7. Sell your used gear to finance new gear purchases.

If you’ve bought and used gear but want to replace it with something different, sell the old gear to help finance the new. Good backpacking gear retains a fair amount of value if it’s taken care of and you’ll be able to use the money towards your next purchase.

8. Don't buy backpacking gear at Walmart.

Don’t buy useless crap from Walmart: you will regret it after carrying something too heavy for too long and it will inevitably break. Tents and backpacks from Walmart are junk.

9. Do plenty of research before you buy.

High price tags do not necessarily equal the best gear. Join backpacking social media sites, read backpacking blogs, read reviews, compare prices, and ask questions about what you might need. Do not just go into REI and ask to be outfitted and don’t accept everything their sales people say at face value. Just remember, online research is just a starting point, but hands-on field research outshines it all.

10. Try to buy gear in the off-season or during sales.

REI garage sales are a great place to buy really good gear at discount prices. REI and other retailers have 20% sales online all year-long. Check out Sierra Trading Post and other online clearance sites. Massdrop is another great place to save on great gear from small cottage manufacturers. Don’t be afraid to buy gear that’s not the latest model or came out a few years ago. Shop around, use the price matching that many retailers offer, and haggle if you can.

11. Keep it light.

Aim for less and lighter weight equipment for comfort during your day hike, and less for comfort at the campsite, which would require carrying more stuff. Pay attention to gear weights when you buy new gear, but don’t compromise your safety. Buy an inexpensive digital scale so you can weigh your gear and replace heavy items when you upgrade.

12. Upgrade your gear.

 If you haven’t been out in 10 or 20 years, update your gear – no reason to be miserable with 40-50 pound packs when you can have much more fun with half the load. Replace gear a little at a time, focusing on your big three first (shelter, sleeping system, backpack, in that order). This is not exactly beginner advice, but advice worth heeding if you’re getting re-acquainted with backpacking again.