There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
“Do I really need all this stuff?” For some, the question first comes up while tackling a particularly challenging trail; for others, while running to catch a train in a foreign city during a vacation abroad. Whether you’re backpacking your local state park or another continent, the gear you carry should serve your needs, but shouldn’t be so heavy that it distracts from the beauty and inspiration of your surroundings.
That’s where the ultralight philosophy begins: Pack smarter, go further (and faster), and experience more. Traveling light also puts less stress on your body, reducing fatigue and enabling you to hike more regularly—and for many years to come.
As far as official weight limits go, definitions vary, but it’s generally accepted that a lightweight backpacker carries a base weight under 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms), an ultralight backpacker carries a base weight under 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), and a super-ultralight backpacker carries a base weight under 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms). For comparison, conventional backpackers typically carry at least 35 pounds (15.9 kilograms), and sometimes as much as 60 pounds (27.2 kilograms).
Your base weight is the total weight of your gear kit—that’s your backpack, the gear inside it, and any gear attached to the outside—excluding consumables. Consumables are food, water, and fuel, and they’re excluded from your base weight because the amount varies by trip length and conditions.
So you’ve decided you want to lighten your load. What now? Because different people have different ideas about what’s important and what’s essential, there’s no single answer that will work for everyone. Some choose to refine their pack one item at a time, while others opt to build an entirely new system from scratch. Whichever route you take, keep a few things in mind as you go through the process:
How much do you value comfort and convenience? For example, would you roll up your jacket and use it as a pillow if it meant saving space in your pack? How does your skill level relate to your safety needs? Know your limits. If the unexpected occurs, are you experienced enough to improvise with what you have?
Finally, think about the items you’ve carried in the past and didn’t end up using. No one can make all the right choices from the beginning, but every trip and the errors made along the way teach you how to modify your pack in the future.
Most people think about their packing lists in terms of systems. The “Big 4” includes your packing system (your backpack), shelter system (your tent, tarp, or bivy), sleeping system (bag, pad, etc.), and cooking system (stove, pot, and so on). These four categories account for the lion’s share of your pack weight, and are supplemented with additional items like clothing, a first-aid kit, trekking poles, and more.
Weigh everything. The first piece of gear any ultralighter should have won’t come on any trips: your scale. Any $20 digital kitchen scale will do—just make sure it is accurate to a tenth of an ounce (or single grams). Create a spreadsheet where you can compile your packing list and the individual weights, and determine which changes will make the biggest impact. An online document is easy to share and compare with others, but if pencil and paper are more your thing, those work too!
Pare down weight at your own speed and in the order that makes sense for you. Go out, explore, experiment, and learn from your mistakes. Over time, you’ll build confidence and realize that you can do without a lot of stuff you previously thought you needed. If you’ve got enough to sleep, eat, and stay warm, then you’ve got enough, period.
Ultralight doesn’t always have to mean bare bones. If you want to bring luxury items that make your time in the wild more enjoyable (like a sketchbook, collapsible fishing rod, pair of binoculars, tablet, ukulele, or flask of bourbon), don’t let anyone stop you. Having a light pack to start with makes adding these items that much easier.