Recently, I have been coming across lots of different articles and questions on lightweight backpacking and backcountry camping. One of the biggest topics I have seen tossed around is the idea of minimalism on the trail. I just posted a blog last week on 10 hiking and camping essentials that was basically written mostly for but not limited to folks that have no knowledge of neither of the two. I included links for food tips and good quality materials including some that are super cheap as opposed to wasting money on a brand name item. What I didn’t get into so much was the weight of these materials I was suggesting. For a camping or hiking newbie, I don’t recommend you deplete your bank account or savings just to have all the lightest weight gear out there. In this blog, I hope to briefly shed some light on the discussion about comfort and minimalism when out on the trail and maybe a few thoughts to pick your brain.

In the previous blog, I shared a link to a tent very similar to mine not because it was expensive and I might get a larger incentive but because it is super lightweight. This is one of the most lightweight tents made by Mountain Hardwear. This one, in particular, weighs in at about 2lbs 9oz. If you leave the rain fly out, you can probably shave off that 9oz easily. Yes, 9oz matters when it comes to carrying it on your back for X amount of miles. Although it’s not exactly the same design as mine, the weight is in the same range. I have a footprint with mine and use super lightweight aluminum stakes to anchor the system. The stakes and footprint easily add another 2 lbs but helps secure the anchoring and helps protect the tent floor from damages that may cause leaks. I have always used the footprint and I have never had an issue with leaks in my system. I have even been stuck inside the tent during an insane, summer thunderstorm and was pretty much floating in water, all while staying completely dry. I was actually impressed! Point being, I can justify that this company makes good quality and lightweight materials but that isn’t the objective of this article.

On a clear summer night, I can easily get by with packing the bare tent alone weighing around 2lbs but with the additional weight from the footprint and stakes, I feel more secure and comfortable. If I want to go super minimal, I usually don’t even pack the tent. I carry a double hammock pretty much every where I go. This guy weighs just short of 2 lbs and takes up less than half the space in my pack. Not only is it smaller and lighter, you’re not sleeping on the hard ground either. If I know there is no chance of rain in the forecast, this is always my first option. However, there are downsides to both of these light weight and minimal options. The tent costs significantly more and takes up more space in the pack. The footprint and stakes are additional purchases. The hammock is cheap but doesn’t provide a solid surface to sleep on and doesn’t have any external protection from the environment.

When it comes down to it, is it really all about comfort? Are we talking about emotional or physical comfort? Does minimalism sacrifice this comfort? After all, you are carrying a fair amount of weight on your back while hiking. Even without a pack at all, this can be strenuous and might not be very comfortable for some folks especially after an extended period of time. Then, factor in the incline and terrain. And what exactly is minimalism anyway? A loose definition can be summed up as simply living with less. Sounds like a sacrifice, right? Mark Manson brings a great point to the surface in his article about minimalism that we as humans feel a greater feeling of loss from losing something than the feeling of satisfaction we get from keeping that same object. Of course, there is a physical feeling of comfort when being out on the trail. I stress this in my previous article specifically with boots but do we really need those two outfit changes, that small bottle of wine, that book that we will probably never open, or that entire bag of trail mix? These things bring us comfort as well, although, they don’t actually provide any benefit.

When it comes to discussing minimalism vs comfort, there is no fine line between the two terms. We are all individuals with different needs. Keep in mind that needs are very different than desires. By all means, if you want to purchase a cheap 4 person tent from Walmart that weighs 10+ lbs just for you and your pup, you are more than inclined to do so. If it becomes a struggle to give up that tent because you found the deal, bought it with your hard earned cash, and simply was all your idea to get it for whatever reason, then there is obviously another struggle at bay and ultimately, your physical comfort is going to suffer. The best part about being on the trail for me is that I get to leave all of that emotional baggage somewhere else. That’s the one thing I don’t have to pack. Don’t let the emotional baggage weigh you down. Learn to let go of these insecurities. It all begins with a thought. And that is all it is, just a thought. Let it be, then move on. If I feel that I am packing something that might not be necessary, I question it immediately. Why am I bringing this? What attachment do I have with it that deems it necessary for this trip? Is it essential? How much does it weigh? And the most important question to ask yourself, will I even use it? So while you’re making your checklist, keep these questions running in the back of your mind to help ensure a fun, minimal, satisfying, and comfortable trip!