whats the deal with packing so light?

[Skimo]

For day hikes most of the weight is water, I'm a little crazy about having enough, then food, tarp weight is negligible.

since the kids are still small and use diapers over nighters aren't gonna happen.

weight sure matters.

 

[midnight flyer]

watch your language.

 

[Any Cal.]

Take enough weight to have what you need, but little enough to let you go farther and reduce the risk of injury. I have been 15 miles out and twisted a knee badly. I had a heat pad, some tape, painkillers, etc., but still had a light enough pack to carry it back in on my own. IMO, that is about right.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

im not understanding the need to go much lighter on the backpacking.

Backpacking is something I know a little bit about having backpacked many thousands of miles over the years (yes, we did the AT, PCT, CDT, and others around the globe). I have been asked by several publishers to write a book on my backpacking experiences when and if I get the time. I may do just that when I don't have the hobby ranch to run.

I started backpacking about 45 years ago. Many of the folks here weren't even born then! In those days, we started out hauling canvas packs, canvas tents, *cans* of food, heavy this and heavy that, all the while wearing heavy backpacking boots. I am amazed that my spine is still straight and I have any joints at all! These days, we now have an incredible amount of clothing, boot and shoe, shelter and pack, equipment options available to us to make life easier on the trail. This is a good thing in my opinion! By all means exploit it!

What do you take on the trail?

1. Backpacking IS NOT a competition! If you can carry several hundreds of pounds on your back like many of our early explorers and Native Americans did, fine and dandy! I would suggest these guys were not out for a joy-hike taking in the wonderful scenery. I am still in excellent physical condition for my age standing at 6'2" and 225 pounds...straight up and down without much baby fat. My two athlete sons stand at over 6'6" each (one is still growing!), 245 - 265 pounds, and both do as dad does - ultralight backpacking.

2. Ultralight backpacking, contrary to the misinformed, IS NOT about compromising your backcountry safety! That is plain old hogwash put forth by those who know little or have experienced little on the subject. Ultralight backpacking is about covering more of those miles safely, comfortably, with more energy and vitality, etc., without looking like an overly burdened mountain side mule.

3. Ultralight backpacking is about enhancing your backcountry skills. You will need more basic skills (not rocket science here) to ultralight backpack properly. Equipment selection will be important as you look at "ounces", not "pounds." Your equipment often serves more than one purpose - my sleeping quilt becomes a coat when I need one. The list goes on.

If we are backpacking into one of our local lakes, 5 - 10 miles sort of thing, hauling the lawn chair and larger tent is terrific. Why not? Backpacking up to one of our favorite lakes 50 miles off the trail head with the same equipment would be just silly and extraneous. We literally blow right by sweaty, dragging, novice backpackers with heavy packs filled with needless items (hatchets, guns, heavy frying pans, excessive clothes) after a few miles from the trail head. We are having fun enjoying the trail. They, on the other hand, are 'at work.' No thanks, I try to enjoy my free time. Did that, got the T-shirt, there is a better way!

If you still want to compete...compete with your own mind and body. Find out where the best compromises exist and I think you will be trimming some pounds and enjoying the trail more. You might want to visit a backpacking forums where the most experienced backpackers hang out. These guys and gals can save you a decent-sized budget by pointing you in the right direction and giving you a few pointers to boot. We belong to a backpacking club where we not only share the trail at times, we share lots of stories of trail failures and success that we all learn from.

Let me add: Just a few miles down each and every major trail head that we have done, there were piles of new and unused equipment left behind by thru-hikers. Hauling that extra unneeded weight was more than they bargained on! Some can wait to try and sell that extra equipment in the nearest town or ship it off at the post office. Others can't wait and either dump it (volunteers pick it up in areas), or give it away to other hikers or passerbys. I always trained hard with what I was taking so that I didn't have to ditch that expensive equipment. In our materialist fearful society, we always seem to take more than we need or will actually use.

 

[RescueRiley]

DBL brings up some good points...I think there is a more sublte mindset that comes into play as well... I don't pack excessively, because I don't percieve spending time in the wilderness as a challenge to overcome..but rather as a source of enjoyment... I don;t feel like it is out to get me...so while I cart the essentials.. I don't feel the need to kitchen sink it..However in all honesty there's no reason to get puffy on either side.
do what you like if it works for you..and don't worry about it.

 

[xbxb]

I'm 61, when your 61 you will have a better understanding of how difficult things can be. So if we go hiking/camping it would be nice if you would carry my stuff since your younger and not bothered by advanced weight and age. Thanks

 

[Bushman5]

But remember, there is no entrance exam to join this forum. But like many that followed, he is certainly entitled to his opinion.

There are those that eat grass and bugs, (only if i have too) drink their own urine,(no, thats just silly and smacks of Bear Gryllis)) and love cold camps. (hmm, my camps always have a hot fire and a reflector made of logs, most times its too hot...) They sleep in the dirt (no we dont, we build brush beds off the ground and fall to sleep breathing in the tangy scent of cedar and pine) and don't mind the welts of a thousand mosquito bites incurred while sleeping,(i dont get skeeter bites, i use DEET) and they drink out of dirty streams they find.(i gather water from streams and boil it, then filter it sweet and clear thru camp fire charcoal and a bandana) They crap leaning next to a tree and wipe with anything available, then leave it all as part of nature's way.(no we dont, we dig latrines or catholes and cover it with forest floor duff, it breaks down within days) They tear up foilage and chop up anything handy they need if their survivalist mood strikes them, all in the name of minimalist camping.(no we dont, we utilize what is readily available and RENEWABLE - your area might vary)

They feel like they should get a badge for their way of camping.(yes please, i would like a badge, learning to live in harmony with nature and use what nature provides is a great skill to learn. It allows one to be self sufficient and not need to rely on store bought items. I can has my badge now?)
edited for poor language choiceYet, they seem to think of themselves of some kind of back to nature, honest campers that understand the wild. Who knows... maybe they do. (yes we do) I still can't stand them.{we cant stand you either, with your garish colors, noisy packs, radios, intrusive tents plopped down everywhere, garbage, noise, screaming and yelling, drunks, bottles everywhere, food left out attracting bears and wildlife and desensitizing them to people....on and on.....)

Worst of all, they seem to think their kind of camping is suitable for just about everywhere.(no we dont, we learn to adapt as we explore different areas.) And if they haven't camped in totally different environments under different conditions, they know no better.(all the more reason to go into different regions every chance we can to learn and adapt)




If I had to pack all the stuff I listed earlier in my previous post in order to go anywhere, I would stay at home! I have a little eframe overnight pack with a coyote bladder in it that suits me fine. 15# of gear makes a nice load. I can do that depending on where I go. For a long day/evening out, it's a good knife, flashlight, whistle, water, snack bar and pancho/groundcloth.

The load above was for purposes of illustration and is actually the load out I took when I went to Yosemite and the Sierra Loop (or whatever they called it).

The loop took us from the floor of the park where it was warm and nice and hiked up to Vogelsang ( 11,500 ft high ) and back down on a long winding gorgeous trail. The whole thing took about 12 days.

The park rescue team guys checked your gear before you left to make sure you had what they thought you needed after orientation.

I can easily see how a pack weight could weigh 50 - 60 lbs. but I wouldn't carry that much unless it was a long trek over a period of time with no provisioning.

When I overnight here in the fall, I can get it done with a 3 1/2 lb tent, pancho/groundcloth, fire stuff, some food and my cube sleeping bag. I find I am inclined to go if I don't have to beat myself up physically wagging around a trunk full of stuff.

As a full time construction worker, I can beat myself up physically when ever I want! And I don't want to! Think almost 60 days of triple digit heat this summer.... and if you can tell the difference between 100 degrees and 99 when you are working out in it I'll kiss your butt.

Robert

I added a few comments (in RED TEXT) , to clear up some misconceptions. They are not directed personally at YOU, just the post in general.

 

[udtjim]

Well, my carrying heavy packs are years behind me now. Most of my Packing anymore is hunting where I plan to pack out a lot more than I pack in and includes a rifle with scope which goes about eight lbs, and it is a lightweight Browning A-bolt Composite Hunter in 308 Plus the ammo.

 

[skammer]

We are a softer generation there is no debate about that. Take a look at your grandfathers generation nuff said. Slaves to technology because its easier. Nobody said to carry a 60lb pack on an overnighter.

I get tired of hauling people out of the woods at 4 am when 10 more lbs in a pack would have changed their situation drastically. Those are people who should be charged for SAR services. There are legit emergencies and then there is stupid. GPS has allowed anyone to go anywhere with little skill, I wish I could dis-invent it.

To each his own.

Skam

 

[Bushman5]

10 more LBs of WHAT? dumbells, ipods, beer? ??? ?????? ? simply saying 10 more lbs does'nt mean a thing.....

 

[Joezilla]

I am not going to over-moderate, but this could be one of "those". No offense to anyone, but there will be nothing gained if this thread goes on in some of the ways it has.