I've just been reading Chris Townsends book 'The Backpackers Handbook'.
Some of his advice varies considerably from this site. Hardly surprising since this is, after all,'Equipped to Survive' not 'Equipped to Backpack'.
But even so some is worth thinking about.

He finds water filters "too heavy, too complicated, too inneficient and too complicated" and says "they can't remove viruses unless they also include chemical disinfection, in which case you might as well just use chemicals".

He sometimes carries a tiny 3 quarter of an ounce swiss army knife as his only tool and never a multi-tool or strong locking blade.

He never mentions 'batoning' to get dry wood. Just recommends looking under logs and at the base of trees.

He finds bottomless sleeping bags (makes sense in theory; why have insulation that doesn't work, because you are lying on it?)like 'Big Agnes' have cold spots where the pad meets the bag.

Any opinons?

While I'm asking: I've always considered one of the best reasons for carrying a strong locking blade, is to break the glass if in a car crash. Does anyone know if a strong locking blade can actually do this?

- Simple Simon

"...break the glass if in a car crash. Does anyone know if a strong locking blade can actually do this?...

Any sharp object will break tempered glass. Most rescue types use a spring loaded centerpunch, lots of car thiefs break the insulators on a spark plug, then throw a handfull of the porcelain pieces at a side window, the sharp points on the porcelain do the trick. Keep in mind that your hand will probably go right thru as the window shatters, and you will more than likely get cut unless you wear gloves. I have never used a knife to shatter a side window, but if I had to do it, I think that I might position the tip of the blade against the glass, hold it in position with one hand, then strike the pommel with the palm of my other hand. More control that way. And it will not work on windshield glass.

As for the things in the book, I guess that opinions are like noses, everyone has one...

I can understand his reasonings, even though I don't fully agree with them. Like you said, backpacking is different from survival, so they don't neccessarily need the same equipment. From what you've described, it sounds like Chris is more of an ultralight backpacker, rather than the average backpacker. It's just a different mentality, you carry less weight, but you do trade off comfort and/or security during an emergency. I know some people would say with enough knowledge you could be just as comfortable and secure, but go backpackig with an ultralighter and see how often they keep borrowing your stuff . I keep trying the ultralight methods of cutting pack weight, but a lot of times I'm just not comfortable with the tradeoff so I end up going back to my old ways.

My thoughts on some of these.

Water filters - I carry both filter and chemical tablets for emergencies. I've only used the tablets once (a long time ago), and from what I remember it tasted pretty bad, and you had to wait either half hour or an hour before the water was safe. I like having instant clean water, so I'm willing to carry the weight of a filter. Also, in North America, the risk of viruses is relatively low, so that's not a big problem.

Knife/Multitool - Depending where and when you backpack, you could probably get away with having a tiny swiss army knife, or sometimes no knife at all. Not everyone is chopping down trees while camping, and there are very few screws and bolts and cans in the wilderness, so multitool could be considered overkill. I still carry mine though, because I feel more secure in case of emergencies. I would honestly say I could get away with a tiny swiss army knife 95% of the time, for the other 5% makes multitool earns a space in my pack. I usually also carry a 5" fixed blade, but I don't think I've actually ever really needed it, but then I've also never needed my first aid kit either.

Sleeping bags - Never tried them, but I know a some of the thru hikers on the AT use a down quilt, which is essentially a bottomless sleeping bag. Maybe he just had a bad experience. I use a down bag with continuous baffles, meaning when it's cold I am able to shift almost all of the insulation to the top where it does the most good, or if I don't need it, I put it on the bottom.

Like OBG said, opintions are like noses, though I've always heard it with a different body part. Some people don't mind the tradeoffs that come with cutting weight, people like me like the comfort and security some of the equipment provides. I'm sure I could survive without most or all of it, but the whole reason I go backpacking is for fun, not to try and survive.

If you liked that book, have you ever read "The Complete Walker" by Colin Flether? I see they came out with a couple new editions since i read it, but I remember it was one of the best book on backpacking/camping/hiking at the time.

Flether's book still is one of the best. Not sure how new the newest version is, but he's not a huge fan of ultralighting. He talks some about long distantance hikes (think AT or PT) with points on caching and gear selection. If your bugging out plan involves moving by foot, it's not a bad read.

Or if you just want to get into hiking.

The Complete Walker is a great read and packed with information. Colin Fletcher had a guy by the name of Chip Rawlins co-write the latest version. Both guys are great writers and have differing opinions on some gear and technique, so it makes you think a little about your own style and what may or may not work for you.

I've been a backpacker most of my life, and dabbling in the ultra-light thing for a couple years now. It's not for everyone that's for sure, and I still can't fully dive into it. Mostly from this tiny fear I have of the unpredictable. I could go on, but I'll get to you question.

Waterfilter: I, like Duct tape, carry both. I hate the taste of the chemicals, but they're a back up. I don't have the lightest or fastest filter, but it's bomb-proof. I'm ok with the extra weight and bulk for the instant gratification in clean cold water. If you're concerned with a virus and don't want to carry both, you can buy filters with a chemical cartridge for a bit more $$ and bulk. My opinion, that's kinda overkill in the States.

Knife/Multi-tool: I used to carry a Multi-tool. In 7 or 8 years, I never once used it. Two years ago, I left it home and haven't looked back. A small well made lock blade has been plenty for me, but I've recently started carrying a fixed blade as well. Any gear servicing I need to do can be either be done by hand, blade, duct tape, or I don't need it to survive anyway.

Bottomless Sleeping Bag: I've tried them, and I have friends who like them and friends who don't. For the most part I'm impartial. I'm ok with the theory, but I think sleeping bags are very personal. Bottomless aren't for everyone and if they don't fit right you will absolutely get cold spots at the edges. More like... drafts really. I personally prefer full insulation because it's better to use as a blanket. I realized this one cold night when I had to fit my 85lb Lab under my bag with me.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

m

The ultra-light guys get by basically with the stuff we pack in our survival kits and generally they do just fine. The difference though is comfort and safety. I don't feel comfortable that I'm prepared for anything without certain gear/tools. Like someone mentioned before, you may only need your first aid kit once, but once can be the difference between making it to get help and not making it out at all.

Here are some ultra-light gear lists:

http://onestep4me.tripod.com/gear.htm

http://www.stanford.edu/~rmahony/ultralight/gearlist.html

http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com/weekend.html

http://www.gossamergear.com/gossamergear/images/gear_lists/Gear_List_Summer_Sierra.pdf

I wouldn't advise trying to break a side window in a car via a locking blade with the blade open. Your hand could slide down over the blade and you could wind up with a nasty gash if you don't manage to break the window in the first shot.

I'm sure he means strong in the sense that while closed the whole knife can take the impact of the window and still function?

I mean I understand you want the most pressure at the smallest point to break the tempered glass, but it sounds pretty dangerous with the knife open. I'd try with a file or something else before the blade.