You don’t need expensive gear to go hiking, but you do need gear that’s appropriate for the conditions you’re heading into. That’s the distinction I’d want a new hiker to understand before they spend a cent.
The type of hike, terrain, weather, remoteness, and duration all matter far more than brand names or price tags. A short walk on a formed track in settled weather has very different requirements to a remote, multi-day hike in alpine or exposed terrain. Good gear supports safety and comfort, but I don’t think expensive gear is a prerequisite for getting started.
If you’re new to hiking, I’d rather see you focus on the essentials and build your kit gradually than delay getting outside until you can afford top-tier equipment.
Start with the essentials
Most hikes only need a small core set of items, the basics that matter regardless of budget.
Clothing should suit the conditions and let you manage heat, cold, wind, and rain. Layering matters far more than labels. One budget trap I’d warn you away from is cotton. It absorbs water, dries slowly, and can significantly increase heat loss when wet. A cheap synthetic or wool top from a discount department store is a safer bet than an expensive cotton shirt, because it keeps insulating even when it’s damp.
Footwear should be comfortable, stable, and appropriate for the terrain. It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it does need to fit properly and give you enough support for the ground you’re walking on.
Navigation becomes critical once you move beyond short, well-signed tracks. A paper map and compass remain reliable and cheap, and digital navigation can be a useful supplement if you understand its limitations.
Food and water are about planning, not price. Carry enough water for the conditions and simple, high-energy food that travels well.
Sun protection is essential in Australia. A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are inexpensive items with a real safety impact.
A basic first aid kit, some form of emergency shelter, and a light source are sensible on most hikes, even short ones. None of this needs to be elaborate, but it should match the environment and season.
Beyond these basics, I’d add gear based on the specific hike in front of you, not some general idea of what hikers are supposed to carry.
Where to save and where to spend
As hikes get longer or more remote, it helps to understand where money actually makes a difference.
For overnight hiking, most of my investment goes into the “big three”: pack, shelter, and sleeping system. These affect comfort, fatigue, and recovery more than clothing or accessories ever will. A poorly fitting or overly heavy pack can cause pain that ruins a trip, no matter how cheap the rest of your gear is.
This is where “buy once, cry once” genuinely applies. You can hike safely in inexpensive shorts and shirts, but a cheap pack that doesn’t carry weight well, or a sleeping system that doesn’t suit the conditions, can make a trip miserable or unsafe.
More expensive gear is usually lighter rather than safer. In simple terms, you pay more to carry less. A very light tent or pack isn’t necessarily more protective than a heavier one, it’s just easier to carry. Once you understand that, it’s easier to avoid assuming price equals safety.
Hiking on a budget in Australia
If cost is holding you back, there are practical ways to get started.
Borrowing or renting gear makes sense for items you’ll only use occasionally, like packs, tents, or sleeping systems. Buying second-hand through local gear swap groups, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree is common, and in my experience it works well.
Entry-level gear from Australian retailers and house brands is generally functional for walking on formed tracks and in mild conditions. It might be heavier or less refined, but it can still do the job perfectly well while you build experience.
Upgrading gradually spreads the cost and lets you make better decisions as you learn what actually matters for the kind of hiking you enjoy.
Expensive gear doesn’t make you a safer hiker. Appropriate gear, sound planning, and good judgement do. Start with the essentials, avoid known pitfalls like cotton clothing, and build your kit as your experience grows, because the bush doesn’t care about the logo on your jacket. It only cares whether your gear does its job when conditions change.
Great advice as usual.
I sometimes also suggest to those new to hiking, do easy hikes that are circuit based around where they’ve parked their car. You Yangs is a great example.
Use this as a work up to bigger and more hard core hikes, and in the process test their kit.
If anything goes wrong, it’s not catastrophic. The walk back to the car won’t kill them…
Unless they have terrible shoes.
Don’t scrimp on shoes or socks. 😂
Murky Murk that’s also very wise advise.
Great advice!!