When backpacking, what do you bring a backup of, despite the ultralight backpacking community suggesting you may be crazy?

forest dweller

forest dweller

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When backpacking, what do you bring a backup of, despite the ultralight backpacking community suggesting you may be crazy?

o_O

I'll start:

* headlight (not too heavy, must see at night!)
* stove (pocket rocket weighs very little)
* probably gas canister if going long enough (don't think I want to burn myself cooking over coals final few days)
* maybe too much clothes.

But where is the line drawn between essential and "I'll take that chance" and trying to keep pack weight within reason?
 
I'm no ultralight purist, but as far backup items go I don't really bring anything. Probably an extra lighter on solo trips more than 3 days or very remote.

But I also would never bring clothes other than what I'm wearing - save a pair of socks.
 
hahaha I came here to say exactly the same thing: basically just the lighter. gear these days is so good, it's overkill for most of the stuff most of us do.

I don't bring a backup headlamp since my phone would work just fine as an emergency light.

out of the modern headlamps (LED with batteries in the unit, not in a separate pack connected by a wire) I've only ever seen one failure, which was one that I had 7-8 years ago that tended to turn on accidentally in my pack and then it would be dead when I wanted it. I threw that damn thing away.
 
I do tend to take extra weight tho:
  • probably a bigger whisky flask than would be strictly needed
  • I'll often err on the side of warmness when deciding between my 20 degree bag and 5 degree bag
  • if it's a basecamp backpack I'll throw in a tiny camp chair which is just silly but it's lovely to have
  • usually too much food, I just don't eat that much on shortish trips, esp at altitude
  • water shoes / camp shoes -- love changing into these in the evening
 
I must be a weird or wimpy backpacker...definitely bringing clean clothes to sleep in - midweight long sleeve polypro underwear and socks only used to sleep in - and I'd be really tempted to bring a duplicate of that on a very long trip - I can't emphasize enough how I want to feel clean when going to sleep! (I'll probably submerge myself in the creek before going to sleep too!)
 
I bring a backup water filter. I usually don’t cook on trail, so I don’t typically carry a stove or pot for boiling water.
 
Two ways to start a fire and light my stove (usually a Bic with a ferro rod tucked somewhere as backup).

Also keep some water purification tablets on hand in case a filter decides it doesn't want to do its thing any more.
 
forest dweller said:
I must be a weird or wimpy backpacker...definitely bringing clean clothes to sleep in - midweight long sleeve polypro underwear and socks only used to sleep in - and I'd be really tempted to bring a duplicate of that on a very long trip - I can't emphasize enough how I want to feel clean when going to sleep! (I'll probably submerge myself in the creek before going to sleep too!)
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Whatever makes you feel happy and safe, makes you feel happy and safe. Hike your own hike,mind your own plate, etc. Don't think that makes you weird or wimpy.

As far as backups, like others said the only back up I bring is lighter/matches. Don't see the point in an extra headlamp especially if you carry a cellphone. Doubly so if you're in less wooded areas, the moon is pretty bright unless it's very new.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk
 
Lighter...... That's it.
 
Laura V. said:
I bring a backup water filter. I usually don’t cook on trail, so I don’t typically carry a stove or pot for boiling water.
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My older Katadyn Hiker filter squirts water near what looks like where it was laminated...I'm thinking it might be time to replace that with something...even though it's still working...would hate for it to fail on a bigger trip especially. However, being something I do consider critical, and taking backups of things, this isn't one of them. I figure if the water source is clear enough there won't be a problem.
 
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forest dweller said:
My older Katadyn Hiker filter squirts water near what looks like where it was laminated...I'm thinking it might be time to replace that with something...even though it's still working...would hate for it to fail on a bigger trip especially. However, being something I do consider critical, and taking backups of things, this isn't one of them. I figure if the water source is clear enough there won't be a problem.
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i switched to a gravity filter, and i would recommend that if youre in the market. mines a 4L platypus, but im infrequently solo camping.

i also bring PJs, and i love them. wouldnt bring extras though, just wash them if i need to.

+1 for lighters.
 
scoags said:
i switched to a gravity filter, and i would recommend that if youre in the market. mines a 4L platypus, but im infrequently solo camping.

i also bring PJs, and i love them. wouldnt bring extras though, just wash them if i need to.

+1 for lighters.
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Yeah, many of you have said those gravity filters are great in other threads here.

In addition to that, when in the market for a piece of gear I tend to go by reviews / ratings at REI. The Platypus gravity filters get very high marks and have lots of reviewers...like 4.5 out of 5. But the straw types do as well. The straw types might not be for me because I like to use flavor packets in my water at least half the time.

The Katadyn Hiker pump style is about a tad under 4 and the Sawyer Squeeze is a 4.1.

I'm going to investigate the weight comparisons of the Platypus gravity type and the Katadyn Hiker pump style.

Pumping is tedious, squeezing is tedious....maybe if the gravity type isn't like waiting on molasses to run I'll go that route!
 
forest dweller said:
Pumping is tedious, squeezing is tedious....maybe if the gravity type isn't like waiting on molasses to run I'll go that route!
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only like molasses if you scoop up something silty... gravity is tons better than pumping or squeezing. Platypus is magic, Katadyn be-free pretty good, sawyer gravity also passable.

Sometimes in a group when we do not communicate well when packing the extras end up being duplicate gravity filters. Once it was two stoves, two pots, and no canister, but that is a different story.

I always carry a baselayer and socks to sleep in. They are just what I regularly sleep in except in May or September in the desert. Not sure those are extra or crazy.
I also like food, so I end up at times with too much on multi-day trips.
 
We love our Platypus gravity filter and highly recommend it. The clean bag can be used for extra water storage if necessary.

I almost always pack too much food and wish I could figure that out better. But then I'm able to be generous in sharing with others. Works well unless they've brought too much food also...
 
My grandma taught me to always bring extra underwear so you won't be found dead with dirty underwear.

Besides extra underwear? Anything water related. Two filters, two bottles. Extra lighter. Depending on where I'm going I'll bring a paper map and compass. I also learned the hard way to bring extra food.
 
I carry more water than I need on desert trips. I've almost never needed the extra that I've brought, but I'd hate to have a time where I ended up needing it and decided not to bring it.

Otherwise, it's just clothes. I always like to bring some changes of underwear, socks, and shirts, even for a night or two. I bring deodorant to keep the stink down, but sometimes a shirt change is just needed.
 
If I have a hydration bladder I bring a spare shut-off valve. I once had one pop off on an alpine traverse and fall into an irretrievable location. I also often carry my RX-100 camera when I could use my cell phone. I probably bring too many spare mp3 players, but they are super light and I listen to them all waking hours. +1 one also on the backup paper map (2 copies) and compass
 
fossana said:
If I have a hydration bladder I bring a spare shut-off valve. I once had one pop off on an alpine traverse and fall into an irretrievable location. I also often carry my RX-100 camera when I could use my cell phone. I probably bring too many spare mp3 players, but they are super light and I listen to them all waking hours. +1 one also on the backup paper map (2 copies) and compass
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I kinda hate to admit it but I've mostly stopped bringing paper maps at all, rather making sure there's a backup mapping device. A hundred or so 15 minute quads are just sitting in drawers in my office, unloved :(.
 
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