Adventure Medical media agent Lenn Zani did promise an new series of Ultralight med kits by January 2003, and those, barely tipping the scales at 6.5 ounces, should be an ideal item for the lite-hiker's gear list.
The Black Diamond Ion Headlamp is a tiny, nearly unnoticable object in the hand. In the black of a moonless night, its powerful double bulb LEDs flooded the loose, primitive Deer Creek Trail along a 10-mile night hike to the North Rim. The 6-volt battery doesn't last as long as the usual headlamp triplet of AA's (Black Diamond promises only a 15-hour burn time for Ion, compared to 140 hours for their next-heavy lamp), but at less than an ounce, why quibble?
And the Food Stuff..
No-Cook Backpacker's Pantry - the hot meals were the ticket to comfort on the extended trip to the Nankoweap Delta. Some of the lunch items tasted bizarre, like the meltless ice cream sandwich and freeze-dried pizza, but the meat dinners and egg breakfasts were tasty and filling. BP's No-Cook meals allow one to tear off the top and add hot water right into the bag. Two-serving dinners only suffices for one person in the field, but I didn't mind having a nice-sized hot meal that involved no prep or clean-up!
Clif Energy Bars - Easy to digest and moderately tasty, the Clif Bar is a lifesaver. I lived on them over several stove-free trips and the variety of flavors never grow stale. The new caffeinated line of flavors (Cool Mint is my favorite) are especially welcome on those chilly mornings before the sun breaks over the canyon rim.
Mojo Snack Bars - New from the makers of Clif, it's the first savory/salty bar on the market. Some of the tastes admittedly take some getting used to. Curry Cashew tastes like a dehydrated Thai Food dinner, but the quick salt fix was welcome on hot canyon days, where hyponatremia (water intoxification/electrolyte loss) is a concern. Mojos were a great alternative in the field when sugary tastes just plain weren't called for.
The Lite Revolution
Darby said this year's Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City saw a lot of new lieghtweight gear innovation, and that the new trend is here to stay. She said that companies already positioned with years of product experience will create the lightest, more rugged and durable gear for the new generation of backpackers.
"Ultralight travel is really picking up, and you can really see that is the way the industry is going," concluded Darby. "It's a revolution. People want to enjoy the outdoors and not suffer. Carrying too much detracts from the experience. But it's important that your gear can handle whatever you want it to do."
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