Day Hiking

[jakunen]

I've also been reducing my kit for years, although I still have most of it, to loan people, or show peopel what NOT to buy. (Come on, own up! How many of us have those useless bti sof kit but were to ashamed to admit it on Kim's(?) thread?)

If something doesn't have at least 2-3 uses, unless its something totally essential (water bottle for example), it doesn't go in, and if I take somthing several times and it doesn't get used (aside from emergency stuff - FAK, etc), out it goes.

I used to carry a full set of 58 webbing stuffed to bursting point until I realised half the stuff I carried was never used, it was mostly 'just in case' stuff, and even though I was fit in those days, it still was too heavy to be practical.

When I got back into bushcrafting last year, I went for a weekend trip with a 70L pack AND a bag of food AND a few bits in a small pack. This year a weekend pack will be 26-45L with no extras aside from food.

 

[BIG-TARGET]

hiking tip:

instead of a bulky towel, try borrowing one from your local pub (bar towel)

not as lightweight as a meraclon towel but much more efficient

believe it or not a sarong makes a great hang around the neck sweat rag :biggthump

 

[arctic hobo]

Don't forget the fancy towels (got mine for only £4) will not hold water so they will be much lighter and won't get your kit wet. It's replaced my bath towel :shock:

 

[hootchi]

I try to think of the items that I do not use or could use something else and leave them out. Obviously this does not apply to the firstaid kit of survival bag etc

Now I take no bowl, plate, knife fork and spoon :shock: .. just mug and carved spoon. I used to take largeish towels but now i use the nearest rag!! Normally a spare T-shirt when only for a night.

I do 5 nights with a 65 bag and the only really space consuming component is food.