Target carries Champion brand and I have used their wicking t-shirts with good results and they are not too expensive.

At Cabela's I have picked up their long sleeve "fishing shirt" which is 100% nylon and dries quickly ( I don't like to wear bug spray on my skin). I've also bought wool socks from them with good results.

If you watch/shop carefully around Thanksgiving you can pick up fleece jackets for as little as $10 (we picked up several at BassPro for our group).

I go to REI mainly to look around. I might find a few 'possibles' items there but I try to stay out - too tempting to blow a lot of money for things I don't really need. I have gone in to try on packs and I did by my Osprey Aether there after much research.
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If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.