As old ranger points out, most really light cheap gear is only good for nice weather. Hey if you're only going out in nice weather you don't need much, but if the weather turns fowl, that STUFF THAT SEEMED SO LIGHT WEIGHT AND COOL from wallys and the thrift store might fail miserably. After you've had a few tents shred and gotten soaking wet under tarps and had a sponge for a sleeping bag etc etc, you will either give it up, or get more bombproof of gear. Bombproof gear is not light or cheap. To keep my pack down to the 20 to 25 pounds range I leave a lot of things at home so I can carry the core items that will stand up to anything unexpected. Anyone starting out with unknown gear should try not to be out in bad weather or too far from their car.
Jim