Does anyone like to pack ultralight when going outdoors.

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dd61999

Joined
Sep 12, 2007
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While lookiing through various threads and pics on this forum it seems most of you bring an awful lot of gear when outdoors.

Does anyone like to pack ultralight?

I like to have as minimal equipment as possible so I can move fast and agile. Plus I enjoy the outdoors more and travel further without all the gear bogging me down.
 
I believe I'm a minimalist but also believe in redundancy on key components. Certain pieces of steel are excess, for pure fun. I very much enjoy 'less is more' and perfecting my kit (meaning minimization and selecting multi-capable gear).

I'm definitely not an ultralight guy though, I don't measure gear in ounces and I don't pay hundreds of dollars for individual items. Very rarely do inexpensive and ultralight go together in the same sentence it seems.


I'd be very interested in seeing your current setup, and I know others here are into that when backpacking.
 
This is a 2000 cu in pack and I was hiking and camping for 2 nights and 3 days

07OCT4.jpg
 
The sleeping bag is a Lafuma Warm N Light 600 down bag. I posted some pics of it a few weeks ago on this forum. Weighs a little over 1 lb.

The sleeping pad weighs 15 oz although I've recently switched to a thicker heavier pad because it really helps with the sleep:thumbup:

The tent was an REI Gimme Shelter. It will hold the both of us (barely):D weighs 3 lbs and sets up with trail poles.

It's not a tarp I would call it a tarp tent. I don't think they make them anymore. I got this one from Stu over on KF for 45 bucks!

07OCT5.jpg


Other things in the first pic are my ss cup and my camp towel

Other things in the pack at that time were an extra shirt, underwear and long legged pants.

This bowl and spork(NOT the frying pan)
2007_0910Image0085.jpg


This cooking vessel and I put as much of my food as I can inside it.
Hike22.jpg


This poncho

stonecoal.jpg


I have a variety of packs and gear. If it is supposed to be rainy, or really cold, or something like that I carry more. Also if you are going with people you can carry less because stuff like cookware, and stoves, water filters and food for group meals can be split up.

I find that if you go over about 4, 5 people at most then you have to bring double cookware because most cooking stuff to accomodate that many folks unless you are eating only freeze dried stuff takes up too much space;)
 
I started with a total pack weight without food or water of thirty two pounds for a three season three day pack. As I learned more about wants and needs, as equipment needed replacing, I bought more appropriate gear that was usually smaller and lighter. Now I am down to a twenty four pound pack, and that includes the clothes i am wearing, plus redundant essentials. Ultra light is a great exercise, but many people fool themselves into thinking their skill level is much higher than it really is. On the trail, I have crossed the paths of many ultra light hikers, and they tend to be shelter mooches, or opportunistic feeders who raid traditional "Trail Magic" Caches. ( hikers sometimes leave canned goods or other food stuffs in Shelters, or along trails so if someone is needy or maybe just wants a change of pace, might trade out ,lets say, some twinkies for a can of tuna) Many Ultra light hikers have ruined this by just sucking up everything and leaving nothing.
 
Definitely. My days of lugging a 60lb backpack for 10 plus miles a day are long gone! I don't go as far as an ultralighter, but keep my pack around 30-35lbs now.
 
I am packing lighter these days, down to 20-25 (not inlcuding water) pounds for a typical 3 day jaunt. It definately makes for a more enjoyable trip.
But when I dayhike I usually carry a bunch of extra stuff, it's usually with several friends and we bring a bunch of food and various "toys" to play with.
 
I keep my pack down to 20-30lbs. Anything more can be cumbersome and uncomfortable.
 
I like to travel as light as possible, I'm too old for lugging loads of gear! I use a Macpac down bag that only weighs 11b in summer, and the Buffalo system in winter. When I was poorer years ago, and gear wasn't as good, I used a blanket!
 
i don't really go ultralight, in that my gear is lightweight.

i generally carry heavy, rugged gear. i just carry less of it. i think this is closer to minimalism than ultralight packing.

i am very careful though to maintain the essentials to keep me safe.

i have even got my steel choices down to very light weights, providing i am not doing any serious building in the bush. a mora and a folding saw take care of most of the needs, and my opinel and pen knife handle the rest. very light set of sharps.
 
The older I get, the lighter I pack!:o

Battlefield type weapons have been replaced by uber light titanium, gargantuan knives have been replaced by simple Mora's and SAK's, enough canned food to survive a nuclear winter has been replaced by a bag of trail mix, summer sausage, and a granola bar, etc.

Unless I'm just plunking around in my canoe. Then the only reason I leave the kitchen sink behind is because i'm too lazy to disconnect the plumbing.:D
 
Runs With Scissors said:
The older I get, the lighter I pack!:o

Battlefield type weapons have been replaced by uber light titanium, gargantuan knives have been replaced by simple Mora's and SAK's, enough canned food to survive a nuclear winter has been replaced by a bag of trail mix, summer sausage, and a granola bar, etc.

Unless I'm just plunking around in my canoe. Then the only reason I leave the kitchen sink behind is because i'm too lazy to disconnect the plumbing.:D
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Last summer I worked on the food. Seems like I eat more when I am at home setting around. Exercise cuts down on my appetite. At the end of backpacking we'd always have extra food. I managed to bring only what I ate most of the times last year.

Also quick breakfasts. It was hot last year and I found it was way better to eat something quick and get going while it was cool than dick around cooking stuff. (except coffee must have coffee);):thumbup:
 
hollowdweller said:
It was hot last year and I found it was way better to eat something quick and get going while it was cool than dick around cooking stuff. (except coffee must have coffee);):thumbup:
Click to expand...

Amen to that!! :D


Also, for what it's worth, I still don't qualify as an "ultralight packer" but I'm definitely learning the value of it, and keep trying.:o
 
depends on the season...in late spring and summer I keep it under 20 lbs for 3 days.. if it's just an over night it's under 10..in the winter the extra clothing and gear adds a few lbs
 
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