the "ultralight" crowd...

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PropThePolecat

PropThePolecat

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I consider myself a light backpacker, and im always interested in ways to cut weight. I believe a light pack results in greater mobility, less chance for injury/sprains, and overall a more enjoyable experience. One way to save weight is to carry one item with several functions but some people IMO take it too way too far.

Was browsing another forum and was surprised at what people will do to save weight, some ideas are pretty good, others are ridicilous and a few are outright dangerous.

We've all heard about the people who cut the handle of their toothbrush and leave their watchstraps at home but check out the following ways to save weight...

One guy uses his bandana as a towel, firstaid armsling, waterfilter, hankerchief (does he blow his nose in it??), beanie and washcloth. Real hygienic...

Another guy has a titanium spoon thats also used as a tent peg and he polished up the spoonbowl so it can be used for emergency signalling :eek:, and a combo of ducttape and velcro substitutes a toothbrush!

This thing is used for, and i quote: "It "triples" as a spoon, snow stake and potty trowel".

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Would you try to talk some sense into this crowd or just shake your head as you pass them on the trail?
 
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I want a Snugpak sleeping bag and some other things that take advantage of this "outlook" on gear. I still have redundancy when it comes to fire and navigation devices and I think people that get extreme on the issue are either stupid or hobbyists that don't really and truly believe they are going to be involved in a life-threatening situation...which is either ignorance or stupidity as well.

For example, some people really enjoy the craftsmanship and the overall feel of a brass K&M Matchsafe. I chose the aluminum model because I just don't think the extra weight and density of brass is going to protect the matches or the Suunto Compass mounted in the lid - it's just dead weight.

Brass isn't plastic, this isn't a Home Despot Carpenter Pencil issue...brass is heavy! :D
 
to each their own i guess....

i remember reading about guys shaving hair to save weight....actually weighing their hair.....why not chop off your pinkys and pinky toes!
 
I think that you do have to find a balance of what works for you.

But....and I don't mean any disrespect to anyone, the whole 'ultralight' idea is a little ridiculous. It seems almost like a competition to some to see who can go the lightest.

Quite often those are the people that they find dead months after they've been reported missing.

Some of that stuff you listed above is just stupid. Not meaning you of course. This is the way I've always felt about it. If your worried about a couple or even several ounces, you should probably head for the emergency room to get an immediate check up rather than head for the trail.


Edited to add to Don: I know what you mean about the matchcase. So this was not aimed at you. I typed all this as you were posting. I'm quite sure that if you wanted to carry brass, you'd carry it. There's a difference between being practical and shaving weight where you can and being so ultralight anal that you stand a pretty good chance of not making it back if something goes wrong.
 
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There is no sense in trying to talk sense into zealots. Ultralight back packing is a contest to see who can carry the least weight. If you don't think that it is, go see how many posts you can find on an ultralight forum that are something to the effect of "I just shaved 1/8 oz off my pack weight! Woot!" You'll get tired of counting before you run out of posts. I'm neither an ultralight packer nor a lite packer. I carry what I think I will need. I do try to keep track of what I don't use (and leave it the enxt time) and to carry the lightest stuff that I can afford, but I don't get scared by a 60lb pack and elevation. For me camping is about enjoying myself and I don't think that I could do that by using my snot rag as a water filter or by eating with my latrine tool. They are free to do their thing as long as I am free to do mine.
 
hlee said:
I carry what I think I will need. I do try to keep track of what I don't use (and leave it the enxt time) and to carry the lightest stuff that I can afford, but I don't get scared by a 60lb pack and elevation.
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Exactly what i do too, cutting weight is great as long as its affordable and quality/safety isnt compromised. I still carry a fixed blade and a folder, my sleeping bag is synthetic cos down cant handle moisture and always pack extra food.

Dont understand the UL crowd and their willingness to go to such extremes...
 
countryboycansurvive said:
Edited to add to Don: I know what you mean about the matchcase. So this was not aimed at you. I typed all this as you were posting. I'm quite sure that if you wanted to carry brass, you'd carry it. There's a difference between being practical and shaving weight where you can and being so ultralight anal that you stand a pretty good chance of not making it back if something goes wrong.
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Correct! :D

I think one of the big differences between me and other folks, I don't jump in and more or less tell someone, however nicely, that they're stupid for carrying a heavier brass matchsafe when a lighter one is available. I'm happy they have the matchsafe, I might point them towards a K & M is they want a matchsafe, I might point them towards an overlength model and then towards REI for their version of NATO/British Lifeboat Matches which are better than the NATO matches...which is saying a lot.

If they just want to put regular matches in there, I might think they are a cheapskate and might say so depending on my mood! If they think they can make better matches than REI has made, I would think they were a bit overly optimistic or even foolish. :D
 
j williams said:
I dont think I would use a potty trowel for eatin. "Thats how you get pink eye."
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Well, in fairness to such an idiot, when you dig a cathole, there isn't supposed to be POOP from the start and you're not supposed to play with your POOP once you're done. You're just supposed to shove the dirt back in, you can do that with the side of your boot.

Copraphilia is bad, ummkaaayyyy? :D
 
I have a few friends in the ultralight crowd, and I always call them the yuppies of the woods. They want to carry the lightest (most expensive) gear possible, but won't sacrafice comfort under any circumstance. We debate constantly ... I say why even bring a tent and bag, just build a debris hut and insulate accordingly with what's around you (zero ounces to carry). Afraid of a few bugs? Ok carry your .000001 oz bottle of deet lol. Need that ultralight titanium spork? Why not just carve a pair of chopsticks and dispose of them in the fire after you're done. Zero cost and no weight in, no weight out. Feeling that oneness we all seek when we enter into the temple of the wilderness is difficult when you're constantly putting a barrier between you and what you touch. Roll around and get dirty boys.
 
"Say, what's that attached to your pack?"

"Oh, that's just my ultralight sh*t-spoon signal tool (TM)." :)

Seems a bit on the silly side, but I admit that I am often not weight conscious enough when it comes to packing for multi-day outings. Still, I'm a fan of packing a shovel to dig with and carving a spoon or chopsticks to eat with, and you would be hard pressed to get me to accept a tool that purports to combine these functions.

Best,

- Mike
 
I have been desirous of a U-Dig-It folding trowel and a Silky Saw to replace my Corona which is like a welfare folding saw...but good! I also want a good, lightweight sleeping mat/pad and a Snugpak bag.

I think the ultralight thing can be quite valuable, like NASA giving us microwave ovens and TANG! ;)

But some of the people involved in it have no business handing out gear advice unless that advice is strictly on their hobby.
 
Hey guys, not picking on anyone at all, but keep it informative and useful rather than a hiker bashing thread.

thanks!

Joe
 
People will always have the propensity to take something to extremes like base jumpers and body builders. It's human nature. There is a lot of good gear that comes from ultra lighters doing there thing. I wouldn't give anyone a lecture unless of course someone started in on me first about my knives. NO one bashes my precious...es.:D
 
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This thing is used for, and i quote: "It "triples" as a spoon, snow stake and potty trowel".
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That dude must have never heard the old addage: "Never sh*t where you eat."


However, his bandana idea is a valid one. It's usually called an "assrag". You just have to make sure you don't use the wrong side on your face, and that you keep it clean.

I won't bash any hikers, most time these day I am one.

But getting excited because you shaved a negligable amount of weight from your load is a little silly. Although, if a guy drops a noticeable amount because of something he's learned--then I'd be interested in finding out what he knows.
 
Joezilla said:
Hey guys, not picking on anyone at all, but keep it informative and useful rather than a hiker bashing thread.

thanks!

Joe
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Joe,

I'm more or less bashing what they say when they are bashing other people for carrying "too much stuff."

I don't care what they do.

...

KEmSAT-Survival said:
However, his bandana idea is a valid one. It's usually called an "assrag". You just have to make sure you don't use the wrong side on your face, and that you keep it clean.
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And I have to wonder was Ron Hood joking when he advises this, much in the same way that "Andy McNabb" advised a movie director to mount a baseplate compass on the side of an M-16 in "Bravo Two Zero." Perhaps to sort out the people that will do anything he advises...
 
I enjoy reading the ultralight forums. Sure, some go overboard, but I have picked up a lot of good ideas on equipment and skills there. I'll never try to emulate their dedication to pack weight reduction, but I've already shed several pounds from my pack without losing comfort or preparedness, IMHO. Just getting up to date on technology changes made during the past twenty or thirty years has been an eye-opener for me. At my age, it makes sense to carry the lightest load I can when I go hiking. I certainly can't carry what I did when I was twenty. But I can get out for a few days at a time carrying fifteen to twenty pounds with few ill effects. I just wish I could find some dehydrated water. That stuff is heavy and my local hike is completely dry except for a spring 1/2 mile in.
 
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