Lightweight Tip of the Week: Condiment Packets

An article at Ultra Fine Backpacking describes a unique use for drinking straws to create single-serving size packages for items such as salt, tooth powder, spices, etc. I'm going to try this on my next trip, I will post photos and a review when I get back.

Lightweight Tip of the Week: Warm Clothing

I always find it hard to decide how much clothing to take on a hike. Over the years I've found I don't need many changes of clothes, and have gotten quite good at doing laundry on the trail. Where the indecision comes into play is for clothing to wear while in camp. I never get cold on the trail, as long as I keep moving. I typically hike in shorts and a tshirt, with a windproof/water-resistant shell for particularly cold mornings. Once I'm in camp, I cool down quite quickly if I'm not careful.

Rather than packing fleece pants, wool sweater, and gore-tex jacket as I used to do, I've found a few tricks to stay warm without having to carry any extra weight:

• Change as soon as you get to camp. Remove wet, sweaty clothes, hang them up to air, and put on a light shirt exclusively for camp use.
• Eat a warm meal as soon as possible. Even if it isn't dinner, have a cup of soup or something else quick.
• Get in your sleeping bag. When we were in the Sierras, we often got to camp in the early afternoon. Rather than stand around shivering all evening (it got very cold after 5:00) we would just get into our sleeping bags and read, chat, or nap. Later, we might get up and make dinner, go for a walk, or visit other campers.
• Wear everything. If you're still cold, put on a couple of shirts, your jacket, rain poncho, whatever you have that's dry. I have lightweight silk long underwear that add a surprising amount of warmth under my pants. Socks on your hands can serve as gloves, and a toque (wool hat) is on my essential gear list.
• Don't sit on the ground. Cold ground or rocks will suck the warmth out of you. I use my z-lite mattress around camp, folded up to make a makeshift chair. Your pack would also suffice.
• Keep busy. Go for a walk, take some photos, make dinner, hang your food.
• Start a fire. Gathering wood and building a fire keeps you as warm as the fire itself. Invite some of your fellow campers to share your fire, you'll make new friends and conserve wood. Practice lighting a fire in the rain with wet wood, it's a skill that comes in very handy (as illustrated by Ian above.)
  

Since I've started doing all these things, I've been able to leave the extra clothing at home, saving a pound or so, but not risking getting sick or being uncomfortable. I've tried it in all conditions, from torrential rain to freezing mountain altitudes without a regret.

Lightweight Tip of the Week: Multi-use Gear

A good way to lighten up your load is to avoid redundancy. A lot of gear has more uses than its original intention, or can be modified for other uses. This is different than a multi-use tool such as a Swiss Army Knife that does 10 things you don't need, rather, it's eliminating 3 items where one would suffice. The following is a list of examples, but as some of them may affect comfort/safety levels it's a good idea to try them out first before leaving something at home.

Poncho: can be used as a tarp, pack cover, emergency shelter, groundsheet, pillow...
Trekking poles: tripod, tent or tarp poles, emergency splint or crutch, fishing rod...
Spork: replaces spoon and fork (long handled version great for prepackaged meals)
Bandana: wash cloth, towel, head cover, pot holder, sling, bandage, water pre-filter...
Parachute Cord: clothes line, tarping, hanging food bag, securing splints...
Clothes: pillow, sling, socks as gloves, extra layer under sleeping bag...
Cooking Pot: bowl, cup, bucket (for emergency sandcastle building), noisemaker...
Tent Peg: splint, shovel, punch for leather repair...
Duct Tape: gear repair, blister treatment, pretty much anything...

Once you get into the habit of it, most gear can have many uses. Obviously you want to be safe and comfortable, but with a bit of work you can easily eliminate a pound or two from your load.

*note: the photo is Ian, he's smiling because our lightweight packing practices have enabled him to bring his somewhat-heavy camera equipment!

Lightweight Tip of the Week: Masking Tape

My new mission is to come up with one weight-reducing tip per week to share. Please comment with your own tips, and I'll feature them in a future LTOTW.

This week's tip:
When loading your pack, put a small piece of masking tape on every piece of gear. When you're on the trail, remove the tape when you use the item. Back at home when you're unpacking, set aside any gear that still has masking tape on it, and examine whether you really needed to bring the unused item in the first place.

Some obvious exceptions are first aid kits, weather-related gear, and other repair and emergency items.

My results: I did this over several hikes in different weather conditions, and managed to shave a few ounces. I eliminated a lexan knife, small bowl, a few bits of clothing, a couple of tent pegs, and a few condiments and snacks.