$300 Gear Challenge
		This doc is the result of a discussion on AT-L. How to make a gear list for a beginners that is reasonably light and not too expensive.
		The inspiration for this list was from on discussion on Whiteblaze.net led by Sgt. Rock, 1st Sgt in the Army and an experienced backpacker.
This list is my own contribution. You should check out the link on Whiteblaze. Some great ideas as well. My list is more focused for Colorado. (more sun exposure, colder nights at elevation, less rain)
CATEGORY			ITEM				WEIGHT	COST		WHERE
Pack and accessories:			Golite Team Backpack -3300 CI				32.00 oz	$65.00		Sierra Trading Post
			Trash Bag for pack liner				.625 oz	Nada		Kitchen
						Total	32.625 oz	$65.00
Shelter:			8x10 Poly Tarp				40.00 oz	$5.00		Hardware Store
			6 Alum Stake				3.00oz	$6.00		Any outfiffer
			12' parachute cord				1.00 oz	$4.00		Any outfiffer
			PaintersDropCloth ,cut down				6.00 oz	$2.00		Hardware Store
			Cologans Mosquito Netting				4.00 oz	$10.00		Campmor
						Total	54.00 oz	$27.00
Sleeping			Blue Foam Pad				10.00 oz	$8.00		XYZMart
			Generic 20 F Bag				56.000 oz	$35.50		E-bay
			Garbage Bag				.625 oz Nada			Kitchen
						Total	66.625 oz	$43.50
Cooking			2 qt. Alum. Pot w/ tinfoil lid 4.500 oz					$5.00		XYZMart
			Soda Can Stove				.375 oz	Nada		Recylce Bin
			Alum Windscreen				1.250 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			Coathanger Potstand				.875 oz	Nada		Closet
			Ziplock Bag				.375 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			20 oz. Mountain Dew Bottle (Fuel) .125 oz					$1.50		Quicky Mart
			Lexan Spoon				.375 oz	$1.00		Any outfiffer
			Lighter				.500 oz	$1.00		Quicky Mart
			Toothbrush				.250 oz	Nada		Bathroom
			Ziplock Bag				.125 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			Plastic Grocery Bag				.500 oz	Nada		Kitchen
						Total	9.250 oz	$8.50
Hydration			(2) 1 Qt. Gatorade Bottles				2.250 oz	$2.00		Grocery Store
			Polar Pur				3.00oz	$10.00		Any outfitter
						Total	5.250 oz	$12.00
Clothing			Generic Fleece 20.00 oz					$7.00		Thrift Store
			Generic Windpants				8.00 oz	$5.00		Thrift Store
			Cool Max Socks				1.750 oz	$5.00		Target
			Lt. Wt. Polypro bottoms				5.125 oz	$10.00		XYZMart
			Lt Wt. Polypro Long Sleeve Top				4.500 oz	$10.00		XYZMart
			Fleece Socks				1.750 oz	$10.00		Any outfiffer
			Fleece Beanie				1.125 oz	$7.00		Any outfiffer
			Fleece Gloves				3 oz	$10.00		Any outfiffer
			Garbage Bag				.375 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			Coated Nylon	Jacket			10.00 oz	$10.00		Thrift Store
					Total		55.625 oz	$74.00
First Aid Kit Vitamin I 1.000 oz								Nada		Bathroom
			4 4x4 Gauze Pads				.375 oz	Nada		Bathroom
			5 Band-aids				< .125 oz	Nada		Bathroom
			Ziplock				< .125 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			(Duct tape, bandannas, etc. work as first aid items as well)
						Total	1.375 oz	Nada
Misc			Headnet				.625 oz	$5.00		Any outfiffer
			Deet				2.000 oz	$5.00		Any outfiffer
			40 ' Parachute Card				2.375 oz	$8.00		Any outfiffer
			Princeton Tec Pulsar Keychain Light				.375 oz	$8.00		Campmor
			Ziplock Bag				.250 oz	Nada		Kitchen
			Bandanna				.375 oz	$1.00		Any outfiffer
			T/P				2.000 oz	Nada		Bathrooom
			Purrell				2.250 oz	Nada		Bathroom
			Ziplock Bag				.125 oz	Nada		Kitchen
						Total	10.000 oz		$27.00
TOTAL BASE PACK WEIGHT / COSTS:						Total 243.45 oz / 15 lbs 3.250 oz $257.00
						6901.69 g g/ 6.90 kg
	ITEM WEIGHT						COST		WHERE TO GET
Equipment "On Self"	Polyester Dress Shirt				6.125 oz	Nada			Closet
	Nylon Shorts				3.750 oz	Nada			Closet
	Coolmax Running Socks				1.750 oz	$5.00			Target
	Bandanna				1.125 oz	$1.00			Any Outfitter
	Boonie Style Hat				3.625 oz	$7.00			XYZMart
	Swiss Army Knife Classic				.625 oz	$10.00			Any Outfitter
	Hiking Stick w/ Duct Tape				16.00 oz	Nada			TH + Garage
	Sneakers				30.00 oz	Nada (assuming you have a pair)			Closet
	Compass				1.00 oz	$10.00			Any Outfitter
	Sunglasses				1.00 oz	Nada (assuming you have a pair)			Dresser
TOTAL “ON	SELF” WEIGHT / COSTS:				65 oz/4.1 lbs	$33.00
					1842 g/ 1.84 kg
					TOTAL	COST OF GEAR: $290.00
Notes:
	1. Campmor is an online store with everything for good prices!
	2. Sierra Trading Post will have name brand gear on clearance
	3. E-bay will often have bargains on name brand and generic goods
	4. This list does not have lightest or best gear, but will get the beginner outdoors fairly comfortably. Biased towards Colorado hiking. Other areas can get away with a lighter bag (for example)
	5. If the beginner has more money, they can probably splurge on a decent down bag (Campmor has one for $110 that weighs 2# 6 oz), a tent and maybe some
	hiking boots. These choices may add more weight and definitely more money.
	6. You may very well have some equipment already (clothing items like hats, gloves, jackets, etc.).
	7.This list will requite some leg work on your part: buying the gear and clothing on sale. The winter type clothing is often sold cheaply during hunting season in XYZMart
	stores. Many ski stores and big sporting good stores (e.g Galyans) will see the stuff cheap at the end of the Winter. Same goes with ZYZMart as well when they are bringing
	in their Spring clothing.	Don’t be afraid to bargain shop!
	8. Other places to bargain hunt are www.rei-outlet.com, thrift stores, local stores having sales, yard sales, used sporting goods stores and classified (local or online)
	9. This gear will let a beginner be fairly comfortable on their first trips. As the beginners gains more experience (or money), they will want to go out for longer trips.
	They should buy and adjust their gear accordingly as experience, comfort levels and preferences dictate.