A while ago I happened to look at a YouTube video about a dollar store challenge. Being social media I soon started getting more of these videos. The point is to do something like an overnight trip using only $10 worth of stuff you got at the dollar store or perhaps $100 for a seven day trip. I am just amazed at what some folks buy to meet this challenge. Some of the things are obvious like a knife and cordage but some of the items are just luxury items like bottled water and luxury food or clothing items. My first thought was something like iodine or bleach for water purification and things like Ramen or Mac and Cheese for food. Obviously these folks have never done actual camping.

That is what I get for looking at social media I guess. That being said there are some really useful and interesting things on Youtube.

My first thought is that one might go all Grandma Gatewood and get a shower curtain for a tarp-tent.

My first thought was that I would want to be camping in a pleasant part of Tahiti--not at 9,000 feet in the mountains.

I agree that YouTube has some useful videos, but also some nonsense. I don’t know if these items will fit in 10 dollars or not, but I would take these: flashlight, hammock, water, fire starter, pocket knife, first-aid kit, small pan (for cooking), and trash bag.

The rules to this game are pretty vague, so the most successful entrants to the challenge would certainly be the ones who can 'game' the rules to their advantage.

For instance, are we allowed to bring as many clothes as we can wear at one time? That would solve much of the 'how to stay warm' problem and possibly some of the shelter problem, too (I'm thinking of a poncho that can double as a tarp, a'la the Gatewood Cape). If not, then must everything that's not our naked body be included in the challenge, too?

Mostly, this seems to be an excuse to make a YouTube video of young people doing something a bit crazy so other people will watch and be entertained.