copyright © 2010 by walter r. underwood. all rights reserved. permission granted for scouting units...

Copyright © 2010 by Walter R. Underwood. All rights reserved.

Permission granted for Scouting units to copy or use this material, in whole or in part, so long as attribution is given. Others please contact the author.

Lightweight Gear for Scouts

Walter UnderwoodAsst. Scoutmaster, Troop [email protected]

Lightweight Gear – Nov. 2010 Slide 3

Why Go Lightweight?• Safer than heavyweight

• Fewer injuries• Tired leaders are not good leaders

• Cheaper• Less gear• Simpler gear

• 20 pounds is a lot for a Tenderfoot• 25% of body weight!

• More fun!


What is Lightweight?Pack Weight

Base Weight

Traditional 30-40 Over 20

Lightweight 20-30 Under 20

Ultralight 10-20 Under 10

Superultralight (SUL) Under 10 Under 5

• Definitions:• Pack weight: with food, water, fuel• Base weight: only non-consumables

Eight Days in the Sierras• 18 lbs personal gear• 4 lbs crew gear

• Crew first aid kit (1.5 lbs)• 2m ham radio• Stove and fuel

• 10 lbs food• 4 lbs water• 36 lbs

• Plus, 6 pounds luxury• Chair, camera, book



How to Lighten Up?1. Enough gear to be safe, comfortable, and

confident (depends on skill and planning).

2. Know the actual weight of each item.

3. Use multipurpose items.

4. Consider the heaviest items first.

5. Use the smallest items that will meet your needs.

6. Choose gear that is lightweight, useful, sturdy, and dependable.


The Big Three• About half of base weight is in three areas:

• Pack• Shelter• Sleep system (bag + pad)

• Also your most expensive gear

• Traditional: 3 to 5 pounds each

• Lightweight: under 3 pounds each

• Ultralight: under 2 pounds each


Pack Advice• Big enough for your stuff (does your

sleeping bag fit?)

• 55-65 liters (3400-4000 in3) is plenty

• Must be comfortable

• Try it on with 25-30 pounds and walk around

• More rigid frame is easier to pack

• Pockets, zippers, and straps add weight

• Ultralight fabrics may be too fragile for boys

• More and lighter choices with internal frame


How to Make Packs Lighter• Get rid of:

• Pockets• Zippers• Straps and buckles• Lid

• Use less-rigid frame (or no frame)

• Use less or lighter padding on hipbelt/straps

• Use non-adjustable frame

• Use lighter fabrics


Packs at 5, 3, and 2 pounds


Example PacksBag Liters Weight Price

Gregory Baltoro 70 70 5-9 $290

Kelty Coyote 4750 78 5-1 $160

REI Ridgeline 65 65 4-4 $200

Gregory Z55 55 3-5 $200

REI Flash 65 65 3-2 $150

Six Moon Designs Starlite 65 1-14 $175

Gossamer Gear G4 65 1-0 $135


Sleeping Bag and Pad• Bag keeps you warm from the cold air

• Pad keeps you warm from the cold ground

• Pad cushions the hard, lumpy ground

• Trapped air (“loft”) is insulation

• Mummy shape is much lighter and warmer

• 3-season bag (15º–25ºF)


Sleeping Bag Trivia• 600 fill down is same weight as synthetic, more

expensive, but packs smaller• 800+ fill down is expensive (over $350)• PrimaLoft packs like down (almost)• Smaller bag allows a smaller pack• Half the weight is in fabric and zipper• Most of the cost is in sewing• Check if the zipper gets caught• Some bags are skinny (and lighter), try it on!


Example Sleeping BagsBag Rating Weight Price

Coleman Crescent 15 +15°F 4-4 $50

Marmot Trestles 15 +15°F 3-14 $100

Kelty Light Year XP 20 +20°F 3-5 $120

Marmot Axiom 25 +25°F 2-12 $140

The North Face Cats Meow +20°F 2-10 $150

The North Face Orion +20°F 2-8 $190

Marmot Helium (850 down) +15ºF 1-15 $370


Sleeping Pads• Best bets:

• Closed-cell foam (blue Ensolite®)• Z-Lite (folding waffle foam)

• Try it in the store for comfort

• ¾ length is probably enough

• Self-inflating are expensive

• Air pads are a big bother (blow up, deflate)

• Ideal for Scouts: Z-Lite Small, $30, 10 oz.


How to Make a Lighter Tent• Make it as simple as possible

• Get rid of:• Inner tent• Floor• Bug netting• Poles

• Use trekking poles for support

• Use ultralight fabrics: silnylon, cuben


Lightweight Pyramid Shelter

Black Diamond Betamid, 2 lbs. 10 oz, $99


Ultralight Pyramid Shelter

Mountain Laurel Designs Speedmid, 1 lb. 4 oz., $185


Example TentsBag Weight Price

REI Half Dome 2 5-8 $180

REI Quarter Dome T2 4-8 $270

Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 3-14 $200

Black Diamond Betamid 2-10 $100

Black Diamond Beta Light 1-8 $180

Mountain Laurel Speedmid 1-4 $185

8x10 silnylon tarp 0-14 $110


The Big Three: ShowdownPack Shelter Sleep Total Cost

Kelty CoyoteREI Half DomeMarmot Trestles 15

5-1 2-14 4-4 12-3 $459

REI Flash 65BD Beta LightTNF Cats Meow

3-2 1-7 3-4 7-13 $408

SMD StarliteMLD SpeedmidTNF Cats Meow

1-14 0-11 3-4 5-13 $505

Therm-a-Rest Z-lite pad used for all choices.Half of the weight used for the shelter (two person tents).Floorless shelter weights include 2 oz. for personal groundsheet.


Lightweight Stuff That Works• Eating

• Plastic bowl• Lexan spoon• Cup (optional)

• Raingear• Equinox silnylon poncho, 8 oz, $45• Frogg Toggs Pro Action rainsuit, 17 oz, $50• ULA rain wrap, 3 oz, $25


More Light Stuff That Works• Platypus water reservoirs

• Soda bottles (a Nalgene weighs 6 oz)

• Aqua Mira water treatment ($15 for 120 liters)

• Polycryo ground cloths ($8 pair, 1.5 oz ea.)

• Photon micro light

• Petzl Zipka headlamp

• Milk jug basin


Stuff You Don’t Need• Extra shirts, shorts, and pants (wear BSA

zipoffs)• Big knife• Plate, fork• One multi-tool per person• Camp shoes (hike in comfortable shoes)• Water filter (use tablets or Aqua Mira)• Daypack (your pack is already light)• Extra anything• Duplicate crew gear, like big first aid kits, …


Ultralight Suppliers• backpackinglight.com• gossamergear.com• ula-equipment.com• sixmoondesigns.com• granitegear.com• integraldesigns.com• golite.com• www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarp.htm• thru-hiker.com (also has kits and fabric)• zpacks.com• www.trailcooking.com (freezer bag cooking)• backpackinglight.com (articles, gear)


Discounts on Gear• Campmor, sales, 10% Scout discount (call)

• Sports Basement 10% Scout discount

• Sierra Trading Post (closeouts)

• altrec.com (closeouts)

• REI Used Gear Sale, first Saturday of every month, 10am, show up early


References• Lighten Up, Don Ladigan & Mike Clelland

• The Complete Walker IV, Fletcher & Rawlins

• My Sierra gear list:http://wunderwood.org/most_casual_observer/2009/08/gear_list_for_the_emigrant_and.html

copyright © 2010 by walter r. underwood. all rights reserved. permission granted for scouting units...

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