To Go Light or To Go Prepared...That is the question

G

Gautier

Joined
Aug 31, 2006
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The title pretty much sums it up. What sort of hiking/camping/bushcraft style do you tend to favor?

Personally, I find myself torn between "two schools of thought", I guess you'd say. On the one hand, I like to travel light and fast. I know enough that I don't have to carry anything more than my knife, maybe a small camera bag sized PSK, and water. By doing so I can cover much more ground (there's a lot to cover between places here) and usually it's more enjoyable. Then, there's the side of me that likes to be prepared for every eventuality and I end up bringing a fully loaded CamelBak with a spare set of clothes, blanket, rifle with 100rnds, TP, flashlight with spare batteries, an extra knife or two, sharpening gear, enough paracord to supply the 82nd and 101st, cooking pot, etc. You get the idea.

I've tried various bags and configurations, hoping to come to a sort of compromise. I just haven't reached it yet. The tipping point for weight is definitely the water. In the summer, there's no way I'll be caught with less than a gallon of water. It's just not safe to do in 120+F, and borders on suicidal. If I'm carrying that much water that's 8lbs. right there before any gear. So, I usually end up taking bladders, but end up having spare room in the bag and think..."Well, I've got more room there, maybe I'll throw this in just in case...and that...oh, and that too."
Before I know it my pack weighs 20-30lbs. and I'm just hiking. But I'm prepared!

Ideally I'd like to find a balance between being over prepared and grossly negligent. How about you? What's your average load for a day hike? Painful as it would be to admit on a survival forum; Do you ever go a little less than prepared for the sake of weight? I'm curious to hear if anyone else has this sort of dilemma.

Surely I can't be the only one. That, and maybe I'll even pick up a useful tip or two from some of you guys that have been down this road already.


Gautier
 
I think the best advice I've ever heard is to keep track of what you use and what you lack several trips in a row. Throw away what you don't use.
 
Balance is the key. First look at your gear load and decide what you really must have in ALL situations. Then figure out what you will likely need for the activity you have planned. Add some extra clothing for overnight if needed. Then add in your water and food, always take a day's extra at least.

The must haves are usualy relatively few.

The needful things for each trip will vary depending on season activity and duration.

Water and food are added on last due to the fact that they aren't really negotiable.

It may help to realize that you can't be prepared for everything. But you can carry items which will increase your odds of survival no matter what happens.
 
I'm at ~5 lbs for gear, plus food and water, for a day hike. The gear is a tool kit (PSK, I guess) at about 1.5 lb, rain gear at 2 lb, and a few other odds and ends. Add in my camera gear, and that is another 3-5 lbs, depending on lens choices.

My day hike packs have lightweight suspension systems built in to them, so the weight is not noticeable, even on a long hike. I have the advantage of working in outdoor retail as one of my day jobs, so buying the latest and greatest lightweight gear is not as expensive as it would be otherwise. Of course, my $500 jacket is still stupid expensive, even with a hefty discount, so chalk that kind of stuff up to craziness.

My advice would be to go as prepared as you want, but learn the skills that let you get rid of gear and use smaller, lighter stuff. Also, there are a lot of modern pieces of gear that can easily replace older, heavier stuff. For instance, tiny flashlights that are brighter than a 2D MagLite, and can run ten times as long on low settings. Lithium batteries can replace alkalines, are lighter, and last longer. Replace a blanket with an emergency blanket. Use a rock for sharpening, if you really have to, or just take a small diamond sharpener. Ditch the cooking pot and carry a stainless steel bottle with your water in it that can be used to cook or boil water if you need it. I use a lightweight metal mess kit to store my PSK instead of using a cloth bag or something similar. You get the idea...
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Gautier, you think you have problems :confused:. A gallon of water weighs 10 pounds here! :eek:

Doc :D
Click to expand...

You crazy Canadians and your new fangled metric system ;)

As for the other, I've shaved weight by using newer stuff and multi purposing cookware to carry some things. I disagree that you can't be prepared for everything though, it just weighs a lot more if you are. :D I am learning a bit more about what is unnecessary though on my trips, did an overnighter at about 5500ft. last night and decided I'm going to pony up for a better sleeping pad.
By the looks of things, that will only add weight though, and what I didn't use, measures in ounces rather than pounds. Oh well, I guess it's a step in the right direction. I may tinker around with it some more in the coming month.


Gautier
 
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One can go lite and be prepared. I carry my #1 survival tool around me 24/7 - my brain!

Adapt, Improvise, Overcome.

nuff said.
 
Once I started accounting for what I carried I straight away droppped 5kg's (12lb) from my base load. All I did was set up a gear spreadsheet that records what I take and it's weight - at the end of a trip I spend 10 minutes with that spreadsheet and review what I've used. I get lighter and more streamlined year by year.

Water is crucial here in Oz also and I've carried up to 13 litres on some trips. With five days food and a days water my load for a 5 day trip is usually 15-18kg (30-35lb).

I've one question for my American adventure buddies though....you kicked the Poms (English) out 200 years ago - why are you still using their measuring sysem?:D
 
If I could figure out how to "Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome" the need for water I'd be pretty well set I think. :p I like that spreadsheet idea though, Ming, I may see if I can't work up some sort of chart like that myself. Pretty sure the English(Poms) are using the metric system though, glad to see that you folks down under have stopped measuring things in rocks...er I mean stones(14lbs.) though ;)


Gautier
 
On day hikes, I'm definitely in the "go light" camp. For overnights, I'm somewhere in-between. By that I mean that I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort but not safety. I think that's why they call it "roughing it."
 
I just realized where you live, i can see the need for water.

whereas here in the Wet Coast of BC, i dont even bother bringing water, there is millions of gallons available wherever i hike.
 
I started with a thirty five pound pack (Before food and water was added,) for a spring/ summer/ fall pack and went down to a fifteen pound pack. Actually it was much lighter for a while, but I started to carry a tent instead of a tarp when a couple friends caught Lyme disease.
I mostly hike east of the mississippi, South in the winter, north in the summer.
 
I always go light, at least try to do so.
light weight and simple equipment reduces weight, possibility of failure and
assists quick action which greatly reduces the time I stay in dangerous area.
 
To stay on the topic - I think it depends on what you have in mind for your trip. If you are on the move for your trip and you have the smarts - go lighter. If you want to go slower and chill in camp - go heavier.

For me it is a matter of going light and fast or going heavier and being comfortable.

TF
 
Well, I used to live in NV, so I'm going to assume the Mojave is the same, only worse. :D
Two thing I find you need in the desert are water and a jacket. I know it went from 110 in the day to 60 at night. If you're worried about "what ifs" such as your dayhike turning into an overnighter, then you need some kind of warmth.

One thing that I think needs to be mentioned is that there are some non-negotiables. The "see what you didn't use and skip it" approach doesn't hold for these things. A big one is your first aid kit. I never used mine in the field, but never go without it.

One way to lighten the load is to carry food that doesn't need to be cooked. You can skip the cup or mess kit. Don't take the water filter, and take some Katadyn MicroPur tablets instead.

In the desert, even though it gets cool/cold at night, I found that with a pair of gloves, a hat (need for the sun anyway) and a long coat like a duster, I could sleep without needing a sleeping bag during most of the year. Although I don't know how much help that is, since my duster weighs as much as my sleeping bag, but kept me from carrying both a bag and a jacket.

In the desert, water and shelter are going to be your big weight items. Other than those, I don't see why you can't have all your bases covered and come in at 5 pounds or less. For carrying, think about a buttpack, keeps you from getting a horribly sweaty back.
 
Hi all,

Gauteir how are ya? I live in Nebraska and on a farm. So I normally just go for walks with my dog Kelly girl. In my kit I carry steel nalgene water bottle in its pouch with a snow peak mini solo pot and cup and lid. then on the out side I have a flashlight pouch with the flash light and next to it is a small folding shovel called a U-dig-it. The pouches are all sewed on the water bottle pouch. On the back of the water bottle pouch I have sew a couple of
straps so I can carry a small hand axe that I made.

Then I carry on the sling of water bottle pouch a bigger pouch and pouch I sewed some straps so that pouch will ride on the sling. In that pouch I have a small wrist compass and a bigger real compass a little survival kit, little med
kit. extra fixed blade knife and a small saw. space blanket couple of sharpeners a spoork, couple of bandanas a head net that really coms in handy. on the out side of this pouch I have a small pouch that I sewed onto it to carry my small binos.Here is a few pics.

101_0965.jpg


Here is the pack all loaded up.

101_0967.jpg


This all ways about 10 pounds.
I also dress for the day as the weather dictates.
Good tread.

Bryan
 
What Cpl. said I to carry a first aid kit but do not use it evey day. but i carry one.
I do not use the pot or the cup evey day but I still carry it.
There are some basics to think about.
Bryan
 
I was able to trim almost 2 oz. By leaving my least useful tool at home. My brain. Now i can hike without ever having to worry.
 
I pretty much fall in the middle. I like gear, I like to bring several knives sometimes, but I also don't need a lot of heavy clothes or bedding, just lots and lots of water.
 
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