Discount Camping Equipment: Compromised Quality?

People are sometimes hard to please and downright picky. Most people equate “expensive” with “high quality” and “high safety”. Conversely, they equate "inexpensive" with "low quality" and "less safe". Sometimes, they are correct. But when it comes to discount camping equipment, they are completely wrong. If you use your common sense and exercise some patience, discount camping equipment can every bit as functional and safe as newly purchased camping equipment.

Evaluate Before You Buy

Be smart when shopping for discount camping equipment. Don’t just pick up any old discount camping equipment on a whim. Think about it. You will have to most likely carry this stuff around with you a while. A discount flashlight might seem like a great idea at the time, but not after a few miles in your backpack. Make a list of what you NEED and STICK TO IT. If you can’t sew, for example, there really is no point in picking up a dollar store sewing kit.

At the very least, these are some items that you need in discount camping equipment:

a water-resistant/water proof sleeping bag
a hunting knife, hatchet, or machete,
a pot
a spoon
a kettle
a spoon
a tent
equipment to start a fire
boots
rain coat or anorak
a handy water carrier
a water proof backpack

Anything else can be considered luxury.

Where To Find Quality Discount Camping Equipment

Where can you find good quality discount camping equipment? There are many places you can check out. Camping and sporting goods stores are the obvious choice, but not if you are on a tight budget. Check out classifieds and yard sales. Your selection is limited, though. Army and Navy surplus stores are GREAT. Pay whatever they ask. Most of the discount camping equipment there is tough as nails.

The very best places to go for discount camping equipment (discount as in free) are festivals and huge outdoor concerts where people camp out in between acts or activities. These are by far the best places to get quality discount camping equipment. A surprising number of people will prefer to ditch their camping gear rather than carry it back home. The resulting trash is treasure for you. There are people who make their living “tatting” – traveling from festival to festival and gleaning the best discount camping equipment from the leftovers. They then sell their finds, sometimes at the very next festival.

Another good place to check out is public campgrounds and places where homeless people once lived by camping out. This may sound odd, but you will be surprised to know that good quality stuff is often be abandoned. Make sure to check all the finds for damage and, in the case of cooking ware, clean and disinfect thoroughly before use. If you take all these precautions and use commons sense, you just may save yourself tons of money while stocking up on quality durable camping equipment.