Locutus
2005-01-11, 02:03
January 10, 2005
Since the challenge posted elsewhere on this website is out of date (from October 2000), I thought it was time to post a new challenge. If you recall, the original challenge called for a 15-pound load for under $300.00. Ultralight hiking is really catching on these days, and there are many more equipment choices available today than back in 2000. But I believe you can put together a relatively light pack load quite economically, and still have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable hike. The purpose of this challenge is to help beginners on a budget to start from scratch, so I’d like to define some more rigorous criteria for participating in this new challenge:
1. The original criteria remain the same—15 pounds or less base load, with a total cost not to exceed $300.00.
2. Safety is a primary concern, so The Ten Essentials (http://www.mountaineers.org/main/essentials.html) should be included in your list.
3. Enjoyment is also important, and since most backpacking is done in the wilderness and/or mountains, three-season gear should be included in your list. This means a sleep system rated at 30 deg. F or better, an insulating pad, shelter from both rain and bugs, and clothing warm enough for those chilly alpine evenings, plus rain gear. Avoid cotton.
4. Cooking gear is optional, but keep in mind that hot meals/drinks enhance enjoyment of the trip.
5. Base load is defined as everything you carry in your pack, including the pack itself, but not including food, fuel and water.
6. Every item in your list should be one that you have successfully used in the field or very similar, and which can be purchased or homemade by the reader. Homemade items should include cost of materials. Don’t list an item as “free” simply because it was a gift or you scrounged it. Links to sources would be a nice touch. List item description, cost and weight in lbs. and oz.
7. Use a three-day trip as a general guideline for gear that would be needed.
8. Total the cost and weight at the end of your list.
9. If you can create a “skin-out” 15 lb. load for under $300, fantastic. But put any item not stored in the pack on a separate sublist (clothes worn, boots, trekking poles, etc.).
Please keep your responses on topic and spam-free.
Here’s my entry for all the equipment you would need for a three-day hike:
1. Gossamer Gear G4 (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G4-Standard.html) backpack, $84.95, 16 oz.
2. Two Pack liner bags (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/pack_liner_bag.html) for G4 pack, instead of stuff sacks. $3.95, 3.6 oz.
3. Texsport 2-person tent (from Ebay, new), $20.00, 3 lbs, 7 oz. (I’ve also seen similar tents, slightly heavier, in Fred Meyer stores for about the same price. Cascade Sport brand.)
4. Gossamer Gear NightLight (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/nightlight_torso.html) torso pad, $15.95, 3.7 oz.
5. Kelty Tundra (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=29027659&memberId=12500226) 15 deg F synthetic fill sleeping bag from Campmor (on sale), $39.99, 3 lbs., 8 oz.
6. Ten Essentials items:
·Compass (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/acc_misc.html), $1.99, 1/2 oz.; Map (varies) about $5.00, 1 oz.
·Sunscreen dispensed into 1 oz. bottle, $1.00, 1 oz.
·Extra clothing (see individual clothing items)
·LED mini light from Walgreens, $0.99, 0.3 oz.
·Mini first aid kit in ziplock sandwich bag, $5.00, 2 oz.
·Repair kit & tools consisting of safety pins, 100” of duct tape wrapped around a small pencil, ¼ pad of post-it notes, dental floss for thread, Swiss Army Knife “classic”, a sewing needle and a few other knickknacks appropriate to your gear, about $10.00, most of which cost is for the swiss army knife. 5 oz.
·Fire starter: Bic lighter, about $0.50, 0.5 oz.
·Extra food (not included in base weight)
·Water (not included in base weight)
·Emergency shelter (see tent)
7. 1-qt. aluminum pot with lid, plastic cup, lexan spoon, about $10.00, 7 oz.
8. Pop can alcohol stove, stand, windscreen and small plastic fuel bottle; about $15.00 online or make at home for pennies. 3 oz.
9. 1 liter soda or water bottle, about $1.00 to buy the soda or water, keep the bottle. 1.4 oz.
10. Rain gear: Campmor vinyl poncho (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=33331564&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294), $5.00, 8 oz.
11. Rain gear: Campmor Cascade pants (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=33331518&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $16.99, 8 oz.
12. Campmor Polartec 200 fleece pullover jacket (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61334&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294), $25.97, 13.2 oz.
13. Campmor Duofold long sleeve shirt (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61354&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $7.97, 6 oz.
14. Campmor lightweight long johns (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61369&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), 15.99, 6 oz.
15. Campmor Power Beanie (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61392&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $6.99, 1 oz
16. Towel: just use a washcloth and wring out when saturated. About $.50, 1 oz.
17. Emergency whistle (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/acc_misc.html), 1.95, 0.2 oz.
18. Insect repellant: concentrated DEET in a 1 oz bottle. About $2.00, 1 oz.
Total cost $298.68
Total weight: 12 pounds, 8 oz.
Not bad, eh?
Once you acquire these basics and have gone on a few hikes, consider whether you would like to save up for some of these weight-saving upgrades:
Gossamer Gear G5 Hyperlight pack (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G5-Standard.html), $124.95, only 7 oz.!
Gossamer Gear Whisper Uberlight pack (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/g6_whisper_uberlight.html), $99.99, only 3.7 oz.!!
Tarptent Squall 2 (http://www.tarptent.com/new.html), $230.00, only 34 oz.
Marmot Hydrogen (http://www.marmot.com/) 30 deg F, 900 fill power down sleeping bag, $309.00, only 21 oz.
Other quality upgrades can be found at Only The Lightest Camping Equipment (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/).
Replacing the corresponding items in the main list above with the G5 pack, the Tarptent, and the Marmot Hydrogen bag would reduce the base weight of 12 ½ pounds by 3 ½ pounds, to only NINE POUNDS!
Since the challenge posted elsewhere on this website is out of date (from October 2000), I thought it was time to post a new challenge. If you recall, the original challenge called for a 15-pound load for under $300.00. Ultralight hiking is really catching on these days, and there are many more equipment choices available today than back in 2000. But I believe you can put together a relatively light pack load quite economically, and still have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable hike. The purpose of this challenge is to help beginners on a budget to start from scratch, so I’d like to define some more rigorous criteria for participating in this new challenge:
1. The original criteria remain the same—15 pounds or less base load, with a total cost not to exceed $300.00.
2. Safety is a primary concern, so The Ten Essentials (http://www.mountaineers.org/main/essentials.html) should be included in your list.
3. Enjoyment is also important, and since most backpacking is done in the wilderness and/or mountains, three-season gear should be included in your list. This means a sleep system rated at 30 deg. F or better, an insulating pad, shelter from both rain and bugs, and clothing warm enough for those chilly alpine evenings, plus rain gear. Avoid cotton.
4. Cooking gear is optional, but keep in mind that hot meals/drinks enhance enjoyment of the trip.
5. Base load is defined as everything you carry in your pack, including the pack itself, but not including food, fuel and water.
6. Every item in your list should be one that you have successfully used in the field or very similar, and which can be purchased or homemade by the reader. Homemade items should include cost of materials. Don’t list an item as “free” simply because it was a gift or you scrounged it. Links to sources would be a nice touch. List item description, cost and weight in lbs. and oz.
7. Use a three-day trip as a general guideline for gear that would be needed.
8. Total the cost and weight at the end of your list.
9. If you can create a “skin-out” 15 lb. load for under $300, fantastic. But put any item not stored in the pack on a separate sublist (clothes worn, boots, trekking poles, etc.).
Please keep your responses on topic and spam-free.
Here’s my entry for all the equipment you would need for a three-day hike:
1. Gossamer Gear G4 (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G4-Standard.html) backpack, $84.95, 16 oz.
2. Two Pack liner bags (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/pack_liner_bag.html) for G4 pack, instead of stuff sacks. $3.95, 3.6 oz.
3. Texsport 2-person tent (from Ebay, new), $20.00, 3 lbs, 7 oz. (I’ve also seen similar tents, slightly heavier, in Fred Meyer stores for about the same price. Cascade Sport brand.)
4. Gossamer Gear NightLight (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/nightlight_torso.html) torso pad, $15.95, 3.7 oz.
5. Kelty Tundra (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=29027659&memberId=12500226) 15 deg F synthetic fill sleeping bag from Campmor (on sale), $39.99, 3 lbs., 8 oz.
6. Ten Essentials items:
·Compass (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/acc_misc.html), $1.99, 1/2 oz.; Map (varies) about $5.00, 1 oz.
·Sunscreen dispensed into 1 oz. bottle, $1.00, 1 oz.
·Extra clothing (see individual clothing items)
·LED mini light from Walgreens, $0.99, 0.3 oz.
·Mini first aid kit in ziplock sandwich bag, $5.00, 2 oz.
·Repair kit & tools consisting of safety pins, 100” of duct tape wrapped around a small pencil, ¼ pad of post-it notes, dental floss for thread, Swiss Army Knife “classic”, a sewing needle and a few other knickknacks appropriate to your gear, about $10.00, most of which cost is for the swiss army knife. 5 oz.
·Fire starter: Bic lighter, about $0.50, 0.5 oz.
·Extra food (not included in base weight)
·Water (not included in base weight)
·Emergency shelter (see tent)
7. 1-qt. aluminum pot with lid, plastic cup, lexan spoon, about $10.00, 7 oz.
8. Pop can alcohol stove, stand, windscreen and small plastic fuel bottle; about $15.00 online or make at home for pennies. 3 oz.
9. 1 liter soda or water bottle, about $1.00 to buy the soda or water, keep the bottle. 1.4 oz.
10. Rain gear: Campmor vinyl poncho (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=33331564&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294), $5.00, 8 oz.
11. Rain gear: Campmor Cascade pants (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=33331518&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $16.99, 8 oz.
12. Campmor Polartec 200 fleece pullover jacket (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61334&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294), $25.97, 13.2 oz.
13. Campmor Duofold long sleeve shirt (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61354&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $7.97, 6 oz.
14. Campmor lightweight long johns (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61369&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), 15.99, 6 oz.
15. Campmor Power Beanie (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61392&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294) (on sale), $6.99, 1 oz
16. Towel: just use a washcloth and wring out when saturated. About $.50, 1 oz.
17. Emergency whistle (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/acc_misc.html), 1.95, 0.2 oz.
18. Insect repellant: concentrated DEET in a 1 oz bottle. About $2.00, 1 oz.
Total cost $298.68
Total weight: 12 pounds, 8 oz.
Not bad, eh?
Once you acquire these basics and have gone on a few hikes, consider whether you would like to save up for some of these weight-saving upgrades:
Gossamer Gear G5 Hyperlight pack (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G5-Standard.html), $124.95, only 7 oz.!
Gossamer Gear Whisper Uberlight pack (http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/g6_whisper_uberlight.html), $99.99, only 3.7 oz.!!
Tarptent Squall 2 (http://www.tarptent.com/new.html), $230.00, only 34 oz.
Marmot Hydrogen (http://www.marmot.com/) 30 deg F, 900 fill power down sleeping bag, $309.00, only 21 oz.
Other quality upgrades can be found at Only The Lightest Camping Equipment (http://www.angelfire.com/or2/hikelight/).
Replacing the corresponding items in the main list above with the G5 pack, the Tarptent, and the Marmot Hydrogen bag would reduce the base weight of 12 ½ pounds by 3 ½ pounds, to only NINE POUNDS!