10 things not to buy for backpacking

"are you really going to sit there for hours untying all those knots to use your paracord?"

If you tie it with slip knots, you just pull on it and it comes untied.

Not that I'm advocating paracord – it's unnecesarily heavy.

What about big running packs of thick legged, thin legged, in-between legged, white, beige, brown, Hershey chocolate, and everything-in-between skinned men in onion skin shorts?

"Went on an 8 day backpacking trip once with my usual short roll of TP. Oops. Wound up having to ration the squares on a per-day basis. Worked out okay, but could have been a problem."

It's not for nuttin' that TP is also called "mountain money."

Not much left to add to the GIANT list, but I don't recall seeing quad-fold zippered cordura knick-knack organizers.

Cheers,

Rick

The kitchen gadgets they manage to sell amaze me, though I assume most of it goes for car-camping. Still, $30 stainless steel chopsticks? I like having chopsticks for noodle-soups; I just take one of those cheap disposable ones you get at a restaurant. And who takes salt-and-pepper sets?

I'll buy a footprint for double-wall tents if it allows for setup without with the body. Of course, we're talking about free-standing tents… ;)

I use a pack cover. I like keeping pack itself dry, including things in external pockets. I made mine from silnylon and it weighs an ounce.

I've never bought a commercially packaged first aid kit. They look HUGE.

I'm a very big fan of toilet paper.

There is a large number of different activities that can be called backpacking. If you are walking a few miles, setting up a camp and camping until the trip is over and then walking back to your car, you will want different gear than if you are walking many miles each (or most) days. How important each activity is will determine how important various types of gear are.

Those bright colored origami folding bowls and plates….lame.

Ah, but they actually work, make great dog bowls and can also be used as a prep counter/cutting board.

Yeah, I know crazy talk. But they do pack well. I don’t like the folding mugs (they are just too thin for hot beverages!) but the bowls/plates work well.

Lol..I could probably argue in the favor of nearly any cooking item.

Although have any of you used one of these?

I find the oragami bowls very useful. I don't bring one every time, but there is certainly a use for the and a minimal weight/space cost.

is that a stick spoon?

i'd have to go all in for the candle lantern. i almost always carry one. they are really nice when its cold and or snowy. to each his own right?

– anything that aint cuben … cause you just know yr too heavy if you have the old silnyl, or even worse cordura …

– anything that aint titanum .. cause you know aluminum is soo out of fashion

– anything that aint made by some guy in a garage somewhere … cause it aint really going to be UL, just some cheap made in china copy … besides its all about UL cred, and no mass produced good has that

– anything from REI … cause only old style heavyweight geezers buy their heavy gear there

– anything from wallymart … even worse … the kiss of death …

– anything that doesnt run on alcohol or esbit … cause real ULers dont care if it takes 10 min or 10 years to boil a quart if it saves a few grams

– anything that has the word synthetic in it … cause down is the best insulation for all conditions … if it works in cali, it must work anywhere including the amazon rain forest

– anything that aint driducks or a poncho … cause gale force winds dont matter

– anything that aint a quilt … only wussies feel drafts

– anything that aint a tarp … cause windchill and bugs are just a test from god of yr UL commitement

im sure i missed a few ;)

My buddy Hoosierdaddy made it one day out of duct tape and a zip tie – he had no spoon and wanted part of my lunch I was making. Lol! Worked though…..

Eric–lol!

Eric,
Nice man, that was funny, and kinda true. I find myself in some of those categories! Dangit!

So many different needs. I have a freestanding tent with footprint so that I can pitch it and take it down in the rain without everything getting soaked. Because it always seems to rain when it's warm enough to get out in the winter here. I have a (thermarest) chair because in the winter I'm camped by 5pm and what the heck am I going to do all night, sit on a rock? My big fluffy 0degree down Montbell bag gets stuffed in a compression sack because it's just so much easier to deal with in my pack. What's the extra 5oz? My summer bag doesn't need one, certainly. Oh, and a potty trowel is a must for us. You guys that use sticks…what kind of ground do you have? Holy heck, I practically need a backhoe to get a hole in the rock and root infested "dirt" that we have in the Ozarks.

Knife yes, saw no. Unless you're just going three miles in to get away from the riff-raff and will be making a nice roaring fire and drinking scotch under the stars.

I think the stores (like REI) prey on people's fear of the unknown and of the idea of the "dark unknown wilderness". Most of the time I camp within 5 miles of civilization, so it's not like I'm gonna die if I go minimal. But I do love my luxuries.

Going to REi with a knowledgable hiking buddy is the best advise I can give. Knowledge and skills will be the best way to safely go ultralight.

Conditions and hiking style will dictate what you carry.

on trail-off trail-terrain-season-weather-time-expectations-duties – all will detrermine what to carry.

I have three backpacks and "tons" of gear. I pack for the conditions and what I expect to do.

I have carried a classic WWII combat knife – not to be rambo, but to split wood in the winter to melt snow in my hobo stove. (saving 32 oz of fuel on my back)

I've hiked Isle Royale end to end with 7 days of provisions and only a total of 25lbs on my back in light hikers.

I've done a 5 day search and rescue in the swamps of the U.P with a modified external framed pack weighing in at 5lbs with a modified mesh tactical vest in front-while wearing bomb proof 4lb leather boots.

In each instance I chose gear for it's function and weight. Don't diss the gear, know how and when to use it.

As I progress in my knowledge base and experience level, I am making more and more of my gear.

enjoy,

Dave

…

"A fellow I travel with carries a ridiculous collapsible bucket. He fills it up at the water hole and lugs it back to his camp. It holds gallons of water and I've been known to "dip" a liter or two from his bucket on occasion rather than walk down to the creek… shame!"

I typically carry an older platy 1 gallon zip standup water bag on group trips. It weighs in at 2.5 oz but it makes camp life a breeze. We just use it to hold untreated water for use at dinner and breakfast boil times and also use it to fill up my hiking companions hydration bladders. Personally, I prefer gatorade bottles in sidepockets on my pack.

I also carry excess TP, wipes and one of those montbell scoops. Between my trekking pole and that little scoop, I am capable of digging a properly sized cathole. I will agree with sentiments expressed earlier… between roots and rocks, I would not be able to dig a decent hole with sticks and bootheels.

And oh yeah, I have yet to find a pair of shoes that work for my feet. I still use boots.

How many of you Ultra Lighters have travelled with the (heavy weight) guys carrying the "luxury goods" from REI and taken advantage of their stuff?

Strangely I have loaned more stuff to heavier packers than I have borrowed from them. When I have borrowed it has typically been something I lost, forgot, or misplaced.

@Eric

LOL.

Check out the Teva Riva boots. Lightweight and awesome, best shoes I've ever worn, just read some reviews….good thread everyone….good footwear makes a difference.

"Well, animals don't wipe, they lick, and I don't lick."

LOL, that just kills me!

Who buys or brings chopsticks with them? really. You're in the woods, grab two sticks and make you're own. You can make a new pair for each meal.

Eric- great list!

I . . . use chopsticks!

Love them. Use for most meals.

Only other useful eating item is a spoon, and your basic all-around knife. If only one item to carry, it would be a spoon.

Nothing is more fun-quaint as sitting there, watching the evening develop, while eating dinner with my collapsable chopsticks.

A fork is, to me, the least useful item in a pack

speaking of chopsticks … if any of you backcountry sushi munchers are tempted to buy these $30 snow peak chopsticks recommended by backpacker magazine …

http://www.rei.com/product/749401/snow-peak-compact-chopsticks

heres a set for $2.51 including shipping ….

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/browpencil-style-stainless-steel-travel-chopsticks-set-9671

or better yet get some wooden ones from yr local sushi bar

sometimes you need to ask how companies charge 12x the price for something of comparable use … and customers will buy it

you do get the fancy snow peak logo for $30 though that you can show off to bears in the backcountry ;)

The Snow Peak units are made in Japan. The Japanese have significantly higher labor costs than most other nations, universal healthcare, no natural resources to speak of, and a reputation for exceptionally high quality. I would also much rather eat off the wooden points than metal ones. That said, if I bring chopsticks I just grab a set of the better quality disposable ones sitting in my silverware drawer. Theres are much lighter than either set and they cost about 2 bucks for a pack of 50.