Skeptical about ultralight gear until my pack hit 38 pounds on day one

Last summer I loaded up for a 5 day trip on the John Muir Trail with my old 65 liter pack. Weighed it at the trailhead and it came in at 38 pounds. First day was brutal, my shoulders were killing me by mile 6. A friend convinced me to swap my tent for a trekking pole shelter and ditch the camp chair. Next trip I was down to 28 pounds and it made a huge difference in how much I enjoyed the hike. Anyone else have a piece of ultralight gear they resisted trying?

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gavinross5mo ago

Man the camp chair thing is real. I carried one of those stupid heavy gravity chairs for years because I thought I needed a place to sit at camp. Finally left it home and just used my sleeping pad against a tree. Never missed it. First time I swapped my tent for a trekking pole shelter I was nervous about condensation and setup time but honestly it forced me to learn better campsite selection and I sleep way better now. That weight drop from 38 to 28 is night and day for your knees and hips.

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singh.jessica5mo ago

Ha! Oh man, I feel this in my soul. I spent three years hauling one of those massive folding camp chairs up mountains, telling myself it was "worth it for the comfort." Last trip I forgot it at the trailhead and ended up sitting on a rock for a week. Turns out I don't actually need a throne, just a place to park my butt for five minutes before I crawl into my bag. Now I've got a tiny foam pad that weighs nothing and I'm way happier.

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