Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

What is considered lightweight for a week of trekking?

I’m doing C2C in August - some camping, some hosteling. I anticipate having less than 15kg in my pack on a daily basis but I’ve not done much research so far on how much we can rely on shops being open and how much food we’ll need to carry.

I’ve done almost zero walking with my full rucksack yet. I probably need to start factoring that in.

When I did the SDW a couple of years ago I had about 14Kg including water. I could have taken a couple of kilos off that by different food and cooking choices. I took enough fuel and food for the trip, and a bit extra, but ended up eating out almost every night. I usually like those shop-bought flapjacks - lots of oats and glucose - so I took along loads of those - only to find they turned my stomach on the trip. I threw them away on the last day, and my pack weight reduced by over a kilo.

Basically try and get out and use all your kit a few times before the C2C, so you will know how you like to camp, and what's important to you in terms of comfort etc.

What is considered lightweight for a week of trekking?

5kg baseweight (everything non-consumable, including your backpack, minus worn clothes)
this was enough for me to do a 28 day alpine hike with gaps between food pickup of up to 10days.
2.5kg is ultralight

Including tent / sleeping stuff / cooking stuff?

I aim for 25kg combined across two people for ten days of technical alpine stuff including all kit/rope. Staying in mountain huts so minimal sleeping gear and food requirements.

I guess this is a "how long is a piece of string" type of question.

I was going to suggest Cat Bells as well! Such a lovely walk, and you get the 'thrill' of a ridge walk albeit nothing particularly thrilling about it. You'll be up there with loads of others. The walk around Buttermere is also classic and doable in 2 hours, but again it won't be quiet. Try and squeeze some more time to get up Skiddaw or Blencathra if you can!

Thanks for the Cat Bells suggestion - I'd forgotten about that. Done before but definitely worth another go for the views.

The place we're staying is at the base of Skiddaw, so might try for that as well, will see how we get on.

The most I carried on my 25 ish day hike was about 16kg (including water) and that felt tough. Definitely check out what food you'll need to carry and what you can just re-stock on, makes a huge difference. I relied on dehydrated food (most of it surprisingly tasty) as we were using posted resupplies - no shops available.

Generally accepted that lightweight is under 20lb/9kg, ultra is 10lb/4.5kg, superultra is less than 5lb/2.25kg.
What else are you taking other than shelter/sleep/cooking?
If you are thinking about food, Idahoan instant mash potato is fantastic.

Eating this after a long day where we fitted in an extra few miles over target was quite literally one of my best food experiences, including restaurants etc:

https://backpackerspantry.com/products/pad-thai

Had little packets of roasted peanuts, dehydrated lime juice and a mini sriacha. I still think about it. More than I should, probably.

Ooo, I hadn't even thought about trying to do a pad thai. Might be sticking that in the dehydrator.

Are these guys paying for their own kit?

The think a couple of them are sponsored now, but weren’t previously. Absolute tight arses wearing rags generally, but spenny kit seemed to be the exception, which would then be used to destruction.

It’s all very personal either way. Some like the comfort, some like trying to push the absolute limit of what they can get away with.

I like being so mediocre it doesn’t really matter.

What else are you taking other than shelter/sleep/cooking?

A few clothes, maps, torch, toiletries, travel towel. I’m happy to eat at pubs most nights but fuck ever being hungry with days of up to 26 miles. I’d much rather carry an extra kilo. I refuse to travel without coffee too.

I’m going to be at 4.7kg with my rucksack, tent, mat and sleeping bag alone

Basically try and get out and use all your kit a few times before the C2C, so you will know how you like to camp, and what's important to you in terms of comfort etc.

We’ve had to rethink this because of lockdown. I’ve been walking loads (our dogs are knackered) but it won’t be until next month we get to do a walk>camp>walk>camp>walk trip.

I can’t wait to try all my stuff out.

When we did the SWCP, we tried out A to Z Adventure Series books for mapping. They contain just the bits that the path uses, so cuts bulk down. They were so good that we used them for the Cotswolds Way and Exmoor, and will for any of the other paths we do.

We tried the Decathlon rice and curry hiking meal at weekend, but had to supplement with instant mash, as it was just a bit 'meh' bulk wise.

Are we talking drip filter coffee or nescafe hotel specials?

I’ve got a titanium French press for coffee. I like it strong but can’t drink instant as it makes me really shaky.

I didn’t know about the AZ adventure map. Just looked and it seems to be 1:25000. We were going to buy the explorer series (off eBay) for that reason so that will certainly save us some weight. My ex Navy mate will be doing all the map/compass reading so I’ve not had to put a lot of thought in.

Helpfully the YHA have cancelled two nights of hostel accommodation so we’re now camping for more of this than planned, including the night between two 26 like days. At least I know I’ll sleep that night.

Including tent / sleeping stuff / cooking stuff?

yes, including everything
eating proper food with virtually no single-use plastic or nonsense like that.

not that hard really, most of my stuff came from decathlon or ebay.
idiots spend a lot on many things in fancy materials, the enlightened pack few things.
walking is miserable with more weight, so why not take the least things you personally need?

here's my gear list from that trip, feel free to follow along at home

https://lighterpack.com/r/cyp5kh

Timely-ish

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Not really sure if this fits in this thread but not sure it fits anywhere else. Not sure if any of you have been following SlowWays but are launching the website with the routes tomorrow, hope to test and feedback on some local ones to me

https://twitter.com/SlowWaysUK/status/1385151240397631494

Booked in to several campsites for 4 days of South Downs Way in June, we are going for slow and steady carrying kit for nice dinners etc. Would be nice to pick up some beers along the way, so I'll be keeping eye out as we go. Not worried about carry weight, or long distances, it's been so long without any trips that this felt a nice way to ease in.

We are heading east to west, any spots I should mark on to our route that will not be obvious?

That’s cool, have you been involved?

No just been following along for the last few months while they have been calling for volunteers to test out routes once it goes live. I am expecting it will just show me a bunch of routes I already know locally but am hoping it will throw up some surprises from locals with better knowledge of the area.

Yes, been waiting for this to go live. Gives me a good excuse to get out of the house rather than just leading MeetUp walks.

Has the soft launch been delayed as their website looks the same as yesterday?