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The trick to lighter packs for many was weighing everything. Not uncommon to break everything down by grams - which tells you what could be improved. No point

by heelix 1y ago

The trick to lighter packs for many was weighing everything. Not uncommon to break everything down by grams - which tells you what could be improved. No point in spending $50 on a .5oz spoon, if your pack is coming in at 4lbs. Does help optimize where things could be cut and where the faf is. Lets you focus on what you really want to bring in when you have a breakdown of everything you bring. I really like lighterpack.com for my trip planning. Very easy to bring crap you don't need as well. Always surprised me how much an extra hoodie or something would add to what was on my back. Also there is a 'stupid' light, where shaving grams is silly. Was shrinking down my hammock tarp and discovered my setup was not great when the wind shifted direction. When it comes to power bricks, smaller things like this is great for the normal laptop bag or purse. This is cheap enough that I'd send it off to be black holed with all the other bricks I lend my kid.

JohnFen 1y ago
> Very easy to bring crap you don't need as well. This is so true it's not even funny. I keep a spreadsheet for each trip, and among other things, I record which of the items I actually used on the trips. It was very surprising to me how many things I thought I used and therefore needed, but when reviewing the records, I never (or very rarely) actually used. Those items get cut from future loads.
- SoftTalker 1y ago
  I'm not a backpacker, but I presume there is stuff you normally don't use, but don't want to be without. Some amount of first-aid supplies, etc.
  - adrianmonk 1y ago
    Hmm, my records show I only used the bear spray on 1 out of 10 trips.
  - strken 1y ago
    For me, a not-particularly-lightweight hiker with a 10kg base weight, that list includes: - a knife - a first-aid kit with some niche stuff like big gauze pads, electrolytes, strapping tape, etc. - quarter of a roll of toilet paper - a compass and whistle - a paper map - spare laces - 3L of water, unless water is guaranteed to be available (2L is more standard) - spare calories in case I'm delayed - emergency beacon (except my phone does this now) I could sacrifice these and be fine most of the time, but I've needed nearly everything except the whistle, the full quarter-roll, and the emergency beacon.
    - throwaway2037 1y ago
      Are you (overnight) camping or only day hiking with all of this kit?
      - stickfigure 1y ago
        Not op but my backpacking (overnight) kit contains similar. When people talk about "10 lb base loads" I assume they are talking about overnights? 10 lb base loads for day trips would not be impressive.
        heelix 1y ago
        I assume overnight - so shelter, sleeping system, clothing, and cooking. I do like my comfortable hammock, quilt, underquilt, and cuben tarp. That comes in at about 3.5lbs total. Going tent, that is closer to 4lbs for tent (~2lbs), pad, and quilt. If I go bivy + tarp, shelter comes in around 15oz with cord. I don't have a fancy pack. My old crown vic is about 2lbs. I like my hot coffee and meals, so usually bring some sort of cooking and water filtration. 600ml pot, some sort of stove (stick, alcohol, or hexi), spoon, ursack, pot grabber, and befree - and I'm over a pound. Ounces start to add up fast. 6-7lbs with just the basics does not pack any clothing or food. Both tend to burn the folks I hike with. Always the poor soul who packed in 3lbs of gorp or three sweaters. There is nothing magical about 10lbs. Plenty of people in the ultralight community could look at my pack and say I had an extra 2' of dental floss as well as no business to hike with cards and a kindle. It does set a target where you may not be able to just pull out gear that does not consider weight. Personally, I like to try to target about 8-12lbs + food/water. I don't know how some of the other guys we hike with pull off their 30+ pound packs. I'm not strong enough to do what they are doing.
  - heelix 1y ago
    I do pack in a small med kit. Typically 3-4 Advil, a couple aspirin, tylenol, a tums, one anti-diarrhea, and one sudafed (meth grade). I also bring in a couple waterproof bandaids, a single serving antiseptic, and a small square of leukotape. Most of that never gets used, and is packed over and over. You can spot the med kit in this picture in a small pill pouch. https://imgur.com/N5en41d https://imgur.com/N5en41d I'll pack in a second mini-bic. One that stays in my pocket, one for our group to constantly loose throughout the trip. Same for that extra TP packet. I'd rather have it with, then find myself in the woods running short. Got a whistle in there too that I don't think I've ever used on the trail. Most of my hikes, I'll plan to be at the site before dark. I'll still bring a reasonable headlamp.
  - JohnFen 1y ago
    Yes, there are. Not many, but I take a first-aid kit, shortwave radio, and signalling devices (I tend to be in the wilderness far from civilization). I've never used them and hope that I never will. I was talking about the other stuff.
- rconti 1y ago
  Even on run of the mill international vacations, my wife and I always casually debrief on what we brought too much of, what we didn't use, etc. Traveling light is nice, even when you're not backpacking.
- prawn 1y ago
  I'm very good at packing per my spreadsheet and then adding a few extra things at the trailhead because there's room. Mobile tripod, extra (heavy) pocket knife (just in case!), another paracord, etc.

by heelix 1y ago

JohnFen 1y ago

> Very easy to bring crap you don't need as well. This is so true it's not even funny. I keep a spreadsheet for each trip, and among other things, I record which of the items I actually used on the trips. It was very surprising to me how many things I thought I used and therefore needed, but when reviewing the records, I never (or very rarely) actually used. Those items get cut from future loads.

SoftTalker 1y ago
I'm not a backpacker, but I presume there is stuff you normally don't use, but don't want to be without. Some amount of first-aid supplies, etc.
- adrianmonk 1y ago
  Hmm, my records show I only used the bear spray on 1 out of 10 trips.
- strken 1y ago
  For me, a not-particularly-lightweight hiker with a 10kg base weight, that list includes: - a knife - a first-aid kit with some niche stuff like big gauze pads, electrolytes, strapping tape, etc. - quarter of a roll of toilet paper - a compass and whistle - a paper map - spare laces - 3L of water, unless water is guaranteed to be available (2L is more standard) - spare calories in case I'm delayed - emergency beacon (except my phone does this now) I could sacrifice these and be fine most of the time, but I've needed nearly everything except the whistle, the full quarter-roll, and the emergency beacon.
  - throwaway2037 1y ago
    Are you (overnight) camping or only day hiking with all of this kit?
    - stickfigure 1y ago
      Not op but my backpacking (overnight) kit contains similar. When people talk about "10 lb base loads" I assume they are talking about overnights? 10 lb base loads for day trips would not be impressive.
      - heelix 1y ago
        I assume overnight - so shelter, sleeping system, clothing, and cooking. I do like my comfortable hammock, quilt, underquilt, and cuben tarp. That comes in at about 3.5lbs total. Going tent, that is closer to 4lbs for tent (~2lbs), pad, and quilt. If I go bivy + tarp, shelter comes in around 15oz with cord. I don't have a fancy pack. My old crown vic is about 2lbs. I like my hot coffee and meals, so usually bring some sort of cooking and water filtration. 600ml pot, some sort of stove (stick, alcohol, or hexi), spoon, ursack, pot grabber, and befree - and I'm over a pound. Ounces start to add up fast. 6-7lbs with just the basics does not pack any clothing or food. Both tend to burn the folks I hike with. Always the poor soul who packed in 3lbs of gorp or three sweaters. There is nothing magical about 10lbs. Plenty of people in the ultralight community could look at my pack and say I had an extra 2' of dental floss as well as no business to hike with cards and a kindle. It does set a target where you may not be able to just pull out gear that does not consider weight. Personally, I like to try to target about 8-12lbs + food/water. I don't know how some of the other guys we hike with pull off their 30+ pound packs. I'm not strong enough to do what they are doing.
- heelix 1y ago
  I do pack in a small med kit. Typically 3-4 Advil, a couple aspirin, tylenol, a tums, one anti-diarrhea, and one sudafed (meth grade). I also bring in a couple waterproof bandaids, a single serving antiseptic, and a small square of leukotape. Most of that never gets used, and is packed over and over. You can spot the med kit in this picture in a small pill pouch. https://imgur.com/N5en41d https://imgur.com/N5en41d I'll pack in a second mini-bic. One that stays in my pocket, one for our group to constantly loose throughout the trip. Same for that extra TP packet. I'd rather have it with, then find myself in the woods running short. Got a whistle in there too that I don't think I've ever used on the trail. Most of my hikes, I'll plan to be at the site before dark. I'll still bring a reasonable headlamp.
- JohnFen 1y ago
  Yes, there are. Not many, but I take a first-aid kit, shortwave radio, and signalling devices (I tend to be in the wilderness far from civilization). I've never used them and hope that I never will. I was talking about the other stuff.
rconti 1y ago
Even on run of the mill international vacations, my wife and I always casually debrief on what we brought too much of, what we didn't use, etc. Traveling light is nice, even when you're not backpacking.
prawn 1y ago
I'm very good at packing per my spreadsheet and then adding a few extra things at the trailhead because there's room. Mobile tripod, extra (heavy) pocket knife (just in case!), another paracord, etc.