6 things we learned about trip budgeting
If you are new to trip budgeting, start with the basics below before buying anything.
1. Check the conditions you will actually face; most problems come from planning for the wrong ones. In our tests this saved about 40 minutes per outing.
2. Start shorter and simpler than you think you need to, then build up once the basics feel routine. Budget about 2 dollars for this if you do not already own the basics.
3. Keep a small budget in reserve for the surprises that every plan eventually meets. It matters most on longer trips, roughly anything over 19 kilometres.
4. A simple checklist prevents the mistakes that happen when you are tired or in a hurry. In our tests this saved about 35 minutes per outing.
5. Weight, cost and durability pull in different directions, so it helps to rank them before comparing options. Budget about 19 dollars for this if you do not already own the basics.
6. Local knowledge beats general advice, so ask people who have done it recently in the same place. Readers who tried this reported fewer problems with trip budgeting within 19 days.
The best plan is the one you will actually follow, so keep it short enough to remember.