Lightweight Affordable Backpacking Gear
The best cheap backpacking gear can still be lightweight. Simple gets the job done best. You don’t need to break the bank and over-indulge in bells and whistles to sleep in the backcountry! This guide to affordable hiking gear prioritizes items that are lightweight and offer a high performance-to-price ratio.
For the most part, we only consider cheap backpacking gear from reliable outdoor brands. While less expensive versions exist, we recommend avoiding knock-offs. Gear failure in the mountains can be life threatening. What’s more, REI’s budget-friendly Trailmade line includes most key items and sets a high bar at a low price.
We evaluate cheap hiking gear through the lens of ultralight backpacking. We love saving money and weight, and are critical of spending every extra dollar, and every extra ounce. Scroll through to read the gear recommendations. Or jump over to our premium 9 lb ultralight gear list and staff picks to see how budget items compare to the very top tier. You might be surprised by the amount of crossover.
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Table of Contents
REI Flash 55 Backpack
REI Co-op Flash 55
45 oz | $199
REI Co-op Flash 55 is a well-rounded lightweight backpack that delivers excellent performance at an impressive value. From our perspective, it is on of the very best backpacks one can purchase for under $200. For just under three pounds, there’s lots of modular pockets and features, plus the fit is adjustable. Almost everyone finds this backpack to be comfortable, and we love the distinct yellow colorway.
Durston Kakwa UltraGrid
30.3 oz | $199
Durston Kakwa 55, better known for its Ultra 200X fabric iteration, is nearly as good in the less expensive Ultragrid makeup, similar in performance to Robic Nylon. While it’s missing composite fabric characteristics like waterproofness and durability, it’s still the same best-in-class frame, chassis, comfort, load-carry, size, approximate weight, fit, pocket configuration, and overall feature set. And when it comes to value-to-performance ratio, nothing beats the UltraGrid Kakwa 55, an exceptional ultralight pack for a very reasonable price.
REI Co-op Trailmade 2
68 oz | $199
The REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Tent is a proven backpacking design from a reputable outfitter for $200 – not a bad deal! At just over 4 lbs, it’s on the heavy side, but still lighter than most tents in its price range. And with a spacious interior plus two doors and vestibules, it far outcompetes most tents under $200. The cross pole design is trustworthy and super user-friendly. We wish it had a spreader bar at the top for more headroom and side wall verticality, but it’s only a small sacrifice for high quality cheap backpacking gear.
Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent
4 lbs 1 oz | $149
Astoundingly affordable, the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent proves that you don’t need anything fancy, and cheap backpacking gear really can work. This one-door tent is about as simple as it gets, but because it’s not doing anything fancy, it actually only weighs four pounds, which is less than most tents in the $200-$300 price range. Such value!
REI Co-op Half Dome 2
74.3 oz | $299
The most popular tent on the market, updated for 2025! Half Dome now features a simple-but-unique H-pole structure, as opposed to more common cross poles shaped like an X. This configuration increase headroom and the verticality of its sidewalls. The tent is decked in livability boosting features like large ceiling vents, full size vestibules, and abundant mesh pockets for interior stories. For those who want to save money and maximize backcountry livability at the expense of carrying extra weight, Half Dome is the perfect option.
AnyGear 7075 Aluminum Tent Stakes
AnyGear 7075 Aluminum Tent Stakes
0.5 oz | $0.66 per stake
The starter stakes that came with your tent are OK. But we prefer these inexpensive & far stronger Y-stakes as they make tent pitching easier and more secure in rocky dirt. The ANYGEAR 7075 Aluminum Stakes have a Y neck and only a single notched rib at the head making them extremely resistant to bending and damage when pounding in with a rock.
Gossamer Gear Polycryo Ground Cloth
3.7 oz | $11
For camping on abrasive surfaces, we recommend the Gossamer Gear Polycryo Ground Cloth. As simple as it is, it’s some of the smartest ultralight backpacking gear. It’s much, much lighter than the sil-nylon version that came with your backpacking tent, and will still protect against puncture and microtears. This is the preferred footprint for ultralight tents. For solo shelters, cut the width down by 1/3 for a total weight of 2.4 oz
Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Outfitter Tent
57 oz | $210
The Six Moon Designs Lunor Duo Outfitter offers an exceptional price-to-weight ratio. It is lighter and more livable than nearly all other tents in it price range. This is a durable, spacious, fully enclosed trekking pole shelter. It has large vestibules and a tall ceiling height. Note, it’s a single wall design, so sleep with a door open for ventilation when conditions allow. Like all cheap backpacking gear, there’s usually a small drawback, and the Lunar Duo Outfitter requires at-home seam taping.
Gossamer Gear The Two
24 oz | $320
At only 1.5 lbs and costing $320, Gossamer Gear’s The Two is an exceptional deal on a true ultralight tent. Compared to its more expensive weight-class peers, it utilizes classic ripstop silnylon to save cost instead of Dyneema. And besides two interior pockets, it’s light on features, though that’s typical of minimalist designs. The dual apex trekking pole setup is tried, true, and stronger than it looks. As with all single-wall shelters, it suffers from a bit of condensation build up. All-in-all, a great entry point into ultralight gear.
Durston X-Mid 2
35 oz | $269
Thanks to a unique pitc geometry – diagonal, trekking pole-supported ridgeline fly with parallelogram interior, the Durston X-Mid 2 double wall trekking pole tent has more useable interior volume and wind sturdiness than most competing options, despite its humble price tag and reasonable just-over-two-pounds total weight.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 30
19.2 oz | $315
For a high performance ultralight quilt at a reasonable price, we recommend an economically configured Enlightened Equipment Revelation 30 with 850 fill power down. Quilts are comfier, less expensive. and have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than sleeping bags. And this one converts into blanket-mode.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation Apex 30
25.6 oz | $230
For an even more economical version of the aformentioned Enlightened Equipment Revelation, choose the Apex version, which is filled with synethic insulation instead of down. It’s bulkier, heavier, lower warmth-to-weight, but still warm, ultralight, convertible, and about $100 less expensive. It’s also better suited to moist environments, and won’t de-loft as quickly due to wetness. And of course, because it’s a quilt, it’s still a better performer than most sleeping bags costings more than twice as much.
Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag
42 oz | $165
If you have no more than $200 to spend on a backpacking sleeping bag, grab the Kelty Cosmic 20. The materials and down fill power are middling, but it will keep you comfortably warm down to freezing. And it does so without entirely taking over your backpack or breaking the bank. Kelty is famous for making some of the best cheap backpacking gear, and this sleeping bag is no exception.
Marmot Trestles Eco Elite 20 Sleeping Bag
38 oz | $169
If you want to sleep under the stars knowing that you are minimizing harm to the planet, we recommend the Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20. This is a midweight synthetic backpacking sleeping bag that is warm down to freezing. It’s a bit bulky, but gets the job done fairly well. Comes with a built-in draft collar and internal stash pocket. All of the fabric and insulation has been constructed with recycled materials to reduce impact. This might be cheap backpacking gear, but it is not irresponsible.
NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad
14.5 oz | $60
If you’re in the market for a backpacking sleeping pad that is highly affordable and highly durable, we recommend the NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad Within the closed-cell foam family, it offers the best blend of thickness, weight, and R-Value.
REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket
11.4 oz | $100
The REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket is the best hard shell we know of for only $100, and has been one of the most popular pieces of cheap backpacking gear for ages. The 2.5L HydroWall membrane checks all of the basic boxes for waterproofness and breathability. And we can’t stress enough how nice it is to have pit zips. But you also get an adjustable hood, hem/cuff cinches, and of course the REI warranty. What’s more, Rainier is super sustainable and ethically manufactured. You get Fair Trade Certified, bluesign approved, use of recycled nylons, and nonfluorinated DWR.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L
14.1 oz | $179
We love when sustainable gear made with recycled materials performs as well as unconstrained designs, and the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket leads the pack for rainwear. But not only is it eco-friendly, it’s also a fully featured 3L rain jacket, making it one of the most affordable of it’s kind. We love the pit zips, and the tricot backed membrane is waterproof and comfortable to wear. Learn more in our full-length Patagonia TorrentShell 3L Review.
Lightheart Gear Rain Jacket
7.4 oz | $150
Choose the Lightheart Gear rain jacket when conditions are both cold and wet because its made with sil-poly fabric (think tent fly material), truly 100% waterproof and 0% breathable. The massive pit zips help compensate for lack of aeration, while it low weight and low price make it a very desirable piece of ultralight gear.
Lightheart Gear Rain Pants
4.4 oz | $75
The Lightheart Gear Rain Pants are a unique design, offering true 100% tent-fly-grade waterproofness, in exchange for literal 0% breathability, all at a great price. This works fine in cold to moderate temperatures, and never wets out. They’re ultralight and hyper affordable. Compared to your upper body, legs don’t get quit as sweaty, so the lack of breathability is less of an issue. The pass through pockets are clever design feature, allowing access to interior pants/shorts pockets.
REI Trailmade Rain Pants
7.7 oz | $70
A basic pair of 2.5L, lightweight rain duds. What’s not to like? The REI Co-op Trailmade Rain Pants design features ankle zips, an elastic drawcord waistband, and a zippered back pocket. They’re available in a very wide array of sizes for all body types. Good all around cheap backpacking gear, perfect for hikers on a budget.
Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Down Puffer
10.5 oz | $100
The Decathalon Forclaz Mt100 Down Puffer is unquestionably the best way to spend $100 on an insulated jacket for hiking. This puffy offers a lightweight package, quality materials, and minimalist design without any major flaws or drawbacks. It may not be the most technologically advanced, but it bats well above its price point in terms of performance, and value shoppers will be over the moon. Shop now.
REI 650 Down Jacket
10.9 oz | $129
It’s really difficult to find a down jacket from a reputable outdoor brand for this price. Yet the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket is still lighter than average. Sure, it uses low fill power down, has no hood, and isn’t exactly the warmest puffer, but it certainly gets the job done without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s 100% recycled.
Mountain Hardwear Microchill Fleece
9.0 oz | $55
For a lightweight, ultra affordable, and ultra basic microfleece, grab the Mountain Hardwear Microchill Fleece. Sometimes the simplest solution gets the job done best. The Microchill fabric is warm, fuzzy, made with recycled materials and also lightweight. It has some stretch and breathability, but those are not its strong suits.
REI Trailmade Fleece Jacket
12.7 oz | $60
The REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket is a cozy, affordable, all-purpose midweight fleece jacket, and an excellent piece of cheap backpacking gear. It has hand pockets and spandex at hem and cuff. This is ol’ trusty microfleece, the fuzzy good stuff. But now it’s made with 100% postconsumer recycled polyester.
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Trekking Poles
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
15.6 oz | $65
Sturdy, lightweight, durable, well-built, the CMT Carbon Fiber Collapsible Trekking Poles for $65 are an incredible deal on ultralight backpacking gear. Marginally lighter options from traditional brands go for $150-$250. These aren’t fancy, but we just can’t stress enough how preposterously good of a value proposition Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are.
Gaia GPS App
Gaia GPS App
0 oz | $60
Available on iPhone or Android, Gaia GPS offers a Google Maps-like experience, but pinpoints you on topographic maps with trails and routing. No cell service or internet is required, so long as you download the maps in advance. It’s much lighter, more affordable, and user-friendly than dedicated GPS units. Gaia GPS is our primary backcountry navigation tool, backed up by paper maps. Considering that phone apps are weightless, we think this is some pretty great ultralight backpacking gear.
AOTU Portable Camping Stove
3.5 oz | $11
Here’s a legit legit backpacking stove for just $11. The AOTU Portable Camp Stove weighs just 3.5 oz, has an adjustable burner output, and comes with its own case. We’ve seen the sparker break before though, so don’t forget to pack a lighter too just in case. A small price to pay for such effective, cheap backpacking gear.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration
3.6 oz | $41
Faster and more efficient than pumping or waiting for chemical treatments, the Sawyer Squeeze System offers on-the-go hydration at a good flow. This product is long-lasting, affordable, reliable, cleanable, and very user-friendly. We also like the sawyer water bags for compressibility and having on hand so you can camel up at the last water source before dry camping at a viewpoint. This is ultralight backpacking gear. The filter itself weighs only 3 oz, and the 3.6 oz listed total also include a .6 oz 1L bag.
Timex Expedition Scout
3 oz | $50
Without question, the Timex Expedition Scout 40mm is hands down the best value in a field watch. With a few models coming in near $30, it still has all the essential features, among them a 10 year lithium battery! In comparison, many field watches with similar features are around $200 or more and their battery replacement alone might cost you $30. Timex Expedition Scout looks every bit a field watch, and has a low profile case. There are a few concessions to keep the price that low. The brass case is a tad heavy, its 50m water resist makes it only splash resistant, and its mineral crystal is not particularly scratch resistant. We also note this to have one of the loudest ticks we’ve ever heard, perhaps too load to sleep with in a tent.
Cheap Backpacking Gear Conclusion
We hope this buyers guide helps you to save money and reduce pack weight. As you can see, you don’t need to break the bank to hit the backcountry. Affordable, budget gear is readily available. In most cases, even though their overall performance is average, many of this items on this cheap hiking gear list have an excellent performance-to-price ratio and are of great value. Happy trails!
