Why Used Backpacking Gear Is Perfect for Beginners and Being on a Budget: Affordable: Backpacking gear is pricey, used gear makes it fiscally accessible. Beginner‑friendly: Try the activity before investing big! What if you commit hard with expensive top of the line equipment to find out that you hate it!?

And while the blog posts and influencers loves to tell you to “just freeze‑dry your own healthy high calorie meals,” most of us don’t have a $2,000 freeze dryer sitting next to our bear canister. So let’s talk about realistic, cheap, nutritious, packable dinners you can make for under $5 per meal.