weight verses cost

[SteveM]

I recently had cause to weigh my set up, it came in at 7.3 kilos, a good friend who has spent a lot of time and money has a similar set up which weighs 5.5 kilos

now I know its very subjective, but where is the balance between low weight and high cost ?

[benp1]

It's entirely subjective

Easier to save weight off you than your kit

Weight, cost, quality/robustness - the golden triangle

[benp1]

I should also probably say - my kit is light but my bike is heavy!

I use my kit for walking and other stuff so it has more uses than just bikepacking. For bikepacking it would be easier to get a lighter, rigid bike in cost terms

[gairym]

There used to be the phrase:

"Inexpensive, light, strong - pick two"

But these days (and with just how light we expect things to be) I think it's more like "pick one".

Or..... Maybe for us it should be:

"Inexpensive, light, strong, comfortable - pick two"

My personal opinion is that unless you're racing it's not overly important to have the lightest kit. A little more weight and a lot more comfort often makes for a more enjoyable trip.

[jameso]

Seems for racers that the easiest way to be light is just take less stuff : )

I think light sleeping kit (sub kilo total) is worth the money as it's usually on the bars so it makes the bike easier to handle, can save a kilo there plus I take it on every trip. A light + compact cook kit also as I don't always take it, don't want to be adding a chunk of weight/bulk when I do. The rest varies so much. I've never weighed my bike accurately but I know what all my packed gear weighs, seems like what I add to the bike makes more difference to how it all feels than what the overall all-up weight is.

[firedfromthecircus]

I think the stop in cost terms is when you can no longer afford it. For some that will mean the most expensive and lightest kit is within reach, while others have to make do with the other end of the spectrum.

I guess most of us are somewhere in between so the main question for me is, will saving 500 grams make my ride more enjoyable, and will it still be more enjoyable if the 500 grams saved means the kit fails or is not fit for purpose?

Aside from being in a race, some folk just enjoy misery. Me, I'd rather cycle less distance or slower and still be comfy. I'm no ascetic.

[Ray Young]

A limited budget for me means I have to balance weight, cost and robustness (is. how long will it last). Money not spent on expensive kit goes towards trips away which after all is what it's all about.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think with some careful shopping it's fairly easy and reasonably cheap to get your sleeping kit (maybe not winter) to between 1kg - 1.5kg. If you're willing to use a tarp then your shelter shouldn't really weigh more than 700-800g all in (and much less is fairly easy to achieve) and a cook kit can be done for under £20 and 120g and include some Ti goodness (obviously less £ without the Ti).

There's also the issue of 'how much will I use it?'. If you're going out a couple of times a month then spending £150 on a sleeping bag that if cared for will last 15 - 20 years seems like a pretty good investment. If you do 1 ride a year then it stops looking quite so good. Quality kit also has a pretty good resale value too.

Seems for racers that the easiest way to be light is just take less stuff : )

I see the biggest issue with weight is all the little bits and bobs we pack just in case or throw in at the last moment ... I'm not saying don't take them but just be aware how much each little bit weighs.

[ton]

i reckon most blokes, if we are honest, can lose a stone or so.
to worry about loosing a hundred grammes here and there is pretty pointless........imho that is.

[gairym]

i reckon most blokes, if we are honest, can lose a stone or so.
to worry about loosing a hundred grammes here and there is pretty pointless........imho that is.

Exactly!

I could lose 3st and still be 12st (to be fair I am 6'2")!

I always try to think about that when I'm tempted to spend money to save weight.

If I wanted the overall weight to be less I could easily shed some fat and it would save me money!

On a ride recently we calculated that the weight difference between me and the other guy was the combined weights of all three of our children!!!

[jBay]

How about bulk vs cost
I like smaller things being 6ft5 all my kit is huge, squeezing it in to a small pack size is the challenge.

[johnnystorm]

Contrary to the opinion voiced in this thread I reckon it's actually a damn sight easier to shed weight from your kit than it is yourself!

[gairym]

.....when I say 'easy' I mean in theory it's easy (as I'd have to do less, spend less and ride the same amount to lose weight).

[TheBrownDog]

If I wanted the overall weight to be less I could easily shed some fat and it would save me money!

Exactly, and that's probably why I have moved the focus of my OCD from weight to pack size/comfort/ease. Like, Im using a Trangia stove these days, FFS!!!