Ultralight Gear
What Simply Trekking can provide for your use
Our ultralight trekking gear is purchased from Australian ultralight trekking cottage industries as much as possible. Lighter does not mean cheaper so you get to try before you buy. Our goal is to make your pack carrying weight (base camp and clothing needs plus food and 2 litres of water) to equal 20% to 25% of your preferred body weight. It is part of our risk assessment that we will not accept a client on a trek if they are carrying more than 25% of their preferred body weight. As a too heavy pack, over several days, not only will be onerous, slow you down, but can also lead to injury. If you are 70 kg the 20%-25% is easy to achieve, 14 kg pack carry weight. But if you are only 52 kg 20% of your weight is only 11 kg and these persons still need the same warmth and food so they have to go lighter with their trek gear. My base weight is between 4 kg in warm and 5kg in cold months. Youth and children are still developing so carrying just 20% of their body weight is even more important. Youth and children have small hips and it is important that the pack they carry does up tightly around their hips so it doesn’t pull on their shoulders.
So that you get to enjoy carrying a light pack over the many kilometres that you will be walking, our hire trek gear is priced to encourage our clients to hire.
HIRE TREK GEAR PRICE LIST – average Adult cost to hire $90 average child cost to hire $70
Sleeping quilt or bag (down), sleeping sheet, balaclava, head torch, pillow
Sleeping cover & tarp camping duo
2 person tent 1-2kg
Adult mattress inflating thermal
Child mattress inflating thermal
Stove (gas bottle not included)
Pot, bowl, cup, spoon
Adult backpack 55 litre
Youth/Child backpack 25-30 litre
Trekking poles
Dehydrated commercial dinners
Ultralight backpacks
Ultralight backpacks using the latest technology making carrying easy for you. To date there is only one Australian cottage industry Wilderness Threadworks in Queensland whom we purchase from, the others come from Osprey or USA brands.
Ultralight shelters & tents
WA weather is mostly very mild enabling us to camp out in the minimum of shelter and still be warm, dry and comfortable. We source our sleeping cocoons (with mosquito netting) and tarps from Australian cottage industry Terra Rosa Gear, Victoria. For the stormy winter weather and especially for the Cape to Cape where there is no shelter, we provide for hire lightweight 2 person tents.
Sleeping Gear
Our sleeping bags and quilts are down, it is soft, cuddly, keeps you warm and come in adult and kids sizes. Although we provide sleeping sheets with our bags and quilts, they are washed regularly as we are lucky in WA to get lots of fine days between treks. Balaclavas are provided with the quilts. We have a variety of mattresses with high thermal ratings and inflating pillows. To complete the warmth we highly recommend you include one of our very lightweight compact thermal jackets for around the campfire.
Ultralight Foods
We source your dinner from Tasmania’s cottage industries, Campers Pantry, Strive, Alps & Amici and WA’s first dehydrated food producer Feed the Hike. We cater for your gluten free, vegetarian and vegan needs. Local supermarkets are now providing healthy snacks suitable for trekking.
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