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Pro Tip #7: Saving weight and volume
By Andreas | February 9, 2008
Preparing for my second Marathon des Sables, I have become a minimalist in regards to my packing; I am looking for creative ways to reduce volume and weight for the things I need to carry in the desert. I am trying to cope with a 10 litre backpack and a 5 litre front pouch, if possible. Here some things I do to reduce volume:
- I counted the number of breakfasts and dinners that I will take in the Sahara, to carry only the number of Travelunch meals and cereal bags I need
- With a safety pin, I pinch a hole in the Travelunch bags to squeeze out the extra air, then seal it with a piece of tape
- Being vegan, I will nourish on nuts to a large degree; they provide plenty of calories for their weight. To keep volume down, I will chop the walnuts; the almonds and macadamias are fine, vacuum packed in ziploc bags
- I will have my own mix of cereals for breakfast, vacuum packed in ziploc bags
- I will attach the emergency flare to the outside of my backpack to save space inside; the same for the sleeping bag for the first few days, until there is enough space inside
- I will bring mixtures of maltose and fructose sugar, individually vacuum packed in small bags, so that one bag will be for one bottle of water
- My wardrobe for the week will consist of the dress I wear for the race stages, plus one pair of long tights, a long-sleeved warm shirt for the night, spare socks and underwear, and a second buff; that’s it. The spare clothing will go in vacuum-packed ziploc bags
- To counter-balance the weight of the backpack, I will place as many heavy items as possible in the front pouch
Topics: Pro advice |