As an update to the below text, I have now gone back to heavier military kit as I find it lasts longer. Also I am willing to put up with more ICK!
I now kind of subscribe to the saying;
"Don't get lighter kit. Get a stronger back!"
I now kind of subscribe to the saying;
"Don't get lighter kit. Get a stronger back!"
Baldy
Here we shall be showing you our kit, how it works, why we carry it, what we think of it and how we pack our rucksacks. The reviews on here are OUR opinions, remember the saying 'one man's rubbish is another man's gold'. If you know of a better product or way to do things please use the form on the links page. We do not claim to be instructors or experts, in fact we class ourselves as keen beginners. The reviews should not be taken literally and are in no way meant to slur or to promote any particular product or manufacturer, nor are they meant to advertise any particular product.
Baldy
Back in 2008 I read an article in a backpacking magazine about reducing kit weight, it was so well written that I still remember it and have based the items I carry on that particular article (I may ask permission from the magazine to post a copy of the article here). The writer divided items into three categories:
Ick- how disgusting something was to you if you did without that particular item or if you changed it to a lighter version.
Irk- how troublesome a particular item was to carry.
Faf- how easy to use the item was or do you actually need it? Is there a better way?
So bearing these in mind, as the writer pointed out, some of these would be eased and some magnified by using lighter kit.
e.g. following these rules I have reduced just my cook kit and water filter weight from 1766g to 436g (these weights do not include the stove) this is by buying lighter kit and changing my food from cook in the pan food and taking a plate and cup to using boil in the bag food, using a lighter smaller pan as a cook pot and mug and eating my food from the bag.
Using this method I have reduced my overall pack weight from just over 22kg on our 1st trip (May 2011) to just under 14.5kg (Nov 2012). I could reduce this weight further but at the moment this would cause more ICK!
My current tent weighs 3.5kg IRK!
I could buy a tiny tent... ICK!
I could leave my waterproof trousers behind... definite ICK
I do however still plan to reduce the pack weight more by learning more and finding lighter kit.
Baldy
Back in 2008 I read an article in a backpacking magazine about reducing kit weight, it was so well written that I still remember it and have based the items I carry on that particular article (I may ask permission from the magazine to post a copy of the article here). The writer divided items into three categories:
Ick- how disgusting something was to you if you did without that particular item or if you changed it to a lighter version.
Irk- how troublesome a particular item was to carry.
Faf- how easy to use the item was or do you actually need it? Is there a better way?
So bearing these in mind, as the writer pointed out, some of these would be eased and some magnified by using lighter kit.
e.g. following these rules I have reduced just my cook kit and water filter weight from 1766g to 436g (these weights do not include the stove) this is by buying lighter kit and changing my food from cook in the pan food and taking a plate and cup to using boil in the bag food, using a lighter smaller pan as a cook pot and mug and eating my food from the bag.
Using this method I have reduced my overall pack weight from just over 22kg on our 1st trip (May 2011) to just under 14.5kg (Nov 2012). I could reduce this weight further but at the moment this would cause more ICK!
My current tent weighs 3.5kg IRK!
I could buy a tiny tent... ICK!
I could leave my waterproof trousers behind... definite ICK
I do however still plan to reduce the pack weight more by learning more and finding lighter kit.
What we carry
Kit list
This is a list of the general things carried by Baldy on a solo trip. Obviously not all the kit is carried all the time, I would't carry suncream or insect repellent in winter not would I carry a warm hat or thick tent sock in the summer.
This is a list of the general things carried by Baldy on a solo trip. Obviously not all the kit is carried all the time, I would't carry suncream or insect repellent in winter not would I carry a warm hat or thick tent sock in the summer.
This video shows my kit when going for an overnighter in the hammock, Dad's hammock kit is virtually identical apart from a few extras . All the kit in this video is mine but I don't always carry all of it, the cook kit for instance will not be taken as Dad and I share and Dad will carry it. Waterproofs and sometimes food are also carried by Dad. Dad will also carry my whole pack as well as his own if I get too tired.
This video is a run through of Dad's kit when going in the tent. When hammocking the tent will obviously get left behind and replaced with the hammock, a full length sleep mat will be used instead of the 3/4 length mat and an anti slip mat will be taken. Not all the kit is taken all the time.
This video shows HOW the above kit goes into a 65 litre backpack.
When arriving at camp, obviously the 1st thing you need is the tent. Unless you put a brew on whilst pitching the tent. It's not obvious from the videos but the tent can be easily removed from the sack without having to first remove the entire contents of the sack. Only the food bag needs to be temporarily removed.
When breaking camp the pack can be almost fully packed before packing the tent as all you need to do is loosely put the sleeping bag in and the tent will slide down beside it with a little help, then push the sleeping bag in tight. This entire pack with enough food for two days and one night, one litre of water and Dad's camera kit which is, camcorder and 4 blank DVD's and a spare battery, Digital SLR with spare battery and three different filters weighs 18.4kg or 40lb 8oz. Yes we know it's not the lightest but he can manage it and the camera kit isn't exactly light.
When breaking camp the pack can be almost fully packed before packing the tent as all you need to do is loosely put the sleeping bag in and the tent will slide down beside it with a little help, then push the sleeping bag in tight. This entire pack with enough food for two days and one night, one litre of water and Dad's camera kit which is, camcorder and 4 blank DVD's and a spare battery, Digital SLR with spare battery and three different filters weighs 18.4kg or 40lb 8oz. Yes we know it's not the lightest but he can manage it and the camera kit isn't exactly light.