Guides / Gear
How to Kit Out for a Trek on the Cheapest Budget
You don't need to spend $2,000 to walk a hut-to-hut trek. If you're starting from zero, you can cover every must-have for about $525 at list prices, and less in the sales. This guide goes through that kit item by item, then shows where to add money if you have it.
Want to build your own version? Use the gear budget calculator. It starts from this cheapest kit, lets you swap any item and adds up the total as you go.
The cheapest must-have kit
| Item | Cheapest option we compare | List price |
|---|---|---|
| Boots | Forclaz Trek 100 Leather (Decathlon) | $90 |
| Backpack | Forclaz MT500 Air 50+10 (Decathlon) | $139 |
| Rain jacket | REI Co-op Rainier | $100 |
| Trekking poles | Forclaz MT100 (Decathlon) | $40 |
| Headlamp | Nitecore NU25 UL | $37 |
| First-aid kit | Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 | $43 |
| Hiking socks | Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew | $26 |
| Sun and wind buff | Buff CoolNet UV | $25 |
| Liner gloves | Forclaz MT500 Seamless Liner (Decathlon) | $15 |
| Warm hat | Quechua MH100 beanie (Decathlon) | ≈ $8 |
| Total | ≈ $523 |
Prices are US list prices checked in September 2026. Decathlon's prices vary by country, and every item here goes on sale at some point in the year.
Step by step: how to spend as little as possible
1. Start with what you have
Most people already own half of a trek kit: a fleece, running tights, a warm hat, a water bottle, a phone with offline maps. Put everything on the floor and tick it off on the packing list before you buy anything.
2. Rent or borrow the big, rarely used items
A tent, a sleeping bag and a stove are only needed if you camp. On a hut trek like the Tour du Mont Blanc you need none of them, just a light sleeping-bag liner. If you do camp, many outdoor shops and clubs rent tents and bags for a weekend for a fraction of the price.
3. Spend the most on boots and the pack
These touch your body all day, and they're the two items where a bad fit ruins a trek. Buy the cheapest pair that fits you well, not the cheapest pair full stop. Decathlon's Forclaz boots and packs are the best value we've found in boots and backpacks.
4. Go cheap on things that sit in the pack
Poles, headlamps, gloves, beanies, cook pots and water filters work just as well at the budget end for a week on the trail. A $40 pair of aluminium poles is heavier than carbon, but also tougher.
5. Buy socks and a first-aid kit, not gadgets
Two pairs of good socks prevent more ruined days than any gadget. A small first-aid kit with blister plasters is non-negotiable. A GPS watch, a solar charger or a fancy mug are not.
6. Buy at the right time
- End of season (September to November): outdoor shops clear summer stock.
- Black Friday and January sales: the best time for jackets and down.
- REI Garage and outlet sites: last year's colours at 30 to 50% off.
- Second-hand: packs, poles and tents last for years. Check local marketplaces and gear-swap groups. Avoid used boots unless they're barely worn.
If you camp: the cheapest overnight add-ons
| Item | Cheapest option we compare | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tent | Forclaz MT900 UL 2 (Decathlon) | £219.99 (UK) |
| Sleeping bag | Forclaz MT500 0°C (Decathlon) | £80 (UK) |
| Stove | BRS-3000T | $16 |
| Cookset | Forclaz MT500 stainless, 1 person (Decathlon) | £14.99 (UK) |
| Water filter | LifeStraw Peak Squeeze | $33 |
That adds roughly $430 to the kit. Before you buy, check whether camping is even allowed where you're going: see our wild camping rules.
Where to add money first, if you have it
- Better boots if you have wide or sensitive feet.
- A lighter pack if you're carrying camping gear.
- A three-layer rain jacket for Scotland, Iceland or Norway.
- A down jacket for hut evenings and early starts above 2,500 m.
Everything else can wait until you know you love trekking.
The honest bottom line
Budget gear won't stop you finishing a trek. Blisters, wet feet and a pack that doesn't fit will. Spend where fit matters, save everywhere else, and put the money you save towards the trip itself.