How to do a thru hike with less money

If you've ever dreamed a doing a long distance hike, but don't think you can budget enough money to cover the expenses for spending months out on the trail, I have some helpful tips that may help you do a thru hike on a much lower budget.

If you've been doing your research online, you'll find the most common budget recommendation for a long distance hike is around $1000 per month. In 2022, a budget between $1500 - $2000 per month seems a lot more realistic.

Of course not everyone can save that kind of money to do a long distance hike. Whether you have other expenses that keep you from being able to put aside a lot of savings or you just don't want to spend that much money on a 6 month trek, there are ways to do a long distance hike with a much lower budget.

When I did my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2020, I made a point to save as much money as I could because I knew I wanted to experience as much of the trail as possible and also be financially comfortable enough to do that. Although for personal reasons I've chosen to not share how much I spent on my hike, you can find other hikers online who've shared what their expenses were for their trek. But it's important to keep in mind that a thru hike is as individual as the person who hikes and while one person may spend a certain amount during their time on trail, your hike will most likely look very different.

How much you spend on your hike will depend on many factors including your pace, miles hiked per day, how long it takes you to finish, the number of zeros you take, where you choose to stay, whether you get injured and have to take time off trail, how much food you eat, and any gear you may have to replace during your hike.

My personal recommendation is to try to save as much money as possible even if you have to delay your hike for a few years. That way you have plenty enough money to enjoy all aspects of the trail. BUT, if waiting years isn't a possibility or you know having a larger budget just isn't in the cards for your hike, then there are ways to hike on whatever budget you have available - even if it's less than $1,000 per month.

Here are just some of my personal tips on how to spend less money on your next thru hike:

Tip #1 - Take less zeros in town

1 zero = 2 nights

After spending days and weeks on trail braving the elements and terrain, your body will be ready for a much needed break. A zero is a day where you don't hike any trail miles, but zeros in town can eat up your budget fast. Keep in mind that 1 zero equals 2 nights lodging expenses.

Take neros instead of zeros

A good way to lessen the number of zeros you take is to only take neros in town. A nero is where you hike nearly no trail miles. This may mean only hiking 2- 3 miles and going into town for resupply, food and a good night sleep. Taking neros eliminates 1 less night in town.

Take zeros in a shelter or tent

The best way to save a lot of money and still take zeros during your hike is to take your zeros in a shelter or your tent. Just make sure you have an extra day of food in your pack and check the area where you're camping to be sure there aren't restrictions on the number of nights you can stay at one campsite or shelter.

Tip #2 - Stay in hostels instead of hotels

Staying in a hostel out on the trail will almost always be cheaper than staying in a hotel. Not only are they cheaper stays, they typically cater to hikers and have more of the necessary amenities needed during a hike such as laundry, showers, gear and food.

Bunk or Tent Camp

You can save even more money when staying at a hostel by choosing a bunk or tent camping. Many hostels offer private accommodations but at a much higher cost.

Donation based

Finding donation based hostels like churches or gymnasiums can save you money as they are based on what you can afford to pay or are free.

Share a hotel room

If staying in a hostel isn't an option, another way to save money when staying at a hotel is to share a room with other hikers. Most hotels will accept 1 - 4 people per room and that can save a lot of money.

Tip #3 - Hitch instead of using shuttles

Although having the availability of shuttle service to and from the trail is an incredible convenience, it can also eat up your money pretty quickly. One way to cut your expenses is to hitch a ride into town and back to the trail. For safety reasons, I suggest always hitching with another hiker if possible.

Know the cost upfront

Knowing the cost of the shuttle upfront can help you decide if its affordable for you. Many shuttle services charge by the ride and some charge per person. Always ask up front before booking so you aren't surprised at pick up.

Share a shuttle

Sharing a shuttle with other hikers can help cut the expense of a shuttle into town. Just make sure the shuttle doesn't charge per person.

Don't slackpack

Slackpacking is where you hike all day but don't spend the night on trail. You still carry your pack but remove items like your tent, sleeping bag and other gear you don't need for an overnight. It's basically like day hiking. The advantage is it cuts your pack weight and allows you a more enjoyable, faster hike letting you make bigger miles in one day. The downside is you will need to use a shuttle service to take you to and from the trail as well as carry your extra supplies. This can become pretty costly pretty quickly. So it's best to not do any slackpacking if you want to save money - unless you're fortunate enough to have a wonderful trail angel who is wiling to slackpack you during your hike.

Tip #4 - Plan resupply food before going into town

A great way to help save money is by planning what you will buy for resupply before going into town. It's easy to want to buy extra food when you stay pretty hungry with all the miles you are putting in so knowing what you need will keep you from overspending. I recommend downloading a list app or grocery store apps to make a list of what you need.

Buy cheaper food

Another money saving tip is to buy cheaper food items like ramen, rice, oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes or pasta sides. These items typically cost the least and can be pretty filling. Also consider shopping at stores when you can like Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Walmart. Food at these stores is always cheaper and the most expensive food on trail is typically found in convenience stores or gas stations.

Sharing resupply food

Dividing your resupply food with another hiker can help you both save money. Before going to town for resupply, collaborate to see if you plan to purchase some of the same food. Because many items are in larger quantities or portions, you may be able to divide the cost in half or more.

Don't buy alcohol or beer

This is a pretty easy one to figure out but for many hikers this is a cost that can add up quickly. If you do want to enjoy an adult beverage every now and then on the trail make sure to set a budget.

Set a budget for town food

One of the things thru hikers look forward to the most is town food. A hot, cooked meal is unbeatable on the trail but this cost can add up super quickly especially if you eat at a sit down restaurant and will need to include tipping in your total. A hiker is usually pretty hungry and it's easy to over buy food. Set a budget for what you're willing to spend on town food so you are more aware of what you're buying.

Tip #5 - Use hiker boxes for supplies or food

Hiker boxes can be found at many businesses and hostels along the trail. They usually contain gear and food items left by other hikers and trail angels. These boxes are meant to be used by hikers along the trail to help with those who need food or gear. Just keep in mind these boxes are for all hikers so only take 1 or 2 items from a box and be sure to leave any gear or food you aren't using in the box for the next hiker.

Tip #6 - Cook less - cold soak instead

Not carrying a stove can be another way to save money. Cold soaking is a method where hikers rehydrate their food with cold water instead of using boiling water. By cold soaking food you can still enjoy ramen, potatoes and rice without carrying a stove. Isobutane fuel can be rather expensive and hard to find on the trail at times. It's also adds additional weight to your pack. Not heating your food on trail allows you to save on the expense of fuel or buying a stove.

If you just can't live without a hot meal on trail, you can purchase or make your own alcohol stove. Many ultralight hikers carry these as a way to save weight and to make it easier to purchase fuel in town at a much cheaper cost.

Tip #7 - Keep track of what you spend

Keeping track of what you spend on trail is a sure-fire way to save money and stay in budget. I suggest downloading a budget app that will allow you to not only set a budget but help you keep track of your expenses. If you make a point to track what you spend the first month of your hike, it will help give you an idea where you may be able to cut back on expenses or possibly have additional money to spend.

Tip #8 - Buy cheaper gear

Buying cheaper gear doesn't mean buying poor quality gear. You can find good quality gear at cheaper prices by searching online at places like:

• Join Facebook groups for the trail you're hiking

• Shop Facebook Marketplace

• Join Facebook Groups selling backpacking gear

• Shop discount gear websites

You can also save money by purchasing gear during sales such as on Black Friday or REI garage sales. Be sure to subscribe to as many gear companies emails as possible as they send out frequent discounts and sales emails. You may also be able to reach out to gear companies for a potential ambassadorship or contact them about the possibility of offering you a special discount.

Ultimately, I recommend starting your research for gear as early as possible to give yourself time to find a good deal and be sure to know the return policies on any item you purchase before testing out the gear.

Now it's time to plan your next hike!

Hopefully these tips will help you to be able to spend less money on your next long distance hike. Even if you aren't looking to save money, the tips can be helpful in keeping you mindful of what you spend. Decide what's most important to you whether it is saving enough money to alleviate any financial worries or to be able to have the opportunity to spend time out in the woods even with a tight budget.

I'd love to know if you have any awesome tips for ways to spend less money on a thru hike. Be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know! In the meantime, watch the YouTube video about these tips!