How little can you get away with ? Cutting Down
 

Just saw the thread on poleless tents and it got me thinking about how little you actually need to take on a trip.

My usual technique is to pack then half what i pack and then loose some more bits. I use this method wether I am flying, driving, cycling /motor or push and hiking. Even so I still take way too much stuff and when I return home I always think next time I will do better. My only worry is that one day I will have cut down so much that I have become the naked rambler. I will trip up catch my john tomas on a rock and not have a first aid kit to patch myself up.

So what tips have you got and how light do you go ?

I am well practiced with sporking/fooning around what other muti impliments are there out there ?

The lightest traveler I ever met was a chap in malaysia, he had the clothes he was wearing a book a tooth brush and a pair of swim trunks. I enquired how he got by and he said it was easy. When the clothes needed washing he went sunbathing and when hed finished the book he swapped it with someone else. Come to think of it he was also growing a long beard but then you can get a shave in most far off lands for next to nowt.:Beach::palm:

Well depending were your going and how much you like hotels you can drop the camp and cook gear. I have spent a few nights sleeping in my gear. You dont need than much cloths gust what need on the bike. A extra pair of shoes? in the bin with them. Medical kit keep it small a few pain pills and tape. A bar of soap and toothbrush and paste a razor. Your paper work a small knife and a few credit cards and your good. Your tools and parts will be more than the things you need, so get a cheap good used local bike and do away with that.

I have done 10,000 miles that way a little bag on the back on the seat not a big trip just around the US. I see no reason it cant be done all the way down the Americas. If the local population dose not need it you can do with out it to.

I do like to take more and camping on a bike seems just right cooking a small dinner and night and morning coffee makes traviling more enjoyable for me.

One way to pack is to go to area that has plenty of shops such as USA, Canada, the EU and take nothing. Buy things as need see how long you can do with out it. If you can deal with out having it for a week or two you dont need it. I want to try this get a used little bike up to 250cc or so head south shop for gear at secondhand shops and what I find the road on the way, see how cheap I can go see how far down I can make it before I get tired of it.

As far as muti impliments most I find so poor in usability I dont see taking them at all like a spork. but if you like them mega sporting good shop have lots.(REI) I cut up my food smaller uses less gas to cook, a pot with a lid that can be used as pan is a good use of space. Chopsticks to eat and prep bout as useful as your going to find dump the spoon drink out of pot or a cup make more stews and soups more filling and the boild water is safer. A good stove that use the gas from your tank will reduce the need for fule storage. Buy food local cooking it will kill most bugs be ready to not eat for a day or two (food bars and water alwas nice to have).
Riding gear go with liners and rain proof over gear you kit will be bigger but bulk will be cut down. I have a all in one riding gear and cant see taking it on a long trip vary bulky not useful in varying weather end up taking two sets of gear or wish I had still day in and day out my curent set is grate for the price.
As far as tents there is a real push in the ultra light tarp camping set I cant see a fault in there gear. Light small and uasble in most any situation If I get over paying $200 to $300 or so for what looks like a $20 worth of stuff I may go with it. In sleeping bags most people over do and pack it poorly get a good bag rated below what your going to need and get a silk liner, use a compreshion bag for it, it can cut the room it uses by half. Do not sleep in the bag with your riding gear on. You sweat all day even if its cold out, get a set of thermal underwear and only sleep in them wool or the new stuff light and packs down.
For clothing dump the cotton it holds sweat and dose a poor Job in cooling or keeping you warm and dose not pack down as much. A good synthetic will do much better, nylon pants are good to. Merino wool a water proof sell and synthetics will save you space and even add to your comfort.

You can take less. Small light and fast you may not look like the overloaded overlander but you will get by. can you Deal with alwas want something but never having it?
Use compreshion bags. In hard case it may be better not to compress the bags as the bags will compress together tighter than they do if you compress each one, they use all avalable space in the case.
Use more usefull gear. Your kit may have more items but take up less space over all. A tarp and string for a tent.

socks and jocks
 

two pair of each has sorted me for a year on the road.

(jocks are underpants where i'm from)

cheers,
andy.

Always feel like a toddler eating his first bowl of mush when I'm using one of those. Probably looks like it too.:blush:

Three months on, three months off - turn them inside out and start over.

If you decide to ride a motorcycle, i'd suggest keeping a good tool kit, tire irons, spare tubes and patch kit and a pump. These are things you just can't "improvise".

I normally split my stuff down into 3 areas

Me
Bike
Travel

Me, all my cloths and needs. Cloths, normally at least 2 if not some extra changes of cloths, and a change of shoes. Some med stuff and other bits and bobs, food can be bought out, tent can be kept small, all sleeping stuff can be small etc etc. I find this area the easiest to change but all depends on money, more money less you travel with or more money the easier/small/lighter amount of load you carry.

Bike, this doesnt normally go up or down much. Simple tools that will change a wheel/tyre etc etc if its a massive job someone else can do it. Always try and make sure you have some sort of cover incase something happens

Travel, all the documents, information, cameras, bits and pieces you pick up along the way. Most of these are normally documents you need to bring so cant be left, and all the other bits are so small you dont notice them.