Camping can be expensive. When it comes to price, there is no limit. Here I present to you a camping setup so cheap you could potentially buy it with the cash in your wallet. This attempt for an ultra cheap camping setup suffices for most applications during the warmer periods of the year.
While it will not be the most elegant nor comfortable of setups it costs around 60 to 70€ AND even falls into the Ultralight category. The prices are rough estimates on current store prices and on amazon at the time of April 2023.
So let's get started:
First item on the list is an IKEA plastic bag. This mass manufactured piece of plastic is as ugly as it gets but it fits in a lot of stuff, is relatively light weight and can be found for as cheap as roughly 5€. It can be carried around like every other bag but also be strapped on one's shoulder easily.
Of course it is not really super comfortable, rainproof and not quite a sight to be seen but it is cheaper than almost anything. The wonders of mass production so to speak.
Most people have at least one bag pack already at home, which of course can be used as well.
Next up is the most basic yet effective tarp one can get: the 3m x 3m plastic tarpaulin. This serves as our shelter. There are numerous setups you can create with just a a bit of rope, a tarp and some tent pegs. Those setups can be rainproof and still have a floor. Many people even prefer tarp setups over tents as they offer good ventilation and come in very lightweight. While the regular tarpaulin is quite heavy for what it is, it is also very cheap at roughly 12€.
Here is an example of a how to setup a tarp like an almost tent like structure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qj1SnGPx4s&ab_channel=Richans
Setting it up like this requires a stick, that can be found in a park, or in a nearby forest. Alternatively hiking sticks can be used as well (potentially self made ones out of wood).
Building a tarp shelter is easy and only requires minimal effort. After a bit of practice it should be as easy as folding your socks!
Only downside is, that it might be a good idea to make use of insect repellent since tarp setups do not protect against mosquitos and their unfriendly friends.
Since this tarp is one of the cheapest available it creates a bit more sound when exposed to wind and is not as pleasing to the eye as other models but it can last for several years of camping with ease.
Of course having a floor made out of tarp is nice but it does not make for a good insulation nor a good sleep. Therefore a basic foam pad is a good starting point. For summer weather it should be fine and due its construction it feels nice to lay on. It is not only super lightweight at under 400 grams, it is also very cheap at around 20€. Air filled pads usually offer better insulation and potentially more comfort but are also more prone to damage. While there are better sleeping pads available, models such as this remain to be used quite frequently even by people who camp rather often.
Since there is no pillow included in this kind of sleeping pad, it is necessary to use a piece of clothing for that.
The next item on the list is a regular camping bed sheet out of fleece. While it is not as good as a sleeping bag it still keeps one warm and especially for summers it should do the job for most people, additionally it is lightweight, cheap at 16€ and it can be applied at home as well.
Tent Pegs are relatively cheap at around 7€. Usually people have some strings at home but buying them is also not exactly expensive at around 8€.
And that is more or less all one has to buy. The rest are household items usually everybody has:
-Toothbrush
-Toothpaste
-Towel
-Small universal knife
-Insect repellent
-Water bottle
-Shampoo
-Lighter
-Small package of paper tissues
-Something to eat (cereal bars, sandwiches, meal replacement powder etc.)
-Small first aid kit
-Zip Bags or simply plastic bags to pack Toothpaste and alike together
This setup should easily get one through one or two nights without much of a hassle.
Also it makes use of the fact, that many things can be kept when further upgrades are applied. The basic tarp mentioned here, is also a great ground sheet. The camping bed sheet can also be used in sleeping bags as an addition for colder nights.
Same applies to the foam pad, which can be combined with another insulation to protect for example an air mattress, while also increasing the insulation value by a great extend.
Of course the tent pegs and strings can be used for a variety of things and in all kinds of setups.
At last there is a list of all items with their respective price tag and rough weight:
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