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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 14:41:16 GMT -8
My friend's pack is much lighter than mine. I don't really care that his is lighter than mine, and neither does he, but some of the reasons that it is prompts me to post here.
I have a set of gear that I take with me always. First aid kit, fire starting, compass, etc. He doesn't take any of that beyond what he knows he will use. Much of mine is "in case". Insurance if you will. As part of my Master Gear List (different thread) I'm tracking what the weight of "things" are and making a decision on items. While I may reduce some "insurance" items to a more realistic level I'll never just put it on the shelf and leave it at home except if I'm just going for a basic hike, at which time I'll just take a different set of "insurance" items though still "appropriate".
I'd love to know what your "insurance" or "survival" or whatever you personally call it, things are. Things you take and if things work out right you would never or rarely use.
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desert dweller
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Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
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Post by desert dweller on Dec 28, 2015 15:21:36 GMT -8
Your friend, and anyone who hikes even a little, needs to include the 10 Bare Essentials. Sometimes, you don't know what you may need until you need it. Being prepared for the "worse-case" scenario is prudent and just makes sense. Even when I ride my bike around town, I carry a jacket, bike repair stuff and tools and a hat. The Boy Scout thing about being prepared is true.
Google the Essential 10. The lists vary.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 28, 2015 15:29:25 GMT -8
my first aid consists of a small roll of 2" adhesive elastic tape and a small platic box containing:
4 small band aids
4 Benedryl tablets
6 Advil tablets
8 Aleive tablets
1 small packet of antibiotic ointment
it weights practically nothing
For fire starting I carry a Bic lighter, a small box of waterproof matches, and a small plastic bag filled with 1/2 dozen cotton balls impregnated with Vaseline.
Weights practically nothing
My biggest insurance item is a McMurdo PLB that weights 5.4oz. I don't carry a cell phone, as I've found they rarely have service in the areas I frequent.
On a cold night I will be wearing every single piece of clothing I have except a spare pair of socks and another pair I use only for sleeping (and an extra pair of undershorts on a longer trip).
My Victorinox recruit weights 1.7oz. I've never needed a multi-tool.
I don't carry a firearm. If I backpacked in grizzly country, I'd bring bear spray.
My best insurance item is a detailed itinerary (even if I don't know my exact destination or route) including map coordinates and phone numbers of the local police and NFS offices in the area. That weighs absolutely nothing.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 28, 2015 15:46:46 GMT -8
WM, here are a couple more thoughts after going back and looking at your gear list.
The camera I carry is a Nicon Coolpix3200 that weights 6oz including the batteries.
I carry two spare lithium AA batteries that will fit both my GPS and my camera and three AAA lithium batteries that fit my headlamp. My headlamp has 1 white LED, two red LEDs and a halogen spot. I don't carry a separate flashlight. Lithium batteries last longer than alkaline and are lighter, but when they die, they don't gradually get dimmer, they go fast.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 16:07:02 GMT -8
Hike your own hike and bear your own burden.....
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:11:19 GMT -8
Hike your own hike and bear your own burden..... Yes, of course. I'm not actually comparing but just accepting "food for thought" in these items. |
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:13:43 GMT -8
I don't carry a separate flashlight. You hit on an item that is on the list of insurance items. I carry a small flashlight. I do it because if you are left in the dark there isn't a way for me to carve a new light out of a tree. However is this just fear packing? I do carry extra batteries so the backup isn't for that. Fear packing... I want to have the appropriate level of "caution" yet not take that so far that it's just loading me down. |
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:15:32 GMT -8
Google the Essential 10. The lists vary. Will do. I have looked at similar lists but will take a peek and hopefully learn a little something. An item I was looking at that is on my shelf is my mirror. Small thing and not that heavy and useful in certain situations. But... are are many other items. Where to draw that line. Off to Google I go! |
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:19:16 GMT -8
That weighs absolutely nothing. Each ways very little, but how about as a group? My fire kit has probably too much redundancy. Two small lighters, fire steel + striker, waterproof matches, and a few wax infused cosmetic pads. Most likely it's overkill so I have to decide that a bit more risk may be worth it unless I am going out for a week where it would be difficult to get out quickly. Things like that are what I'm thinking about. |
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Dec 28, 2015 17:32:38 GMT -8
Over the years, I have changed things. I no longer carry fire steel or waterproof matches. I carry two lighters. Same thing, just lighter. I carry two small knives (we're talking two inch blades). I've determined that I just don't need a large knife. I carry a bivy along with my primary shelter, almost always. It weighs two pounds and in the places and weather I hike in, I consider it needed. I carry a two-way radio in winter along with my smartphone for communication. I bring two very small headlamps (I night hike often). Others feel the need to bring something that will shine brighter than the sun. I find that just a little light helps me more. Even with all my backups in winter, I'm still down at a max of around 26 lbs for five days.
This last spring in the Arctic, I carried massive amounts of backups, primarily because it was my first time out there and I've never been camping for an entire month straight. Now that I've done it, I'm going to pare down greatly for my next trip.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:38:28 GMT -8
For fun I'll list a few of the 10 Essentials.
From "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills - 8th Edition", which several sites I've been to reference. These are the types of lists I've looked at in the past to construct what I carry now. Some are items you use in the course of your outing and some are insurance.
Map
Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Extra clothing
Headlamp (or flashlight)
First-aid supplies
Firestarter
Matches
Knife
Extra food
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:40:42 GMT -8
Over the years, I have changed things. I no longer carry fire steel or waterproof matches. I carry two lighters. These are the types of decisions I am going to just have to make. How much redundancy is really necessary? |
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 17:41:20 GMT -8
This killed me last time on my solo outing. I took way too much. I paid attention to what I came home with to make better decisions next time. |
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balzaccom
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Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Dec 28, 2015 18:12:25 GMT -8
We don't take a lot of extra food. The human body can live for a couple of weeks without much food. Water is another matter, but taking along another day or two of food person will add a lot of weight to you pack...without much real benefit.
And yeah, we take an extra BIC instead of flint and steel...no matches any more. A very small knife. No multi-tool at all. FAK has limited supplies---because we are not doctors. We'll take along what we know how to apply, and that's it.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 28, 2015 18:21:24 GMT -8
A very small knife. No multi-tool at all. I just purchased a small multi-tool. I paid attention to how much I used my normal knife on my last outing and it isn't much. However... that's normal use. If something happened a sturdier dedicated knife would be useful. And that.... that is how I argue myself into packing everything in the house. "WHAT IF I HAVE TO SKIN A MOOSE? IN OHIO?" |
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