How to Hike the PCT on a Budget: A Practical Guide for Lower-Income Hikers

cheap hiking supplies

Let's be honest: most gear lists you'll find online are written by people with a lot of disposable income. You'll see $300 quilts, $600 packs, and $500 tents stacked up into a kit that runs $2,000 or more before you've bought a single granola bar.

That picture is skewed. People have been hiking the PCT since the 1970s with gear that weighs far more than any budget setup today. The trail doesn't check your brand labels.

If you're looking for cheap hiking supplies that'll actually hold up, you have more options than most gear influencers will show you. Here's what to know.

The actual cost breakdown

According to the Halfwayanywhere PCT Hiker Survey, the average gear kit before starting the trail costs around $1,700. Total trip spending averages closer to $10,000. That means gear is roughly 1/6 of what most people spend.

The bigger numbers are food, accommodation, and town stops. Worth keeping that in mind before you stress over titanium cookware.

Gear: what to spend on and what to skip

You don't need the fanciest gear. You need gear that works and won't destroy your body over 2,650 miles.

Worth spending on:

  • Footwear. Your feet take the most abuse. Don't cut corners here. A bad shoe choice can end your hike at mile 200.

  • Sleeping pad. Recovery matters more than most hikers realize. A bad night's sleep compounds over weeks. Look for a closed-cell foam pad like the Nemo Switchback rather than an inflatable. It's cheaper, lighter, and won't puncture.

  • Sleeping bag or quilt. Your sleep system is worth prioritizing. Buy used if you can.

Where you can go cheaper:

  • Shelter. A lightweight tarp costs a fraction of a tent. The PCT is relatively dry, so many hikers go tarp-only with no issues.

  • Stove. A BRS 3000T canister stove runs about $16. It's tiny, light, and works well with a small titanium pot.

  • Pack. A prior-generation Osprey Exos or similar is plenty capable and sells for well under $100 used.

  • Water filter. A Sawyer Squeeze is available used on Geartrade and does the job for most of the trail. Water purification tablets work too and cost almost nothing.

  • Clothing. The athletic section of thrift stores often has non-cotton base layers for a few dollars each. Skip the specialty brands.

Where to actually find cheap gear

Used gear markets are your best friend. Specifically:

  • Geartrade: A dedicated used outdoor gear marketplace with good selection and verified condition ratings

  • Facebook Marketplace: Hit or miss, but people in outdoorsy areas (Colorado, Washington, Northern California) list excellent gear after each season

  • Goodwill and pawn shops: Tents, stoves, and bear canisters show up here more than you'd expect. Bear canisters at thrift stores for $10 happen

The key tip: time your shopping after summer. Gear floods the used market in September and October when season is over.

Borrow first. Before you spend anything on a piece of gear, see if you can borrow it for a weekend trip. You might find out you hate the thing before spending $80 on it.

Make your own. There's a whole subculture around DIY hiking gear, called MYOG (Make Your Own Gear). Stuff sacks, tarps, and even quilts are all buildable with basic sewing skills and cheap fabric. The r/myog community is a solid place to start.

YouTube channels and guides worth your time

A few creators focus on budget hiking specifically:

  • Miranda Goes Outside has a dedicated budget gear series on YouTube

  • JupiterHikes covers gear options at multiple price points

  • Nightcrawler (YouTube) is a Triple Crown hiker who's known for keeping costs low

For written guides, the r/Thruhiking sidebar has an "Affordable Ultralight" section with several complete gear lists under $800.

The real money-saver: town strategy

This is where most hikers bleed money without realizing it. A single night in a trail town can cost $120 or more. Do that 20 times and you've spent $2,400 on beds.

A better approach:

  • Stop early on trail the day before a town day. Head into town in the morning, resupply, shower if there's a free or cheap option, do laundry, eat a real meal. Then get back on trail in the afternoon and hike another hour or 2 before making camp.

  • You get most of the town experience. You skip the hotel cost.

That said, there will be days when a cheeseburger and a warm bed are the only thing between you and quitting. Budget for a few of those. Just don't make it the default.

Food costs: prep ahead if you can

Town food on the PCT costs 2 to 3 times what you'd pay at a regular grocery store. Small mountain towns don't have much competition.

One workaround: prep and mail resupply boxes before you leave. Some hikers dehydrate their own meals for months in advance. The upfront time is real (one hiker described spending about 10 hours a week for 6 months preparing food), but the trail cost savings are significant. Staples like instant mash, Knorr rice sides, peanut butter, tuna packets, and tortillas cover most of your calorie needs cheaply.

USPS Ground Advantage lets you mail a resupply box for roughly $10 to $12. That cost is often offset in the first town when you skip the inflated local prices.

Housing costs before and during the hike

This one gets overlooked: if you're paying rent while you hike, your trail costs just doubled.

If your lease is ending anyway, good timing. If it's not, consider whether you can sublease your place, have someone stay in it, or put your things in storage and end the lease entirely. Even 1 month of saved rent covers a lot of gear.

A realistic minimum gear budget

According to experienced hikers who've done it lean, a functional PCT kit is possible for around $500 to $800 if you're patient about sourcing used gear. You won't be the lightest person on trail. You'll make it to Canada.

One hiker famously showed up in 2017 with a Walmart kit assembled for $250 a few days before the start. He finished.

cheap hiking supplies

FAQ

Can I find a bear canister for cheap?

Yes. Thrift stores occasionally have them, and used gear sites like Geartrade list them periodically. Some trail towns along the PCT also rent bear canisters if you'd rather not buy one.

Do I need ultralight gear to complete the PCT?

No. Ultralight gear helps with daily mileage and reduces wear on your body over time, but hikers have been completing the PCT with heavier kits for decades. A 30-pound base weight is fine for finishing.

Is it worth buying a Sawyer filter used?

Yes, with one caveat: the filter membrane can degrade over time. If you buy one used, ask how old it is and test it before the trail. Most experienced sellers will tell you honestly.

What clothing should I prioritize?

Avoid cotton entirely. Thrift stores usually have polyester athletic wear that works fine. The 1 item worth spending on new is socks with a warranty like Darn Tough. Blister prevention matters more than any piece of gear.

How do I know what I actually need before buying?

Do a few overnight trips before your thru-hike start date. Borrow gear from friends or local gear libraries if you can. What you carry on a 2-night trip tells you a lot about what you actually need on a long trail.

Can I do the hike without a stove?

Yes. Cold soaking is a real strategy. You soak foods like instant oats, ramen, or couscous in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes and eat them unheated. It's an acquired taste but it cuts the weight and cost of a stove and fuel entirely.
Location: 1887 S 3230 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, USA

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