bivi bag . for the cost of a basic bag (£2) and the weight it is never out of my rucksack. as said above some dont use them and prefer their gortex gear. but you forget a bivi bag is bright orange so that it can be seen on the hill and most folk dont wear bright colours head to toe.

Since the hills are a bit higher up in Scotland and the weather can change to artic conditions even in the summer a lot of the kit that some find as a luxuary is basic kit for us Scots. but each to their own.

I do remember a few years ago an item on the BBC news about a hillwalker from down south having to be taken of the hills by the local MRT here due to the weather change - a comment made by one of the team was that they were ill prepared for the Scottish hills but they had all the goretex gear on. So sod the ultralite gear and ill carry a few extras to be safe

Certainly the brightness of a bivvy bag is a major plus especially as wearing day-glo-bright clothing in the 'wilds' doesn't exactly add to the wilderness experience for others - I currently have a bright orange bivvy bag (unused so far thankfully) and a reflective silver rucksack cover (came with the bag) - these I could use if needed (plus torch and whistle). I agree that the added weight of such an item is negligable - a lighter weight fleece or a couple of pounds off one's weight (I pleade guilty m'lud) would make as much or more difference. As someone once put it in a rather basic manner you can loose two pound sat on the lavvy before you set off - crude but true.
I'd like to have less bulk, my fleece especially (and personally mind you) - so I'll have to shop around - and I could trim down on my lunch too (might help with the weight loss twice over!). The one considerable weight I carry (apart from myself) is drink and I'd rather carry the weight than run short - so I put up with the weight for the comfort so to speak. Certainly how you pack your rucksack's gonna help in how heavy it feels too - a tug on the straps or moving something up or down, forwards or backwards in the pack, can make a far bit of difference to how heavy the pack feels for me. I guess there are ways of lessening the load without losing important kit

I think there's certainly going to be different needs both in what we use and what we carry as emergency kit depending upon whether you're wandering in the mountains of Scotland or on the moors of England. Having walked in both I can appreciate Alan's comment on that.
I think the reference to the rescue of the gore-tex clad walker highlights something else that's vital to take onto the hills - skill and understanding of the environment we're in - you can be all-the-gear-and-no-idea and be worse off than someone with little gear but lots of knowledge (a-la Ray Mears)

Dave,

I think your point about experience and knowledge is well made. I'd also add planning and the flexibility to modify your plan.

I covered a couple of peaks in Scotland the other weekend and decided I wanted to travel light. I managed to cut my base load down to 2Kg. However, the hills, while above 3'000ft and connected by a ridge, were neither remote nor technical. There were numerous options for bailing off and walking on a general bearing to intersect an estate track which lead back to the car. I'd gone with a view that if the weather became really bad, or navigation difficult that I was happy to turn back. [In fact I opted not to take in the last peak as it was shooting season and there was a notice up asking people to refrain from using low level path as it disturbs the deer which then flee to higher ground. Therefore return route was high level along the ridge.]

I was walking in a shirt with a merino T underneath. I carried:
1L of Sigg - Ridge and couldn't see any obvious resupply points or would have carried less.
Meths Stove and Ti Cup
Jacket
Windshirt
Light Fleece (never used)
Hat
Gloves
First Aid
Compass (Opted for heaver sighting compass because I like using it.)
GPS (Used once to check summit position in thick cloud)
Buff
Torch
Map & Cover
20L Rucsac
Phone

Took twice the food that I needed and the only thing that I think was missing was my BothyBag and I missed not having my gaiters to keep the bottom of my trousers dry. They seemed just too heavy to wear with a set of Roclites.

I'll add one more thing - self reliance. I don't think we should venture into the hills expecting that someone will rescue us if we get in to trouble. I still feel guilty that if I was to fall and break a leg or an ankle I couldn't necessarily rescue myself and would be reliant on external help. I guess all I can do is try to minimise putting myself in dangerous situations and plan to be able to overcome any minor mishaps such as a navigational error, failing light or changing weather.

Mark

Forgot to add: Top tip, check your pockets before you leave the car. I managed to carry my house keys and about six pound [Sterling] in change with me on he above trip.

Many hikers are obviously interested in lightening the load, foregoing those extra pounds of kit and striding across the fells and mountains with a lighter step. The question is where is the limit to this weight shedding - is there one ?

If you think there is no limit to light-weight hiking then click here

:-)

I'd like to see them try that trick in Scotland on your average summer day. They'd get either frost bite or wind burn on the end of their ... third walking pole.

If we're going to get silly. How many grams weight can I negate with an average sized helium balloon tied to my my back? Could I get my base weight below zero if I had huge bunch like you get at the fair? Is there a market for a helium filled pouch that simply slips into the internal water pouch of a rucksack? Would effective weight loss increase or decrease with altitude? Where can I get a really, really big - about the size of a Mini - helium balloon from? What's the lightest non-helium permeable material on the market?

Actually, if you can sell "magic" underwear that helps with fatigue why not a rucksack with a helium bladder? Even if the effect is psychosomatic (is that the right word or is it placebo) would it prevent it from selling. Maybe should have patented the idea before posting!

The new Adams anti-grav rucksack - I like it!
How's this for go-xtra-lite?

That looks a lot more fun that walking up a hill, though I suspect that it might cause some tutting due to the noise and scorch marks. I was thinking of something a lot more serene.

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=LT0JAAAAEBAJ&dq=Balloon+Personal+Transport

Can I just say that Dave the Viking's new picture makes him look even more distinguished than his old one. I shall look out for him on the hill!

What worries me is the more-than-passing resemblance the image has of me - especially the hair-line - although the image has more of a tan.

See my photos - !

Dave

Have looked at your photos but could not work out which one was the real you!

David