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Copyright © 2010 by Walter R. Underwood. All rights reserved.
Permission granted for Scouting units to copy or use this material, in whole or in part, so long as attribution is given. Others please contact the author.
Lightweight Gear for Scouts
Walter UnderwoodAsst. Scoutmaster, Troop 14wunder@wunderwood.org
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 3
Why Go Lightweight?• Safer than heavyweight
• Fewer injuries• Tired leaders are not good leaders
• Cheaper• Less gear• Simpler gear
• 20 pounds is a lot for a Tenderfoot• 25% of body weight!
• More fun!
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 4
What is Lightweight?Pack Weight
Base Weight
Traditional 30-40 Over 20
Lightweight 20-30 Under 20
Ultralight 10-20 Under 10
Superultralight (SUL) Under 10 Under 5
• Definitions:• Pack weight: with food, water, fuel• Base weight: only non-consumables
Eight Days in the Sierras• 18 lbs personal gear• 4 lbs crew gear
• Crew first aid kit (1.5 lbs)• 2m ham radio• Stove and fuel
• 10 lbs food• 4 lbs water• 36 lbs
• Plus, 6 pounds luxury• Chair, camera, book
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 5
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 6
How to Lighten Up?1. Enough gear to be safe, comfortable, and
confident (depends on skill and planning).
2. Know the actual weight of each item.
3. Use multipurpose items.
4. Consider the heaviest items first.
5. Use the smallest items that will meet your needs.
6. Choose gear that is lightweight, useful, sturdy, and dependable.
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 7
The Big Three• About half of base weight is in three areas:
• Pack• Shelter• Sleep system (bag + pad)
• Also your most expensive gear
• Traditional: 3 to 5 pounds each
• Lightweight: under 3 pounds each
• Ultralight: under 2 pounds each
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 8
Pack Advice• Big enough for your stuff (does your
sleeping bag fit?)
• 55-65 liters (3400-4000 in3) is plenty
• Must be comfortable
• Try it on with 25-30 pounds and walk around
• More rigid frame is easier to pack
• Pockets, zippers, and straps add weight
• Ultralight fabrics may be too fragile for boys
• More and lighter choices with internal frame
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 9
How to Make Packs Lighter• Get rid of:
• Pockets• Zippers• Straps and buckles• Lid
• Use less-rigid frame (or no frame)
• Use less or lighter padding on hipbelt/straps
• Use non-adjustable frame
• Use lighter fabrics
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 11
Example PacksBag Liters Weight Price
Gregory Baltoro 70 70 5-9 $290
Kelty Coyote 4750 78 5-1 $160
REI Ridgeline 65 65 4-4 $200
Gregory Z55 55 3-5 $200
REI Flash 65 65 3-2 $150
Six Moon Designs Starlite 65 1-14 $175
Gossamer Gear G4 65 1-0 $135
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 12
Sleeping Bag and Pad• Bag keeps you warm from the cold air
• Pad keeps you warm from the cold ground
• Pad cushions the hard, lumpy ground
• Trapped air (“loft”) is insulation
• Mummy shape is much lighter and warmer
• 3-season bag (15º–25ºF)
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 13
Sleeping Bag Trivia• 600 fill down is same weight as synthetic, more
expensive, but packs smaller• 800+ fill down is expensive (over $350)• PrimaLoft packs like down (almost)• Smaller bag allows a smaller pack• Half the weight is in fabric and zipper• Most of the cost is in sewing• Check if the zipper gets caught• Some bags are skinny (and lighter), try it on!
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 14
Example Sleeping BagsBag Rating Weight Price
Coleman Crescent 15 +15°F 4-4 $50
Marmot Trestles 15 +15°F 3-14 $100
Kelty Light Year XP 20 +20°F 3-5 $120
Marmot Axiom 25 +25°F 2-12 $140
The North Face Cats Meow +20°F 2-10 $150
The North Face Orion +20°F 2-8 $190
Marmot Helium (850 down) +15ºF 1-15 $370
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 15
Sleeping Pads• Best bets:
• Closed-cell foam (blue Ensolite®)• Z-Lite (folding waffle foam)
• Try it in the store for comfort
• ¾ length is probably enough
• Self-inflating are expensive
• Air pads are a big bother (blow up, deflate)
• Ideal for Scouts: Z-Lite Small, $30, 10 oz.
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 16
How to Make a Lighter Tent• Make it as simple as possible
• Get rid of:• Inner tent• Floor• Bug netting• Poles
• Use trekking poles for support
• Use ultralight fabrics: silnylon, cuben
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 17
Lightweight Pyramid Shelter
Black Diamond Betamid, 2 lbs. 10 oz, $99
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 18
Ultralight Pyramid Shelter
Mountain Laurel Designs Speedmid, 1 lb. 4 oz., $185
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 19
Example TentsBag Weight Price
REI Half Dome 2 5-8 $180
REI Quarter Dome T2 4-8 $270
Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 3-14 $200
Black Diamond Betamid 2-10 $100
Black Diamond Beta Light 1-8 $180
Mountain Laurel Speedmid 1-4 $185
8x10 silnylon tarp 0-14 $110
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 20
The Big Three: ShowdownPack Shelter Sleep Total Cost
Kelty CoyoteREI Half DomeMarmot Trestles 15
5-1 2-14 4-4 12-3 $459
REI Flash 65BD Beta LightTNF Cats Meow
3-2 1-7 3-4 7-13 $408
SMD StarliteMLD SpeedmidTNF Cats Meow
1-14 0-11 3-4 5-13 $505
Therm-a-Rest Z-lite pad used for all choices.Half of the weight used for the shelter (two person tents).Floorless shelter weights include 2 oz. for personal groundsheet.
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 21
Lightweight Stuff That Works• Eating
• Plastic bowl• Lexan spoon• Cup (optional)
• Raingear• Equinox silnylon poncho, 8 oz, $45• Frogg Toggs Pro Action rainsuit, 17 oz, $50• ULA rain wrap, 3 oz, $25
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 22
More Light Stuff That Works• Platypus water reservoirs
• Soda bottles (a Nalgene weighs 6 oz)
• Aqua Mira water treatment ($15 for 120 liters)
• Polycryo ground cloths ($8 pair, 1.5 oz ea.)
• Photon micro light
• Petzl Zipka headlamp
• Milk jug basin
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 23
Stuff You Don’t Need• Extra shirts, shorts, and pants (wear BSA
zipoffs)• Big knife• Plate, fork• One multi-tool per person• Camp shoes (hike in comfortable shoes)• Water filter (use tablets or Aqua Mira)• Daypack (your pack is already light)• Extra anything• Duplicate crew gear, like big first aid kits, …
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 24
Ultralight Suppliers• backpackinglight.com• gossamergear.com• ula-equipment.com• sixmoondesigns.com• granitegear.com• integraldesigns.com• golite.com• www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarp.htm• thru-hiker.com (also has kits and fabric)• zpacks.com• www.trailcooking.com (freezer bag cooking)• backpackinglight.com (articles, gear)
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 25
Discounts on Gear• Campmor, sales, 10% Scout discount (call)
• Sports Basement 10% Scout discount
• Sierra Trading Post (closeouts)
• altrec.com (closeouts)
• REI Used Gear Sale, first Saturday of every month, 10am, show up early
Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 26
References• Lighten Up, Don Ladigan & Mike Clelland
• The Complete Walker IV, Fletcher & Rawlins
• My Sierra gear list:http://wunderwood.org/most_casual_observer/2009/08/gear_list_for_the_emigrant_and.html
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