How much do you carry??

[Sickboy]

As little as possible and as light as possible, no other reason than it means i can squeeze in more sharp things

 

[Nightwalker]

My Bergen for my recent trip was about 17KG I believe for a few days on Dartmoor. A lot of the kit I take is listed here. I would like to pack lighter in future, but im finding its stil a learning curve as to what kit I actually need or not. Its handy to make a list of everything you take out for a few days and then when you get back make a list of all the kit you didnt use, even crucial kit that you would take regardless (mobile, first-aid kit etc.) It can help you understand what your not using. On my pass couple of trips I have taken numerous nature-books that I thought I might get around to reading but didnt infact get round to any

 

[Alex Roddie]

I find it is often helpful to adopt the Alpine philosophy. It took me a while to get used to. As an ex-Scout, the motto 'Be Prepared' seems to go with taking equipment to cover every eventuality, but that is entirely against the Alpine technique, which can be applied to all environments.

Essentially, you have to be very harsh with yourself and remove everything you can possibly do without. Less can be infinitely more and I often go on lengthy backpacking trip with no stove, no eating utensils, no sleeping mat, and no spare clothes. The upshot of this is that I can fit everything I need for a week into a 30-litre backpack.

This approach is best for highly arduous journeys (particularly mountaineering) but it is liberating in a way no other form of travel can be. The safety margin is reduced somewhat, but that gives you even more freedom in an odd kind of way.

 

[Nightwalker]

On my recent Dartmoor trip I packed the following (in no particular order):
* Hammock (DD Travel 2008)
* Tarp (Tatonka)
* Bivvy-bag
* Sleeping bag
* Lighter
* Firesteel
* Fatwood
* Axe
* Folding-Saw
* First Aid Kit
* Water Bottle
* 10 Purification Tables
* PowerMonkey-Explorer
* Dartmoor OS Map (Explorer OL28)
* Toilet Roll
* Headtorch
* 2 Rolls of paracord (Varying lengths, not full lengths)
* Bushlite + 4 Candles (various lengths)
* Binoculars
* Billy Cans
* Bin-bag
* Tinfoil
* Whistle
* Fishing line
* Fishing hooks
-----------------------------
* Clothes:
+ RealTree Trousers
+ RealTree Shirt
+ JT Long-sleeved shirt
+ Spare Bed Socks
-----------------------------
* Books:
o Trees (Hamlyn Guide)
o Birds (Colins Gem)
o Wildflowers (Colins Gem)
o Food for Free (Colins Gem)
o Mushrooms (Colins Gem)
o SAS Survival Guide (Colins Gem)
o Animal Tracks & Signs (Preface by Ray Mears)
-----------------------------
Minus Food. Just under 17KG I dont have any particular ethic in going light or anything, however after lugging that pack round for a good few miles on the moor im thinking I do want to cut back on the load now!

 

[andy_e]

If you were looking to cut down on the weight from what you have listed, I'd chop out a few items - mostly excess clothing - I've marked in grey the bits I'd look at leaving.

The thermals can double up as your dry set/sleeping set or be worn if the weather turns cold. You don't really need a full set of wind proof and a set of waterproofs, keep the waterproof set and wear that if you need wind-resistance.

The jumper I'd take, but a light fleece to layer up with your other stuff would be better.

Do you really need the survival tin? It shouldn't be in your rucksack anyway - if you really want to take it wear it on your person IMHO it's there to cover you if you find yourself with nothing else i.e. your rucksack has been washed miles down river or fallen over a cliff and you're too far out to get to safety that day.



Tent Vaude lightweight (1.9 kg)
Sleeping bag (mid range)
Roll mat
Mess kit (crusader mug etc)
Fuel for mess kit
Head torch + spare batt
Maglight (AA)[color]
Lightstick
Wash kit
Knife
Windproof trouser and jacket[color]
Thermals
Spare undies (x2)[color]
Jumper
Waterproof trouser + top
Thin trousers / zip shorts[color]
T shirt (x2)[color]
Sandels[color]
Phone
Compass + map
Watch
1st aid kit
Handwipes
WP matches
Foil blanket
Bivi (small pocket size)[color]
Thinsulate baliclava[color]
Para cord
Millbank bag
Loo roll ---------- a handy-size packet of tissues is smaller and enough for most situations
Whistle
BCB survival pouch in tin[color]

 

[PJMCBear]

I've actually not checked the weight of my kit since down-sizing from 120 to a 65 Ltr bergan. The 120, with kit for 5 days came in at 25.5Kg. I was carrying far too much. I can at least now walk with the smaller sack now that I've got rid of a lot of surplus kit.

It's true what they say about a big sack. You just want to fill it.

 

[fishy1]

I find it is often helpful to adopt the Alpine philosophy. It took me a while to get used to. As an ex-Scout, the motto 'Be Prepared' seems to go with taking equipment to cover every eventuality, but that is entirely against the Alpine technique, which can be applied to all environments.

Essentially, you have to be very harsh with yourself and remove everything you can possibly do without. Less can be infinitely more and I often go on lengthy backpacking trip with no stove, no eating utensils, no sleeping mat, and no spare clothes. The upshot of this is that I can fit everything I need for a week into a 30-litre backpack.

This approach is best for highly arduous journeys (particularly mountaineering) but it is liberating in a way no other form of travel can be. The safety margin is reduced somewhat, but that gives you even more freedom in an odd kind of way.

I can fit everything needed for 5 days or so into a 35l rucsac, including food and I do have a fairly big safety margin. The alpine style I believe is a purer form of climbing. I suppose it depends on your enviroment as to what you can leave behind, up here you'd need some spare clothes, and a stove unless you were just going from forest to forest and liked cold food.

 

[Alex Roddie]

I can fit everything needed for 5 days or so into a 35l rucsac, including food and I do have a fairly big safety margin. The alpine style I believe is a purer form of climbing. I suppose it depends on your enviroment as to what you can leave behind, up here you'd need some spare clothes, and a stove unless you were just going from forest to forest and liked cold food.

I think that's the beauty of the Alpine style, the fact that it can be adapted to so many different disciplines. In the Alps I would carry a really lightweight stove and titanium mug for heating water, and would also need a down jacket, but might not need a sleeping bag or bivvy bag (I'd use a bothy bag instead for myself and climbing partner). In Scotland I find it really comes into its own and a bivvybagging trip can be done on cold rations with no stove and hardly anything on your back. That's true freedom!

 

[fishy1]

I think that's the beauty of the Alpine style, the fact that it can be adapted to so many different disciplines. In the Alps I would carry a really lightweight stove and titanium mug for heating water, and would also need a down jacket, but might not need a sleeping bag or bivvy bag (I'd use a bothy bag instead for myself and climbing partner). In Scotland I find it really comes into its own and a bivvybagging trip can be done on cold rations with no stove and hardly anything on your back. That's true freedom!

I would have thought the true freedom is being able to take a minimum of stuff and still live well, with hot food and such. In effect, true bushcraft.

 

[Alex Roddie]

I would have thought the true freedom is being able to take a minimum of stuff and still live well, with hot food and such. In effect, true bushcraft.

True ... I suppose I see a distinction between mountaineering and bushcraft. While I agree that bushcraft is all about being able to live well while only carrying a minimum of gear, I seem to be almost masochistic in the mountains and go for a much more spartan experience. I tend to live by the phrase "It doesn't have to be fun to be fun" !

Not for everyone certainly, but it is very rewarding in a strange sort of way.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Just bought some new kit:
An Outwell 'Climate 1200' sleepingbag. 1.2 kg temp range: +20 to -10 C comfort: 9 C. I was pondering about this, or one from 0.9 kg, but that one's temperature range was 5 degrees higher. I choose for safe and warm (but 300 gram heavier).
And a Nomad 'SI Lite 1.2' selfinflating mat. Also 1.2 kg. It surprised me that a mat like this could fit in so small a bag. The length side can be folded over and than rolled up.
Both are rolled up 30cm width and 15cm in diameter.
Both were 60 euro.