The Budget Trekking Principle
Not all gear is created equal, but not all gear price differences are justified either. A £300 waterproof jacket genuinely performs better than a £80 one in sustained mountain rain. But a £200 trekking pole is not meaningfully better than a £60 one for a first-time trekker doing the Camino.
The framework: spend on the three things closest to your body — boots, sleeping bag, base layers. Save on everything else until you know you'll use it enough to justify the upgrade.
Footwear: Worth Spending On
Boots are the non-negotiable investment. Bad boots end treks. The Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX at £110–130 is the best value waterproof trekking boot currently available — it uses real Gore-Tex, has a genuine trail sole, and is comfortable for most trekkers with minimal break-in. This is the floor for serious trekking; don't go below it.
For socks, Bridgedale's Hike Midweight Merino at £14–16 per pair delivers merino performance at a reasonable price point. Buy 4–5 pairs. Cheap cotton socks are not a budget option — they're a blister factory.
Spend properly. Minimum £100 for a waterproof trail boot.
Backpack: Mid-Range is Fine
You don't need an Osprey Atmos AG for your first trek. For the Camino or a tea-house route in Nepal, a mid-range 35–50L pack from Decathlon (Quechua NH Escape, around £40–60) or an entry-level Osprey (Talon 22, around £90) is entirely adequate. The features that justify £250 packs — advanced hip belt load transfer, maximum ventilation systems, lifetime warranties — matter more on long self-supported routes with heavy loads.
If you're buying a budget pack, the one feature worth prioritising is hip belt design. Even on a cheap pack, a padded hip belt that actually transfers some weight to your hips is dramatically better than a basic strap.
Mid-range adequate for most trekking.
Waterproof Jacket: Don't Go Too Cheap
The biggest budget trap in outdoor gear is the cheap waterproof jacket. A £30 "waterproof" from a fast fashion brand will last one serious rain event and soak through thereafter. For real rain protection, the minimum viable spend is around £80–100 for a genuine 2.5-layer construction with a real HH rating. The Berghaus Paclite Plus GTX at £130–150 uses actual Gore-Tex at a mid-range price — this is the value pick. See our waterproof jackets guide for full options.
Don't go below £80. Cheap waterproofs are false economy.
Sleeping Bag: Spend Based on Temperature
For summer or warm-climate trekking (Camino in summer, Southeast Asia), a budget synthetic bag rated to 5°C or so can work fine and costs £40–60. For cold-climate trekking (Himalayan tea-house routes, Alpine huts in shoulder season), a bag rated to -5°C or below is required — and the budget options in this range are often falsely rated. The Alpkit Pipedream 400 at £160 delivers genuine 700-fill down at a price significantly below Rab or Sea to Summit. It's the best budget down bag we've tested.
EN-rated bags only. Unbranded temp ratings are fiction.
Clothing: Where You Can Save Most
Decathlon's own-brand outdoor clothing is genuinely good at its price point. Their merino base layers, fleeces and trekking trousers deliver functional performance for significantly less than branded alternatives. The Forclaz MT500 trekking trousers at £35–40 are our budget pick in that category. Their 100-weight merino base layers at £25–30 are legitimate merino at a fraction of Icebreaker pricing.
Where budget clothing falls short: down jackets. Cheap down jackets often use low fill-power down that compresses poorly and provides inadequate insulation at altitude. For a Himalayan trek, the down jacket is worth spending on — aim for 600+ fill power minimum.
Trekking Poles: Budget Aluminium Works Fine
Carbon poles are lighter and nicer but for a first-time trekker or the Camino, the Black Diamond Trail Sport aluminium poles at £50–60 the pair are entirely adequate. The FlickLock mechanism is reliable, the grip is basic but functional, and aluminium bends rather than snaps. Buy poles — they genuinely help — but don't feel you need carbon until you're doing consecutive long expeditions where the weight saving compounds.
Budget aluminium adequate for most trekking.
Things You Can Buy or Rent at Your Destination
Major trekking destinations have extensive gear hire and purchase options. In Kathmandu (Thamel) and Pokhara, in Cusco, in Chamonix and Grindelwald — you can hire sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles and packs at reasonable rates. If you're doing one Himalayan trek and don't plan to repeat the experience, hiring rather than buying a sleeping bag and down jacket can save significant money. Quality varies — inspect before hiring and insist on seeing the EN rating or fill power spec on any sleeping bag.
Complete Budget Kit List: Total Cost
A complete functional budget trekking kit for a Himalayan tea-house route (EBC, Annapurna Circuit), buying new:
- Boots (Merrell Moab 3 GTX): £120
- Socks x5 (Bridgedale Merino): £75
- Pack 60L (Osprey Farpoint 55): £130
- Daypack 25L (Decathlon): £25
- Waterproof jacket (Berghaus Paclite GTX): £150
- Down jacket (Mountain Warehouse 600-fill): £65
- Fleece midlayer (Decathlon Polartec): £35
- Base layers x3 (Decathlon Merino): £90
- Trekking trousers x2 (Decathlon MT500): £70
- Sleeping bag (Alpkit Pipedream 400): £160
- Silk liner (Cocoon): £30
- Trekking poles (BD Trail Sport): £55
- Headlamp (Petzl Tikkina): £20
- Gloves liner + outer: £25
- Blister kit + first aid: £20
Total: approximately £1,070. This is a functional kit that will safely get you up to EBC or over Thorong La. The equivalent premium kit (Salomon boots, Osprey AG 65, Rab jacket, Patagonia down, Rab sleeping bag) runs to £2,500+. The budget kit is lighter in quality in some areas but performs adequately for a first trek.