The better backpacking guide
In this four-part series with expert tentmaker Hilleberg, our equipment editor and long-distance walking legend Chris Townsend explains key aspects of backpacking. In this final instalment, he looks at how to approach the balance between weight and other considerations – what Hilleberg calls ‘smartpacking’
PART FOUR: HOW TO MASTER ‘SMARTPACKING’
TO ENJOY BACKPACKING you need to be as comfortable as possible both when walking and when camping. This means compromises are necessary when selecting your gear.
With a minimum of ultralight gear you may be very comfortable on the trail, but not so happy in camp. But if you take heavy gear for camp, walking may be painful due to the weight of your pack. The former may be acceptable if you’re going for fast times and high mileage, the latter if you’re only a walking a short distance to a camp where you’ll stay a few days; but for most backpacking a middle way is best so you can be reasonably comfortable all the time. It’s all too easy to suffer unnecessarily.
Whilst cutting any unnecessary weight is always a good idea it’s the big items – pack, shelter, sleep system, cooking gear – that make up most of the weight. If there’s a choice between two items that perform the same I’d always go for the lighter one. Solo hikers have the most difficulty in compromising between weight and comfort, and they can’t share items. Duos and groups can often split tents (poles, pegs, inner tent and outer tents) and cooking gear (stove, pots, fuel) between them.
Here I’m going to outline how I approach key aspects of my backpacking setup, with added advice from Hilleberg on how this advice relates to its products.
Hilleberg adds: With Hilleberg tents, traditional splitting of components – outer tent and inner tent – takes away the advantage of the connected outer and inner tents: the whole tent goes up together for a very quick and easy set-up. It is better to have one person carry the full tent and another carry the poles and pegs. Even out any weight discrepancies by allocating other group gear and/or food.
■ PACK
A pack needs to be big enough to easily hold all your gear and comfortable with the weight you’ll be carrying. Ultralight packs are great with ultralight loads but usually unsupportive with heavier ones. I’d always go for comfort when choosing a pack. Cutting weight doesn’t make up for sore shoulders, hips or backs.
■ SHELTER
The key with your shelter is that it should be capable of standing up to the expected weather. An ultralight tent may be fine for lowland summer camping but unsuitable and even potentially dangerous for mountain camping in winter. Then there’s space. Can you sit up, stretch out, store all your gear, cook in the porch in bad weather? For short trips a tent without much room may be tolerable to keep the weight down. For long trips I’d rather have more space and a little more weight. Hilleberg adds: Be honest about what margin of safety you’re fully comfortable with in your shelter choice. Some people are fine using a tarp yearround; others feel the need for a tent. The stronger your shelter, the more margin of safety you have in case something goes wrong (unexpected weather, injury, getting stuck out longer than expected, etc.). Hilleberg Black Label tents offer the greatest margin of safety because they are built to handle the most demanding conditions in all seasons. Red Label tents are also all-season models, and they are lighter, but they do sacrifice some safety margin (and some comfort). Yellow Label tents, which are built for snow-free use, are even lighter; and while they are very strong, they do not offer the same safety margin as the Black or Red Label tents.
■ SLEEP SYSTEM
A warm night’s sleep is essential for enjoying a trip. Shivering through a long night (they’re always long when you’re cold) is miserable. And hiking the next day when you’re tired is dispiriting and could be hazardous if you can’t concentrate. For a good night’s sleep a sleeping bag and sleeping mat both need to be warm enough for the lowest likely temperatures. For comfort a thick inflatable mat is a good idea, though this isn’t necessary for warmth. Hilleberg adds: Look at your gear as a whole, rather than a bunch of stuff you assemble. How do your layers work together? If you put on all the clothes you have, will you be able to weather the worst conditions you’ll encounter? Will your shelter and sleep system keep you comfy in the worst conditions? Keep in mind that ‘comfort’ is not a luxury; it’s the measure of how good (or bad) you’ll feel while you’re out, and it’s tied to your overall safety.
■ COOKING
This is perhaps more personal than the other choices as it all depends on what you like to eat. If you’re happy eating quick-cook one-pot dried meals, a tiny stove and a small pot are all that’s required. If that thought makes you shudder and you’re prepared to carry the extra weight of fresh food and do more complex cooking, then larger pots – maybe even a frying pan – will be worth the weight.
■ CLOTHING
Clothing is an area where it’s easy to take more than you need. Other than socks and underwear, duplicate items aren’t needed. Garments should all fit over each other so if it’s exceptionally cold you can wear them all. Hilleberg adds: Balance the needs and the wants. When you’re out backpacking, you won’t have all the comforts of home (that’s part of the fun of being in the backcountry) but calculate what’s important
to you. Adding 200g (or more) for extra comfort that will make your trip better (remember it’s your trip, NOT someone else’s) is good value for weight. Don’t be afraid to carry the pillow! A good night’s sleep means a better trip no matter what.
■ OTHER ITEMS
Other items can be divided into the essential – e.g. map, compass, head torch, first aid kit – and the optional – e.g. camera, books. The latter may be regarded as essential by many (including me) even though they’re not needed for hiking or camping. But remember the aim is enjoyment so a few luxuries are a good idea. Hilleberg adds: How often have you been out and someone is snacking on a nice bit of Stilton, drinking some wine, and cooking up a piece of steak while you’re ‘enjoying’ your freeze-dried spaghetti Bolognese? How often are you squirming your butt in the dirt while your campmate pulls out a chair and sits back with a sigh of contentment? Neither the Stilton/steak/chair camper nor the freeze-dried butt squirmer are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – although there is, sadly, an undercurrent of conventional ‘outdoor wisdom’ that says the important metric for success on a trip is more about the ‘suck factor’ than the fun quotient. How you pack is up to you. At the same time, choose wisely. That’s what we mean by ‘smartpacking’.