundra/fjäll (mountains).

Compass
One from Silva, like the one you used in school. Life is to short to wandering around with a cheep ( broken) compass when a good one costs a fraktion more.

Maps
Get good ones, either buy or print yourself.

Phone
Put it in a plastic bag and put a bit of maskingtape on it with ice-number(s) in permament marker.

Avoid most surplus and hunting gear as it's made for something els. When more used with hiking and bushcraft you will have the knowlege to pick things that suits you goals.

Remember to have fun!

My quick list.

 

[Woody girl]

To be honest all these Internet based recommendations are all very well and good but if you were to buy all this stuff you'd be on your computer for days spending a small fortune and waiting for days for it to arrive. That's putting off the moment you actually go out and enjoy yourself. . Just look around the house and see what you could use, visit a charity shop or two and then go to a camping shop and buy whatever else you havnt managed to get. Borrow from friends and family if you can't afford the camp shop.
All you need is a pair of boots some waterproofs a warm jacket a mug spoon knife and matches or lighter. A stove of some sort and a water bottle (reuse a plastic drink bottle). And something to carry it in. Doesnt have to be a rucksack. Go outdoors have a lot of options for beginners and if you pay a fiver to join you get even more discount. Many times I've gone out with little more than a stove matches brew kit mug and spoon.plus a sit mat. Get off the computer and get out there! I'm off this weekend and have just a 35 litre pack and minimal kit.
The more you know the less you need......
Unless you fall prey to kit monkey syndrome!