How light do you travel?

[Cabrito]

Heavy!

For some reason whether we are on a weekender or a week long trip we carry most of the same crap. ( I don't mind if you call it crap) I think I carry a ton of stuff just because I can.

I have backpacked and done a bit of solo vehicle traveling and gone light and it was great. Now that I am with woman I tend to lean towards making sure she is comfortable so she will keep going. The kitchen to us is a necessity. Why bother cooking on my single burner backpacking stove if I have the space to have my dual burner camp stove?

It seems like the spare parts and recovery gear takes up a fair amount of space on their own, and then the water and spare fuel, tent, kitchen box, PETT toilet, chairs, Propane tank, firewood, ect. The list just goes on. Then there is the sleeping bag! What a space hog! Again, I say screw the backpacker mummy bag because there are two of us so we have a cheap double sized "van bag". We need to be warmer we throw on a blanket and use our bodies to keep warm. I only use my subzero bag when I am alone.

When I am alone I sleep in the truck so no tent, but when it's me her and the dog we have a pretty big tent. Back to my original point that If I have room in the SUV why should I just carry a small two person backpacker tent? She likes a tent that she can stand in and I like to give the dog her own space. Our tent is a little obnoxious, but it also has a dog door for the pooch.

I always try to go lighter but for some reason it just never works out. Set up is a breeze with two of us doing it and she knows where everything goes and in what order. We have it down. Setting up is part of the fun for me because it's a chance to use my toys.

And don't get me started on the ARB fridge. It just plain rocks and I hope to never go back to a cooler. I consider myself lucky to have found a cheap one on craigslist.

Bottom line is - "whatever floats your boat" or "to each his own" - It's all good! Just get out there!

 

[CSG]

Lance, you don't need to be so defensive! I'm only asking, not judging. Do you take me to be so thick-headed I can't fathom that different people have different needs, desires, expectations, etc.? Did I not preface my OP in such a manner as to recognize that?

Of course it's a personal thing, that's why I asked! I thought most responses didn't take it the way you seem to have so take it easy, we're all friends here. I'm not asking you to listen to *me* as to how *you* should camp, I'm asking all of you to tell me a little about what you carry and why. All I've said was I like to travel as light as possible and set up as small a camp as possible. That's *me*, not *you*.

 

[1leglance]

No worries...sorry if I am coming across defensive...it is just when a post uses a term like Crap and then talkes about being light and fast yet also talks about using a van with all the built in stuff......well it just sets a tone.
Again sorry that I came on strong...that is what suck about the web...as I was typing there was no anger or anything....just highlighting that your subject is a HUGE one and really there is no right or wrong.

Oh and one thing that is always with me no matter is a travel humidor...and we can all agree that is an vital bit of kit

 

[jeeppurz]

about this much...

 

[stevenmd]

Maybe it's getting older

Yeah, that about sums it up for me. It is more about comfort and enjoyment than about "roughing it". If I can't stand up straight in the morning why even bother? Maybe I should have been kinder and gentler to my body when I was younger... but those extreme mountain biking and skiing trips were sure a lot of fun!

 

[RHINO]

CSG, i didnt mean for my response to seem as a poke. i was noticing how your original starter seemed like a pack lightly kind of topic, but you also mentioned having all the stuff built in your van that those of us who dont have built in seems like a pain to haul around, so i wasnt sure where you wanted the thread to go.

i really pack across the board, i mean sometimes i go out real light and minimal, sometimes i go out with almost everything i own,,,, but i guess mostly its a conservative load.
i have the ability to cook real food from scratch while out so theres the cooking stuff, witch includes cast iron dutch ovens.
i enjoy astronomy so i take at least one telescope out.
i am really getting into photography now so i now have a camera rig and all that crap.
then theres the furniture,,, chair, hammock and cot.

i would say my average load would be about the size of a box a dishwasher comes in, add to that extras like a telescope or whatever and you get the idea that i pack a pretty underfull tacoma truck bed for example. and the whole family of four of us can go out comfortably with everything we need in the bed and i can still see out the back window.

 

[CSG]

I'll often take a telescope as I'm an amateur astronomer too. However, it's a TeleVue Pronto (70mm refractor) more often than not. But even more often it's my 10x30 Canon IS binoculars.

I also usually take a camera but most often a P&S instead of my Nikon D90.

And on the van thing, it's a Westy built on a Ford instead of a VW. Getting an average of 17-18 MPG on the road makes it an economical rig (more or less). The fact that it has onboard water, stovetop, fridge, heat etc. means it makes less impact where I camp than if I were to set up a tent, and put a lot of gear all over. Best camping rig I've ever had.

One thing I've noticed in a lot of the photos is that a number of folks in them were in organized campgrounds of one type or another. I can't remember the last time I stayed in a campground but that easy around these parts to avoid.

 

[Mtn Mike]

Hey folks, I'm new to expo but not new to camping and outdoors. Great forum by the way.

This thread made me smile because this isn't a new question. In my experience campers can be divided into two schools: those that camp because they enjoy the outdoors, those that camp because they enjoy their camping gear I too have watched in awe as an overnight camper unloads several hundred pounds of gear for a 15 hour stay at a local campground. Wouldn't it be easier to get an RV? I am also in awe of those of you who set out on a 5 day trip in the wilderness with merely a 30 lb pack on your back.

Me personally, I think I fall on the side of bringing “too much”, wanting to always follow my Boy Scout instincts to be prepared for anything. Do what makes you comfortable, safe, and happy! :coffeedrink:

 

[1leg]

I usually just take a towel, just in case I suddenly get beamed somewhere

Now that was funny, :xxrotflma:xxrotflma:xxrotflma

 

[craig333]

I've been backpacking with guys who drill holes in their toothbrush to save an extra gram. Never been me. I'm the guy who people come to when they forgot something, ran out of something or whatever.

It does really depend on the trip. Of course a lot of gear is stashed in the camper permanently so going lite means do I add the extra gear. A quick overnighter probably not. A real "camping" trip I don't mind taking a lot of stuff.

I look at camping as vacationing at a resort. I have a five star view why not eat well too? I see no reason to suffer. Been there done that. Now I'd rather eat and sleep well.

I've timed myself. Even with the bbq, stove, table, chair and all the other camping gear, I can break camp in twenty minutes.

I'm sure a lot is age related too. When I was 18 I could curl on a bed of rocks and be comfy. I used to love to just toss my bag on the ground and watch the stars at night.
The fact that I froze my butt off, woke up with a hundred mosquito bites, drank god awful coffee and ate horrendous food from a tin cup didn't bother me. For better or worse I don't do that anymore. I love hearing the heater kick on at night knowing I'll sleep well and no bugs are chewing on my feet.

 

[Christophe Noel]

We travel very light. If I'm bikepacking or alpineering I can go 3-5 days with less than 30 pounds of kit. If I'm backpacking I bump that up to maybe 40 pounds. When we're car camping, we obviously take more stuff, but it's usually still a very lean bit of kit. The whole load would easily fit in the trunk of a sedan. In fact, 90% of our gear load fits in the back seats of our Disco leaving the entire rear cargo area for our pooch.

I will never be that guy with 500 pounds of gear and a full blown car camping compound. If I can't pitch it and break it down in 30 minutes, it's too much junk. I will also never travel with that guy. I hate watching someone spent half of their adventure time loading and unloading their rig.

 

[CSG]

When I brought up the age thing where I'm concerned (I'm 59), I find that I have come full circle to when I was a kid. I won't sleep on the ground if I can avoid it and I won't go when it's too hot or too cold but what I meant was that the older I get after doing the RV thing for so many years in order to please my wife, less is now more for me. A simple campsite and simple food allows me to get more out of the journey and the places I go. In other words, I spend more time focusing on being in the place than dealing with gear. I have more time to enjoy my surroundings. But this is what I do when solo. If my wife comes, it's the damn 5th wheel and too much stuff and guess who does all the work? We also don't go to the back country (can't with that set-up) we go on vacation.

After a two month trip to the great lakes in 2007 with the kids I'd had enough of that sort of travel. Not that we didn't have fun after all was said and done but it's not my sort of traveling.

Be careful who you marry.

 

[Radio]

What an interesting thread! In my few years on this planet, I have gone from the ultra-minimal minded camper (never did put holes in my toothbrush to save weight, I just did not take it!) to a full blown family of 4 (wife and two girls...:Wow1 camping, which really really really really really really adds weight. By myself, I think I come across in the middle somewhere. I value being able to break camp down in less than 1/2 hour. That is a must. I hate waiting for people to take a day to set-up and tear down when you've only spent a few hours in camp.
As for food, I've come from the cardboard paste rations to haute cusine. The way I look at it now (age and maturity does funny things to you), I got all night to cook. I enjoy cooking, why not take advantage of the time you've gotten? Really, it is not so hard to prepare an excellent meal with a few well thought out ingrediants, make it spectacular with minimal kitchen equipment, while enjoying libations and chatter with my fellows around the campfire.
My dog and I travel light, usually sleeping the the rig... for the girls, when they come, we have a Fleetwood E1 tent trailer. Looks good, goes many places and keeps the girls happier. Although, with more people comes more gear and food...
I always try to pack enough, not too much. Yes, it pays to be prepared, always remember what you forgot or needed and throw out things you never use. Easier said than done.
Well, that's my 2 cents worth!
Cheers mates!

 

[targa88]

I suppose that it is all relative. A friend once said to me: "Why do you insist on living like a homeless person?"
I agree with CSG, I don't want to sleep on the ground, in the mud or wet - buffeted by the elements. Hence I have organized my rig in such a way that I can sleep inside.
I prefer to stay away from traditional campsites (too many folks/crowded) - what I really enjoy is the remote locations, that I can travel to in my rig and appreciate the scenery, the peace and quiet of a sunset/sunrise.
A long time ago( 20yrs +) I understood that my wife would never follow down that path and that will not change - 5 star hotel is her idea of camping. So we each do our own thing - which works out fine.
So I take what I need - expedition checklist - to make sure I don't forget anything. Lighter, smaller, more compact is the motto. Organization is key and understanding your capabilities/limitations. Another fundamental, is I never travel alone. Always have a buddy, which means some redundancies but minimal duplication
However, I also believe that you need not suffer while travelling. Bedding should be comfortable. Enjoy the food you prepare/eat - definitely not C-rations. Especially enjoy the Cobb BBQ.
Finally be prepared for eventualities - tools for regular maintenance/repairs not a garage mechanic full.
Most expeditions entail more on road mileage than offroad - maximum time away 2 weeks (at least until I retire!)

 

[EMrider]

At my current stage in life, my priorities are comfort and safety. Thankfully, that is compatible with getting out into the middle of nowhere.

I've usually got 1-3 of my own kids with me and often 2-3 others with friends. So, a comfortable and enclosed sleeping area is key. Ditto easy access to food and water for washing/cleaning.

The SMB was the best combination of comfort and off-the- beaten-path access I could find.

Being older with kids I've also found the minimalist approach is less and less appealing. Worked fine in my 20s, but now I'm happy to admit that I enjoy having some luxuries readily available when I camp. A comfy seat, warm bed, good food and cold beer at the end of the day and darn nice to have.

In 5-10 years my pendulum will probably swing back towards the survivalist side of things. For me it is just about getting away, how does not matter so much.

R