Quiz! Are you a lightweight?

Bookmark us by typing 'Ctrl' and 'D' together, or add us to your bookmark organiser:

Lightweight Camping Quiz by CheapTents.com

Knowing the importance of great camping gear, CheapTents.com has put together a VERY serious, and unquestionably scientific survey to help you understand your needs as a lightweight camper. Whether you're a lightweight backpacker, adventure racer or a 'don't forget the kitchen sink' kind of person, don't worry we'll be able to diagnose your every need.

Lightweight camping and travel is focused on taking the bare necessities, and trying to shave every ounce off your backpack's weight. Lightweight camping is more about need and less about want, whereas other people prefer to go camping for the simple joy of being in the outdoors, and resort to car camping.

Take the 'Are you a lightweight?' quiz to find out where you are on the lightweight spectrum...

REMEMBER TO KEEP SCORE AS YOU GO ALONG!

Lightweight R&R

What do you class as a luxury when camping?

Basic camping equipment like a foot spa to rest my feet after a half mile 'hike' and hair curlers to 'make me look pretty' - 10 points
A personal shopper and a chocolate fondue set - 8 points
Lightweight tent, lightweight rucksack, lightweight boots, infact, anything with lightweight in the title - 4 points
Food (saves me hunting for bugs) - 2 points

What do you class as an acceptable night's sleep?

Nothing less than a king-size orthopaedic memory mattress with a hot cup of hot chocolate (and marshmallows of course!) - 10 points
Therm-a-rest camp mat, sleeping bag, pillow and a tent - perfect! - 6 points
Down sleeping bag and a bivi bag. Warm and cosey under the night sky... - 4 points
Sleep's for wusses - 1 point

Lightweight Hygiene

What do you consider a satisfactory level of hygiene?

A shower and a bubble bath everyday, footscrub, manicure, pedicure, massage and a facial - 10 points
I always take compact travel-sized toiletries for a shower and a freshen-up - 6 points
A 'refreshing' rinse in a mountain stream is all I need - I laugh in the face of frost bite - ha! - 4 points
Hy-what? - 1 point

How do you look after your teeth when camping?

I employ my dentist to travel with me, of course! - 10 points
Electric toothbrush, floss, oh, and a petrol genrator to recharge the toothbrush - 8 points
A cut-down toothbrush with holes drilled into the remaining handle is all I ever need - 3 points
I leave them at home - 2 points

Lightweight Food & Water

When you go camping, what does your diet typically consist of?

Full English and nothing less each morning - you can't walk to the pub on an empty stomach! - 10 points
Nothing like a Wayfarer meal to keep your energy levels up - 5 points
I ration my food, calculating how many calories I need per day to bag another peak - 3 points
Food's for wusses - 1 point

What do you do for water?

There's plenty available at the shops...there is a Selfridge's on Ben Nevis, isn't there? - 9 points
Carry what I need for drinks, and cleaning for that day in bottles - 7 points
Use a water filter each time I pass flowing water - 4 points
A rain dance - 2 points

Lightweight Gear and personal cut-backs

What is the most rediculous attempt you have ever made to save pack weight?

I almost didn't take my sherpa once - how I would have managed without him carrying my kitchen sink, I'll never know! - 10 points
I never leave home without my 12 dozen, or so, helium balloons. It's like my birthday everyday - 6 points
I always cut the washing instructions out of clothing and gear to reduce a massive amount of weight - 3 points
Rather than carry more food, I planned to eat my friend (they only slow me down) - 1 point

Lightweight Packs

What kind of pack do you use when lightweight travels?

Pack? Do you mean suitcase? You do mean suitcase, surely? Course you do. Just the two then - 10 points
Nothing less than a Gucci handbag, darling. - 5 points
Lightweight rucksack or beltpack - 4 points
I don't need one - I find everything I need on the trail - 2 points

Lightweight Improvisation and Innovation

True lightweight outdoor people improvise and innovate to solve their problems everyday. What would be the best example of your level of improvisation whilst lightweight backpacking?

I created a floatation tank with my bath tub once whilst walking in Derbyshire - 10 points
I cleverly built a tent by turning trouser press upside down and using my ball gown... - 9 points
Sharing a load of my gear (tent, stove, etc) with my travel buddy - 5 points
Shaving my head clean of hair and using it to weave clothes - 2 points

What's the thought process behind packing your gear?

I have a simple packing philosophy really, as long as I've got my security anvil I'll be OK. Oh, and my 'lucky' granite slab - 10 points
I recently asked myself whether if I was stranded alone for minutes on end, metres away from civilisation, could I manage without my hair straighteners? - 8 points
I plan my needs, working out exactly what I might need and then double that amount again, and again - 6 points
I think, anything more than a leaf is cheating - if Adam and Eve were happy then so am I! - 1 point

And finally...

What is the epitamy of lightweight camping for you?

Not going camping at all - driving to the hotel (the CheapTents.com team boos and hisses at people like you! Boo! Hiss! Boo!) - 10 points
Taking everything I want, and leaving the TV - 8 points
Camping creatively and innovativley in a minimalist way helps me to appreciate the outdoors by being less distracted by carrying excessive gear - 4 points
Worrying about breathing as the weight of the air in my lungs might slow me down - 1 point

...NOW CHECK YOUR SCORE...

What weight category are you in?

Score 80-100: You're a Heavyweight - you like your home from home luxuries, in fact you would like it if you stayed at home, or at the very least took your home with you.

Heavyweight Diagnosis: Lose the horse and cart, the devan bed, and your support team, or alternatively try a hotel.

Score 60-79: You're a Middleweight - a taste of the esquisite camping lifestyle is not beyond you. The occasional luxury whilst camping should not go amiss. You would rather carry a few kilos extra and have nicely straightened hair, carefully manicured nails and your security anvil than go without. Ahh, bless.

Middleweight Diagnosis: You often forget that being outdoors gives you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, try looking up from your Nintendo DS or Encyclopaedia and enjoy your surroundings - you might leave them at home next time.

Score 40-59: You're a Welterweight - you are a worrier. You want to be a true lightweight, but really you succumb to those just in case circumstances (e.g. just in case I lose my rucksack and all my gear, I better double-up, or just incase I get a blister I better take a foot spa). But really, you're not that bad, you just enjoy being comfortable as much as you like the countryside.

Welterweight Diagnosis: Maybe you don't need the kitchen sink, but you do need your head checking. Making weight saving gains would be easy, and as you're a border-line case and as we feel generous, visit the lightweight backpacking / camping advice page and we should be able to sort you out.

Score 20-39: You're a Lightweight - keen to make every weight saving you can, but not devoted to the cause like a featherweight. If it doesn't serve more than 67 purposes, you're not carrying it.

Lightweight Diagnosis: a sensible weight for many extreme lightweight sports. You spend your time wisely hunting for solutions to increase your performance when outdoors, but have standards (unlike those featherweight freaks!). Click on the black image on the left and print out your prize - remember to get help from an adult before using scissors!

Score 0-19: You're a Featherweight - replace 'feather' with your name. You are now the king of lightweight-ness! Congratulations almighty, yet oddly lightweight one, you know not of gravity.

Featherweight Diagnosis - You have forgotten the feeling of gravity and must be anchored down. Maybe consider treating yourself to the odd luxury and stop eating your friends?

Thanks for taking part!   CheapTents.com

Any more lightweight ideas, let us know, by dropping us an email.