Touring - What’s your best bargain for the tour?

I usually hate shopping, but not when it comes to shopping for my upcoming tour through Europe. Today I experienced pure bliss when I found and bought the sleeping bag that I’ve been looking for in so many shops where it was sold out: A Haglöfs LIM #PLUS 5. It looks like this:

http://www.ritech.se/haglofs/bild_l/4147lb.jpg

And here are the specs: Ultra light synthetic sleeping bag for light treks.
Temperature limit / Comfort temperature: +5°C / +12°C.
Filling: Ultra fine Denier polyester fibre.
Weight: Approx. 490 g.

It’s so small packed that it’s almost magic!!! And $90 is really affordable. So now I wonder: What moments of tour shopping have given you the most satisfaction?

When I bought my cooler bag for just $AU7. And when it actually kept my bananas fresh in the steaming Clarence River valley.

I had to think about this one ...

For cycling in general my dollar-store, and thrift-shop finds have probably been my best bargains, but more touring specific ... maybe my Axiom panniers I got at my LBS when I bought my bicycle, and the wicking tops I picked up in a Decathlon store in France.

A buddy of mine got a pair of almost unused Shimano cycling shoes at a thrift store, and because they weren't his size I traded him for a 66cm Fuji frame I'd gotten for free. Pretty good bargain for both of us. I also got all of my water bottle cages for free here or there. And a Mavic computer for 35 dollars.

Finding good quality kids' clothing is really, really tough - and outrageously expensive when you can find it. I've taken to shopping at thrift stores for them - and found some great bargains. I've found that women's small or extra small tights work great for the boys so I pick them up every time I find a pair at a thrift store for a buck or so each. But the best thing by far is getting extra-large merino wool sweaters or sweater vests and then throwing them in the washing machine with lots of soap and hot water - and shrink those puppies down! They end up fitting the boys really well, are very warm, and are virtually indestructible once they are completely felted.

got a full ultegra sl 08' group a year ago for $560 on ebay. that was sweet.

I bought a wool Red Sox baseball cap for 8$ at a Filenes Basement. Compared to the 20$ they usually cost I was pretty happy with that. It lasted my year tour, and the move acrossed country and now resides on my book shelf.

Holy old posts batman. Drag this one up from 2002 why don't ya? LOL

Holy old posts batman. Drag this one up from 2002 why don't ya? LOL


Yeah, but they're timeless ..... and interesting conversation for cold winter days. :)

My Cannondale pannier score from Carigs List for $25 and a chance find on eBay for the matching combination handle bar or seat bag for $13.

My Jandd trunk bag for free was pretty cool too.

Craigs List has been good to me but it has taklen months of patient shopping and waiting. I got my tent and sleeping bag, along with a cot, and two other sleeping bags for $20. ther ewas also some mosquito net and cook ware thrown in on the deal.

Craigs list also netted me a $15 set of Blackburn front and rear racks.

I had to think about this one ...

For cycling in general my dollar-store, and thrift-shop finds have probably been my best bargains, but more touring specific ... maybe my Axiom panniers I got at my LBS when I bought my bicycle, and the wicking tops I picked up in a Decathlon store in France.

I've used a dollar-store insulated lunch cooler on tour. It's fabric, and doesn't have a hard frame, so when empty it wads up into a small ball. While it doesn't cool very well, it's somewhat functional, and it keeps food and medicine safely zipped up

I've also brought along a reading light from the dollar store in addition to my helmet lights.

Thanks for reviving the thread, Machka. It's more interesting reading than the seemingly endless debates about Ryan B. and stealth camping. :)

The dollar store has been good for me too. I bought 2 shammies and sewed them together to make a big bath towel. Something of that size would be outragously expensive at MEC.

The Dollar Store has saved my Butt for 10,000 miles.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/CPJ.jpg

The dollar store has been good for me too. I bought 2 shammies and sewed them together to make a big bath towel. Something of that size would be outragously expensive at MEC.

What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the tip!

The Dollar Store has saved my Butt for 10,000 miles.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/CPJ.jpg

Isn't that bad for Lycra?

Used Swedish mess kit with trangia stove and fuel bottle $10 on ebay a couple of years ago. I don't use the pans (too big and heavy) but it was a good deal on a real trangia stove.

Okay,

Best find I have ever made - Box of 100 new brass and Nickel plated Presta Valve covers form the 50's on Ebay for $5 then I sold them for $20 dollars a set - or $1000 - took me year to sell them all over the world. Bought a alot of touring gear with those bucks. Next best deal was a Raleigh team bike all campy at Salvation Army for $12 then after I cleaned it up - $700.