thanks for all the comments guys

Lol if you see me running through the woods you better take off running also..!!! Great video Blackie and thank you sir..!!

If you’re packing into a camp a couple times each summer and the pack weight is giving you trouble, turn your daily or weekly walks into training for your summer pack trips. If you throw 30 pounds in a pack and walk a mile or two as often as possible, beore long you’ll grow used to it and when you do pack in 5 or 8 miles with that 25 pound pack you’ll do far better with it.

I think there is a trifecta of: cost, weight, physical fitness. As an older guy who isnt in great shape, obviously lighter is better. But Im also not rich, have no ego invested, and I like kit that lasts. If I were to buy an ultralight backpack it will cost me a fortune, wear out quickly, and save me a few pounds. But I camp and hike to get fitter, so I bought an army surplus Bergan because it was cheap, built like a tank, repairable, and I can put up with the weight. I mention "ego" because up here in Scotland I see a lot of ultralight "hikers" doing the West Highland Way. They are no doubt claiming on social media that they are "hiking" the route, and not quite being honest about what they are carrying. All their gear is ultralight, they have a portage service which shuttles their tents and food ahead to the next camp site, and make out like they hiked the whole thing with everything on their backs. Now Im an old fatman and even I can do that walk if someone else is shuttling my gear in a van. I guess what Im saying is that a lot of ultralight gear is throwing money at a problem instead of using practise and fitness. For me personally its about the doing the hiking, its about enjoying the camping, its not about "capping" stuff and posting about it on Instagram. Now light gear is great, and I swear by my teeny tiny BRS micro-stove, I get it. I am merely noting that there is a huge correlation between ultralight gear and Instagram accounts, if you know what I mean. I know I sound cynical and mean-spirited, but here is an example.... Last year I did a camp at Loch Lommond where the weather got nasty. There was a pitch dedicated to the ultralight through-hikers..... two of their tents collapsed and one was half blown down, because clearly they had just bought these Gucci tents and had no idea how to put them up. Meanwhile my twenty buck tent that I bought from a supermarket, recoated and set up right, was doing just fine. Like I said ... there is a huge correlation between ultralight gear and Instagram accounts. Just saying.

I enjoyed your philosophy on this topic as I ponder light weight backpacking with a hybrid kit. Stop and smell the roses and be prepared for anything while on the move.

I’ve got my gear pretty well dialed in. It’s just carrying water that slows me down. If I can only carry a liter of water I’m fine. But dry camping I can camel up to 5 liters.

I use UL sleeping gear for the smaller form factor over the 1kg weight savings. A good point was brought up: I'm not a trail runner so how important is the weight saving actually? Most packs hold more weight than they fit anyway. Just my 2c

Great advice Blackie! As the legend Mors Kochankski said, "The more you know, the less you carry."

Pack everything in Ziploc bags to keep everything dry

Trial and error are always best teachers. Through this I’ve not always known what to do next, but pretty sure what I ought not do again. 😂😅

Good old-fashioned common sense thank you from this old timer. I personally use gorilla proof gear And I go slowly I'm there for the nature it's not a sports event Thank you . ❤❤ Yes all the different types of gear in your base camp/ supply room is to pick only what you need for the task at hand and leave the rest there for another days advertising when it may or may not be needed.

My philosophy on longer trips was to cover some ground for a day or two and set up camp for a day of rest. Do some fishing. Gather berries or other edibles. Then travel more and repeat. Camping was camping no matter how long. But an overnight or two day might just fit in a sling bag or snap sack or even a good sized fanny pack. Certainly the Vietnam Era fanny pack.

Blackie, very logical assessment of needs when it comes to "ultra light". Your explanation was excellent and very practical, backed up by decades of experience. Thanks for a great video.

This is precisely why I practice woodcraft. You bring what you need (what will actually get used) and what you "might" need (first aid, emergency kit, etc...) and not an ounce more. I don't pack ultralight, I pack ultraRIGHT and it's all weather & conditions dependent. You're not going to find me face down in the woods with a sub-10lb pack of useless gear that cost way more than a trip to Europe. I will always have a proper knife on my hip, a proper fire kit, a legit shelter, a very comfortable sleep system and a competent cook kit and that can be in my moderate weather loadout (15lb base weight in a 65L pack), my 3 season kit with a few luxury items (27lbs good down to the 20's) or my sub-freezing winter kit (35lbs). Woodsmen don't get lost...they just might get home a little later than originally expected, but the get home.

We go to the woods and outdoors to relax and enjoy and smooth it. Thanks for All You Do.

👍👍👍 .. good comment. To add .. three components of gear are inter alia .. Weight / Quality-Tech / Price .. Low / High / Low. Generally, one can have any two, but not all three. Back in the late 70's / early 80's (?), when the 'Ultralight Mindset' was gathering momentum, I read an article in my local Monthly Backpacker Magazine in which the Author stated that '50kg of lightweight gear still weighs 50kg'. A trap that many fall into is that 'because the item weighs so little, one (of more ..) can take it along'. Similar to those supermarket outings during which itty-bitty 'low price bargins' are added to the shopping trolley .. and then the unpleasant surprise at the bill at the checkout. '50kg weighs 50kg regardless'. Advice well worth taking note of .. thanks. Take care ..

Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺, thank you for your time to make these videos, muchly appreciated, thank you.

Blackie is 100% correct. Everybody that camps is guilty of too many what if's at one point. I've learned to keep a spreadsheet list of what I need on my computer that I print out before I go. They are suggestions and reminders of things to consider; not absolutes, each with a check off box for each item for when it is accounted for and another for when they are loaded in the vehicle. Even with that level of organization there are still things that get forgotten or don't get used. So near the end of every outing while it's still fresh in my mind I sit down and make notes. I call it my 'More or Less List' Needed more of this and Less of that; and when I get home I update my spreadsheet. Some are just reminders to restock an item in my kit, other's are are things I want to consider for next time. That list is also applicable to things besides camping, Picnics, Potlucks, Family Reunions, etc.

Most bush craft people like gear and camping but not long distances. They drive to a trail head or a familiar spot and hike in a few miles and camp then turn around and go home. Most distance hikers love the trail and the gear is less important. They typically hike for a week, a month or 6 months and weight is critical. Now you can fault them for traveling too fast if that's your thing BUT they can do it because they travel light. You can't if you are carrying "gear", cotton tarps, bedrolls, axe, shovel, saw and three knives. Because you can't you feel obligated to put down the light weight hikers to make yourselves look better. If that's your thing then have at it. When I was younger I used to climb mountains. Not rock climbing but simply long steep trails. Light weight became self fulfilling. Those who traveled with too much gear got to sit half way up and wait for the light weight hikers to come back so they could go back to the trail head together. They had to settle for pictures of the top rather than seeing it. But they sure had some nice gear...

Hi Blackie , greetings from Australia, thank you for your time to make this video .

The more you carry, the more you will enjoy camping. The less you carry, the more you will enjoy hiking.

Blackie, Great Video and Outstanding Information, Thanks for Sharing. I've have known people in the camping how fast and how light can I go. Thanks Again. Tim L.

Another excellent, in depth, and thorough vid, Blackie. Many thanks for the the practicality of your advice!

There is a lot of wisdom in this video. These are the exact same conclusions that I have come to. Years ago I was also the one with the heavy pack. Now that I am a bit older that weight is no longer wanted. Packing smart is the answer.

Hey Blackie! The first step in lighting the load... Don't pack a bunch of stuff! Just the essentials (first aid, fire, shelter, water, food, and the minimum tools to prepare or procure them. Cheers my brother!

Great advice! It’s very satisfying to pare down your gear to what you really need for a specific trip.

For me, I'm more into ultralight gear for the size and reduced bulk than I am the weight savings. I will usually lean towards a piece of gear that weighs more but takes up less space than one that is lighter but more bulky. Example: woopie sling is heavier than mule tape but mule tape is pretty bulky. Tyvek is extremely light but doesn't pack up well at all.

Some real pearls of wisdom in this video. Thank you, Blackie. Your experience shines through. Thank you for sharing it with us all.

Always hike your own hike! This is the perfect video. Thanks blackie always great content

Thanks for the thoughts, the thoughts you expressed on your Thursday live pretty much mimic my findings. Thanks for bringing this to light.

I have an Army canteen with stainless cup that I bought in the early 80’s, it was surplus then. I used it during my Army days in the 80’s, and I still have it now. The canteen has been replaced but the cup and cover I’ve had for 40 years and it was not new when I bought it. There is NO ultralight anything you can say that about. But I’m not a through hiker. The right tools for the job. But I do have a fantasy of hiking the AT, pulling out my canteen cup and watching the Ultra lighters heads explode.

Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing, God bless !

Good food for thought. I agree with you. Tailor your gear to your situation.. the kitchen sink isn't always necessary. 🐻

Good video Blackie. Like you, I started backpacking in the 70's and at times have played the ultralight game. Have also backed off from it after learning from at times painful experience that it didn't always allow for changing conditions or bad luck. Good, well chosen gear and knowledge of how to use it is essential.

All very good tips Blackie. I have been hiking, walking, wild camping on and off for years and this kind of thinking comes with experience, like a lot of things in life much of it is common sense. I have known people like you describe who speed run through things. Recently "walked" the Camino Santiago in Europe and I met a marathon runner who was all about how fast he could do it, in the end I had to pardon myself from his company as I wanted to take my time and like you take in the scenery and savour it. I assessed just as you are saying here what sort of trip it was going to be and carried, tarp, hammock and sleeping bag for that, and didn't bother with all the extra gear that I would have for a day or two camp out in a forest as knew it would weigh me down over 2 weeks.

Finally someone else is actually saying what I've been saying for years. Thank you Blackie. However I would disagree about them finding enjoyment. All these people are doing is virtue signaling. They are doing it for bragging rights and that's a pretty miserable way to live. Someone is always going to have a better time or they are going to lie about having a better time. Ultralight is only about impressing other people. That's why they try to have their little peer pressure gear reviews where before they go on a hike they'll lay all their crap out and have each other judge each other on it. And of course the ones with the most money who can afford the ridiculously expensive stuff will always be the top dog. I'm of the same mind as you are. I go out there to relax and enjoy nature. Not try to beat someone else's time running a race I mean Old-Timers who discovered all these places in the first place had an average of 10 Mi a day that's what they counted on. These guys looked around locating water sources, they had to hunt their own food they didn't have little devices they can push a button and get a helicopter ride out if they made bad choices. I don't like ultralight hikers that post on KZfaq they irritate the crap out of me. I try watching them and it's usually some young liberal female who doesn't know how to shut the hell up all they do is run their mouth and Sprint down a trail and they say the stupidest things you ever heard of these guys were bragging about having platforms to put their tent on and being able to talk to their little buddies in the tent next to them because they're so crowded. They also talk about carrying a lot of cash because they buy warm overpriced meals from locals making money off of them or paying to stay in I guess you would call it a hotel more like a flop house with a community bathroom that cost more than the Holiday Inn next to an amusement park I find no redeeming qualities from these people. And Blackie you have to ask yourself this who is paying for all this crap? These people aren't exactly the type to mow Lawns for extra cash and how do they survive hiking 8 months out of the year? I'll tell you how mommy and daddy is paying for all of it. It's probably the only way to get them out of their basement. These clowns strategically mail care packages to themselves so they don't have to carry very much food and they live by the skin of their teeth when carrying water even. They are bummed out if they have more than half a little water container full of water when they reach camp because they carried an extra 3 or 4 oz of water. And then they make themselves sick when they don't carry enough and barely make it to the next water supply sometimes requiring a helicopter ride out of the area. I don't know if you keep up on the kind of gear they are carrying these days. But they spend over $1,000 for a little tent that might last them a season two if they are very lucky, that is so poorly made it looks like one of the Walmart $20 tents. Except they are buying the name to flex on their little buddies. I'm guessing it's a Walmart tent that has been water treated a little better than the standard Walmart tent. Big deal you can do that yourself. I don't want a 2-oz tent maybe if it was in a survival kit that I never had to use unless it was an emergency that would be fine but these clowns live in it for 8 months at a time. These people know nothing of nature or surviving in general. They can barely boil water for their dehydrated meals and they usually carry around a tiny expensive gas cylinder to do it. They're not making real fires, they are pushing a little red button that sets the gas on fire once they turn it on. These guys are sitting in their little tents shivering in 50° weather hoping and praying they will finish the trail in two more days because they're down to their last two or three hundred miles. On average these clowns turn at least 40 miles a day if they want to pull crap like that why don't they walk from one town to another in Oklahoma we have a lot of towns that are 40 miles away and they can get a ride back home and not have to go through all this crap. They don't have to carry any food they could eat at McDonald's if they really wanted to. But I guess they can't brag about that and that's what all this comes down to. These clowns get out of college which I'm wondering how they're paying their student loans and doing all this their parents probably do that too. These are some of the most self-entitled people I have ever seen and their attitudes are disgusting. No wonder they are disappearing in the National Forest left and right. These guys have no clue on how to navigate if it worked for a little blazes on trees and well-defined Pathways sometimes covered in wood planks they would get lost and that's probably what happens to them out in the National Forest you should do a video 411 explained mystery solved . These people are helping natural selection out. It's no more mysterious than that. And they must have a death wish or something they don't even carry any kind of protection maybe they'll carry bear spray but only if it weighs 2 oz or less the real mystery of Missing 411 is that more of them aren't missing. And they rarely find the bodies because these people are stupid I don't want to be cruel but I have to tell the truth they are stupid. They have no self-survival skills. They're just in the woods with a bunch of expensive flimsy gear and they're too stupid to check the weather channel and they usually end up missing when a big storm hits. And then they do all the wrong things. I'll tell you right now Bigfoot's not getting them stupidity is. They get hypothermia in their ultra thin tent that's why they take their shoes and their clothes off and go walking out into the woods they have a false feeling of warmth at a certain point. And it's not UFOs or aliens either I don't think aliens would want these people I mean what's to be learned from probing an idiot? I mean you can already tell by looking at them that they are vegans. You don't need to take a stool sample for that it's going to come up tofu and soy almost every single time with a little bit of granola from the fancy snack bars they take along. And come on man have you heard some of their little Trail names they don't even use their real name they call themselves little fluffy gay stuff. Nothing manly or suggesting testosterone you can bet that. I'll doubt that any of them call themselves Rambo or Mr T even. They go by names like inchworm and candy cane. Evan Joe Biden has its nickname pedo Pete. It does not impress me. You may understand what they are doing as far as they are running a race, but you can never understand why they are doing it unless you suffer from the same mental illness they have along with being narcissists. Because there is no point to what they are doing. That's not an opinion that is fact what they are doing is not relaxing at all and they are always stressed out from what I see on their channels, like you said they never see the countryside. They can tell you more about the rest area they stopped in or the little hostile they spent 30 bucks for a bowl of tomato soup at. And these are the same people who vote for Joe Biden and the Democrats. So you know they're all messed up. Almost every single time I ever see a vehicle with a Democrat bumper sticker on it they always have little stickers from different Trails they have hiked. Or little marathons they have competed in. No wonder they have cults set up and down different Trails trying to recruit these morons. Even the Fanatics know that these people are lost

Greetings Blackie- You nailed it with this video in explaining the needs vs the wants. Im guilty of this too- many years ago; I used to pack everything and much, much more. The more experience can do more with less. Assessing what you have and what you absolutely need is the key here. Many folks pack with the worst case scenario in mind, which 9/10 times does not happen. As far as gear goes- I dont and try not to skimp on. Id rather carry a genuine issue poncho instead of a lighter material new age expensive fabric. I know my poncho can take a beating, so I dont mind extra weight when it comes to essential gear. Anyways- real good video and keep up the good work. Be safe out there- Stay Hydrated- Carry On-

There was a TV show, one season only called Briscoe County Jr. Brilliant. I love his hat in that show, yours is second!

The best that I've found is a combination of both ultralight and military surplus gear. I went through that exact same problem on the Appalachian Trail back in the 70's!!!

Thanks

Nailed it sir: What I Need= WIN

Thanks Blackie. I like your method of thinking about this.

I watch several ultra light thru hikers for the adventure and scenery... And what has always amazed me is how much they spend for the gear, how often they have to replace the gear, it also amazes me that very few of them cary any emergency kits, compass, map, they carry just the bare minimum and always say " we live in the modern world, if I have a problem I will just call for rescue. " very few of them think that they will get lost, injured, etc. They are like you said, looking at time, distance, and the next town. I find it sad.

I have a little of both types. All depends on what I’m doing. Day hunt on the move I go light. A week long hunt I go with more durable stuff and may not travel as far.

Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother and you are right

Great watch. I agree with ya on the ultralight stuff.

Good insight on hiking weight, very good video!!

I learned a long time ago as a Commo specialist on a long range recon team to go very light and minimal but not skimp. Once you had 14-30 days worth of Commo gear (batteries weren’t so small and light then) your portion of team gear. You water and food. There wasn’t a lot of room for snivel gear poncho, bedding, ect and you wanted it small and light. So you learned

Makes 100% sense Blackie

Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT. In Massachusetts.

Great video. You always have great advice. Thanks

A nice trick to copying the topo maps is using write in the rain copy paper. It doesn't work in most home printers but they can use it at staples. Makes them hard to rip and waterproof.

Great Vid. I always learn from your content. For me, I want to see everything and explore if I even go on just a walk and take pictures of everything. What you said about it being a state of mind is true. I can scale down to a 3L water bladder if around the urban areas with other things I carry in a belt pouch. If needed I can scale up too. You logic is sound and reason wise. Thanks. Take Care and Stay Safe.

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Great video, Blackie. I myself am guilty of bringing everything and the kitchen sink! also I have been plagued with the what if's and bringing the backup to the backups. Thanks so much for the video, makes a lot of sense. I don't want to do a 100 mile death march in record time. I want to enjoy the nature and the woods, where I feel at home and don't get enough of unfortunately. Hope you're having a good Labor Day weekend. Take care. 👍👍

Blackie, your advice is on point. Another way to put it: “you pack your fears.” The whatifs push us into bringing heavier loads. I take the time after every hike to consider what didn’t I use. What can I leave home next time without impacting safety, vs convenience & comfort.

Top 👍

Also I think many people start out taking way to much stuff. If you are dressed for the weather have some water and sandwich in your pocket you can be comfortable a long time.

I've never gotten the point of going so fast you don't SEE the trail. That's driving the freeway at 80, the only goal is reaching the destination as soon as you can. I guess you don't get speeding tickets on the Appalachian Trail...to each his own, I reckon. I'm more in you're camp, Blackie, I recall sitting on a Jr. Mountain in Tenn. Watching the sun come up on a fall morning with a cup of Coffee Royale, ☕️ (cup of percolated coffe, with a couple fingers of George Dickels in it) and some good friends. That was good, to me.

Glad I found this! I pack a surplus ALICE pack (large), my entire pack (with a 3L USMC water bladder and a surplus 2L canteen) double bit hatchet and silky saw tarp cold steel shovel, and 2 wool blankets, firebox stove and base camp Kelly kettle, as well as the usual stuff, food too. Custom made belt knife and a condor Hudson Bay camp knife. That pack will hold a weeks worth of supplies, I love it) It’s over 75lbs, my issue is, how do you get past the ‘what if I’ mental barrier? I’ve always had the same belief buy once cry once, I’ve been in situations (not survival or dangerous situations) where I’ve thought I wish I brought this or that. Lol I know that realistically, a hike and turn into life or death fast, but that’s usually from poor planning and lack of paying attention. But I have a hard time getting past that mind set. Keep up the great informative videos man!

👍 Another KZfaq Creator, “Sargevining”, has a wonderful video detailing the weight of a backpack, including the load bearing gear, using stuff that would have been available in 1913. I believe his total was 25 lbs.. Perhaps not ‘ultralight’ but darn manageable. Not bad since this load out used what was available 110 years ago.

Good info, I preached this to my ex that tried to carry way to much she didn't need. She's a regular backpacker, but packs way to much. Funny thing, she preached weight to me when we first started getting together! 😆

Great information

RE: Map reprints. Parchment paper from the kitchen will not fall apart when wet. Ink jet print has always blurred and run when wet, while Lazer printed ink does not. (Full disclosure: i have only hand drawn my maps on Parchment Paper. )

awesome as usual, great tips

My first backpacking trips were in the Boy Scouts. We had 5 mile hikes to our campground . Tents were hauled by the scoutmaster but our food , sleeping bags , clothes etc. We had to carry in our pack. My dad in his exuberance bought me an 8 quart cast iron pot to cook in . Now I still have that pot from the 60's but good Lord that thing is still heavy today.

Great breakdown.

There are 3 qualities to gear; and of the 3, you only get to pick 2. Cheap, light, and durable. If its cheap and light, it will not be durable. If its light and durable, it will not be cheap😂

I got everything in my rucksack that I need to go out I don't carry anything extra my check and I had her side is about 30 lb total weight

Problem with people today, is they want instant solutions and they are not sure of the problem other than somebody said they should. You can't go to a store and buy a suit off a rack that fits an extra large and an extra small at the same time. Stewart Edward White had an opening section on the macho guy influencing everyone to be as miserable as him by scoffing and making fun of them. Got to cut your own trail.

Those of us who served - in a "in the field" capacity - had Redundancy drilled into us... within reason. I've already eliminated the extraneous gear and pack & contents are appx 25-30lbs just the basics.

A day field trip up to the fire tower

I've heard this another way, Don't pack your fears.

I have a 1849 colt pocket and a flask and bag of balls....and a substantial Ruger side arm strapped to me ........I am starting out with more weight than Most UL hikers ;) before i even get to food and clothes.

Ultralight in the 80s, the only backpacks I knew like that were the Clubmen ones, American made, had a little Smokey The Bear on the label, one of the first brands I saw non military who did internal frames, not cheap either. Got one when I started work, was above $100, $100 was a fair (but not big) weeks wages then. It was a good backpack though not ultralight by modern standards.

I'm in the camp of I've put in a ton of miles and now my back hurts so I'm more concerned about comfort in general less weight is more comfortable. I carry more then a ultralight guy but my pack is way lighter than a typical bushcrafter. I value comfort first, followed by durability, and then finally if I can shed some weight I will. I commonly try to get out and walk with my gear before a long trip not just for exercise but to make adjustments to silence my bag and adjust my gear to avoid hotspots.

I am getting my gear ready to go up a goat trail and up a mountain to ( last) fire tower and I will go very little gear

That is nuts dood! In most cases I can go a week without food.

Remember; 3 is one and 2 is none!😁👍

I probably take to much but I always like to be prepared, but I to old to trek very far from the truck

Always remember that an ounce on your back is a pound on your feet. Pack accordingly.

When it comes to gear you've got the 3 following options but you can only pick 2: Inexpensive Durable Light Weight

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Guilty, just just don’t want to leave your cool gear at home, but you are right, never touched it, just took it for a hike. Doesn’t make sense

Weeeelllllllll..... Ive just come back from New Zealand, mountains, -1 deg c Using Gereman flectern gear, Hammock, Plash planka, Hammock under quilt, US poncho, paracord, canteen cup set, 2x pair of socks and a change of under clothes and a swiss army knife. With 1 litre of water in a canteen bottle 10 kg total. The ONLY thing thats stops me not coming out of the forest is FOOD. I dont know one plant from another and struggle to catch a fish . If I could solve that problem! why people need a 30 kg pack weight is beyond me !

It's surprising how little you need. Staying warm overnight is the thing I don't skimp on. After that I can live pretty simple.

Yrs ago I got down to a kit that fit into my vest I had .weight was around 10 lbs for two three days great vid awsome that littel comp did you nail it ????

Actually that compass is just over $11 now before tax I had to get one

Personally I am finding that surplus and yard sale gear is what I can afford then I pick through it to get what I want to carry. I was recently thinking what would be a way to lighten things

That in general i have been glad and other have been very glad i have always taken trips that keep me out for longer than a weekend like i am going on expedition. Style of humping i came up is shedding weight and making a trail of caches i can fall back on as i venture deeper. That way if tits go up, i got a trail of food and water i can hit on my way out. I refuse to be found cold and miserable by search parties if i get so lost I can't find my way back to the truck. I want to have search and rescue to find me warm, watered, fed, and comfortable. Give em as much a chance to find me alive if i get that turned around someone has to come find me or something like a snapped ankle or knee keeps me from limping back home.

I’m not concerned about lightweight I want my gear to be bombproof. I take my time in the woods so I can enjoy scenery.

That's a lot of stuff to carry around just for a cup of coffee considering your typical canteen has not only a cup but a stove to begin with. Just seems like a lot of extra expensive junk to me I mean it looks cool but it really is a waste of money and space

I suppose that the true ultralightist would go into the woods naked apart from a knife and a sarcastic expression.

You missed group three; those of us that have had 5 back surgeries and still enjoy nature, but can not carry a base load of more than 20 pounds. Everyone does not fit into your "two group" system. And don't try to kid us, you are not carrying all that heavy crap either, you are driving up to the site and dumping it off the tailgate!

80 pounds of gear …were you carrying the tripod for a M2???

My empty pack weighs 6 lbs

Diet

I'll say it another way, you need to camp like a bitch to be able to use ultralight gear or it will fail.

First and important mistake you make: there are more than 2 kind of users!!! UL is a state of mind + gear. UL in the 80's is not the same as now! Summary: it's more complex!!! Greetings from The Netherlands

It’s kinda like my Bowie Knife… do I need it? Nope. Do I got it? Yup.🫡🔪