5 Cheap Pieces of Gear that Upped My Outdoor Game

One secret that most gear shops won’t tell you: exploring the outdoors can be safe, comfortable and cheap. You don’t have to choose between a happy wallet and outdoor luxury!

Once you have your Ten Essentials dialed down, you might search for gear that elevates your comfort and style. Sometimes, the simplest tools can make all the difference when it comes to outdoor comfort. With a mix of strategy and luck, you can score deals that’ll give major bang for your buck.

Here are five items that made me happier and healthier on adventures, without breaking the bank.

1. A fabulous sunhat

Nothing dampens the spirit of a gorgeous day outdoors like coming home to a bright red face and tender scalp. “But I wore sunscreen!” you cry. You vow to be more diligent going forward, only to forget your promise as your burn fades away. Sound familiar?

Let’s face it: the more coverage you have to protect you from the sun, the healthier your skin will feel. Fortunately, big, bold hats are all the rage these days.

The two keys to a great sunhat? 1) It blocks the sun from your face. 2) You feel like a supermodel wearing it.

Sure, you could splurge on a lightweight, packable “outdoor” hat, but for most day hikes or paddle adventures, you can get away with an inexpensive version from a discount or thrift store. Keep your eyes peeled for the perfect thrifted hat, and your skin will thank you.

2. A secondhand down skirt

Alright, skirt haters: give this a chance. Admittedly, for many years I didn’t see the point of wearing a skirt while hiking or climbing. But one trip, as I watched my friend climb a snowfield with a perfectly toasty bum while looking like a babe, I suddenly understood.

Insulated skirts provide an additional layer of warmth in cold or snowy conditions without restricting movement or adding much weight. Many have two zippers to make it easy to put on or off… or go pee. Seriously, making yellow snow is far easier when you can keep your cheeks warm. And, of course, there’s the style element. Wear a cozy skirt, and hear the compliments roll in.

Brand-new down skirts can retail for… a lot. Thankfully, they pop up at consignment stores often, and you can always post on local gear groups to see if anyone is selling. I got mine for $10 at Next Adventure in Portland, and I even wear it while walking the dog in town on cold days!

3. Lube

Chafing is a thing for outdoorsy folks. A really, really sucky thing. After a day of moving your body, painful rashes can pop up in places you wouldn’t dream of-- that spot where your sports bra hits your armpits, for example.

Whether you hike, ski, run or bike, the easiest way to prevent chafing is lubing up. When you know your susceptible areas, you can apply lube before you start your activity, and you can quickly reapply when hot spots occur.

Squirrel’s Nut Butter and Body Glide have saved my ribcage from my sports bra, my shoulders from my pack straps and my thighs from themselves. You can find recipes for DIY lube if you want the most budget-friendly option. Experiment to find your fail-safe anti-chafe tool.

4. A situpon

Any former Girl Scouts remember crafting their own situpon? These are underrated and as affordable as gear gets. Literally any small piece of lightweight, cushioned material can allow you to stay comfy, clean and warm when you take a break on the trail or snow. Personally, I cut out a piece of foam from a super cheap sleeping pad that my puppy tore up, and I use it as a situpon year-round.

In cool weather, a simple situpon will insulate your bottom from the ground, which you don’t think about until you try to sit down without said situpon. Brrrrr. In warm weather, even if you don’t need insulation, it’ll keep your booty clean so your Instagram shots aren’t tarnished by a muddy butt (if you care about that sort of thing).

And in slide-down-a-snowfield weather, you have the perfect piece of gear to protect yourself from the worst butt injury I’ve ever experienced (a story for another day).

5. $0.74 camp flip flops

Have you ever packed for a trip and “flip-flopped” back and forth on whether to bring a piece of gear? While I was packing to hike across the Grand Canyon and back (look up “Rim to Rim to Rim” if you’re interested), I wanted to go as lightweight as possible while still allowing for comfort. I couldn’t decide what to do about shoes: should I bother with a second pair to wear at camp while my boots got a break?

Enter: the dollar store flip flop. I literally stopped at a store on the way to the Grand Canyon and snagged a pair of flimsy flip flops for 74 cents. Sure, they were a strange, ugly yellow, but they were extremely lightweight and ended up making a huge difference to my comfort.

Tossing off my boots and slipping on my yellow flippy floppies in the evening was the best care for my feet, other than soaking in the ice-cold stream. For under a dollar and an ounce of weight, cheap camp shoes are so worth it.

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Acquiring affordable gear is a sport in itself. Play the game by hunting thrift stores, writing “in search of” posts on online forums, researching DIY versions and stocking up on the cheap goods that make you feel great.