If you had 2 more lbs for free, what gear would you add?

[Daryl and Daryl]

Previous posts from others clarified it for me: chair plus a tent I can stand up in

Good idea for a post. Thought provoking.

Thanks.

[K C]

For sure, my #1 choice would be a DSLR and an ultra wide lens, and a big fatty knife, 8oz of 12 year scotch, a large xtherm… Am I over yet?

[BlackHatGuy]

"It would be nice to have a 'chair' hammock that's literally just enough material to sit in."

Bushman Hammock Chair at Arrowhead Equipment. Scroll down.

[Matthew Black]

My god, you have beautiful legs.

[Ken Thompson]

Clean your glasses Matt.

[BlackHatGuy]

"My god, you have beautiful legs."

Why thank you, only that's not me. Pic from the Arrowhead site.

[Matthew Black]

I need to stop putting off the bifocals.

[Kevin Burton]

Actually.. I think that nails it. I hadn't seen THAT design of hammock-chair before … though I've seen others. If I use the material to double as a stuff sack / pillow then I'm game and can do this without much more weight.

I can re-use my hammock straps but that would mean that I can't use the chair / hammock at the same time.

[Gordon Gray]

I wouldn't mind that hammock chair instead of my couch in my tv room. It looks perfect.

[kristen buckland]

more protective camp shoes. I use dinky flip-flops :(

And a lounging around hammock.

[Owen McMurrey]

I always have free pounds, as my pack weight has dropped another 4# since reaching the point that I don't even notice my pack any more. Further lightening and simplifying everything remains an ongoing process that is kind of a hobby unto itself rather than fulfilling any real need as far as backpacking goes.

A knife and saw for fire when I want one are really the only extra gear I'll add unless combining activities, but sometimes I'll take a couple pints of my favorite sweet tea, or some apples and packages of that Jif chocolate silk for snacks.
For short overnighters where I play a lot, having light gear sometimes means being able to bring wetsocks and watershoes, even wetsuit pants, or heavier pack and rope with gear for rappels without feeling weighed down. I don't really keep track of pack weight any more, but doubt it broke 30# either time I carried a 150' 11mm static line to rap waterfalls this past summer.

[Nick Gatel]

My kit is dialed in. I don't need to add or subtract gear. Don't need to buy more.

If I want luxury I go camping with with my wife in my camper.

[Jennifer Mitol]

OOOOOO…..a chair. yes, a chair. It is so very uncomfortable for me to sit on the ground – i really, really need something to lean back on and frequently the tree or rock just doesn't cut it.

And beer.

A chair and an crisp IPA, or good stout (when the weather is chilly) would literally make my life perfect. Who needs personal protection and safety?! Blech. Beer.

[Phillip Asby]

I'm not close to UL – trying but not there – but am by comparison to my scout troop brethren certainly LW. Had one scoutmaster ask if I was sure I had everything I needed since I was packed in a 65L REI Flash with not a single thing hanging on the outside "beverly hillbillies" style. even had a bit of room to spare. I'm not sure what he'd have asked if I showed up with a setup like many here use!

Some of that is preference (I still use a double wall shelter – albeit typically a fairly light one – Big Agnes SL1 – which I'm just used to and the move to a single wall shelter like a tarptent doesn't save enough weight to justify the cost … yet … full tarp is tough for a guy just starting to backpack a year or so ago), some of that is situational since I backpack with scouts so I do tend to carry a bit more than I might otherwise carry – a slightly bigger FAK, often a bit of extra food, etc… as one of the adults on a trip we are the last safety net, although it is expected that scouts exhaust other scout resources before turning to us. On a different note – I do often take a chair (Alite Monarch 1.5lbs roughly) as we tend to get to camp early to mid afternoon since we accomodate a range of ages and abilities so distances don't go beyond 5 miles each way that often. Since scouts are supposed to help scouts as an adult there is a fair amount of potential downtime so a chair becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

If I added anything it would be a SPOT for personal use (the Troop already carries one on all trips).

[chris smead]

If I had room to carry 2lbs, I'd use it to catch and carry home my own pet Marmot.

[Ben Smith]

I've asked my girlfriend for a "Perkins" tent for christmas and birthdays every year since we met, still no luck.

I don't know your current system but I'd give pillows a try if I had the spare weight.
I just don't want to throw money at something that I have always managed without in the past.

[Aaron]

Only on BPL can people not fathom carrying an extra 2 lbs, even if it just a "what if" thread. Geez.

Anywho, I'd bring along more microbrews, of course. Wait…I already do that.

…probably a lightweight camping chair. That would nice.

[Dave Ayers]

I'm not UL and bring the 'needs' like raingear, comfortable sleep gear, etc. So I'd probably bring some 'toys':
Camera
Book
Rumrunner Flask (with 151) and sugar free Koolaid
Monocular (2 oz)
A few sheets of paper printed with tree/flower ID info
Sit pad (doubles as pillow topper) (3-4 oz)

[Ben Smith]

I just saw a a helinox table on a UK shops online store, maybe I'd take that and one of their nifty little chairs.

Just over 2lb for the two of them.

Nothing wrong with getting your kit down to a nice, low weight then using your old, slightly larger (only slightly heavier) pack and taking some luxuries!

[Alex Wallace]

Congratulations on the weight loss, Kevin. You may find that you now need more insulation to keep warm. A couple of years ago I lost 20 lbs. to get back down to my preferred weight (160 lbs.). I found that I chilled easier and needed more insulation when at rest. Maybe a half pound for a warmer sleeping bag and the rest for fresh fruit & veggies in your food bag.

[JCH]

+1

Was really surprised that after dropping from 260 lbs to 200 how much colder I was when sleeping. Not much difference when hiking, but suddenly had to wear more clothes in my bag. Which is the route I would suggest rather than getting a warmer bag. Clothes are useful 24 hrs a day were as a bag only at rest.

[Nick Gatel]

Maybe Doug should add a suntan to his wish list — no extra weight either :)

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