The debate over packing light vs packing smart hit me hard on the Long Trail last month

I spent 3 hours trying to find a campsite near a stream on day 4 of the Long Trail because my water filter clogged up from silty water. On one hand, packing light means carrying less gear and moving faster, but on the other hand, I could have thrown in a backup filter or a prefilter for muddy conditions. That extra 4 ounces would have saved me a whole afternoon of frustration and backtracking. Meanwhile, my buddy who carries a 45 pound pack breezed through with his gravity system and never slowed down. But then he complained about his shoulders hurting by mile 10. So which is it - do you sacrifice comfort for speed, or do you carry the extras and take the weight penalty? I'm leaning toward a middle ground now but I want to hear what others have settled on. Has anyone found a solid split between ultralight and practical for long trips?

2 comments

2 Comments

john_hunt21d ago

Middle ground is the real sweet spot.

miller.susan1d ago

That bit about your buddy with the 45 pound pack complaining by mile 10 hits close to home. I once did a section of the AT with a guy who swore by his 50 pound setup and he spent every evening talking about his sore knees while I was digging ibuprofen out of my ditty bag. But then my rainfly ripped on day 3 because I skimped on the heavier one to save weight, and I spent a wet night cursing my choices. It feels like no matter what you pick, you end up paying for it somewhere on the trail. Have you tried the soft sided water bottles? They fold up tiny so you can carry a spare without it taking up your whole pack.