Intentional weight loss 3: Haglöfs Goga 1S sleeping bag

This instance of weight loss item is quite straightforward. I've used a wrong "caliber" sleeping bag for years. My old faithful Joutsen Balance Special is great for lower temperatures, but in the summer (which is still my main trekking season) it's just way too warm, and obviously heavy as well (almost 2 kg!).


I bought my new summer bag, Haglöfs Goga 1S, since it's been reviewed very positively. Since the temperatures are still near 0 C, I haven't yet had chance to test it in real conditions. But the first impression is very positive. Images below show the old and new bags side to side.



Weight loss is significant, over a kilo. Volume loss is even larger thanks to the compression bag. Both are goose down bags, so Haglöfs will probably be clearly colder since it has less filling. But that's mostly positive, since I've often been sweating inside the Joutsen bag.

	Weight	Volume
Old	1875 g	19.1 L
New	835 g	4.6 L
Saving	-1040 g	-14.5 L
Saving (%)	-55%	-76%

An extra plus is that Haglöfs fits inside Joutsen, so using the two superimposed will give me a "super winter bag" if I'll ever need one.

Tips & tricks: Improved windshield for Trangia Mini

Trangia Mini wind shield is suboptimal. Here's a tip how to improve it with a soda can or similar (in this case a can of high quality German beer). Follow these steps:

1. punch holes near the ends
2. Cut away the end caps with scissors
3. Cut to the right shape
4. Make some air openings on bottom and top

Cost: can deposit = 15 euro cents. How does it work? Based on the first tests, very well. Similar techniques can be used with other stoves as well. Images before and after:

Intentional weight loss 2: Berghaus Paclite jacket and pants

In episode 1 with the Trangias, switching the gears reduced the weight and size by about 70%. How about clothes then? Is it possible to reduce the bulk as much in clothing too?

I start with the outerwear. I have average waterproof shell pants and jacket which I bought about 5 years ago. Pretty OK, but not exactly lightweight. Well, now Gore-tex has a promising thing called PACLITE® Shell which "combines extreme breathability and durable wind- and waterproofness with minimum weight and pack volume". Sounded ideal to me.

After some research I found the Berghaus Paclite pants and jacket. They seemed to have all the good features I needed. Go for it. When the package arrived, I was really impressed. Look at the picture below, compared with my old pants and jacket (on the left), the Berghaus duo (on the right) looked tiny! And still the quality feels just superb.



Looking at the hard figures, the saving in both weight and volume is really significant. The overall saved weight is about 1.5 kg, and the whole pac is almost 10 L smaller:

Weight (g)	Pants	Jacket	Total		Volume (L)	Pants	Jacket	Total
Old	1045 g	940 g	1985 g		Old	6.1 L	6.3 L	12.4 L
New	218 g	348 g	566 g		New	0.8 L	1.6 L	2.4 L
Saving	-827 g	-592 g	-1419 g		Saving	-5.2 L	-4.7 L	-9.9 L
Saving (%)	-79%	-63%	-71%		Saving (%)	-86%	-75%	-80%

Total saving about 70-80%! So how's the other side of the coin? Having used this outwear a few times, I haven't yet found it. This outfit feels very good in use. Of course, like any other waterproof shell, it's a bit "sweaty" in heavy use, but clearly less than my old heavier gear. The very thin structure seems to allow better breathability. But Berghaus set is still completely waterproof.

The downside of the thinness might be reduced durability. I've used the outfit just a few times, so it's too early to say anything final. So far I haven't seen any signs of weakness.

The Berghaus team have designed some clever features. Firstly, the pants and jacket both come with the lightweight and handy "stuff bags" where they pack neat and tight (pic 1 below). I attached the stuff bags with cable ties in the jacket/pants so they don't get lost. Very handy. As soon as the rain is over, you just pack the shell in their 0.8L/1.6L tiny bags.

The two features that kayakers will like are the well-designed sleeves and the hood. Sleeves (pic 2) can be tightened with velcro to avoid any water coming in when the hand occasionally is dipped in the sea while paddling. The hood (pic 3) protects from cold winds and dripping water.

Additional very clever feature are the side zips of the pants. The zip opens almost the full length (3/4) allowing very effective thermal control. There is a clever snap fastener in the middle, at knee height (pic 4), to keep the whole thing nicely together even when the zipper is fully open.

Intentional weight loss 1: From Trangia to Mini Trangia

In the first episode of my lightweight kayaking "diet" I take a critical look at my cooking gear. The excellent Trangia 25 stove has served me since the 1980s. I know it inside out, and it has never failed me. However, with 1.3 kg weight, and more importantly, about 3 litres total volume, it's a bit large. Most of my trips are solo, or together with other paddlers who have their own stoves, so why carry a "family-size" stove?

Fortunately there is also a Mini version of the Trangia stove. With 0.36 kg weight and 1 litre volume it sounded clearly an improvement for litekayaking, so I borrowed one from a friend. Images below show the size difference. The Mini has smaller diameter, but especially the height is clearly lower.



When the stoves are opened, the difference becomes more clear. While Trangia 25 is a set for the "whole family including uncles and aunts", Mini Trangia is clearly a solo stove. Instead of two 1 litre pots, a coffeepot and a large frying pan of the big brother, the little sister has only a single 0.8 litre pot and a small frying pan. But it's still a real Trangia, just smaller. The burner is the same, the frying pan is non-stick, and there's a (sort-of) windshield.



Experience in use: It's a great stove! The only minus is the stand/windshield. I don't understand what's going on in the minds of Trangia engineers: why does the windshield have large openings to all 4 directions? One or two larger opening and perhaps some smaller holes would be enough for handling and for oxygen uptake. Now the burner is too exposed to the wind.

Conclusion: Shall I buy one? Absolutely! I just will modify the stand/windshield or build a separate windshield from some aluminium foil, and it will be a magnificent lightweight solo stove!

Saved weigth: 940 grams (>70%!). Saved volume: 2.1 litres (almost 70%!).

14 reasons why I love kayaks and kayaking

(I started this as 10 reasons, but just couldn't stop, so 14 it'll be...)

Kayaks were invented already 4000 years ago by Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo people, and these people still use kayaks. Overall kayaks are used more than even, all around the globe. What makes these tiny vessels so special?

Being part of the "Eskimo tradition" is great as such, but there are also other reasons for my love to kayaks and kayaking. Here's a list:

1. Easy to transport. Unlike larger boats, that need a lift (at worst) or a trailer (at best) to be moved around, a kayak can be tossed on car roof and driven anywhere. When the road ends, you can just pick the kayak up and carry it. No limits to where you can go! (Some kayaks even break up to smaller pieces or deflate, but even a standard kayak is extremely easy to move about.)
   
   
2. Easy to store. While regular boaters must rent a berth for their Goliath, a kayaker keeps his David on his backyard, under his veranda, or in the low-prized hut provided by the paddling club (I pay 45 euros per year for my hut place).
   
   
3. Carries a lot of gear. Despite its tiny size, kayaks hold incredible amounts of stuff. Large sea kayaks can carry about 200 liters of stuff. Even the smallest can hold about 100 liters.
   
   
4. Seaworthiness. Although kayaks look small and vulnerable, proper sea kayaks are extremely seaworthy, durable and safe vessels. The hatches and spray skirt make kayak structure completely closed. Compared to their siblings -- the open-structured canoes and rowing boats -- kayaks are less susceptible to wind and waves.
   
   
5. Durability. The only really moving parts in a sea kayak are the paddle and the fin (or rudder). Even if the fin breaks, you can still paddle without problems. The paddle rarely breaks, but if it does you can keep a spare one at hand. Sea kayak itself is practically unbreakable when used right.
   
   
6. Environmentally friendly. Most kayaks contain plastics, so producing a kayak is not very eco-friendly. However, when kept right, kayaks last very long, up to maybe 50 years. And the use is practically carbon free if you paddle around your home base. If you want to explore distant waters, several kayaks can be transported on a single car. Some roof racks take 4 kayaks. Our kayak club has 12 kayak(!) trailer which can be towed with a regular family sedan.
   
   
7. Noiseless. Ever heard a Jet Ski? Me too!! Ever heard a kayak? Me neither.
   
   
8. Contact with wildlife. Due to kayaks' silence, and probably also small size, animals do not easily notice them. I've paddled along with a swimming alder. I've paddled along a swimming muskrat. I've paddled beside an ermine that ran on a beach holding a perch in his teeth. After 200 meters running, he finally noticed me, and started barking at me like a dog. ("Go away. Go away. This fish is mine!")
   
   
9. Contact with the sea. In most boats you sit at least a meter above the sea level. The waves affect the boat a bit, but you can still push through the waves pretty easily. On the contrary, in a kayak you practically sit under the water! You can feel every move of the sea. You can try to fight the waves, but you better not. It is much better to try to "be one with the waves", accept their overpower and adapt. It makes you feel small, but in the right way. Once you learn to "read" the waves, the waves become your friends.
   
   
10. Extremely small draft. Larger boats often stay on lanes and deep waters, at least if safety is considered. Kayakers go anywhere they want! You might hit a rick occasionally, but so what. It's just a small scratch. Just free yourself from the rock, and paddle on.
    
    
11. Sociability. Like almost any other hobby kayaking also can be done together with like-minded people. However, what makes kayaking especially social is that in order to get started you almost have to do it together with others, at least when the weather is rough. Solo kayaking is possible also for beginners, but not recommended.
    
    
12. Physical wellbeing. Kayaking is excellent exercise. Even on easy waters, paddling improves your flexibility and  strength. If that's not challenging enough, wait for a small storm and start paddling against the wind!
    
    
13. Mental wellbeing. There are few things in life that possibly could make one forget the daily problems as effectively as can a relaxed kayak trip.
    
    
14. Aesthetics. Floating around in a tiny vessel, paddling at a remarkable speed using minimal effort, in complete silence, surrounded by the nature -- is all just pure magic!!

First blog: Why lightweight kayaking

There are many excellent blogs about lightweight hiking. In hiking, the benefit of lightweight equipment is obvious since you need to carry all your stuff on your shoulders. But why lightweight kayaking?

In kayaking, the lift of the water carries the weight, you say, so why bother reducing the weight of kayaking gear? No, no. You often need to carry your kayak, loaded too. Besides, even when the kayak is floating the size and weigth do matter.

My extremely subjective list of benefits of small and light gear in kayaking:

1. A small and light kayak is easier to handle on the ground. This is the clear number one litekayaking argument. During launching and going ashore you always need to lift the kayak, at least part of it. The same applies when you hit a rock or need to cross a neck of land. A large sea kayak loaded full with regular trekking gear may weight a hundred kilos.
   
   
2. A small and light kayak is also more agile also on water. "Edging" a large and heavy kayak is not easy, not to mention the eskimo roll! Every bit of paddling is just so much easier if you have a small and light kayak. Larger kayaks are also more susceptible to wind.
   
   
3. Finding an all-round kayak is easier with lighter gear. If you have a lot of heavy stuff, then you need one huge sea kayak for overnight trips. And a second small and agile one for day trips and playing around? No, it's better keep you gear small and get a mid-sized kayak that is agile enough for the daily fun, but still large enough to carry your minimized gear.
   
   
4. You can fit in more interesting stuff if your basic gear is small. Whatever the size of your kayak, the smaller you can keep your basic gear (clothing, shelter, cooking), the more you have space for stuff that will make the trip more memorable. Whatever interests you: books, beer, good food, photography? For me it's the latter two. I want to enjoy tasty and healthy food also on my outdoor trips. And I like to take nature photos with a proper DSLR camera and a sturdy tripod. To fit these in my kayak, I need to minimize the less important stuff.
   
   
5. Balancing the kayak. A sea kayak "swims" well only when the weight is equally distributed to front and back. Also in order to behave well in waves, the load should be as close to the center of gravity (i.e. the paddler) as possible. The lighter the gear, the better these two goals are achieved.
   
   
6. Carbon footprint. Although lightweight gear itself isn't any environmentally friendlier than 'normal' gear, the lightweight thinking makes you take along (and hopefully buy) less stuff! Why carry a plate, since I can eat directly from the pot? Why buy a separate raincoat, if I already have a waterproof paddling cag? You name it. There are endless possibilities for using existing gear for multiple purposes. I'll be writing write more about these in Tips and tricks.
   
   
7. Flexiblity. If your gear is lightweight and small, you can enjoy these benefits also in other activities. Many kayakers, including myself like to wonder about the nature in many ways. Kayaking is great, but sometimes it is nice to hike in the forest, or take a weekend bike trip. The basic human needs - eating, drinking, sleeping, keeping warm - are the same, so the same gear often works in different contexts. Of course different activities set different requirements, but if you take these into account beforehand, you can collect a compromise set that serves all your needs.
   
   
8. Fetish. I must confess I'm addicted to innovative stuff. The interesting side of human beings is our ability to innovate and optimize. I'm just thrilled to see an object that perfectly fits its function (for example a well-designed kayak). Lightweight gear was invented to fix a true problem, i.e. that we are not ants who can carry several times their own weight. Inventors of lightweight stuff are using all their intelligence to find innovative ways to lighten our lives.
   

Why just lightweight, why not ULTRAlight?

In hiking related sites, there's a lot of talk about "ultralight" gear. I'm not after ultralight. While I do not have anything against very light equipment, and some of my stuff can actually be classified as ultralight, I don't want to start counting every gram. If a significantly lighter cooker does the same thing as a heavier one, then I'm all for it. But it doesn't really matter (in kayaking at least) if my single spoon is a regular table spoon (37g) or a high-tech titanium gadget (13g). For someone who hikes 2 weeks and has to carry everything the saved 24 grams might matter, but for me it doesn't. So, those who are after ultralight, you'll find better sources around the net. This stuff is just small and light, not ultra.