My Budget Setup for £325

Advice

Thanks to this community, the wider Youtube community, and everyone I've asked questions to, I've pretty much got a *full* setup for less than £325.

This is my first kit, so I've budgeted on a lot of things and do feel quite bad about the Snowbird sleeping bag, based on the fact the ethics/sourcing isn't exactly where I'd like it to be. I've also gone for a cheaper stove vs Msr pocket rocket whilst I start out.

I will certainly look to upgrade my kit as needed, but feel for a first time wild camper it's a good barrier to entry.

I've added my *main* kit to show it can be possible to do it cheaper and that we don't all need to go out and spend £1000 on a tent, or even £300!.

I could have even made this cheaper, but my main focus was price vs weight.

Of course I'm missing things like a pillow, first aid kit and a few other items, but thought they were cheap enough to not need to warrant taking the price into account!

[Image]

in wildcampingintheukby ollyjaxx

92%

1mo

A-Light-That-Warms

1mo

I genuinely think this is the way to get into the hobby. So often (and not just in wild camping) you see people insisting you need top end gear just to start in a hobby when in reality the single most important thing you can do in any hobby is actually doing it.

My own kit is an eclectic mix of army surplus, Ali Express and low end Decathlon; hell my "sleep system" is an older generation army surplus jungle sleeping bag with an £11 Costco down quilt for cooler nights. My rucksack is some bargain basement Eurohike rucksack I picked up for £15 that lived in my shed for 10 years.

Obviously I'm not going to use all this low end gear forever but it is enough to get me out there and crucially enough for me to learn what I like. This is so important as while it is all well and good watching YouTube videos and reading reviews you never truly know what works for you until you have experience.

Sorry I waffled on for ages then. I guess what I'm saying is this is a fantastic list for getting into the hobby, and I look forward to seeing some of your adventures.

ollyjaxx

1mo

I completely agree, I was originally looking at some terra nova tents, some rab sleeping bags, and just those alone would take me to over £600.

Thanks too all the adventures online - a lot of the research has been done for me, and after hours and hours, I came to the conclusion of the above list, and with it still being quite a light kit, I feel as though I'm setup for the future to replace items as I feel like I want to treat myself!

As soon as my kit arrives, I'll be taking it out and will certainly be putting some snippets of my adventures here!

chromelollipop

1mo

There is often good stuff second hand on eBay and the like. I've had a couple of tents under £50 that weighed less than 1kg. The brs3000t is pretty cheap too.

If you get second hand to start with, it's not a disaster it the design doesn't work for you.

ollyjaxx

1mo

I've been trawling eBay for weeks, Facebook, vinted - messaged and they've always sold out. Vango banshee, Terra nova pioneer, Vango Sherpa bag etc - all sold. So thought whilst there's some good prices about, might as well make the plunge.

The BRS was same price from Ali, but this seemed to be bit more sturdier!

Competely agree though, if you can get a bargain second hand go for it - I'd have rather had some higher end stuff, but it gives me the jump to go into it without much financial burden

chromelollipop

1mo

Agreed, you can only hold out for a bargain so long before you need to do something.

Good luck

Enjoy

spollagnaise

30d

My only qualm with this is the ethics of the down. If you're okay with that you've got a hell of a cheap set up. Let's hope you get into sleeping outdoors eh

ollyjaxx

30d

Completely agree, and it took me a while to make the decision and I'm still not okay with it. It's the first item I want to replace in the future for a more ethical item for sure.

Celewin1

1mo

I'm in a similar situation so thanks for putting all this information up mate. The more you watch videos and scroll online, you do start persuading yourself you need the more expensive option, which is obviously not true😂

I've also obviously been living under a rock because what is Aliexpress? Amother amazon I take it? Any good?

ollyjaxx

1mo

All good pal. I also had my eyes set on a Vango banshee, but being over 6ft I think it would feel like a coffin.

Basically Chinese Amazon mate! Download it on your phone and give it ago, if you need a hand just drop me a message on here, I'm well versed in using it, it's currently "choice" week so some decent prices.

itsmeoldirtyben

1mo

The list is giving off big Fallout vibes

Different_Spare4897

1mo

I’ve been wild camping for over 20 years and only just bought a sleeping bag that cost more than £35! In fact, my last one, a Snugpak, lasted 15 years and is still going strong, but it’s a bit too thin for colder nights now.

Expensive gear isn’t always the best option.

Also, I’ve got a mate who must have a few grands worth of kit in his house and he never goes camping. Maybe once or twice a year. Pointless. Take your budget setup and enjoy yourself man 🙌

ollyjaxx

30d

Looked at a snug pack but the weight put me off! Yep expensive doesn't always mean better

Different_Spare4897

30d

Yeah I doubt I’d buy it again but me 15 years ago wasn’t as bothered. There’s no loft to it anymore but it’s perfect for summer camping.

I was having a few whiskeys in Old Dungeon Ghyll one frosty evening when a bloke asked how good my bag was for sleeping in those temps. He later named it ‘dead man’s shroud’ 🤣

And on the topic of expensive doesn’t mean better. I looked into getting a jetboil setup but found the weight high, pack size bigger and cup capacity smaller than my current setup (MSR pocket rocket 2 and titanium cup) so it didn’t make any sense spending 4x more.

Rage922001

1mo

I bought a no brand pocket rocket style burner for 4.99 like 10 years ago and i still use it to this day. Its perfect and works well with some home made heat shield around the whole thing. The only difference between mine and the msr IMO is that the msr has bigger lega that fold out allowing for a bigger pot and more stable surface altho iv never tipped mine once.

A-Light-That-Warms

30d

The biggest difference between the high end ones and cheap ones is the flow regulator. MSRs and their ilk use flow regulators to ensure the gas flow is consistent even when the gas bottle is low.

But even that is not a massive deal.

Rage922001

30d

Good to know. Over the years my gas cans got old before they got empty. iv never ran one right down To empty before. But not had much issues with flow with what iv used.

A-Light-That-Warms

30d

Yeah, like I say its not a massive deal. I personally use this £13 Amazon special and it is more than capable for my needs.

Lucid_State

30d

I recently built my setup - I think this looks good, I managed to get a deal on my naturehike tent on amazon, so maybe set up some 3Camels alerts for price drops there.

I also managed to look at more reputable bits on sale from UK stores, in case I needed to return etc.

I have a sierra designs flex capacitor that is new that I may be selling on ebay etc in the next few days so keep an eye out for that if interested.

so1sticetq

30d

nice! first few trips i went on a real budget set up, just made sure i went during dry / relatively warm weather. i got the bug, then slowly been saving up for higher quality gear so I can go for longer and during the colder seasons. not to mention I now know I will use it, instead of buying the gear and realising it's not for me