How much is a pound worth to you?

[Ginger.Snap]

So the other day I was looking around, comparing and finding all the best gear that I can’t afford right now. (As I’m sure lots of you do as well) I found that for about $100 I could drop almost a pound off of my base weight by upgrading my tarp. At first my inner backpacker was extatic “A whole pound!!!! And it will only cost $100 minus shipping!!!!!” Then my inner party pooper came in and said “woah woah woah, $100 for a pound? How can you justify that?” Then I got to wondering how much the rest of you would spend to shave a pound off your baseweight, or how much have you spent in the past to drop a pound?

[Mr. Bumpy]

Depends what your base weight is, I suppose. If you spent 100 to get a 35 lb rig down to 34, I'd think that is too much. But supposing your base is 20 lbs, then that would be a different question in my mind.

[MuddyWaters]

$50/ ounce isnt uncommon under 10 lbs

Your to point where only $$$ ul shelters and quilts and packs are going to save much by gear swapping.

[soumodeler]

I would LOVE to be able to pay $100 and drop a pound off my base weight. Unfortunately, to drop a pound at this point is more like $1000+.

My summer base weight is already under 8 lbs, and the only places I would consider change are the tent and sleeping pad. I already have a ZPacks Duplex and a Thermarest NeoAir, and I could save weight by switching to a Plexamid and an UberLite for a grand total of 7 ounces saved for $730. Not worth it to me. I would be better served by leaving my pillow and camp shoes at home for $0 and 8.3 ounces saved. That's not happening though!

I played the ultralight game for several years, buying the lightest I could afford that fit my needs, and especially as I prepared for my thru hike attempt I was constantly trying to go lighter and lighter. After getting almost to the stupid light category, I realized I had stopped gaining anything from it and was actually making my trips LESS enjoyable. There were several items I left at home to save weight that I really didn't need, but would have made life more enjoyable on the trail. Things like a sit pad, camp shoes, and the pillow. I quickly realized that I was willing to carry the extra weight for comfort items. And the second realization was that under 12-13 pounds base weight, I really didn't notice the difference anyways. And as the temps get cooler, I become more willing to carry more comfort items on trips.

I still prefer ultralight gear when it fits my needs and budget, as I can then more easily carry comfort items.

As I am adding comfort items back to my pack, I am also better learning to only carry the consumables that I really need. I have a bad habit of over packing food, especially for the first day. I NEVER eat it all. I am slowly learning to cut down on it (not to a low calorie intake level, but just food I know I will not eat) and lightening my food weight.

I also used to carry 2 full liters of water leaving a water source or starting out, but there may have been 10 creeks in the next 10 miles. I don't need that much water if there are that many sources. So I started only carrying the water I actually needed.

And finally, I realized that no matter what my pack base weight is, I need to lose about 40 pounds from my body's base weight. Me losing weight will have way more impact on my hiking than any gear swap.

[Tipi Walter]

I've paid significantly more than a $100 to increase my pack weight---and no one mentions this. A heavy pack to haul more weight, a heavier winter sleeping bag, heavier boots with microspikes---overall more weight to stay out longer.

[JC13]

I'm looking at a ballpark of $1500-1750 to drop 1.5lbs off my winter solo baseweight. $100 for a pound would be awesome at this point.

[ant]

So the other day I was looking around, comparing and finding all the best gear that I can’t afford right now. (As I’m sure lots of you do as well) I found that for about $100 I could drop almost a pound off of my base weight by upgrading my tarp. At first my inner backpacker was extatic “A whole pound!!!! And it will only cost $100 minus shipping!!!!!” Then my inner party pooper came in and said “woah woah woah, $100 for a pound? How can you justify that?” Then I got to wondering how much the rest of you would spend to shave a pound off your baseweight, or how much have you spent in the past to drop a pound?

I'm not quite ultralight, but I still think saving a whole pound would most certainly be worth $100 to me. It's much like going from say 600 fill down sleeping bag to an 850-950fp quilt. Well, not quite like that, but an easy 2 pound savings for around $200. No brainer.

[Five Tango]

I just paid $65 to lose 5 oz.Worth it because what I replaced is now not only lighter but smaller and much more packable.

[AllDownhillFromHere]

Many people quote $10/oz, so there's that.
But if you have gear that works, why?

[Dogwood]

It's narrow minded, myopic, and stupid light to drop the wt one carries by looking at just gear. And especially so in the context of personal finances. In short, one doesn't always accomplish goals by throwing money at it through gear purchases.

Unless one is very advanced and diversified in their personal SUL/UL backpacking/hiking being open to different logistical resupply agendas, hiking time frames, safely reducing UNNECESSARY consumable wt and bulk , as well as examining other avenues for reducing one's load out it may take nothing but knowledge and wisdom to reduce 1 -2 lbs. Soumodeler gave several examples. He's more aware and soberly evolved in knowing how and when to get lighter if and when he might choose. He demonstrates a broader vision of safely lowering pack wt.

[Back on the trail]

I've been taking a different approach to cutting weight. My stocking for christmas last year had new tent pegs in it. Half the weight of the stock ones. I was given a MSR stove. I bought a little nano stove - way less than half the weight. In the beginning it was easy, now not so easy. replaced 40 Degree mummy bag with 20 degree quilt -weight savings yup. Taking less food these days with more re supplies - No more seven days planned with one extra meal just in case. I'm not going to cut my tooth brush in half nor am i going to sleep under a tarp - I prefer a enclosed tent. The other thing to remember is when you have an extra 300 bucks you'll spend that 100 to save a bit of weight, but when you dont have the 100 its really hard to think about spending it. Do what you want. i've seen a group of three carry a six man tent. they all carried a different section of it on any given day - why - they liked the space it gave them.

[evyck da fleet]

If the tarp needs replacing I’d probably do it. If not, I’d hike more. It’s free and I can usually drop about five pounds off of me before a trip.

If I’m under 25 lbs, everything included, I’m comfortable and won’t hike much faster by dropping a pound. Though I’m not sure I always save a pound as sometimes a comfort item finds its way into my back and the weights stays the same

[Dogwood]

How much is a pound worth to you?

When asking this question it should be asked and answered in context of where we individually have evolved as hikers which includes our kits, skills, awareness, etc. When it's not it's a strong indicator one can still remove 1-2 lbs without spending high sums of or perhaps any money. This awareness of where one has been, where he or she is at, and where one might be headed on this evolutionary exponential curve is also shown in BackOnthe Trail's statement, "In the beginning it was easy, now not so easy. This is often significant in terms what one is willing to pay to reduce a lb and how one sees the significance - or lack thereof - in the difference a lb MIGHT make.

[MuddyWaters]

Well, one pound wont make a difference

But 10 will

First few are free
Next are cheap
Only the last couple get pricey

Necessary? Nope.
But if you got the money , and knowledge to use UL gear, so what.
Dont let anyone tell you how to spend your money.

And if someone is intelligent enough to buy right the first time, even with he most expensive ul gear.....they come out way cheaper than the endless incremental upgrade route most take. Increasingly common today to start out light thanks to internet and zpacks and EE

[cliffordbarnabus]

pack heavy. it'll make you stronger.

[Malto]

For many a pound is free. If you pare down the unnessary gear it doesn’t cost a cent. Once that is done then it gets increasingly expensive. For me, how much I spend is almost irrelevant. I wouldn’t spend a penny at this point to drop weight if it involves swapping out gear. For gear replacement due to wear then I generally replace with a similiar item. Am I paying more for my lightweight gear choices on the replacement? Likely, but gear is such a small part of my hiking cost it is almost rounding error. I spend more on running/trail running shoes than the rest of my gear combined but transportation is my largest expense.

[cmoulder]

For many a pound is free. If you pare down the unnessary gear it doesn’t cost a cent. Once that is done then it gets increasingly expensive. For me, how much I spend is almost irrelevant. I wouldn’t spend a penny at this point to drop weight if it involves swapping out gear. For gear replacement due to wear then I generally replace with a similiar item. Am I paying more for my lightweight gear choices on the replacement? Likely, but gear is such a small part of my hiking cost it is almost rounding error. I spend more on running/trail running shoes than the rest of my gear combined but transportation is my largest expense.

Well put!

And there's the sheer joy of carrying a light load and a simple, efficient kit. Can't put a price tag on that.

[ant]

It's narrow minded, myopic, and stupid light to drop the wt one carries by looking at just gear. And especially so in the context of personal finances. In short, one doesn't always accomplish goals by throwing money at it through gear purchases.

Unless one is very advanced and diversified in their personal SUL/UL backpacking/hiking being open to different logistical resupply agendas, hiking time frames, safely reducing UNNECESSARY consumable wt and bulk , as well as examining other avenues for reducing one's load out it may take nothing but knowledge and wisdom to reduce 1 -2 lbs. Soumodeler gave several examples. He's more aware and soberly evolved in knowing how and when to get lighter if and when he might choose. He demonstrates a broader vision of safely lowering pack wt.

One would argue you are being myopic in this particular case. If the OP can drop 1 whole lb with the purchase of a different tarp then the rest of what you have to say is just a rant against people who UL.

We get it, but it's not a relevant statement in this particular case. It is very conceivable that the OP purchased a tarp from Amazon or Walmart and it is unnecessarily heavy. This happens a lot with budget gear.

It's not as if unwanted gear goes to the trash. There's a huge market for used gear and gear may be repurposed for say car camping use or kept as a loaner to get others into the hobby.

[illabelle]

...And finally, I realized that no matter what my pack base weight is, I need to lose about 40 pounds from my body's base weight. Me losing weight will have way more impact on my hiking than any gear swap.

Yep, that's where I need to drop the pounds. Those pounds are free!

[CalebJ]

One would argue you are being myopic in this particular case. If the OP can drop 1 whole lb with the purchase of a different tarp then the rest of what you have to say is just a rant against people who UL.

We get it, but it's not a relevant statement in this particular case. It is very conceivable that the OP purchased a tarp from Amazon or Walmart and it is unnecessarily heavy. This happens a lot with budget gear.

It's not as if unwanted gear goes to the trash. There's a huge market for used gear and gear may be repurposed for say car camping use or kept as a loaner to get others into the hobby.

Dogwood didn't suggest ignoring gear. Just that it should be considered as part of a big picture approach that unites gear weight with nutrition, personal weight, cost, etc.