It’s a quiet morning. The only sound you hear is the rustling of leaves as the wind dances through the trees. The sun is rising, casting a golden hue over everything it touches. You take a deep breath, feeling the weight of your backpack snug against your back. Every piece of gear in that backpack has been meticulously selected, tested, and packed. You know exactly how much everything weighs, down to the gram. You’ve spent countless hours researching, comparing, and purchasing the best gear you can afford. You, my friend, are a hiker obsessed with your hiking gear.
But why do hikers get so obsessed with their gear? Let’s delve into the reasons.
The Quest for Ultralight
In recent years, the ultralight backpacking movement has gained a lot of traction. Ultralight backpacking is all about carrying the lightest and most efficient gear possible. The goal is to reduce the weight of your pack to the absolute minimum, which in turn makes the hike less physically demanding and more enjoyable.
The quest for ultralight gear often leads to an obsession with gear. Hikers will spend hours researching and comparing different pieces of equipment to find the lightest and most efficient options. They’ll invest in gear made from cutting-edge materials, like Dyneema Composite Fabrics (formerly known as Cuben Fiber), which is incredibly light and durable. They’ll even go so far as to cut the handle off their toothbrush or drill holes in their gear to shave off a few grams.
Key Pieces of Equipment
- Tent: Your shelter is one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll carry. It needs to be light, durable, and offer good protection from the elements. Hikers often obsess over the weight and packed size of their tent, as well as its ease of setup and ventilation.
- Backpack: Your backpack needs to be comfortable, durable, and big enough to carry all your gear, but as light as possible. Many hikers opt for frameless or minimalistic backpacks made from ultralight materials.
- Sleeping Bag/Quilt: A good sleeping bag or quilt is essential for a comfortable night’s sleep. Hikers often obsess over the weight, packed size, and temperature rating of their sleeping bag or quilt.
- Cooking System: Many ultralight hikers opt for a simple cooking system, such as a lightweight alcohol stove or a solid fuel tablet stove. The weight and efficiency of the cooking system are often key considerations.
- Clothing: Layering is key when it comes to clothing. Hikers often obsess over the weight and performance of each layer, as well as its moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties.
The Gear-Performance Connection
Hikers often find that investing in high-quality gear improves their overall hiking experience. Lighter gear means a lighter pack, which in turn means less physical strain and more energy to enjoy the hike. High-quality gear also tends to be more durable and perform better in adverse conditions, which can make a big difference in the backcountry.
Achieving optimal weight
There is a sense of achievement that comes from meticulously selecting and testing your gear, and then successfully completing a hike with it. It’s a feeling of having mastered your craft and being self-sufficient in the wilderness. This sense of achievement can be incredibly rewarding and addictive, and it often fuels the obsession with gear.
The obsession with hiking gear is driven by a desire for efficiency, performance, and a sense of achievement. Ultralight backpacking has taken this obsession to new heights, with hikers going to great lengths to reduce the weight of their pack. Key pieces of equipment, such as the tent, backpack, sleeping bag or quilt, cooking system, and clothing, are often the focus of this obsession. Ultimately, the goal is to have a more enjoyable and rewarding experience in the great outdoors. So, if you find yourself spending hours researching and comparing gear, know that you are not alone. It’s all part of the journey.
If you’re not quite ready to dive into the world of ultralight gear, but you need to know what to pack for your next day hike, or what to pack for a thru hike, check out our other blogs.
What are your favourite pieces of gear? Things that you cannot hike without.
And what luxury items to you bring on your hikes? (Pillow, specific food etc.)
