Working in the outdoor gear industry, I talk to lots of different people: some just getting started exploring the outdoors and some are already advanced backpackers and love buying the new improved technology.

By talking to different groups of people, I’ve found that one of the biggest barriers for new outdoor enthusiasts is the cost of gear. Gear prices sometimes deter beginners from thinking that they won’t be able to afford and keep up with their new hobby or passion. I want the outdoors to be accessible to everyone and this idea that exploring the outdoors is cheap is a completely false statement.

But you don’t have to have the most advance, expensive, or name-brand gear to be able to enjoy the outdoors. There are still so many budget products to choose from. I’ve always chosen cheaper items due to my own student and penny-pinching budget and I’ve found a lot of the budget items work just as well as the name brand products.

Everyone deserves to feel like they belong in the outdoors because, well, the outdoors is for everyone.

If you want to save money, here are some items I recommend:

*Prices updated as of March 2021

Tents:

Featherstone 2 Person Backpacking Tent

Weight: 3.8 pounds (Rainfly, Footprint, & Poles)
Seasons: 3-season
Sleeping Capacity: 2-person
Dimensions: 84 x 51 inches
Peak Height: 43 inches
Price: $119.99

This tent is made with tear-resistant fabrics that are waterproof, keeping you dry inside. It’s easy to set up with two doors for convenience. The quality of this tent along with that price is hard to beat.

NatureHike 2 Person Tent

Weight: 4.63 pounds
Seasons: 4-season
Sleeping Capacity: 2-person
Dimensions: 84.6″x 70.9″x 43.3″
Price: $169.00

This is a great 4 season tent made with ripstop and waterproof material. It has a built-in snow skirt for winter camping and is designed to handle the tough storms.

Sleeping Mats:

Static V2 Sleeping Mat

Weight: 1 pound
Dimensions: 72 x 23 x 2.5 inches
Price: $51.73

This is the mat that I use and I love it! It’s compact, lightweight enough, and great for car camping or short backpacking trips. The V-chamber design limits air movement and heat loss and makes it super comfy!

Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad

Weight: 14.5 oz
Dimensions: 75 X 23 x 2 inches
Price: $39.95

This mat is lightweight, packs down super small, easy to inflate, and is made from ripstop material. Plus, this product comes with a lifetime warranty!

Sleeping Bags:

Teton Sports Mummy Sleeping Bag

Weight: 3.5-4.2 pounds
Dimensions: 87 x 34 x 3 inches
Degree: 0 or 20 F (-18°C or -7°C)
Price: $79.99-$84.99

This is an awesome budget sleeping bag with a mummy hood and added insulation in the foot box for warmth, an interior pocket for your phone and keys, and anti-snag zippers. This is a really comfortable bag for the price.

Hyke & Byke Sleeping Bag

Weight: Regular 0 degree is 3.38 pounds,
Regular 15 degree is 2.8
Degree: 0 or 15 F (-18C or -9C)
Price: $119.97

This bag is lightweight, synthetic, water repellent, and durable. This company did a great job creating a product that is durable and warm all while keeping the price at an affordable level.

Stoves:

Coleman Two Burner Stove

Dimensions: 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches
Price: $43.88

Your classic two-burner stove that’s perfect for car camping. I like to bring this when I go car camping due to its convenience of having two burners and being able to use bigger pans or pots.

MSR Pocket Rocket

Weight: 4.2 oz
Price: $44.95

I love the MSR Pocket Rocket and actually prefer it to other name brands and more expensive backpacking stoves! It boils water within 3.5 minutes. It’s super easy to use, compact, wind-resistant, and has an adjustable flame. It’s the perfect backpacking stove.

Day packs:

Hikpro 20L Hiking Daypack

Weight: 7.5 oz
Price: $19.96

For an even lighter weight backpack than the osprey, this is a sweet pack that folds down super small. This would even be great to put in your backpacking bag to have for when you venture out of camp.

Extra:

Quick Dry Towel
Price: $9.99-$19.99

Bear Spray
Price: $39.99

Camp Pillow
Price: $16.99

Solar Power Phone Charger
Price: $49.95

First Aid Kit
Price: $17.15

*Disclosure: Some of the links here are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Adventure Filled Heart will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.