Bushwalk Australia

This is a list of web sites where information on lighter gear can be found, this list is by no means comprehensive and I hope to build on it in time.

If other BW-T members know of other sites they would like listed they can PM me and I will place them in the list.

Lightweight Backpacking 101: An Introductory Manual for Lightening Your Load Today
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... 00034.html

This is very good introductory article to reducing gear weight, it talks about the philosophy of reducing gear weight, the article is from the Backpacking Light website and is free.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... index.html

BackPacking Light is an e-magazine devoted to lightweight backpacking, it has many great articles and stories, but most are only accessable only if you join which costs US$25. It is from BPL that I get most of my information on walking lighter.

http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/index.html

This site is maintained by Roger Caffin (BW-T member), it is hosted on the Confederation of Australian Bushwalking Clubs site. The FAQ has some very good information on every aspect of bushwalking and MYOG.

http://samh.net/backpacking/?do=showpage&id=9

http://www.christownsendoutdoors.co.uk/

http://www.andyhowell.info/Colin-Ibbotson/index.html

http://www.andyhowell.info/trek-blog/

http://lighthiker.wordpress.com/

http://ultraliteskunkworks.blogspot.com ... b+2+lb+kit

http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2009/07 ... ecret.html

http://www.andrewskurka.com/

http://www.adventurealan.com/ultralight_text.htm

http://www.imrisk.com/

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=37

http://www.rayjardine.com/index.shtml

Directing people elsewhere lol, good first post...

That one (http://samh.net/backpacking/?do=showpage&id=9) got my attention, but no it got nothing to do with me. Here a couple of links. I am myself not a real ultralight hiker, but I try to keep the weight down and I would love to buy some lighter gear if I would have the money.
http://www.imrisk.com/
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=37

Nuts wrote:Directing people elsewhere lol, good first post...

It's actually a good thing, provided there's enough information in the posts for people to decide of it's worth clicking the links or not. Of course if some of those sites reciprocated with links back to here that would be even better. (hint hint)

Please note that I've deleted or edited several posts in this topic. Sorry for any inconvenience but I'm being even more heavy handed with moderation in this topic for now. There was nothing particularly wrong with the posts but I'm aiming to keep this fledgling forum on topic and to avoid any hint of anything that may be misinterpreted in a negative way due to the history of similar topics. Again I'm sorry for the hassle with this and I don't plan to keep doing it for long.

Good comment samh,
Cost will be a major encumbrance to most acquiring ULW gear,I bought mine whilst employed with good disposable income now that I an retired I need to make do with what I own now.
As you age, problem is you normally start to loose weight when you get older which tends to blow out the 25% of the bodyweight to weight ratio principal
You have many years to worry about this so save your dollars and choose well
c

Hi Sam,

samh wrote:That one (http://samh.net/backpacking/?do=showpage&id=9) got my attention, but no it got nothing to do with me. Here a couple of links. I am myself not a real ultralight hiker, but I try to keep the weight down and I would love to buy some lighter gear if I would have the money.
http://www.imrisk.com/
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=37

Thanks for the links, I have seen the whiteblaze site before, it is a good site.

When I first saw your name on BW-T I had to check if you where the same samh that I know from BPL.

Reducing your gear weight need not cost the earth, more on that later.

Tony

Hi Soab,

Son of a Beach wrote:It's actually a good thing, provided there's enough information in the posts for people to decide of it's worth clicking the links or not. Of course if some of those sites reciprocated with links back to here that would be even better. (hint hint)

I do not think links to other sites are a problem, there is so much information on lighter gear out there, it would take years to build as much information on BW-T.

I will write a introduction to each site and try and get them to put a link to BW-T. I have pushed BW-T on Backpacking light several times.

Tony

Could be helpful if both sides (lw and traditionalists) would realise that posts should be meant as recommendations or suggestions rather than as commands or requirements.
Providing that one is comfortable with the gear in use it should be pretty easy to understand that the lighter alternative is better.
If someone else would carry fresh food and wine for me I would gladly partake, but am certainly not prepared to have the extra weight and bulk all day on my back just so I can enjoy it a bit more than my dried food. The same goes with tents/backpacks/mats and the rest.
Franco

Too right Franco.

Franco wrote:Could be helpful if both sides (lw and traditionalists) would realise that posts should be meant as recommendations or suggestions rather than as commands or requirements.

(I prefer "viewpoints" to "sides" )

Providing that one is comfortable with the gear in use it should be pretty easy to understand that the lighter alternative is better.

Absolutely. The way I've said the same thing in the past is, "all other things being equal, lighter has to be better".

If someone else would carry fresh food and wine for me I would gladly partake, but am certainly not prepared to have the extra weight and bulk all day on my back just so I can enjoy it a bit more than my dried food. The same goes with tents/backpacks/mats and the rest.
Franco

I have similar feelings but from the other viewpoint. I'm genuinely grateful that you guys are pioneering ways of making my kit lighter, and gladly partake of the fruits of your labours when opportunities arise, to make up for all the fresh food that I really enjoy (and to me is worth the extra weight and which, for me, makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable overall).

Seriously... I admire what you guys do, and it fascinates me. Having different priorities to some of you, I can still learn from and benefit from your experiences and I look forward to finding out which bits of it I can apply to my own kit over time.

I'd like to go walking with you guys some time to see some of your gear in action (and I'll be happy to share the fresh food and wine).

Son Of A Beach
To make it clear, I am not an UltraLighter, just a bit lighter...
I still like my comforts, for example I usually have my small S2S kitchen sink with me to wash myself with and my clothing ( I have this thing about not washing in the rivers...). If I don't bother with it I use a stuff sac inside out.
In the US I met an Ultralighter, Doug Johnson from BackpackingLight. You should see his gear cabinet...
He has a sub 3 kg base weight for 3-5 days , 3 season in Washinghton State. His weight increases a few kilos in winter
Here is a link to a sample list :
http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpac ... 4ab0cc.pdf
Also met a SUL (SuperUltraLighter). This guy is 57 year old, about my built. He has a silnylon backpack that is around 30L. Only eats Wal Mart bars, 4-5 per day. So no stove,fuel,pots....
He has a poncho tarp and uses fishing line as guyline...
This guy does 20-30 miles per day for 5 days or so and then re-supplies .
Both of these guys would do the Overland in 2 days, the terrain they cover is very similar in fact a bit more challenging in vertical gain.
Not my idea of having fun but he likes to go fast.
Franco

Although it's not my idea of fun either, it does go to show that where there's a will there's a way. It would be good to walk with people like that as I'm sure I'd learn a lot. But I don't think I'd be able to keep up with them. I'll have to check out those web sites properly one day.

There are a number of threads in the general Equipment section that are quite relevant to the Weight Reduction page - mostly discussions of peoples gear lists. For my own benefit (and hopefully others) I've added them here.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2235&p=19432&hilit=+my+gear+list+#p19432

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1730&p=14574&hilit=frenchmans+gear#p14574

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1689&p=14092&hilit=not+under+6kg+pack#p14092

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1125&p=13104&hilit=+my+tassie+gear+list+#p13104

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1368&p=13235&hilit=+gear+list+#p13235


viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2049&p=17538&hilit=western+arthurs+pack#p17538

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=805&p=7949&hilit=+gear+list+#p7949

I hope people dont mind that I've linked their posts

Just found a great blog for UL bushwalking. http://www.hikinginfinland.com/
It shows what is possible even in "harsh" conditions and imho leaves no reason why it couldn't be done here in Tassie

samh wrote:Just found a great blog for UL bushwalking. http://www.hikinginfinland.com/
It shows what is possible even in "harsh" conditions and imho leaves no reason why it couldn't be done here in Tassie

Fantastic !!,
How do they handle snow or rain that is precipitated from eigther of the open sides .
Just done a Bivvy sleep with no tent and if it snowed I would have been in trouble.
corvus.

Narrr... thats what the zips for
I like the tipi!

Nuts wrote:Narrr... thats what the zips for
I like the tipi!

The "tipi" is a MLD duomid - see the top of this page. The various "mids" are becoming quite popular in the UK. A bunch of people who did the TGO challenge this year (that our very own Photohiker went on) used the Duomid. They are reported as coping well with strong winds, rain, and snow. You can use a bivy inside or you can get various inner tents to match. They're certainly an interesting option. I'd love to see one in real life to get a feel for how sturdy and roomy they are.

Corvus, the bivy used under the tarp in the photo is waterproof, so side-blown rain and snow wouldn't be a problem. If it got really bad, they'd lower the side of the tarp to the ground.

Cheers,
Alliecat

Hi A/cat, Ive always liked tipi's, its amazing with all the 'improvements' in tent design that a simple tipi (and its 1000's of years in testing) still holds its own.
I have a MLD bivvy (2/300grams) and recently picked up a few tipi shelters to try with it.
I like the concept, nothing is better back up for the basis of a sleeping 'system' than a bag that doesnt need pitching and never needs an excuse not to be carried (even on a daywalk).
Next step is 'cover' to give sheltered entry and cooking space, next i guess a floor and perhaps bug protection.
The golite shangri-la is a favorite, used the old 'hex3' and the new model seems much improved, i'm thinking of adding a mesh skirt to it. 'Bombproof' tent that you (and a couple of others) can walk into for around a kilo! Seen them handle snow, wind, heavy rain..
I also have a Nemo tipi and a six moon mid (wild oasis)(400grams...) (as well as some big 'group' tipi style shelters) but havent had a chance to test the little ones yet...

Hi Nuts,

And people reckon I'm a gear addict

When you do get a chance to test out the smaller tipis (the Nemo and the Wild Oasis) I'd be very keen to hear how they work out for you. There's a good chance the mid + bivy combination is the lightest shelter option that can genuinely stand up to Tassie conditions, so make sure let us know how they go.

Cheers,
Alliecat

Hi A/Cat,

Will do!

I never was much of a gear freak, I remember shivering through some horrible days in wet cotton stubbies and plastic rain pants on the first few guided trips i helped with.
I guess its the ready access to OS gear, the exchange rate a couple of years back and now buying for business thats done it.
As you would likely know, the reviews do help. With ebay and online forums, the better known brands are quite quick to move on. I find it's just as easy to buy stuff just to get a closer look.

I have a feeling that the golite tipi will get the most use with the little SMD shelter as an ultralight/summer/mainland option. Pitched the Nemo, its a solid tent-like tipi but im already thinking it may be stuck between the two and be the first to go. Really want to test out the SMD first however as the Nemo is obviously a more strongly built shelter. I cant really say much more than that at this stage....

Im starting to wonder whether the attempt to control condensation and current design of small shelters is an advantage over the huge space gain of modern single skin shelters (with U/L bivy for the occasional backup) of similar weight...(?) Condensation is often still there with small tents, just out of sight with fabric inners...

At the end of the day theres not a lot of difference in the results, things have come so far in the last 10-15yrs. Gear is Sooo much lighter and more sophisticated (and people can now afford to experiment more). There are many ways to end up with a lightweight pack full of good, safe gear. A lot of obviously intelligent people have applied themselves to the cause.