My wife's comment about my 'emergency' gear pile made me laugh and then think.

I was sorting my stuff in the garage, getting ready for a trip to the White Mountains, and she pointed at my big pile of backup gear. She said, 'You know, you pack like you're expecting to get hit by a meteor and then have to rebuild civilization from scratch.' It was funny, but it hit different because she was right. I had three ways to start a fire, two extra tarps, and a full roll of duct tape, all for a two-night trip. I realized I was packing for every disaster movie plot, not for a normal hike. It made me rethink what 'prepared' really means versus just being weighed down. Has anyone else had a moment where someone called out your over-packing in a way that actually stuck with you?

4 comments

4 Comments

angelaw782mo ago

My brother once asked if my camping bag had a spare kitchen sink in the bottom. He was joking, but it made me look at all the single-use items I never touched. There's a line between being ready and just carrying your fears in your pack. I read a blog by a long distance hiker who said to lay everything out and remove three things, no matter what. It forces you to question what you actually need.

angelarivera2mo ago

My first aid kit had three rolls of gauze for one person... I'm not a mummy.

charles64010d ago

Three rolls of gauze for one person @angelarivera? Were you planning on mummifying a whole hiking group or what?

the_anthony2mo ago

That "carrying your fears in your pack" line is spot on. I started asking myself "what's the actual worst case here?" for each item. A broken strap? Duct tape on my trekking pole fixes that, I don't need a whole repair kit. It cut my pack weight by a stupid amount.