Me neither, it's a whole decade since I ran bushcraft courses full time
Am I carrying too much gear.
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These are what I would skip keeping in mind it is a three day trip.
Don’t forget that you might be carrying your big outer layer jacket strapped to the bag when it gets hot.
While this is sounding very manageable it’s still worth looking for reductions.
On the other hand, if 13kg + is manageable then you can afford the odd luxury in there!
Do you know how far you will be carrying it?
While this is sounding very manageable it’s still worth looking for reductions.
On the other hand, if 13kg + is manageable then you can afford the odd luxury in there!
Do you know how far you will be carrying it?
I'm from Bridgend s Wales so about a total 2 hour walk from my house to Merthyr Mawr dunes. Can catch a bus from where I am down as close as possible. Could drive down but you probably know what parking is like in Candelston
I can't speak for John, but I've managed it on a bottle of sloe gin and a map of the local hedge bottoms.
It's all relative to your bodyweight. The general suggestion is that a rucksack load should be between 10-15% of bodyweight, and max 20%. In practice that's very hard to get down to. Plus it does not factor in being maybe a bit overweight or not as fit or young.
I've been playing around with 12-20kg on short flat walks back with my weekly shopping to get a feel for it.
The biggest thing I've found that helps is having a chunk of the weight at the front of my body. This makes everything more balanced, by taking some of the loading off the back and therefore not so tiring.
I've been doing this Aussie swagman style, with a canvas carrier bag hung on a strap over my shoulder to the rucksack. This works surprisingly well, and I can play about with the height. Although it swings about a bit, I could easily tie off from a corner to stop that.
A front chest pack is the obvious alternative, but needs some ventilation to stop overheating. Years ago when travelling abroad, when moving everything to the next transit of stopover point I used to wear my daypack on backwards at the front, with my then huge camp rucksack at the back.
I've been playing around with 12-20kg on short flat walks back with my weekly shopping to get a feel for it.
The biggest thing I've found that helps is having a chunk of the weight at the front of my body. This makes everything more balanced, by taking some of the loading off the back and therefore not so tiring.
I've been doing this Aussie swagman style, with a canvas carrier bag hung on a strap over my shoulder to the rucksack. This works surprisingly well, and I can play about with the height. Although it swings about a bit, I could easily tie off from a corner to stop that.
A front chest pack is the obvious alternative, but needs some ventilation to stop overheating. Years ago when travelling abroad, when moving everything to the next transit of stopover point I used to wear my daypack on backwards at the front, with my then huge camp rucksack at the back.
Bloody good idea and the same thinking as me. Looking to take the pack out for short walks to get used to it again. I'm 13 stone in the winter and drop to 12.5 in the summer when I'm working on the garden and regain my fitness .
I use the same 80 liter Dutch backpack, made by Awry ,in the main compartiment only the dutch sleepingbag inside its bivybag ,no drybag.
In one side pocket; ,messtins ,and spoon, knife and bahco saw.
Lifestraw waterfilter. Firesteel, lighter, headlamp, hexi cooker ,small notebook and pencilstump ,spare batteries and folding cup go in the messtins.
In the other side pocket, under garments, extra socks and rations and midget headnet.
In the top pocket ;documents, cell phone ,towel, toothbrush, only one piece of householdsoap for all dutys ,one plastic shaving thing, trauma bandage, hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
Between the top pocket and the main compartiment goes the dutch army poncho and four wooden steaks ,four bungees and a grounsheet.
On the outside, small pouch with pocketknife, canteen with metalcup and metal lit good for cooking on the hexiburner. Compass and map on person.
No extra,s ,no doubling up gear, i keep it simple.
So the sleeping bag, bungees ,steaks, groundsheet and poncho are the shelter. At night cover your face with midget headnet to keep the critters of your face.
Use the bungees to strech the poncho at a tree ,knee high. Steak three sides, the last one when our are inside. For unsulation beneath the groundsheet pine branches.
Like so, the rucksack is big, but not to heavy ,most dumpstore stuff, not to expensive and bomb proof.
In one side pocket; ,messtins ,and spoon, knife and bahco saw.
Lifestraw waterfilter. Firesteel, lighter, headlamp, hexi cooker ,small notebook and pencilstump ,spare batteries and folding cup go in the messtins.
In the other side pocket, under garments, extra socks and rations and midget headnet.
In the top pocket ;documents, cell phone ,towel, toothbrush, only one piece of householdsoap for all dutys ,one plastic shaving thing, trauma bandage, hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
Between the top pocket and the main compartiment goes the dutch army poncho and four wooden steaks ,four bungees and a grounsheet.
On the outside, small pouch with pocketknife, canteen with metalcup and metal lit good for cooking on the hexiburner. Compass and map on person.
No extra,s ,no doubling up gear, i keep it simple.
So the sleeping bag, bungees ,steaks, groundsheet and poncho are the shelter. At night cover your face with midget headnet to keep the critters of your face.
Use the bungees to strech the poncho at a tree ,knee high. Steak three sides, the last one when our are inside. For unsulation beneath the groundsheet pine branches.
Like so, the rucksack is big, but not to heavy ,most dumpstore stuff, not to expensive and bomb proof.
That's a very nice tight set up, similar shelter set up to mine but the sort of pack list I aspire to, but usually starting adding what-ifs to. I think these days in the UK, I would add more on the hygiene and better water filtration, e.g. poo bags/trowel, hand gel & tapes for small cuts and bush scratches., Grayl or tabs.
How long a trip is that for - overnight/weekend? Not a lot of room for rations there, but lots of space available for more if required.
How long a trip is that for - overnight/weekend? Not a lot of room for rations there, but lots of space available for more if required.
As bex bug out says I think I have it right
Shelter/ sleep / food or some thing like that
So tarp/ sleep mat bivi and sleeping bag/ food and cooker water etc. Then add your bits and bobs lol
Shelter/ sleep / food or some thing like that
So tarp/ sleep mat bivi and sleeping bag/ food and cooker water etc. Then add your bits and bobs lol
Devils advocate - there is a counter argument ( appreciate its not the thing we want to hear ) for making yourself/ourselves better and more accustomed to moving a heavy load for various health and longevity reasons. Nope - probably won't make the enjoyment of the activity any better but , keeping a baseline of very basic ability to move under load ( not talking knee buckling death marches ) year around with the weekend weighted backpack walk will probably do good things for all of us as we age.
< OK, You can throw the rotten tomatoes now. >
< OK, You can throw the rotten tomatoes now. >
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That is a good point
when i did viking renactment, some of used heavier weapons...a "medicine seax" for general weekend training
and then for competitions or durring shows, swopped to a lighter every day sword....so much more control, and the heavier weapons built strength
similar principle
heavier weekend backpack, perhaps when car is nearby, and then a lighter version for trekking/hiking will feel like a feather....
nothing wrong with having a light and a heavy kit....we all like kits... often w get given lighter heavier versions of gear that we dont want to part with, so having 2 kits could help with that.....
As I head for 60 I personally am going with the use it or lose it motto
I actually enjoy a slog with my old Alice pack
I actually enjoy a slog with my old Alice pack
Yep - Sarcopenia - muscle wasting is a definite age related concern , so keeping the main large muscle groups ( legs / back / bum ) active is good as well as keeping the bones strong.
< Happy thoughts!! >
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