Re: the newbie ?

People want to cut weight because it allows them to travel faster, resupply
less on long trips, and often is more comfortable (although not always). I
think for most people, the end goal is not minimizing weight or amount of
gear, it's minimizing weight without sacrificing too much comfort or
safety. Where that line is drawn depends heavily on who you talk to .Many
people get really proud of shaving those few ounces here and there. As a
beginner myself, it sometimes seems like that it is an end to itself, but
if you ask people, there really are two driving questions behind this:

1) It's debatable what you really need. Do you really need a toothbrush? A
backup flashlight? More than one type of water purification? It really
depends on what type of backpacking you do (e.g. location, time of year,
etc) and the level of comfort / risk you are willing to take. As people
gain more experience, they tend to lighten up as they better understand
their preferences.

2) Let's say you decide that you want a certain piece of gear, e.g. a
toothbrush. Are there lighter weight versions that work? Is there some
other tooth cleaning method that is even lighter and works well enough for
you?

Answer those questions, and you'll be on your way..

Hope that helps,
A

On Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 12:48 AM, bacncheesmurrder88 <
bacncheesmurrder88-/[email protected]> wrote:

> **
>
>
> so im new to the whole minimalist, lightweight backpacking scene but am no
> stranger to carrying a heavy pack over long distances, (ARMY.) i guess my
> question is... is the point to see how light you can get, or to see how
> little you can bring?
> without advise, i myself would bring just what i needed and not anything
> more, not worrying about the weight of it. but i may be missing the point
> of this style backpacking?
>
>  
>