Recommendation for lighter weight farther

Hello. This is the staff of Chofu Parco.

In the history of mountain climbing, the weight reduction of mountain trail gear is inseparable.

At present, the weight of mountain trail equipment is significantly reduced. In fact, gear weight has been reduced due to climbing etc. for a long time, but in Japan around 2010, with the rise of garage brands, the style called Ultra Light (UL) began to become popular, and now I think it has been established as a style. UL is not strictly lightweight, but it has been captured in the same way these days.

Personally, I think the biggest advantage of UL is "light and far away". I think that weight reduction reduces the burden on the body and can walk longer distances. In addition, physical strength decreases with age. It is natural that walking with the same weight as before becomes more difficult. If you are lighter at that time, you will be able to walk as light as before, even if your physical strength is falling. For older people, I would like to recommend UL.

However, if you say UL and weight reduction, it will lead to distress and accidents. Therefore, this time, I would like to introduce the weight reduction of equipment from the perspective of the staff of the climbing supplies store.

The first thing to do is to know the contents of the base weight. Base weight is the weight excluding water and food. By knowing your own base weight, you can set the direction of weight reduction. After that, we will proceed in the following order.


①Measure 2 Listing 3 Scrutiny 4 Shaving 5 Change

①Find out the weight of each gear and wear and understand how much weight you have. Without this step, I don't know where to start.

②Once you check the weight, let's list it. By doing so, you can see what you are going to the mountain with.

③Once they are lined up, scrutinize whether it is really necessary. For example, rainwear and windshell can be substituted with one rainwear. I had both cutlery and chopsticks, but only one of them. The decision here is quite important, and if you make a mistake here, it will affect the process after this. It is neither UL nor weight reduction, but it is just a shortage of belongings.

④If you scrutinize it, you will reduce what you can cut. We cannot reduce the required gears, but we will reduce the weight by reducing the number of substitutes.

⑤In order to further reduce the weight, we will replace the current equipment with a lighter one. The effect is the highest method, but this method is the last because it costs money.

We measure weight reduction in this order, but what should be noted in this is that we do not cut things that should not be cut.

For example, not only rainwear, but also headlights and emergency kits are essential carry items. I walk at noon, so I don't take my headlights. I don't take an emergency kit because I won't get hurt. I won't bring rainwear because it's a clear forecast. The above actions are absolutely NG because they will not be able to do anything in case of emergency. It's not lightening, but just stupidity.

In addition, food and water are difficult to replace. Realistically, the amount of water is recommended. In addition, if you do not take calories, you will become a hanger knock and you will not be able to act. Water can be procured locally with a water purifier, and food can be reduced in weight by energy bars, etc., but it is impossible to eliminate it. Therefore, these two are not included in the base weight.

The Chofu Parco store does not handle the UL brand, but there are many lightweight gears at each brand. Here are some specific examples.

THE NORTH FACE / Climlight Jacket (Rainwear) 315g
Swallowtail Hoodie (wind shell) 140g
Total of 455g
→Venture jacket
235ｇ
＝-220

The two holdings of rainwear and wind shell are replaced with a lightweight, waterproof jacket like a wind shell.

MILLET / Tiffon Warm Next Stretch Trek Pants 352g
＝-352ｇ

The top and bottom of the rainwear is a must-have item, but if you wear it, you can reduce it as it is. Although this wear is a rain pants, it can be used as a trekking pants, so you can use it like this.

Karriminor/ridge 30+ 1,430g
→Gregory / Miko 25 962g
＝-468ｇ

As you cut the gear, the size of the zack will naturally decrease. Therefore, it is possible to use a lightweight zack like this.

Total total -1040g

A simple example alone has reduced the weight of 1 kg. If you examine it further, I think it is possible to reduce the base weight to about 4 kg on a day trip. For hut nights and tent nights, it is necessary to carefully examine it, but the tent stay equipment with base weight 6.3KG is also introduced on the Arai Tent official website with 35L Zach. If you are interested, I recommend watching it.

I've written about weight reduction so far, but there's another important thing. Light weight reduction is a trade-off with comfort. If you stick to light weight and lose too much comfort, climbing will not be fun, and it will be overturned. Therefore, what is important as a way of thinking is to find a place to fall for yourself. This is the case. It should be the most fun to go to the mountains with your favorite gears and wear, such as taking a gear that is heavy even if you are heavy. Don't worry too much so that you don't get too much.

We have a wide selection of gears and wears at our shop. We also accept consultations on weight reduction. If you have any questions, please come and feel free to contact us.