backpack weight

“In a couple of weeks I am going to go backpacking with my dad who is 50yrs old, and his backpack is totally filled with stuff I dont think he needs to bring. But he keeps telling me that he needs everything in his backback(although he can barely lift it). Below is a list of all of the stuff I know of that is in his backpack.

selt inflating air mattress
tent
sleeping bag
small set of pots and pans
gps tracking device
portable tv
food
batteries
first aid kit
shaving kit
clothes
water purifier
canteen
folding mini shovel
snake bite kit
propane bottles
mini camping stove
2 way radios
cellular phone
toilet paper
trash bags
little plastic bags
bug spray
towel
mini candel lantern
poncho
rope
coffee cup
bag of water
small hatchet
sandles to wear at night
And im sure there's a lot more.

All of this stuff doesnt sound like it weighs that much, but it must weigh more than 60 pounds. Does that sound like too much for a 50yr old man who has never backpacked in his life? We plan on walking about 10 miles a day for about three days, and I dont think he will be able to make it. My backpack only weighs about 30 pounds, so im sure a few miles into the walk my dad will make me switch backpacks with him.”

“My condolenses... in advance.

Tell Dad he will deeply and painfully regret the excess weight, and he will be highly tempted to leave behind some of those things he so cherishes as to take them along.

A TV?
Pots AND Pans?
Shaving Kit?
Canteen?
Mini-shovel?
Propane bottles?
2-way radios?
Hatchet?


And there's MORE?

Print this, let Dad read it...

Dad: Please check you beneficiary listings for life insurance and retirement plans... If you're going to give it away, at least give it to family.”

“"Does that sound like too much for a 50yr old man who has never backpacked in his life?"

YUP.

Tell him Spock said to lose 20 lbs from that list...starting with the TV.”

“I took my dad on his first backpacking trip last year (53). I went through the same thing. He took a few things more than was necessary.

Many of the items are not necessary but are nice to have. Here's a list of things your dad can live w/out... literally:

both pots and pans - pick ONE or the OTHER

gps tracking device - i just think they are toys

portable tv - no comment necessary

batteries - not if he doesn't bring the gps and tv

shaving kit - he doesn't need to shave while in the woods

propane bottles - why more than one?

cellular phone - probably can't get reception in the backcountry anyway

As far as the first aid kit, water purifier, etc. You aren't both bringing these things, are you? If it's just the two of you going, you shouldn't need two of each.”

“You should go through his pack and eliminate all the extraneous stuff. He's probably bring too many clothes, too much TP. Is it a rope or parachute cord? Lose the hatchet, TV, 2-way radios, shaving kit. Check quantites and weight of other stuff.”

“Also, closed foam pad instead of self-inflating mattress.”

“lose the towel
lose the hatchet
lose the snake bite kit
lose the tv
lose the shovel
lose the canteen
lose the shaving kit

as was mentioned above, plenty of these items would be duplicates of what you will be carrying....do you really need more than one tent, stove, pans, first aid kit, water filter, etc....once you split up the carrying of these items, and eliminate some of the optional extras mentioned above, his load should be much more manageable....”

“I hope you are well versed in first aid cause he's going to need a hernia operation.

Is this for your Smokies trip? If so, that amount of weight at 10 miles a day is nuts.”

“Who are you???? Are you new here???? If so you have to tell the Tea God about you arrival to TT.


This is what I say doesn't go:

"my dad who is 50yrs old"





------

Now realistically, drop all of this stuff:

selt inflating air mattress (unless he has a bad back you don?t need it in summer)
tent (get a tarp, or I bet his tent is an old army canvas one)
small set of pots and pans (only take the pots that you need, leave the rest of it at home)
gps tracking device (get a compass)
portable tv (is this a joke)
batteries (3 days?? Your not going to kill batteries in 3days, just put new in before you hit the trail)
first aid kit (I never take one)
shaving kit (how ugly can you get in 3 days??? He doesn?t need it)
clothes (only one change of closes is needed)
canteen (use the plastic coke bottles, there light and coast nothing. I bet his canteen is metal)
snake bite kit (watch where you walk, if you get bit your screwed any way)
propane bottles (How much cooking are you really doing???)
mini camping stove
cellular phone (I read a report that if you pack a cell you are more likely to do something stupid and get injured)
trash bags (only bring one small trash bag)
little plastic bags
bug spray (It doesn?t work anyway)
mini candel lantern
rope
coffee cup (is it a glass mug?? Unless its plasic, I say no go)
bag of water
small hatchet ( I don?t care how small it is, it aynt going)
And im sure there's a lot more. (You don?t need any more)”

“BTW, bring asprine, prefably Bayer. Is he has a heart attack (lets hope not) on the trail this will save his life. There are alot of old people on this site, ask them what they do for a precoution.”

“I would take the first aid kit. I've had to use mine before and been glad to have it.”

“I think everyone else has just about covered it. If your dad won't listen to you have him read this stuff, he'll be glad he did (and so will you). Don't duplicate gear. Unless he really cares what the squirrels think about how he looks, he doesn't need any extra clothes or shaving stuff. If you think you need a GPS you really shouldn't go into the woods, and I don't even know what to say about the TV.

BARE ESSENTIALS ONLY.”

“What ever happened to 'hiking your own hike?'”

“I agree with Bacpac, until I find a dead old guy on the trail, then I have to set over him and he will attract bears, so I must protect my self.”

“Most people seem to overpack on the first time out.

Good luck changing his mind BEFORE you go. Some people learn the hard way.”

“That pack needs to be at about 30 lbs wet.

Show him this thread and I think he'll thank you.”

“If he is overweight and out of shape aerobically, this is all a moot discussion because he won't last 1 mile.

I am 52 and dislike carrying more than 40 lbs....and I am in fair shape and not overweight.

I hope his boots are broken in.”

“Be happy he wants to go with you. Right now I'm in the middle of an older dad who resents advice from his "kid" and my kids who already know it all.”

“Put the loaded pack on him and have him walk up & down stairs a couple of times. Then take out all the unnecessary items and have him hike the stairs again. If that doesn't make him want to lose the extra weight...then nothin' will.”

“let the man have fun! if he thinks he needs it he probably will then your screwed for telling him he didnt need it. He will decide what he needs and doesnt need on the next trip, if there ever is a next trip.”

“Let him take the stuff because once he sees how much easier it is for you with your lighter load, he'll drop some of the stuff next trip.”

“Sounds like a tv, shaving kit, mini shovel, hatchet and a few other items will soon be on "Things I have found while hiking" thread.

Hope he has bionic knees.”

“Ya know--it's pack it in pack it out. Your father will spoil the trip for both of you if he carries more than 20 pounds. If it was me I would not take him if he did not drop it. Hiking is real world hurtful stuff and that big of an advance handicap is dangerous.”

“Tell your dad that if he doesn't believe you, ya whippersnapper punk, then maybe he will listen to older folks like Phil and me--I've got 5 months to 50 and continue struggling to get back in shape: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR KID, MISTER! YOU RAISED HIM SO HE COULD SOMEDAY TAKE CARE OF YOU AND THIS IS THE DAY!

One of the best suggestion so far is having him climb stairs with both loads. But not just one time up and down -- 10 times.

And as for 10 miles a day, dream on. One way you can balance his desire to carry too much is to plan for shorter days, much shorter. I agree with MaryPhyl that not addressing the situation before you leave will likely lead to spoiling the trip and that won't help your relationship.”

“Like Phil and pekka, I am 50+. I work out (which your Dad can do in preparation) and have a lot of experience (which your Dad can learn from his son). As one of your Dad's generation, my advice to him (if you print out this discussion) is hike up a local hill two of three times a week in the weeks before the trip, with a full pack and boots. Make it a 2-3 mile hike. Then he will see that less is more, and being rested (or alive, or even present) at camp is worth having only the necessities. Conversely, having various niceties and toys is not worth being dead on the trail, and probably not making it to camp.

Maybe he can bear to hear it better from an old guy than from his son, but another reason to go hiking with your son is to share a simple activity with him. The gadgets detract from the purity, the focus, and the quality of interaction, with the wilderness, and with the son. Better to sit around camp on a rock with nothing to do but talk and listen to the wind in the trees, than to have a TV.”

“Good one Violin, maybe I should follow them in a distance with an empty pack and make like a scavenger.
Wingding0, if the old man takes all that stuff...there won't be another time!!!”

“It's a little cruel, but take him on a shakedown hike with full packs about a week before your trip. Make the hike 5-10 miles. If he still wants to schlep all the extra junk with him, that's his lookout. On the other hand, he may be a little more open to advice...

Just a thought

P.S. you might want to remind him that radio and TV reception is sh!t out in the backcountry.”

“I agree with Markar, a shake down hike might do the trick.

My pop and I have gone around about this same issue, but sometimes you just have to let them go and hope you raised them right. He has slowly come to the lighter side of the force.

I wonder if maybe you two are looking for differnet things out of this trip? Maybe he's looking for something more leisure and relaxing, while your after the mileage and peaks.”

“selt inflating air mattress

tent (You carry the tent.)

sleeping bag

small set of pots and pans

gps tracking device

portable tv (NO)

food

batteries

first aid kit

shaving kit (NO)

clothes (One change a pair of rain pants and light polyester tee)

water purifier (You carry)

canteen (A plastic bottle)

folding mini shovel (NO)maybe a plastic pooper shovel

snake bite kit (NO)

propane bottles?

mini camping stove

2 way radios (NO)not when you are this heavy!

cellular phone (?)

toilet paper

trash bags

little plastic bags (Use the ones you pack your food in)

bug spray(Use very small bottle of Deet)

towel (NO)

mini candel lantern (NO) use a lithium powered flashlight

poncho

rope (Watch the weight and length)

coffee cup

bag of water (lightweight)

small hatchet (NO)

sandles to wear at night (NO)

And im sure there's a lot more. (OH NO)

My 2 cents worth!

I'd shoot for getting him down to 45 lbs food & water. Unless he is strong as a bear!


Moz”

“Moz, I love to change into my sandals at night. Of course, I bring flowered jammies too.”

“Flowered jammies, SwissMiss? That way you can be comfortable watching the other guy's TV. :-)

On a serious note. I can't believe Ice Tea says he never carries a first aid kit. To not bring one into the backcountry is even more irresponsible than carrying in a TV and all that other stuff.

Lightweight is one thing. Stupid is another.”

“Swissmiss I know I am in the minority on sandles. On the Llama trip I think I was the only one out of 12 that didn't have a pair of sandles or walking socks....

I have been know to carry Tevas for stream crossings a couple of times. But, don't tell anyone.

Moz”