Packing light

When you're heading out on an expedition – or even a backwoods adventure for a few days – packing light is a priority. For some, shedding an extra pound from your pack can become an obsession. You have to get the essentials in there, so what can leave behind?

Luckily, more and more outdoor outfitters are cottoning on to the fact that by using different materials, the essentials like torches, knives, tents and sleeping bags can be incredibly lightweight and still be durable. So WideWorld asked two of its favourite adventurers, Alastair Humphreys and Mikael Strandberg to reveal their top tips on packing light. We’ve also listed some essential items recommended by online retailer of mini travel items, Minimus.biz.

Alastair Humphreys' top tips on travelling light:

1. Ask whether you actually need to travel super-light at all. If shedding a few pounds is going to cost a lot of pounds I usually prefer just to have a slightly heavier pack and regard it as extra training.

2. Having said that, it certainly is nice to travel light. A great way to do this on a long trip is to imagine you are going away just for a weekend. Because you do not actually need a lot more gear for a year-long journey than an overnighter.

3. From 'Three Men in a Boat' I learned that I must not take the things I could do with, but only the things I could not do without. Don't try to cover every possible contingency.

4. Take a good book. I always deem a book worth its weight anyway, but they also double as toilet paper. Always read absorbing books.

5. Don't bother with a towel - use your socks or just get dressed wet.

6. Decide what ratio of comfort:misery you are willing to tolerate. I now deem a 3/4 length Therm-a-Rest to be essential rather than luxury. I have also suffered too often from planning a trip from the comfort of a nice warm house and making decisions like "oh, I won't bother with any food or warm clothes. I'll just suffer a bit." Easier said than done!

7. Don't automatically choose a lightweight backpack. On a recent trip I saved about 1kg by using a very light pack. My shoulders and hips rubbed raw and I cursed the lack of padding.

8. I don't care about being smelly, but I do care about being cold or hungry. This determines my selection of kit as much as anything. In other words, leave the spare pants behind, pack another bar of chocolate.

9. A bit of discomfort is a small price to pay for bringing simplicity, minimalism, and a lightweight ethos to your trip.

10. Any fool can be uncomfortable.

Alastair published a very informative 'guest post' on his website earlier this year:
www.alastairhumphreys.com/2010/04/advice-packing-light-expeditions

Mikael Strandberg's tips on packing light:

As I see it, it depends on what type of expedition you're planning. If you are into the sporting scene – adventures where you want to set a record – I guess you need to be as light as possible. But on a proper expedition, where time isn't really an issue, bring what you need – which isn't really a lot if you're not heading into an Arctic climate.

Here are the five things I never leave without:

1. A proper knife to use for everything from skinning to cooking.

2. Good maps.

3. A compass.

4. Lighter/matches.

5. A head torch with batteries.

I think a few kilos more or less makes no difference. Better to train in a proper way and get stronger. Enjoy life! I have never, ever weighed my equipment and I have, so far, never failed one expedition. And never save on food – life is for enjoying.

Travel essentials to buy

WideWorld asked Minimus.biz, a leading online retailer of mini travel items, what their best sellers were. Here's what they came up with:

PUR Purifier of Water Packets

Originally created as part of a special program to help clean the water in Africa, Proctor & Gamble licensed the distribution of the PUR packet to a company in order to supply it to regular consumers that had expressed an interest in the product. The .14oz packet offers a great way to have a compact and inexpensive solution for purifying 2.5 gallons of water.

Organic Personal Care Toiletries

People often look at things like sunscreen and bug repellent to make sure they are environmentally friendly when in the outdoors, but there are various personal care items, not all of which are obvious, that can be obtained in organic or all-natural formats. Brands such as Tom’s of Maine, One with Nature, Crystal Stick or Green Tea Goods are just some of the brands that might collectively provide everything you might need in personal care toiletries.

Cleaner / Simple Green

Biodegradable, and concentrated, it is a great all-purpose cleaning product available in a travel size in both original and lemon versions. Used for dishes, surfaces, equipment, and vehicles, it is a versatile, environmentally-friendly product.

First Aid Supplemental Items

Often, people have a false sense of security in thinking that their first aid kit will take care of all of the items you might need. Depending on the kit, there may be items that are left out. It is a good practice to review the kit and see what items might be helpful to add to it. Some more uncommon items to consider adding are: a packet of Benadryl for allergic reactions; Splinter Out; after-burn gel (both for fires and sunburn); poison ivy and oak pre- and post-contact wipes; simple insect sting relief wipes; cut and scrape cleaner wipes; Icy Hot or a similar item for sore/tight muscles.

No-Rinse Shampoo

While the product has found a large following amongst hospitals as an easy way to wash patients’ hair, it has also found a large following in the outdoors community as it, by its name, does not require water to wash your hair.

WD-40

Items that serve more than one function are terrific, especially when housed in a small unit such as the WD-40 no mess pen. Some people use it as an anti-rusting agent for lanterns and stoves, lubricating a trailer suspension, tent and sleeping bag zippers, and it offers a host of other uses.

Lightload Towels

Lightload towels hail its multifunctional uses beyond a simple compact and light towel, but you can use it for a cleaning rag, washcloth, bicycle cleaner, mosquito shield, cleaning glasses, grease remover…

Insect Repelling Wristband and/or Button

For those who are not fans of slathering their bodies with bug repellent, regardless of whether it is biodegradable, there is an innovative solution in both the Bug Button (lasts 60 hours!) and the Insect Repelling Super Band Wristband. 

Mini Roll of Duct Tape

Duct tape has to be one of the most useful multi-use item in the world of camping and outdoor activities. When it was suggested that we carry it by one of our employees, we thought he was crazy.  But, it turned out to be a huge seller amongst our camping audience (and international travelers who need to mend some beat-up luggage).

For more information on these products, visit: minimus.biz