Ran into an old thru-hiker who made me rethink my whole packing list

I was grabbing coffee at the diner near the trailhead in Bishop last Saturday. This grizzled guy saw my 65-liter pack and just laughed, said he did the whole PCT with a 35-liter and a trash compactor bag. It hit different because he wasn't bragging, he just talked about how much more he saw when he wasn't constantly stopping to adjust weight. Made me wonder if I'm overpacking for my next route, has anyone else downsized and regretted or loved it?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron68415h ago

That part about "how much more he saw when he wasn't constantly stopping to adjust weight" really stuck with me too, but I think there's something off about the trash compactor bag claim. Those bags aren't really meant for backpacking long distances - they tear pretty easily once you start brushing against rocks or branches on the trail. I've seen people try it and end up with wet gear after a few days. Most folks who go ultralight use a proper pack liner made of tougher plastic, not a standard trash bag from the grocery store. The 35-liter pack idea is solid though, you can definitely trim down a lot more than you'd think. Just make sure you're not cutting weight in ways that will leave you cold or hungry when the weather turns.

cameron_owens496h ago

Man I actually read an interview with this guy from REI a while back who said the same thing about trash compactor bags. He mentioned they're fine for a weekend trip but anything longer and they start getting pin holes from all the rubbing against gear. I've seen people use those orange construction bags too and they seem to hold up better but they're heavy. The real move I heard about is using a turkey oven bag, they're super thin but surprisingly tough and only weigh like an ounce. Still though, you gotta be careful with anything plastic once you're out there for more than a few days.