Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat…

I love - and I mean LOVE - looking at people’s packing lists. Or watching “What is in my pack” videos. Or stalking friends’ gear.

Why? Because no matter how long you have been bushwalking, you never stop learning. There is always someone that has useful tips that you can use to make your own life easier.

For instance, on our Western Arthurs trip, Grahame had a soft collapsible cup which he used to catch tiny drops of much needed water falling off some rocks. I already had heaps of these cups from trail running races, but never thought to take them bushwalking. On our Pokana Peak trip with some of our regular walking buddies Simon and Jess, I noticed they had these really cool 1L and 2L collapsible bladders.

Sometimes it’s different ideas and tips for food. On our Federation Peak trip I noticed Becca (aka Rockmonkey Adventures) eating boiled eggs multiple days into the trip. I had never thought that boiled eggs, kept in-shell, could last more than a day out the fridge.

Of course, you also see people pulling out the most weird and wonderful stuff from their packs. I once saw a young fellow pull multiple giant cans of baked beans with a equally giant (and heavy!) kitchen saucepan at Tahune Hut along the Frenchmans Cap Track that made me chuckle. Like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat, you never quite know what someone is going to dig out.

Small Collapsible Cup

Keep one in your pocket for catching drips of water or collecting from tiny pools.

Individual bladders.

Love that these come in various sizes and collapse to almost nothing when not in use.

A lot of time, effort and expense goes into selecting appropriate gear for a trip and each trip differs. The weather can completely alter what goes into my pack, as can terrain, the length of the trip, what number of walkers are coming along (ie. potential to share gear) and so many other variables. Bender and I both have pretty standard pack lists to start with, then we swap gear in or out that is specific to the trip we are planning. It might be as simple as extra gloves in winter, or extra sunscreen and water carrying capacity in summer. It could be taking a stronger tent for snowy conditions or warmer sleeping bag. And always, there is that fine line to balance between having everything you need but not overloading your pack.

A little luxury!

I will admit, I like a few luxuries. I take a small battery powered mattress pump, as I figure for 70g it saves me time and effort (and sore lungs and dizziness!) at camp. It also helps to keep condensation out of the innards of my sleeping mat, helping to avoid mould and extend its life.

I also like a protein shake at camp after a big day’s walking. The powder mix isn’t particularly light, but it helps my muscles recover quickly and keeps me going on multiday trips. We are lucky enough to own some pretty good gear - it’s light, durable and fit for purpose. Yes, I could still lighten my pack by taking out my few luxuries but then I would probably be miserable and “ain’t nobody got time for that!”

Don’t judge the junk! I tend to lose weight on trips so try to max out the calories with scroggin, olive oil and cliff bars.

I have just finished packing for an 8-day trip to the Denison Ranges and The Spires. Mind you, as I write this, the area we wanted to visit is experiencing snow and torrential rain. It is the sort of area we might only visit once in our lifetime, so we want views from our summits and a safe, mostly comfortable experience. This trip might turn into a couple of shorter missions instead over the 8 days we have off work. Given pretty much the whole state is having an early autumn cold shock, I have adjusted my pack accordingly.

Given the rain and cold, I am taking 4 pairs of gloves (I hate cold hands), an extra warm layer plus thermal bottoms and a thermal top for walking and an extra set for camp/sleeping. I am also taking a light weight day pack instead of my usual Solomon vest. As it is a multiday trip and I am trying to reduce weight, the lighter Denali stuffable summit pack will suffice. I could use my actual big pack as a day pack, but I prefer a smaller one. Extra gloves and warm layers will increase the weight of my pack, but I am pretty sure I will actually use all of the extra gear.

When I first started walking, I would unpack my gear when I got home and take an inventory of what I didn’t use. I would find I hadn’t used sooooo much stuff! Over time, I stopped putting the stuff I never used into my pack. I stopped packing my fears and “what ifs”. Now, years later, when I unpack after a trip, there is rarely anything that hasn’t been used - other than my first aid kit . Oh and I would never take that out!

You will notice on the pack list that along with the first aid kit, I have my own cook system, toiletries, PLB, navigational tools and gas. Bender takes these same items too. Why do we double up on these things, when we could share them and lighten our loads? We figure if we ever get separated out in the bush - unlikely, but things can happen out bush - we will both need these items individually to survive. Plus, if our stove dies, we have a back up. Gas canister failure or just plain run out - back up. Dead battery or damaged device - back up.

The only thing we share is the tent. Bender carries the tent itself along with the pegs, groundsheet and additional guylines, and I carry the poles. Our primary (three-season) tent weighs just under 1kg all up, so the impact it has on our overall pack weights isn’t massive . We do each carry an emergency bivvy bag (a more durable space bag, essentially) in case we are separated and need shelter.

Websites like LighterPack are a great way to compare gear and keep checklists.

I have attached a link to my Lighter Pack List here.

You can check out the exact items for this trip. The only thing missing from the list is our TarpTent Double Rainbow Lithium. The tent poles I carry come in at 169g and rest comes in at around 850g (give or take additional pegs or lines we might include). We haven’t decided on whether to take the Tarptent at this stage or give our much stronger and warmer (but much heavier, at approx. 3.7kg all up) Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT a whirl for the first time this year. We’ll likely be camping up above 1300m on exposed plateaus for a few days, which isn’t the best the place to be stuck in strong winds in an ultralight DCF tent We will watch the weather for two more days before deciding.

Taking out the weight of the clothing I will be wearing it, comes in at 11.4kgs for an 8-day trip, which is pretty good. Adding 1L of water will bring it to just over 12.5kg. By the time I eat the food and use most of the gas, I should be walking out with a pack that is around 7.2kgs. Not a bad base weight. With a long standing back injury, keeping my pack weight down is essential if I want to keep heading bush.

Injuries aside, I really do believe lightening your pack load can make the difference between thoroughly enjoying a trip - or suffering through it. It has taken us a few years to research, purchase and test lighter gear that still stands up to Tasmania’s weather and terrain. Gear for us will always be an evolving thing. We figure we don’t drink, smoke or go on fancy holidays, so buying good gear is our ‘vice’. Or more accurately, our investment in safety and good times spent enjoying the simple pleasure of our local wilderness.

Now we just need the snow and rain to stop! Oh, and if you have any gear tips or tricks leave them in the comments below for me to pilfer!