The “Make Your Own Gear” (MYOG) movement is built on a powerful and rewarding foundation of self-reliance, creativity, and a desire for perfectly customized equipment. But for many, the single biggest and most attractive benefit of the DIY approach is the incredible cost savings. High-performance, ultralight camping gear can be astronomically expensive. Making it yourself can cut that cost by 50-70% or even more.
The biggest line item in any project budget is always the technical fabric. While it’s always a great idea to create camping gear with high-quality, first-run materials for a critical piece of equipment like a rain jacket or a shelter, there are many other ways to be incredibly frugal in your sourcing. For the truly budget-conscious maker, a little bit of creativity can lead to massive savings.
Here’s a guide to sourcing your materials and building your kit on a shoestring budget.
The “Thrift Flip”: Harvest Materials from Old Gear
Your local thrift store or a second-hand sporting goods shop can be a goldmine of high-tech materials, if you know what to look for. Think of it as “urban harvesting.” Instead of buying a product, you are buying a cheap source of valuable raw materials.
- Old Ski Jackets: A cheap, outdated ski jacket is often made from a high-quality, waterproof-breathable fabric that is perfect for making a rain shell or a set of rain mitts.
- Puffy Down Jackets: A stained or torn down jacket that is on sale for a few dollars can be a source of high-quality down insulation for your own DIY quilt or a pair of booties.
- Old Backpacks: A discarded backpack is a treasure trove of valuable hardware: buckles, zippers, webbing, and cord locks that can be harvested and reused on your own projects.
Scour the Bargain Bin for Fabric Remnants
When you do need to buy new, pristine fabric, you can still find incredible deals. Most online technical fabric suppliers will have a bargain bin, remnants, or a seconds section on their website. This is where they sell the end of a roll of a particular fabric, a fabric with a minor cosmetic flaw, and discontinued colors or materials.
These fabrics are often sold at a 50% discount or more. They are perfect for making smaller items like stuff sacks and pouches, or for building your first prototype of a new design.
Visit the Hardware Store
While specialty outdoor fabric stores are the best source for your technical fabrics, you can find a surprising amount of your other materials at a standard, local hardware store for a much lower price.
- Guyline and Cordage: A simple, lightweight, and surprisingly strong braided utility cord is perfect for a tarp or a tent guyline.
- Grommets and Snaps: For reinforcing tie-out points.
- Webbing and Buckles: While the selection might be limited, you can often find basic webbing and buckles that are perfect for a simple daypack.
Find and Modify Open-Source Patterns
You do not need to buy an expensive, commercial pattern to get started. The MYOG community is incredibly generous and has an open-source spirit. There is a massive and ever-growing library of free, proven, and high-quality patterns that other makers have shared with the world.
The “Make Your Own Gear” community is a great hub for these free resources. You can find free, downloadable patterns for everything from a simple fanny pack to a complex, multi-day backpack. The community is also incredibly helpful and willing to answer any questions a new maker might have.
You Don’t Need a Fancy Sewing Machine
One of the biggest myths is that you need a special, industrial-grade sewing machine to work with technical fabrics. This is not true. A standard, reliable, and often second-hand home sewing machine is more than capable of handling the vast majority of the lightweight ripstop nylons and polyesters that are used for backpacking gear.
The real key is not the machine but the needle. Invest in a pack of new needles. A sharp, appropriately sized needle will make a huge difference and will prevent a host of frustrating problems.
The spirit of MYOG is about more than just a custom fit; it’s about resourcefulness. By being a smart and scrappy sourcer of materials and by tapping into the generous spirit of the online community, you can build a high-performance set of camping gear on an incredibly tight budget.
