Comments on: New Fangled Ultralight Backpacking

By: The Path Less Traveled #005 – Methods to Decrease Load Weight - elmenulocal

The Path Less Traveled #005 – Methods to Decrease Load Weight - elmenulocal — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 19:23:41 +0000

[…] have read a LOT of information from researchers, veteran camping/hiking journos, and weight weenies in other industries and professions. I have also been […]

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 01:27:35 +0000

In reply to Dan. Dan, something about sound and fury signifying nothing comes to mind.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 00:55:30 +0000

There’s a difference between “no heavier than NECESSARY” and “ultralight,” you knucklehead. You’re confounding the two ideas, either out of foggy thinking or guile. Nobody has ever championed the idea that a hiker should lump cans of soup and a ten pound Coleman stove up a mountain; it’s not like everybody was doing that until “Ultralightness” came along and liberated us. Weight has always been ONE consideration out of many. But the ultralight FAD or religion is something else. It’s been exposed as moronic on the PCT. “Zpacks” is a name that will live in infamy. People buy ultralight gear and when it’s pressure tested it fails. Then these people have to go spend the night with a hiker who bought a real tent. This is gear anorexia.

Almost always when I encounter a stupid idea online about hiking and climbing it comes from a state that has no tradition of hiking and climbing, but has jumped on the bandwagon in recent years. And lo and behold, where does the author come from? Rhode Island.

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 16:22:08 +0000

In reply to Paul Mags. Nice. Liked that 1877 post as well.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 01:35:36 +0000

In reply to Randy. I think this quote from 1877 is rather interesting: Consumerism is old!

“Do not be in a hurry to spend money on new inventions. Every year there is put upon the market some patent knapsack, folding stove, cooking-utensil, or camp trunk and cot combined; and there are always for sale patent knives, forks, and spoons all in one, drinking-cups, folding portfolios, and marvels of tools. Let them all alone”

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:33:54 +0000

Consider this quote from 1920: “The temptation to buy this or that bit of indispensable camp-kit has been too strong, and we have gone to the blessed woods, handicapped with a load fit for a pack-mule. This is not how to do it. Go light; the lighter the better, so that you have the simplest material for health, comfort and enjoyment.” This is from the book “Woodcraft and Camping” by a gentleman nicknamed Nessmuk. The book is a classic of outdoor literature in the same genre as Kephart’s book mentioned in another comment. There are a few interesting things in this quote. First, that consumerism was already making inroads into the growing popularity of outdoor recreation. Second, that going light is certainly nothing new (even common sense). And finally, note that the goal of going light is “health, comfort and enjoyment,” the very things people think you need to sacrifice when shedding extra gear. Ironically, even *some* ultralighters lose sight of these goals, becoming just as consumer oriented as their pack-mule counterparts. Both think they can buy their way to their goals; the pack-mule acquires more stuff for security while the OCD ultralighter is constantly buying new, lighter gear, a slave to the “upgrade.” Both types may lose sight of the “health, comfort and enjoyment” of the “blessed woods.”

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 22:12:56 +0000

In reply to Roy Leggitt.

I doubt most beginner’s know what a class three scramble is, much less going there.etc. etc. Etc.

Most beginner cooks know not to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner as their first meal, too

Beginner does not mean stupid.

What you wrote is mainly tangential. There are always exceptions. But that does not really apply for most situations.

Although enthusiastic about the light gear, I spend a lot more time and energy as an advocate for fitness and knowledge.

Two very long posts about gear seem odd, then. 😉

By: Roy Leggitt

Roy Leggitt — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 20:57:43 +0000

In reply to Paul Mags.

Yeah Paul, you guys have great experience and good judgment, so going light is done with knowledge of exactly how. That’s great.

My biggest issue is when a rookie takes off and is ill-prepared with light gear that doesn’t make sense. Maybe not enough clothing, not realizing they need to deal with 12 inches of snow in July, not knowing about fording streams safely, not knowing the effects of high altitudes, not understanding that the downclimb from a class 3 peak can easily become life threatening without a mountaineers rack of a couple or three pounds. Although this isn’t the fault of the gear, it may be tangentially related where the pack capacity limits what can be carried, or perhaps a fitness issue where heavier loads aren’t possible due to a lack of proper training.

Light gear can be a way for people to think they can go where they really shouldn’t. I don’t think this is an issue of fear, but instead is an issue of ignorance.

Although enthusiastic about the light gear, I spend a lot more time and energy as an advocate for fitness and knowledge.

By: Angela Kemp

Angela Kemp — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 22:21:42 +0000

In reply to Paul Mags. It does. Thanks.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:14:33 +0000

In reply to Angela Kemp. Not ignorant at all! Base weight basically means your packed gear minus food, fuel, water, and similar that typically changes from trip to trip or day to day. Base pack weight is a useful benchmark as the amount of food you carry, for example, can vary. Hope that makes sense?