How light can you go?

Bikers and riding
johnnyboxer
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by johnnyboxer »

Use a hostel and just carry clothes/washkit
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andymac
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by andymac »

I got a smaller top box so I cant fit as much in (thumbs)
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Tim Cullis
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by Tim Cullis »

Funny, nobody's mentioned spare inner tubes, tyre levers, tools, compressor or hand pump, etc. I think my tool kit all within a Kreiga US-10 weighs about 5kg. Then there's first aid kit.
GB wrote:I haven't actually weighed my kit :unsure: I just go on what the manufacturers say, my sleeping bag is 1.9kg and the tent is 4kg, not sure about cooking gear etc.


My sleeping bag is 750g, tent is a Mira II which weighs 1.8kg, then there's the Exped mat, Jetboil, etc. I've tried bivis and tarps but at altitude you need the warmth of a proper tent.

For really lightweight touring you have to forget about camping. When you go really lightweight you have to take flip flops instead of trainers, cut a bar of soap in half, etc. But I'd never ditch my MacBook Air. :)
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Fordy
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by Fordy »

YHA do camping barns, just turn up with a sleeping bag. Usually a pub nearby.
Tim Cullis
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by Tim Cullis »

352 hostels and bunkhouses

This is my favourite, in Stromness, Orkney.
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92kk k100lt 193214
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by 92kk k100lt 193214 »

I used to do a lot of cycle trips and had a lot of lightweight stuff. My days of sleeping on the ground are done, like an airbed and a decent tent. I have two tiny stoves like these,

http://www.rei.com/product/660004/snow- ... ove-manual

They are in plastic boxes 50 x 50 x 100 and use the standard resealable gas cartridge...buy at destination.

The airbed doubles as a chair.....



So tent sleeping chair [and pump] and cooking comes in under 5kg. Cookware, melamine plates etc spices and things like that add another 1k.

Things like bike spares, torch etc all live on the bike under the seat.
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GB
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by GB »

I have a small first aid in my handle bar bag but finding somewhere for tools has been a problem as the under seat space has a slime compressor in it, may be I should strip the casing off it?
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Willandkate
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by Willandkate »

Basically you can strip everything down to a minimal and the kit you take for 2 weeks is the same as 2 years, you just need to wash your durps occasionally :S 2 panniers, a roll bag + a top box is plenty
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bowber
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by bowber »

I've just bought my son a Derbi Senda 50. That light enough? :laugh:

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Fern
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Re: How light can you go?

Post by Fern »

its alright saying 'stay in hostels', great if you have the cash.

I've just done a 17 day tour of South Island NZ, and only stayed in a hostel (backpackers as they call them) twice... the rest of the time bush camped or used Department of Conservation campsites (about £2.50 per night if the warden catches you :woohoo: )

That saved me £225 on hostels... enough to make the trip affordable. Ferry was £130, and fuel about £300, and food £80, spent £520 for a three week trip. Kerching!

And thats not going into the 'being out in nature argument'!

My kit weighed under 30kgs this time including tools, laptop, cables, 4kg of food/booze... much better than the big trip, but at least there are bike dealers in the south in worst case scenarios.

I use my topbox as a stool, an MSR whisperlite, a very bent saucepan- no plates, one cup, and one change of clothes, towel, and makeup :-)
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