azza_333

They don't seem to be an issue for me in Japan.

saddlesores

how 'bout some super-light "water shoes"?
work with platform pedals, you may find them comfortable for walking.

about 450g/pair. half the weight of a pair of tevas.

Buffalo Buff

What about leaving the lock? Japan has incredibly low crime rates. Think you'd be able to bring your bike inside with you at any of the grocery stores there? That's what I do in the US.

Looks like a good list overall. Interesting you're choosing a battery powered power bank instead of a rechargeable usb one.

Buffalo Buff

Also I'd leave the multitool. I never found much use for one on an UL style tour and they weigh a lot.

MichaelW

My UL shaving kit is a disposable razor and some shaving oil. One small bottle lasts about 3 months.

Happy Feet

Why toothpaste at all? You can brush without it.

veganbikes

Go with toothpowder. It works really well and lasts a lot longer so you could carry less of it. This is what I use when traveling:




I certainly wouldn't ditch a multi-tool unless maybe non-bike specific. You never know what could happen and you can find decently small or light tools. However on a tour like that, the weight of a multitool would generally be insignificant to the size. Compactness would be more important to me than weight if I am carrying less stuff

Buffalo Buff

For some reason I was thinking he meant a Leatherman Wave or similar. I just carry a few hex keys so I forget about bike multitools. Agreed with Vegan, if its bike specific bring it.

azza_333

Bring bikes inside in Japan is a big NO NO, even locking it up outside in the wrong place can get you a fine. As said in my reply on the first page, would you leave a $6000 bike unlocked when your away from it?

USB power banks can take a little while to charge, AA battery holds more power for its size/weight, and they are available at every conbini in Japan.

Thanks for the reply but as I said on page one, Manual razors cut my face up so they may be alog lighter but they cut up my face, and at least with my electric shaver I can dry shave.

Buffalo Buff

Interesting, didn't know that aspect of Japanese culture. Lock makes more sense now!

azza_333

Yeah they are very funny about things like that, for example if you go to a Japanese persons house, you will have to take you shoes off at the door, they will give you slippers to wear around the house, but when you go to the toilet, you swap you slippers at the toilet door for toilet slippers, and then once you done in the toilet as you leave the toilet you swap back the house slippers. Although as a foreigner you can get away with a lot of stuff because they think you don't know any better, but it still looks bad.

imi

I wouldn't leave a $6000 bike outside locked or unlocked. Period.

Edit: In Sweden one always takes off one's shoes when entering a house or appartment.
This is so ingrained that I simply cannot bring myself to wear shoes indoors when in the UK or other countries where it's ok.

Buffalo Buff

This would make an interesting dedicated topic. Touring through different countries and how their customs differ.

I knew about the house shoes but not the seperate restroom shoes.

veganbikes

The beard would more than likely weigh less than the electric shaver so I don't know if you can call yourself UL anymore ; )

niknak

Castille soap is very mild. Just a drop on the toothbrush does the job. Castille soap works well for washing everything

niknak

Since my tours revolve around camping and avoiding cities, I've rarely felt the need to bring a lock. However, it helps that I always tour with my wife. If we are passing through a populated area with a greater chance for theft, one of us usually grabs groceries while the other guards the bikes. Touring with others improves ultralight opportunities!

In your case a lock sounds like it would be worth bringing, but I'd bring the tiniest lock possible. I have one of the those retractable combination cable locks that is only capable of stopping thieves without cutting tools.

azza_333

Yeah my multitool is a Topeak Alien XS, it only has a couple of tools that I wont use on it.

Walter S

The irony of ultra light is that if you take everything on every ultra light riders pack list, you yourself will not qualify as ultra light.

staehpj1

Not sure if it is irony, but it is true. I definitely leave some things home that some feel are needed and take some things the others leave home.

Buffalo Buff

Different people pack for different needs. I did an UL tour with a full set of rain gear and had less than 12lbs of gear, while OP has decided against rain clothing but is bringing an electric razor. Dunno what your point is, of course people bring different things. This is no different than any other type of tourist.

staehpj1

I too kind of missed the point if there was one, since I didn't see any irony there, but I do think that one thing that it does illustrate is that to pack light you leave home the things that you personally are willing to do without.

You could look at it the other way and take only the things that are one everyone's list. You'd probably be naked on a stripped down ss/fg with no gear though.

shipwreck

Ive been doing some looking at touring lists lately, and have noticed that while some have a category for toiletries, Ive hardly ever seen anyone list fingernail clippers. Even when the toiletries list is broken down, seldom are they included. I notice because I have to trim almost every other day, but always forget them.
So congrats on listing those! Personally I consider them to be the benchmark of a complete list. More important than a hitchhikers towel.

Buffalo Buff

I just cut into mine on the sides with my thumbnail, then tear them off. My girl hates it but ULers gotta UL

veganbikes

I tried that with Dr. Bronners which I tend to use for a thousand other things and I couldn't get into it. Though they do make a toothpaste now which is supposed to be good.