First time I actually packed my bag lighter this year

I've been backpacking for about 5 years now, and every single trip I'd always end up with a pack around 45 pounds. Last month I did a 3 day loop in the Smokies and decided to actually weigh everything out before I left. Cut my cook kit in half, ditched the extra pair of boots, and swapped my big tent for a tarp setup. Hit the trail with a pack that was 28 pounds even including food and water. The difference on day two was night and day. My knees didn't ache and I actually enjoyed the uphill sections instead of just grinding through them. Anyone else have a moment where they finally got their base weight down and felt dumb for carrying all that extra stuff for years?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sean1mo ago

I finally got my base weight down and felt dumb" huh? I mean it's great you're carrying less weight but calling yourself dumb for not realizing it sooner seems dramatic. Packing lighter is just a lesson you learn over time, not some big realization that makes all those past trips worthless.

irisw734d agoMost Upvoted

Had a buddy who packed a full size cast iron skillet on a week long trip because he thought he'd need it for cooking. He didn't use it once, just cursed it every time he had to lift his pack. Took him three more trips before he finally swapped it for a titanium pot. He didn't call himself dumb, just said he was stubborn.

irisw731mo agoMost Upvoted

Had a buddy beat himself up over the same thing for weeks until I told him to knock it off.