Revealing Rucksack - a bit of fun!

[Sparklebug]

What does your rucksack and its contents say about you? Whilst answering a post on another thread I realised I carry A LOT, everyday, in my rucksack.

So what do you lot carry? Are you all as over cautious as me, or do you throw caution to the wind?!!

My rucksack is a blue 30L Lowe Alpine adjustable back (far too many zips) and has the following most days:

Flask of something HOT
Gloves, Hat, Spare fleece/socks depending on weather!
Over trousers
Lighter, first aid kit, lots of plasters (JIC),
Whistle
2 beautifully compactly folded space blankets
Spare boot laces
Camera
Collapsable Tripod that I hardly ever can be bothered to assemble!
Emergency rations, choc or jelly babies
Dog leads
Torch
Wet wipes and Anti bacterial gel (mmmnn)
Dog poo bags
Sunglasses
A ball of some sort
Money - emergency for bus fares if needed (or nice coffee shop -yum!)
Map of area unless I know it well

I am now worried I have an illness.... I like to be prepared but this is ridiculous isn't it?

Jeez I make no wonder my back aches!

[Richard G.]

LOL, what about your spare hat and gloves, in case you lose one in the wind

I probably carry too little, to be honest, often no pack at all on well known local trails, just stuff a pair of gloves/hat in a pocket. If I'm heading into the hills for a full day though, it's probably something like:

20L Alpkit pack
300ml flask of coffee for one (500ml if two)
water
food (usually just snack bars, apple, cream cheese snack pots are a favourite!)
gloves/hat
windshirt
map (a4 digital printout)/compass
iphone (which is also a mapping GPS)
camera
suncream (little plastic film canister, if I'm fortunate enough to get some sun!)

Don't need extra rainclothes, since I wear Paramo's. Don't usually bother with a torch unless I know I'll be out late, though I have a Petzl e-lite for emergencies. Not carried a first aid kit for ages, used to, but never used it.

In winter I would add:
Blizzard survival bag
Spare gloves/hat
insulated jacket (mostly for brew stops)
emergency food (Kendal mintcake or something like)
axe and spikes, if necessary

So, I don't think your list is so bad really. You can easily lighten the load with things like a windshirt, which weighs next to nothing and is really effective, instead of a fleece. Lightweight footwear makes a big difference too, no need for heavy boots most of the time.

[nigel_b]

Nowhere near enough gadgets.

No GPS, or a second one in case the first fails?

No multi-tools? What happens if you find a horse with a stone in its hoof?

[theresa dockery]

Whenever I go camping, I can NEVER cut the list down to a more manageable weight. Everything becomes an essential item.

It often seems like I'm carrying my own weight up mountains

My tactic now (for camping trips) is to carry my rucksack part of the way, hide the rucksack (with food, tent & sleeping bag) in the bushes/bracken off the beaten track, go hillwalking all day, and then return in the late evening to collect my bag and set camp.

I lolled at the 'spare bootlaces'!
There are some eventualities you can't prepare for - last summer I walked the soles off my hiking boots - literally
I should have brought back-up boots

Anyway, everyone knows: it's the one thing you don't bring that you end up needing most.

[earthdragon64]

Typically in my rucksack for walking;
Flask of hot drink, - winter only
Water,
Food plus emergency,
Spare Laces,
Spare Socks,
Hat,
Neck Gaiter,
Gloves, 1 light pair, 1 heavier pair,
Map,
First Aid Kit including painkillers, imodium, crepe bandage,
Water purification tablets,
Space blanket,
Whistle,
Weather-proof matches & tinder, lighter as back-up,
Trek towels x2,
No water hand wash,
Compact Camera & spare batteries (Which also fit my GPS),
Wind-up torch.

I wear a waterproof Paramo coat and trousers so don't need extras of those, although in summer I may wear lightweight gear and carry waterproofs instead of the hat and gloves, it depends where I'm going and what the weather is doing.

In my pockets;
GPS,
Notebook & pen
2 proper hankies,
Pack of paper hankies,
1 small penknife,
1 larger, multi-tool penknife,
Mobile phone.

I also may have bins and a bigger camera, depends whether I'm just walking or looking for wildlife. On low to mid-level walks, particularly in summer, I'll have less, in winter or high level walks, I'll have extra clothes.

Regards, Audrey.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by Sparklebug

What does your rucksack and its contents say about you? Whilst answering a post on another thread I realised I carry A LOT, everyday, in my rucksack.

So what do you lot carry? Are you all as over cautious as me, or do you throw caution to the wind?!!

My rucksack is a blue 30L Lowe Alpine adjustable back (far too many zips) and has the following most days:

Flask of something HOT
Gloves, Hat, Spare fleece/socks depending on weather!
Over trousers
Lighter, first aid kit, lots of plasters (JIC),
Whistle
2 beautifully compactly folded space blankets
Spare boot laces
Camera
Collapsable Tripod that I hardly ever can be bothered to assemble!
Emergency rations, choc or jelly babies
Dog leads
Torch
Wet wipes and Anti bacterial gel (mmmnn)
Dog poo bags
Sunglasses
A ball of some sort
Money - emergency for bus fares if needed (or nice coffee shop -yum!)
Map of area unless I know it well

I am now worried I have an illness.... I like to be prepared but this is ridiculous isn't it?

Jeez I make no wonder my back aches!

I've emboldened the ones we have in common.

The gloves will be in my pocket. I rarely leave money in a bag, that will be in a pocket too, as will a multi-tool knife. No plasters or first aid kit, but I do have a tick remover.

Here's what else I might have:
Mozzy face net
Skin-so-soft
Jungle formula repellent (you get the picture)
Toilet roll
Food, and more food if the other half is coming. I should add that the flask is very large (1.9 l?)
Many types of waterproof tube for collections
Ruler
Spare compass (no silly GPS, LOL)

The rucksack is not where I keep expensive stuff and spare stuff:- my bins and camera and loupe and best compass. I really, really get lost without a compass, so need two. And my seat fits over my back, as this is an essential item that enables me to sit still and blend in for hours on end.

There is a torch on the OH's key ring and I wouldn't go out after dark on my own, so that's OK.

Things I have never used: tick remover (praise the lord) and face net.

Things I should include: mirror and comb in case I scare someone to death one day.

[Paul mabbott]

Only one person takes a notebook?

[Deb London]

I have a proper notebook (but always carry paper, pencils and a rubber anyway, wherever I am). I use it for the birdwatching mainly. Not kept in my rucksack though.

Other things in my rucksack include a reel of insulation tape (a million and one uses) spare plastic bags and some cutlery. I think that's it.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Deb London

.........
The rucksack is not where I keep expensive stuff and spare stuff:- my bins and camera and loupe and best compass. I really, really get lost without a compass, so need two. And my seat fits over my back, as this is an essential item that enables me to sit still and blend in for hours on end.
........

Where do you keep these other things?
I wouldn't be surprised if you had a string of porters for that lot!

Mine's easy:
map
water
camera
loupe
notebook & pencil
collecting pots

[Jim Ford]

Walkers tend to carry emergency rations that they like. Consequently, they get dipped into and don't last long. There is a school of thought that says that you should choose emergency rations that you don't like. This means that they'll last, and only be used in an emergency!

Jim