Pack light or pack heavy? My case for "survival mode" on multi-day hikes
Quote from Rafick on May 7, 2026, 9:11 amEvery time I head out on a multi-day, someone in the group is carrying 20+ kg. I'm usually closer to 12.
Here's my philosophy, and it's probably going to be controversial: on multi-day hikes, I go into survival mode.
I don't mean suffering. I mean accepting that a 4-day tramp isn't a picnic and shouldn't be packed like one. The logic is simple — I eat well all the time. I've got plenty of energy reserves built in from eating well year-round. I'm 74, slim, and fit — and four days of leaner eating on the trail isn't going to break me. It might actually do me good.
So I cut hard on food weight. No fresh fruit. No "treat" items that weigh 300g for 200 calories. No backup-of-the-backup. I carry what I need to keep moving and sleep warm, and that's it.
The payback is huge:
- Knees and hips thank you on the descents
- You actually enjoy the walking instead of grinding through it
- River crossings, scrambles, side trips — all easier
- You finish the day with energy left for camp, not collapsed in the hut
The pushback I get is always the same: "But what if something goes wrong?" Fair. PLB, decent layers, and basic first aid are non-negotiable. Safety gear isn't where I cut. Comfort food and "just in case" extras are.
I'm not saying everyone should pack like me. If you're a lean runner type with no reserves, you probably need more food than I do. If you're new and the extra weight gives you confidence, carry it. But for experienced trampers carrying 18-20 kg out of habit — have a hard look at what's actually in the pack.
Curious where everyone sits on this:
- What's your typical multi-day pack weight?
- What's the one item you've stopped carrying that you used to think was essential?
- And — be honest — what's in there that probably shouldn't be?
Every time I head out on a multi-day, someone in the group is carrying 20+ kg. I'm usually closer to 12.
Here's my philosophy, and it's probably going to be controversial: on multi-day hikes, I go into survival mode.
I don't mean suffering. I mean accepting that a 4-day tramp isn't a picnic and shouldn't be packed like one. The logic is simple — I eat well all the time. I've got plenty of energy reserves built in from eating well year-round. I'm 74, slim, and fit — and four days of leaner eating on the trail isn't going to break me. It might actually do me good.
So I cut hard on food weight. No fresh fruit. No "treat" items that weigh 300g for 200 calories. No backup-of-the-backup. I carry what I need to keep moving and sleep warm, and that's it.
The payback is huge:
- Knees and hips thank you on the descents
- You actually enjoy the walking instead of grinding through it
- River crossings, scrambles, side trips — all easier
- You finish the day with energy left for camp, not collapsed in the hut
The pushback I get is always the same: "But what if something goes wrong?" Fair. PLB, decent layers, and basic first aid are non-negotiable. Safety gear isn't where I cut. Comfort food and "just in case" extras are.
I'm not saying everyone should pack like me. If you're a lean runner type with no reserves, you probably need more food than I do. If you're new and the extra weight gives you confidence, carry it. But for experienced trampers carrying 18-20 kg out of habit — have a hard look at what's actually in the pack.
Curious where everyone sits on this:
- What's your typical multi-day pack weight?
- What's the one item you've stopped carrying that you used to think was essential?
- And — be honest — what's in there that probably shouldn't be?