Getting kitted out on a budget.

Bmblbzzz

Bmblbzzz

Thru Hiker
Barua said:
I have been considering getting things shipped over but I have no idea how much it would cost. Plus it’s an inconvenience for my family who already have a lot on their plate.
Click to expand...
As you're in Paris, there must be a large number of British people there – which you might or might not want to get involved in. Maybe see if someone going over with a car could bring a few things back for you? Or, if your parents are anywhere near a city with a decent French presence, there's probably a van service; a French bloke doing regular van runs bringing over parcels and stuff for French expat shops. This is almost always much cheaper than the regular commercial couriers. The trouble is your parents would have to find out about it.
 
J

Jamess

Section Hiker
Think about getting some down trousers to go with your down jacket.

As autumn temperatures fall they are great evening wear in camp and mean you don't need as heavy a sleeping bag.

Shelter wise - Most of us use trekking pole supported shelters and mids or hexes come up for sale often enough on TL or similar sites. Add a cheap inner from AliExpress as a starter setup and use that for a year before deciding on what you really want from your shelter. That said, the Dan durston x-mid 1p is great value and is highly rated by many on this site.
 
Barua

Barua

Summit Camper
Bmblbzzz said:
As you're in Paris, there must be a large number of British people there – which you might or might not want to get involved in. Maybe see if someone going over with a car could bring a few things back for you? Or, if your parents are anywhere near a city with a decent French presence, there's probably a van service; a French bloke doing regular van runs bringing over parcels and stuff for French expat shops. This is almost always much cheaper than the regular commercial couriers. The trouble is your parents would have to find out about it.
Click to expand...

Normally I have family and friends traveling from the UK to france and back but with the current quarantine situation most people are just avoiding france. My original plan was to travel back to the UK in October and collect some gear and walk the Cleveland Way but it's looking like that isn't going to be an option, so I'm making other plans.

Jamess said:
Think about getting some down trousers to go with your down jacket.

As autumn temperatures fall they are great evening wear in camp and mean you don't need as heavy a sleeping bag.

Shelter wise - Most of us use trekking pole supported shelters and mids or hexes come up for sale often enough on TL or similar sites. Add a cheap inner from AliExpress as a starter setup and use that for a year before deciding on what you really want from your shelter. That said, the Dan durston x-mid 1p is great value and is highly rated by many on this site.
Click to expand...

Really insulated trousers for October? That said the current plan is to go to the Vosges which is supposed to be the coldest area of France.

I have to admit I have been looking at the X-mid but with import costs it's too expensive for me right now. Unfortunately I can't buy it from amazon as I'm in france. It quotes the import costs at $108!

cloud-up 1 is my best option atm I think
 
Barua

Barua

Summit Camper
Yes I've used amazon UK for things before to but the X-mid won't ship to France... I just checked again. Probably for the best I wasn't planning to spend £250 on a one man tent just yet. I would not have a happy husband!
 
Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
Lempo said:
for 2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unisexs-X-Mid-tents-Desert-Person/dp/B08FXW6T2Z/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Drop x Dan Durston&qid=1599430526&sr=8-2
Click to expand...
Both of the Drop mid are listed as "Dispatched from and sold by Amazon US", neither will ship to France and if they did both have an "Import Fees Deposit Included" which is something you'll wan't to avoid as it will very, very probably come out more expensive than the tax and VAT levied by French customs, even with a handling charge on top.
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Balagan said:
Both of the Drop mid are listed as "Dispatched from and sold by Amazon US", neither will ship to France and if they did both have an "Import Fees Deposit Included" which is something you'll wan't to avoid as it will very, very probably come out more expensive than the tax and VAT levied by French customs, even with a handling charge on top.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming it works the same in France as it does in Turkey and the UK; if the tax levied by customs turns out to be less than the amount of the "Import Fees Deposit Included", Amazon gives you a refund of the difference.
 
J

Jamess

Section Hiker
On those down trousers, you are trading utility used more of the time for weight you use less of the time - but a luxury maybe on a budget.

Pack wise many on the forum use very light frameless packs but they use them because they have the experience to do so.

My advice would be to try and find a pack with a single spine frame and a supportive hipbelt. They are typically 200g heavier but allow you to adjust the back length to get a perfect fit and carry the weight very well. Exped and Montane both use this method of framing. The exped lightning is well liked by some on this forum. As standard it doesn't have a mesh pocket but exped do what they call an add on flash pocket that does the job.
 
Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
WilliamC said:
I'm assuming it works the same in France as it does in Turkey and the UK; if the tax levied by customs turns out to be less than the amount of the "Import Fees Deposit Included", Amazon gives you a refund of the difference.
Click to expand...
Sort of. But the main difference is that French customs very often waive low amounts of VAT which Amazon or courriers never, ever waive.
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Balagan said:
Sort of. But the main difference is that French customs very often waive low amounts of VAT which Amazon or courriers never, ever waive.
Click to expand...
Ah, OK, I get you. Though in this case (X-mid), would the French customs regard the amount of VAT as low and aren't Drop shipping the X-mid via couriers anyway, so either way VAT will be applied?
 
Barua

Barua

Summit Camper
Who knows. How they decide the import charges in france baffles me, once the charges were 50% the cost of the product, in fact that is the case most of the time it seems. I've never bought something from the US and not had extra charges.

Anyway €300 is not within my budget.
 
R

Rmr

Section Hiker
Jamess said:
On those down trousers, you are trading utility used more of the time for weight you use less of the time - but a luxury maybe on a budget.

Pack wise many on the forum use very light frameless packs but they use them because they have the experience to do so.

My advice would be to try and find a pack with a single spine frame and a supportive hipbelt. They are typically 200g heavier but allow you to adjust the back length to get a perfect fit and carry the weight very well. Exped and Montane both use this method of framing. The exped lightning is well liked by some on this forum. As standard it doesn't have a mesh pocket but exped do what they call an add on flash pocket that does the job.
Click to expand...
Exped Flash Pocket attached to my Alpkit Gourdon 30, works really well. 20200907_104217.jpg
 
A

Allsquare

Trail Blazer
"Exped Flash Pocket attached to my Alpkit Gourdon 30, works really well."
@Rmr Have you a photo of where the attachment points are on the Gourdon please? Thanks in advance.
 
HillBelly

HillBelly

Section Hiker
I was thinking about my first wild camps, when I was using synthetic bags - which is what I was using in the early days.

I started off with just a 2 season bag - a Eurohike 200! it was what I had from doing some D of E monitoring, and got re used as it packed reasonably small and wasn't bad at 1.35kg. It actually was ok for the uses it got. I was camping spring and Autumn and especially when the weather was cloudy (so no cold nights) it was comfy and warm. Still have it.

So - just food for thought... no need to go mad on rating if your camping season isn't going too far into cold temps. Also you can wear a primaloft jacket if you do get a bit cold... and heat holder socks are great! I would look at the Vango Ultralite bags for a decent bag without too much spend (link for example)

My first winter synthetic bag was a Snugpak softie Autumn rated to -5. I used it in the Cairngorms. Wasn't the lightest, but did pack down due to Snugpak's synthetic fill, even if it did feel like I could motty someone with it when it was compressed. Might be worth a look at the Snugpak ones as well.

Always used some sort of reflective silver mat, and an air mattress which helped.

I now have my down bags, but looking back the important thing was I was still able to get out and enjoy my wild camps even though they weren't the lightest (but did pack small enough that I didn't look like a gap year traveller).

I was good at keeping the rest of my gear to a minimum and keeping the weight down of the other items, so the weight penalty of my bag wasn't felt so much. I think my first wild camp pack was 30L. It was a roll top though and I think the person who came up with that figure couldn't add up.

Oh and I sleep cold and always have cold hands.
 
R

Rmr

Section Hiker
Nevis said:
Was only thinking yesterday, it would be great if the Gourdon had a mesh pocket....and then there was my answer :)
Click to expand...
Got it from OutdoorGB, paid around £14 inc postage. I added some rings to the back to take the clips.Total weight now 646g, not too bad.15994939284404758845124127126817.jpg
 
Barua

Barua

Summit Camper
My pack, probably older than me defiantly traveled more than me, believe it or not, this is after I washed it!

IMG-3951-2.jpg


hmm don't know how to make that smaller...

Anyway, it's a VERY basic bag no stretchy pockets, it's just a big canvas sack. It has a good X frame system and okay hip belt but no hip belt pockets. It's pretty light at 1.2kg

now I've spent some time actually planning the trip and looking at the likely weather condition (rain) I think this bag would need some up grades to be functional. A water proof cover at least + probably a good DWR spray over the outside because the laminate on the fabric isn't that great anymore, water proof stuff sacks and maybe some add-ons like the pocket Rmr mentioned.

OR just pay £40 for my Osprey pack to be sent from the UK which needs nothing doing to it and I'd just need one water proof bag for the sleeping bag (it already has some small ones in it.
 
Last edited:
Barua

Barua

Summit Camper
I don't know how you guys do it!
My pack weighs in at 15kg including food (4days), water (1l + an empty bottle) and fuel. That is far more than I can carry comfortably but I've been over everything twice there is nothing I can ditch unless I off load food and buy in restaurants/cafes or do little restocks. But this being my first walk I don't really know what will be available, and with covid I don't know what will be open.
You all must have magic Mary Poppins bags.
 
Odd Man

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Barua said:
I don't know how you guys do it!
My pack weighs in at 15kg including food (4days), water (1l + an empty bottle) and fuel. That is far more than I can carry comfortably but I've been over everything twice there is nothing I can ditch unless I off load food and buy in restaurants/cafes or do little restocks. But this being my first walk I don't really know what will be available, and with covid I don't know what will be open.
You all must have magic Mary Poppins bags.
Click to expand...

Do a gear list on lighterpack.com and share it and we'll do a shakedown for any unnecessary kit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rmr
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top