Where do the slings put the weight then? You only have one support from your upper body to your lower, and that's your spine. Seems like a backpack would even the load left-to-right, but not back-to-front. A sling would screw up the left-to-right distribution, but could be adjustable to even out the front-to-back. A larger backpack can be adjusted to put weight directly on your pelvic bones (albeit that weight is skewed to the back of the pelvis) thus leaving a smaller load on your spine. Maybe one asymmetric weight distribution is better than the other???

So carrying my EDC backpack over just one shoulder is a good thing?

Great point. The bigger the bag the more stuff we're inclined to pack.

I used a backpack for years in school, then I started using a messenger bag to carry my laptop, and now I'm back to carrying a backpack. The messenger bag bothered my shoulder and my back. I've still got it, but it only gets occasional use.

I would suggest anyone who uses a similar bag should make sure to wear it often, that way they know whether they truly like how it wears or not.

Ahh yes. The old "angle of the dangle" argument

Some of us want that of course, more gear to account for different terrain and climate. I couldn't get away with a lumbar pack, I need a light backpack to carry some ground insulation (foldable foam pad) for an unexpected night out on the ground.

One can also rely on personal restraint to keep their backpack from being stuffed with nonsense.

The emergency Esbit stove can be found at bepreparedtosurvive.com under the stoves section.

Thanks for sharing. I always like see other people's set ups. I always find a new idea or better way to do something.

Nice kit there Jim, all except one thing.

I looked up and down the list twice and I can't find where you list the flask of fine scotch or the fine cigar......

I must have missed it so I will read the list again.

99% of what I carry is unnecessary. Meaning: I don't typically use it. The remaining 1% is pretty much summed up as "water and snacks". I can't say I've ever really "needed" a whistle, signal mirror, firesteel, compass, etc. The compass I use, but not because of need so far - more so to keep in good practice with it. To an ultralight hiker ALL my gear is probably unnecessary. But to me it's essential and mandatory. Depends on how you look at things.

I have a pack that is too large to be considered a normal day pack ("Deuter Futura 32 liter" http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/...20Chuck%20Kime/ ). But I load it lightly and wear it anyway. For me, it's much much much more comfortable understuffed than an overstuffed too-small pack.

With the solid fuel tablets you can try making your own stove. I have one made from a sheet of thin steel folded into a square "U" shape and stood on its end, forming 3 vertical walls. There's a low-down cross-piece to hold the fuel, which is roughly square with two tabs sticking out that go into slots cut into the opposite two walls. The pot sits on top. It seems to work reasonably well.

I picked that shape because I have a square tin that holds a PSK. The 3 sides of the stove fit inside the left, bottom and right sides of the tin, and the cross-piece lies flat across the bottom, so it takes up very little space.

Another approach is to use one of those round alcohol stoves, eg a Trangia, and keep it inside a steel mug, and cut a round tin-can to use as a support and wind-shield and put that in the mug too, and then make a lid to go on top.

In other words, instead of reducing the space the stove takes up, find ways of packing it efficiently so no space is wasted. With solid fuel tablets you really just need a platform for the fuel and something else to hold the pot, and to protect it from wind and keep it from scorching the grass.

Incidentally, the square Esbit-style stoves come in two sizes, the larger being about 4.5" at the longest side and the smalller 3.75". I usually find the smaller is a false economy because the space inside the larger is more useful - I keep a lighter, tinder and spoon in there as well as the fuel itself.

The fuel itself also comes in many forms. I prefer the British Army rectangular waxy style. It packs more efficiently than the Esbit blister packs.