Reddit reviews High Sierra Titan 55 Frame Pack Pacific/Altitude

The best approach is to borrow as much as you can to just start getting some experience. One of the main drivers of cost in backpacking is weight, which you really won't appreciate unless you're putting up massive mileage on your two day trips.

Figure out which features you'll actually appreciate before you start putting money down for them. You may find that based on your preferences, it doesn't make any sense to pay another $200 for a backpack that's 3 lbs lighter. Or if you're pretty sloppy about your waterproofing, you'd want a synthetic bag over down. If you prefer short multi-day trips over week-long affairs, you'll be better off with a smaller pack.

It's much cheaper to just buy gear that fits your needs.

But, that advice isn't exactly what you asked for.

• Backpack: High Sierra Titan 55 ($82 currently) - Extremely cheap for the function. I love this backpack, but you may need to send the first one you get back because it has a weak buckle or something.
  
• Sleeping Bag: Marmot Trestles 30 (~ $100) - Warm, tough, and synthetic so I don't die when I inevitably get it wet.
  
• Tent: REI Passage 2 ($160) - It's light and it works well. Held up perfectly over a very wet weeklong hike on the Appalachian Trail. I'd recommend it, but I'd imagine that there are cheaper tents out there for comparable quality.

I got this one last year. I love it. Convenient pockets, multiple points of access to the main cargo area, camelbak ready, etc. If you're a prime member, you can have it in two days!