Walmart Challenge

[Kaerous]

Ya know a friend of mine has proposed the same to me but with only $25 so,if you want some ideas on the entirety not just hammock is be happy to,give some tips n, hints just message me.
What I will say is if you go in (at least mine has it) the sewing section I bought some nylon there for a hammock for super reasonable ($1 a yard) so check there, they also sell canvas. In the hiking section they sell. Inexpensive paracord, and you can get a inexpensive ratchet strap foe a few bucks.
Blessings on your. Trip and learning preparedness

I'm just pricing some basics on Walmart's website and it's quite a task at $50 - $25 would be really tough. Paracord was my first thought but I'm worried about stretch.

[Kaerous]

Yeah the blue foam pad will be tough to beat cost wise. What temps are you looking at?

Can you cheat by dressing super warm to compensate?

We're planning it this fall after the heat passes. The foam pad was my option for under insulation. Per our group's rules we're allowed to bring the clothes on our back - we decided bringing some good clothes would be acceptable. So worst case I'll have a down jacket and insulating underwear.

[Kaerous]

+1 on the ratchet straps ... sometimes in the automotive clearance section.

Sometimes have knives on clearance too (to stretch your $$)

Blue foam pad

appropriate blanket / sleeping bag / comforter?

water bladder w/ tablets

ramen, instant mashed potatoes, foil packed chicken, etc - all non-cook for this excercise (don't have to buy a stove)

I was planning on ratchet straps but I'm worried I won't find any cheap enough. $50 doesn't go far. I'm hoping to find a decent blanket for cheap, or maybe just buy some clearance or cheap quilted fabric. I'm already planning on Ramen - can't beat the price! A can of beans would serve as my cooking/water boiling pot once they're eaten.

How many days are you going for? I could suffer through a storm with a few trash bags and some duct tape for a night if I had to. Cool idea for a friendly challenge, but $50 each will likely net a few duplicate things unnecessarily. You might consider lowering the budget to $30/each and share your purchases.

We're just doing one night - its too tough to get our group together for much longer. I agree - I could build a debris hut and probably be fine, but in my mind the challenge is being as efficient and comfortable as possible using the budget. I suggested the idea of sharing gear as well, we may try that in the future - $30 / each sounds like a good idea!

[Gqgeek81]

IIRC Dave Canterbury had some very early videos in which he went to the dollar store and similar places and tried to see what gear he could get for a few bucks. They might give you some ideas.

[sidvicious]

how about the painter's tarps? aren't those cheap?

double them into a hammock. rig suspension from braided utility cord.

[lubbockhammockguy]

Interesting idea. I will have to look at their website later to see what ideas that I can come up with

[HangFan]

"Bush skills" and Walmart. Hmmm.....

[sidvicious]

Interesting idea. I will have to look at their website later to see what ideas that I can come up with

9x12 canvas drop cloth. $18: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Trimaco-He.../17300520there are cheaper models. not sure what this one is but it's likely woven. the cheaper $2 stuff is likely paper.


50' 1/8 inch braided utility cord. 4$.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-50...-Line/16351002

poly camo fabric. $6 :http://www.walmart.com/ip/Springs-Cr...21853428#about
this is a start.

[johnspenn]

The online and in-store inventories are liable to be two different animals. Beware.

[Flash Grundelore]

I think Pyrogen has the right idea... pooling and non-redundancy of sharable items. Not everybody needs the BIG knife... just one to share.

Personally, I think we're going to need an actual trip report on this gig...