LEVEL UP: THE $100 GEAR UPGRADE

Adventure ready without breaking the bank

Last week, I was excited to finally share news of my upcoming cross country road trip in my Wildly Sarah self titled post. This is a trip I’ve kept under wraps in the planning stage for over a month, it's also the realization of a dream journey that has been in the thought bubble for many years. I never knew when I would get the opportunity to go on such a trip, but here it is, the time is now!

I’ll hit the road in the early morning on Sunday, October 4th, bright eyed and bushy tailed after my good friend’s wedding the night before. There is a lot of packing and preparation going on this week, as Portland and I get ready for three weeks of travel, attempting to explore and experience as much as possible with a pretty tight schedule. There will be time to relax in the great Pacific Northwest!

In exciting news, all overnight stops for our journey west were officially finalized over the weekend. The route specifics will remain private until the trip postings, but there will be four nights of camping on our (mostly) direct route across the continent. I can’t wait to catch up with some friends along the way. I’ve mentioned before that I can be a bit shy, so sometimes making plans with others in the midst of a trip can be a bit daunting. One of the best things I’ve learned over the past year/few years of travel is to use your connections. Reach out to friends or even acquaintances for local tips, places to stay, and hopefully make plans to meet for drinks or a meal. Plan to spend some time catching up, it will always add to your experience.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve never taken on a trip of this length with my 9 year old Pit Bull, Portland. It’s always hard for me to process that he doesn’t really know what’s coming. I keep telling him that we’re getting ready for something big. We’ve been training on walks and practicing posing for selfies. While he’s pretty adaptable to most situations, I know this will be a lot for him. To keep him comfortable and entertained, I’ve stocked up on treats and chewy things for when I need him to be patient (like on a dog friendly patio while I write). His backseat dog “taco” (seat protector) will get a plush upgrade, and in case his eating pattern is thrown off with all the moving about, I stocked up on some irresistible canned food that he will devour. Blaze orange bandana and vest will be packed and available in case any of our hiking areas are open for hunting.

My biggest concern for Portland is the unpredictability of fall weather and overnight temps. Keeping him warm and comfortable is important, so we’ll have a variety of blankets, sleeping bags, and ugly humiliating doggy Christmas sweaters from years past for whatever the conditions may be.

I’ve tried to keep new gear to a minimum for this trip, only buying what is absolutely necessary. One of my big opinions about outdoor adventure sports is that most of the time, you really don’t need a lot of fancy gear. Most of the gear I own - tent, sleeping bag, lanterns, etc. are at least a few years old and none of them are really big name brands. My perspective is that you should have what you need to be prepared and stay safe, but that it isn’t important to invest in top of the line gear until you know what you like and that you’ll use it. You can always upgrade later.

So, I allocated just $100 to spend on new “gear” for this trip. Some of the things I chose to purchase I wouldn’t traditionally consider gear, but I’ll refer to them in this context since they were bought specifically for this trip, with solo travel in mind. Outside the $100 budget are food and meal items including fuel for cooking, and lighters for starting campfires. How did I choose to spend just $100? Here are my selections:

6’ x 8’ Tarp: I’ll start with the least expensive and most boring item in my gear bag. Perfect size for laying out under my tent at night or for additional use as shelter in a survival situation. $2.49

100 piece First Aid Kit: From time to time, I shake my head at myself that after wilderness survival and Wilderness First Aid trainings, I still haven’t assembled a custom first aid kit to carry with me in my pack. This basic and lightweight kit definitely doesn’t have everything, but it’s a pretty good start with various bandages, scissors and tweezers, antiseptic wipes, tape, blister pads, and even one of those metallic emergency blankets that I've heard are more useful as a reflective signaling device than for warming up. $13.82

Pepper Spray: I’ll admit, this is the first pepper spray I have ever purchased, but something worth having for personal safety and to protect Portland. I’m fortunate that, based on my own experience, I’m more worried about using this against another dog or wild animal than I am on another person. In any case, this was an inexpensive multi use option for safety. $9.99

Air Horn: Last in my safety purchases, I’m calling this the Bear Horn. If you’ve read my article announcing the trip, I mentioned my #1 fear is being attacked by a bear. Another multipurpose safety item, to use in an emergency either alone or in tandem with other noise making devices. $13.99

Camp Stove with 2 Pots: My most expensive purchase. Looking forward to testing out this new toy and preparing some delicious meals to eat fireside after a long day on the road and trail. I’ve never personally cooked on a camp stove before. This will be fun! $29.98

Phone/Camera Tripod with Bluetooth Shutter Button: Hoping to capture better photos than just selfies, without the hustle of running to beat the 10 second timer. This is one of those situation based pieces of gear that I thought would make the trip a little easier. $11.99

Car Power Inverter: For the not-so-technical like me, this converts the power from that round (DC) outlet in your car to a three prong electrical outlet. This will help me create a mobile charging station for things like my laptop that don’t have a USB power cord. $18.99

What do you think about the way I chose to spend $100 on new gear for a cross country trip? It’s always interesting to see what you end up using or needing the most -- often times it’s something you don’t expect! While planning and packing can turn into a stressful endeavor, I always try to remember that (unless you’re truly going off the grid) the same stores and amenities will be available to you along the way. Obviously, you don’t want to spend your travel time shopping for basics, but it’s comforting to know that if you forget something or discover something that you need, you can always pick it up later.

I’ll be writing once more before we hit the road. I’d love to make it a Q & A. If you have any questions about my travel plans, the planning process, or even something more random and unexpected, I’d love to answer them later this week. Questions are kind of my favorite. Don’t hesitate to send me your “Q” however you can: in the comments below, on Facebook, Instagram, or even in a text if you have my number!

If you haven’t read about my upcoming trip, I invite you to read the story in my self titled article, Wildly Sarah. Exciting things are ahead, I can’t wait to share the journey with you. Until next time, Live Wildly.