LineLocs vs Hookworms and Fleaz

[Secondmouse]

THE SHORT VERSION




THE SOMEWHAT LONGER VERSION

With respect to you and the OP, the thread was started asking about the pros and cons of using Dutch bling solutions to tie out the corners of a tarp versus LineLocs, and my post was an attempt to examine the collateral effects of that choice on the aspects of absolute weight savings and net cost, stressing that either tie-out hardware option has many other aspects to consider besides weight savings.

I totally get (part of) what you are saying, and I can assure you I'm definitely familiar with gram-counter philosophy, even though I don't necessarily let it govern my hiking and camping, but to me there is still a sophistry in looking at relative weight reduction as more important than absolute weight reduction from your pack, except as a useful rubric to get you to examine each component in detail to achieve an overall target weight goal.

Speaking of sophistry, even looking at things relatively, I wouldn't say 11 grams is a half an ounce (14.175 grams); in truth, it's little more than a third. If your pack weight -- with a consumable pound of water on board, for argument's sake -- were 11 pounds you'd say you'd achieved an ultralight base weight, but if I showed you my 14.175-pound pack and made the same claim you'd surely scoff at me, as I would. If I offered you $11K for the $14K used truck for sale in your driveway, you'd tell me to get off your property...

All of that said, I appreciate that people come to this interesting hobby with different aims and perspectives. Wanting to avoid further cluttering of this thread, I hope that further discussion of gram-counting methods and ultralight philosophy continues in the many ongoing HF threads that currently explore these subjects at length.

yeah I agree with this. if you're in the business of counting grams there's nothing wrong (and a lot right) with that. but while that may be one facet of this issue, it's not the entire issue for, I would guess, 99% of the people on this forum. I've been to a couple of hangs and I've never seen anyone come in packing Ultralight or mostly lightweight.

and in reality, even the thru-hikers I've met on the AT, most are carrying about 13-17lbs baseweight in a 60'ish L iter off-the-shelf pack like an Osprey. they're using 14oz Silnylon tarps, 7oz aluminum cookware with 3.5oz canister stoves, and 6oz water bladders. I saw a couple of bear canisters, full size knives, a lot of paracord, and MOST of these people are walking in boots, not trail runners like is supposedly required these days.

I'm not saying weight savings is not a legitimate goal for a long-distance hiker; I'm just saying most of the people here are not that...

IMO, this discussion of using Linelocs vs titanium bits serves more people being one of convenience, effectiveness, and cost saving, rather than 11grams of weight savings at any cost...

EDIT: I want to add to this that I'm not picking on anyone here or discounting their side of the discussion. saving weight is VERY valid reason for gear choices and changes - 1 ounce carried over 150 miles or 2000 vertical feet is significant... and I don't want anyone to think I'm piling on. sorry if it seems that way...