That ultralight dilemma

 

Can it get any lighter?

The idea of packing lighter on camping trips has always been the 'way to go'. With a lighter pack, people say one can go further, safer...making the trip more enjoyable. It does make sense but I never gave it much thought until recently. But yet, there are some hurdles that's keeping me from committing to it. Ultralight camping while sounds utopian...is still be a dilemma that needs further investigation. 

Spending more money to be lighter

Everything has to be lighter?

Its either spend more money to acquire new ultralight camping equipment or one has to be really creative to shed weight on camping gear. I heard stories of people squeezing out half a tube of tooth past and breaking off half the handle of a toothbrush just to save grams. Use leaves instead of toilet paper to wipe after doing big business. Surviving on yucky dried freeze food that costs a meal at a fancy restaurant. No,  I am not ready for such dedication. I have to find other ways to make it work. 

The shortcut to all extremes would probably be to spend money on ultralight gear. Packs that are made for ultralights fabric, titanium cookware, compact minimalist stove, dehydrated food (or maybe no food at all?) and possibly lighter sleeping systems. These stuff are not cheap An ultralight pack can costs up to RM1k (usually more) and titanium cookware are soooo expensive (but I do agree they really do look nice). Ultralight shelters will also burn holes in your pocket. A friend has a fancy flysheet made of Cuban fibre and that cost him about RM1800...on sale! That is one hell of an expensive roof over your head for a camping trip in the jungle.

Or change the approach?

Bring less...weighs less

I have 2 camping buddies who practice a different approach to packing for camping. They pack and bring only what is absolutely necessary. They pack everything they need, minus the 'extras' that the rest would normally bring along. Only one set of clothes for night time (even if it is for multiple nights camping). They wash and dry whenever possible. Food usually consists of dry foods like oats and rice (no can food here!). No toothpaste cause others will probably have it. No stoves when the jungle has endless firewood supply. One knife for all the camping needs as apposed to a parang, a folding knife, a neck knife, a multi-tool and a folding saw. 

This approach takes time to develop and certainly a tenacity to expand one's comfort zone. After all, not many people would be okay with wearing back yesterday's wet and smelly clothing. These two friends of mine camps a lot and they both have one similar trait that probably helps as well (more below). One really has to be contended with what one has and that is somewhat lacking in me. Having spare batteries, a neck knife and extra ration for the 'just in case' situations is how my brain works. 

Maybe you have to be light to be ultralight?

That two friends of mine are 'light'. They are literally skinny. One would probably pass as skin & bones! What are the chances of that happening? None of my bigger (nicer word for fat) camping friend has ever packed little. Their packs weighs a lot! I do not have any scientific evidence to support my assumptions, but here's to making an ass of myself!

Fat people tend to consume more

Fat people have confidence issues. Yes, and that includes me. Anyone who is actively camping or trekking in Malaysia will tell you that many people who share this passion is actually big/ fat. For some strange reason, I theorize the bigger they are, the more they pack. They tend to carry more of everything. More food, more clothes, more gear, more snacks, spares of this and that. Technically, when I go on a camping trip, all items are quite constant except for food. One has to carry more food if one is eating more, that's just how it is. When you carry more food, your pack is heavier!

Even folding chairs are heavier when it needs to support 120kg

Fat people require heavier gear. When your body is heavy, there are certain gear that you carry that will be heavier than the ones used by skinny people. Hammock is an example. A skinny person can probably use a sarong as a hammock but a 100kg person would need to invest on hammocks that costs more and typically weighs more too. When you carry more food to eat, a heavier hammock and clothes hat are XXL or XL instead of S, your pack is naturally going to be heavier. To make things worse, most ultralight packs have a weight limit and that means you cannot buy and use an ultralight pack. You would have to end up with a normal pack that can take heavier loads!

So, how is it looking?

I dont think I will every become a true blue ultralight camper/ trekker. Loosing body weight will have to be a long term goal first and foremost. I do believe it is a starting point. Working alongside that would be to practice the 'less is more' approach to all aspects in life. I look at my camping gear and I literally have at least 3 items of the same thing. More than 3 backpacks, more than 3 camping post, at least 5 camping stoves, 10 parangs and the list goes on. This 'habit' of having more indirectly gets in the way of packing less when going camping. That's why it is a 'habit'. 

Body shaming?

Fat is fat, black is black. I prefer to call it what it is. Whatever negative association these words have with negativity comes from you, not me.