Page 65 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2019

T H E B IG 3

IN B AC K P AC K I N G

Shelter, Sleep System (bag & pad), Backpack

BRYANT HELGELAND OF MOUNTAIN PROVISIONS

ackpackers should always be concerned about the weight they
are carrying. Carrying less weight will allow you to hike farther,
Bfaster, more efficiently, and theoretically more comfortably. The
reason I say “theoretically” is because there is a ton of nuance to equa-
tion! Let’s clear up some terminology first.

Base Weight: The combined weight of everything on
your packing list excluding consumables (food, water, and fuel).
Consumables are excluded because they vary based on trip duration
and weather conditions.

Lightweight Backpacker: Carries a base weight
of less than twenty pounds.

Ultralight Backpacker: Carries a base weight of
less than ten pounds.

NOW FOR THE NUANCES…

Packs: Going light or ultralight comes with tradeoffs. Light and
ultralight packs can be very comfortable as long as you don’t over-
load them! True, a frame built into a pack adds weight but it also adds
the ability to carry heavier loads more comfortably. Once you start
stripping away the support structure of the pack, you are going to be
uncomfortable unless you can simultaneously drop the overall weight
you are carrying.

When you are pack shopping, have an ideal and
worst-case scenario in mind as to how much weight
you will be carrying. Make sure you try the pack on
and have it fitted with that amount of weight in the
pack. You want to get a realistic feel for how the pack
will feel with the load you plan on carrying. If you
already own most of the gear counting toward
your base weight, bring it to the shop with you.
If not, any properly equipped shop should be able
to simulate the weight with gear from the shop or
with weight bags and fillers.

As packs get lighter, they also get more stripped
down to save weight. First to go are interior
SHOWN ABOVE: A pack with internal sup-
port, extra padding and storage compartments and most exterior organizer pockets. Next,
RIGHT: An ultralight pack.
summer 2019 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 63