phat
member
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 1453
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Ok, in the spirit, though not within the rules and kind of for
comparison, what about the weekend type lightweight trip, temps
above freezing, but NO DIY, No internet purchases, just have to buy
it. what if you just had to walk into the box store and buy it all -
relatively light, and keeping the cost down.
Here's what I got on the "walk into MEC" and gear thyself bit. Since this is already outside
the original scope, weights are in grams, and prices in canadian dollars 
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MEC Alpinelite 30 pack
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442617747&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302699687&bmUID=1228674615562
680 grams $54
Mec down barrel bag
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442507487&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302701709&bmUID=1228674862789
1200 grams $114
blue foam pad (2 for hammock use)
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442094779&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302701645&bmUID=1228674985708
440 grams $25.00
Hennesey Hammock
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524441776493&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302702959&bmUID=1228675197541
1200 grams $139
GSI solo cookset
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442625441&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302696309&bmUID=1228675531470
269 grams $26
MSR pocket rocket
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302696549&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524441932337&bmUID=1228675550619
85 grams $38
Lexan spoon (not online, but they're in store)
10 gram $0.50
Opinel knife
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442419669&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302696855&bmUID=1228675807298
36 grams $14.75
Petzl E-lite
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=tTcpJ8VNGWs1gTbNKvWptf2P8mXdKGw7BxwmH0JYvTyZByphw62B!-1728161395!1228674477675?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302697057&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442621007
27 grams $26.00
Water purification
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442625447&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302696751&bmUID=1228675985481
17 grams $8.75
First Aid
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442593073&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302695945&bmUID=1228676090680
85 grams $7.25
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4049 grams $453.25
+ 2 pop bottles for water.
+ clothing
+ runners/hikingshoes/boots
+ food + water + fuel
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JAK
member
Reged: 03/19/04
Posts: 2400
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Good stuff phat. Still very light, and not too extravangant. I like the doubling up of the blue foam pads. Lets them carry a big pack and still be light.  I gotta try the hammock thing some day. Maybe hoist the daughter up out of boy scout reach when she gets a little older.
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phat
member
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 1453
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Actually that's a very small pack - 30 litres - I know it works with that gear though, because I've carried basically the same.
the second blue pad actually gets hacked in half to make a pad that's cross shaped with the arms of the cross around your butt an love handles in the hammock for warmth.. Both roll up and are carried on the outside of that pack, strapped vertically.
You could of course, spend more, and get a bigger, and heavier, pack at MEC - but I've done up to 5 night
outings with that one.
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verber
member
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 176
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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I don't have time right now to put together a list. In the past, I have been doing this with adult who had a bit more budget. There have been similar challenges in the past, though most were shooting for lighter weight, and weren't saddled with Philmont restrictions (like must bring a tent rather than a tarp). I collected a few notes on a page about backpacking for cheap.
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food
member
Reged: 08/22/02
Posts: 1531
Loc: Colorado Rockies
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Mark,
I generally refer people to your webb site. 
I did a spreadsheet on a similar challenge long ago, but it is difficult to keep updated. 
I lost interest in this thread when the Philmont rules were added. I need a better reason than "rules" to leave my hammock and alcohol stove behind.
Thank you for keeping your site updated. I know how much work it is and I appreciate it.
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"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not."
Yogi Berra
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finallyME
member
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 684
Loc: Utah
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I tried to do what you did phat, except I picked Walmart. Well, I failed miserably. If I looked online for it, all the good stuff said "not sold in stores". So, I opted for the online version. Here is my first attempt.
Pack
OP Pinnacle from Campmor
This weighs 3.5 lbs and is $60 not on sale.
Sleeping Bag
Marmot Tresle 15F
This one is $80 and 3.5 lbs.
Shelter
Plastic tarp
The price for this is $6.99 and it is 9X11 ft tarp. It showed the shipping weight to be 2.5 lbs. I am guessing that the actual weight is half. Buy two, one for tarp and one for ground cloth.
Pad
Blue foam pad
This one is 8 oz and $10.99
Rain protection
Nylon poncho
This is 1 lb and $35.
With these, I am at $189.97 and 11.3 lbs. I still need cook kit with stove, water bottles, clothes, shoes. By using a super cat stove, a beer can pot, used soda bottles, and a spoon from McD's, those are all free. I don't have weights for them yet, though. Can you get clothes and shoes for $10 and under 7 lbs?
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You can kill two birds with one stone, but you can't kill a stone with two birds.
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phat
member
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 1453
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Quote:
Shelter
Plastic tarp
The price for this is $6.99 and it is 9X11 ft tarp. It showed the shipping weight to be 2.5 lbs. I am guessing that the actual weight is half. Buy two, one for tarp and one for ground cloth.
blue tarps are heavier than you think - mine of this size weigh about a kilo - so that's pretty
close. although I know there are different "grades" of them - some made of heavier materiel than others.
Quote:
you get clothes and shoes for $10 and under 7 lbs?
At least with kids, I think a trip through the average kids' dresser would probably reveal at least 50% of what would be suitable to bring (sometimes closer to 90). I also think any
"beginner" can be begun with good socks and their regular running shoes. After that they can buy a dedicated "trail runner" or boot. Yes it means the "beginner" trip should probably
be on-trail enough so that doing it in runners is ok for a newbie. but that covers a lot of trail hiking. Yes some will need to buy a shoe. I know I *have* picked up light hiking boots for my kid at the thrift store for $10 before, so it's possible, but likely not something to consistently count on - in availablility or quantity - whereas finding fleece, windbreakers,
and nylon clothing in normal size at such places is usually pretty easy as long as you don't
care about brand names - (although I know I've seen patagucci clothing in the thrift store!)
I used to regularly take my kids there before hunting season, and buy 'em a couple of layers
that fit them each year. Cheap enough I didn't have to worry about it and they only wore
it hunting.
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OregonMouse
member
Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 775
Loc: E. of Portland, Oregon
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Interesting discussion, and an excellent idea! Would it perhaps be a good idea to cross-reference this thread in the Beginners' section?
For more ideas, there are some articles, gear lists and forum posts on BackpackingLight about items for Scouts, specifically geared to Philmont. Fortunately, these are all free to non-BPL members. These are referenced on Mark Verber's website, which also lists inexpensive possibilities for each gear item in his "preferred gear" section.
There's also an interesting "ultralight, ultracheap" gear list on the Gossamer Gear website, in their gear list section. I suspect this is several years old, so the prices will need updating.
It is quite possible to get nearly all one's clothing, and a number of gear items, from thrift stores for next to nothing. It may take a number of visits, though.
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
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