I was reading a trail journal from the Pacific Crest Trail and saw a note about a $5 tarp

The hiker wrote they used a basic blue poly tarp for 300 miles after their fancy rainfly ripped. They said it was louder in the wind and a bit heavier, but it kept them just as dry. It made me rethink all the time I spend reading reviews for the lightest, most expensive gear. Maybe the best piece of gear is just the one that works when you need it. Has anyone else had a piece of cheap, simple gear save a trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_troy8d ago

My old backpacking stove was a fancy titanium thing that cost more than my first car. It died on a trip, and I ended up boiling water over a fire with a tin can I found. Worked perfectly, and I felt like a total idiot for all the money I spent.

alice_kim8d ago

But that fancy stove probably worked great for years before it broke. The tin can method is fine once, but you wouldn't want to rely on finding trash every trip. It's not stupid to pay for reliable gear.