spencer782•3d agoProlific Poster

Pro tip: Ditch the big frame pack for a 35L on short trips

Used to haul my 65L osprey on weekenders. Switched to a smaller pack after a trip in Shenandoah last spring. Anyone else downsize their gear and notice a big difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_simon3d ago

Black Mountain on the AT last fall was when I finally ditched my 70L. Best gear move I ever made for anything under 3 nights. Made me way more selective about what I actually need to carry.

alexbennett3d ago

So @the_simon, what'd you end up cutting first from that 70L to make the switch work?

mark_carr71d ago

Yeah that really hits home. @the_simon, once I downsized to a 40L for weekend trips I started noticing how much dead weight I used to carry. I ended up ditching my heavy camp chair first, then swapped my cook system for a lighter one, and finally stopped bringing extra clothes "just in case." That forced me to plan better around the weather instead of packing for every possible situation. It really changes how you think about each item when you have to actually fit it inside a smaller pack.