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Ummm, this is a page you may want to skip. |
| Before I tell you about the gear I'm currently using, how I use it, and why, I'm going to recommend a process for becoming a lightweight backpacker. Prior to reading this next bit, however, you should know that my trail name is "Laughingman," and that this faux gem of wisdom was published recently in "BackpackingLight.com" under the title "The Laughing Curmudgeon's One Page Guide to Going Light." So, take it only as seriously as it deserves. By the way, Backpackinglight.com is a great resource. |
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A One Page Guide to Going Lightweight |
| 1. Do you already have gear? If “no” go to “2.” If “yes” go to
“2” anyway.
2. DON’T BUY ANYTHING, YET! You’ll only end up replacing it later. a. If you have no gear, you probably haven’t backpacked much, so go slowly until you discover whether you really like backpacking or not. Not everyone does. Go to “3.” b. If you have gear, keep it until you know there’s something lighter that fits your personal needs. There might not be, and you might have to modify something you already have. Go to “4.” 3. Read Ray Jardine’s book, "Beyond Backpacking." Don’t take it too seriously, as gear selection is highly personal and Ray is into the guru thing, but it will provide you with one perspective. Subscribe to the internet chat group BackpackingLight (www.yahoo.groups.com). There you will find a wealth of perspectives. Lurk. Think. Link. Ask. Ask again. If you like what someone says and how he/she says it, ask him/her to send you his/her gear list. Get several different lists, and ask the owners to explain why they made certain selections. (You can do this on or off-line. Don’t worry about bothering these folks, most of them love the attention.) Read gear reviews. When you think you know what you want, find a way to try it out before you buy it. Borrow. Rent. Get an inexpensive scale. Weigh everything and keep adding it all up. Try new stuff out in your living room, then your back yard. Then think about it some more. 4. Read “3” if you haven’t already. You’re going to have to reform your thinking. After all, you bought all that heavy stuff in the first place. Then go to ”5.” 5. Do the following: a. Make a list of all your gear. Include two blank columns on the list entitled “used” and “didn’t use.” b. At the end of each trip for the next year make two piles of gear on your living room rug – one of the stuff you actually used and one of the stuff you didn’t use. Put a check in the appropriate column for each piece of gear, and think about why you did or did not use it. c. Underline on your gear list each piece of gear that you did not use because you didn’t need it, or did use only because you had it with you. d. On each successive trip, leave behind one piece of gear that you didn’t use because you didn’t need it, or did use only because you had it with you. See how it feels. Don’t be slavish to this process and fail to take essential clothing, first aide or health maintenance supplies, but subject all these things, too, to the same scrutiny. e. At the end of the year make a new list of the gear you absolutely have to take with you in order to be comfortable and feel safe. f. Reread “3,” then replace each item on your new gear list with the lightest, most functional and multi-functional product that you can afford. If a piece of gear is not commercially available or is out of your price range consider modifying the gear you have or making your own. g. Don’t take any of this too seriously. Have fun. Whatever gear you use, get outside and use it. |
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Copyright © 2002 KISKIL Outdoors
