Gross Pack Weights and Light Weight Gear in SW Tassie

[Son of a Beach]

Note that this topic has been split from here which is what some of the posts refer to.

There are many BW-T members that doubt that lightweight gear is suitable for SW Tasmania.

Don't mention the war!

That's a bit of an over-generalisation though. It would perhaps be more accurate to say that some light weight gear is not suitable for some people in SW Tasmania. Some people are not willing to compromise and/or spend extra on some particular items in the same way other people are - it's merely a matter of priorities. After all, everyone's entitled to do what makes them comfortable (mentally and physically). Also, I've no idea what some of people talk about with 25kg packs. Even with non-lightweight gear, most people would not carry much more than 15kg on shorter walks (luxury extras aside).

A particular item may be suitable for you, but not so suitable for somebody else - you can't just generalise on 'lightweight gear' as a whole. You'd have to talk about specific items... But there's whole other topics already in existence for that, so perhaps we should not rehash it all here.

OK... I bit.

[Tony]

Hi Nik,

But there's whole other topics already in existence for that, so perhaps we should not rehash it all here

Your are right that the lightweight debate should not spoil Kahtadin's great.

Don't mention the war!

I would call it a debate.

Also, I've no idea what some of people talk about with 25kg packs

When I did the OT a few years ago I came across several walkers with around 25 kg and one with 35kg+, I also met a walker on the AAWT (Australian Alps walking track) with 26kg and two walkers/fisherman who had rickshaws with probably 80kg+ each.

Tony

[Son of a Beach]

Don't mention the war!

I would call it a debate.

It was a reference to Fawlty Towers, which made the phrase popular amongst many people.

Also, I've no idea what some of people talk about with 25kg packs

When I did the OT a few years ago I came across several walkers with around 25 kg and one with 35kg+, I also met a walker on the AAWT (Australian Alps walking track) with 26kg and two walkers/fisherman who had rickshaws with probably 80kg+ each.

Yep, and I've come across people carrying 40+ kg packs, but I don't consider that normal for experienced bushwalkers. I was thinking about experienced bushwalkers who know what they're doing, but for whom ultra-light is not such a high priority as it is for some. Ie, experienced bushwalkers who are using good quality but not ultra-light gear. I can't imagine anyone getting their pack up to 25 kg (for a few days only) except by adding luxuries, or carrying gear for other people (which is really beyond the scope of this discussion).

Eg, The topic here shows some weights for a variety of walkers with non-ultralight-weight gear, and the only ones over 20kg are either for extended trips, or carrying large amounts of extra gear (camera gear, or other people's gear/food).

Sure you'll always come across people who do odd or extreme things, but my point was merely that pack weights of 25kg are not normal for bushwalkers, whether they're using specialist ultra-light gear or not.

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

Agreed... I sometimes end up taking a heavier than normal load in order to make the walking easier for my companions (if with a novice group).

It is always good to see other people's gear lists and to get ideas on how to lighten the load (this way, I can carry even more luxury items! ).