Learn to sew your own outdoor gear
Bookmarked! That&#x27;s great and something more folks should be aware of.<p>I started making my own hiking gear years ago and it has been fun passion of mine. Cost aside, the biggest benefit is developing a comfort in modifying and fixing existing gear and eventually learning to make it look good. I started with the rayway quilt for a prairie wintercamping overbag but have since taken a UL DIY tarp tent + bug shelter, various quilts&#x2F;bags, ponchos, gaiters, and various bags on longer back country trips.  I&#x27;ve replaced a fly for an old but durable tent and adjusted the skin of a folding kayak (was not as happy with the cosmetic result on that one). It&#x27;s a bit addictive.  Zippers are hard to get right but once you&#x27;ve done this it&#x27;s easy to go to scrubs or dresses.  My latest purchase is a speedy stitcher awl for other projects.<p>If you are into this the other big category to try out is DIY dehydrated meal prep.  Last weeklong trip I intentionally overpacked food to share and split and everyone wanted some of my food after a couple days on that mountain house (relative) crap.  It ends up being way cheaper, tastier, and probably healthier. Leading up to a trip I just cook extra and try to be more vegeterian for dinner.  Those portions of rice, bean&#x2F;lentil dishes, vegeterian curries all get thrown onto some parchment paper in a rack (previously spiral) dehydrator, ziplocked, and then frozen until the trip. Switch it up with different seasoning and sides, e.g. rehydrate a side of sauerkraut, pickled beets, or some jerkey. Just word to the wise chopped potatos rehydrate slowly &amp; poorly: easier to buy those cartoons of shredded dehydrated potato from costco. I&#x27;ll buy their cooked canned chicken to dehydrate too. Also dehydrated 1&#x2F;2cm wide banana slices (no soaking&#x2F;additives) are my favourite snack now.