Ultralight Trekking

[andynic]

OK Here is my thing. I have a Max-p Monsoon with loads of heavy kit I find when I go out I get sore shoulders from old injuries falling off bikes. What I am trying to do Is go ultralight. My first purchase will be a daypack Here
Now what I need is the lightest of everything here is a list of things I am wanting to fill the pack with

Tarp
Hammock
Sleeping Bag (2 season ish)
Knife (3-4 inch fixed or locking folder)
Stove and fuel
Compass
Basic First Aid Kit
Monocular
whistle
Some sort of fire lighter
Food/drink container
Bowl to eat out of (may be of the stove system)
other general edc

Hopefully you guys can help me out on my quest.
I will post my findings and results and let you all know how my hunt is going.

 

[chas brookes]

Hi
have alook at the following site lots of the kit you are after on their site they are very helpfull to and have lots of podcasts

http://backpackinglight.co.uk/default.asp

 

[andynic]

I think I already have the knife sorted but I am down to two mainly bacause I already own these but they are both very light:

The Ka-bar Bob Dozier Hunting Knife in at 46g
Or the opinel 8 weighing in at 44g

Which one I dont know theres not much in it the kabar is aus 8 stainless and the opinel is carbon steel. They are both like chalk and cheese I am thinking more on the Ka-bar as where I live is very wet and it will cope better. Any thoughts on which one or is there a much better and lighter option?

Thanks

 

[andynic]

Thanks had a look at the site and found the Evernew Meths Stove and Solo Set looks awsome

 

[sapper1]

Thanks had a look at the site and found the Evernew Meths Stove and Solo Set looks awsome

Thats what I use,best bit of kit available especially when teamed up with the evernew dx stand.

Have a look at the "alpkit rig 7 tarp,get yourself some dyneema (1.5mm) for guy lines,some of backpackinglights guy runners,6 titanium pegs and some 4mm dyneema for a ridge line and you'll have a good sized tarp set up weighing less than 600g.
Use the evernew set for cooking and eating,get a folding titanium spork and a firesteel.A packet of tinder card,you don't need to take the whole pack.

Have a look at the lifesystems fast and light range of first aid kits

a whistle and compass are negligible weight so go for the best you can

Sleeping bags have a look at a down sleeping bag with a comfort range of -1 degree and this should see you O.K. for early spring to late autumn,get a silk liner too,this will keep the dossbag clean.Remember the lighter and better quality the dossbag ,the higher the price.I would also get a lightweight bivi to protect the dossbag from the elements as once they are wet they are useless.

 

[northumbrian]

www.expeditionhardware.co.uk have a titanium lite my fire spork at £ 10.20 - 10% if ordered by midnight tonite and free p+p.
alpkit has some cheap titanium kit too, i bought the myti mug with lid 750ml-110 grams at £25 and the miti pot with lid and handle,u can use the lid as a frying pan too 1350 ml-102 grams at £40 and you get £10 off them when u buy them together and free p+p.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Expensive but worth a read and look at.
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?119567-Fast-amp-light-brew-kit....&mode=hybrid

Especially if you want really light.

 

[sandbender]

I can recommend the Hilliburg Ultralight tarps, I have used and abused mine for three to four years now and it is still going strong.

UL10 Tarp, 570 g and 3.5 m x 2.9 m

 

[shutz]

I aggree with sapper down sleeping bags are the way to go if you want to go small and light. I got a marmot atom in the sales a couple of years back (just a case of keeping an eye out as there is bargains to be had!). certainly not a four season bag but does what i want from it. Stove wise i went for a msr pocket rocket. I personally decided against a Ti pan and just went for a single cheap ali billy and ditched the lid, instaed using a couple of sheets of tin foil. One for a lid and one for a wind break. The Ti sporks are crackin though and will not break!!

 

[shutz]

forgot to mention if your looking for lightweight ideas have a look at the mountain marathon sites.....now these boys even resort to cutting the labels of stuff just to make it lighter!!!!

 

[plastic-ninja]

Hi.
As we share the same rainy environment here's some kit ideas for the Lakes.
Instead of tarp check out the Msr Tarptents;weight of a tarp but come down to the ground and shield you from the elements like a tent.
Tyvek groundsheet.U/L bivvy bag and a down dossbag.AMK fast and light first aid kits take your pick.For a stove check out Zen stoves and make your own
from plans.Must admit I like Msr Ti pans and mugs but not keen on the price.Alpkit are cheap and good stuff.Also ultralightoutdoorgear and rockandrun are good sources
when they have a sale as are Field and Trek.Dry food drink containers ziplock bags and Nalgene always useful and plenty of exped or sea to summit drybags.
Cheers , Simon

 

[Nova & Pinky]

+1 for the Alpkit rig 7 here. Was amazed how light it is and how small it packs down!
Have just bought us the lifeventure ti mugs as they are a bit cheaper

 

[sapper1]

I now have a rig 7,after years of using both size DD tarps,yes they are small light and much better made.

 

[Cogola]

For a tarp I'd recommend a Warbonnet Outdoors Superfly (http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/tarps.php). Similar dimensions and weight to the one mentioned and pictured above but with built in doors so you can make yourself a truly weatherproof structure. If you're not interested in the doors and want a smaller, lighter tarp Warbonnet does other tarps as well. While you're at it the hammocks are worth a look as well. My Blackbird 1.0DL (+ rigging ~680g) comes in lighter than my DD Frontline (- rigging 980g) and a comfier sleep to boot!

 

[hoppinmad]

Hi
You may find the pack you intend to buy is a bit on the small side [20L], have a look at the omm or other lightweight packs [with some the backpad can be used as a sleeping mat]
going lightweight look after every gram...the kilograms will look after themselves, cutting off labels and reducing webbing straps really does work
Regards
Stu

 

[rik_uk3]

For shelters look at Golite or Tarptent both do fabulous shelters and tents.

http://www.tarptent.com/products.html

I have a Hex 3 the early version of
http://www.winwood-outdoor.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Golite_Shangri-La_3_Lightweight_Tent.html use the pole, or your hiking pole with the extender Golite provide or hang the tent off a top loop, whole lot weighs about one kilo and gives far superior protection than a tarp.

 

[Highbinder]

Tarps, check http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/ for spinnUL. You can get cuben fiber hammock tarps too.

For hammock, lightest production afaik is the Grand Truck Nano 7

Lightweight water carrier? Empty plastic bottles.

 

[Aussiepom]

If your number one priority really is reduced weight and the terrain you intend to visit is suitable, (ie flat enough), then scrap the hammock. It will never be as light as a ground dweller's set up and it also requires the use of a larger tarp, which again = more weight. Just for info, I am a big advocate of hammocks, but not when minimal weight is the top priority.

Lose the tent pegs. I don't know what your skill level is, but most people will be capable of knocking up some suitable sticks once they get to their campsite. Some people would say that for the effort involved you may as well just carry the pegs, but if your No. 1 goal really is reduced weight then......

Use a hobo stove instead of a meths stove. The heaviest part of any meths burner is the meths that you have to carry - burn twigs instead. If you are unable to make a hobo stove consider the Honey stove. It will be heavier, but still less weight than carrying a bottle of meths.

One of the heaviest bits of kit that people carry is the rucksack itself, bit it looks as though you have this under control.

Think about how much water you will carry. 1 litre = 1 kg plus the container, so look to see if you could carry a minimal amount and collect & purify the rest as you go along.

No need for cutlery - a sharpened stick = a fork, or 2 sticks = chopsticks. No need for a spoon - if it's liquid, drink it from the container.

Leave out the monocular - just use an empty toilet roll holder, like you used to do when playing pirates as a kid. OK, just joking there

Hope some of these ideas help. Oh and BTW I too agree with another poster about cutting off excess webbing straps, etc - it all adds up.

 

[andythecelt]

Aussiepom, I agree with most of what you say but I have a honey stove and the hive upgrade. It weighs a lot by lightweight standards. With a lightweight stand, meths burner and windscreen I can carry enough meths for a 4 day trip and still be lighter than when carrying the woodburner. I also find that I have to either constantly feed it twigs or use thicker wood, which requires a knife and/or folding saw. This adds further weight and takes time I'd rather spend doing other things. Just my opinion of course, it's always a trade off between weight and hassle and for trips over a week I'd seriously consider a wood burner.

 

[gordonmac]

I consider myself to be ultralight and my basic kit list is as follows:

Terra Nova Voyager (http://www.springfield-camping.co.uk/Terra+Nova/Voyager/613/pc)

Golite Jam 50ltr pack (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product228.asp)

Cumulus Ultralight 350 sleeping bag (http://www.downbags.co.uk/3-season-down-bags/cumulus-ultralight-350.html)

Alpkit Airic self-inflating sleeping mat (http://alpkit.com/)

Evernew Ultralight Titanium DX Stand (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product494.asp)

Exotac Firelighters Matchcap (http://www.heinnie.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=802&P_ID=5697) and Firesteel

Evernew Ultralight Titanium Alcohol Stove (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product493.asp?PageID=0)

Evernew Titanium 900ml Pan (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product502.asp?PageID=0)

Trangia 500ml and 300ml Fuel Bottles (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product372.asp?PageID=110)

ESEE Izula II knife (http://survival-knives.co.uk/esee-knives/izula-ii/cat_36.html)

Petzl Tikka 2 Plus LED Headtorch (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Petzl-Tikka-Plus-LED-Headtorch/dp/B002NCXUV4)

Platypus Bottles 2X 1ltr (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product370.asp)

Compass, First Aid and repair kit

Hope this helps