7 Ways to Save Money on Hiking & Camping Gear

By Samantha Panzera | April 15, 2019 |

Affiliate Disclosure:This website contains affiliate links including Amazon Links, “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” which means Adventure Hike Travel may receive a commission when you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements at no additional cost to you. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support Adventure Hike Travel’s ongoing goal to serve you quality Adventure, Hiking and Travel advice and information. Thanks for your support! To learn more, please visit the (Disclaimer page).

Are you a hiking/camping newbie looking to venture out into nature for the first time? Or an experienced pro with numerous adventures under your belt? Whether you need gear or have old gear that is currently only being held together with duct tape, we have gathered 7 Ways to Save Money on Hiking & Camping Gear.

7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Time your gear purchases around sales. The timing of when you start looking for gear can be critical. Having a list of things you might want to purchase for the following year and planning ahead can save you tons. Want winter gear? You can get 50% to even 60% off left over winter items by shopping in the spring. Want a summer backpacking tent? New hiking boots? Check for sales at the end of summer. Look for big sales around holidays. Some great times for finding sales are around Memorial Day, The 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, New Years and the end of each season.

1. Time your gear purchases around sales.

The timing of when you start looking for gear can be critical. Having a list of things you might want to purchase for the following year and planning ahead can save you tons. Want winter gear? You can get 50% to even 60% off left over winter items by shopping in the spring. Want a summer backpacking tent? New hiking boots? Check for sales at the end of summer. Look for big sales around holidays. Some great times for finding sales are around Memorial Day, The 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, New Years and the end of each season.

$7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Search for slightly used gear. Attending swap meets, thrift stores, garage sales, or online scanning on Offer Up, and Craig’s List, can help you find amazing deals on slightly used or never before used gear for only a fraction of the cost. Many people buy gear and never use it, or use it only once or twice where it is almost like new.$

2. Search for slightly used gear.

Attending swap meets, thrift stores, garage sales, or online scanning on Offer Up, and Craig’s List, can help you find amazing deals on slightly used or never before used gear for only a fraction of the cost. Many people buy gear and never use it, or use it only once or twice where it is almost like new.

7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Become a REI Member.

3. Become a REI Member.

REI is the outdoor community’s gear mecca. If you love spending time on mountain tops or time out in the wilderness, I highly recommend becoming a REI member. It costs a one-time fee of $20. and you are a Member for life! Why become a REI Member? One word - REI Dividends! Every year in the month of March, REI Members’ get back 10% of everything they purchased in REI stores over the course of the previous year, excluding sale items. This past year for my spending I got $69. back which I used to buy a nice puffy down North Face Jacket! Total Score!

In addition to the yearly March dividends, around the same time REI usually gives two 20% off coupons for Members only. One for one regular priced item and one for one garage sale item! As a part of the REI family you get access to many exclusive REI Member-Only Coupons, Member-Only Garage Sales, and savings on REI Classes & Trips.

Become a REI Member: https://www.rei.com/membership/join

4. Sign up for email newsletters for multiple outdoor companies

Typically when you sign up for an outdoor company’s email list they will send you a coupon to entice you to make your first purchase and will then throughout the year send you emails about upcoming sales they are having or send you discount codes to order online.

7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Join online hiking and camping groups In the digital age of social media there are hundreds of Facebook groups in the hiking, camping, backpacking, rock climbing, and mountaineering niches. By becoming a part of the online outdoor community you can see posts from other adventurers who are looking to sell or even give away their gear for free. There are even many online groups that are only buy/sell with tons of great used gear.

5. Join online hiking and camping groups

In the digital age of social media there are hundreds of Facebook groups in the hiking, camping, backpacking, rock climbing, and mountaineering niches. By becoming a part of the online outdoor community you can see posts from other adventurers who are looking to sell or even give away their gear for free. There are even many online groups that are only buy/sell with tons of great used gear.

7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Gift Cards. hristmas and Birthdays! Let family know which gift cards you want most! When family and friends ask you what you would like for your birthday or for other holidays, instead of replying I don’t know or I’m good with whatever, suggest a gift card. Some ideas (REI, Amazon, Bass Pro, Cabela’s, North Face, Eddie Bauer, Camping World, Field & Stream) Even if it’s only 5 bucks, every little bit counts and can help bring down that expensive price tag on gear. Every Amazon gift card I have gotten over the years has been used for hiking and camping gear.

7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Gift Cards. Christmas and Birthdays! Let family know which gift cards you want most! When family and friends ask you what you would like for your birthday or for other holidays, instead of replying I don’t know or I’m good with whatever, suggest a gift card. Some ideas (REI, Amazon, Bass Pro, Cabela’s, North Face, Eddie Bauer, Camping World, Field & Stream) Even if it’s only 5 bucks, every little bit counts and can help bring down that expensive price tag on gear. Every Amazon gift card I have gotten over the years has been used for hiking and camping gear.

6. Christmas and Birthdays! Let family know which gift cards you want most!

When family and friends ask you what you would like for your birthday or for other holidays, instead of replying I don’t know or I’m good with whatever, suggest a gift card. Some ideas (REI, Amazon, Bass Pro, Cabela’s, North Face, Eddie Bauer, Camping World, Field & Stream) Even if it’s only 5 bucks, every little bit counts and can help bring down that expensive price tag on gear. Every Amazon gift card I have gotten over the years has been used for hiking and camping gear.

$7 ways to save money on hiking and camping. Amazon Amazon deserves its own category. There are so many amazing hiking and camping gear products being sold on there, it’s worth a shout out. I have found so many off brand products that do just as good of a job for a fraction of the price of name brand products.$

7. Amazon

Amazon deserves its own category. There are so many amazing hiking and camping gear products being sold on there, it’s worth a shout out. I have found so many off brand products that do just as good of a job for a fraction of the price of name brand products.

Go Time Gear Life Emergency Bivy Sack - Thermal Survival Tent and Sleeping Bag Bivvy for Blanket, Shelter & Camping Use - Pack of 1 with Whistle - Orange

Light My Fire Flint Fire Starter Ferro Rod Survival Tool Scout — Fire Steel Bushcraft Gear — Flint and Steel Magnesium Fire Starter Kit — 2-in-1 Fire Starters for Campfires — 3,000 Strikes

AOTU Portable Camping Stoves Backpacking Stove with Piezo Ignition Stable Support Wind-Resistance Camp Stove for Outdoor Camping Hiking Cooking

Ultralight/Watertight Medical Kit - .5 Yellow

WATER TO GO Water Filter Bottle (Active 25oz/75cl) - Perfect for International Travel Hiking Camping and Backpacking - Incl. 3-in-1 Purifier Filter. BPA-Free Plastic

TETON Sports Trailhead, 20 Degree Sleeping Bag; Lightweight, Warm Mummy Sleeping Bag, Camping, Backpacking, Hiking

MalloMe Camping Cookware 18pc Mess Kit w/Backpacking Stove – Camping Cooking Set for Backpacking Gear - Camping Pots and Pans Set w/Camping Pot Pan Stove Utensils Camp Kitchen Equipment Accessories

Marmot Crane Creek 2P Tent | Marmot Tent, Two-Person, Lightweight and Durable for Backpacking, Camping, Mountaineering in Fall

Energizer LED Headlamp Pro260, Rugged IPX4 Water Resistant Head Light, Ultra Bright Headlamps for Running, Camping, Outdoor, Storm Power Outage (Batteries Included)

WATER-TO-GO Water Filter Bottle (18.5oz/55cl, Purple) Perfect for Hiking Camping Travel and Survival - Eco-Friendly Bioplastic - Incl. 3-in-1 Purifier Filter

Dickies Men's Dri-Tech Legacy Moisture Control Crew Socks Multipack, Heathered Colors (6 Pairs), Large

So there you go, 7 Ways to Save Money on Hiking & Camping Gear. Good luck on your quest for finding the best deals on gear to start you off on your next outdoor adventure! What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored on Hiking and Camping gear? Tell me in the comments.

Back to Blog

Want To Fill Your Life With Adventure?

Join our newsletter for an adrenaline-fueled journey! Receive exclusive updates on travel tips, gear reviews, epic hikes, captivating stories, and inspiration to turn your dreams into reality.

Don't just dream it, live it! Get Out There!