When I first started getting into freelance writing, I wanted to find a way to stand out from the rest of the world.
But that’s really hard to do, am I right?!
And then my very first official, fancy schmancy lightsaber arrived. Everything fell into place from there, and my tagline is now “SABERing the moment in Sydney” while I hike Australian bushland with my lightsaber in tow.
And you can, too! Here’s a simple guide on how to hike with your lightsaber safely.
Plan out your hike
Most avid hikers will plan and research until their eyeballs are ready to fall out. Above all, remember that safety is your #1 priority. Wielding a lightsaber sadly won’t make you invincible to getting lost.
Try to stick to official sites of the specific trail and/or national park first, then research carefully to ensure that the trail is open at the time you intend to go. Be sure to map out your route via Google Maps (both ways), screenshot it, and make sure you have offline access to it.
BONUS: If you’re a really hardcore fan, you can research any spots that might look more Star Wars-esque than others. I personally haven’t done this, since I just hike where my heart desires and end up finding perfectly suitable landscapes this way as well.
However, it’s always nice to come across landscapes that contrast as much as Pasaana does with Endor. This also means less Photoshop editing and more realistic photos for your final products!
Pack accordingly
In the age of this global pandemic, you want to be sure that you’re hiking safely and taking all precautions before, during, and after a hike. After all, wielding a lightsaber doesn’t automatically make you immortal.
Never fear! I’ve prepared a thoroughly researched PDF guide for hiking tips during a pandemic here. In this brief guide, you’ll find a checklist of “ten essentials,” general tips, and resources for finding cheap gear online.
Put briefly, you want to make sure you always carry enough water, snacks, sunglasses, a first aid kit, spare socks and change of clothes, matches, and a headlight in case of an emergency.
These essentials should be tailored depending on weather, location, and complexity of your hike.
Dress for battle
If you’re like me, you’ll want to cosplay a little bit while hiking. It’s up to you whether you’ll hike in the full garb OR pack it as a change of clothes. If you pack clothes to change into, remember that your bag will be heavier.
If you’re also like me and don’t want to spend money on fabrics (nor know how to sew), you can still make the simplest of outfits look Star Wars-esque.
For example, I relied on Pixelmator to change the colour of my pants to make it more themed to R2-D2 below:
And this Rey-ish sweater below was thrifted for $5 AUD (that’s like $3.50 USD). I don’t like to wear fancy clothes while hiking, since I know I’ll use every part of my body to scramble up and down rocks.
However, if you’re just doing a short hike with the intent of shooting photos as your main objective, you can go all out!
Pack the lightsaber safely
Chances are, your lightsaber cost a lot of money. You won’t want it falling out of a holster or hitting your legs as you hike, so I suggest carrying the hilt in your backpack with a lot of bubble wrap around it (that’s how I pack mine).
For those who want to pack the entire lightsaber and not just the hilt (see the section below), you’ll need to remember that one arm will be reserved primarily for carrying your lightsaber the entire time. Thus, you definitely don’t want to do a long, arduous hike if you pack the entire saber.
When I’m ready to take photos or film a video, I’ll carefully get out my tripod and gimbal, unwrap the saber, and then record a bunch of things in one general area. I try to pick areas that are off the main trail (so I won’t be in the path of walking), and I also try to ensure that it’s not slippery or muddy if I’m jumping with the hilt in hand.
Blade or no blade?
This will be a personal choice—do you pack the long blade or not?
Since I travel on public transport, I never take the blade. The one time I did, I carried it in full bubble wrap. It was more difficult for me to edit the lightsaber glow into the photo afterwards, so I didn’t particularly think that taking the full saber was necessary.
However, everyone has their own preference. Since I’m also practicing saber spinning, I’ve ordered a much cheaper saber off AliExpress to tote around in its full form (which I’d recommend if you’re also planning to hike with it a lot). I’d much rather drop that in the forest rather than my $250 one!
I also have a (very cheap) PVC pipe that I practice saber spinning with, which is far easier and lighter to carry around than an expensive blade that could break if you accidentally slipped.
If hiking solo: Prep the tripod + gimbal
I usually hike alone, primarily because I find it therapeutic. However, this is why I try to take all safety precautions beforehand. In two cases, I’ve had my boyfriend lovingly snap photos for me (which is a far easier option).
It can be a bit cumbersome to pack a hilt, tripod, and gimbal if you’re hiking solo… but it’s always worth the outcome!
I have a BONFOTO portable tripod that folds into a 14.5″ shoulder bag, which makes it quite easy to carry around with my hiking backpack. I also carry the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 (which comes with a portable tripod stand) for when I want to shoot steady footage of myself waving my saber around.
Research heroic poses beforehand
This is for the dedicated geeks, but it’s always helpful to look up a variety of poses before hiking with your lightsaber.
For some, this comes naturally—not so much for me. I usually end up having far too many poses that look similar, or remember that the blade will actually be going across my face or covering the waterfall in the background if I position the lightsaber a certain way.
Remember that if you get lost, the Force will guide you home
Okay, maybe it won’t.
But you can download cool apps like Gaia GPS, All Trails, and what3words to ensure that you’ll have offline access to maps and routes if needed. Always be prepared for emergencies!
To make additional versions of your lightsaber hiking photos, you can always edit in Star Wars backgrounds with various software as well.
Summary
Whether you’re a lifelong Star Wars geek or just want to find a new way to spice up your hiking trails, definitely consider hiking with your lightsaber! Just remember to do proper research, prepare beforehand, and dress like you’re ready for battle at any moment.
And may the Force be with you, always.
Additional Resources
Lightsaber: Rebel Sabers (Classic Hero) – there are a variety of sabers, but I’ve linked to the one I have
Backup lightsaber: TXQSABER (AliExpress)
Recommended apps for editing lightsaber glow: Werble (Free app; Force FX package is $3.99 and removal of watermark is $3.99 as well, so it’s a total of $8 for unlimited lightsaber glow effects. Highly worth it, way easier than Photoshop)
Additional apps used for editing: Pixelmator (iOS only)
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