Green Garden Best Cheap Backpacking Gear 2023 Lightweight – GWC Mag gwcmagNovember 20, 2023047 views Best Cheap Backpacking Gear 2023 Lightweight November 19, 2023 – The best cheap backpacking gear is lightweight and affordable. You don’t need to break the bank 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. The Trailmade series dominates this list. 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. You make Adventure Alan & Co possible. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.