by: Steve Gillman
Cheap backpacks can be made, but I don't recommend it. Unless you are extremely skilled at sewing, it isn't likely to come out like you want. Also, even if you are an expert, it will probably take less of your time to pick up an extra day at work and buy a pack with the earnings.
On the other hand, if you have an old backpack frame, you can make a cheap backpack with it. Remove the old pack, and tie a plain nylon duffel bag to it firmly, with the zipper facing out. Small bungee cords will work for attaching it too. I did this using an old aluminum frame that still had straps and a waist belt, and for the cost of a $15 duffel bag, I had an external-frame backpack that not only held a lot, but weighed just two pounds.
Buying Cheap Backpacks
There are several ways to buy cheap backpacks. The most obvious is to just wait for a good sale. A quicker way is to shop for a used pack online. Try Ebay.com, or go to a backpacking or other outdoor forum that allows people to sell their gear, like whiteblaze.net. The forums are nice, because you can easily ask questions about the pack.
You can also buy used backpacks cheap at rummage sales. Watch the ads for any mention of outdoor gear, and call to see if they have a backpack you might want. You may be able to buy it before the sale starts. Otherwise, start shopping early, and negotiate a bit. I recently sold a beautiful Kelty frame-pack for $15 at a garage sale.
Thrift stores sometimes have cheap backpacks. More often they have day packs, but you never know. I have seen big old frame packs that were rough at thrift shops, and it occurred to me that for a few dollars I could just toss the pack, and use the frame with a duffel bag, as described above.
Another way to keep the cost down is to go light. The lightweight backpacks, unlike other lightweight gear, are always cheaper than the big packs. If you have been thinking about lightening the load, you can save money too. Ultralight backpacks are usually under two pounds and frame-less. You'll probably use a sleeping pad as a "frame" of sorts. The good news is that they are often on sale for under $100.
Go-Lite has several packs that are near $100, and sometimes on sale for less than that. The list price on the Granite Gear Virga Ultra Light Packer may still be under $100, and I have seen it on sale for under $80. It also weighs only 21 ounces, a bonus for me, as I like the idea of light AND cheap backpacks.
About The Author
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations,
|
Cheap Air Fares - The Secrets to Getting Cheap Air Fares
by: Anthony Kristovich III
Cheap air fares are easy if you keep these 8 tips in mind. Airlines aim to make as much money as possible. They are not going to put the cheap air fares out front, so you need to know how to find those gold mines yourself.
There are basically 8 rules I use on a regular basis when booking flights to be sure I get to my destination the cheapest way. These are tips that every person can easily use, frequently cutting the price in half you pay.
1. Make your reservation as early as possible. At least 14 days in advance. After this time, the air tickets can easily more than double in price and cheap air fares may not be available.
2. Be flexible with your travel time. Changing the day or the time of day can drastically reduce the price of your air flight. The best day to fly on is Wednesday, which is also the best day to book the flight on. The cheapest...
Cheap Air Fares - The Secrets to Getting Cheap Air Fares
Really Cheap Car Insurance
by: Steve Gillman
There are the usual tips for getting really cheap car insurance. You may need to be reminded of these. Then there are the secrets that you haven't heard about. You'll find a few of those here too.
1. Shop around. Call several companies for quotes, starting with those that advertise the lowest prices. be sure to include at least one independent agent, since they can check many companies for you. Use the tips here to make a list of questions to ask them.
2. Raise your deductible to lower your rates. If you really can't afford the first $500 of an accident, you should rearrange your financial life. After all, you're going to find away to afford more than that over time, on higher premiums.
3. Consider dropping collision. Why pay for it if the car is worth $1000? All you'll get is $1000. The rule is: drop the collision if you can afford the loss. You can't drop it if you owe on the car. However,...
Really Cheap Car Insurance
Tips On How To Get Cheap Air Travel To Europe
by: Dana Goldberg
Trip to Europe often connotes high airfare. But with a little effort and dedication, you can go in any cities of this continent at a cheap price.
To know how, here are the following tips:
1. Search the Internet. It is the best place to search for cheap air travel to Europe. Try it yourself: do a research on all major and minor airlines traveling from the United States to Europe. Check all their prices. Now search on the Internet. You will be surprised how much difference the plane tickets are.
2. Take connected flights and do not fly direct. Again, this would take a good time of researching and finding the cities that can connect your flight from the United States to any city in Europe.
3. No first class and business seats please. Your aim is to go to Europe in as little amount as possible. These seats could cost twice as much as coach seats. Do not be ashamed...
Tips On How To Get Cheap Air Travel To Europe
The Nuts and Bolts of Airfare Deals
by: Isaac Rau
Shopping for airline tickets has come a long way since the days of calling the airline companies directly to reserve your itinerary.
The advent of the internet has given everyday consumers the ability to book airfares without the assistance of airline customer service representatives or travel agents.
Here?s some information that will make you more knowledgeable about how to get the best deal when booking flights yourself online.
Have you ever seen the prices for a flight fluctuate drastically in the same day?
This is because most airlines use robust, database driven software that factors historical purchase data along with current ticket supply and demand to determine ticket prices.
For example, if a flight is selling out too fast compared with past flights for that same route, ticket prices will rise and vice versa. Prices are updated multiple times...
Cheap Loans ? For The Borrowers Fixated On Low Cost
Cheap Loans ? For The Borrowers Fixated On Low Cost
by: Amanda Thompson
Finance market is at peak reaching for new heights. Increasing number of lenders in the finance market has opened a new dimension for the borrowers to take advantage of borrowing money at competitive interest rates. Each lender wants to grab more and more number of borrowers and thus offer infinite number of loan options and that too at cheaper rates. Cheap loans are the latest addition in the loan category that offers cheap and easy loans to the borrowers.
The word ?cheap loan? is defined differently by different people. For some a cheap loan can either be a loan with the lowest monthly repayments for a sum of money, or to another a loan which has the lowest amount of interest repayable in total. A cheap loan can be in the form of cheap personal loan, cheap secured loan, cheap unsecured loan and the list is endless.
The usage of cheap loan is not confined to middle...
Cheap Loans ? For The Borrowers Fixated On Low Cost
How to Get a Cheap Homeowner Loan
by: John Mussi
If you're looking for a cheap homeowner loan, you might be wondering what you can do to reduce the amount that you have to pay.
The simplest answer lies in two things? shopping around to find the lender that offers the lowest interest rates on a cheap homeowner loan, and maximizing the value of your loan against the equity in your home that's being used as collateral.
We'll look at each of these items individually, so as to give you a better understanding on how to get the most for your money with a cheap homeowner loan.
Shopping around for a lender
A variety of cheap homeowner loan options exist for individuals regardless of their credit rating, so long as they have sufficient home equity.
The main difference that a homeowner will encounter when looking for a cheap homeowner loan comes from the different interest rates that some banks and finance companies offer. ...
How to Get a Cheap Homeowner Loan