How to Save Money for Thru-Hiking

If you are fantasizing about a thru-hike, you probably can’t wait to leave your job behind and hit the trail. But first, you’ve got to save up enough money to actually quit that job. There are a million articles out there with tips for saving money, and you should read them for inspiration and ideas. No need to repeat all that stuff here, we all know beans and rice are cheap eats. This is aiming to be a little more big-picture and geared toward someone who is serious about saving for a thru-hike.

Figure out How Much You Need to Save

First you need to calculate how much this adventure will reasonably cost you. I covered this in a prior post: How much do I save for a thru-hike. Once you’ve got your number, calculate how much you need to save per month. If you can’t save that much, you’ll need to save longer. If you can save more than that, you can leave sooner than you thought, or you can save even more, perhaps for a longer hike or maybe just a more lavish one.

Pay Yourself First

Set up direct deposit so that monthly savings amount automatically goes into savings. Then, learn to live off what is left. Most people do just the opposite – they spend money first, with a plan to save what is left over at the end of the month. It doesn’t usually work well. By sending the money directly into a separate savings account, you never see it, you never miss it, and most importantly, you never spend it. Make it something you don’t need to think about.

Stop Buying Stuff

For most thru-hikers, a reduction of our stuff happens naturally both before and after a thru-hike. Paul and I put our things in storage while we were hiking, and so we got rid of quite a lot of our things beforehand, including our vehicle. Even so, when we returned and pulled all our stuff out of storage, we got rid of more of it, wondering why we bothered to store it to begin with. Lightweight backpacking is all about reducing unnecessary dead weight, and that is what too much stuff is. The only stuff you should be buying now is backpacking gear. Anything else can wait until you get back, and then you might not want it anymore.

Sell Your Stuff

As mentioned above, chances are you will be getting ride of some things as you prepare for your hike. Feel free to donate it if you prefer the simplicity, but with a little effort you can make money on plenty of your things. Set the proceeds aside for your hike.

Focus on the Big Three

Just as your backpack, shelter, and sleep system make up the bulk of your base weight backpacking – in the real world, housing, transportation, and food make up the bulk of your fixed costs. Strive keep these numbers as low as possible, and everything else will come easier. Do whatever is reasonable for you to keep your fixed costs (and your base weight) as low as possible. If you can move somewhere cheaper, or closer to work, or better yet, both, you can put that savings toward your hike. Eating out less can also save you a lot of money, but I hope you know that already.

Don’t be too Restrictive

Too much restriction is a recipe for failure. Yes, saving for a thru-hike is going to require some sacrifice, but if you are miserable in your life, you’re going to struggle to stay motivated. It important to maintain a lifestyle and a savings rate that is sustainable. You still have to have some fun in the here and now. Find the balance that works for you, and keep your eye on the prize. One way Paul and I motivated ourselves as we were saving for the Appalachian Trail was by thinking of everything in $15 increments, because $15 is roughly the cost of a day on the trail. Want to eat out tonight? That’s 3 days on trail. Is it worth it? Want to pick up an extra shift? That’s a week on trail. Is that worth it? There’s no wrong answer, it’s just a different lens to view how you spend and earn money. You might find yourself making different choices.

Have Patience

Saving for a thru-hike is a big endeavor. It takes time, dedication, and perseverance. It’s boring. But trust me when I say having the freedom to take 6 months off work to pursue a personal goal will give you far more lasting satisfaction than any amount of stuff ever could. Not having to stress about money while on the trail is a huge mental relief. It’s not the end of the world to delay if it means you will be in a more secure situation financially. The trail will be there waiting for you when you’re ready – physically, mentally, and financially.

Use the Gear you Have

There is always something newer, flashier, and lighter being released, and it is easy to get caught up in having the latest and greatest gear. Try and avoid this vicious circle. Backpacking doesn’t require anything fancy, and it shouldn’t break the bank. Get out and use the gear you’ve got on hand. The more time you spend outside, the more you will know your own preferences. Then, when it’s time to upgrade, you won’t waste money on the wrong thing. If you have a sewing machine, you can save some money by making some of your own gear with simple projects like gaiters or stuff sacks.

Be a Minimalist

Every thru-hiker sheds some gear along their hike. They realize they don’t need that extra shirt, or those camp shoes, or the vast majority of the items in their fancy first aid kit. If you can, try to avoid spending money on those items to begin with. Almost everything you carry should be something you use daily. Try to eliminate redundancies and prioritize items that are multipurpose. Simple example: as much as possible we buy electronics that are USB-C, so we do not have to bring a bunch of different cords along to charge. Another common example: most thru-hikers do not carry a mug. If they want a hot beverage they just drink it out of their pot. Everything in your backpack should be functional and earn its weight. Because you have fewer items, your pack will be lighter, and it will also be cheaper. If you don’t need it, you don’t need it.