mirror of
https://github.com/CaiJimmy/hugo-theme-stack.git
synced 2025-04-28 19:43:31 +08:00
77 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
77 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
+++
|
||
title = "How I Pack Light Without Giving Up Comfort"
|
||
slug = "lightweight-tips"
|
||
date = "2023-07-25"
|
||
description = "A practical look at the art of ultralight bikepacking — what to carry, what to skip, and how to stay happy without hauling the house."
|
||
categories = ["gear"]
|
||
tags = ["gear", "ultralight", "packing", "comfort", "bikepacking", "setup"]
|
||
image = "lightweight-tips.webp"
|
||
draft = false
|
||
+++
|
||
|
||
The moment I hear the word *lightweight*, I picture someone sawing a toothbrush in half with frightening intensity. But let’s not start there.
|
||
|
||
We all want to carry less on our bikes — not because it’s trendy, but because every gram we leave behind makes the ride that much sweeter. I've already rambled about why weight matters in [another post]({{< ref "why-i-prefer-to-travel-light.md" >}}). This one’s for the practical side of the obsession — five gear areas that deserve your ruthless scrutiny before you start snipping straps off your bags.
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## 1. The Bicycle
|
||
|
||
Rigid > Suspension. Every time. Suspension adds complexity and (more importantly) weight. Unless your route screams *rock garden*, skip it.
|
||
|
||
> No, Leh via national highway does not require suspension.
|
||
|
||
Gravel bikes, flat-bar road bikes, rigid hybrids — all are lighter, simpler, and friendlier to your legs and your wallet. Wide tyres act like mini suspension anyway, and they don’t break in the middle of nowhere.
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## 2. The Sleep System
|
||
|
||
Tents are great — for Instagram. But out here, a well-timed dhaba stop often beats a fiddly tent pitch. Most of India’s remote highways are dotted with dhabas that double as meal spots *and* sleep shelters.
|
||
|
||
Want to go wild? Cool. Try a **bivy** — mine weighs just 440g. That’s 1/3 of my lightest tent and has zero poles to snap. It won’t win beauty points, but it packs tight and sets up in seconds.
|
||
|
||
> A bivy is like the sleeping bag’s tougher older brother — minimal, rugged, and drama-free.
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## 3. Food, Water & Cooking Gear
|
||
|
||
Confession: I hate cooking on tours. After 80 km of riding, lighting a stove feels like penance. So I eat what I find: cold rice, rotis, parathas, bananas, boiled eggs. All roadside classics. All zero-prep.
|
||
|
||
Skip the stove, fuel, pot, and fire-starting kit — and you save kilos.
|
||
|
||
Water is heavier than your guilt — so carry just enough. Plan routes around refill points (tea stalls, pumps, villages). For the uncertain ones, carry a **LifeStraw** or **Sawyer filter**. Rain puddle? Animal trough? No problem.
|
||
|
||
Pro tip: use **more small bottles** instead of fewer large ones — it helps ration and balance weight better.
|
||
|
||
Need to add an extra bottle mount? Here's a great hack for adding a downtube bottle cage to almost any bicycle:
|
||
|
||
{{< youtube D6f4v57dwIA >}}
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## 4. Electronics & Accessories
|
||
|
||
You don’t need a film crew. Trust me.
|
||
|
||
Bring a smartphone, a power bank, and maybe an old Nokia brick phone. Use airplane mode. Charge everything with one cable. If the route’s wild, sure, carry a GPS. But don’t build a media rig.
|
||
|
||
> One lens to rule them all? It’s already on your phone.
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## 5. Clothing & Personal Items
|
||
|
||
Rule: **2 cycling kits, 1 off-bike kit.**
|
||
|
||
Alternate and wash daily. That’s it.
|
||
|
||
If something tears, you can buy a T-shirt for ₹100 anywhere. Don’t carry your entire wardrobe. Layers for warmth and a rain layer — that’s your luxury.
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
So before you take a Dremel to your toothbrush, start with these five. Real weight savings begin before the gram-counting madness. And yes, once you're hooked, there’s no going back.
|
||
|
||
I’ll leave you to it. I have a label to remove from my base layer.
|