Here is the link to the gear!<p><a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/lithic/9549605" rel="nofollow">https://www.walmart.com/cp/lithic/9549605</a><p>Excited for this. All the major outdoor gear companies have made proper backpacking pretty hard to get into without dropping a grand or two on lightweight gear. Yeah, you can grab a Coleman tent for $50 that weighs 30lbs, but to truly backpack for multiple days you are looking for a 3-6lb tent that currently is anywhere from $300 to $800 depending on your quality preference.
Thank God. Let's just be honest here brands like the North face and others are horrifically overpriced for their typical gear. yeah I remember when Patagonia and North face were basically only used by expeditioners and they only sold top pulling line stuff made in the USA. The fact that it was made in America kind of explained the cost. but now they just make it all in cheap countries mark it up and hog the money.<p>At least now I can go out and get a mid-range backpacking set up without going completely broke.
See also: this $2,000 "Viathon" mountain bike -- a Walmart brand. Expensive for people who just want a bike to ride, but competitive with bikes that cost twice as much. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-AJc3QL-Q" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-AJc3QL-Q</a><p>It's an interesting strategy. The high-end of a lot of hobbies are inflated beyond reason, and I think it's cool that they're taking a stab at that.
The first thing that came to my mind was Walmart's existing "Ozark Trail" brand of tents and outdoor equipment. I have a few of their insulated cups and water bottles and they're good value for the price.<p>I wonder why they decided to use new Lithic branding?
I bought their ultralight single person backpacking tent for $25 on clearance and it is surprisingly solid. It looks like a Chinese REI rip-off.<p>Edit* not part of their new line obviously but shows it's not all junk
I think this is exciting. I suspect the gear will be bass pro shop quality, not cabella’s, bit that’s ok, most people only take a few short trips and don’t need to spend a lot to have a really fun time.<p>Backpacking, like many such activities, has a significant gearhead contingent, but I like to bring as little gear as possible, and as little “pro” gear as I can get away with (some things though, like my stove, are specific). But say for winter camping I haul extra gear around in a Walmart deer sled and it’s great.
Surprised no one is talking about how this is Walmart's version of AmazonBasics...<p>Here are my thoughts: It's interesting to see big online retailers make their own cheap brands to monopolize their sales
I thought it would be fun to share my backpacking checklist from 1974. (Forgive the code formatting, on mobile you can drag left/right to see it.)<p><pre><code> CLOTHING
Boots - waterproofed [1]
3 sets socks
String shirt [2]
Long sleeved cotton shirt
Wool shirt
Shorts
Long pants
Gaiters [3]
Handkerchiefs
Down vest
Windbreaker
Poncho
Rain chaps
Mittens - inner/outer
Scarves
Balaclava [4]
Hat
Stephenson Warmlite No-Sweat Shirt [5]
Walking stick [6]
Backpack
For the trip home:
Clean underpants, pants, shirt, socks
CAMP
Sleeping bag and stuffsack
Mosquito netting
Foam pad
Ground sheet
Tarp
Visklamps/stakes [7]
Nylon cord 50'
Stove kit (stove, pot lid, lighter, bag)
Fuel can
Fuel pellets
Cleaning wire
Asbestos pad (!!)
Fill and test stove and lighter
Flashlight
Knife - sharpened
Sharpening stone
Clothespins
Paper towels
Plastic bags
Toilet paper
Trowel
Canteen
Spoon
Washcloth
Toothbrush/floss
Soap
Salt/pepper shakers
FIRST AID
Moleskin/foam
Rubbing alcohol
Tweezers
Gauze pads
Gauze bandage
Triangular bandage
ACE bandage
Band-Aids
Adhesive tape
Nail clippers
Chapstick
Glacier cream
Bug repellent!
Cotton balls
Salt tablets
First aid book
Snakebite kit
EMERGENCY/REPAIR
Matchsafe
Flint stick
Mirror
Whistle
Ripstop tape
Spare batteries/flashlight bulbs
Rubber bands
Velcro
Sewing kit/thimble
Clevis pins
Razor blade
Wire
Cord clamps
Phone change
Halazone [8]
Space blanket [9]
</code></pre>
[1] Waterproofing involved coating the boots with wax and putting them in the oven. What a mess!<p>[2] A mesh t-shirt, great for layering: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=string+shirt&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=string+shirt&tbm=isch</a><p>[3] Covers the gap between long pants and shoes: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=gaiters&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=gaiters&tbm=isch</a><p>[4] Not the dessert: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=balaclava&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=balaclava&tbm=isch</a><p>[5] NSFW for "naturist" style nudity: <a href="https://www.outinunder.com/sites/default/files/Warmlite%20Catalog%201974.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.outinunder.com/sites/default/files/Warmlite%20Ca...</a><p>[6] The best walking stick is the one you cut from a fallen tree with the saw in your Swiss Army knife. I still have mine!<p>[7] I had to look this up to remember what they were: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=visklamps&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=visklamps&tbm=isch</a><p>[8] Had to look up this one too: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=halazone&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=halazone&tbm=isch</a><p>[9] Space blanket: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=space+blanket&tbm=isch" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=space+blanket&tbm=isch</a>