6 cheap household items that double as an ultralight backpacker


ORLtralight Bros will anxiously boast of his Itty Bitty Manada and his tiny staining, however, you rarely hear them mention how surprisingly lightly he becomes his wallet after paying thousands of dollars in the first -line backpack team. Certainly, there is a point to reduce the weight on your back, especially if you are trying to mitigate the injury in a long walk, but it is not realistic to expect everyone to get entangled only to face the coveted weight of the base rise.

Fortunately, «Ultralight» does not always have to mean specialized and expensive team. In the course of many thousands of miles, I have found several pieces of «equipment» that fit the ultralight mentality (light and minimal), while costing less than $ 50. As an additional benefit, I have risked some of these articles of my house!

Economic domestic articles that double as an ultralight team

Hoping to send you to a path with a light package and A heavy wallet, here are my favorite home articles that double as an ultralight backpack team.

1) Compacting garbage bags

With approximately $ 0.50 per piece, garbage compactor bags are a wonderful replacement for a more expensive package cover. And, as an additional benefit, they do a better job to keep their team dry. They will not only protect your equipment if your package accidentally immerses in a river (it has been there, done that), but also work better than a traditional cover in a heavy or extended downpour.

If (when) falls into a river, a regular package cover will do very little to protect the equipment inside its package.

Package covers often fail under strong rains due to inherent design failures. For example, they create holes when used in the back, allowing the rain to crawl under. Compacting garbage bags, on the other hand, serve as a lining inside their package. They allow your bag to get wet while keeping your equipment dry. As long as the upper part of the bag has rolled up when closing its bag, it is very unlikely that the water reaches its comforter and clothing.

With compacting garbage bags that weigh 2-5 oz less, and at least $ 20 cheaper, than a package cover, this exchange is an absolute obvious for me.

2) dance pants

The dance pants often made of light nylon or similar synthetic mixtures are a fantastic substitute for the budget for specialized rain pants. Precious rain pants, although technically waterproof, are often hot, wet and make that irritating sound of «Swiss-Swish-Swish» with each step. They also generally cost more than $ 70.

The dance pants, on the other hand, are usually sold for less than $ 30, can be found almost anywhere and breathe much better. While they are not «waterproof» in the technical sense, many are highly resistant to water, throwing light rain and incredibly fast dry after heavier stops.

The key here is breathability. When you are walking hard, waterproofing often means that you are soaked inside anyway with sweat. These ultraligeros pants offer enough protection for most conditions without catching all that moisture, which makes a much more comfortable experience.

Cold protection, wind, rain and snow.

If you are dead in standard rain pants, I would recommend Frogg Toggs. They are as cheap as dance pants, but let me warn you: they will tear themselves if you even look at them badly.

3) Tyvek

This wrinkled white material used for the wrapping of the house may seem like a strange choice for the backpack, but Tyvek is the best friend of an ultralight hiker, especially when a expensive footprint or pad is replaced to sit. A dedicated store footprint, designed to protect the floor of your tears and water store, can easily cost $ 50- $ 100 and usually weighs more than 8-10 ounces.

Tyvek, on the other hand, can be bought by the patio in the hardware for a fraction of the cost, generally less than $ 10, and will last it forever. It is incredibly durable, waterproof and can even remain silent if it passes it through the dryer in the without heat adjustment for a few hours with some tennis balls.

And can serve a third Purpose like a sled when you want Glissade, but you don’t want to get your butt. A true ultralight legend!

You cut it so that it fits under your store (or even only your sleeping pad for a minimalist shelter). As an additional benefit, you can get it during the day to use it in breaks like a pad or yoga mat for some stretching. Its butt remains dry and its store is protected, all thanks to a material typically reserved for construction sites.

4) ice cream talents

Why pay $ 100 for a specialized rehydration container for a cold -soaked meal when you could get a bottle that does exactly the same for $ 5? And, how often can you buy a team that comes with a pint of ice cream to enjoy?

Cold -Sembrar my lunches has changed my game totally. I reached a point where I could not even think about drowning another tortilla and tuna package, and now I have a much broader variety of meals to choose from. Think of ramen, couscous or mashed snapshot: I only add cold water and let it stand for half an hour while I walk to lunch.

A cold and dry tortilla is less depressing when combined with something soaked in cold.

As a high maintenance hiker, I became cold for my lunches but I use a stove for my dinners. However, if you are harder than me, this 2 oz bottle could save you the weight of a dedicated fuel, fuel and pot.

5) Shower cape

Do you know those weak plastic lid that you find in the hotel bathrooms? Don’t throw them out! These almost ingrained covers are an incredible trick to protect your camera, telephone or other small electronic products from rain and dirt. The dedicated camera covers can be bulky and cost more than $ 50, while a standard shower limit literally costs cents (Oa is often free!).

It is not storm enough for a rain jacket, but definitely storm enough to cover my camera. It is possible that my camera is not ultralight, but it is too expensive for me!

I keep one of these in my range and I stretch it on my exposed camera every time a light rain starts. It is the perfect intermediate for the weather where I am not bothering myself with a rain coat, but I certainly don’t want to ruin my camera. It is remarkably effective and easy to replace in the city if it is torn.

6) Affair blades

I have had some heat before saying this, but I think walking with a Swiss razor is overvalued. I can count on the number of times I have used any accessory other than the knife, and even then, in general, I am using it to open the food packaging. Instead of carrying a multiple tool that weighs several ounces and costs twenty dollars or more, I simply carry a single razor blade.

I am notoriously bad when opening the packaging; A razor blade facilitates things. I keep mine inside my Bearvault to avoid cutting my clothes or other team.

For around $ 0.25 (when you buy in a multiple package) and weigh practically nothing, a shaving blade does everything I need: open effortless food bags and cut my leucootape when my nails fail. There are no mobile parts to break, or in bulk to carry.

Just remember to record it safely inside your first aid kit for your safety; A loose razor blade in a package will surely cause damage.

Not the whole team can be pirate

At the end of the day, you will have to spend some money to mark your perfect backpack configuration. There are certain pieces of equipment, such as a layer or a quilt, where quality is interchangeable with safety. However, where you can, cut some corners! Not everything you have must be at the forefront of innovation, especially if some simple things in the house can achieve the same goal.

If you are looking for some more ultraligeous tips, see this article on how to reduce the weight of your package by pounds.

Outstanding Image: Photo courtesy of Katie Jackson; Graphic design by Chris rudder.





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