Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think being obsessed with hiking, particularly ultralight hiking, has had an overall negative impact on my ability to appropriately interact with other human beings.

So here's my question: How have habits or perspectives that you've picked up by being an "ultralighter" made you most socially awkward?

I'll start:

1. Around my wife or friends, I'm always checking out the nutritional values on food packages, then raving when I find one that has a "totally awesome" calorie to weight ratio.

2. Around those same people or worse, strangers, I may at any time grab a piece of their clothing and ask them, with all seriousness "Do you know how many ounces per yard this is? No? What denier then? How does it breath?"

You know I have never experienced anything like you've mentioned. Hell, when most people find out I backpack and ask me about how much I carry they are the ones who ask how I get my pack too light.

Don't get me wrong, learning to make do with less and having gear that serves multiple functions has impacted my day to day life but nothing like the self imposed social castration you describe.

To put it bluntly, you're just a dork. :P

I am a DORK too!!! I have Ultralight Sickness to the tenth degree. I am constanly looking for new ways,products,gagets so on so on!!! Less is More and how many grams can I shave off that item. Every day in every way I get a little lighter and I love it!!!!!!!!!! Most of my close freinds think I am a FREAK.

Edited by Creachen on 11/03/2008 16:12:58 MST.

Well, at least I'm not totally alone.

Chad - have you been hanging out with my friends? They seem to share your sentiment. Maybe I just need new friends. :)

You'd still be a dork to your new friends. :)

Dorks and Geeks must unite ;-)

Just as long as they don't breed! :)

You know, one of the first steps to getting help is to admit you have a problem............

> Chad - have you been hanging out with my friends?

I used to backpack and hang out with Chad when I lived in Minnesota. Birds of a feather...

Devin, If a chaper exists in your community, you might drop in and say:

"hello, my name is Devin, and I'm an ultra-light backpacker...." :>)

Edited by johnk on 11/03/2008 12:10:41 MST.

Yes....acknowledging you have a problem is the first step...

Hello, my name is Allison, and I first realised I had a problem when other people laughed at me for punching holes in my tiolet paper to decrease it's weight per sheet...

allison, i've heard of holes drilled in toothbrushes(i haven't gone that far,i just buy baby toothbrushes)but holes in your toilet paper? very funny....why not just do what sheryl crow does, and use one square??? he he

I drill holes in my Ti spork. Saved 2 grams. HEEE! HEEEE!

What's toilet paper?

What's toilet paper?

mmm....snowpaper

I don't think you've gone crazy until you start looking into body modifications.

"Hey Doc, do you think we could drill out some holes in my femur? It really looks a little bulkier than it needs to be."

"I only need one kidney, right?"

Yep Jay, you are a freak!!!


Hiking lighter just makes hiking much more enjoyable. Now when I buy gear, if I don't see how much it weighs, I won't buy it.

Hey Ken whats the name of that sewing shop in Berkley that does backpacking stuff? U- FUGAZI

Jay I forget. If you were to leave REI in Berkeley and drive north on San Pablo it will be on the right hand side just after Gilman St. That is all I can remember. The building sticks out like a sore thumb. They do great work too.

Thanks Ken, I can find it on San Paublo- its all coming back to me know. What about White Mnt.? Seems like a long drive when there other possabilties [sp] closer.