Lightest investment for a week long hike

[beardless]

All this talk about hiking light but it seems the lighter the gear the more expensive. What is the least people have invested in gear to tackle a week long hike like the overland track?

[Strider]

All this talk about hiking light but it seems the lighter the gear the more expensive. What is the least people have invested in gear to tackle a week long hike like the overland track?

Probably the guy who cut the track to begin with.

[icefest]

You could do it only spending money only on transport, but you'll have little to no luxury.

[Scottyk]

You could just borrow someone else's gear and that would be very cheap!, does that count?

[GPSGuided]

Didn't two teenage girls manage the whole track in under 24 hours and the running record being 7 hours and 25mins? Then it's perfectly feasible to do the whole course without any fancy gears but runners and a backpack with food and water. I am sure you already have them at home and no additional investment required. Then again, that's without any provision for safety and not advised.

[madmacca]

I'm not sure that lightweight gear is significantly more expensive than regular gear. Where it becomes expensive is when you are throwing out a perfectly serviceable but heavier pack in favour of something lighter.

If I was shopping around carefully, was prepared to wait for sales, etc. I suspect I could equip myself from scratch with all new gear for the OLT in summer for about $800 (with the biggest single item being a down sleeping bag for low $200s).

[ULWalkingPhil]

All this talk about hiking light but it seems the lighter the gear the more expensive. What is the least people have invested in gear to tackle a week long hike like the overland track?

Funny you say that, I actually find the lighter gear I have purchased a lot cheaper than the heavy gear I used to own.

[icefest]

All this talk about hiking light but it seems the lighter the gear the more expensive. What is the least people have invested in gear to tackle a week long hike like the overland track?

Funny you say that, I actually find the lighter gear I have purchased a lot cheaper than the heavy gear I used to own.

... and then there is cuben and custom, non MYOG gear.

[beardless]

So it seems the best state strategy is to borrow. Second best make do with what you already have. Third don't buy anything you don't need. Fourth, wait until a sale to buy what you need.

[icefest]

I'd add another to the start: Weather. A 7 day forecast can warn you of 100kmh winds and 50mm of rain, so you do not need to plan for them.

[nq111]

All this talk about hiking light but it seems the lighter the gear the more expensive. What is the least people have invested in gear to tackle a week long hike like the overland track?

My first trip down the overland track i think i was 34kg. Had a great cord knit wool jumper (probably weighed 3kg). Warm sleeping bag but near 2kg. Cotton underwear, chesty Bonds. No thermals. No beanie (but found one discarded on the track which was nice). Heavy, but tough tent. Closed cell foam mat at least was light. Oiled cotton drizabone rip-off as a raincoat.

Food all from the supermarket (still pretty much do that).

Nope, I am not that old. Just a student who didn't know much better and couldn't afford much better anyway.

[nq111]

I'd add another to the start: Weather. A 7 day forecast can warn you of 100kmh winds and 50mm of rain, so you do not need to plan for them.

Sorry, but you should always plan for this in Tassie regardless of the forecast. Been there and done that!

[Tortoise]

So it seems the best state strategy is to borrow. Second best make do with what you already have. Third don't buy anything you don't need. Fourth, wait until a sale to buy what you need.

Up there would be borrowing essential things until you can buy them cheaply or put any birthday/Christmas $ towards new stuff. Keep eyes peeled on market square here, sales etc. Harder to find light weight stuff at garage sales/op shops, but worth having a look.

Btw I learned the hard way to make sure I know exactly how to use borrowed (or new) equipment properly before going on the walk.

[icefest]

I'd add another to the start: Weather. A 7 day forecast can warn you of 100kmh winds and 50mm of rain, so you do not need to plan for them.

Sorry, but you should always plan for this in Tassie regardless of the forecast. Been there and done that!

Have a plan, by all means. There may be rain during a weather high. I will take different clothes though than if the forecast is a week of rain. Being wet only kills you if you are cold too.

[Happy Pirate]

I'd add another to the start: Weather. A 7 day forecast can warn you of 100kmh winds and 50mm of rain, so you do not need to plan for them.

You ALWAYS assume bad weather in Tassie.
Relying on a 7 day forcast in Tassie can leave you very embarrassed or very dead.
And I've never seen a 7 day forcast I would trust anyway.
Steve

[Happy Pirate]

Have a plan, by all means. There may be rain during a weather high. I will take different clothes though than if the forecast is a week of rain. Being wet only kills you if you are cold too.

When were you last wet and hot in Tassie?
S