If you’ve read Planning Your Thru-Hike of the John Muir Trail you know about the gear triangle. For those who haven’t (you haven’t?!), the gear triangle is a graphic representation of this principle: when it comes to backpacking gear, you can get it light, comfortable, or cheap; pick any two.
If you are a more affluent hiker (or if you are of a certain age, the kids are grown, you’ve downsized, and there are more discretionary funds available), you may want to go expensive and light across the board, from your shelter system to your titanium spork, which is a quarter of an ounce lighter than the plastic one.
Many of us, however, have to choose our battles a little more carefully. Here are some guidelines to consider:
1. Do not skimp on footwear. A good pair of boots or trail runners, durable enough to go the distance, and fitted well enough to keep your feet in good shape, are worth any price. Even if you have to buy a second pair (if the first doesn’t work out), it’s money well spent.
2. Go for the very best stuff in two circumstances: when the extra cost will save you a significant amount of weight, or if the best stuff really isn’t all that expensive (whatever that means for you). For example, a plastic cup might weigh 4 ounces and cost $5 while a titanium cup weighs 2 ounces and cost $30. True, it’s only 2 ounces saved at six times the cost, but it’s also true that it’s only an extra $25.
The extra money you spend on your tent, pad, sleeping bag or quilt, backpack, and bear canister could mean a huge difference in your base weight. When it comes to these items, spend more, carry less weight, and enjoy the comfort of the best gear. Buying strictly the top-of-the-line when it comes to trekking poles, camp stoves, a water purification system, and clothes will add up (subtract down?) at a much slower pace. Cheap and comfortable might be just fine in these instances.
3. Spend the extra money if it means you can buy one thing to replace two (or more) things. I carried an e-reader, GPS, and cell phone on the thru-hike I did a few years ago. Now I carry one device with the functionality of all three. Sleeping quilts can be found (to replace sleeping bags) that can double as coats to wear while sitting around the campsite. The right sleeping pad can provide comfort at night and stability to your backpack during the day.
4. Consider making it yourself. The make-your-own-gear (MYOG) movement has been going strong for years, and, with a little effort, can be a great way to carry the lightest-of-the-light, custom made for you, at much less expense.
If you want to go light, you are going to have to spend some money. But choosing your targets carefully will mean that for every dollar spent you eliminate the most weight.
Good hiking, Ray
Go for the titanium Spork! My plastic one broke on the second day of my JMT thru-hike and was replaced by a fast-food plastic spoon that I used very gingerly for the rest of the trip. My new titanium model is elegant, light, and gives me a sense of security at mealtime. Worth every penny.
I’m sold, Steve! Thanks for the comment.
I’ve abandoned my Titanium spork. It’s just another pointy thing to carry around for no reason. I don’t eat anything that can’t be handled better with a spoon!
Yes! +1 to that.
I lost my titanium spork at my first night’s campsite in Yosemite. I was able to pick up a lightmyfire spork at the shop in Glacier point when we stopped there for lunch. This spork broke a tine in my bearcan and finally snapped within the last two days of the trip. Once the tine broke I knew I had to be careful and that bugged me. I don’t like to have to worry about things that I shouldn’t have to..
So i suggest titanium! Toaks makes a great folding titanium that I could store in my pot with my stove and fuel cannister.
Funny you should mention the LightMyFire spork. I’ve been using one of those for more than a decade without a problem, but then I eat mainly pastas and other soft stuff in the field. Or maybe I’m just lucky! Thanks for the comment, Chris.
You mention using one device for three purposes, eReader, GPS and cell phone. I presume you now carry a smart phone. Could you elaborate on the apps you use, especially your preference for GPS?
Take a look here, Mike: http://jmtbook.com/electronics-on-the-trail/. I am a big Gaia fan. Thanks for the question.
I agree Ray! I’m a convert ot the smart phone!
GPS
Altimeter (lots of apps do this using GPS) e.g. MyAltitude
JMT trail map
camcorder
camera
sunrise/sunset times
star map/finder
compass — rock solid and unaffected by hiking poles, wrist watch etc.
Audio Book
Kindle books
Movies
Flashlight
Step counter
Music player
and, of course, Telephone!!
Thanks, Byron. Great list. There are a few items there that hadn’t occurred to me!
Appreciate the comments. Only been following the blog a few weeks so wasn’t aware of the previous entry concerning electronics. Will look at that closely. Thanks so much.
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