Reddit reviews BAFX Products - 2 Pack - Anti Shock Hiking / Walking / Trekking Trail Poles - 1 Pair, Blue, Royal Blue

Sounds good! I found a set of poles on Amazon that are very well reviewed, and also very affordable (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007YT854S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2VZTJP6N0Z6QL). May give those a try and keep for future use, or may just do the 4 days without poles.

Pack is the biggest thing I'm worried about, but will try packing my current gear and see how it fits and all. Thanks!

I bought these for $22 a little while ago, and they're doing fine thus far. The main difference in the cheaper poles is going to be the way they lock. These lock up fine when you turn them after adjusting, but they do slip if you don't turn them tight. Not a big enough deal to me to pay 5x more, but seems to annoy some people.

You should get a good hiking backpack and walking sticks. You never know the benefits of a good set of walking sticks until you've actually gone on some uneven terrain with them. They are the best. I recommend these ones. I got a pair from the last RAOA bomb. They are great and super affordable. And you can buy various different feet for them, too.

As for a backpack, I recommend a light Deuter daypack. These bags are amazing and come in so many awesome colors unlike American brands. Are they pricey? God yes. Well, some of them are. But they are so worth it. This one is just $79 and it's amazing.

If you are going to increase your hiking - Walking sticks are a great thing to reduce stress and wear and tear on your body.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you are. Started backpacking maybe about 2 months ago and had a ton of old gear. Carrying 35 lbs over 26 miles was no fun, and when I came back home to research lighter stuff I kept finding things that were hundreds of dollars a piece. I did a ton of research and found some good quality gear at a budget level.

Mind the formatting/spelling errors. On mobile.

Tent - $70 - Geertop 1 Person 3 Season 20D Ultralight Backpacking Tent for Camping Hiking Climbing (Trekking Poles NOT Included)(Inner Tent is Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J9XWJEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hE-PBbG3XQVVQ

Sleeping System (2 parts)

Quilt - $35 - Double Black Diamond Packable Down Throw with Stuff Sack, 60" x 70" (Peacock) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YX2W79/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.F-PBbJ5R45V4

Pad - $40 - WellaX Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad – Inflatable Camping Mat for Backpacking, Traveling and Hiking Air Cell Design for Better Stability & Support –Plus Repair Kit (Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076PHYVD8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_60-PBbA71XR3R

*note I sleep warm and wear layers. I found the quilt to be good for 3 season camping in the temperate CA conditions. The pad helps with the cold and I'm a side sleeper so the pad is a requirement for me. YMMV.

Poles - $22 (needed for the tent listed above) - BAFX Products - 2 Pack - Anti Shock Hiking / Walking / Trekking Trail Poles - 1 Pair, Blue, Royal Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YT854S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sI-PBb1S6HSMG

Cook pot - $11 - G4Free Outdoor Camping pan Hiking Cookware Backpacking Cooking Picnic Bowl Pot Pan Set 4 Piece Camping Cookware Mess Kit(2 PCS-Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQSHG3N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fK-PBb0YKV8R3

I cook simple meals that mostly require just boiling water. It's also large enough to fit my soap, stove, and gas can in.

Stove - $14 - Etekcity Ultralight Portable Outdoor Backpacking Camping Stove with Piezo Ignition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4FY8YO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dM-PBb3M334JD


Water filtration (4 parts)
Dirty water bag - $20 - Cnoc Outdoors Vecto 2L Water Container, 28mm, Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NQT5KP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DN-PBbFGE74F0

Clean water bag - $13 - Platypus Platy 2-Liter Ultralight Collapsible Water Bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J2KEGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CO-PBbZ2HXVZV

Filter - $37 - Sawyer Products SP137 PointOne Squeeze Water Filter System with 16-Ounce Pouch, Straw, and Hydration Pack Adapters https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WG9AFW6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1P-PBbX4F8JW4

Filter attachment - $3 - Sawyer Products SP150 Coupling for Water Filtration Cleaning https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018NJC1A6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YQ-PBbDFGGM0D

With this water system you have the option of gravity feeding your water supply at camp. You can also simplify by just buying the $37 kit and just squeeze directly into your water bottle/bladder, but I find this setup more convenient.

After that, the rest are kind of up to you. Food, clothes, etc. I wouldn't skimp on shoes though. Look into trail runners or hiking SHOES (not boots).

Optional things I'd look into is paracord and a tarp especially if you're going to camp in the rain. You can also look into hammock camping which would be a little more budget friendly than the tent + blanket option.

Overall there are definitely cheaper options but I find this to be a good balance of price, weight, and convenience.

All in all this is about $265.

Tarp:

Option 1: https://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-SilTarp-Ultralight-Waterproof-Backpacking/dp/B06XJ7322N/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1538600945&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=ul%2Btarp&th=1&psc=1

Option 2 (more durable): https://www.amazon.com/DD-Tarp-3m-Olive-Green/dp/B005FPN7GE/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1538601289&sr=1-3&keywords=dd+tarp

Bug net: https://www.amazon.com/Breeze-Mesh-Tent-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/B01NA9BU4Q/ref=pd_bxgy_468_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01NA9BU4Q&pd_rd_r=a541965e-c750-11e8-83ba-35492fd40af5&pd_rd_w=5VWOY&pd_rd_wg=3uCes&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3f9889ac-6c45-46e8-b515-3af650557207&pf_rd_r=X7JJ3Y8J81XVAAR36D9Y&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=X7JJ3Y8J81XVAAR36D9Y

Quilt: http://www.hammockgear.com/burrow-econ-40/ (get a warmer one if you need it)

Sleeping pad: https://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-Original-Ultralight-Camping/dp/B00453NA1E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1538601159&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=thermarest+zlite+sol&psc=1

You will need trekking poles for the tarp/tent or save a few bucks and find a couple of sticks when you get there!

Trekking poles: https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Hiking-Walking-Trekking/dp/B007YT854S/ref=sr_1_3_acs_ac_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1538601222&sr=1-3-acs&keywords=trekking+poles

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Pack: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-granite-gear-crown-x60

Where possible I prefer to just buy everything online, Amazon is good and even with added shipping works out cheaper than NZ stores. Just as a very quick comparison, with little consideration of brands etc:

Walking stick: Amazon, Bivouac.

Headlamp: Amazon, Bivouac.

Up to you, but looks to me like the NZ retail industry is making a killing on mark-ups on this stuff. As they do on everything else.

If you want to buy your own, Amazon has a pair that people seem to like for only $22. I haven't yet tested them, but even if they only last a few months, who cares at that price! Link:http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products--8956-Anti-schock-Hiking/dp/B007YT854S/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1457021640&sr=1-4&keywords=hiking+poles

I feel my need might be a little greedy, so feel free to ignore. I need these hiking poles, because hiking has helped me get into better shape. However, I still have a long way to go. The poles help propel you forward - allowing you to move at a faster rate, they reduce impact on your body - specifically my knees, they increase traction, alleviate the weight I'm carrying and even help me fend off bears (I do have bear mace now though).

A want would be these treats for my dogs. I use them as tiny rewards when training them and also in their toys/games. It keeps their mind and body's active.

Thanks for the contest, Marc. Third Matt.

Here's a gif that makes me laugh! But, I'm weird.

you could try these as a test-run.

The way I see it is: 4WD. They're useless imo on flat terrain but if you plan to do like parts of the AT or something similar, I'd imagine for most (since I think so) they'd be a god-send