The advice you keep hearing, “go lighter “, isn’t wrong. It’s just incomplete.
After 35 years of multi-day hiking across Tasmania, I’ve seen too many hikers cut weight from the wrong places and pay for it with cold nights, failed gear, and trips they didn’t enjoy.
Weight isn’t the enemy…. Unnecessary weight is.
Knowing the difference will change how you pack.
So today we’re looking at:
Why starting with weight is the wrong move
The two-pile system I use every time I pack
Where I refuse to cut corners… and where I get ruthless
Let’s get into it.
The First Question I Ask (Before Weight Even Comes Up)
When I’m packing, I don’t start with my gear app or spreadsheet.
I ask myself: If I get this wrong, what happens?
That’s how I split my gear:
Core Gear: The stuff where a bad call could end the trip, or end you. Shelter, sleep system, insulation, rain shell, footwear, navigation, first aid. These must be safe, reliable, and right for the conditions. Weight comes second.
Plus Gear: Comfort and convenience items. If I can leave it out without affecting safety or function, it’s on trial.
Most packing mistakes happen because hikers don’t make this distinction. Treating everything as equally negotiable or equally sacred… Well, it never works.
Why “Ultralight at All Costs” Gets People Into Trouble
There’s a version of the gear conversation that treats weight as the only variable. I get it, lighter packs are much nicer to carry.
But a featherweight kit that looks great on day one feels different on day eight, cold, wet, and tired in the Tasmanian scrub.
I’ve carried heavy gear I was grateful for. I’ve also carried light gear I wished was different. The difference wasn’t weight, it was whether I’d thought clearly about what I was actually trading.
Core gear decision: Will this perform when conditions turn bad?
Plus gear decision: Will I actually use this, every day of this trip or is it there if I’m ‘in the mood’?
Where I Get Ruthless (And Where I Don’t)
For Core gear, I don’t cut corners. I carry a sleep system rated colder than I expect, a shell that survives the scrub, and boots my feet trust. The grams are worth it.
For Plus gear, I’m ruthless. I used to haul a full camera kit. Think multiple lenses, attachments, filters. That’s a couple of kilos of optimism. Now? One camera, one lens, one filter. And sometimes just my phone or action cam. Same shots, less regret.
Rule: If a Plus item genuinely improves sleep, recovery, or morale — it stays. If it’s “just in case,” it goes.
➡️ ACTION:
Before your next trip, lay out every item and sort it into two piles: Core and Plus.
Then go through your Plus pile and ask:
Did I use this last time?
Will I actually miss it?
Most hikers are surprised how much ends up in the Plus pile and even more surprised by how little they use.
Ready to find out where your kit stands?
🎒 Take the Multi-Day Readiness Quiz — a free, no-fluff check on whether your setup matches your hiking style.
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. Want a simple system for locking in your decisions before a hike? Not just gear, but fitness, food, route, and safety? Trail Confidence Kickstart walks you through it in four short videos. $27. Very practical. Details here.
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