[at-l] What to think?

[nealb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (William Neal)]

WHICH is why when I am in Wally World, and I see someone looking at
so-called backpacking equipment, I butt in and ask what they are going to do
with it.  Twice I have turned potential "real" backpackers off Wally World's
stuff and sent them to a store that carried real backpacking goods.  A few
times I have recommended the Wally World stuff.

I am glad that the original equipment is hardly ever used now.  I would hate
to carry the tents we use in Boy Scouts (surplus Army tents).  Or the heavy
quilts and blankets we used instead of bags.  Or the canned goods we
carried.  Or the old metal canteens.  Or the rucksack that was more sack
than anything else....

But some ultra-lightest are so sold on going light, they turn people off of
camping.  I wonder what they would think of the Swede who carried a 100#
pack or the priest who carried a full communion set?

William, The Aging Turtle

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim and/or Ginny Owen [mailto:spiriteagle99@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 10:01 PM
To: nealb@midlandstech.com; at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Cc: beaubushor@yahoo.com
Subject: [at-l] What to think?


William the non-ultralite Turtle wrote:
>I would never start anyone with ultra-light.

I wouldn't do that either. But I'm not talking about ultralite - more like
"mid-weight".  I see no reason to inflict the old-style heavyweight gear on
a newcomer - it'll drive them off the trail very quickly - especially if
they try to do too many miles under the load.  So - what do I call
"heavyweight?  How about anything over 35 #.

So - what do I call ultralite?  How about anything under 20#.

Ginny and I are on the lower end of the mid-range.  My pack runs about
21-25# and hers is 20-23#.  Depending on what we're doing.  And that
includes water and food for 2 or 3 days.

So - if I had lots of money and no gear, what would I buy?

Well, let's start with the pack - there's a Kelty Haiku 4250 (4250 cu, 3#
13) on sale at Sierra Trading Post for $126.  Or in the Backpacker gear
issue on page 39, there's the ULA P2 (4000 cu, 2# 5) advertised for $150.  I

have one of those and it works well for me - but mine is 40 oz because of
the "add-ons."  DO order the pack cover with it and they'll build it into
the pack.  That extra few oz is worth it.  On the same page, for $110 more
is the Mountainsmith Chimera (4200 cu, 3# 7).

Sleeping bag?  How about the Western Mountaineering Apache (20*, 2#5) for
$285. (I got mine for $110 - but that was a long while ago).  Or any of a
dozen others is the "20* under-2#" class?

Tents?  --- Well, there's the Wanderlustgear Nomad at around 2-3# depending
on the model.  There's also the Six Moon tents. I think the latest one -
which we had at the Ruck was under 2# not including the optional vestibule.

Or a half dozen other designs in the "under-3#" class built by long-distance

hikers who actually know what's needed for a long distance hike.  Most of
them in the $200 -$300 range.

The stove?  - there's nothing at all wrong with a Zip as long as you
understand the down-side and as long as you're not gonna use it in certain
places/times.  There's also nothing wrong with alcohol - even for a
beginner, as long as you understand the downside.  Either one will get you
meals for over a week for under a pound.  I used a Whisperlite for a long
time - it works.  For now we're using alcohol - with the possibility that
we'll use a Zip in some places/times in the future.

There was some mention of Titanium stuff here a while ago - we use a 2 liter

Ti pot and "with lid" it weighs half what my old stainless steel pot
"without lid" weighed.  Saves me half a pound or more.  But it WAS
expensive. That was one of our indulgences for the CDT.

That's what I mean by "light weight"  ---- The 6# pack, 5# tent and 4#
sleeping bag are overkill and unnecessary.

But then there's "ultralite".  One of our friends thruhiked the PCT with a
9# total weight pack - about 5 years ago.  There's now an informal
competition to see who can hike with the "lightest" pack.  Personally,
beyond a certain point I consider it ridiculous - as well as dangerous.  And

sometimes stupid.

Walk softly - and lightly, but not too lightly,
Jim

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