Budget Backpacking Tips — move your story

I saved myself over $800 using the following methods, without sacrificing quality:

Craigslist: I got a backpack and a sleeping bag that had only been used once each, as well as a brand new rain cover for my pack and a spork thing for super cheap, all in excellent condition.
Sales: REI garage sale and other sales. I got my tent during their Fourth of July Sale and my down coat and waterproof gloves at a garage sale (the REI garage sales allow you to buy previously returned items at a steep discount).
Kids Clothing: If you are a petite woman, try on kids clothing- I bought wool long underwear in black that was the exact same as the women’s version for a fraction of the price. If you are a small, the kid’s large will probably fit, and a medium the kid’s XL may fit.
Borrow: See if you can borrow anything from friends or family (then if you like it and use it, you can buy yourself one in the future).
Use what you have: Don’t fall prey to feeling like you need to buy all the things- do you really need special hiking pants, or do you have pants that will work just fine?
Think outside the box: I bought some $3 rain pants that delivery bike riders wear- they are incredibly light and fast to throw on, and they kept me totally dry.
Use your credit card points: I used many of my Chase rewards points to buy what I need on Amazon!
Make your own meals: Buy the individual ingredients and assemble your own meals instead of buying the special pre-made backpacking meals.

What are some ways you have saved $$ on your backpacking gear? Let me know in the comments!