Photo courtesy NPS

Early this summer, we dispatched three writers to the Virginia backwoods with a trunkful of gear to match the budgets of outdoorsmen rich, poor, and somewhere in the middle. Our point? We wanted to test whether the scope of price tags you see in the shops really makes all that much difference when it's time to hit the trail. Will a $300 tent help you sleep better than a sub-$100 competitor? Can a pack with all the bells and whistles of modern gear makers' every imagining outstrip a basic bag with just two straps and a packing cavity?

The stage was set in the hilly, wooded terrain of Shenandoah National Park. The dollar-derived rivalries were established along the axes of backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and stoves. The weather was fair and foul. How did our experiment turn out? Read on to discover A Tale of Three Campers, where budget, mid-range, and high-end gear setups go head to head.

MORE BACKPACKING-GEAR ESSENTIALS:
Backpacking 101
An inventory of all the gear you'll need for your next foray in the wild, wild wilderness.

How to Choose a Women's Backpack
Tips from the experts on choosing a pack tailored to the fairer trail-trotting sex.

Backpacking Packing List
GORP's Hiking Expert ticks off the gear that should find its way into your pack.

Outside's Buyer's Guide
The latest and greatest from the gear world, torture-tested and rated by the experts.

BACKPACKING RESOURCES:
Ten Hiking Essentials
Ten things that no self-respecting hiker should leave home without.

Where to Hike
The Web's best resource for hiking around the U.S. and beyond.

GORP's Trail Finder
Find trails near you, rated from easy to moderate to difficult.

Return to Top

RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP Gear
Gear Buying Guides