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Is there any gear that your don’t go light on?


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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 31 total)
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  • #1293981
    Ron Larimer
    Member

    @ronlarimer

    My interest in lightweight backpacking is mainly from a 72 hour/survivalist perspective. If it is too heavy you won't have it with you when you need it and even if you do and you can't move with it you'll have to ditch it at some point… but

    I can't imagine selecting a truly light weight knife if I know that I'm going to need it.

    Is there any gear that you carry that you could go lighter on, but don't?

    #1911412
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there
    #1911413
    HkNewman
    BPL Member

    @hknewman

    Locale: The West is (still) the Best

    Not really, except for repurposing (my old multitools go in the snowsports or mountainbike repair kits). My traditional backpacking gear is now used for car camping (Flex-baffled Sierra Designs sleeping bag, original Thermarest regular, camp pillow, Chacos) … and the rest I sold/donated.

    #1911414
    Stephen P
    Member

    @spavlock

    Locale: Mid-Atlantic

    Not sure if it applies to your survivalist perspective, but the one "luxury" item that I carry sometimes is a heavy sleeping pad like the bid agnes air core. There are lighter inflatables like the neoair, but I have yet to purchase one. I need to sleep comfortably. If I go solo and hike a lot of miles, I sleep well regardless. On those trips, I carry a CCF pad. The heavy inflatable sleeping pad is nice when I'm out for a leisurely weekend.

    I haven't backpacked yet in a location that I couldn't bug out of in under 12 hours, so my "survivalist" perspective is probably much different than other folks.

    #1911417
    Stephen P
    Member

    @spavlock

    Locale: Mid-Atlantic

    Also, I went light on my first aid kit. I'll be using everything in my pack if I start bleeding profusely…

    #1911422
    drowning in spam
    Member

    @leaftye

    Locale: SoCal

    Hygiene.

    #1911423
    michael levi
    Member

    @m-l

    Locale: W-Never Eat Soggy (W)affles

    My headlamp, I use a zipka, heavy by SUL standards. 2.4oz.hu

    #1911434
    mik matra
    BPL Member

    @mikmik

    Locale: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

    Everything is under scrutiny, everyrhing. It's almost an addiction!! Every time I am at the shops the eyes are scanning and when I see something the hand reaches out uncontrolably and is bobbing the product up and down estimating the weight and the mind is made up before I even realise what I have picked up in the first place. There is always a 'keep chiseling away' at the overall weight.

    #1911439
    kevperro .
    BPL Member

    @kevperro

    Locale: Washington State

    Depends on what you define as light. I balance weight vs. utility, comfort, personal preference and $$$.

    I prefer boots vs. running shoes. I like heavy wool socks vs. thin ones. I like a sleeping bag rather than a quilt and I'll carry more clothing than I need most times.

    With a bear canister I'm at 12-13lbs in the summer and I add 2-4 more pounds in late/early season hiking.

    #1911440
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    A Sleeping Pad! A good night of sleeping is worth the weight of gold. Everybody has different comfort levels and I do not want to be grumpy in the morning so I will go the extra yard for a very a luxurious,large sleeping pad.

    #1911443
    Paul Vertrees
    BPL Member

    @sawtooth

    Locale: Southern Colorado Rockies

    Yes, there is. My inflatable pad! Big Agnes IAC mummy. A good night's rest is so valuable. Makes staying "out there" longer a reality, especially for 50-year-old bones.

    #1911444
    Justin Baker
    BPL Member

    @justin_baker

    Locale: Santa Rosa, CA

    I don't go light on durability.

    #1911459
    Bob Bankhead
    BPL Member

    @wandering_bob

    Locale: Oregon, USA

    First match your total gear kit to the conditions you expect to encounter in the area into which you are headed.

    Only then can you start to answer that question.

    Bottom line; it varies depending on where you're going and what you can reasonably expect to encounter there.

    #1911461
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    How light? As you mentioned, an SUL knife isn't going to be much help in a 72 hour survival scenario, but there is a whole range of cutting tools from a single edge razor blade on out to an ax or the "sharpened pry bar" type of knife. I opt for a 3.5" quality folder like a Benchmade Griptilian that is 3.8oz. If I want more cutting power in a survival situation and light weight, I would go for a light saw rather than a big knife or ax: 3.5oz vs a couple pounds.

    The gist of it is that I want the lightest gear that will function to my needs. In a survival scenario, shelter, fire, navigation, hydration, signaling and first aid come to mind.

    We could kick first aid kits around and it comes to minor wound care like blisters, splinters and small cuts and then it kind of blossoms to near military sorts of needs like compound fractures, arterial bleeds, puncture wounds, etc. I think most opt to carry small wound care and hope that improvised methods will take care of the big bad stuff. 3-4 ounces will go a long ways.

    Good lighting can be had in light enough forms. The best compasses aren't that heavy. Signaling devices like whistles and mirrors don't have to be heavy. Fire starting methods are light, even if redundant forms are carried. Hydration is simple enough with light containers and chlorine dioxide tablets are super light. I covered tools for making shelters from natural sources. Something like a poncho tarp and light bivy sack will make emergency shelter that is carried rather than found/improvised.

    I could go lighter on a knife, but we're talking 2-3 ounces between my "heavy" knife and a lighter folder. I could take a button compass vs my boat anchor 2.6oz compass with mirror. A whistle that is loud enough to functionally deafen the user is all of 0.2oz. My headlamps range from 1oz to nearly 7, but a 3oz one is very functional (I'm not risking my life on a coin cell LED light). My firesteel racks up 0.4oz. My match case (with redundant button compass) is 1.4oz loaded with matches. A silnylon poncho is 7oz— I could opt for a lighter Cuben model, but the question there is really expense rather than weight. A space blanket bivy is 3.4oz. The cobra-braid paracord hatband on my Tilly provides a source of cordage.

    I think that it comes down to the shear number of items more than the weight of each. In a survival scenario, I want stuff that works AND a selection of items that will allow me to improvise to handle a whole range of unknowns.

    Using good ultralight principles, we should seek out items that would actually be used, have multiple uses, and be of high performance for the weight. That kind of gets into a whole pile of gray areas on what is really going to be used. In a perfect world, you never use your survival stuff, so I say use some common sense, try to fit your CYA items to the terrain and season, and don't try to cover every possible scenario. Seek out gear that gives good performance, use your head, do the best you can.

    DON'T GET STUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE, which is very light indeed :)

    #1911462
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    Latex.

    #1911465
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    Dale and Doug

    Excellent total polar opposite answers.

    #1911466
    Aaron
    BPL Member

    @aaronufl

    Food.

    …and latex.

    #1911468
    Jason G
    BPL Member

    @jasong

    Locale: iceberg lake

    ^ wild turkey 101

    #1911476
    JP
    BPL Member

    @jpovs-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2

    Locale: Arrowhead

    #1911489
    Ron Berry
    Member

    @squishware

    Locale: Southwest Florida

    My 9.3 ounce 1400 lumen Surefire/Oveready 9P and my 8.4 ounce Leatherman TTi Charge Multitool.

    #1911494
    Joseph R
    BPL Member

    @dianoda

    Locale: Chicago, IL

    Sometimes photo gear (although the Sony RX100 has been something of a revolution for me in that department).

    Sometimes I make decisions to carry more weight for the sake of comfort/versatility – ie, rain shell + tarp versus poncho tarp. Or I carry something a bit heavier than other options on the market because that's what I own (ie, I have one decent compass, headlamp, etc) and I'm not ready to spend XX dollars to save the odd ounce of weight when it doesn't really perform any better.

    And all those folks who talk about bringing "heavy" sleeping pads – I don't blame them. A good night's rest is worth more than having one less pound to lug around in your pack. Comfort is always worth considering – you'll have more fun and be able to hike farther, faster when well-fed and well-rested.

    #1911503
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    Josh's post in this thread mentioned the wallet.

    Here is my take on that same item. I use a clear, waterproof "wallet" that contains my license, credit card, medical insurance card, phone card and CASH.

    When I'm out for 1 to 2 weeks on the trail my license is dual use, ID and the ability to drive to and from the trail head. The credit card and cash are for the trail towns and resupply points. The phone card is for the ability to stay in touch in areas without cell phone service when I have to resort to using pay phones in trail towns.

    Yes, Virginia these things still exist

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1911510
    Tom Lyons
    Member

    @towaly

    Locale: Smoky Mtns.

    I'm also a "knife knut" and there are some excellent choices in light weight ranges for survival.

    Carry a Mora #2.
    4 ounces, including the sheath.
    Everything bigger is overkill.
    All bushcraft and real survival knives are based on this design.

    Regarding carrying heavier, I carry as light as my skills can permit, for all the required gear.
    Then, if there is room for me to carry more optional weight, I carry the things that I want to carry. And what I "want" to carry may vary, depending on the purpose of the hike.

    #1911570
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    Jay mentioned his sleeping pad.

    I have to concur as I recently switched to a small Prolite Plus inflatable pad. I almost doubled the weight of my shorty Ridgerest pad. The difference in comfort and a good night's sleep is worth the weight penalty.

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1911596
    michael levi
    Member

    @m-l

    Locale: W-Never Eat Soggy (W)affles

    My summation ul7 is a luxury, but it's not really all that heavy compared to my ridge rest. It's also less bulky which is nice.

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