Lighten Up!

irate rambler

29/04/2002 at 13:03

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

(sound of madness from somebody who weighs everything he carries)

In my defence, I don't weigh everything I carry all the time - only generally when I'm going racing, when it can make a difference. I only have a scale that weighs to the nearest 5 grams too - unlike some people I know...

Anyway, being gram obsessed for racing does give me a good idea of how light I can get my pack. It's surprising how little you really need when you come down to it. Having got used to the lightweight kit, it gets used for everything nowadays, though for ski touring in Norway, I am inclined to pack a bit more warm clothing!

baga smartypants

29/04/2002 at 13:37

Dear Mr Rambler

yoo gottah doo wot ewe gottah dew

Peak runners, fell runners = a great sport

I wish I could do it!

Have you seen any of those satellite programs of multi-activity mountain sports from the alps? (running, canoing, gliding, skiing and so forth) Hard work!

baga smartypants

29/04/2002 at 20:31

shucks - i've just realised that there is a link to an article up there! Lighten up is more than good sense it is H&S (health and safety) advice too.

Someone once said:
The more you carry the slower you go
The slower you go, the more you need to carry.

It seems to make good sense to me ...

BTW is the number of message on screen does not match the number listed on the Forum page then just click on your Browsers Refresh button

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:23

Get a 1/4" drill and drill holes in a sieve type pattern in the bottom of your pans and/or kettle. If you do enough you will get a 50% weight saving.

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:26

Sorry, forgot this was a daypack thread - only apply this idea to an overnight backpack.

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:29

Or you could try this idea for an ultra lightweight homemade rucksack:

Sgt Rock's homemade rucksack. Seriously!

Orange Alex Ford

29/04/2002 at 21:38

Good to see Irate Rambler back...you know we've missed you!

Ninja Marmot

29/04/2002 at 21:39

Alex - have you tried Bob's tip for weight saving of pans? It's a go-er.

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:40

That last link didn't work - a pity, but you can find sgt rock's homemade sack on backpacking.net.
Tomorrow night I'm going to start weighing everything. I just figured that if I strip the filling from my sleeping bag I'll probably save another kg.

Ninja Marmot

29/04/2002 at 21:43

OK SERIOUS weight saving tips below please!

My first one - I know that clean undies are important to me (and hopefully others) so to save a precious few ounces/pounds, leave those boxers at home and just take thongs - quicker to dry out after washing, too.

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:44

The trouble with going too lightweight is that you don'y have any spare food. On my last bivvy in the alps, my mate knocked my saucisson off the ledge and I was left with nothing but a bit of dried bread.

Bob C

29/04/2002 at 21:46

And if you're going to climb Mont Blanc, don't take a bloody paraglider in your sack. That will save another 20kg!

Ninja Marmot

29/04/2002 at 21:50

Andrew - U asked 4 tips 4 climbing Mont Blanc - that is probably the most important one you'll ever get LOL

and yes, the silly sod DID do M B while carrying his paraglider....

:0)

joan collins

29/04/2002 at 21:52

What, don't let your mate get his hands on your saucisson?

Orange Alex Ford

29/04/2002 at 21:53

Save weight by ditching that daft old rucksack. There's nothing that can't be carried in a Tesco's carrier bag.

It also makes a handy (if slightly small) survival bag in case of an emergency...

Ninja Marmot

29/04/2002 at 22:52

For a hobbit, maybe....

and, Joan, ...LOL

baga smartypants

01/05/2002 at 09:27

Going light does not mean going daft just the same as going heavy does not mean going daft. In either case it just means going smarter. wot say yoo?

Dan G

01/05/2002 at 11:01

Koo-ka a-choo

baga smartypants

01/05/2002 at 12:24

Don't go light, go smart!

Hmm sounds like a suit advert. For moi, going light means I always carry me rations with me but I stock up on proper food where n when i can. One stop in a hotel can provide sachets of tea, coffee, sugar, drinking chocolate, ... There really aint no point in carrying all that from the uk

Bob C

02/05/2002 at 20:31

Well, I've finally gone and done it and weighed all my gear for a 3 day backpack. The total comes to 9.54kg excluding food and water. This doesn't include the clothes I'll actually wear - capilene top, zip-off trousers, boots - fleece, midlayer, waterproofs included in pack weight. Food comes to around 1kg - 2 nights + brekkie, but starting off first day with a hearty breakfast. Plus I'll take 1kg water to start with.
Trouble is, I'll bung in a few crabs, rope and a harness and I'm back up to 20 kg! Bummer!

Shopping

Most popular

Competitions

Promotions