Ran into an old guy on the JMT who told me his trick for lightening his pack

He said he cut the handle off his toothbrush and swapped his tent for a tarp, saved nearly 2 pounds total for under $20. Has anyone else dropped pack weight with a weird hack like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

johns187d ago

Cutting a toothbrush handle is rookie stuff honestly. The real weight savings come from ditching your cook system entirely. Cold soaking beans and ramen for lunch saves way more than a tent swap. I dropped damn near 3 pounds by leaving my stove and fuel canister at home. Plus you dont have to wait for water to boil so you hike longer. Just soak your food while you hike then eat it when you stop.

james6727d ago

Respectfully, you're trading comfort for grams and I just can't get behind that. Cold soaking might save weight but it takes the joy out of a hot meal after a long day on the trail. There's something about sitting down with a warm dinner that helps me reset and actually enjoy the campsite. Plus, some beans just don't soften right without heat no matter how long you soak them. I'd rather carry the extra pound or two than eat cold mush on a rainy night. How do you deal with the morale hit when you're soaked and hungry and everything is cold?