You Have Not Because You Pack Not...

I am a huge fan of lightweight packing and the minimalist approach. Being able to take a day hike or even an extended trip without a lot of stuff is an art and requires skill as well as knowledge of yourself and what you need for self-sustainment.  Going out with just a few items is the bane of gear suppliers as it is their goal to sell you on every new and improved item that they come up with. Every year there is a list of “must-haves” marketed to the outdoors community and published in magazines and online postings.

Some of the new offerings are indeed worth having as they represent significant research and development and sometimes can replace heavier items or as in the case of a multi-tool, can replace multiple things in just one handy package.

I have gathered a significant amount of gear over the forty plus years of my life. I still have my first tent and compass that I received more than 35 years ago. Since then, I have been on an ever-expanding quest to not only better myself and my skills, but also to have the right gear that “works for me.”  While everyone has their favorites, most of our needs are very similar and so the basic gear we carry will be much the same.  And, as your bushcraft skills improve, the amount of items you carry will lessen in proportion. Indeed it is true that “the more you know, the less you carry”.  When Davy Crockett left Tennessee to go and support Texas independence, “He wore that same veritable coon-skin cap and hunting shirt, bearing upon his shoulder his ever faithful rifle. No other equipment, save his shot pouch and powder-horn, do I remember seeing”  David Crockett, The Man and the Legend, pg. 212 by James Atkins Shackford.

However, there is such a thing as going too light, especially if you lack the skills to make up the difference. For instance, a small first aid kit is a very important item to have, as even something as insignificant as a band-aid can keep dirt from getting into a small cut and thus prevent a potentially dangerous infection. A small sharpening stone should be in every kit as well as a small pair of nail clippers. These are small, light and generally not considered important next to one’s knife, canteen, fire starter and shelter kit.  But if your knife gets dull or you rip a fingernail, those tiny things can be important! A small canister of salt and pepper can make the difference between bland and tasty when preparing a meal from wild game or edibles. And the list goes on and on.

So, while you don’t want to overburden yourself with extraneous and unnecessary stuff, make sure you pack what is truly needed and will be used.  This knowledge can only come by education, training and best of all, personal experience. You know your needs best, so pack accordingly. But, don’t get caught in the dangerous cycle of “what if?”. Indeed, you can get by with a lot less than you think you can. But, don’t get to camp and find out that there is some essential item that you really wish you had… Remember, you have not because you packed not…

Spiritually speaking, we have not because we ask not and often we have not because we are asking God for things for the wrong reasons. (James 4:2-3) There are many blessings that God wants to give his children, but they fail to ask him or they ask selfishly. We must always check the motivations of our heart and make sure that we are doing all things for the Glory of God and not for our own prideful advancement. Then, we can be “Filled with all spiritual blessings…” (Ephesians 1:3) God will bless us but he wants us to use our blessings to bless others and to help them come to faith in Him.

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Thanks for reading!

James B