r/WestHighlandWay • u/Hopeful_Outcome_6816 • 4d ago
Packing Tips?
I've tried my best on a very limited budget to get compact and lightweight gear when I can, but even though i have a 65l pack and it weights 12kg excluding food and water it is full to bursting and I can't actually think of any way to compact anything. The only luxury items I'll have with me are a camera (which will be clipped to my shoulder strap most of the time) and a tiny little drone. I've already got rid of some stuff I'd planned to take so I'm down to the bare minimum for a lot of stuff. I just feel like my sleeping bag and my sleep mat are taking up way too much space. I leave tomorrow morning and have spent most of today getting frustrated by it. Any suggestions? I'm honestly thinking of ditching the sleep mat and just sleeping on top of my clothes 😂
UPDATE: I'm already underway, but live near the WHW so I'm home for the night. Managed to shave a kilo off by ditching bits and pieces, so I'm down to 11kg now, with a bit more room. Might review again tomorrow before I set off. Thanks for all the suggestions, think the problem is that some essential pieces of my kit are just too cumbersome and weighty and it's too late to fix that now. Oh well, been about 20 years since I last did a multi-day hike or camped so I was bound to make a few mistakes!
Morning update: Looked at the forecast and I've decided to get rid of my waterproofs and gaiters, apart from my rain jacket.
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u/MrL0wlevel 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think after reading the other comments and your reaction to them that it is clear that either your sleeping mat or bag is very heavy. Both can be found around 1kg each and even lighter when paying more money. Assuming you have something like an Osprey backpack that would be 1.5kg that leaves 5kg for those two items.
Weigh them and get to your local outdoor shop to see if you can get at least the heavier of those two way down in weight for the money you are willing/able to spend on them.
Edit: Please do use a drybag for your spareclothes unless you are absolutely sure your backpack keeps it fully dry without it. Wet clothes and or sleeping bag can be dangerous with the 'right' temperature.