Tags
backpacking, Camelbak, Camelbak All Clear, camping, head lamp, hiking, Nalgene, outdoors, platypus wine bladder, REI, wine
With all the gear we take outdoors, there are a few items we could afford to lose. Here are 5 items I ditched and why I moved on…
-
Lantern– I love my lantern! I’ve played hundreds of card games under it and carried it with me for miles on night hikes BUT I discovered something- the head lamp! I know, right?! It took that long for me to cave in but I love my head lamp! It is light weight and small, fitting perfectly into my front pocket of my backpack for easy, quick access.
-
Water Filter- When heading outdoors, we used to pack our MSR water filter and our Nalgene water bottle. Now I’ve ditched the water filter and the water bottle and went with the Camelbak All Clear. This is a water bottle with UV technology built in to filter your water, whether its tap, stream, or spigots. You can’t beat 2 in 1!
-
Excess Clothing– This always tops my list but its only because I had to learn the hard way! You don’t need clothing options- and you definitely don’t need more than 1 pair of jeans! Jeans are built to be durable- even if they get dirty, wear ’em again! This goes for sweatshirts, socks, t-shirts, and shoes as well- just bring what you need and call it a day!
-
Excess Food– Just like clothing, bring what you need! You don’t need to bring a grip of food- you may not even eat it and it may spoil! Just plan out your meals with a few extra power bars and you’ll be good to go!
-
Wine Bottle– Now calm down- I didn’t say WINE- I said wine BOTTLE! I was introduced to the Platypus Wine Preservation System (wine bladder) and its a-maze-ing-guh! I am a true wino and I absolutely love wine so I had to make sure I was getting a product that can store wine and not change the taste. This exceeded all my expectations and then some. It holds one bottle of wine (750 mL) and as you drink it, it collapses for an easy pack!
Are there any items that have casually left your backpack?
Girly Camping® 
with you on the headlamp – great for hiking but as for the jeans – it took you this long to leave those out of your pack? They are so heavy they would be the first to go! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I know, I know- but I love jeans! BUT we all live and learn 🙂
LikeLike
I learned the clothes one when I was around 14, only ever packed maybe one pair of extra socks, one pair of extra pants and an overshirt.
Though one thing that’s left my camp gear… Would have to be all my tackle (my camping trips usually are fishing trips) Where /i used to bring a tackle box, I just bring a small clip box that stores a few lures. The fishing rod won’t ever leave my gear though, means I can bring less food with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s my boyfriend- the fisherman. He rigged fishing string with a stick and a worm this past weekend to try to catch some trout. I told him he should bring a small tackle box with him after reading your comment!
LikeLike
It’s a good thing to keep in the camp gear just in case really. Though I used to camp and fish in Alaska so the fishing gear made it into the gear just in case I got lost in the woods. My fishing rod then could collapse and was a little smaller than say a normal umbrella so it could slip into a side pocket of my bag, my water bottle to the other side.
My knife for my camp gear went onto my belt loop because really I found it’s always good to have a nice knife when in the woods.
LikeLike
I totally agree. But why would you bring a jeans on a hiking trip. When it’s raining it takes ages to dry. I prefer quick drying clothes.
Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mesh my hiking posts with camping sometimes even though I don’t say so this was a mistake on my part and I was referring to packing jeans for camping while hiking your gear in.. but yes- jeans are heavy and having a quick drying clothes are light and super convenient 🙂
LikeLike
The first time I hiked on Ross Lake, I brought a UV water purifier. Stopped at a creek to fill my Nalgeen bottle, then tried to purify it, and … nothing. It just wouldn’t turn on. I thought the battery must have died, but it was still too new for that. One night I woke up and saw this weird glow, it was my purifier. For something as important as water, I don’t trust electronics and batteries. I’ve been using a Sawyer Mini filter, it’s 2 oz and cost me $25.
You can get little plastic diffusers to make your head lamp more like a lantern. 😉
I always bring more food than I expect to need, and an extra fuel canister. That way if I get lost or break my ankle or something, I’ll be a little better off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comment made me think our water filter would fail on us this weekend! Haha! Gotta always be prepared- right?!
LikeLike
So great! I love the UV filters, but I dont know if I trust anything in the backcountry that needs electricity to work. Just paranoid I guess. I always prefer anything I pump myself, or even gravity filters. As far as the clothes and the wine bladder, I agree completely. Excess clothes add weight so quickly, and really socks are the only thing I bring several pairs of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use the Sawyer Squeeze for just that reason – plus it’s LIGHT.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have been a head lamp enthusiast for years! The only thing is that everyone needs to have good head lamp etiquette to avoid shining light in each other’s eyes while talking… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would argue against bringing even one pair of jeans. They’re heavy and they don’t dry quickly. I’ve gotten to where I just bring two sets of synthetics and alternate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are the wine preservation packs reusable?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are! They are amazing! And the packaging does not affect the taste. I highly recommend if you’re a wine lover 🙂
LikeLike
Perfect!! I will definitely be investing in a few of these for my camping trip in the next few weeks!! Thanks! 😀
LikeLike
I love this. I always get excited when people ditch jeans and a pump filter.
LikeLike
Some good ideas there – I have been a ‘thrifty’ backpacking walker for many years – I just don’t get too many opportunities to do so these days.
I usually save old clothes for my backpacking adventures and burn them as I go, gradually lightening the pack. Some would simply wear the same clothes over and over again each day, but I find that a little too much. My clothing philosophy needs to change now though, with moves here in Australia to remove the campfire from the camping experience.
I struggled for years with the light inside the tent at night – the headlamp solved so many issues, as will the Kindle for reading material and associated weight.
I have always rationed my food for each day and packed it in such a way to reduce weight as much as possible. I have never taken wine though and don’t think I ever will. Maybe I should consider that as a way to use up my stock of 200 or so bottles lol.
Enjoying your posts – keep it up 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Food. I’ve learned to eat simpler meals that don’t require much prep. And I switched to a headlamp that uses small AAA batteries so I can ditch the handheld flashlight with the extra D batteries. That’s about a lb right there.
LikeLike
Have your boyfriend check out pen fishing rods. Lightweight and work great. Makes it easy to pack a fishing kit for any and all trips.
LikeLike
Oh, but you had me there at #1. Then #2 grabbed me. #5? I was a goner! Terrific post!
LikeLike