Good Enough: Outdoor Gear on the Cheap

Table of contents

You May Not Need the Most Expensive Gear

Finding Products That Are Good Enough

But Not Junk

Other Strategies to Save on Outdoor Gear

Have Recommendations for Products that are Good Enough?

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At Better Trail, we cover all types of gear, from high-end technical products to inexpensive items for beginners and those looking to save. One thing we firmly believe is that the outdoors should be accessible to all, and that means not necessarily spending an arm and a leg to enjoy your favorite activities. This is why we created our “Good Enough” section, which details and compares a carefully selected group of leading budget items in a particular gear category. Our goal is to provide honest and informative takes so that you can get what you need, save money, and put your energy into getting outdoors. Here is a bit more background on our Good Enough initiative.

You May Not Need the Most Expensive Gear

When friends or family ask us for product recommendations, the first question we ask back is, “What are you using it for?” While we know that it’s fun to have an $800 Arc’teryx or Norrøna jacket with all the latest and greatest gear tech, the truth is that many people simply don’t need it. Let’s say you ski at the resort a handful of times each season but don’t really put your gear through the ringer, or hike or backpack just a few times each summer. Over-kitting yourself is not only expensive, it’s also impractical, and there are plenty of good options to get outdoors while spending less.

Two women smiling backpacking in snowy alpine

Finding Products That Are Good Enough

Each of our gear guides (like the best ski jackets or best hiking shoes) incorporates our top budget picks, but our Good Enough guides go even deeper. In these articles, we do a deeper dive into the budget landscape, consider products that didn’t make the cut for the main guide, and examine and compare them all through a value-oriented lens. In the process we aim for sheer honesty: Some product categories have terrific inexpensive options that stand out as good enough for a lot of people, and other categories have smaller price differences and clearer shortcomings that could hamper your experience outdoors. Regardless, we call out what you get with our Good Enough product selections, what you sacrifice, and how they compare. Then you can make an informed decision that is right for you.

Carrying skis wearing Flylow Patrol ski jacket

See Our Picks

Good Enough: Best Budget Ski Jackets

See Our Picks

But Not Junk

You won’t find us recommending any off-brand products from retailers like Amazon, Mountain Warehouse, or Costco. We’re big critics of “disposable” or “one-time use” gear in the outdoor industry (or any industry for that matter). Off-brand products typically feature stupid-cheap materials and “waterproof” membranes that haven’t undergone thorough testing. The companies that produce these products have very little accountability, and it shows. Case in point: They rarely offer any sort of customer service guarantee (including both warranty and repairs), which is bad news for both you and the planet.

Anybody can use the “sort by price” function on Amazon or REI to find the cheapest possible items, but all that gets you is a number. It might not get you the right product, one that will do what you need it to, or one that will last a reasonable amount of time so you don’t have to turn around and buy it all over again. On top of that, outdoor gear gets used and is designed to perform specific functions, like carrying your gear, keeping you warm, or keeping you dry at night. For these reasons, we won’t steer you toward junk that you’ll regret buying just to save a few bucks. Instead, the goal is to help you find the right product that will succeed at its intended uses, at the lowest possible price.

Other Strategies to Save on Outdoor Gear

Once you’ve researched and found the right budget product, there are other tricks to save money on outdoor gear. Shopping in the off-season is the best method. As the season winds down it’s common to see items priced at a fraction of the cost they sold for six months earlier (up to 50% off or more). It’s always good to check places like the REI Outlet and Evo Outlet for deals, and we love using our REI Co-op Member 20% off coupons (these are released a couple of times a year) on big-ticket items, which helps soften the blow (for more on REI's 20% off coupons, read our article REI Co-op Membership: Is it Worth It?).

Last but not least, there are a growing number of places to buy used gear. In addition to your local consignment store, REI Co-op has a fairly robust used gear section called Re/Supply, and individual brands like Patagonia and Arc’teryx have dedicated marketplaces (named Worn Wear and ReGear, respectively). In our Good Enough articles, we break down these strategies and others in more detail.

Flylow Gear Wolverine Glove as beer koozie

Have Recommendations for Products that are Good Enough?

We put a lot of research into our product selection and are very in touch with the current outdoor gear offerings, but always appreciate reader input and experiences. If you know of a good budget product or would like to see one considered for Good Enough, please drop us an email. We’ll take it under consideration and hopefully get it out in the world as soon as possible.

Good Enough: Outdoor Gear on the Cheap

You May Not Need the Most Expensive Gear

Finding Products That Are Good Enough

Good Enough: Best Budget Ski Jackets

But Not Junk

Other Strategies to Save on Outdoor Gear

Have Recommendations for Products that are Good Enough?

Budget Outdoor Gear