A collection of backpaking/hiking kilt blogs/site etc. and "rain kilts"

[Couper]

Hmmm...the Tyvek with which I am familiar is certainly strong and lightweight - but also has a "crinkly" sound when flexed. Might the "swish" come out more like crumpling some cellophane? LOL

[Lodrorigdzin]

It's interesting: I've gone towards ultra heavy: felt "capes de berger", wooden pack frames (lastenkraxe) for gear transport, a large french shepherd's bag for stuff...

i want to be able to stay out entire days, in cold and rain if need be, and be comfortable almost anywhere and be safe when I'm sitting or sleeping near a fire. I've taken my cue from shepherds who go on transhumance, hunters and other wanderers. I like to be out in winter and then i feel more comfortable with the old ways. And they're not ultralight. But I think I carry the essentials and at the same weight or slightly more, but a whole lot more dependability than when I bring lots of crinkly "stuff".

[Andrew Breecher]

It's interesting: I've gone towards ultra heavy

Ultralight tends to be about comfort while hiking - usually it's for those who are hiking 20-40 miles a day, and only camp when it's time to sleep. Ultraheavy (or also: traditional backpacking) is more about comfort while camping - when you generally hike 5-10 miles and pick a spot to set up camp for longer term. Neither one is right or wrong, but they have different goals.

Tyvek doesn't crinkle as much if you run it through the washer a time or two. It becomes softer, probably loses some of its waterproof qualities but retains enough to keep you mostly dry. I've used it as a ground cloth after having washed it, and didn't find that water came up through it.

[Lodrorigdzin]

Ultralight tends to be about comfort while hiking - usually it's for those who are hiking 20-40 miles a day, and only camp when it's time to sleep. Ultraheavy (or also: traditional backpacking) is more about comfort while camping - when you generally hike 5-10 miles and pick a spot to set up camp for longer term. Neither one is right or wrong, but they have different goals.

Tyvek doesn't crinkle as much if you run it through the washer a time or two. It becomes softer, probably loses some of its waterproof qualities but retains enough to keep you mostly dry. I've used it as a ground cloth after having washed it, and didn't find that water came up through it.

I walk pretty far, sometimes about 20 KM to reach a spot for "utesittning": I teach others to sit out too (kind of like a northern european vision quest): we choose our spots carefully, in winter: if you can make a fire, and know how to handle fire and keep it going at night, you need to carry less equipment, like sleeping bags etc. I've learned to sleep in my clothes, and this can be surprisingly comfortable, if you wear the right ones. Overall, while winter camping (when everyone has to bring more gear, regardless) I don't carry much more than other people, in weight that is, but my items are bulkier.

I did train myself to "yomp" and find that training to carry a sizeable load is a great help in going further in more comfort.

40 miles a day hike, that's 64 km? that's speed march/yomping territory.

[Alan H]

I've made small boat sails out of Tyvek and they worked pretty well. I've even epoxy-laminated a couple of layers of house-wrap tyvek onto curved foam to make a composite structre for a boat and that worked OK. I'm not sure about kilts, though...but heck, it would be worth a try.

Me? I"m squarely in the Old Skool camp. I hike 5-8 miles a day carrying 48 pounds, more or less. Our favorite gig is to take two days to get "In" beyond the reach of 99% of the day hikers and find a nice lake to set up at. We then spend 3 days day-hiking and exploring. Then we either blast out in one day because the packs are lighter (we ate all the food) or take two days to get out to the trailhead.

[Calgacus]

Me? I"m squarely in the Old Skool camp. I hike 5-8 miles a day carrying 48 pounds, more or less.

Wow, that's quite a lot. I generally carry a pack of between 20 and 30 pounds.

[Alan H]

Yes, when I look at people on the trail these days, most are carrying much smaller packs than I am.

One things that really makes things tough, is if you hike the two really big 100+ mile Sierra trails, you have to put your food in a "Bear Cannister". Not every national park or wilderness area requires this, but enough do that you might as well just start out with it, and carry it. This is a Bear Cannister... this is the size my wife carries:


When we first bought cannisters, this was all that was available, so this is what I carry.



These add about 2-3 pounds to your pack. UGH. They're totally worth it, though, if you have a bear incident.

Our tent is about 6 pounds. I carry the cloth, Joan carries the poles and stakes.
Joan has a new sleeping bag made of microfiber, which cut about a pound and half off of her load, compared to her old bag. I didn't quite spend that much money, but my "new" bag is about a pound lighter than the old one.

we both usually carry 3 changes of undergarments, 3 t-shirts, and I make do with one long-sleeved wool shirt and a rain/wind layer. Joan gets very cold, so she carries layers so that she can pile on 4-5. Add to that a pair of shorts, the hiking kilt and a pair of long pants. I've recently taken to bringing a pair of zip-off convertible pants, which are much lighter 9but not warmer) than blue jeans.

Then, of course there's the water filter, since you take a chance on giardia infection now, if you drink raw Sierra water. That's two pounds. Food is usually in the range of 6 pounds when we start out.