One of the biggest mistakes beginner, and sometimes even seasoned, trekkers and wild campers make is carrying too much weight. Extra weight means extra fatigue, extra time to reach the destination, less pleasure and more chance of injury. When you are young and strong it’s easy to brave it out, but as you age you start to realise that massive heavy packs, like the special forces carry, are suitable for people, well, in the special forces.
There are three obvious reasons for excess pack weight:
- Carrying too much stuff – What do you really need?
- Carrying the wrong things – Making the wrong kit choices.
- Heavy kit items – Material and design considerations.
This post takes a look at a few underlying examples of each of these easy mistakes to make and suggests ways to avoid these issues whether starting out or fine tuning the pack.
Carrying too much – What do you really need?
It stands to reason that perfect packing would mean that everything carried is used and there is nothing left lurking in the depths of the pack. There are exceptions. Those items of kit we never want to use but will be glad to have if we need it. E.g. the first aid kit or survival blanket.
However if we look at a typical first aid kit for a day or even a few hours in the hills it’s easy to see how to cut some weight. Does my first aid kit need twenty plasters or a whole pack of pain killers. A slimmer first aid kit won’t deliver a massive weight saving but apply that thinking to everything you carry and it all adds up. Additionally bulk matters. Less bulk of even light items allows smarter packing for better weight distribution.
Probably the thing I used to carry too much of is clothing. Having a dry set of base layers and socks for the evening in the tent is essential but do you really need spare trousers or mid layer?
Food planning – the easiest way to save major weight
Another easy mistake to make is overestimation on food or water. It’s a bit of effort but working out how many calories you actually need to carry is one of the easiest ways to save weight. 1000 calories of extra weight would typically weigh around 250g (8.8oz). To cut that amount of weight from your sleeping bag, backpack or tent choice might cost you £100+. however, it is always worth carrying a few extra easily accessible calories, chocolate, marzipan, flapjack or somesuch as an emergency boost if you really need it.
Going through the process of creating a trekking food plan with optimally calculated calories may seem a bit of a task but can save you lots of weight every time you head out into the wilds.
Tips for making better kit choices
Smarter choices are about:
- Identifying items that maximise utility for minimal weight. Why carry a camp kettle when you can boil water in your mug. Tools with excess utility also slip under the radar. A leatherman is super useful tool, but when you are hiking you really don’t need to carry a screwdriver.
- Choosing the appropriate kit for the job. Carrying the winter weight waterproof for summer hiking in good weather, or the four season sleeping bag when two season would do.
Food again
Much like carrying excess food, carrying the wrong types of food also delivers a hefty weight penalty. Any foodstuff containing lots of water is a lightweight packing no no. I’m talking to you anyone who’s ever stuffed their pack with a tin of beans. There has never been an easier time to find tasty and healthy foodstuffs that are dehydrated. That doesn’t have to mean overpriced branded “trekking meals”. It can just as easily be lightweight staples such as cous cous or instant mash. A few additions such as a stock cube, dehydrated tomatoes, onions or mushrooms can make some simple carbs much more exciting.
Hot food is a an essential for any cold weather overnight trips and choosing carefully what you cook has the advantage of low cooking times. The quicker you can cook the less fuel you need to carry. Brown rice is tasty but will use 3-4 times the quantity of gas to cook. Small gas bottles are expensive but by making use of a bottle refill valve you can use small bottles without the cost penalty.
Water – Know what you really need
We all know the importance of staying hydrated. The risks of running out of water, especially on long trips in hot weather are pretty high, even deadly. However if you are multi day hiking in UK or alpine areas, its usually possible to plan your route to understand presence of streams, rivers or lakes to replenish from. Outside of the summer months, moving water in upland streams is almost always safe to drink and if you are concerned, some purification tablets, or even a small filter weight far less than an extra litre. Just keep an eye out for a dead sheep upstream.
The old classic of boiling water for four minutes usually suffices to kill any nasties at the expense of requiring more fuel be carried. Given 28g of fuel will typically boil close to two litres of water a 2kg versus 28g trade off is usually worth it! Here is a handy fuel usage calculator to help you pack the right amount of fuel.
Over specified kit
Kit can be expensive, but a 4 season sleeping bag in the summer will likely be uncomfortably hot and almost 1kg heavier than a 2 season one. Consider taking a modular approach. Layered lighter sleeping bags give you options in the summer and can be combined for winter warmth. If on a tight budget a lighter weight sleeping bag can be upgraded a season with fleece liner and an overbag or bivvy bag.
Heavy Kit items
If you do a weigh in on most multi day hikers kit the three heaviest items will usually be tent, sleeping bag and the backpack itself. It’s easy to spend your way to lightness but light doesn’t always have to mean super expensive. The principle of diminishing returns applies heavily here.
Shelter
For warmer weather, low insect wild camping trips, a £50 tarp will weigh less than a £500 tent and provide all the protection needed.
Sometimes though, midge or wildlife problems, winter camping in the mountains or expeditioning in areas of serious weather, a tent really is required. However the right tool for the right job applies here too. Geodesic designs (three pole designs with multiple crossovers) are required for harsh conditions and wind but are heavy, typically over 2.5kg. If wind and snow are not an issue a lightweight tunnel tent is a better choice and sub 2kg options can be had for less than £100. E.g. Vango Nevis 200.
Sleep system – Can you be cheap and warm?
Layering isn’t just for clothes. If on a budget a lightweight and comparatively cheap two season bag can easily work for 3 season use with the addition of a liner and a bivvy/ overbag. This also adds flexibility for changeable conditions on longer trips. Down quilts are now the standard for ultra lightweight trekking but really most suitable for warm weather and less lively sleepers.
Backpacks that don’t break backs
A typical pack for wild camping might be 30-50l. To look at the range of weights for a 40l pack popular options can weight anything between 700g and 2kg. Quite a difference. It’s difficult to find the very lightest options for below £150 but a watchout is that fit and comfort are critical. Saving 1kg on pack weight but having poor comfort, e.g. an unbalanced load, or insufficient strap width or padding has little benefit. My personal favourite for light loads is a simple frameless tube based pack with a sleep map curled insight to add structure. However there has never been a wider range of well priced, low cost packs available.