go light why go
#2: Keep items loose or in small stuff sacks. PHOTO: DAVID JOHNSTON
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Take it one step at a time Remember that there are various levels of commitment and a logi-
cal order in which to do things. You don’t need to start by getting rid of all your gear right away and replacing it with the lightest titanium pots and stoves on the market. Look for the obvious things you can do to cut down on both space and weight. Don’t cut the handle off your toothbrush before you’ve weeded out your oversized tent or the 20 pounds of extra food you’re carrying.
Pack more efficiently There’s lots of space in your boat, but you need to learn
where to find it. Don’t pack everything in
large bags. Keep items loose or in small stuff sacks so they fill in the small spaces under the hatches. There are plenty of websites and books on packing your kay- ak. You will probably find that 10 to 15 per cent of your space was wasted because of poor packing.
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Fast Gear Lightening
MSR Hubba The popular, ultralight MSR Hubba, narrow with ample headroom like a slot canyon, is a wonder- ful summer tent for inland waters. For truly stormy, coastal conditions—where sand and rain can blow under the fly and into the all-mesh interior—we recommend shelling out the extra $100 or so for the new HP version, which offers more protection with even less weight. 1.5 kg (3 lbs, 3 oz). $250 Cdn/US
msrgear.com
Western Mountaineering Caribou MF
For the least possible weight and bulk, a down sleeping bag rules the roost. As a kayaker you’ve probably been advised to use synthetic insulation because you travel in a wet environment, but with careful water- proofing and quality gear, your tent should never be a wet environment. We’ve kayaked with down bags for years. Western Mountaineering, a down sleeping bag specialist for three decades, gives you another reason to convert: the Caribou MF’s shell is a microfibre with the tightest possible weave for greater durability and water repellency than the ripstop nylon found on most ultralight sleeping bags. It’s also cut wider in the chest than most mummies. Rated to 2 degrees C (35 F). Stuffs to only 15 x 30 cm (6 x 12”). 565 g (1 lb, 4 oz).
$270 US
westernmountaineering.com 46 ADVENTURE KAYAK | SUMMER 2008
Mountain Hardwear Stiletto 1 An even “svelter” shelter, the Stiletto is a three-hoop design that is not freestanding, but easy to set up with just a few pegs or tie-downs. Mountain Hardwear says it’s “rain room tested with 1,200 inches of rain in 24 hours” and guaranteed to be watertight. Again, the all-mesh design makes it best suited to sheltered environments. 1.14 kg (2 lbs, 8 oz). $400 Cdn, $325 US
mountainhardwear.com
Replace your tent First off when it comes to gear, look at getting a smaller tent. Do
you need a four-man tent if there are just two of you? If you’re using space in your tent for gear storage, keep that gear out- side or in your boat and get a smaller tent. All of your important gear should be wa- terproofed anyway for paddling. You’ll be surprised how much space you can save with a tent that packs down smaller.
>> ultralight?
> Lighter boats travel faster and are more nimble.
> Fewer trips back and forth during loading and unloading.
> Low-impact: smaller tents, less fuel and less gear are lighter on the land.
> You’ll spend less energy and be less tired at the end of the day.
> Forces you to be more organized.
> Safety through speed: by travelling more quickly you can minimize your exposure to dangerous environments and evacuate more easily in an emergency.
> Ultralight philosophy: for purists, the point of going into the wilderness is not to re-create your home life in the backcountry, but to live more simply.
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