Ultralight Trekking

[Harry The Camper]

What I would do:

2 canteens
1 parang
1 mora
1 tarp
1 hammock
1 firesteel
1 UK kinetics head torch with spare batteries
1 map-compass
1 poncho
50ft para cord
1 biily can

Too much already!

 

[sapper1]

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

Pretty much what I take,the main differences are:-

Exped synmat 7DLX instead of the alpkit mat
alpkit rig 7 tarp instead of the tent
evernew solo cook it instead of the 900ml pan
only 500ml of fuel in 2 vargo fuel bottles
I use a blacks technicals 3 season down dossbag,it only weighs 1Kg and is very warm
I also take a bivi bag.

I do enjoy myself more since getting rid of surplus kit and heavy kit.

 

[gordonmac]

Pretty much what I take,the main differences are:-

Exped synmat 7DLX instead of the alpkit mat
alpkit rig 7 tarp instead of the tent
evernew solo cook it instead of the 900ml pan
only 500ml of fuel in 2 vargo fuel bottles
I use a blacks technicals 3 season down dossbag,it only weighs 1Kg and is very warm
I also take a bivi bag.

I do enjoy myself more since getting rid of surplus kit and heavy kit.

The Evernew Solo Cookset does look like an excellent choice!

I go trekking with my girlfriend, and this effects some kit choices, like the two person tent and the extra fuel.

I like the look of those Synmats. I'm half thinking of upgrading my sleeping mat and had looked at a Thermarest Neo Air - but they look so fragile!

 

[sapper1]

There is an evernew solo cookset on ebay right no being sold as 2 seperate parts(no link to seller).
I got the exped after seeing them in use and reading how many people here have them and no-one seems to have a bad word to say about them.
If I was trekking with my girlfriend,I'd be carrying a lot less,she doesn't have a back and shoulders for nothing:yikes:

 

[gordonmac]

If I was trekking with my girlfriend,I'd be carrying a lot less,she doesn't have a back and shoulders for nothing:yikes:

Haha! that's fighting talk on Valentines day mate I take it your g/f doesn't frequent this site

 

[sapper1]

No mate,she doesn't frequent the outdoors either.

 

[gordonmac]

Och well, at least you'll never have to worry about carrying her, too.

One of the other things I meant to say was - I love how lightweight loads look more like daysacs on your back than big 70ltr packs.

 

[sapper1]

I use the golite Jam2,like you, and haven't been able to fill it yet.Often people pick it up and comment how it weighs the same as their daysac.I dread to think what some people carry for a day trip.

 

[sapper1]

All my kit fits inside the pack apart from walking poles so it doesn't even look like a weekend pack.
Apart from food I have everything to stay out indefinitely.It does give a smug feeling to not be struggling ,or only be able to do circular walks from a base camp.

 

[gordonmac]

All my kit fits inside the pack apart from walking poles so it doesn't even look like a weekend pack.
Apart from food I have everything to stay out indefinitely.It does give a smug feeling to not be struggling ,or only be able to do circular walks from a base camp.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Everything is inside mine too and it never really looks full: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonmac/5445038670/

 

[sapper1]

her's mine fully loaded.

http://www.freewebs.com/swbwebwoods/apps/photos/photo?photoid=114521681

 

[Nova & Pinky]

The Evernew Solo Cookset does look like an excellent choice!

I go trekking with my girlfriend, and this effects some kit choices, like the two person tent and the extra fuel.

I like the look of those Synmats. I'm half thinking of upgrading my sleeping mat and had looked at a Thermarest Neo Air - but they look so fragile!

I'm selling our Downmats atm (there's a thread open i the classifieds section) - one's sold but the other's still available if you're interested?

 

[gordonmac]

I'm selling our Downmats atm (there's a thread open i the classifieds section) - one's sold but the other's still available if you're interested?

Hey there Thanks for letting me know. I'm probably going to stick with the Alpkit one for the moment, and then take the plunge and either get the NeoAir. I have heard that the Downmats are excellent for cold weather though, and there's certainly plenty of that around at the moment

her's mine fully loaded.

http://www.freewebs.com/swbwebwoods/apps/photos/photo?photoid=114521681

Yep, that's what it's all about!

 

[drewdunnrespect]

there is an easier option go car camping and forget about the wait sorry i could resist

 

[shutz]

our weekend lightweight kit consists of,
OMM pack 35l pack
Marmot atom bag (610g)
Thermarest prolite short (370g) highly recomended get the best nights kip camping with this. (not tried the hammock yet)
MSR pocket rocket
1 aliminium pan
blue plastic cup, £1.50 compared to £20ish for ti mug
Tent - vaude taurus ultralight (1800g) not the lightest like teranova but loads more room it feels like a proper tent as in, i can sit up in it and can sleep two
TI spork
couple of bits of tin foil

other half got a rab bag, not much heavier but a bit warmer..

food - deydrated stuff
Water only 500ml at any one time and we have a survial tap (filter sports bottle thingy) for clean water.
firesteel

Well chuffed with the choices we have made and impressed with it all. But having said that a fair ammount of research went into it.
Cheers
Shutz

 

[Aussiepom]

Hi Andythecelt,

I haven't weighed all the parts, but my comment on the Honey stove was based on just taking the sides and base plate, (to kind of replicate a hobo stove), ditch the other plates and heavy carry case. But of course, you're right, you don't have to carry a full bottle of meths, just enough for the length of trip.

Personally, I'll be sticking with my hobo at just 133g. As for messing about with the twigs, I find that all part of the fun of it, and I have a saw anyway on my SAK.

 

[Aussiepom]

Just another thought about packs: I usually use a Golite Jam, which was advertised as having a capacity of 32ltr + 7ltr in the expanding 'neck' = 39ltr total. I never filled it up, so I tried the smaller Golite Ion, which is, I think, 25ltr.

This turned out to be borderline in terms of capacity. I only had room for 1 fleece for insulation - which was fine given the time of year, but wouldn't have been sufficient if the weather had been colder, and as the temperature rose I had to tie my jacket around my waist, rather than stuffing it in the pack.

Anyone else have similar a experience with pack size?

 

[coln18]

check out Mountain Laurel Designs website, they are American and come from the ultra light backpacking cottage industry. I have their Cuben fibre solo grace tarp at 120g 9ft x 7ft x 5ft and bombproof. I also got their MLD Prophet backpack weighs something like 460g and is brilliantly put together. The guys name is Ron Bell and he really takes pride in his work. Most of the things your looking for he hand makes and at the lightest you will find, but warning they are expensive.

Colin

 

[Shewie]

Bushbuddy or Bushcooker stoves are worth a look, there's always something combustable to burn so no need to carry any fuel.