My heavyweight to lighterweight experience

[dugsuth]

Just wanted to post up about my recent enlightening experience regarding hiking and the lightweight philosophy. I love getting outdoors on a regular basis but have never done any overnight hiking. In October last year I went on my first overnight hike with a mate of mine on the Main Range Track in the KNP. I borrowed a pack, bought a tent and headed off with absolutely no idea. The walk was a huge shock to my system, carrying all the weight I had on my back and hitting the ascents on the track. Keep in mind I would run 10km at least once a week and run another 2-3 times at 5kms a week leading up to this so I wasn't what I would call unfit. On completing the hike I was pretty well physically wrecked and on returning home I began to do a bit of research online (found this site amongst many others) about hiking and lightening my load. I weighed all of the contents of my pack for this first walk and it came out at 26kgs! On weighing everything and putting it into a spreadsheet, it became apparent what I could easily shed. I had packed the spare socks, the trangia with 1.5L of metho, anything you can imagine being extra had been packed, including 6L of water. I changed the way I looked at what I was packing with the "do I REALLY need this" mantra and with this in mind looked forward to my next hike.

I just finished a trip this weekend hiking into the Budawangs, my total weight this time (including clothes I was wearing and a fly I didn't end up using) was just under 14kgs. The experience was like night and day! On returning home I reweighed the pack as is (without its water or food that I had eaten/drank) and it came in at 10kgs, which was very evident in my easy walk out and lack of aching muscles the next day. I still have a way to go in reducing this pack weight even more but the difference between the two walks was extremely satisfying. I'm now looking forward to hitting KNP again next month with a pack weight of approx 17.5kgs and enjoying the weight difference.

My two easiest weight losses in the future will be from my tent, an Oztrail Backpacker at 2233g to a Tarptent Moment and my sleeping bag, a Roman at 1430g to a Western Mountaineering Summerlite - this should see my pack reduce by approx 2.1kgs

I have really gained alot from lurking on this site and reading on the many blogs and sites which cover this topic, looking forward to learning more in the future.

[Kinsayder]

The transition to lightweight (or ultralight) hiking is, in many ways, quite liberating. It all adds up, which is obvious, but the thoughts of necessity and luxury start whirling about. Do I, don't I? All of that. Of course there is a point where it would be reckless not to take certain things but all long as you're safe, going much lighter is great. There is some wonderful equipment out there that help facilitate this too. I'm mostly quite busy so only get to hike maybe four times a year but my last hike was a December Razorback with around 12kgs in a 35 litre pack, bliss!

Glad that you're getting into it Dugsuth, enjoy!

[Dale]

Less and lighter gear translates to more wine on the trail.

[dugsuth]

The transition to lightweight (or ultralight) hiking is, in many ways, quite liberating. It all adds up, which is obvious, but the thoughts of necessity and luxury start whirling about. Do I, don't I? All of that. Of course there is a point where it would be reckless not to take certain things but all long as you're safe, going much lighter is great. There is some wonderful equipment out there that help facilitate this too. I'm mostly quite busy so only get to hike maybe four times a year but my last hike was a December Razorback with around 12kgs in a 35 litre pack, bliss!

Glad that you're getting into it Dugsuth, enjoy!

Absolutely! I'm finding the mindset of "do I really need it" permeating into other areas of life which is good. One item I am wanting to add is the GSI Espresso, at 200g I think it's weight is definitely made up for by having real coffee in the morning

[oyster_07]

Have a look at that Aeropress instead of the GSI espresso maker. It weighs a tad less and is more packable. It makes better coffee too.

[jackhinde]

Less and lighter gear translates to more wine on the trail.

or alternatively rum.... which is for the real weight concious alco's
you may find the lightweight challenge an addictive and expensive exercise, i have paid silly amounts of money on shedding a few grams.

[Dale]

Less and lighter gear translates to more wine on the trail.

or alternatively rum.... which is for the real weight concious alco's
you may find the lightweight challenge an addictive and expensive exercise, i have paid silly amounts of money on shedding a few grams.

Totally agree - beware the law of diminishing returns, the further along you go the higher the cost / gram saved.

[yegdod1]

I have to admit...i now also look at everything and think,,,can i do with out it??

When you get home make two piles of all the gear you took on a hike..Pile 1 things you used...Pile 2 things you didnt use......
I found the first time i did this the didnt use pile was a couple Kg's...

Im down to about 10kg on an overnighter....

[puredingo]

Or you end up using the things you took but could of really done without just to justify them being lugged the whole way out with you....mind games!

[under10kg]

Once you get your gear down to under 10kg, you can go for a frameless pack of 400gms or so and save over 2kg for most frame packs.
Now you are about 7 kg and you can wear runners that are 320 gms or so and walk 10% to 20% longer for the same effort.
Just my experince of doing WA with a light pack and runners on a walk with limited scrub and light gear.

[ULWalkingPhil]

So far I've got my base pack weight down to 8.5kg, depending on which pack I use. Without pack my gear is 7kg. I'm still working on trying to get this pack weight down further. This is my cold weather base pack weight. I don't think I can get this any lower, not for winter use.
I do want to stay dry and warm. There's only so far you can go, before it gets a bit risky, at least for me.

Backpack is where I could probably save more weight, by the time I add food and water, I'll be over the 10kg mark, I don't think those 400gms packs will suffice for me. There's so many chooses out there in packs. Something in the 1kg range would be nice. I've heard the Osprey Exos packs are great, but never tried one.

[forest]

Going light weight has been a very informative experience for me.
You really learn to appreciate how and what you use your gear for.

Does get to a point of diminishing returns for $$ spent..... trust me on that one.

I can break the 10lbs golden UL baseweight but mostly I'm around 12lbs. I find the extra 2 lbs make things much more comfortable for me.
Things like a proper shell jacket & pants can be a world changer in certain weather.

It's all the little things in your pack that can really add up when you finally buy that set of scales. That was one area I was able to really shave some weight off in.... even though it didn't look like I would.

Pack is one area where I know the weight could come off. I just cannot make myself part with the Exos 46 is it's soooo comfy at my baseweight and the mesh back is fantastic.

Like I said, once a point is hit it's diminishing returns.

Once your "lite" you will never go back.
I can move faster in runners and a light pack, further and still have energy at the end of a good full day.
I will warn you though, once that pack weight starts to drop it's adictive to loss more....

[WarrenH]

I am not an ultra-lighter not on Kosciuszko's Main Range or in any part of the High Country or on the Northern Frost Plain - I think a lot of this stuff goes way overboard and sacrifices safety for the almighty light base weight.

I frequently repackage things more efficiently, but chopping a toothbrush?

It makes some sense to combine items where practical. Perhaps you have read of the UL strategy of a rain jacket that doubles as a shelter, well that is a little crazy for extreme places like Kosciuszko. SOME redundancy is a good idea but for important things, a shelter, insulation, food, medical kit as well as with navigation tools what you actually take, should reflect the real risks related to your trip.

It's more important to track the items that you use and those you don't. Also consider which items are safety gear that can not ever be left out. It is important to treat your self with a small luxury at the end of each day. Good for morale especially when a day can go pear shaped weather wise.

If you're holed-up on the Main Range for 4 days in near blizzard conditions, which can happen at any time of the year and certainly from now on (Autumn) ... a bigger tent (2-3 person) is better than a one person ultra-light ... all for the sake of not carrying one extra kilogram. I've spent much time in Kosci over the years. I spent 6 weeks last March and April in the Northern Alps. It was freezing at night and it rained nearly every day. I was staying in huts for days at time ... with plenty of food and plenty of treats, all was good. I knew over the 8 weeks that I'd planned to be out (bike-packing along the BNT) I'd get some bad weather, not even the BOM expected such extended bad weather. I bailed out 2 weeks earlier than I planned because the weather just didn't get it together.

Warren.

[bernieq]

I am not an ultra-lighter not on Kosciuszko's Main Range or in any part of the High Country .....

Appropriate caution, WarrenH.

Obviously, there is no point in carrying more than is needed – I’ll repeat that … than is needed.

The knowledge that comes slowly from experience is vital to avoid cutting too deeply. For example, I’ve never had to use 4/5 of my repair kit (150g of cable ties, wire, cord, needle, thread etc) but that’s not sufficient reason to toss it out.

Ran into a couple of ULs at Bluff Hut some years ago (the new hut had just been opened). They had a tarp for shelter and finished up inside the hut as the weather blew up cold and wet overnight.

In the morning, we and they were heading for Richies Hut – they had set off about an hour before us. There is a point where a short off-track descent cuts off about 2km – very obvious on a map. We took this shortcut (thick undergrowth but straight-forward) and stopped for a break when we regained the track. Along they came, stunned to see us in front of them. Asking how we did it, I pointed out the route on the map. Aaah, they observed, there IS a purpose for map and compass. All they had was a photocopy of a section of the 1:250,000 map.

you can wear runners that are 320 gms or so

Light footwear (runners, KT26, etc) can work on tracked walks but, for me, mandatory is full leather boots and knee-high gaiters when I go off-track – foot and ankle support, snakes, protection from rocks and sharp sticks.


So, on a recent 10-day along the Tassie Southern Range to PB and the South Coast, my starting weight was 20kg (7kg food, 1kg water) plus base clothing/boots of 3kg. Not UL, but appropriate for the potential conditions, IMO.
Trip report here : http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=9226

I frequently repackage things more efficiently, but chopping a toothbrush?

BTW, I survived the trip with just the head of my toothbrush – not trimmed for weight-saving, but it snapped on day 1 – of course, had to carry the handle to the end anyway !

[John Sheridan]

How do you snap a toothbrush, those things are tough ????

Tooth brushing MAKE bernieq ANGRy, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, snap :p

Cheers.

[bernieq]

Tooth brushing MAKE bernieq ANGRy, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, snap :p

Ha, not at all – Zen-like calm, that’s me :))

I had trimmed a small bit from the end of the toothbrush (to allow a better fit in the 1st aid bag) and I suspect I had weakened the handle when it was in the vice. As a work-around, an elastic band to hold it on my index finger was functional if not elegant.

I must comment on design, though. If current trends continue, the toothbrush will become the heaviest item in the pack !

[dugsuth]

I just completed another round of the Main Range track, this time climbing Townsend and Kosi. I carried in 16kg, around 10kgs less than last time, and the difference was very evident. I found the whole walk much more enjoyable and my legs recovered very well on Monday, unlike last time where I was still walking like a pensioner on Wednesday. Now looking forward to upgrading the tent and sleeping bag to lighten the load even more. Thanks for all the input and comments.