Shakedown
INTRODUCTION: OUR CASE FOR ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING
IT'S SIMPLE PHYSICS
01: ULTRALIGHT BACKPACK
SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT GEAR
THAT CARRY SOME WEIGHT
02: SLEEPING BAGS + QUILTS
A GOOD NIGHT’S REST IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER PIECE OF BACKPACKING GEAR
03: STUFF SACKS + PODS
KEEPING MOISTURE AT BAY WHEN YOU STRUT YOUR STUFF
04: ULTRALIGHT
TENTS + SHELTERS
TAKE YOUR SHELTER AND GO HOME
05: SLEEPING PADS + PILLOWS
THE ONLY THINGS BETWEEN YOU AND THE COLD, HARD GROUND
If you’re the type of person that can fall asleep anywhere, or you have a propensity to push yourself in your chosen pursuits until you can fall asleep anywhere, you might not give much attention to sleep pads. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! A good sleep pad can help provide actual rest – a need as critical as any other piece of gear – as well as insulation from the cold ground. Arguments can be made for air mattresses or closed-cell foam, so we’ll let our panelists make them.
06: STOVES
A HIKER MARCHES ON THEIR STOMACH
07: KITCHEN COOKWARE
ACCESSORIES FOR THE CHIEF COOK AND BOTTLE WASHER
A trusted mug, pot, or spoon can be favorite pieces of gear in a backpacker’s kit. Despite discoloration from flames, dents, dings, and permanently burned in food, a good piece of cookware is often retirement-proof. In the realms of ultralight, a good item should be able to serve a few roles. Can it be used for eating food and your morning magic motion potion? Can it serve as a container for your stove and utensils when not in use? And how will this kitchen be carried? The selection of these essential bits can be easy to obsess over because at the end of a long day, few things in your pack will bring you as much joy.
08: HYDRATION VESSELS
LETTING THE GENIE OUT OF YOUR HYDRATION VESSEL
09: WATER TREATMENT
MOUTH WATERING HYDRATION TIPS
10: APPAREL
ANTS IN YOUR PANTS TO GET OUTSIDE (WITHOUT ACTUAL ANTS)
The right clothing setup can make or break your pursuits – simple as that. The wrong ensemble can absorb sweat and water, restrict movement, make you vulnerable to bug attacks, and smell like the contents of a fish monger’s laundry hamper cooked on high in a microwave. With the technological advancements available in today’s outdoor apparel market, it’s entirely possible to put together a wardrobe of super-versatile clothes that will do none of the above. But some of the oldest fabrics – like wool – can achieve the same outcomes. It all comes down to preferences, and our people in this Shakedown have theirs.
11: HEADLAMPS
CONSIDERATIONS IN LIGHT OF THE DARKNESS
12: MULTI-TOOLS
IF I HAD A HAMMER
13: TREKKING POLES
QUADRUPEDALISM – IS GOING BACKWARDS GOING FORWARDS?
One of the easiest ways to reveal where your pack and accessory weight is vs. your center of gravity is by hiking without trekking poles. On uneven ascents or descents, relying on balance alone – especially over extended mileage – can put unforeseen demands on muscles that can compound into real, sometimes debilitating pain over time. Trekking poles can give your moving mass stability, distribute joint stress, and give other muscles a chance to pitch into your momentum efforts. So, is the case for using them a slam dunk? Not necessarily. We’ll let everyone share their points.
14: HYGIENE
PROPER PLANNING FOR A CLEAN GETAWAY
There’s the “must’ve been out for a hike” scent, and then there’s the “thawed out from permafrost after a thousand years” aroma. Depending upon how long you’ve been out doing what you do, and how frequently you get a chance to wrastle a bar of soap, your presentation can be somewhat arresting. Inconsistent personal maintenance can also govern your ability to comfortably sleep and keep bacteria, viruses, or illness at bay. How does one achieve a modicum of freshness in the wild? It’s a personal thing we’re lucky our guests for this round of The Shakedown are willing to share.