PSA : You don’t have to have every single piece of gear you think you need in order to get out and have an adventure. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still important to be prepared. Know the terrain you’ll be in, the weather, the rules for the area, and pack the 10 essentials. But you don’t need to wait around until you can buy every little thing you’re told (or social media tells you) to get for your hiking, camping, or backpacking trip. 🏕️ This is my sleep setup for backpacking. An ultralight @nemoequipment Hornet tent, the @seatosummit Comfort Lite self-inflating sleeping pad, and the @rei Women’s Joule 21 down sleeping bag. ALL of which I found for massive discounts at an REI garage sale, years ago! What you don’t see are the little things I’d LIKE to get that’ll improve my experience just that much more, but that I don’t necessarily need. Like a backpacking pillow to help with my scoliosis 💁🏻♀️ and to avoid back & neck pain (I currently use a folded up jacket and sweater as a pillow). And a bigger tarp at the bottom and better quality tent stakes — I bent a few of my cheap tent stakes on this trip and some of them I had to put heavy rocks on top of to keep them secure. There are so many other things (especially clothing-wise) I feel that I want and need for certain adventures but the truth is, you just gotta get out there and start. Use what you have. If you don’t have something you absolutely need, ask friends to borrow items. Search thrift shops or the used gear section on @rei’s website or shop at their outlets. You can also rent gear and items from REI and other places (check your local outdoor businesses too). 🎒 I hope this post encourages someone interested in the outdoors to just GET OUTSIDE and try new things this year! Whether you have the perfect tent setup or not, whether you have the best hiking shoes on the market or not… #getoutandexplore 📍: Northern Wintu and Walla Walla land #rei #rei1440project #nemo #nemoequipment #seatosummit #trinityalps #canyoncreeklakes #backpackinglife #backpackinggear #campinggear #campinglife #outdoorwoman #backpackingadventures (at Trinity Alps, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CncQ4vKONlv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
