Budget-friendly guide to hiking

Hello peeps!

While it may be challenging to fund hiking trips with limited resources, you can explore budget-friendly options. Look for:

1. Local trails2. Join hiking groups for shared expenses3. Consider camping to reduce accommodation costs4. Shop on facebook market5. Get sponsorships from hiking brands you love      I have been embracing the thrill of hiking on a student budget for quite some time now! I transformed dull days into outdoor adventures without breaking the bank. From budget-friendly trails to packing homemade snacks, you can also start going on hiking trips and not break the bank!

       In this blog, I will talk about how i started hiking on a student budget to getting sponsorship by one of my favorite hiking brands. Despite having less than 10k followers, I had been a loyal customer for a little while before recieving this valuable sponsorship. This support has significantly benefited me, sparing me from additional on high-quality gear that will serve me for a lifetime. And also share my hiking journey as a beginners and how it all became a lifestyle for me. So, lets dive into it, so you too, can benefits from these tips

Hiking for beginners on a budget: the ultimate guide 2023

      Embarking on my first major snowy hike in November, I quickly discovered the importance of proper gear, especially if i wanted to do a winter hike, which was much different than the summer local ones. Armed with nothing but my Nike runners and a school backpack, I was as clueless as a lost sock in the laundry as what to bring and wear and after a friend of mine, who use to be in the army, gave me a speech on safety, I decided to look more into proper gear for this big adventure.

      The brand recommendations like Eddie and MEC were mentionned more than once, so I went out to their store, only to be taken aback by their hefty price tags. A saleman was kind enough to be very informative about wearing layers and explaining each layers needed, such as a puffer jacket, a windproof and waterproof shell and some underlayer to keep me warm. As he chatted away, he walked me through all the layers I should pick at the store, but each costing a small fortune. But fear nt to worry! I dove right into facebook marketplace like a ninja in a thrift store.

       Scoring my first puffer jacket for a cool $20 ( i found out later that it wasnt the best for hiking, but hey! It looked good!), I soon snagged a windproof/waterproof North Face jacket for $30. My very first pair of hiking boots, i snagged those bad boys at Mark's Warehouse for 60 dollars, which were on sale. Bargain hunting extended to underlayers, windproof mittens, and a face mask, all procured through some fierce negotiation skills. I did splurge a bit on new boots and could have bought cheaper ones on facebook market, but, let's face it, I wanted cute brown ones with red laces, and the second-hand options were playing hard to get.

HikingProGirl tip:

Facebook Marketplace is the MVP for budget-friendly gear. Forget about those overpriced second-hand stores, like Value Village. More like Value Pillage! And that's how my first hike went down—I wasnt the most prepared, I didnt pack too much emergency gear, I should have had a shovel, some heat handwarmer- my fingers were so frozen, I could've been mistaken them for an ice sculpture. I couldnt take a lot of content with those frozen hands. Videos and pictures? They were limited edition! It may not have been the smoothest start, but it sure added an element of thrill to my hiking journey!  Reflecting on my journey, I've made significant progress and taken the time to learn from all my mistakes. I hope my experiences can serve as valuable lessons for all of you.

Ok, let's talk about saving those precious pennies, shall we? One super cute hack is borrowing stuff so you don't have to play the mad shopper. Planning a backpacking trip? Rent a tent for just 10 bucks a day or tag along with a friend who's cool with tent-sharing. Who knows, they might have a cozy sleeping bag and other nifty gear to loan you.But here's the real MVP advice: invest in a snazzy pair of hiking shoes and a trusty backpack, and you're pretty much set!

Hikingprogirl tip

Scoring second-hand hiking footwear is like finding a pot of gold because, guess what? There is no breaking-in drama. I was lucky that my marks warehouse boots didnt need break in, but I have heard some bad story where people have blisters that make them turn around!Sure, hiking can drain your wallet if you dive into all those big-name brands right away. But you don't have to splurge all at once; there's a thing called upgrading later. Trust me, essentials like good shoes and a backpack are your hiking BFFs.And speaking of essentials, never skip out on packing the must-haves for your hike, whether it's a short stroll or an epic journey. Even if you're tagging along with seemingly prepared pals, you can't assume they all have the emergency gear. Things can get wild out there, and you might find yourself solo in the wilderness. Better safe than sorry, right :)

Here is a quick list of things you must have no matter what:

• Good pair of hiking footwear

• Comfy clothes: do not wear coton because you will sweat and its not breathable. So gym clothes is good and bring extra layers with you because temperature changes fast in the mountains. You can experienced all 4 seasons under 2 hours. Bring and I highly recommend to bring an extra pair of socks.

• Have a backpack to carry everything: make sure you have a backpack with a waist adjustement and it should hang on your hips to take off the weight off your back

• Enough food and water: check ahead of time water sources along the trail, so you don’t have to carry more water than necessary cause carrying 6Litre of water is extremily heavy

• First aid kit, emergency things: I made my first aid kit for really cheak by buying everything at the dollar store

• A downloaded map: I cant stress enough about having a downloaded map! You never know when u may be walking off path because it doesn’t mean a trail looks like a trail that it is a trail! Be super careful of that! I have gone on hikes with 4 other people before andi was the only one with a map,. And we sure got lost and no one was prepared and it was starting to be night time, so to have a downloaded map is crucial as well as having an extra external recharger in case your phone dies. The best app I use is all trails

• Headlamp and bear spray
  

 How I landed my first sponsorship and how you can to!

   It's quite simple how I landed a sponsorship with a brand I absolutely love. Once I discovered my passion for hiking, I decided to invest some of my money in some hiking outfits. I found Mountain Warehouse to be a hiking brand that is not only affordable but also offers good quality. They have a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, which I immediately fell in love with!

   Wearing a new outfit motivated me to hike more, create content, and simply have fun making videos. Gradually, I began tagging the brand in my stories and posts, and as they started liking my content, I decided to reach out for a collaboration. I introduced myself and expressed my passion for hiking, explaining why their brand resonated with me. Being a genuinely satisfied customer, I maintained authenticity in my message, leading them to provide me with the email address of the contact person to discuss a sponsorship. And they fell in love with my page!

   With a budget for their influencer collaborations, I first item I picked is my go-to purple hiking jacket—the Ultra Atlas Women's Extreme Waterproof Jacket. It's truly the best jacket I've ever owned and almost cried when I thought I lost it! This jacket is like a superhero cape, but better! The rain and the wind doesn't stand a chance. I've danced in downpours without a worry. Plus, the underarm zipper is a lifesaver on those hikes where you're working up a sweat but still want to feel the breeze. I'm head over heelswith this jacket. It's not just a piece of gear; it's like my adventure sidekick. If you're on the lookout for a jacket that's as fun and friendly as it is functional, this is the one. You always see me wear it year round.in all of my reel and most of my posts. Highly recommend! 🌈🏕️ 

But back to landing that sponsorship, it's really that easy, especially when yopu already love the hiking brand!

Here are some steps to help you get sponsorship for hiking brands:

1.Build a Strong Online Presence: Showcase your love for hiking and interact with your audience.

2. Create High-Quality Content: Share your adventures and do some gear reviews

3. Sponsors are often interested in influencers who have an engaged and loyal following.

4. Research potential sponsors that you would love to work with. Research their sponsorship program, and the type of influencers they collaborate with

5. Be authentic and highlight the benefits and value you will bring to the sponsor.

    One of the crucial factors is staying true to yourself and collaborating with brands you already use. This significantly increases your chances of getting sponsored, especially when you're just starting out and don't have a large following.

   Hope these five steps can set you on the right path. Keep in mind that building relationships takes time, so stay patient and persistent! And in the meantime, keep trekking!