The State of Lightweight Backpacking in Europe

Hi S. Steele,

When I wrote that consumers are telling the big pack manufacturers what to make I meant that they are doing so with their dollars. As long as consumers are buying Bolteros Gregory will continue to make them as is, for example.  If there were to be a sustained shift by consumers to the cottage industry you can bet that Gregory would reintroduce an “ultralight” pack or two.  Between experience and knowledge, it’s a chicken-or-egg thing.  It takes experience to know what you need and don’t need and knowledge of the overall market to select the best options.  I don’t know of the numbers but I think it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority of hikers/backpackers simply do not know the cottage industry exists even though many are at least rudimentarily familiar with the term “ultralight”.

Yes, let’s move on.  But…. about that 7 oz. pack of yours….

To Sam’s point, you cannot attribute resistance to lightweight gear solely to the retailers and the manufacturers. In both the SIerra Club outdoor community and the Boy Scouts (mostly their parents) I have seen lots of conservatism among folks and a strong desire to stick to mainstream gear and carry lots of items for “just in case” situations.

I do not have much to add to what already has been said in these last comments, which is more or less the two keywords from my article: Conservatism and commercialism. Most people getting interested in backpacking for the first time are probably a bit afraid of this unknown world that is tempting them. They want to be safe. They want good solid stuff. It is a bit difficult for sales staff to convince them that a lightweight pack is good enough for their needs (some of my interviewees have worked in outdoor retail). Particularly if the heavy packs are more numerous, have been around for a long time and offer better commission to the sales staff. This is where commercialism comes into play. “People buy what stores sell” as Chris Townsend formulated his reply.

I have had a representative for a major retail chain over here, when being offered to sell my book Smarter Backpacking say: “We are not that interested in lightweight backpacking, because we think it might diminish our sales”.

There is also the questions of different approaches to backpacking, which also have been touched upon by some of you in the comments. I think what Andrew Skurka calls “hikers” and “campers” sums it up. Walking short distances and staying around camp makes weight less of an issue.

My personal mission in lightweigh backpacking derives from the fact that I see way too many people carrying lots bigger loads than what is necessary. And particularly women, older people, kids and parents. In this group you find people that do not have the physical capacity of a trained athlete. Parents with small kids do have to carry double until the kids are big enough to carry their own gear. I want to make all these people aware that there are options to what is heavily advertised by the established multi-nationals. In order to vote with their feet, with their dollars, they have to know the breadth of options. That it is not only a questions of choosing between three packs, all of which weigh 5 pounds, give or take a few ounces, the difference being the color, fabric, size of pockets or number of zippers.

There is a favorite marketing acronym of mine (I have been doing market research most of my professional life) that is called AIDA. Most of you probably know that one. What this means is that a product/line of products have to be brought to your Attention before you can develop an Interest in it. This might escalate to a Desire for the product, that could eventually lead to the Action of buying it.

Ultralight and lightweight backpacking has still not come to the attention of large groups of backpackers. And when it does it faces conservatism and commercialism. Like almost everything new in this world. However, I am optimistic. Carrying light is simply too good an idea and brings too much comfort for it to be stopped. A colleague of mine used to say: “Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come”.

Which is not the same as saying that everybody will go ultralight.

Bruce,
I don’t disagree with your point. However with over 45 years of hiking experience I know after climbing up a chute, passing under dead/wind blown trees, slips and falls, materials, particularly nylon can handle abuse with abrasion. One winter I slipped on ice while climbing over large rocks. It tore my anorak near an elbow – the only clear significant damage to a nylon based product in over 45 years. So, it’s perception and lack of sales staff knowledge and experience to justify durability. OK, some retailers lack integrity and sell the more expensive products with heavier materials. All in all knowledge and experience is both lacking by the retailer and the customer. After reading Jorgen’s article and his responses to our comments, it’s clear that his personal research is clearly deeper and broader than ours. The obvious question still remains how can lightweight packing penetrate the market place with positive perceptions and significant quantitative customer result?

Hi all,

Imagine, you are a manufacturer and sell some UL stuff. Then You will get 90% returns because something broke. You quit producing UL gear soon!

Many people think the manufacturer was responsible for the success of their projects. A torn UL pack or tent will be blamed to the manufacturer – instead of the user.

(The market always produces what the customer is looking for…)

Happy trails
Urs

Hi Urs,

You do have a very good point. Ray Jardine pointed out many years ago in Beyond Backpacking that retailers do not like returns, or any kind of hassle with products they have sold. This is a powerful part of what i call Commersialism in my article. it means that many, powerful, movers in the outdoor industry do prefer sturdy, traditional gear. And they also promote this with the considerable force of their accumulated media budgets, which heavily influences what gear is, not only advertised, but tested in mainstream outdoor media.

Like with traffic accidents it is not always the fault of the car that they occur, but I suppose it is rather human for many of us to believe that failed gear is the fault of the gear.

That the market always produces what the customer is looking for is cornerstone of trade. However, it is based on the ideal that all consumer at all times have a full and indepth knowledge of all available products. This is never the case. One disadvantage for lightweight gear is that many/most backpackers are not aware that products exist that weigh half of what their corner sports outlet sells and are just as good in the wilds. Often at a lower price.

However, it seems to me that there are lots more lightweight products from mainstream manufacturers to be found in mainstream retail today than ten years ago, so I believe we are moving in the right direction. But the fact that buyers are conservative and the trade is powerful and reluctant simply makes it slow going.

The biggest issue of weight as I see it is not the weight of an individual item. It’s bringing everything with you.

Via Alpina, Slovakia, Dom na Komni refuge, boot drying room.

Count the number of pairs of Great Big Boots, and the number of light-weight joggers. The 2 pairs of joggers were ours.

Cheers