5 Things Under $30 Every Backpacker Should Own

OnX Backcountry App 👉 bit.ly/3v99kq4
FIRE STARTER amzn.to/3AxPB4G
AIR PUMP amzn.to/3ELmo8X
CORDAGE bit.ly/3f6VeLW
INSECT LOTION REPELLANT amzn.to/39zYoHo
LEUKOTAPE (FOR FEET) amzn.to/2W5lXEU
MY SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR
TREKKING POLES bit.ly/3hsHLR6
SLEEPING PAD bit.ly/2KNVZAf
OTHER SLEEPING PAD amzn.to/2XfSxRz
HOODIE bit.ly/3mXRXCn
TENT bit.ly/35auKqq
FAVORITE LUNCHES bit.ly/3aKamNG
BACKPACK
DOWN JACKET bit.ly/2EBbx6M
RAIN JACKET
CHAIR bit.ly/3eecrD1
INSECT REPELLENT (individual packets) amzn.to/2Yq6zjt
NECK GAITER bit.ly/2WVkZZK
SLEEPING BAG amzn.to/2QmWTTg
PILLOW bit.ly/3hGKPsp
COOK POT amzn.to/2EwYPpJ
DITTY BAG bit.ly/3f6VeLW
FOOD BAG bit.ly/3f6VeLW
STOVE amzn.to/2DGl75E
SPORK amzn.to/2CPV9em
LIP SAVER amzn.to/2sY1Ztr
FOOTPRINT amzn.to/2ItFtU2
BATTERY BANK amzn.to/2H4wJkz
TOOTHBRUSH bit.ly/2VpLC7c
KNIFE amzn.to/2VkhVqw
FIRE STARTER amzn.to/2VgBP5O
HEADLAMP amzn.to/2wiTD4C
GPS
WATER BOTTLE HOLDER bit.ly/3fdyzOF
WATCH amzn.to/2NFm9UX
SUNGLASSES amzn.to/2PZ3C7a
HAT amzn.to/2W3lvWz
🚨FOLLOW ME🚨
Instagram bit.ly/35gLzNu
Facebook bit.ly/2QG4BaP
📷MY CAMERA GEAR📷
MAIN CAMERA amzn.to/3gxi8zX
MAIN LENS amzn.to/3q83LVW
ND FILTER amzn.to/2DR26wM
GIMBAL amzn.to/2Lm38VK
CAMERA CLIP FOR BACKPACK amzn.to/2VjlihB
cheap gear for backpacking and camping. best air pump for a sleep pad. budget backpacking gear. saving money. ultralight backpacking gear on a budget.

[@BenMcmillen]

Now I have to make school stuff

[@msadams224]

Best tip I've ever gotten about bear bag setups... get one of those heavy duty D-rings with the screw lock closer and attach it to your line. It's heavy enough for throwing that you don't need the whole rock and bag setup and you can just clip your bags in instead of tying more knots. Works amazingly well!

[@johneason6540]

Yep, I have done that too. I do use the little bag to store my line, alwayscin my food bag if needef

[@losungen9862]

You don’t need to carry the rock though - can just find one as you need one, it’s a freebie

[@cory4152]

I like to use a stick but if i had a bag i would use sand or dirt instead of playing the rock game 🙂

[@djrees2756]

I got the tiny pump after seeing it on one of your earlier gear guide videos ....love it! I also use it to deflate my sleeping pad making sure it's as small as possible for fitting into my pack ... saves space and makes it easier to pack.

[@dominicmanzella5493]

For the fire starter, my friend who got me into backpacking found that Fritos actually work exceptionally well as a fire starter since they have a high amount of fat and carbs. They also double as a great calorie rich addition to any backpacker meal.

[@Z0MB13Redfield]

That tiny pump will pump up a queen size mattress. It's crazy

[@richardross7219]

Add a Heetsheet Emergency Blanket to the list. It is bigger, tougher, and quieter than mylar blankets. Good Luck, Rick

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

Excellent recommendation. SO much tougher than regular cheap mylar blankets.

[@bionicdan1959]

Dan, another GREAT, inexpensive, lightweight fire starter is using cotton balls and impregnating them with petroleum jelly. They pack down to the size of a little finger nail. You can put a dozen into a small medicine bottle. Simply pull one apart and light.

[@mr.robinson1982]

Ive used old dryer sheets with lint inside toilet paper tubes...all stuff that Everyone usually throws away in the belief that its worthless. When kept inside a Ziploc bag to ensure that its dry &ready to use.

[@Brian-ch6hg]

Cricks and creeks are both valid terms. A crick is just a smaller creek. That’s my official non-official definition.

[@DanBecker]

🤔😂

[@safromnc8616]

That's a stream Bro !

[@MG-ze3lf]

We say crick in western PA.

[@atomicpsych0]

@@MG-ze3lf you use a non word. It is spelled Creek. There's no way to make it into crick except to speak bad English. All the same though doesn't matter so carry on

[@2023ttt]

Its Creek. A Crick is what you get in your neck from the thermarest pillow you keep pushing :).

[@Jaysus145]

Hilltop Packs is great and deserves a shout out in all the videos!

[@Misterion25]

Bug head net is a nice item to have in the pack. I also usually take some sort of chaffing cream or stick. A buff Battery pack Multi tool Headlamp Those are my always carry items on a hike.

[@EthanDurant]

always bring a muli tool, never know when your going to have to cut off your arm :)

[@NickyHendriks]

Yep, I never leave the house without my trusty old Leatherman❤️

[@davidmodeland429]

Hey Dan, huge fan, long time lurker. I'm the guy from. Saskatchewan who does canoe trips and portaaaages lol. Haven makes a tiny pump like that, without the light, But, it doubles as a charge pack! Very cool, I use it all the time, as well as what Haven is actually known for, their Haven Hammock Tent. Definitely worth a check out. I know you're a former hammocker and I don't expect this to change you back, but its a phenomenal product and does both, one incredibly well, the other...well enough (I'm referring to the Hammock Tent, not the pump, it does both exceptionally) And it comes in an XL version which is 30 inches wide! 😱. I'd send you mine to review but I use it too much. Thanks for all the entertaining reviews, I really enjoy them and have bought lots of gear off your advice and have never regretted it. Cheers!

[@zloki83]

I can confirm the tenacity of leukotape staying on. Every med kit/go bag should include some. Even a couple feet wrapped up on a credit card can be so valuable.

[@Knifegash]

Excellent tip, I never thought of doing something like that but wrapping it this way is going to save so much space than keeping it in a roll! I'll probably use a very thin piece of card or something just to keep the general shape as I'm rolling, every molecule adds up lmao!

[@titanpreparedness]

I found leuko tape thru one of yall backpacking channels and man it changed my hiking and bug out test. The best $7 ive ever spent

[@sprintslow]

Love it! Live in a van, but love backpacker tips because we need to go small as well. Appreciate all the content Dan!

[@peterkidd3301]

Tiny pump/light sounds awesome!! Also means you wont be blowing warm moist air into your pad, so will help prevent the build up mould inside your pad. Great!

[@zachcherry8221]

@David Gray used an air pump to get oxygen to a pesky fire that wouldn’t get going, so there…another use for the air pump!!! And hey!! I got it too and it’s awesome!

[@Ch0razin]

Leukotape P is the absolute best. Save the paper backing from stickers/priority mail labels and cut strips to lay on them, and put a handful in your med kit!

[@niccolemccormick3718]

I found precut strips…no scissors!

[@GrayMan7070]

Aerosols guys!

[@LostAgainwithJim]

Came to say this haha.

[@GrayMan7070]

@@LostAgainwithJim great minds think alike.... :)

[@russelljackman1413]

Hahahahaha!!! You made me go back, in the Way Back Machine, with the "creek" pronunciation. We were doing a reading with my second grade teacher, and when we came to that word, she stopped us and asked, "Who knows how to pronounce this word?" I put up my hand, she picked me, and I said, "Crick!" "Correct!", she said! So, there ya go! Second grade teachers don't lie!

[@danielholman7225]

Thanks, Dan, that was helpful. Always glad to learn about the new things out there.

[@nancygeorge4030]

Epic location in ORY-GUN! Im gonna have to argue with you saying a person can’t ever use a whole bottle of Picardin, … come back and hike in the Oregon Cascades in July! Skeeters are thick and relentless! Enjoyed the video!

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

Amen, Nancy! I'm in Oregon, too. I bought a bottle at REI at the beginning of August and it's half gone. Waldo Lake mosquitoes are the size of birds.

[@peggynulsen1365]

Waldo lake is notorious for hoards of blood suckers. 100% DEET type warfare. But Lordy is it gorgeous. Happy trails to all.

[@nancygeorge4030]

Ohhhh I know about those Waldo Lake skeeters! Did the lake loop on an overnight backpack trip a couple years ago and they were SO bad that I had to resort to long pants, long sleeves, sunglasses, my buff pulled up to my sunglasses, gloves on, & a bug net over my ball cap. I’m sure I looked like a cross between a fruitcake and a bank robber! 🤣

[@paachi]

Excellent video and quite useful stuff. Thanks Dan. I used Deet before but will try and switch to Picardin. Hate the aerosol approach of deet. I’ve also been a long time user of Flextailgear pump. Mine is an older version sans light. It’s IMHO the most useful item I carry. Inflater, deflater, charger and fire blower in one. The one very useful item I carry is a pair of stainless steel tweezers from Uncle Bills. It’s so useful for all kind of fine and nifty tasks like taking out ticks, fixing your eyeglass or sunglasses screws, taking out splinters or hell even undoing a stubborn knot

[@justjonoutdoors]

I carry picaridin wipes. They do last for many hours, and they are reusable pretty much until they dry out - I typically use 2 wipes every 3 days at most.

[@dbigatti]

Great content... THANK YOU! Just ordered two of the five items!

[@johneason6540]

Thanks DB, I'm really liking the mattress pump. This is the second video that I have seen you talk about it.

[@MrSupersheep3000]

I love these videos. Ke2ep them up. I got the pillow and it's a game changer.

[@outbackwack368]

I thought that foil was a block of HASH :-) Those were the days :-)

[@jtact5487]

Curious where he's getting under $30

[@mtadams2009]

I used to love blond hash. I have not seen it in years.

[@michellebentz3576]

I have to admit Dan Becker that I kind of quit watching your videos due to plugging all the gear BUT The rechargable inflator is PRICELESS. You previewed that on a previous vid, i bought it, its legit and TYVM.

[@DanBecker]

Welllllll… not so bad to talk hear after all eh?? 😂😂 glad it’s working!!!!

[@christinawise5928]

Thanks for your tips! Saved me on my first trip!!!

[@davidson_oldbull_sectionhiker]

Hi Dan I cut pieces of Leukotape place it on UPS or USPS mailing labels, fold it up. It is very light and takes up no space. Also finally I am getting the pircardin. Thanks again

[@DanBecker]

Great idea!!

[@nathanlaulis429]

Nice job Dan. Gordon is making you shine.

[@josejatip1303]

very good the tiny pump, thank you

[@weirdshibainu]

I always carry a shemagh. Great sun protection, as a pillow, towel or splint

[@1PZfan]

❤️❤️❤️ the pump, at about 3 oz (less if you get it without the light and I already have a headlamp...) it weighs about the same as my Nemo bag. I hate dealing with that at the end of a long day of hiking. SOLD!!

[@andrelb3]

So does this particular pump work well with a nemo tensor pad?

[@1PZfan]

@@andrelb3 one of the supplies attachments fits into the pad. Fills quicker than dealing with the pump sack

[@jt8251]

Just got the Tiny Pump! It's so tiny yet so rad. My friends are going to be soooooo jealous.

[@NordicSnowhammer]

Duct tape rolls are the best fire starters. Cotton balls and vaseline are good too.

[@shinysidedown9090]

Try a small ball of TP & vegetable oil

[@NordicSnowhammer]

A small, tightly rolled strip of duct tape can give you a burn time between 6 and 16 minutes (depending on the length of the strip rolled). A cotton ball and vaseline will give you a burn time of around 6-8 minutes. Ran a highly sophisticated burn time test on one of my wife's best china saucers. Gave me a perfect excuse to put in a 3-day outing. Sitting in the driveway thinking I might just head back out. 🤨

[@TheOnion12]

Dryer lint mixed with a little candle wax works really well too. I store lint up in old cardboard egg cartons and pour in some melted candle wax. Tear off the pieces as needed.

[@NordicSnowhammer]

@@TheOnion12 Candle wax. DUH! Thanks!

[@TheOnion12]

@@NordicSnowhammer cotton balls and candle wax probably work well too but why waste cotton balls when your dryer produces the lint that would otherwise go in the trash. Sawdust and wax works too but not everyone has easy access to saw dust.

[@callmygolfshot8292]

TY 4 SHARING. COOL STUFF.

[@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301]

Tiny x pump is a game changer ,great vid as ever 👍

[@jenniferstewarts4851]

Esbit stoves are inexpensive, small, and can often hold several fuel tabs inside when closed up. I'd actually suggest carrying the stove as well. Heck keeping a stove with fuel tabs in the car along with some 3 in 1 coffee packs, and some lipton soup backs, its a great option too.

[@grouch314]

I have an esbit style stove and it neatly fits a tin containing 8 tabs and a lighter inside. The whole thing fits in a pocket. A nesting cup on a bottle takes up next to no space

[@jenniferstewarts4851]

@@grouch314 Yep, being able to pull off the road, open and start the stove, pull out the canteen, fill and boil some water, have a coffee and relax, before getting back on the road can help a ton.

[@gabrielsenecal382]

Really Nice Thanks For All those really useful cheap Gear.

[@alphaomega20]

I use my flexigear pump to dry out my water bladders quicker when o get home. Great little pumps

[@lorens7837]

Good stuff! I learn so much from your videos. Thanks!

[@DanBecker]

Awesome!

[@djsharl1821]

I bought the tiny pump x on your recommendation, and honestly it's amazing.

[@treystripling921]

You can also use your sleeping pad pump to blow on the flames when you are starting your fire!

[@Oburn]

Here's a budget idea; if you're a big fuel-scrimper and saver you might want to look into a WAPI. It's an indicator that tells you when water has reached pasteurization temperature (ie, the temperature that all the microscopic lifeforms die). Many people go all the way to boiling to be safe, but with a WAPI you don't have to and you can save a couple grams of fuel for each meal. Additionally, if your food is freeze-dried rather than simply dehydrated, water at pasteurization temperatures will still be enough to reconstitute your food. They're about $10-15.

[@Alaska_Gal]

Just subscribed! Great content. Thank you. ✌🏼

[@deanwinchester6654]

That tiny pump looks really cool. Going to look into that.

[@madmaxthemotomutt6464]

I just picked up a tiny pump….. the pad I use is sea to summit SL and really doesn’t need a pump…. So I bought a Nemo quasar pad. Smaller and uses more air, now I can use the pump!

[@meme_of_matt]

Skip the Nesbit Cube. DIY Vasoline and Cotton Balls. Never Fails.

[@ohiovetoutdoors]

Yup I have same pump. It's great except that I remembered I sleep in a hammock.

[@JoeOsChannel]

Bought the Thermarest sleeping pad air pump a couple hours ago. Good video, all makes sense. New subscriber here.

[@ericjudd9603]

Cool pump! Just ordered one👍

[@girlharper]

Thanks!

[@Neotidus]

I love cotton balls and Petroleum jelly as a fire starter. Super cheap and effective

[@fredfreiberger7878]

You can use the blower for fire starting as well

[@aboriginite]

A personal favorite of mine not menioned is a rechargable fan. Specifically, there are some really nice ones like one I found that is about the size and shape of a cellphone and hangs off a neck lanyard that I found on amazon for 15-ish$. Another nice variation is one that also doubles as a flash light. Having a camping fan is a nice quality of life thing, especially in the sweatier months, even if it is a bit of a luxury. Just make sure to search for a rechargable fan to get something pocket sized, as 'camping fan' will result in you finding something more like a desk fan which will be more industrial and have a potential 8 hour battery life on low settings (which is still nice if you don't mind the bulk)

[@maxh4195]

I use a usb fan that runs on a power bank. It’s nice

[@kirstennielsen4046]

Here in Scotland it's also a must to bring a whistle and a foil blanket. In an exposed situation 3 hours is all it takes for you to potentially face death. I guess it's a given right enough

[@Loweene_Ancalimon]

The 20L Osprey I got for Xmas has a whistle in the chest strap buckle, and I've been wanting to try it out to see how loud it actually is, but I don't have a way of trying it out atm without annoying or worrying my neighbours x)

[@PacemakerandButtons]

Got all of them in my pack. great choices

[@KrizAkoni]

The pump/lamp is genius!

[@DumpTrump4TRE45ON]

I live in Alaska and I need a fuel that will ignite in less than -10F. Esbit and Hexamine solid fuels always do, I can boil water or snow.......I prefer it to all other fuels. I have a Flextail and that is an awesome product as I only have two lobes of lung due to cancer surgery. Just a convenient, tiny, and reliable pump. I also never leave home with out bear spray in my Mystery Ranch holder. It is light, you can attatch it to anything, and Bear Spray is needed for anyplace in Alaska if you care about your life.

[@jadenm]

Flextail gear tiny pump changed my life. I love it and it is very light. Not a cheap item but the Ursack bear bag is the way to go for my food storage against ears and critters. Been using the allmitey bag for three years now and have not had any issues.

[@YoungGunzBass01]

I’ve also recently found picaridan spray bug spray. A little pricey but I use it backpacking to keep my gear nice.

[@snowyalice]

I bought a firesteel and tinder that fit into my swiss knife for under $30. Takes no extra space and just super handy!

[@republicjim120]

FireAnt? The set that nests inside the corkscrew? It looks very convenient, but my SAK doesn't have a corkscrew. I plan to get their Firefly instead, which is just a fero rod (no tinder) that replaces the toothpick. The company really does make brilliantly efficient little tools for Swiss knives.

[@snowyalice]

@@republicjim120 I got the firefly as I wanted the extra length and space for more helix tinder. It's great!

[@caseyhayes4590]

When I did High Sierra Trail 3 years ago part of the trail dropped out and there was a section where you had to climb up 4-6 feet. A lot of people were bringing full on climbing rope or gear to lift their packs up, but the exact cord he showed is all I needed to easily lift up packs. One person climbed up, then lifted the packs with that little cord. Other than hanging a bear bag I also use it to dry clothes a lot.

[@nicholassheppard6171]

We often use our “bear line” as a clothes line to dry our rain fly and anything else that needs drying.

[@evilryu29]

Love this times like this he goes out on a different thing and loses he train of thought make me laugh

[@cultofcedar]

Flextrail pump is also good for the car camping exped mega mat duo foam mattress. It makes it real easy to compress by using it to pull air from the foam.

[@joshyakos7751]

Love your vids Dan👍

[@authenticarkansas]

Picardin is great, but I hate trying to get the lotion off my hands later or hard to reach areas now that I’m getting older and flexibility is laughable. I’ll keep the extra weight for the pump bottle 😂. That said, another perk of Picardin is it doesn’t eat technical fabric like DEET will.

[@RoyceKitts]

the picaridin is amazing. used it exclusively this summer, not a single mosquito bite while wearing it.

[@mmeljac]

That's lotion is so hard to find at a real store. Thanks, it is actually in stock now at Amazon. I like to keep my gear from melting!

[@monkey0lovin]

I did not know you could get the same repellent I am using in packets! Game changer.

[@DanBecker]

🙌🔥

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello 👋 Dan, the answer man for all things outdoors. I really enjoyed this informative video. When in the outdoors, I always carry an Esbit stove and a handful of Esbit cubes. There is no weight involved and you always have the means to make a fire 🔥. All the best to you. Stay safe and healthy out there. 🤗

[@SQWIB]

Thanks for the tips 100% agree Leuko tape is great and it doesn't come off easily. I wipe down my feet with Cavilon Durable Barrier Cream and put the Leuko tape on my known hot spots "Before I get a hot spot". I wear Wrightsock Double Layer socks, the double walled socks slide within themselves reducing friction on the feet. Yes, I call it a hot spot as well because I wouldn't call it getting sore it actually gets very hot like a rug burn. This is the best advice I heard in a long time, "stop what your doing, take off your shoes or boots and put some tape over the hot spot"! I also carried a threaded needle and if I got a blister, I would run the needle through the blister to the thread, remove the needle and the thread would wick oit the yucky stuff. How do you like your BA Copper Spur, I have the Copper Spur UL2 (2015 model) and the Copper Spur HV UL (2018 Model, I love them both. Checking out that air pump for my heavier Kayak Camping and Stealth trips, think I'm going to get a bunch for my Kayak Camping crew, thanks again.

[@rldickie]

Pine or spruce gum are great for fire starting, they smell good and can be used in first aid or even to make primitive glue. Cost: $0.00.

[@hilandmalt]

Met the onX guys at PCT days! Also, I grew up near Salt Lake City, where everything is a crick, except for Millcreek. Lol

[@olympic-gradelurker]

Wow, that little air pump weights as much as the pump sack for my pad and takes up a little less room.

[@shawnmckenna5186]

Walk through a Crick! Good job Gordon.

[@collegedad8656]

You had me with the air pump👍 Plus works great as an aid with fire starting 😉

[@adventureswithbecketandxena]

"Don't hang a bear" 🤣

[@palacegypsy3494]

Oh, alright. Be right back.

[@RaptorPackAdventures]

Love your videos although I don’t backpack right now. I use your info for Motocamping. We too want light and easy items to put on our bikes

[@leerb44]

It’s just a touch over $30 but a stuffable pillow case from Rumpl. Can pull double duty and hold stuff like cables and stuff you’ll use in the tent and then use clothes and jackets as pillow stuffing

[@dogbark100]

LOVE this... using your link for some insect repellent lotion now. Come back to my state soon! (OR-eh-gun, not or-eh-GONE, please.)

[@DanBecker]

😂 yep.. that’s my wisCONsin accent!

[@kellycarlen9605]

Other things under $30 that every Hiker should own...Trowel. Bidet. Love my Flextail Gear pump. Only weighs 1oz more than the pumpsack I was using. On average it’s about 1 min 30 seconds to inflate an Exped Synmat long wide (78x25) and about the same for a Neoair Xlite long wide.

[@rdrobertssr]

Have you ever tried wearing ladies nylon stockings on your feet while hiking to prevent blisters? I learned this trick in the army. 12 miles in army boots and no blisters. Also, micro string lights, like little Christmas light, watch battery powered, they are great tent or tent site lights. String is about 9 feet I think. Try them the family will think your Are a genius.

[@oroyplataman]

Oray Gone. Beautifully said.

[@kaceesavage]

I was told that the difference between a crick and a creek is how many old tires are in it.

[@jcwoods2311]

The commanding power of Picaridin. Want bugs gone from your existence? Picaridin says "MAKE IT SO! "

[@jonsanford2515]

I love the packets of picaridin. Not only more convenient for carrying in a pack, but somehow, they are cheaper per oz. than the big bottles.

[@thwolf762]

Its Probably the cost of the packaging that makes the difference

[@daniellarusso5667]

Love the videos. You look like the guy from the office.

[@steverox13]

I might just have to get that pump. I purchased my BA pad before they started to include pump sacks

[@kke]

The flextrailgear pump is also great for deflating the said sleeping pad. Getting all the air out of some of them, especially the winter ones, is kind of difficult by rolling and squeezing. After sucking the air out with the pump you can pack / fold / whatever the pad real nice and small.

[@berryster]

I use my bandana non-stop for various things, all trip long.

[@paulmphoto]

I would say in my area some type of visibility vest or hat to not get shot by hunters.

[@wingit41]

I love Leuko Tape especially because you can also make any sized Band-Aid that you need if you also keep a couple gauze pads in your ditty bag and a tiny pair of scissors (like I do) ;-) I wish they sold it in smaller rolls. I spun a few layers around my trekking poles, as everyone suggests, but found that most of the glue was used keeping it on the trekking poles when I had to peal it off and use it on my feet. I think the friction of pulling it off the roll helps activate the glue, but you don't get the same affect the second time you unroll it. Your thoughts? If you can have single use bug repellant, why not mini rolls of Leuko?

[@steveb1972]

I absolutely LOVE my tiny pump! Like you said after a long day the last thing you want to do is puff away at a sleeping pad!

[@elvismikel2271]

I also use a Picaridin wipe, but I'm intrigued by the lotion possibility. I don't use DEET anymore. Picaridin in tandem with Permethrin.

[@a.ramosakadrumgrl6677]

I use Badger Anti-Bug Balm for my insect repellent, it comes in a tin. It’s all natural made from bee’s wax, it works great!

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

Bear hanging kit...🐻🤪 lmao!!😁💚✌

[@maxh4195]

This guy is the camping version of unbox therapy and I love it