I am learning a lot about ultralight camping
@brucemcclendon (56)
United States
January 10, 2012 6:39am CST
I went on a two-nighter in the deep woods this week. Temps were down in the mid-30's and the last night it was a cold, cold rain. I've never gone without a tent or backpack. I decided to go "jacket packet" -- everything I carry in can be stuffed in my jacket pockets (and cargo pants pockets) -- or on my belt. There was only two things I could not stuff in a pocket or hang on my belt or drape over my neck on a lanyard. I had to roll up/compress my sleeping bag with one set of clothes and carry it with a strap over my shoulder -- a zero-degree bag at 3.5 lbs. It was overkill... I could have gone with a blanket. Total weight with sleeping bag and food: 9 lbs. In two weeks I'm trying again with a goal of 5 lbs., but I need to find a lighter, cheap sleeping system. ...and I want to carry the sleeping system around my waist like a fanny pack. Then I'll dream about the AT pack free.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 12
You seem to be wanting to go very light weight camping indeed. I wouldn't wish to camp without a tent. My lightest tent was a one person light weight tent. Its weight was one point nine kilos. You are brave to only be using your pockets. I hope that you will find a very light weight indeed sleeping system. Most sleeping bags are bulky I know. I wish you lots of luck.
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
10 Jan 12
It is an interesting subject - how to be a minimalist!
We paid a lot of attention to it in the army when you had to carry a rifle and ammo. Therefore everything else had to be cut down or you would struggle with 20 mile patrols every day through rough country.
The poncho was good. Shelters-lightweight in army-speak.
1. Wear it over the head if it rains and drape it over your pack to keep it dry.
2. Collect rain water
3. Sling it between trees to shelter under
4. Wrap yourself in it to sleep
5. Hide the light from a fire
... and a few other uses I've forgotten!
Also kfs - knife; fork; spoon. We never carried a fork as a spoon could do the same jobs.
The jackets we wore we had four lengths of webbing sewn onto the lower back. This allowed us to roll up the shelters-lightweight and tie it to the back of the jacket. That also made it more comfortable lieing on a rock and spying out the land ahead.
Enjoy your walking.
