11/05/2012
How to lighten the load on a budget?
I see people all the time toting around 40-60 pound backpacks while they trudge along, compressed beneath the weight and groan when we get to camp only 6 miles later. The next morning, their backs ache and their legs are worn out. The 6 mile trek back to the truck is torture. Their entire backpacking experience is a miserable, tiresome ordeal. I'm not talking about the old couch potatoes, but the former high school football players. The guys who run a mile every morning before work are bringing up the end of the line. It's not because I'm in better shape than them. On the contrary, my beer belly makes it to camp before any of us, but beneath a 17 pound backpack, I'm carrying the lightest load, even if their bodies weigh less than mine.
I don't bring much weight on my backpacking trips, 17 lbs or less for overnight, 22 lbs. for 3 days and only an increase of food for any trips longer than that. Some people tell me they can't afford to spend the kind of money that I did on my gear. I look at their $250 Osprey backpack and their $150 Northface jacket and tell them they already have. My gear isn't expensive and it's not the best, but it's durable and it's light and it works. My $10 LED headlamp isn't as bright as their $60 light, but it weighs less than their batteries and it allows me to see at night. I don't want them to lug around 1/3 of their body weight in junk, but they don't believe me when I tell them that for half the price of their gear, they can have the same stuff that weighs half as much.
If you're willing to listen, I'll tell you how.
Backpack:No need very large volume,60L backpack is enough for normal outdoor use.The back loading system is detachable when I want to wash the dirty bag,very easy to clean,that's why I suggest this style. It is the price：$46.7 and weight：1750g.
http://www.sowalker.com/60Lrucksack_p152.html #.UJciKWHXVPA
Tent:It's very easy to pitch up,just need 10 seconds to process; very light,easy to take;combine this two advantages,most people will choice such tent when hiking or camping,yes,in the www.sowalker.com you can find the item,it's provide lower price than another retails's shop. It is the price：$50.4 and weight：1750g.
http://www.sowalker.com/1-2peopletent_p62.html #.UJcUAmHXVPA
Air Mattress: After one day trudge ,you may very exhausted and want to lay down have a good rest.The tough and uneven ground make your headache,now the SUPER LIGHT ACCOMPANYING PILLOW AUTOMATIC AIR MATTRESS will be your first choice,light weight to carry,soft and comfortable mat take you a sweet dream. I bought this from sowalker.com through my freind's introduce. It is the price：$31.7 and weight：1000g
http://www.sowalker.com/airmattress1_p98.html #.UJcZg2HXVPB
Sleeping bag: If the weather isn't cold, bring a fleece sleeping bag.Not cost much money,and small volume occupy your backpack.. It is the price：$21.4 and weight：750g
http://www.sowalker.com/sleepbag08_p30.html #.UJcaMmHXVPA
Water: If there are streams in the area, bring a micro filter for the whole group and refill your water bottles as needed. You can make a silt filter by placing a coffee filter in a funnel and then placing a paper towel on top of that. Pour the stream water through the filters and into your bottles. Then add your iodine tablets and in twenty minutes you have drinkable water. Also, don't get the big canteens or Nalgene bottles. Get 1-liter bottles of water from the cooler at your local gas station. They're $1.25 each and come with cold water in them. I get my water on the way to a hiking trip. You can reuse your bottles and if you lose one, it's no big deal.
Pillow: Take your fleece jacket and shove it inside a stuff sack. Now you have a pillow. There are also inflatable pillows that resemble the inflatable sleeping pads made my Thermarest. There are numerous off-brands that run from $10. They're quite comfortable.
Stove: When cook outside,sometimes wind blow fire dancing all the time,even suddenly jump out,nearly burn your hair or eyebrow ,do you have such bad experience? I did. But I found lotus head ,wind-resist head stove in Sowalker.com,about one mins the water was boiling, quickly cook my food. It is the price：$20.4 and weight：460g
http://www.sowalker.com/Campingstove_p172.html #.UJcbuGHXVPA
Cookware: I think no need too complex,A pot,a frying pan,a soup spoon,a rice ladle,two bowls are enough. It is the price：$16 and weight：550g
http://www.sowalker.com/campingpot_p178.html #.UJccFGHXVPA
Flashlight: I prepared a head LED lamp,it's waterproof,Long life LED bulbs and the MTBF is 100,000 hours,Durable and low power consumption,Along with such power light,I spend my last hiking. It is the price：$11.8 and weight：120g
http://www.sowalker.com/headlampcampinglanternheadlightCheapheadlampHighQualitycampinglanternheadlightSupplier_p213.html #.UJcci2HXVPA
Cutting tools: If you go backpacking with a machete or hatchet, you're overdoing it. You can build shelters, cut saplings to use as a crutch when you twist an ankle, and trim down annoying branches that protrude from your sitting log with a good fixed-blade knife. Mostly, I just bring a sturdy pocket knife and if I have to cut something thick, I hammer the blade into the wood with another stick, carving out notches until I cut through. Find a Buck knife with a 3 inch blade that's made from 420HC steel. It's stronger than stainless and holds an edge a lot longer. I've seen some recently for $15.
Now that you know some of the cheap things you can purchase, here's a little exercise you can do when you evaluate your gear. When you get ready to pack your gear for a weekend backpacking trip, divide everything into three piles. On the left, put gear that you absolutely need. Food, shelter, light, water, sleeping gear, etc. In the middle, place the items that you really want to bring to make the trip more fun. On the right, make a pile of the items that you could live without but would be nice to have on the trip. Now, pack everything from the first pile. Test your pack and feel how light it is. Now that your pack is half empty and lighter than it's ever been before, put the second two piles back in the closet. YOU DON'T NEED THEM!
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