> Very easy to bring crap you don't need as well.
This is so true it's not even funny. I keep a spreadsheet for each trip, and among other things, I record which of the items I actually used on the trips. It was very surprising to me how many things I thought I used and therefore needed, but when reviewing the records, I never (or very rarely) actually used.
Those items get cut from future loads.
I'm not a backpacker, but I presume there is stuff you normally don't use, but don't want to be without. Some amount of first-aid supplies, etc.
For me, a not-particularly-lightweight hiker with a 10kg base weight, that list includes:
- a knife
- a first-aid kit with some niche stuff like big gauze pads, electrolytes, strapping tape, etc.
- quarter of a roll of toilet paper
- a compass and whistle
- a paper map
- spare laces
- 3L of water, unless water is guaranteed to be available (2L is more standard)
- spare calories in case I'm delayed
- emergency beacon (except my phone does this now)
I could sacrifice these and be fine most of the time, but I've needed nearly everything except the whistle, the full quarter-roll, and the emergency beacon.
I assume that quarter of a roll of TP has the cardboard inner taken out
Disclaimer: had to run an multi-stage ultra in the sahara, weighed everything, finished with 1xpacket of carbs+hydration that was right at the bottom of the bag, was upset with myself that I didn't use it for the last day. That's like almost 200 calories I could have used to keep myself warm at night (the desert gets cold at night).
Are you (overnight) camping or only day hiking with all of this kit?
Multiple nights, and often in less-travelled areas of Australia where there's no guarantee other people will find us if something goes wrong. It would be a bit insane carrying 10kg base weight on a day walk unless you had kids.
That weight is the maximum and (in addition to everything above) includes a 70L pack, tent, sleeping gear, poles, rain gear (the weather is treacherous here), a stove, thermals/scarf/beanie for the cold (some places in the Victorian Alps like to dump snow on you in the middle of summer), a hat and sunscreen, spare socks, a toothbrush that I haven't cut in half and toothpaste that hasn't been dried out, light source and batteries, water filter, battery pack on longer trips, dry bag if we're doing a deep river crossing, etc.
I take out what I won't need, swap in less rugged gear when there's lower risk, and usually end up somewhere between 6kg and 9kg base weight. I could probably shave off another kg or even two, but at some point I'd be sleeping under a tarp in Victoria's famously horizontal rain or ditching safety gear.
Not op but my backpacking (overnight) kit contains similar.
When people talk about "10 lb base loads" I assume they are talking about overnights? 10 lb base loads for day trips would not be impressive.
I assume overnight - so shelter, sleeping system, clothing, and cooking. I do like my comfortable hammock, quilt, underquilt, and cuben tarp. That comes in at about 3.5lbs total. Going tent, that is closer to 4lbs for tent (~2lbs), pad, and quilt. If I go bivy + tarp, shelter comes in around 15oz with cord.
I don't have a fancy pack. My old crown vic is about 2lbs.
I like my hot coffee and meals, so usually bring some sort of cooking and water filtration. 600ml pot, some sort of stove (stick, alcohol, or hexi), spoon, ursack, pot grabber, and befree - and I'm over a pound.
Ounces start to add up fast. 6-7lbs with just the basics does not pack any clothing or food. Both tend to burn the folks I hike with. Always the poor soul who packed in 3lbs of gorp or three sweaters. There is nothing magical about 10lbs. Plenty of people in the ultralight community could look at my pack and say I had an extra 2' of dental floss as well as no business to hike with cards and a kindle. It does set a target where you may not be able to just pull out gear that does not consider weight. Personally, I like to try to target about 8-12lbs + food/water. I don't know how some of the other guys we hike with pull off their 30+ pound packs. I'm not strong enough to do what they are doing.
Definitely overnights, but also long distance. Ultralight only makes sense once you get into long distance trails IMO.
I’ll happily carry 10-15lbs on a casual weekend with some friends, but when I did the PCT my baseweight was down to 6lbs once I passed the Sierra.
Turns out if all you do is hike all day, for months at a time, you really start thinking about pack weight.
To each their own I guess... I carried a 4 lb banjo on the Camino de Santiago and it was hands down the best thing in my pack :-)
Sometimes also wet weather gear.
Hmm, my records show I only used the bear spray on 1 out of 10 trips.
I do pack in a small med kit. Typically 3-4 Advil, a couple aspirin, tylenol, a tums, one anti-diarrhea, and one sudafed (meth grade). I also bring in a couple waterproof bandaids, a single serving antiseptic, and a small square of leukotape. Most of that never gets used, and is packed over and over. You can spot the med kit in this picture in a small pill pouch.
https://imgur.com/N5en41d
I'll pack in a second mini-bic. One that stays in my pocket, one for our group to constantly loose throughout the trip. Same for that extra TP packet. I'd rather have it with, then find myself in the woods running short. Got a whistle in there too that I don't think I've ever used on the trail.
Most of my hikes, I'll plan to be at the site before dark. I'll still bring a reasonable headlamp.
Yes, there are. Not many, but I take a first-aid kit, shortwave radio, and signalling devices (I tend to be in the wilderness far from civilization). I've never used them and hope that I never will.
I was talking about the other stuff.
Even on run of the mill international vacations, my wife and I always casually debrief on what we brought too much of, what we didn't use, etc. Traveling light is nice, even when you're not backpacking.
I'm very good at packing per my spreadsheet and then adding a few extra things at the trailhead because there's room. Mobile tripod, extra (heavy) pocket knife (just in case!), another paracord, etc.