Packing..more or less?

DocBurN said:
I shaved many pounds of non necessary gear to be able to carry a few luxury items and my 923 gram Junglas with me :)
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:thumbup:+1. From a hardcore ultralighter's point of view I definitely overpack. But I find a sub 30# pack to be plenty comfortable, and since I'm about 205# myself a 25# pack is just a tad over 12% of my bodyweight. Investing in lightweight essentials allows me to bring along a Wetterlings hatchet, a book, some cards, and a pistol (haven't needed it yet, but it sure helps me sleep in bear country).
 
When I first got into backpacking, I waaaay overpacked. It only took a few miles on the trail before I realized I could live without a lot of what was in there. Now, I pack what I need. If I'm going to be out 3 days, my pack comes in around 30lbs...and a majority of that is food...haha. I like to eat well in the back country!! :o
 
MikeyJ said:
...and a majority of that is food...haha. I like to eat well in the back country!! :o
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Amen to that! For a 3 day trip I'll pack in some canned food, fresh veggies, a salami, etc. Anything over 3 days and that kind of menu adds a lot of pounds to the pack, though.
 
Fresh out of boot camp I typically packed alot... now adays unless I'm trying to make things nicer for my camp mates/jeep camping.... I pack very little.
 
BackwoodsBummin' said:
For a 3 day trip I'll pack in some canned food
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indeed .. i replaced canned food with freezed dry food a long time ago and my back is happier this way.. a lot of weight goes with our food and its a noticable difference when the water is taken out of the equasion.. plus the weight of the can itself
 
DocBurN said:
I shaved many pounds of non necessary gear to be able to carry a few luxury items and my 923 gram Junglas with me :)
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same here. i try to underpack only so i can bring my camera, junglas, esee-4, & lite machete with me :)
 
I used to run nothing but freeze dried meals, the kind you pick up at REI. But I find that my stomach is much happier with me if I bring food that I dehydrated in my oven and regular dried goods like pasta and oatmeal. Call me a hippy but all those preservatives and dyes just don't sit well with me. The canned goods are a nice luxury if I'm hiking less than 20 miles but for serious trekking you're spot on about getting rid of the water weight.
 
I always over-pack.
I end up bringing stuff to keep my camp-mates (wife/kids) comfortable.

It's been a long time since I did hike-only camping, so it's not too big of a deal.
I like to be over-prepared anyway. I don't mind the extra weight.
 
Pack light, sleep cold at night.

I don't have a mule or pack horse, so I make my car carry my gear for me. Call me a wimp but I like to be warm at night.
 
shangchi108 said:
Pack light, sleep cold at night.

I don't have a mule or pack horse, so I make my car carry my gear for me. Call me a wimp but I like to be warm at night.
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There is probably better stuff out there now like aerogel insulated materials but good old polypropylene under clothing is light and keeps you toasty.
 
I have a text file that I use to help decide what to pack, depending on the type of trip I'm taking.

Here's the gist of it: I have several small kits for differing purposes, each comprising it's own kit. Combining these kits are what makes up my larger kits. If the text below isn't self-explanatory, I can possibly make it clearer, but see for yourself first, and then ask whatever questions you may.

Sorry for the threadjack, BTW.

Here's the text.

first-aid kit:
  • fabric tape
  • stretch bandage
  • pain-reliever tablets
  • iodine/alcohol swabs
  • benadryl
  • antibacterial ointment
  • needles
  • tweezers
  • small band-aids
  • small SAK
  • iodine tablets
  • bug repellent/sunscreen/makeup
  • nylon shears

mini kit:
  • firesteel
  • treated cottonball in p-nut cannister
  • mini led light
  • whistle
  • knife
  • 3" s-curved needle
  • knife sharpener (redi-edge)

fishing kit:
  • Mepps Aglia (several types)
  • safety pins
  • assorted hooks
  • weights
  • dental floss or line

fire kit:
  • firesteel
  • waterproof matches
  • lighter
  • cotton balls (treated)
  • tinder
  • firepaste
  • magnifier

tool kit:
  • pliers
  • screwdrivers
  • small crescent wrench

sleep kit:
  • sleeping mat

basic kit:
- mini kit plus:
- fire kit plus:
- first-aid kit plus:
- sleep kit plus:
  • poncho
  • gloves
  • space blanket
  • compass
  • GPSr w/ batteries
  • ham radio w/ batteries
  • knives
  • multi-tool
  • 550 cord
  • bandana
  • watch
  • flashlight
  • canteen w/ cup
  • ziploc bags
  • write-in-rain notepad w/ pencil
  • duct tape
  • floppy hat
  • field guide to vegetation
  • toiletries
  • folding saw

advanced kit:
- basic kit plus:
- fishing kit plus:
  • extra poncho
  • lightweight jacket
  • long-sleeved shirt
  • machete or large blade
  • extra 550 cord
  • extra first-aid items
  • extra batteries

options:
  • stove w/ fuel
  • water filtration system
  • tent or canopy
  • sidearm
  • extra clothing
  • lantern
  • axe
  • tool kit
  • binoculars
  • poncho liner(s)
  • sleeping bag
  • hammock (small, collapsible)
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As you can see, the basic kit is the most often-used, but not necessarily the most comprehensive. I would take a basic kit on a three-day hike with me and a couple of buddies. I would take the advanced kit on a week-long camping trip with my wife and kiddos. I would take the mini kit as an EDC setup. I hope you get the picture. I'm a software developer by trade, so if this list seems a little "programmer-ish," there's a reason for that. :D
 
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Light as I can with gear. Lighter is nice to carry. I also just don't like having to keep track of miscellaneous stuff in the pack.
I never freeze at night either :)
Just never light on the calories!
 
shangchi108 said:
Pack light, sleep cold at night.

I don't have a mule or pack horse, so I make my car carry my gear for me. Call me a wimp but I like to be warm at night.
Click to expand...

I hammock camp and my crowsnest underquilt keep me toasty everytime and weight 511 grams. Gotta love Canadian goose down
 
If its winter time and im backpacking I underpack because Im usually just using the rainfly from my tent and the foot print. Since there are tons of water sources around here in the winter I just bring a naglene bottle and a water pump or my steripen depends If it has been raining alot. keeping water weight and shelter weight down are the easiest way to keep underweight for me. everything that goes with me is light weight ex: titanium pot, msr pocket rocket stove , moisture wicking clothes and a 60 liter pack I can usually keep it below 30 lbs. Summer tho sucks for backpacking because you got to take a bunch of water and the entire tent (for me because i hate bugs), and i eat a lot more if it is hot so I bring a lot more food. that usually puts my pack at 35 almost 40 lbs depending how much water I bring.
 
I wrote a column about packing. But I can tell you that other than a hammock, yer knife/firestarter, a filtration canteen, cooking kit, basic foodstuff and a spare pair of socks. That's all you need to enjoy the great outdoors.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0512/columns/packing_tips.html

pelton.jpg
 
Good article RYP. Might I ask what you carry for a sleeping bag? I'm not familiar with Uzbekistan but it looks to have a climate somewhat like southern Utah or Colorado, warm during the day in Summer but cold at night.
 
Two choices for a bag. I normally carry an afghan wool blanket but if its cold I carry a black fleece blanket (usually cost 10 bucks) you can zip it up like a bag, or chop it up to make clothing, wrap it like a shawl or use it as a tarp And you can give it away.

I used to carry a small English made bag but since I am 6'4 most bags are simple too small. Even on expeditions I just sleep in the mud or on the roof rack.

I normally camp with just a hammock and a tarp. Once you go light you really feel stupid carrying a whole REI store. As for those lists that people make of all the cool gear they are going to bring.
 
I have always been an over packer but am slowly learning to cut back on things. I still over pack for car camping just because you have the luxury of the room. Buying lighter better quality equipment definitely helps with weight when backpacking.
 
i defeniantly over pack. unless i'm alone then i under pack, i just have the essentials. Sleeping mat, knives, (chopper, and slicer)and a mess kit, fire steel, and a poncho
 
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