Recommendations from experienced backpackers are always to be welcomed but it does come down to what is "right" for you for a particular trip. I do think that there is a terrible expense in the inevitable trial and error that goes with seeking out new shoes/boots/pack/layers/tent.

"Just another thought. Why do heavyweights always feel the need to have a go at UL'ers? Why isn't there more of the 'is it dangerous to carry a monster load in winter' type questions"

Mike, this is such a good point. I ended up carrying the rucksack of a guy who fell and dislocated his shoulder on those round boulders at Elgol when they were snow covered. (Lots of fresh snow made us fear avalanche on the Cuillin.) No one else fell - just the guy who had recently attended a mountain leadership course. He had packed everything he had been told to take to keep his party safe - but he wasn't safe. His sack weighed a ton and I did not enjoy carrying it back.

And some UL gear is bombproof, e.g. the Cave 1 I go on about too often. Held up by trekking poles, what can break? The pegs might pull, but flat pieces of silnylon and two carbon fibre tubes will still be intact after a tornado has carried me away.

As for folks having a go at ULers, they used to go after anyone who had walked more than 20 miles and "not seen anything" despite being out from dawn till dusk. Some folks bolster their self-esteem by having a go at those they worry are better, whatever that last word means to them. They can still be excellent company in the pub, though! (I'm thinking of an NUT rep in Bakewell.)

I've slowly managed to change my kit over to lighter versions. Even though I'm carrying roughly the same list of kit, it now weighs less, is comfortable, and I can walk for longer distances with my kit, and gain the benefit of not being completely done in at the end.
Having used tents, bashas and bivi bags I have to say that each have their merits, and I couldn't have a go at an individuals choice of shelter because it differed from mine. If it works, and you are happy with it, fine.

My concern is where people leave out essential kit to save weight.
That's another can of worms entirely.....

"My concern is where people leave out essential kit to save weight.
That's another can of worms entirely....."

It sure is! Is anything essential? Other than an appropriate level of fitness and a brain to guide it.

Americans identify ten alleged essentials. That seems a lot to remember, let alone carry. Does anyone know what they are?

It goes something like:

1) Map
2) Compass
3) Light
4) Spare Food
5) Spare clothes
6) Rain Shell
7) First aid
8) Knife
9) Matches
10)Firestarter

but the list has always troubled me. Spare clothes are a must but there's no mention of water or water purification? Food is higher priority than water? Why you would need two methods of starting a fire is beyond me, I would imagine that either you're proficient enough with a firesteel to use it all the time or you might as well leave it at home.

There's no fixed rule here. In Scandinavia, if I'm going high enough, I'll leave water purification kit at home but some form of shelter would be high on my list. On a recent trip to Norway I took an e-lite, out of habbit, because a torch is something you should always take right? Well as it happens, in July in Norway, a torch isn't realy necessary (doh). Goes tto show, you should think about your pack list before each trip. Whats that you said about common sense?

Cheers, Dave.

If this was an army list it would come with a handy mnemonic. And it would not mention specific items. Instead it would be based around functions. And there would be five plus or minus one of them, so someone as dense as me would stand a chance of remembering the list.

Back in the Sixties, when I began hill walking, the BBC had regular items on people going into the hills in gabardine, jeans and fish tail parkas. They made the news by dying from hypothermia in foul, not freezing, weather. So, whatever it takes to stay properly dry would be my number one essential for British hills. Nowadays, I would regard the old school coat and plastic mack combo I used for my first winter in the Lakes as inadequate.

Having attempted barefoot walking and hit the deck hard, long before I stubbed my toes on anything, my second essential would be whatever it takes to stay attached to the terrain.

There probably aren't any other essentials for shorter walks other than the fitness and good sense mentioned previously.

Re the 10 essentials. Here in Scotland, I don't carry spare clothes, apart from a pair of undies and socks. I don't even carry them on short/weekend trips. Why are they needed? A first aid kit can mean a lot of things. A few painkillers and some tape does me. Anything serious requires more than i can carry.

I guess it depends on what they mean when they say "spare clothes". If they mean, sufficient warm layers then I see the point. They can't be going on about having a change of clothes so you don't stink the place out can they? Likewise, why is there talk of "spare food". I don't realy understand the point of these lists in any case but if your going to have a list make it easy to understand and remember.

I have stolen this quote form Bukidnon in the shoulder injury thread.
Pushing hard in light footwear left me with plantar fasciitis, but it was the speed and distance which caused the problem rather than the Flyrocs. I just hadn't done enough base miles for sustainable progress at that rate.

Maybe this could restart this discussion. Does lightweight have limits. Possibly not as a direct result the fact that your body has limits no matter how lightweight your gear.

Walking 20 miles a day with 20 kilos does not equate to walking 40 miles with 10 kilos because you have halfed the weight you can not double the distance because the overwhelming fact is that most of the weight we carry is our own body weight.

Bradley wiggins just came fourth in the tour de france the main reason he said he was able to do this was not the latest lightweight bike or smoother operating gear change but simply he lost 7 extra kilos in body weight. This allowed him to climb mountains quicker than before.

Debate.......

bukidnon

Americans identify ten alleged essentials. That seems a lot to remember, let alone carry. Does anyone know what they are?