The Gear You Should Never Cheap Out On in The Outdoors

Don’t learn this one from experience; when it comes to picking the right gear, Casey hopes you can learn from his mistakes and successes.

Have you had that new bit of (cheap) gear fail on you at a critical moment? Or had the perfect piece of equipment rise to a challenge and save you from potential disaster? 

I have.

While bad equipment has made this hike or that camping trip more memorable for the wrong reasons, these days I know I’d rather be warm, comfy, dry, and most importantly, safe. And once or twice, I’ve definitely had the seemingly over-the-top bits of safety gear come to the rescue.

So, alongside the expert local Aussie team at Oz Backcountry, we came up with a list of the non-negotiable gear and safety items that are worth not skimping on. 

You’ll want reliable gear when you’re crawling into it ahead of an impending storm

Buy it Right From the Get Go

The internet is swimming with gear brands, and without the chance to touch and test gear in real life, it can be tricky to decipher which brands and products are the best for the job. That’s why I suggest buying from Oz Backcountry. It’s an independent, Aussie-owned online store that only stocks high-quality brands and products.

Oz Backcountry’s owners – Kaz and Stu – are avid Explorers who live in and adventure all over Australia. They’re passionate about gear that does the job well and understand the kit we need in the ever-changing and relentless Aussie conditions. That’s why they only stock Oz Backcountry with gear they’d use themselves.

Plus, they use biodegradable packaging and donate 5% of profits to Ecologi to support reforestation. Love it!

Oz Backcountry is the place to start when buying the gear that’s going to protect you out there. Together, we pooled our outdoor knowledge to make this list of gear that’s worth the spend. It could just save your life (and the adventure).

1. Shelter – Picking the Right Tent

Along with food and water, proper shelter is one of the few actual human necessities for survival, so having a space that’ll keep you dry and warm is vital on any trail.

Better yet, if it packs down small and light without much fuss, you’re living the dream.

I’ll never forget watching the sunrise at almost 4,000m on the summit of Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala, but I recall the night before just as well.

The very, very cheap tent I’d borrowed was not only missing most of the outer shell, but also the entire door.

Epic views at least?

While it was epic being able to see Fuego Volcano bubbling lava throughout the night, but it was easily the coldest I’ve ever been to this day, and a lasting reminder that shelter is not an afterthought, but a necessity.

It’s safe to say that was the last time I borrowed a tent.

Setting up the Nemo Elite Hornet 2P Tent for a windy, below-zero night was worlds apart, with the space-grade looking shell and sturdy zips obviously not disappearing anytime soon. The Elite model is a few hundred grams lighter than the regular Nemo Hornet but just as tough. Save money or save weight, the choice is yours!

I’m having much more restful sleeps in this tent, and it’s safer too

2. Sleeping – Are there actually comfy sleep pads?

Just like in life, you spend a third of any adventure sleeping, so it should be at least a third of your investment in gear. Probably more if you value a good night’s rest before a physically demanding adventure.

I used to be happy crashing out from trail tiredness or campfire drinks, sleeping seemingly soundly all night, to wake up a little stiff on whatever sleeping pad was going.

But now that I have two children, sleep is precious, and I’ve learnt that there are ‘sleeping pads’ and there are just ‘pads’ you can sleep on.

When I first rolled out the Nemo Tensor All-Seasons Pad, I wasn’t convinced that something the size and weight of my empty water bottle could actually be comfy, but as you probably guessed, it was.

Packs up to fit in the palm of my hand

The big difference between this pad and my old one is that the Nemo sleeping pad seems to hold twice the air volume when inflated.

Secondly, the inflation itself is completed easily with something that looks like an aircraft oxygen supply, rather than by my face going red while blowing down a tiny tube.

Sleeping bags, on the other hand, are much easier to get right than the pads, as long as you don’t cheap out. But if you shop at a store that only stocks top-quality outdoor gear, you can’t go wrong.

Wide mats are all about comfort, which is a part of safety, kinda?

3. Warmth – Merino Base Layer and Tops and Waterproof Shells

Continuing with the human necessity theme, warmth goes hand in hand with shelter, and it’s what’s underneath that matters.

While I was shivering away on that volcano, I was glad I’d at least invested in a top-notch merino base layer that saved my skin.

Having a proper merino wool thermal top and bottom kept me somewhat warm at temps well below zero, with next to no shelter. Those base layers have continued to live on through countless hikes and a few ski seasons over many years.

I find merino pretty magical. You can be warm without ever overheating, and it can be worn for days of hard use without stinking.

For hiking, the merino tops are just as handy. I’ve been wearing either an Ottie short sleeve or Ottie long sleeve this winter and spring. Your temperature remains regulated on the go, or while stopped for lunch, and the natural fabric wicks moisture to keep you feeling light and dry.

Technical, comfy, and looks damn good (if you ask me)

Obviously, I’m a fan. But I reckon the small investment into something like Ottie merino thermals, or an Ottie merino top, is a no-brainer for anyone who hikes, camps, or even wants to be warm at home in winter. They’re an Aussie brand too!

Despite merino wool’s magic qualities, part of staying warm is staying dry, so a good waterproof jacket is vital in any outdoor kit. Plus, waterproof shells are an excellent windbreak and top layer to trap your body warmth.

In my experience, smart layers are much warmer than lots of layers or thick items. By combining a good merino base layer, top, and a good waterproof shell, you can be comfortable well into the negatives.

4. Safety Gear

Investing in and carrying the right safety gear can sometimes feel over the top, especially on shorter hikes or spontaneous trips.

While in most cases you’ll never need it, when you do, it can easily be the difference between coming home or not, or at least, avoiding the hospital.

Some years ago, I had a gentle reminder about safety gear on a backcountry ski trip in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

While I’d regularly ride with a shovel, beacon, and probe, another friend offered me his ice axe, as I was the least experienced in the group. He showed me how to use it in an emergency, but I still felt a little silly carrying one like a pro, despite not being one.

And make sure to keep it somewhere accessible!

But it just so happened that that morning, a face had slid on the backcountry couloir I was already halfway down. With no chance of holding an edge on the steep ice slide, I hurtled down on my stomach, desperately using the axe to try to slow down and occasionally dangle where I still couldn’t get my footing.

Long story short, I eventually got down unscathed. Without the ice axe, only a tree, rock, or cliff would be the thing stopping me.

Luckily, I didn’t have to use any of the avalanche gear. But I had it.

At the bottom of the ice chute

I also had a head torch, Clif Bars, and energy+electrolyte chews in the pack, to get me home via a detour, which took until after dark.

Obviously, it’s not often you’ll need an ice axe in Australia, but limited snow pack doesn’t mean limited danger.

Essential Safety Gear to Carry:

• LifeStraw personal water filter
• Nutrition pack (Clif Bars and electrolyte chews)
• Compass
• First aid kit
• Gear repair
• Head torch

Quality Gear is an Investment in Comfort & Safety

I now look at the money I spend on these items as investments.

Over time, not only will I be comfier, safer, and probably happier, I also often find I spend less money in the long run; when you buy cheap, you pay twice.

If you don’t know exactly what you’re after or which brand is the best, shopping at Oz Backcountry is a safe bet as the team prides itself on only stocking high-quality brands that help you get out there safely.

So you won’t be caught out cold, wet, hungry, or sliding down an ice chute.