To Pack or Not to Pack

By Christopher Harper

Its early morning, and your buzzing with energy as you approach the trailhead with your loaded backpack. You check your map & compass and synchronize your GPS as to your starting location. After checking all your straps and tightening your load, you start down the trail. About a hundred feet down the trail you begin to feel the weight of your pack beginning to slow you down and wonder, why is this pack so heavy? Many hikers will try to convince you to pack as little as possible, but in reality, a moderate amount of weight is OK. In reality, there are limits to what you should pack on a trip, but you will make your hike more enjoyable by including items, which you might normally have left at home.
A fellow backpacker was explaining a trip where he packed ultra-light. To decrease his pack weight he went to the extreme of cutting the handle off his toothbrush. This came to be an annoyance when he wanted to brush his teeth. It was the last time he went to that extreme. There are instances where some hikers will even cut all their hair off to conserve weight; and the list goes on.
One place where you can save weight and space is your clothing. They may not weigh much, but they are bulky, and take up inordinate amounts of space in your pack. One method to make more room is to pack clothes in a compression stuff sack. That will increase usable space, but the weight remains unchanged. A good rain jacket will also double as a windbreaker. A rain jacket is windproof and in the event of stormy weather, you will already be prepared. Rain pants are the same. Rain pants should already be lightweight, depending on the type, but you could also wear them while in camp. The downside is they will wear in the seat and knees. The clothes worn while on the trail will get dirty, so wear the same ones every day. This may sound distasteful, but will save additional weight and space in your pack on dirty clothes. I have one pair of clothes to hike in, a pair of camp clothes, and a set for special occasions or end of hike; these are vacuum-sealed to save space in my pack. Using this method, you always have moderately clean clothes to wear in camp, and a set for those times you wish you had them. This will also give you a chance to wash and air out your hiking clothes. You can follow this same principle for your hiking socks. For a short trip, say of, less than 2 weeks, you should only need one pair. Some say one of the basic rules of backpacking is to take care of your feet, so one pair of socks would get dirty quickly and put the health of your feet at risk. This is why you should wash and air out your socks each night; this is why I always carry a lightweight pair of camp shoes, usually an inexpensive pair of sliders.
Now, with all that extra gear at home and a lighter pack, I will contradict myself by telling you pack those luxury items. Most backpackers on extended trips do so to relax and enjoy themselves out in the wilderness. If you want to relax, why should you be uncomfortable? Today, most backpackers carry a sleeping pad with them. You may not realize just how much comfort a good sleeping pad can add to a night’s sleep. I usually carry a full-length pad. I disagree with those who say a ¾-length pad saves a considerable amount of weight. For example, the weight difference between a ¾-length and a full-length Thermarest Staytek Light is around ½ a pound. Speaking from experience, that extra ½ pound will add that extra hour of sleep that I need after a long day of hiking. Another luxury item that is gaining popularity among some backpackers is the camp chair. The Crazy Creek Hexalite Power Lounger Camp Chair is popular among some hikers. Camp chairs are nice to have, especially when lounging around the evening campfire. For some backpackers, they are definitely worth the additional weight. The shoes you wear in camp are not only a way to be more comfortable, but could also help the environment. By taking off your boots and changing into tennis shoes or sandals once you get your campsite setup, you do less damage to the ground. This will also give your feet a chance to relax and enjoy softer soled shoes. Writing in your trip journal, or reading a good paperback are some ways you can relax and wind down after a long day of hiking. On a few extended trips, I have even packed my mp3 player, a video camera, or my lightweight fishing kit.
When packing for a backpacking trip, try to weigh your gear options. If you think, it is something you could use, or would like to have, why not pack it. At worst, you carry it around in your backpack and never use it. However, on your next hike, you would know that you do not need to pack it. You will find that gear selection will vary from trip-to-trip; what you do not need, or want, to bring on one hike will be a must-have on the next trip. Adjusting your pack-weight is something that you learn overtime. Eventually you will find that balance between luxury and necessity, as you ask yourself “To pack, or not to pack?”