The 2kg Fear Factor: What’s Secretly Weighing Down Your Multi-Day Pack?

Is your pack heavier because of hidden fears, not just gear?

I’ve carried my own anxiety up mountains. For me, it looked like a second fleece, an extra jacket and enough socks to start a trail market.

Sound familiar?

If you're stepping up to longer hikes, here's what you need to know:

✅ Most hikers carry 2kg of invisible weight without realising it
✅ You don’t need new gear. You need a smarter system
✅ I’ll show you how to cut fear weight without losing comfort

Let’s unpack the top 3 stealth culprits and how to ditch them for good.

1. Redundant Clothing = Fear in Fabric

Extra layers are the number one culprit.

I’ve seen hikers turn up for a week-long trek with six full outfits. And yep, I’ve packed the “what-if-it-snows” extra layers too.

Here’s what works for me on most 5–7 day trips (excluding winter and cold shoulder season trips):

My Clothing System:

🧦 3 pairs of socks
👚 1 thermal set
👕 1 backup thermal top
🧥 1 fleece
🦺 1 insulated jacket
🌧️ 1 rain shell

That’s it. Wash, rotate, repeat. If it’s not pulling its weight, it stays home.

➡️ ACTION: Lay out your clothing and ask:
“Did I use this last time? Will I miss it if it’s not there?”

2. Oversized First Aid = False Security

I used to pack enough gear for a mobile hospital. Splints, creams, pills… the works.

But all it really did? Weigh me down and give a false sense of control.

Now my kit fits in a couple of small Snaplock bags:

🩹 Blister care
💊 Pain relief
🤧 Antihistamine
🩻 Snake bite kit
🧵 Tape

And the real upgrade? Skills. I’ve done multiple wilderness first aid courses because confidence isn’t found in gauze.

➡️ ACTION:
Unpack your kit.
Then Google a wilderness first aid course near you.
Swap bulk for brainpower.

3. Backup Meals = Anxiety Calories

Last-minute food panic is a real trap.

I used to pack 1kg of food per day and I normally had at least 1kg left over at the end. Once I started tracking, I found I only needed 700–800g. Same energy. 3kg saved on a 10-day hike.

➡️ ACTION:
Log what you actually eat on your next hike.
Then plan future meals based on reality, not fear.

Ready to ditch the fear weight?

🎒 Take my Multi-Day Readiness Quiz. It’s like a bouncer for your gear list.
Only the essentials get in. The freeloaders stay home.

THAT’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK

Thanks for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope this helps you hike further and happier.

Until next week, keep exploring.

Mowser

Discover more. Hike further.

P.S. Camp chairs, extra fleeces, camera gear… next week, I’ll show you how to use the Core vs Plus method to streamline your comfort kit without sacrificing joy or safety.