If you’re not careful you may end up carrying an unnecessary heavy case while thru-hiking or backpacking. We illustrate three common types of heavy cases that we’ve seen in backpacks before.
Headlamp Case
The headlamp case for the Petzl e+LITE weighs 19 grams. This is just one gram lighter than the actual headlamp itself. I recommend leaving this case at home because your headlamp should be fine without being in a case.
Stove Case
The stove case for the MSR PocketRocket 2 is relatively heavy when compared to the stove weight. The plastic case weighs a whopping 30 grams! The entire stove weighs 73 grams. The case weighs about 41% of the stove weight! I recommend leaving this case at home. To keep your stove clean, you can use a sealable plastic bag that weighs just a few grams.
Eyeglasses Case
The average eyeglasses case weighs around 114 grams or 4 ounces. You can easily make your own eyeglasses case that only weighs 30 grams (1.06 oz).
Summary
It’s important to watch out for heavy cases that can sneak into your pack. Even outdoor manufacturers have designed heavy cases for their lightweight gear. So it’s important to pay attention to what you put in your pack. Every extra ounce you add to your pack makes a big difference. It’s important that you weigh and evaluate everything you put in your pack if you want to have a light pack on your hike.