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The Trek

How to Afford a Thru-Hike: Expert Advice for Saving Money on Gear, Logistics, and Town Expenses for a Long Distance Backpacking Trip

How to Afford a Thru-Hike: Expert Advice for Saving Money on Gear, Logistics, and Town Expenses for a Long Distance Backpacking Trip

Regular price $7.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $7.00 USD
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Thru-hiking a long trail is a coveted goal for many, but it can be an expensive hobby. It takes time, equipment, and financial agility to traverse hundreds or thousands of miles on foot—and the accompanying price tag can pose a steep barrier to entry. In fact, money is one of the main reasons many would-be thru-hikers fail to complete (or even start) their journeys.

But money doesn’t have to define your hike.

The Trek doesn’t believe that thru-hiking needs to be prohibitively expensive. In "How to Afford a Thru-Hike: Expert Advice for Saving Money on Gear, Logistics, and Town Expenses for a Long Distance Backpacking Trip", author Kelly Floro discusses strategies for financial success before, during, and after a thru-hike.

Readers will discover:

  • A comprehensive thru-hiking packing list, including where to splurge and where to save
  • Suggested gear by budget range
  • How to avoid the most expensive mistake most thru-hikers make
  • Where and when to shop for gear to maximize savings
  • Used gear shopping strategies
  • How to substitute inexpensive household items for costly gear
  • How to go ultralight without overspending
  • Top gear items thru-hikers waste money on
  • Best practices for making, maintaining, and repairing gear
  • The importance of saving for a thru-hike
  • Strategies for developing a thru-hiking budget (and sticking with it)
  • Tips and tricks to save money in town and on the trail

Bonus

In addition to 99 pages of thru-hiker tested tips for how to thru-hike on the cheap, readers of "How to Afford a Thru-Hike" will receive access to a private list of discounts from some of the most respected brands in backpacking, including Katabatic Gear, Gossamer Gear, Six Moons Designs, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Purple Rain Skirts, and more. We’re confident you’ll get more than your money’s worth in the form of tried and true tips for saving money before, during, and after the trail, but even if you know everything there is to know already, these discounts are worth the price of admission.

Downloadable Files

A series of zip files will be emailed to you containing formats that can be read by your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Android, Kobo, Nook, and just a good ole fashioned .PDF.

What Others Are Saying:

“How to Afford a Thru-Hike was a great resource while daydreaming about and planning for my long-distance hike. It is easy to dream about planning a thru-hike, but it is not easy making that dream a reality. What can you commit to financially? Where will you find the funds? This e-book reassured me that I could make my hike a reality by providing some innovative ideas and useful tips on where and how to invest my time, energy, and money.” - Ali Sylvester

Read the first chapter here for free!

*Reviews imported from The Trek's previous store on 10/21/2022

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Customer Reviews

Based on 19 reviews
79%
(15)
16%
(3)
5%
(1)
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B
Becky
Basic

I would have liked to see more backpacking-specific money saving tips for while on trail (for things that non-thru hikers wouldn’t think of). If you are confident in your budgeting abilities, this book doesn’t have that much more information to offer.

J
JOHN PAULEY
John Pauley Review

It was alright and provided some additional information for my planned walk in 2025.

J
James Ristow
Sound advice, expired coupons

I thought this book was entertaining to read and had a lot of sound advice, including insightful money pits that I hadn’t thought about. It was well worth the price, whether or not you’re planning a through-hike. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because most of the gear coupons included with the book were expired from 2021/2022.

A
Audra Buchanan

How to Afford a Thru-Hike: Expert Advice for Saving Money on Gear, Logistics, and Town Expenses for a Long Distance Backpacking Trip

K
Katey Neuffer
Great Book, Tons of Info

I read this book in one day! It was easy to take in, well organized, and full of great info. It allows you to find what works best for your specific budget. 10/10 recommend!