Cheap Sources of Equipment

**MCBushbaby** · 03-27-2008, 04:29 PM

So I gave up buying clothes online. Cheapest site I could find with outdoor-specific fleece, hiking pants, etc. was Campmor.com and even then it was about $25 per article. That is just way to expensive, I'm sorry. And then you get some nut who spend $250 on a damn windproof fleece or $600 on a down parka. If that's your 'thang' more power to you, promote the economy, but most of us would rather have some old ratting clothes that you won't give a second thought to lay in the dirt or bushwhack through thorns in. Similarly, you can find decent equipment in secondhand stores that are pretty much being thrown away.

I headed to Goodwill this afternoon in hopes of finding a heavy wool or midweight fleece (200 weight or more) and maybe some nylon hiking pants. Because I live in a small city (8k between two sister cities), my Goodwill pickings are slim. The best stuff comes in when old people die and their relatives clean out the closet. Sounds morbid but it's true. Old people have the best stuff: wool, carbon steel blades, full leather belts, etc. I found a decent light to mid-weight wool sweater, a 38x30 wool dress pants (forestry service green, 60% polyester, 40% wool, heavy), and a ripstop nylon rain/wind jacket from Dutch Harbor Gear (a find!). When looking for decent hiking pants, check out the nylon wind pants section first, then head over to the dress pants (slacks) section. Wool dress pants are just as good, light weight, and WOOL! Who cares if they look god-awful cubical-grey... they're going in the dirt on the trail.

Then I went over to St. Vincent de Paul to check out their selection... which hardly ever changes. Not surprisingly, their clothing selection was lacking. I headed over to the knife section because, on a previous trip, I found an old high-carbon steel blade which I touched up.

You can also find some old aluminum and tin pots from yesteryear which, if you're lucky, may have a bail handle. Billy pot anyone? Otherwise some are just asking to have some bailing wire attached. Water bottles are plenty at St. Vinny's as well. Oh, hit up the belt section too. Old belts are pure leather straps. None of that crap leather sandwiched between "show leather". Pure rawhide!

Oh, crappy leather coats can be found at either place. Some are so ratty noone buys them and they can be marked down to $10! If you find a leather coat with some decent leather (not to wear but to scrap), and making sure it's not "pleather" (plastic leather knockoff), pay the ten bucks for scrap leather sheets to make pouches and sheaths.

And of course there is the army surplus store most are familiar with, though I don't have one in my area so I can't comment.

**trax** · 03-27-2008, 04:43 PM

I agree wholeheartedly Mitch. If I'm going to put out 600 bucks for a jacket or parka, the dam thang better do my bushwhacking for me. I often pick up articles in similar stores up here exactly because of that. I know I'm just gonna wreck 'em anyway, I'm not going into the bush to make a fashion statement. We also have 'Value Village' up here, I don't know if you guys have that one, but same idea. I must admit I will only go new and better quality with boots though, of all my outerwear. Mind if I ask for a ballpark figure for how much you laid out? Sounds like you made a good score.

**MCBushbaby** · 03-27-2008, 05:58 PM

55% Polyester/45% Wool green pants (38x30) - 5.99
100% Acrylic sweater - 2.99
Ripstop nylon windbreaker/rain jacket - 2.99

And I just tested the rain jacket for it's waterproofness. Threw on a long sleeve cotton shirt under the jacket and stepped into the shower for three minutes. Except for a direct blast to the zipper, completely dry underneath! Soaked the sweater to see how well it dries (drips like mad, good hydrophobic sign)

Knives, even good quality carbon steel kitchen variety, can be bought for $1 each. Price goes up when they are 'fancy' or part of a set, usually wooden handle, riveted full tang carbon steel kitchen knives go dirt cheap!

Belts are $1 to 2.50, as are most shoes (lots of camp loafer options)

**BraggSurvivor** · 03-27-2008, 06:04 PM

Come on now mitch, you really didnt put that jacket on and shower with it did you?

**MCBushbaby** · 03-27-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by BraggSurvivor

Come on now mitch, you really didnt put that jacket on and shower with it did you?

Would post pics but NSFW

Best way to test your gear waterproofness in a heavy downpour without the downpour, perfectly reasonable.

**Sourdough** · 03-27-2008, 06:16 PM

Mitch, The hunting guides shop at Value village. The hunters show up in realtree camo'everything. There are no trees in the tundra, or few. Why buy new just to get it ripped, cut, bloody. I would buy cheap coats and spray paint them what ever color I wanted.

After a few weeks everything is patched with silver duck'tape.

**BraggSurvivor** · 03-27-2008, 06:18 PM

I quess, but it would have looked funny as hell.

This wouldnt happen to be you would it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NCFVnVnKbU

**MCBushbaby** · 03-27-2008, 06:22 PM

I'm confused Brag

**BraggSurvivor** · 03-27-2008, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by mitch.chesney

I'm confused Brag

I'm just joshing ya mitch, better to be safe than sorry, or than wet and cold.

**Aurelius95** · 03-27-2008, 06:44 PM

Not sure if you guys have REI, but you can shop online there. However, the gear is very expensive new. But, anything you buy there you can return any time, no questions asked for a full refund (if you have receipts). If no receipt, then you get soemthing for it. If you are a member of the co-op, then they will have record of your purchase and you will be refunded whatever you paid for it.

The best part, in my opinion, is that they have "scratch and dent" sales about once a quarter and the longer you stay during the sale, the more it gets marked down. Last year, we bought a 5 person tent for about $100 (had a small hole in the rainfly and was dirty). I also bought a Northface down vest with rip-stop for $7, polarized sunglasses (small scratch on lens, but not in eye's view) for $5.

Oh yeah, anything you buy there that is regularly priced, you get a 10% refund/dividend every year.

I also do a lot of shopping at garage sales. Not so much for clothes, but for gear and other equipment.

**bulrush** · 03-28-2008, 02:32 PM

I get a few things at cheaperthandirt.com. They have inexpensive wool blankets, and cheap alcohol stoves in an East German mess kit.

It's mostly shooting supplies.

**Rick** · 03-28-2008, 02:34 PM

The nice thing about living near a city is the Goodwill stores usually have really good junk. The county we live in is one of the fastest growing in the nation in terms of population and the things folks donate to Goodwill are mind boggling. Brand new stuff that's never been opened. It's sad to walk in there and see so much waste. On the other hand I know it generates a lot of revenue for Goodwill and that helps the disabled.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 03-28-2008, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

The nice thing about living near a city is the Goodwill stores usually have really good junk. The county we live in is one of the fastest growing in the nation in terms of population and the things folks donate to Goodwill are mind boggling. Brand new stuff that's never been opened. It's sad to walk in there and see so much waste. On the other hand I know it generates a lot of revenue for Goodwill and that helps the disabled.

It's not really waste if it's at goodwill, right? I mean, it's better to send it to a resale shop than the landfill if you don't want it.

**Rick** · 03-28-2008, 03:11 PM

You're right. I just meant people through their money away on stuff they don't use. Recycle and reuse as much as you can.

**MCBushbaby** · 03-28-2008, 07:57 PM

Another cheap source for stoves and pots is your recyclables. Tin cans and metal coffee containers make great pot stands and hobo stoves. The 24oz Heineken and Fosters beer cans make great 700ml pots, though are a bit flimsy so rough-housing in the pack is a bad idea.

**canid** · 03-28-2008, 08:14 PM

the thing abour thrift stores in big cities is that they're trendy. here, used clothing is cheap. something in 90% of new condition goes for 50% or less the price for new. in san francisco, something in 50% of new condition goes for 90% the price for new.

if i don't find good deals at the thrift stores between sales, i hit up department stores during clearance or holiday sales. $60 fleece pants by columbia for $20 isn't too bad.

**Rick** · 03-28-2008, 08:35 PM

And looking for seconds can save a bundle if it's clothing. Like every has said. You're wearing it into the woods.

**GVan** · 03-28-2008, 09:46 PM

I'm sure I've said this somewhere before. If you want really cheep (low cost) clothes for the backwoods why not try charity shops, second hand stores, military surpluss, and your wife's sewing machine.

These are the places where I can find some pretty good clothes for all occasions. Of course, that suit for your court appearence because of that harmless still out on your back forty should really be brand new.