How to allocate funds?

[RB]

I put more importance on boots than pack, but not much.  so boots, pack, sleeping bag.   for me   

Good point, Doug.

 

I never thought I would spend over $400 on a pair of boots, but after doing my Goat hunt last year I am extremely glad I did! Good fitting well made boots will literally make or break the trip 

[jackelope]

$300 will get you a nice set of boots. Just depends on your style of boot you prefer. I prefer the bigger, heavier 10" leather sheep hunting style boots, but I'm a big fella and I like what I feel like is added support of these boots.
Some folks like the Salomon style boots.
https://www.backcountry.com/salomon-quest-4d-2-gtx-backpacking-boot-mens?CMP_SKU=SAL00D7&MER=0406&skid=SAL00D7-DET-S9&CMP_ID=PLA_BNG001&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=PLA&mr:trackingCode=A596793C-7D95-E411-9BFE-BC305BF82376&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pa&mr:ad=8823334206&mr:filter=1100202943386&gclid=CMmD7OKkuNICFVZPgQodE1YODg&gclsrc=ds

$500 will get you a nice pack, you might have to go used, but I believe you can get into a top tier used pack for $500.00

$300 will get you a great quality tent, and you can find something really good for $200.00

Figure around $125 for a great pad.

$200-250 for a good bag or quilt?

$100 for a stove?

Then figure another couple hundred bucks for the smalls that I'm not thinking of. 
I might be off a little here and there.

[ctwiggs1]

Get a hunting partner who is more experienced than you.  Chances are they have lots of extra gear.  Every time I get a friend into hunting, I loan/give away a lot of gear to help them along.  I rarely sell gear because I know I've got buddies who are "this close" to getting into hunting and I want to be able to help them out.  I've received a lot of help along the way myself.

I have a buddy who wants to try hunting this year.  I'm upgrading to a Kifaru so I'll be loaning him my old army ruck sack, a spare JetBoil I have, and a few other things.  Nothing great but it'll help him focus his money on high end essentials.  Now he can focus on a good sleep system and a good pair of boots and smaller auxiliary gear.  There's no doubt - the cost adds up.  The more that we can help the next guy, the more people we can get into hunting.

Curtis

[highside74]

Cabelas Meindl Denali boot $320
Used Kuiu Icon Pro 5200 $350ish
Mt Smith LT tent $90
Enlightened Equipment 20 degree quilt  $280
Thermarest near all season $120
Amazon.com any micro stove $25

Just under $1200

Use the $300 on good puffy or rain jacket

[quadrafire]

I'd budget for some lightweight trekking poles as well. I really like my black diamonds
https://www.rei.com/product/877683/black-diamond-distance-carbon-z-pole-trekking-poles-pair

[fillthefreezer]

we did this as a sort of hypothetical a couple years ago, how would you outfit someone totally new, for $1000.
is your clothing all square and you only need gear? thats pretty easy to get a setup that will keep you happy for a couple seasons until you really refine your wants/needs/and overall gear system

[fillthefreezer]

so everyone talks about the big 3, tent, sleeping bag, pack. theres where most budget and weight are going to come from. you need to be comfortable, stay within budget, and keep weight reasonable. you also need to cook, prepare water, and carry it. i will address all these with my recommendations and prices. this is good gear, that will keep you happy at least probably 2 seasons, and stay under $1k
shelter- mountainsmith mountain shelter LT or similar $100 new
enlightened equipment enigma 20* 850fill reg/reg $280 new
used dana designs astralplane, arcteryx bora, or rei xt85 etc $150 ebay
exped winterlite currently on closeout $125 or similar pad
msr windburner $140 new
Platy big zip 3L $35 new
katy hikewr pro $85 new
total of $915

[jackelope]

Folks keep mentioning the Mountainsmith. It maybe should be pointed out that that is floorless.
Some are fans of floorless, some are not.
I am a wuss, so I'll pass on the floorless.

[fillthefreezer]

Folks keep mentioning the Mountainsmith. It maybe should be pointed out that that is floorless.
Some are fans of floorless, some are not.
I am a wuss, so I'll pass on the floorless.

then take a weight or budget hit. i meantion it because its a. cheap AF b. pretty light could run a marmot tungsten 2p or something instead

[ctwiggs1]

Folks keep mentioning the Mountainsmith. It maybe should be pointed out that that is floorless.
Some are fans of floorless, some are not.
I am a wuss, so I'll pass on the floorless.

then take a weight or budget hit. i meantion it because its a. cheap AF b. pretty light could run a marmot tungsten 2p or something instead

I have the tungsten and don't like it.  I'm moving away from it.  The poles are long and awkward to pack (maybe it's just my pack or the way I pack).  I think a trekking pole style shelter will be my next move.

[jackelope]

Folks keep mentioning the Mountainsmith. It maybe should be pointed out that that is floorless.
Some are fans of floorless, some are not.
I am a wuss, so I'll pass on the floorless.

then take a weight or budget hit. i meantion it because its a. cheap AF b. pretty light could run a marmot tungsten 2p or something instead

Agreed. I'm thinking pretty hard about the My Trail Co UL2. At $200 and 2# 11oz, I think it could be a winner...especially for the price. It's the company that used to be GoLite.
http://mytrailco.com/collections/tents/products/tent-ul-2

[whacker1]

fillthefreezer gave a great list for price point as well as a few others.  start with that list and upgrade where you think you need to.

I spent a lot of money getting to what I want, but the one step that was missed is to inventory what you have and determine if you can sell anything to upgrade vs buying something that might be in duplicate.  i.e. do you have any of the gear that you may be replacing as part of this, sleeping bags, tents, etc.?

Third, do you know anyone that will let you borrow anything to test it out to see what you like and don't like?  Do you sleep hot or cold?  do you like or hate mummy bags?   borrow a floorless tent to see if you can handle floor less.  I didn't think I would be able to do floorless when involved in this conversation 3 or 4 years ago, and now I have no problem living floorless for a week at a time.

Plan for a budget of year over year, because you will find things that work for you that you like and then other items that you will want to upgrade or try something different.  I have bought a few tents, a few packs, a couple of different sleeping bags, etc.  some are to suit different purposes, and others are because I didn't like the first set up.  So, just go into it with the understanding that this takes time to make ti the way you want it.

[Shawn Ryan]

I have gear for you to test/borrow. PM sent.

[blackpowderhunter]

Tents can be a discussion in and of themselves..
a few things to think about.
Floorless or not? (I'm a wuss and couldn't/wouldn't go this route for a few reasons)
Single or double wall?
Free standing or not?
1 or 2 person? (even going solo, a 2 person can be nice if you don't mind the negligible extra weight for the vast amount of extra space)
I know TONS of guys love a lot of the big agnes tents, but the droopy walls if not 100% pitched properly lead to a super cramped feeling inside for me.
I have an MSR hubba hubba nx (2 person, although they make it in a 1 person model as well) tent that I wouldn't hesitate to run solo just for the added space inside for keeping gear etc.  If i did get the hankering to go floorless, I Could run it in the "fast and light" mode where you basically just have the ground sheet and rain fly.  A reason I wouldn't want to go floorless is that sometimes you can't find the perfect place to set up, and water finds new paths in sudden rain storms.  I did a week backpacking through Utah last summer, and EVERY night was a crazy thunder/rain storm and we stayed dry every single night..even with some less than stellar tent location decisions.
The thing I liked most about the msr tent, was the near vertical walls, and it being the same width at both ends.  A lot of tents have narrower foot ends, and the walls and ceiling drop down going to that end.  It makes sitting inside the tent to weather out the weather or bugs MUCH MUCH more enjoyable, especially if there is more than 1 person.  There have been many a nights where I've had to eat inside my tent because the bugs were SO thick.
Definitely try to set up, and get in any of the tents you might be interested in.  Specs online might say one thing to you, but when you get inside one and instantly hate it, might mean another.

[Skyvalhunter]

There is other questions that one might want to ask their selves. Will I also be using this gear for backpacking, High Hunt, Regular Season, Late Hunt or out of State. I have equipment that I use for the different seasons. Like I don't use the same pack I backpack in for the summer,  I don't wear my hunting clothes any other time but when I am hunting, etc