My self-support kit, which I also
use for backpacking, gets tweaked after each trip, and
has seen a near complete overhaul every other year since
1992. Things don't always work as hoped or needed, and
gear wears out or breaks beyond repair. During this
time, I am continually making and modifying gear, or
as my friends have come to call it, "rustifying".
I do this to save money and make my gear lighter and
function better, or more reliable. Above all, I do it
for the joy of working with my hands and challenging
my mind to finding better solutions for my particular
needs.
If you've been following the theme
around here, you already know I'm an advocate of doing
for one's self. You may have also guessed that I'm not
going to suggest buying a butt load of stuff. However,
self-support does require a certain amount of equipment.
The best we can do --other than make our own, which
isn't a realistic option for some-- is stick to the
fundamentals. Not only is this the easiest way to minimize
our footprint, it's an easy way to save weight, bulk,
and money. Notice how simple my kit is in the photo
below. Except for a small first-aid kit and water bottle,
what you see is all that I carry in my boat (rescue
items carried in my PFD and on my person).
There is no superfluous doohickery. Just the things
needed for physical comfort.
It is
my hope these pages will inspire others to simplify...
inspire creativeness and expression through personal
craftsmanship and smart consuming. Assemble for yourself
a simple kit, buying what you need, then improvise as
needed, if needed... and make and "rustify"
when you can. Once immersed, you'll see an element of
beauty in the simplicity itself. Cross this philosophy
over into everyday life.
Generic Checklist
Use as a checklist and/or general
orientation. Feel free to print.
personal |
community |
|
sleeping
bag |
|
sil-nylon
tarp...if rain is
forecasted |
|
sleeping
pad |
|
break
down paddle |
|
shelter |
|
stove
& fuel...if no individual stove |
|
stove
& fuel ...if no community stove |
|
water
filter...if no individual filters |
|
pot
& lid |
|
first
aid kit |
|
lighter |
|
additional
rescue gear |
|
spork |
|
map,
if in unfamiliar territory |
|
water
bottle |
|
compatible
personalities‹‹‹‹ |
|
water filter... if no community
water filter
|
|
|
|
toiletry
kit: floss, toothbrush, toilet paper |
|
|
|
mini
headlamp or light |
|
|
|
shorts
|
|
|
|
jacket & pants
if weather dictates |
|
|
|
rain
poncho |
|
|
|
waterproof
socks |
|
|
|
main
drybags |
|
|
|
small
drybag for lunch, toilet paper, etc |
|
|
|
safety/rescue
gear |
|
|
|
food |
|
|
|
respectful
attention‹‹‹‹ |
|
|
My
Personal Kit
After
27 years of tweaks and good times, the kit below is
my most recent for the typical 3-day, 2-night spring
desert trip, where every condition can be encountered.
It contains everything I need to be self-sufficient.
For what it is, it's extremely light, yet superior to
all my earlier kits. The sleeping bag and down clothes,
combined with the fleece I wear under my drysuit, will
take me comfortably down to around 10°F at night.
The down clothes are ultra compressible, light, and
warm. The poncho keeps me dry yet also serves as a floor
for a tent that weighs one-third that of popular bivy
sacks. Lastly, I find the Neoair sleeping pad legitimately
comfortable and, although heavy, the Katadyn Pocket
filter is unquestionably the simplest, most robust,
and reliable pump filter available.
I base every trip around
this list and adjust according to weather, time of year,
length, difficulty, and location. See the "Summer"
and "Overnight Summer" notes attached to the
end of this list for examples.
what |
description |
weight |
1 |
sleeping
bag |
Custom 74" Feathered
Friends Vireo in homemade sil-nylon sack doubling
as pillow case |
20.5 oz |
2 |
clothing
|
Western Mountaineering
Flash down pants & Montbell Ex Lite down Anorak
in homemade sil-nylon sack (usually go w/o sack
& stuff loose in main drybags #22) |
14.75 oz |
3 |
shelter |
modified
Zpacks Hexamid tent with titanium stakes in
homemade sil-nylon sack doubling as night-time hang
sack for food. |
9.5 oz |
4 |
shorts |
modified thriftstore
generic nylon |
5 oz |
5 |
sleeping pad |
72"
long Thermarest Neoair |
12.25 oz |
6 |
gore-tex socks |
modified
German military |
2 oz |
7 |
poncho |
homemade cuben fiber,
doubling as groundcloth |
3.5 oz |
8 |
toilet paper |
soft |
2 oz |
9 |
drybag |
modified Cascade
Design, Seal Line Cirrus Sack, 5L |
|
10 |
waterfilter
|
Katadyn
Pocket in homemade padded zippered pouch |
22 oz |
11 |
stove fuel |
Snow Peak GP110 |
7 oz |
12 |
stove |
Snow Peak Giga Power
titanium, early model |
2.5 oz |
13 |
pot &
lid |
Snow Peak titanium
pot & foil lid in homemade sack (replaced with
Vargo BOT) |
2.25 oz |
14 |
spoon |
modified Island Bamboo
spoon |
.25 oz |
15 |
headlamp |
homemade: keychain
light w/ bungee cord head band |
.5 oz |
16 |
lighter |
Mini Bic w/ duct
tape wrapped around |
.5 oz |
17 |
toiletry kit |
flosser, modified
toothbrush, & vial of baking soda |
.5 oz |
18 |
2
breakfasts |
See "sample
meals" here |
6 oz |
19 |
3 lunches |
|
18 oz |
20 |
2 dinners |
|
21 oz |
21 |
emergency food |
|
4 oz |
22 |
primary dry bags
|
two
prototypes |
20 oz |
23 |
breakdown paddle |
modified custom 3-piece
ATX w/ Tear Air
stored around ferrell |
|
Total
Weight
Not
included in this weight are items that are always
in my boat or on my person, self-support or not.
In other words, I'm always carrying that stuff
anyway so don't consider it extra "self-support"
weight. These things include the AT breakdown
paddle, first aid kit, Seal Line Cirrus drybag,
safety/rescue gear, and water bottle. |
10lbs
14oz
|
Save
weight by sharing some of the gear with your comrades.
Click here
for info. |
Summer,
Lower 48: Same
as above but with Sawyer
Mini filter (when
water is cleaner) instead
of Katadyn Pocket filter; lighter
Linelite sleeping bag; no down clothing; no
GoreTex socks; homemade sun hat for camp and hiking;
and plastic groundcloth instead of cuben poncho
if no rain is predicted. |
Total
Weight |
8lbs
7 oz |
Add ~1
lb per additional day out for food. For example:
5-day summer trip puts the total
weight at just under 10.5
lbs. Not to shabby....... |
Overnight
Summer, Lower 48: Same
as "Summer" version above but
food for 2 days rather than 3, and homemade Supercat
alcohol stove instead of Snow Peak Giga Power. |
Total
Weight |
7
lbs |
To add context to these 7 to ~11
pound weights here, consider that it is quite common
to see self-supporters carrying 25, 30, or more pounds.
That's about what I carried on my first backpacking
trip in the late 70's, and subsequent first few self-support
trips. The contents of my ~11 pound kit today provide
me a lot more comfort than those earlier loads though,
thanks to better gear and my embracing simplicity. More
importantly, I feel a lot safer on the water carrying
one-third the weight. While weight may not matter that
much on a casual trip down a straightforward river,
I can tell you unequivocally, that paddling a kayak
with that much extra weight in technical water, where
you want your boat to maneuver quickly and easily, makes
a difference. A big difference.![](Images/gravity.jpg)
Factor in portaging too. From scrapes
to broken bones and everything in between, this is when
most kayaking injuries occur. Shouldering an empty 45
to 55 pound boat on slippery rocks, precarious ledges,
and up and down steep banks can be tough enough. Adding
10 more pounds is one thing but 25 to 30+ guarantees
extra sweat... and the odds of a mishap to increase
exponentially. Be strong enough to carry 85 pounds but
wise enough to carry less than 60. While your friends
are lugging around 85 pounds, you'll be skipping along
like you're carrying nothing.
In summary, to make portaging easier
and safer, and have a high-performing boat on the water
while still living high on the hog at camp, remember
the following:
- keep it simple, taking only what
you need & avoiding gadgets
- with few exceptions, seek out
smaller companies & cottage gear makers for the
lightest & most innovative camping equipment
- pay close attention to pre-trip
food prep
Get out there.
Have fun. Be safe! |