Weight Reduction vs. Bulk Reduction?

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

I didn't think this really fitted in the weight reduction forum, so put it here instead.

The discussion on the AARN packs recently prompted me to post this, because I've long been a believer of minimising pack size (just as important as weight) and also distributing the weight sensibly.

My 7-8 day hiking kit fits in a Deuter 55L backpack (just). While I've worked hard over the last few years getting my pack weight down, the other thing I've worked on a lot is bulk - and I think bulk is possibly even more important.

There are several reasons why I think bulk is very important:
1. The smaller the pack, the closer the average weight sits to your body. A large pack hangs out further behind and will pull down on your back harder.
2. The smaller the pack, the less effect it has on your balance (reduces leg muscle fatigue).
3. The smaller the pack, the less the pack itself needs to weigh.
4. The smaller the pack, the easier it is to navigate overhanging branches and thin trails.
5. The smaller pack takes less space in huts/tent vestibules, and is easier to put on and take off without hurting your back.

I will soon be upgrading my sleeping pad based on this theory. I currently have a black wolf ultralight full length @ 750 grams. I will be ordering the new Neoair All Season, because while only a little lighter (540g), it packs up much, much smaller. This is very important to me, because my pack will be flatter and the weight will be closer to my back.

The best example for me of this was recently when I swapped packs for a few km with my old man recently on day one walking to Frenchman's. They were both exactly equal in weight (22kg exactly), but I found his pack much, much more tiring to carry because it was bulkier and stuck out a long way behind and pulled me down. I am a fit 29 year old male and weigh a fraction under 60kg. I easily carry a 20-22kg pack and quite happily ignore the 25% of body weight rule, provided the pack is small and fits close to my body.

Does anyone else find this very important?

With a standard, bulky "marshmallow" type pack, I'd be lucky to manage 15kg.

[north-north-west]

This is something I learned diving. Wearing twin tanks it makes an amazing difference to your balance and trim in the water, plus the ease of movement on land, if you separate the tanks a little so the sit wider but fit a little closer to the centre line of your body (looking side-on).
It's just the same with a backpack - the snugger it fits and the closer the weight is to your spine, the easier it is to move.

[ninjapuppet]

If you want small pack size for sleeping pads, also maybe check out the klymit inertia X frame. its about $80-$100 depending on the retailer, and I can think of no full sized pad that can shrink to the size of this. I'm 170cm and its comfy for me. Jeremy here is 6 '2 and he reckons its comfy for him too.

Its certainly made my neoair a dust collector since I've laid on it. The klymits material feels much more substantial than the neoair while it weighs 30% less.
http://www.addnature.com/product.aspx?pf_id=KLYMITINERTIAXFRAME

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Yeah, I've seen that before - would be nice to have something so tiny in the pack!

But I generally sleep very cold, so it won't do. I'll take All Season on the Overland Track next summer, that's how cold I can get! Will probably keep the Black Wolf though, for camping in summer here in SA.

[isoma]

Gee, that Klymit mat looks interesting ninja - where did you get yours from ? I'm currently also trying to lighten my load but would choose something that packed smaller and weighed a little bit more over a lighter, but larger item.
For mats, I guess the Neoair or the Klymit. For sleeping bags - surely bags with a similar fill must pack down to a similar size? The other major item then would be tents. What 3 season 1 person tent packs the smallest ? Having done no research at all the first ones that come to mind would be the Terra Nova or the Moment. Any other thoughts?

[ninjapuppet]

I got my mat from someone else after they couldnt get comfy in it but they're currently on special for $82 from Hermits hut: http://www.hermitshut.com/klymitinertiax.html

[rogo]

Ninja, that mat looks very interesting. How do they go for side sleepers? and short people? I can see the way I sleep my legs would find the cut out sections and be touching the ground. Does this happen? But for weight and size reduction, this mat looks great in theory.

Ro

[ninjapuppet]

I'm a back sleeper and it's perfect for me. I dont sleep much but the few hours i do sleep- i sleep like im dead. The guy ibought it off was a side sleeper hence he sold it to me. I'm short at 170cm but i think it won't be comfy if you are below 165cm. The xl. Version would be more suitable