Camping Tips: Saving weight with the big 3 on expeditions!

This one's aimed at people hillwalking and camping or doing through the Mountain Leader scheme. I waffle on about where we can save the most weight on expeditions. Give us a shout with any questions!
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[@johnfletcher9907]

Great vid as always but my 2p: food is the single biggest way of saving weight on the hills. For example a 2 night exped using army ration packs (at 2kg per 24hr ration pack) could mean 4-5kg of food!! Compared against a lightweight ration of breakfast bars, dehydrated meals, and energy gels possibly totalling around 1-1.5kg. So for anybody looking to save serious weight without spending a fortune on Cuban fibre tents or nasa approved down sleeping bags should start with addressing the weight of the food they carry I reckon.

[@peteryoung9772]

You're bang on - everything is a compromise. Spent many a day before ML training and assessment faffing around with different gear setups and thinking really hard whether I went comfort/convenience or light on each item. Hardest thing I found was needing to do this a week in advance so not really knowing what conditions to expect. In the end, comfort typically won out - I figured I could deal with the fatigue from hauling a little more weight, but 2 nights of crap sleep could be a deal breaker.

[@JBMountainSkills]

Haha there's so many options, I'm definitely someone who errs on the side of caution when it comes to being warm and dry!

[@andrewlarigo1423]

Working in an outdoor shop part time, you'd think I might have this nailed. But it's a constant purchase and test. My MSR was never the same after #sheepfoldgate. I've recently Bought a Tarptent Scarp 1. Still juggling and will get round to filming my kit as I'm done with carrying a heavy pack, I always feel sluggish, slow and weighted down. Great video again! Cheers!

[@JBMountainSkills]

Be keen to hear how you get on with the Tarptent!

[@andrewlarigo1423]

JB Mountain Skills I’ve popped it up in the garden. Seemed a bit faffy but after a couple of goes it was OK. Roomier than the MSR but the porch is a little shorter. But you have 2 and can adjust the floor space to increase 1 side. I’ve seen some mods so will take a view and get a proper pitch in the garden. They come highly rated so have high hopes.

[@lukethornton1942]

Some good food for thought here. My great saving is my rucksack. i use the Osprey Levity 60 for multiday expeditions as it weighs only 900g and has lots of space.

[@JBMountainSkills]

Nice, that does sound light!

[@stephenbrooks1536]

Thanks for video. I also had problems with condensation in Telemark, but mostly solved now by putting a stone under each corner post, lifting the flysheet off the ground giving additional ventilation, possibly less warm but I prefer it. Also I avoid cooking under its entrance canopy if possible. But at my age I love that it is 830g.

[@JBMountainSkills]

830g is ace isn't it! I'm even tempted by the ultralight version...

[@stephenbrooks1536]

JB Mountain Skills Can you just buy the poles on their own as fly and inner aren’t much different, as you already have the tent? Or get some made up.

[@jeremyballard7461]

Good one Jez. Trusting the properties of your clothing so you don’t have to carry so much in spare clothing is an area I have saved weight, but the big eye opener for me was food. Boil in the bag stuff is so heavy. I will possibly carry one, as they are quick to warm and you can eat them cold. I have found laying out what I think I should take helps too as I can then look at what is there and begin to pare it down, depending on the weather forecast. It is worthwhile investing some cash in good quality kit and if you look after it it tends to last. That said I am always looking for a bargain. I was surprised your Patagonia sleeping bag didn’t make an appearance!

[@JBMountainSkills]

Have you tried the freeze dried Expedition Foods in the orange bags? They're light and really nice, pretty steep price though! I flipping love that Patagucci bag, not quite the lightest one I've got though.

[@jeremyballard7461]

JB Mountain Skills Tried a few. Quite like the “Firepot” ones. I think the secret is not to be in a hurry and soak dehydrated well. Try and insulate the pouch to give the food extra time to rehydrate to stop it going cold. That’s where your coffee machine comes in; chilling time #it depends

[@exploringnorthwales7547]

When working on the DofE it always amazes me on how heavy the kit is that young people carry.

[@cornishlad97]

Leigh Williams when I did my bronze DofE I think my bag was over 17Kg if I remember correctly. Bloody heavy and the teacher said that it wasn’t unusual 🤨

[@jamieabbott9616]

As with so many things, the less you get, the more you pay! I don't blame parents for not getting the lightest kit for their kid's few days plodding in the countryside. What I do have a problem with though is when you go to the trouble of planning an expedition food evening for Explorer Scouts on only for them to turn up on a bronze practice with half a bag of spuds and 4 carrots for that night's dinner of sausage and mash 🙄🤷‍♂️

[@jamieabbott9616]

Further to my last comment re: the kids plodding. Obviously some of the kids are keen and as a leader you for your best to educate and enthuse them about the outdoors. But some are just there because they're parents said they have to do it and no amount of encouragement will convince them that walking, climbing, mountain biking or whatever is better that sitting at home on the XBOX!

[@JBMountainSkills]

It's tricky at D of E isn't it? Cheap kit usually weighs a ton. I'm sure that D of E puts loads of people off hill walking and stuff purely down to the heavy kit. Completely understand parents not wanting to spend ££££ though!

[@JBMountainSkills]

17kg Nick, ooooossshhhhh, heavy. I've walked around with a lot more, but I'd rather not!

[@wyl600]

7:00 "To compare to the heavier options" *Almost loses an arm pulling a rucksack of a table* made me chuckle :)

[@JBMountainSkills]

Happy to have amused!

[@Vicentecarmonagonza]

👍👍👏👏

[@andymarsh3099]

In order to reduce weight what’s your view on tents using walking poles instead of normal tent poles? Thanks

[@JBMountainSkills]

I haven't used them I'm afraid. My concern is they seem harder to pitch well, without being flappy etc.

[@andrewlarigo1423]

I meant to ask about your Patagonia sleeping bag. I was looking at their -19F bag against ME bags. Recommended?

[@JBMountainSkills]

The Patagonia one is lush, highly recommended!

[@andrewlarigo1423]

JB Mountain Skills Reviews look good. I’ll see about that? After this video I started looking at my kit. I’m on a ‘light is right’ being a whippet but I also want to be warm!

[@tomgreene2282]

What weight is the properly loaded ML backpack? 15 kg??