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Main Boards => Welcome => Topic started by: SteamyTea on 21:58:26, 12/02/20

Title: Hello
Post by: SteamyTea on 21:58:26, 12/02/20
Hello everyone.
I have been a day walker mainly, though have done a few longer ones in the past.
I am down in Penwith, that is the far end of the country where it rains all the time.
I am currently planning some longer walks, the hard way, with my home on my back.
So any advice on lightweight equipment is more than welcome.

Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 04:44:14, 13/02/20
Welcome from Aberdeenshire. I am not a lightweight walker, so will leave the advice to others.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: vghikers on 05:49:44, 13/02/20
Welcome from Manchester, we have a rainy reputation too apparently O0

We've always refined our kit over the years for light weight and performance that suits us, your choices will evolve too. Just post questions about specific things and ideas will be given.

Title: Re: Hello
Post by: titch22 on 06:58:20, 13/02/20
Welcome. My backpacking 'journey' started 16 months ago and I've learnt so much. As vghikers suggested, fire away with specifics. I'll help where I can and more experienced folk will too.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: richardh1905 on 07:47:15, 13/02/20
Welcome to the forum from Cumbria, Steam Tea.

I occasionally wild camp but am not a lightweight enthusiast. My advice would be to ask whether you really need to take a particular item. to choose things that are multi-purpose if at all possible, and to get a comfortable rucksack!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: gunwharfman on 09:25:08, 13/02/20
I try to be lightweight but without spending huge amounts of money. I think that the site www.outdoorlab.com is a good start and reference point, they have a section called ultralight. My rucksack is a 48L Osprey Exos, more than enough space for me. For sleeping I now think of it as a 'system,' so I have a groundsheet, then my choice is a tent or a bivi, my preference at the moment is a bivi, which is lighter than my tent. Then my mattress, the lightest and smallest one is a Thermarest Neo Air, which is best when I 'tent' a hike and a Thermarest Prolight which is best when I 'bivi' a hike. I use a down sleeping quilt, no back and no hood to it, compresses very small and is lightweight and am always very careful to not let it get wet.

My boots, the winter ones are Berghaus Superlights and the summer ones are Salomon Ultra X's, I'm happy with both.

When I'm hiking I try to work in twos, Two lightweight pairs of hiking trousers, both from Decathlon £7.99 each, perfect, comfortable and well made. I think they are £12.99 now? So easy to wash and dry. If I need warmth I just put on a pair of long johns, they also double up as sleeping wear.

I take and wear two pairs of Decathlon boxer underwear, £3.99 a pair, they are so so comfortable and super easy to wash and dry. I  take and wear two long-sleeved synthetic baselayers and have just bought two Columbia Silver Ridge hiking shirts (£25.00 each)  to compliment them. I haven't worn them yet. I then have a synthetic, not too thick, warm jacket from Alpkit and a full zip fleece Berghaus cardigan plus my most important top, my wind jacket. This year I've started to take my Rab Microlight jacket with me which I only wear first thing in the morning when I get out of my tent and when I'm settled for the evening, its one and only job is to keep me warm when I'm stationary.

I have a lightweight pair of Montane mittens and a £1.49 pair of gloves from Decathlon, they work well together. I also wear a wide-brimmed hat when it's hot but I also have a Lowe Alpine hat as well which keeps my ears warm.

For keeping dry I use a Champion long waterproof coat (£15 when I bought it) and a rain skirt, plus a pair of Rab Gaiters.

My routine with my clothes is to wear one and wash and dry one each day, all my routines are done when I camp for the evening, it works well for me.

Title: Re: Hello
Post by: SteamyTea on 13:17:41, 13/02/20
Thank you all for the welcomes.
Sun has actually come out today, I I am out walking.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Jac on 13:56:04, 13/02/20
Welcome from Devon - where the sun is currently out :) Nope, gone again :(

I've backpacked most of the SWCP though in short trips of 3-5 days. After the first trip I added a small gas stove (pocket rocket) and one pan for hot drinks otherwise SWCP allows for picking up food as you go. Different if you're attempting the Cape Wrath trail or similar.
Where do you intend your first trip to be?
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: SteamyTea on 14:24:01, 13/02/20
Not exactly a first trip, but as I am returning to hiking/camping after a rather long break, I thought I would do a few local trips to test the equipment and get fitter.
So probably the east side of the Lizard peninsular, and along the North Coast, east of St. Agnes (everywhere is just about east for me).
Though to be honest, I much prefer walking along quiet lanes and roads, just not keen on being run over.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: sunnydale on 15:29:42, 16/02/20
Hi ST & welcome from the Peak District O0


Tracey :)