Rucksack Weight

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm off to the Pyrenees tomorrow with a one man tent, sleeping bag and

food

Quoted message said:

etc. I've only packed two pairs of underpants and my sack is weighing

in at

Quoted message said:

32lbs and I've still got water to carry(two platypus things) which

will be

Quoted message said:

5-10lbs.

How much do others carry on a two weeks trip?

About 23lbs all included, aiming to restock with food every 4 days or
so.

"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm off to the Pyrenees tomorrow with a one man tent, sleeping bag and

food

Quoted message said:

etc. I've only packed two pairs of underpants and my sack is weighing

in at

Quoted message said:

32lbs and I've still got water to carry(two platypus things) which

will be

Quoted message said:

5-10lbs.

How much do others carry on a two weeks trip?

About 23lbs all included, aiming to restock with food every 4 days or
so.

What do you carry? I'm taking food packs(Wayfarer)

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:11:10 +0100, "Michael Hobby"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm off to the Pyrenees tomorrow with a one man tent, sleeping bag and

food

Quoted message said:

etc. I've only packed two pairs of underpants and my sack is weighing

in at

Quoted message said:

32lbs and I've still got water to carry(two platypus things) which

will be

Quoted message said:

5-10lbs.

How much do others carry on a two weeks trip?

About 23lbs all included, aiming to restock with food every 4 days or
so.

What do you carry? I'm taking food packs(Wayfarer)

Hi there,

I've done two 2 week backpacks in the last 8 months. I carried about
15kg on the first, and (uh-oh) a little more on the second. Both my
walks were in the UK (Pennine Way, and trans-Scotland) so I needed a
robust tent and fairly warm sleeping bag.

I think it's reasonable to expect to carry between 10 and 15kg over
here for a 2 week backpack. It's certainly possible to carry less - I
met a bloke doing the Scotland walk who had 7.5kg (I don't think that
included water, but it may have done) - but I think it's difficult to
take much less than 12kg in the UK (including food & water) unless you
take virtually nothing with you, and that's assuming you have fairly
light basics (pack, tent, mattress, sleeping bag).

In the Pyrenees you may be able to get away with less weight, but I've
never walked there so I'm not sure.

What are you carrying?

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How much do others carry on a two weeks trip?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

About 23lbs all included, aiming to restock with food every 4 days

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so.

Quoted message said:

What do you carry? I'm taking food packs(Wayfarer)

Foodwise? Stuff that doesn't need cooking. Bread, crisps, chocolate,
biscuits, nuts, fruitcake...whatever good healthy stuff like that first
catches my eye in Safeways.

AndyP said:

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> How much do others carry on a two weeks trip?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

About 23lbs all included, aiming to restock with food every 4 days

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so.

Quoted message said:

What do you carry? I'm taking food packs(Wayfarer)

Foodwise? Stuff that doesn't need cooking. Bread, crisps, chocolate,
biscuits, nuts, fruitcake...whatever good healthy stuff like that first
catches my eye in Safeways.

A small amount of real Food (TM) and the bulk of it dehydrated. These
are not mutually excusive of course but you need to cut down the
ammount of water you are carrying about. So ditch those Wayfarers they
may be tasty and easy to cook but they weigh a ton.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Quoted message said:

Foodwise? Stuff that doesn't need cooking. Bread, crisps, chocolate,
biscuits, nuts, fruitcake...whatever good healthy stuff like that first
catches my eye in Safeways.

Nuts have a huge weight to calorie value.

Stop at huts and villages a lot.

Nick

Michael Hobby said:

What do you carry? I'm taking food packs(Wayfarer)

Roos did a fair bit of hunting for light food recently as we were
pinching grammes for the LAMM. Wayfarer stuff was rejected out of hand,
because it isn't any lighter than alternatives being boil in the bag
rather than dehydrated (I'm assuming the Wayfarer packs she found were
what they do and there isn't a dehydrated line that wasn't in stock
where she looked). It should be convenient, but it won't be any lighter.

Neither of us saw much point. Though it's convenient we're not bothered
by preparing our own Real Food and sealing it up or taking ingredients
to do it properly on site.

We used Reiter dehydrated packs. You just add boiling water to the
packet and leave for 5-10 minutes. They tasted remarkably like food,
though aren't as good as fresh food well prepared, but then nothing much
out of a packet will be.

When we were ski touring in Norway we were trying to keep food weight
down. You get the basic food from the hut provisions rooms, but that
gets a bit monotonous and Roos prepared various sachets of dehydrated
stuff to add in. You can often get a selection in health food shops.

So, dehydration and local resupply are the two keys to reduced food
weight. You need water to rehydrate, of course, but check on water
resupply options before trying to carry everything you need with you.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

So, dehydration and local resupply are the two keys to reduced food
weight. You need water to rehydrate, of course, but check on water
resupply options before trying to carry everything you need with you.

Another factor is cooking time and efficiency. For the LAMM we wanted to
carry as little fuel as possible, and no pans, while in Norway taking
something that needs to simmer for an hour isn't a problem on the stove in
the hut, or assembling a dish using lots of pans and pots.

Roos

Peter Clinch said:

We used Reiter dehydrated packs. You just add boiling water to the
packet and leave for 5-10 minutes. They tasted remarkably like food,
though aren't as good as fresh food well prepared, but then nothing much
out of a packet will be.

Hmm. We had those too and they were awful. The chilli was so bad
that neither us not our friends could stomach it and it went straight
into the loo trench. Maybe some other varieties are better but we all
agreed that Rob's Pot Noodle and Mash was preferable!

My 2d

S.

--
Stop ID cards and the Database State
http://www.no2id.net/

"Simon Caldwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

We used Reiter dehydrated packs. You just add boiling water to the
packet and leave for 5-10 minutes. They tasted remarkably like food,
though aren't as good as fresh food well prepared, but then nothing much
out of a packet will be.

Hmm. We had those too and they were awful. The chilli was so bad
that neither us not our friends could stomach it and it went straight
into the loo trench. Maybe some other varieties are better but we all
agreed that Rob's Pot Noodle and Mash was preferable!

Oooh, thanks for the warning! Am currently looking at food options for my
Yorkshire coast/half Cleveland Way trip in September and so far the plan is;
Wayfayrer as emergency supply,
have take-away or pub meals when appropriate,
and buy in shops en-route for other meals (mainly breakfasts).

Are there any "regional delicacies" I might find in Yorkshire which could be
best avoided?

Nick

Simon Caldwell said:

Hmm. We had those too and they were awful. The chilli was so bad
that neither us not our friends could stomach it and it went straight
into the loo trench. Maybe some other varieties are better

We had beef strog and I think the veg risotto. Both were okay,
exceeding our expectations as to closeness to food. And we were back at
the Event Centre after surrendering, so I could have popped down to the
Spar by the ferry for something better if they'd really been [censored].

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Nick Pedley said:

Oooh, thanks for the warning! Am currently looking at food options for my
Yorkshire coast/half Cleveland Way trip in September

I rather like Beanfeast with either Smash or couscous. It's very light
and takes up very little space, too.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

Peter Clinch said:

We had beef strog and I think the veg risotto. Both were okay,
exceeding our expectations as to closeness to food. And we were back at
the Event Centre after surrendering, so I could have popped down to the
Spar by the ferry for something better if they'd really been [censored].

I guess they vary a lot. Actually the chicken risotto wasn't too bad,
even though the chicken was crunchy. But given the price I'd expect
them to be better than 'not too bad'!

S.

--
Stop ID cards and the Database State
http://www.no2id.net/

Nick Pedley said:

Wayfayrer as emergency supply,

rather heavy for an emergency supply I'd have thought?

S.

--
Stop ID cards and the Database State
http://www.no2id.net/

Simon Caldwell said:

I guess they vary a lot. Actually the chicken risotto wasn't too bad,
even though the chicken was crunchy. But given the price I'd expect
them to be better than 'not too bad'!

Up to a point, but a lot of what you're paying for is not just an edible
meal with some degree of food value but also one that can be made with
nothing extra other than hot water and a few minutes.

If you want really good dehydrated food then get dehydrated ingredients
separately (either from health food shops or get a dehydrator for
yourself, no idea what they cost) and roll yer own, though note that the
preparation time and effort will increase a lot, and individual dried
veg from health food shops will probably cost a pile as well :-(

Point noted to avoid the Chile though!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Fri, 01 Jul 2005 06:55:28 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oooh, thanks for the warning! Am currently looking at food options for my
Yorkshire coast/half Cleveland Way trip in September

I rather like Beanfeast with either Smash or couscous. It's very light
and takes up very little space, too.

But it has a ridiculously long simmer time - 20 minutes, IIRC.

Do you follow the instructions or just add enough water and cook for
long enough to make it edible? (I know how to put a lid on my pan and
leave it to cook with short bursts from the stove but hardly think
it's worth it for Beanfeast!)

Judith

On Fri, 01 Jul 2005 06:55:28 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oooh, thanks for the warning! Am currently looking at food options for my
Yorkshire coast/half Cleveland Way trip in September

I rather like Beanfeast with either Smash or couscous. It's very light
and takes up very little space, too.

But it has a ridiculously long simmer time - 20 minutes, IIRC.

Do you follow the instructions or just add enough water and cook for
long enough to make it edible? (I know how to put a lid on my pan and
leave it to cook with short bursts from the stove but hardly think
it's worth it for Beanfeast!)

Judith

Nick Pedley said:

Oooh, thanks for the warning! Am currently looking at food options for my
Yorkshire coast/half Cleveland Way trip in September and so far the plan is;
Wayfayrer as emergency supply,
have take-away or pub meals when appropriate,
and buy in shops en-route for other meals (mainly breakfasts).

I always use Trekking Manheim meals. They're quite acceptable and way less
than Wayfarer. But a trip to the supermarket will reveal a whole world of
alternative dried meals, couscous, curries and all kinds of things. Also
check out 'beanfeast' which is probably more palatable than most dehydrated
foods.

--
Andy Howell To mail simply put back the dots ...
Birmingham, UK

Judith said:

Quoted message said:

I rather like Beanfeast with either Smash or couscous. It's very light
and takes up very little space, too.

But it has a ridiculously long simmer time - 20 minutes, IIRC.

Do you follow the instructions or just add enough water and cook for
long enough to make it edible? (I know how to put a lid on my pan and
leave it to cook with short bursts from the stove but hardly think
it's worth it for Beanfeast!)

I conducted a few cunning experiments before I first took it away, and
this is how it works.

1. First fill the pan with enough water for both Beanfeast and Smash,
and bring to boil.
2. Add Smash and swirl around into a sort of unappetising looking
slurry.
3. Add Beanfeast and try to mash out the lumps with the spoon.
4. Return to gas and bring to boil (takes about a minute).
5. Put lid on, turn off gas and leave it for about 5 minutes.
6. Eat. Yum!

That doesn't cook the beans through in the chilli version, but the
savoury mince one is fine. In any event, I quite like crunching the
beans 🙂

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk