Why people carry so much "stuff"

[Theosus]

I think some of it is the fault of experienced hikers telling their bad tales. I've read people who take three or four ways of making fire. It may not seem like much but all those little film cans of fire supplies will be bulky. There there is the water filtration thing. I've been told by someone who's been hiking a while, "I carry a filter, aqua Mira as a backup, and of course I can boil as a third backup. Then there are the "I carry X cooking equipment so I can bake rolls and cinnamon buns 20 miles from the road" guys. Then there is the "be careful hiking solo, you need to make sure you have the following medical supplies and a SPOT" warnings
So is it really just the confused Dicks salesman, or is it experienced hikers who've had bad experiences and problems that lead newbies to think "I need backup systems for everything", and I need to be prepared not just for my hike, but for a real 'I'm lost in the woods' Man Vs. Wild scenario?

I had to stop buying crap, step back and look at my stuff. I wanted another pot, but my cooking involves boiling water for meals in a sack. One pot is plenty. I wanted the higher first aid kit, but went with a small one and added a two inch victorinox knife. It has awesome tweezers, and a small blade and scissors.

I cut down my paracord from 100' to 50.I'm not going to bear bag THAT high, and that big lump o' rope gets heavy if it's wet. I think I've got my filtration thing cut down to a single in-line Sawyer filter and gravity bag. Smaller and lighter and less bulky than a pump.

But there's still time to buy more stuff.

[Spokes]

2mm nylon cord is all you need to hang a bear bag or set up a clothes drying line. It sure beats carrying any length of paracord.

[JAK]

It takes a few hikes to realize the difference between a consumer and a hiker.
It also helps to be older and overweight. Hills also help alot.

[Maren]

There's definitely a learning curve. I came from a family a avid indoors people. When I met my husband 10 years ago I was rather intrigued by his outdoor gear. I clearly remember teasing him about his Camelback and laughing hysterically at his biking outfits. The first time he took me to an REI I was in awe and completely lost. My first impulse, admittedly, was to buy every gadget in sight. There's no denying there's some really cool stuff out there. He let me make a few mistakes until I caught on to less being more when it comes to comfort and safety. Fast forward to now and every purchase takes weeks of research, each piece of gear must be absolutely necessary, and I've developed a product BS-meter that borders on rabid skepticism. Not only am I a much happier hiker, I'm more confident, as well. Probably more obnoxious, too. (Very few people give a flying f*** about the thought process that went into my tent choice.)

[Jeff]

Folks who never hiked up and down mountains tend to underestimate the effort required.

[Storm]

Another thought on the subject is price. Many people just can't afford the extra expense to buy the lightest equipment. I would really like to have a cuben fiber tent but just can't bring myself to shell out the money. Seems like the lighter you want to go the more it costs. I'm very thankfull I found this site. I will be under 30 pounds for my start with food and water and I think that is going to be the best I can do. Hopefully these old legs can get used to carrying it up and down the trail. And I love my whistle.

[q-tip]

My first AT pack was 38 lbs. And I thought I was pretty light. After the first 100 miles, I couldn't stand up straight. I was 10 lbs lighter by Harpers Ferry. Fast forward, my current 3 season bag total for my Colorado Trail hike this summer excluding food & water is 13.83 and my summer total is 12.13. I cut out 5.4 lbs. from my pack literally one ounce at a time by evaluating each and every piece of gear and looking for lightweight alternatives. I still carry some extra clothes and a Neo Air instead of the blue pad. But, I get some peace of mind....

Experience and diligence have made the difference. Also, I added up the cost for my Colorado Trail pack just for the heck of it. I accumulated the equipment over several years, but the cost was $3,100. I buy the best for the long term, but a new hiker might not be ready or willing to get the specialized equipment it takes to lighten the load on the AT....HYOH

[Rain Man]

Whistles, ....

I just discovered last evening that my head lamp has a built-in whistle on the strap! Never knew that, though I did know my pack sternum strap does.

RainMan

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[Rain Man]

...y absurd things like pillows ... and guns .... I saw a lot of wet miserable people.

Hey now!!! Don't go making fun of pillows! (unless you mean the full-size ones from a bed at home)

Guns? That's just being an insecure, scaredy-cat. Or, to be Freudian, it might be called "compensating!" LOL

The "miserable" part starts at home, when folks are so fearful and ignorant that they have to put all that stuff in/on their packs.

But the really good news is that they even set foot in the woods in the first place. So many Americans are WAY too scared ... and lazy. More good news is that the longer they stay in the woods, the more they'll realize they don't need to be so afraid.

So, I actually give them a lot of credit for venturing into the woods in spite of their ignorance and fears. Everyone has to start somewhere. I say good for them! Now, if they are still carrying those things after some years, now that's just plain sad. But, ... hike your own hike.

RainMan

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[Capt Nat]

I'm the guy the OP was talking about. I'm old, out of shape and I feel every ounce. And that every ounce hurts. But, I have a large closet full of cool camping gear and gadgets and I want to take all of it. I miss my queen size inflatable mattress in camp. It's nice to have an axe and saw. What good is having a $300 rambo knife if I leave it at home? Every hike is a struggle for me. I can't physically carry it, I hate to be without it. I've got great rain gear. I've got great cold weather gear. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Someone please just kill me with the rock, otherwise the load will...

[JAK]

The best way to get rid of seriously overweight gear is to sell it cheap or give it to a still in shape 20 year old that can carry it. They are better off with light gear, but they won't notice the wieght so much, and are often foolish and macho enough that they will want to load themselves up anyway.

[JAK]

Don't give it to teenagers though. That would be child abuse.

[Spokes]

... I'm old, out of shape and I feel every ounce. And that every ounce hurts...

When I was planning my thru hike an old thru hiker said "You need to start thinking in terms of ounces.".

At the time I had no idea what he meant. Once I started the trail it hit home.

[Mags]

I agree. You'll be way ahead of the learning curve when you hit the trail. Prolly look at all those hikers carrying 65 lb. packs, shake your head, and say "Bless their heart".

Except they are out there right now.

We are not.

I'm a bit envious.

Some of these people will drop out sure....

But others will flourish, have a good time and learn.

HEll, my own first trip was a mini-disaster, too. :O

Like to think I've become a more capable outdoors person since then.

Sure some of the people starting from Springer with their own "Rambo sized knife" will eventually thrive, too.

[Aquaman12]

First Ill say that i am fairly new to backpacking and will be leaving apr 9 for my first thru hike, my wife and i together. We spent about two years researching and testing(extensively) gear and technique to prepare for our thru hike. Our packs will be around 20 pounds each. I dont understand either how some can not reasearch enough to not take some things i see as useless. I do believe in HYOH so whatever gets you to katahdin. They way we saw it was, if this is going to be my life for up to 6 months, we need to make things as comfortable as possible. We see that as carrying a light pack and creating the least amount of resistence(go with the flow and make due where you can). I guess if someone else asks themselves that question, they might see comfortable as taking their big pillow or their laptop. Not saying that i agree with that, but again, if thats what gets you to katahdin then so be it. I think most people would benefit from a light pack(load wise and mentally). I also believe a lot of newcomers cant even fathom doing away with some items that they may see as neccesary, due to a lack of confidence in backpacking or even themselves. Either way, HYOH and reach your end goal, just make sure you're having fun doing it.

[SouthMark]

I like what a former member here, Sgt Rock, says about pack weight, "the heavier my pack the more I like to camp, the lighter my pack the more I like to hike."

[vamelungeon]

If these people are having fun why does it matter to anyone else what they are carrying?

[moongoddess]

But the really good news is that they even set foot in the woods in the first place. So many Americans are WAY too scared ... and lazy. More good news is that the longer they stay in the woods, the more they'll realize they don't need to be so afraid.

So, I actually give them a lot of credit for venturing into the woods in spite of their ignorance and fears. Everyone has to start somewhere. I say good for them!

+1000! Our mass media constantly drums into us that we should be afraid, be very afraid, for danger lurks around every corner... And it's not just the news which does this. Just look at the various nature/outdoor programs on cable TV: they're full of frightening, dangerous animals, horrific weather, terrible accidents. They can make it seem that you must be "Survivorman" if you just want to just go for a safe walk in the woods. And these days not many people are growing up on farms or in very small towns, where nature is close by. Increasingly we're creatures of suburbia or the big city. Most people are understandably nervous about unfamiliar places. No wonder they try to bring all the amenities of civilization with them in their packs! The good news is that a little experience is enough to dispel a lot of fear.

[moongoddess]

If these people are having fun why does it matter to anyone else what they are carrying?

It doesn't. But in many cases, the people in question quickly stop having fun and leave the trail, and overly-heavy packs and/or inappropriate gear choices play a big part in that. Most people don't find it much fun to be cold, tired, and in pain. It's sad when someone's long-awaited vacation is spoiled needlessly.

[Blue Jay]

Except they are out there right now.

We are not.

I'm a bit envious.

Some of these people will drop out sure....

But others will flourish, have a good time and learn.

HEll, my own first trip was a mini-disaster, too. :O

Like to think I've become a more capable outdoors person since then.

Sure some of the people starting from Springer with their own "Rambo sized knife" will eventually thrive, too.

This is a great post. My question is why would anyone care at all what other people carry? I find it much more weird that this web site is sooooo absolutely obsessed with what some one else has on THEIR person. Not once in all the years I have hiked has someone asked me to carry their stuff, NOT ONCE.