Light Weight Camping Equipment and How to Make It

Watching a large and enthusiastic man and his family unload their gear from the car on a recent camping trip, we became more and more fascinated trying to guess what their plans might be.

They seemed to be a family on vacation at a fairly remote lake in the Rockies, but the longer we watched the less sure we were. We werent at all sure they werent on a practice run for a projected African safari.

The man and his wife, both strong looking, pulled and tugged until they finally had a tent spread on the ground. Three strapping children staggered under the weight of rolls that could be sleeping bags, somewhat disguised.

The heap on the ground grew with cartons of canned foods, assorted hardware, clothing, ropes, packs—we finally lost track. Long after dark we could still hear these intrepid campers trying to get their tent secured and their gear stowed away.

We left camp the next morning with four days supplies on our backs and astonishment on the faces of our neighbors. They were as securely attached to their camp as if they had been nailed into position.

Repetitions of this scene have convinced us that there are many people who would like to know how to go light.

Some people, of course, want to set up a home away from home and relax without ever stirring, but many others, like our neighbors, just dont have any idea how to go light.

The following discussions and projects will remedy the situation for the neophyte and add grist to the mill for the expert.