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No one wants to end up with expensive travel gear you don’t need or will never use again!
You also don’t want to load up on cheap, low-quality gear that breaks or tears halfway through a trip. (Or that simply adds very little value to your packed bag.)
Travel gear – yes, everything from a simple quick-drying outfit to a big tent – comes in a huge range of prices and quality levels. When deciding what is both necessary and worth it, doing a bit of research and analysis pays off. Look at the warranty or guarantee, read reviews, and examine how much you will actually use it.
It’s all about analyzing your individual travel needs, how much value you are going to get out of a specific item, and what you can afford. Determine the cost vs. use of an item before you buy it.
Investing in High-Quality, Long-Lasting Travel Gear
While buying more low-quality items may seem like a good idea, if the item breaks after one use, shrinks or discolors in the wash, or needs to be replaced frequently, then it really is just a waste of money.
Now not everyone can afford to buy the most expensive travel gear out there (some travel gear can get really pricey) but it is worth it to do your research and get the highest quality gear you can afford.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive travel gear available, there are many good quality options at a more affordable price tag.
By buying one high-quality item, you are often saving money. If you are an eco-friendly traveler you will understand the appeal of buying something that lasts longer and doesn’t need to be thrown away and replaced often – costing you money and harming the environment.
Buying high-quality travel gear is an investment.
What Do You Really Need?
If you’re taking a big trip, you might think it’s a good idea to invest in a specific product, like a backpack for your summer in Europe or safari clothing for a trip to Africa. It’s easy to talk yourself into specific gear and clothing because of what you’ve heard from others’ trips, but you need to be realistic.
Travel Gear
When it comes to purchasing a backpack, for example, you first must know your trip style. We’ve known many people to buy a backpack for study abroad and then never use it again afterward. If you won’t use it again, and it isn’t crucial to your travel style, find an alternative that better suits you. There’s no rule that says you can’t carry a suitcase and still be a “backpacker.”
It is important to assess whether alternatives can sufficiently serve the shorter purpose of a trip and then also serve other purposes after.
Travel Clothing
Many travelers purchase specific technical travel clothing that may function well in certain environments, but will only be worn for a few days on a short trip because it’s not cute enough to wear in real life.
Caroline (past HPL team member) once bought a pair of hiking pants that she may have worn only once, but at the time she was convinced she would use them frequently on one of her trips. The same goes for shoes like hiking boots that are bought for a trip through the Grand Canyon, but gather dust in your closet once you get home.
Again, think about the alternatives. Instead of hiking pants, maybe some comfortable yoga pants or exercise pants that you’re going to wear again would be a better pick.
You need less than you think you do.
Sometimes travelers are convinced that they need to go out and buy a whole new travel wardrobe. Not only is this unnecessary, but it can get expensive.
You really only need to pack a week’s worth of clothing which can be mixed and matched to create many different looks. If you run out of clothes you simply wash them (multiple times if necessary).
This week’s worth of clothing doesn’t need to all be specific travel clothing. Most of it will be from your normal wardrobe with only a few specific travel pieces.
How Much Will You Use It?
It goes without saying that if you’ll use the item often, that high-quality gear is going to be well worth the cost.
For example, Brooke’s $130 Icebreaker jacket was a big expense before a 3 and a half month trip back in 2012, but she ended up wearing said jacket about 75% of those trip days and continued to wear it for an entire year (and then some) after since the quality allowed her to do so. The cost per wear was significantly decreased.
The cost per wear for Brooke’s Icebreaker jacket works out to $1.62 and that’s JUST FOR HER TRIP. Considering how much she wore it after her trip, that cost per wear would decrease even more.
It’s safe to say that most people have a $5 t-shirt in the back of the closet that’s only been worn once or twice. The cost per wear on that alone is $2.50!
Cheaper doesn’t always mean more value for money.
The same goes for an item like the Encircled Chrysalis Cardi. While high in price, the fact that it can be worn as several items without being the same every day means the cost per wear is greatly reduced.
Travel Gear Cost vs. Use Comparisons
Merino Wool Travel Dress vs. Cheaper Alternative
Let’s compare something simple, like a travel dress, to give an idea of how cost vs. use works. Travel dresses give you effortless travel style, and provide versatility for layering and making multiple outfits.
Wool& is one of our favorite brands for travel gear. They host the 100 Day Challenge where they challenge wearers of their brand to wear a dress for 100 days straight. Made possible by merino wool’s odor-resistant and breathable qualities. Merino wool is one of the best fabrics for travel clothing.
This means that you can get at least 100 wears (and probably more) out of the wool& Brooklyn Wrap Dress and the quality will remain the same as the day you bought it.
It also has a reversible neckline for two looks in one. Meaning you’ll get even more wear out of it. You can dress it up or down depending on the occasion and the timeless look ensures that you’ll have this in your closet for years to come.
At $138, this may seem like a pricey investment for a dress, but if you wear it 100 times the cost per wear is $1.38. Because it is such a versatile, high-quality piece you are sure to wear it for many years to come.
Now let’s say you buy a cheaper $20 dress that isn’t as versatile, the fabric doesn’t wear as well, and the style becomes dated quickly. You might end up wearing that item less than 10 times before it’s outdated or needs to be replaced making the cost per wear over $2.
| Dress + Price | Number of Wears | Cost Per Wear |
|---|---|---|
| Wool& Dress – $138 | 100 (100-day dress challenge) |
$1.38 |
| Cheap Dress – $20 | 10 | $2 |
Multipurpose Jacket vs. Single Purpose Jacket
The North Face Antora Triclimate Womens Jacket functions both as a rain jacket and as a fleece jacket to keep you warm. This jacket is actually made up of two different parts that zip together and can also be worn separately depending on the conditions.
This means the North Face Antora Triclimate Womens Jacket can be worn as:
- A light rain jacket when it’s hot and rainy
- A fleece when it’s cold but sunny
- A warm rain jacket when it’s cold and rainy
You can take this on any trip, to any destination, and for any season.
While it retails at $229.95 (currently $163.28 on Amazon!!!) it is actually doing the job of three items of clothing – a light rain jacket, a thick waterproof jacket, and a fleece layer for warmth.
While you could buy different jackets for all of these occasions, you would need to buy three pieces to cover the uses of this one jacket and you wouldn’t wear any of them nearly as much. Plus, you would then have to pack three items in your bag for traveling instead of one.
The Value of a Use
Electronics and other gear like sleep sacks that are purchased before a trip, typically get ditched once you’re home. However, when it comes to some items, like a bug net for a week in malaria-infested zones, or a high-tech down coat for a week on a sled in Lapland, they are pretty much worth their weight in gold.
Even if an item won’t be used to a great extent, you have to consider the negative impact of not having the right gear, or quality gear, for a specific activity. No good hiking boots while taking on the Annapurna Circuit? Your feet may just hate you.
Here is where it might be valuable to buy more general purpose items IF they fulfil the purpose you need them for. For example, instead of buying super specific heavy-duty hiking boots if you only go hiking once a year, get more general hiking shoes that you can wear for other activities throughout the year as well.
Alternatives to Buying
Get High-Quality Travel Gear For Less
Not everyone can afford to buy high-quality travel gear before their trip. There are a few ways to get high-quality travel gear for less.
Instead of buying in advance, there’s always the option of picking up something when you arrive at your destination, which may end up being cheaper. You may even find items for free at donation bins at hostels or campgrounds or be able to trade with other travelers. Also ask friends and family if they have an item you can borrow instead of buying your own.
For more tips, check out our blog post on how to score bargain travel gear. We cover 10 tips plus there are 3 bonus tips from a fellow traveler.
You might also want to check out our go-to guide for affordable quick-drying travel clothes. If you’re a thrifter, then our thrifting for travel gear post is for you.
Use What You Have
You can also take items you currently own – and that might also be nearing the end of their life cycle with you – and then toss them on the road.
When past HPL team member, Caroline, spent time traveling in Australia and Asia, she packed older jeans for Melbourne that she was able to ditch later. She was certainly glad to have packed them, especially since it was cold, but she knew she wouldn’t need them again.
Caroline didn’t want to invest in anything expensive just to have them dragged around unworn for two months in Asia.
When is expensive gear necessary?
If you’ve determined that you’re going to buy some gear, but may not use it much afterward, look for bargains at outlets like The Clymb or REI Outlet, which sell the same gear for much cheaper (but without your choices in colors and the ability to try on beforehand). These items may not be subject to returns or warranty.
With any travel gear you buy, ask these questions beforehand to help you decide if it’s really worth the investment.
- How many times will I wear this?
- Will I use this while traveling and at home?
- Is this item multi-functional?
- Will this item be useful for more than one trip?
- Will I have to replace this item regularly?
If you’re looking for an investment piece of luggage or clothing, you’ll have better luck in spending more money upfront rather than buying a cheaper version that you have to replace for your next trip.
The key word is investment– because that’s what good gear is.
Have you invested in any pieces of travel gear that you absolutely love? Tell us about them.
