Thursday, December 30, 2010 - Blog on a Log
The Multifunctional Mambo - How Less Can Be More
There's one golden rule that every traveler, camper, hiker, and general all-around outdoors person knows: pack less. If you think you might not need it, you don't. Heck, if you think you do need it, you probably still don't. Less is absolutely more, and it's a few and far-between individual who ever regretted not packing that fifth pant option "just in case."
Sometimes, however, even the most packing-savvy among us are at a loss when it comes to lightening the load. Sure, we can avoid packing multiples of each item, but trips with variable weather and activities call for equally variable supplies - and this is the point where the phrase "multifunctional" becomes your new best friend.
I'm all on fire for multifunction since I bought a pair of The North Face "horizon" pants. They replaced an old pair of quick-drys, which after 8 years and a dozen countries owed me nothing in the longevity department. This new pair, however, rolls up into capris, doubling their usefulness.
It got me thinking what a boon they would have been on my last backpacking trip. Paired with a set of long johns for cooler weather, these pants could have replaced an entire stuff-sack's worth of "bottoms." That's a huge packing bonus in terms of both weight and space (the diabolical duo of backpacking dilemmas).
Clothing is a great place to look for multifunction. A simple, packable dress can take you from the beach to the hostel shower to that one-time-splurge fancy restaurant without breaking a sweat. A light button-down shirt adds layers without bulk, is a godsend when sunburnt, and instantly meets dress code requirements when visiting churches on a hot day.
Or consider Buff Headwear. This tiny little accessory packs big in the function department, with at least ten different ways to wear an item small enough to slide in a pocket. From warm weather perspiration control to cold weather layering, it's one of the more versatile products available today - and hey, you can even get one in a Wilderness Supply pattern in our stores.
The search for less-that-does-more doesn't have to stop at what you wear. There are lots of ways you can downsize without losing options while traveling or on trail. A Leatherman multi-tool will take you further than the infamous Swiss Army knife, and an inventive user can find even more uses than intended (try the pliers to pick up heavy pots off the campfire without burning your fingers).
Multifunction's in, and suppliers are listening. There are loads of products meant to double, triple, quintuple functionality while minimizing space. But don't let yourself be stopped by what the tags tell you a product's supposed to do. Much of multifunction is about your own ingenuity when faced with necessity. That's when sweaters become pillows, socks become mittens and your pack suddenly seems a lot fuller than it looks. My travel towel's served every purpose from sarong to blanket to make-shift bag. Oh yeah - and sometimes I even dried myself with it too.
B