I never thought getting back to nature could be so expensive!

[Bushycon]

I have been watching good old youtube for ideas to help reduce my pack and one guy packed a heavy duty bin liner and filled it with dried leaves to use as a bedroll, I thought it was genius! it folds down to a tiny square and virtually no weight to it plus it doesn't break the bank. I know it has limitations and isnt perfect but In the right circumstances its a bloody good alternative to either spending a fortune for a light, space saving bedroll or carrying a cheaper heavy one (and probably a lot more comfortable.)

We're out for a walk around leith hill today so i'm going to take my pack with me just to get a feel for how the weight will feel after a little walk.

 

[Robbi]

"We're out for a walk around leith hill today"

lovely part of the world, it's a long time since i was there though. Have a pint in the pub half way up and raise a glass to Oliver Reed who i had the pleasure of meeting there a couple of times.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

I just picked up a mountain hardware lamina 35 sleeping bag on ebay for £50 delivered. New without tags so a good price for a £120 bag. The bargains are out there. Rubble sacks make excellent pack liners and much lighter and cheaper than sil nylon ones.

Good idea to go for a walk with your load out. No better testing than carrying the weight. For mountains ill aim for 8kg in a 45l pack including water and two days food. For a week out in temps above 0c my target weight is 12kg in a 60l pack.

If you are going to spend the money the biggest weight savings will come from your pack, shelter and sleeping gear. After the big three the weight savings become marginal.

 

[redandshane]

If you decide against a tarp and you are hiking i can highly recommend one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelert-Solo-One-Man-Tent/dp/B00322QRQE

Can be made very light indeed with some modding.Takes a bit of getting used to how small it is but once you are organised its fine I notice the price has sneaked up a bit though so shop around

Same advice as others -do not spend a fortune on kit Also get to some meets as we often help each other out; especially beginners who need kit

 

[Squidders]

I had cheap kit but upgraded items over the last decade or so and now it's pretty much all high end kit... And I didn't even notice it! Could I buy it all today in one go? No way! Would I if I could... Most of it, yes.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

I had cheap kit but upgraded items over the last decade or so and now it's pretty much all high end kit... And I didn't even notice it! Could I buy it all today in one go? No way! Would I if I could... Most of it, yes.

Funny how it creeps up on you lol.

 

[Squidders]

It does indeed... Only when you start adding it all up do you worry about insurance.

i have sold on 99% of the stuff I don't use and there is still a lot of money in my shafting shed.

 

[Bushycon]

when it comes to the tent vs tarp debate are there any other advantages other than weight that would make people choose a tarp over a one man tent? I only ask because adding the bivvy bag liners etc the weight saving looks like it could be nominal.
I went to leith hill and fortunately managed to avoid the rain, I took my 60ltr pack, with eurohike tay 2 man tent, and vango horizon sleeping bag. the pack weighed around 16lb/7.5kg after about 3-4 miles of walking the hill (and climbing the tower at the top ;-D) I felt its presence but it wasn't uncomfortable by any means, it was reassuring to know but I also wouldn't like to add a single ounce that wasn't absolutely vital lol

 

[Pete11]

Sadly , as with a lot of things considered''hobbyish'' some folk mark the price up. Good stuff can still be had though.
Many can be made a la DIY. Some even say true bushcraft is a knife and fire stating kit, everything else sourced from nature in the way.
It almost about what you define it to be tbh.

Pete

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

I tend to use a hammock for when in woodland areas but for hill walking ive just got an MLD Trailstar.

best £150 i ever spent. Lighter than a DD 3 x 3 tarp at 588g but all all the protection of a tent. Very roomy shelter but does need walking poles to pitch it. I agree that tarp plus an issue bivvy bag and sleeping bag can negate weight savings. my bivvy bag is 200g but was pricey.

Here is my kit list for last weekend in the peaks

Osprey Exos 45l pack
MLD Trailstar
mix of ti v pegs and and eason ally backpacking pegs
Polycryo groundsheet
Western Mountaineering Megalite down bag
Borah Gear sil bivvy bag
Zebralight headtorch + spare battery
spare cordage
snowpeak 900 ti pot
fire maple ti gas stove
220g gas can
long handled ti spoon
reflective bubble wrap foil pouch for rehydrating meals (saves simmering on stove)
couple of pour and store bags for mixing food in
inline water filter attached to 1.5l nalgene
200g fleece
golite down jacket - for evenings
2 x dried main meals mountain house
2 x pasta n sauce - milk powder added
2 x oats so simple with milk powder added
2 x flapjacks for walking snacks
1 x peanut M&Ms
1 x Minstrels
2 in 1 coffee sachets
bolero satchets
emergency food not used - couple of dried meals
First aid kit - includes gaffa tape
dump kit - dried baby wipes and wet ones anti bac wipes
phone
wallet
keys
lighter
smokes

Clothes worn

rab base layer
craghopper mountain 4 way stretch trews
cheap softshell
scarpa boots
teko 2 season socks
merino boxers
walking poles

If car camping at a meet this might look very different.

 

[Bushycon]

I had been looking at the Gelert solo but I noticed it only has a 1500 head and weighs 2.9kg, I just recently found the KARRIMOR Ultralite 2 Man Tent which has a 3000 head and only weighs 2.3kg and would give plenty of space for an amply proportioned guy like myself ;-) I am going to look for some user reviews of it and see if it is as good as it appears to be and also see if i can find it any cheaper.

EDIT: After some thought 2.9kg for the solo seemed pretty hefty so i looked around and found it to actually weight 1.5kg! Who would have thought the argos website could be inaccurate? O.O

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

vango banshee 2 man is 2.1kg

cheap too

http://www.towsure.com/product/Vang...ice={device}&gclid=CMvm-tSLvLkCFSGWtAodMQkAog

first link i came across, no connection etc

 

[Bushycon]

If car camping at a meet this might look very different.

That looks awesome

 

[copper_head]

Or a Wild Country Zephyros £95 for 1.4kg. I use the 2 man version of the Zephy at 1.7kg. Great tent, seen me through some nasty weather
A couple of my friends have the Vango Banshee 200, as Barethrills says it's a great little tent.

Re Tarp vs tent, not real difference in weight as you say. Tents are warmer but I enjoy the experience of tarp camping more. Nice to wake up with a view.

 

[ADz-1983]

Or a Wild Country Zephyros £95 for 1.4kg. I use the 2 man version of the Zephy at 1.7kg. Great tent, seen me through some nasty weather
A couple of my friends have the Vango Banshee 200, as Barethrills says it's a great little tent.

Re Tarp vs tent, not real difference in weight as you say. Tents are warmer but I enjoy the experience of tarp camping more. Nice to wake up with a view.

+1 for the Zephyros 1-2 if you're looking for a great tent on a budget to start you off. The Gelert Solo was my first solo tent and its a good one although I fell in love with the Zephyy not long after so only used the Solo once.


With regards to the tent vs tarp, They both have their good points and both can be as light as you want/need them to be. For example the Sil-Minipeak weights roughly 700g (without inner nest) and is basically a tarp-tent. About a kg lighter then my Zephy and much more room/height, I'm itching to try it out, roll on weekend

 

[Bushycon]

The thing is i guess i'm right at the start of a learning curve. I'm starting this just as the easy weather is probably leaving us and I guess maybe tarps are a leap a little beyond my ability/comfort zone. I've gone for a solo figuring that down the line if i don't get on with it £30 is not so painful to write off. I think thats the philosophy i'm going to use for the rest of my kit as well once i have an understanding of what im dealing with i'll probably be able to make better use of all the great advice i've been given on here and replace things bit-by-bit

 

[Gaudette]

It's more the weight thing that baffles me. Dutch ovens, steel tripods, saws, machetes, various types of firelighting equipment, tarps, camp beds, hammocks. Unless you've got a very sturdy horse or a team of Sherpas, I find it hard to see how this could be done without a landrover or similar.

It's all very well for Ray Mears to appear in his campsite with about 200kg of gear, but as to how he got there, well I suspect he wasn't carrying it.

When looking at kit there is a massive difference between "walk to the woods " and "drive to the woods "

All in all it means more stuff!!! And what's wrong with that?

 

[Gaudette]

Having re read the post and replies it's sort of clear to me that you go through phases with Bushcraft.

1. Watch Ray and all the others and think "oh yes" that's what I want to do!

2. Start buying stuff.

3. Venture out with the stuff and realise you've wasted a lot of money.

4. If still interested join forums and research. Look at the guys who actually live "Bushcraft"

5. Buy more stuff.

6. Do a car boot sale to get rid of first stuff whilst proudly proclaiming you are a first rate Bushcrafter who hates Bear but loves Ray.

7. Transfer your obsession with buying kit, to making kit.

8. Start buying stuff to make kit!!!!!

I could go on but but its been a long day. I hope my post makes sense. At the end of the day just enjoy being outside in the open air. It will never be perfect but the fun is in the doing.

Obviously the list is incomplete, in the wrong order and needs adding too. LOL

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Having re read the post and replies it's sort of clear to me that you go through phases with Bushcraft.

1. Watch Ray and all the others and think "oh yes" that's what I want to do!

2. Start buying stuff.

3. Venture out with the stuff and realise you've wasted a lot of money.

4. If still interested join forums and research. Look at the guys who actually live "Bushcraft"

5. Buy more stuff.

6. Do a car boot sale to get rid of first stuff whilst proudly proclaiming you are a first rate Bushcrafter who hates Bear but loves Ray.

7. Transfer your obsession with buying kit, to making kit.

8. Start buying stuff to make kit!!!!!

I could go on but but its been a long day. I hope my post makes sense. At the end of the day just enjoy being outside in the open air. It will never be perfect but the fun is in the doing.

Obviously the list is incomplete, in the wrong order and needs adding too. LOL

That is spot on mate. My evolution was near identical

Edit: I dont hate Bear though, hes my boss

 

[Gaudette]

I don't hate him either.