Going Light

“It's been a long and heavy road that I have walked but after a sixty miler with my twenty year old son I am convinced that dropping some fifteen pounds of steel pots and pans,fresh food and huge tent is definately in order. My base weight has been around thirtyfive or so lbs . I just weighed my base weight for a seven day-ninety miler and it's at twentytwo lbs. I still need to decide on dry food though. Keep sharing thoughs tips . Still room for improvement. Haven't bought any new gear still got the old pack and Apex stove but have been tossing a bunch of fecal matter aside.”

“"i don't know if i'd call it a "craze", i think all backpackers throughout time have always looked for ways to make their packs lighter"

Yeah, what timecline said.”

“Half the fun is figuring out what to ditch, what can be multi-use, and what to replace. Over about 3 years I dropped from 48 pounds for a warm 2-nighter to 23 pounds. That includes 2 liters of water to start. Lots of fun getting to that point. I figure if I dropped some luxury items and started with half as much water I would be around 19 lbs.

For me it was a necessity - developed a bad back and I have always had bad feet. So I stopped listening to my "experienced" bping friends and went in search of info on the net to lighten my load. Good decision.”

“so what's with the whole war re-enactment dealio? how is that more fun than, say, gouging your eyeballs out with a rusty spoon?
;-)

haha. and welcome to TT, sorry i have no ultralight bping advice since i go bping like twice a year, and forget basically everything that happened the last time i went, each time.”

“...but have been tossing a bunch of fecal matter aside quietone

well there's your problem...you're taking that pack out what you packed in thing a little too far LOL”

“I just got off of injured reserve after having 5 herniated discs, I am still in rehab. I am looking at Mchale packs. Another TT'r had neck problems and uses a Mchale pack and it allowed him to go back to longer hikes.

http://www.mchalepacks.com/index.htm

Good luck.

By the way with my Golite Trek my pack weight is around 22 lbs for more than an over nighter.”

“Ok Gang,

Fire Away. Right now it weighs 24.6 pounds no water, no food, and no clothes. I culled out several items as you can tell and the only accessory I would add would be digi camera. I forgot my camelback too.

Pack: Lowe Alpine Contour IV

Top Pocket
First Aid Kit
Water Filter
Compass
Map
Sawyer Extractor
Headlamp
Lexan Cup
Space Blanket
100’ para-cord
Pack Rain cover
Fire starting stuff
Small roll tape
Poncho

Main Compartment
Nada

Lower Compartment
Sleeping Bag
Stove Fuel bottle
Cook kit
Lantern
Repair Kit

Outside Pockets
2 water bottles

On Pack
Therma-Rest



Lyra,
why I think re-enacting is fun? I'm no advocate for violence and people mostly think military as violence, but the day to day life of a soldier or militia member in 1780 is truely fascinating. Just how they managed to sustain life let alone fight is remarkable. I find it rewarding to let school kids learn as I check out their mothers.


Yerby”

“hmmm well i guess i can dig that!”

“You really need to list the weights for folks to critique.

For example,
cook kit (2#4 oz)
versus
Titan Kettle ( 4oz)”

“lyra, does purging Mac and Cheese count as going lite?”

“First Aid Kit - I cut this down a bunch. I ended up leaving some things in a small box I always leave in the end-point car. Be smart about what is in this and you can cut out weight w/o cutting out safety.

Water Filter - After a bunch of research on this issue, I went with Aqua Mira. This cut a pound or two out, and some bulk, too.

Sawyer Extractor - Most places you'll go for a weekend you can get professional help pretty fast, so forget this.

Headlamp - I went with 2 Photon II LED lights.

100’ para-cord - I'd cut this to 50 feet. Have you ever really used more than 50 feet? Even for emergencies you would be hard-pressed. If someone falls down a steep hill you can combine several people's rope in your group.

Pack Rain cover - I went with sil-nylon closable liners for all my pack compartments. No more pack cover to get blown off, and I don't have to stop unless its cold enough that I need to put on rain gear.

Fire starting stuff - keep this light, like cotton balls dipped in vaseline and an extra emergency mini-bic wrapped well in plastic (only to be opened in emergency). Those magnesium starters are way too heavy.

Small roll tape - wrap some tape around a pencil or near the top of a hiking pole. Ditch even a small roll. You rarely need much on any trip. I haven't needed any in 3 years.

Stove Fuel bottle - If you move to a Pepsi stove, you can use a plastic soda bottle or mini-Platypus bladder for fuel. And your stove will be almost weight free.”

“freight, what are you using for shelter?”

“i agree with dayhiker...their are several things in there that could be pretty heavy but not sure

lantern is one...what kind?...you have headlamp listed, is a lantern really necessary...i take one source of light with back up batteries and bulb

100' of cord?...probably don't need 100' but that probably doesn't weigh a hole lot”

“ahhh what a fond memory, Aero! mac & cheese, always better the 2nd time around.
:-D”

“Yea, what dayhiker and time said.

What is the repair kit for?”

“also i just use a large lawn garbage bag for a pack rain cover

as far as the whole Sawyer Extractor thing, a new report came out a month or so ago that says you should not do this anyway, it causes more harm...i'll see if i can dig that up”

“What is the repair kit for? WK

to repair stuff...duuuuhh”

“this is a transcript of an interview but you get the idea

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/08/01/snake.bites/index.html

and here's a thread

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/15473,-1.php
last edited: 8/09/05 4:52:06 PM”

“timecline, in a roundabout way that's the point I was trying to make above. There are few things you'll encounter in the US that require immediate venom extraction. Better to just get off the trail and get to an ER.”

“LOl sawyer stays and I am speaking from experience there.

Damn does this mean i have to cary the pack to the grocery store and weigh the componets?

Repair Kit has the glue and patches for TR, Speedy ties (3) small and I mean small sweing kit like you get at a hotel, some small pieces of webbing

Shelter? I dont use a tent right now, just some plastic for a ground cloth. I am researching a SD Electron 3 tent cause it seems roomy for me and if I can kidnap a female to go”

“Check out www.tarptent.com Several people on this board have those tents. I have the Squall - very very roomy and only 1.75 pounds.”

“uuuhhh, dude, if you kidnap someone, that's really gonna way down your pack”

“Some of us bought and use a postal scale for each component. Walmart has ones that are very economically priced.”

“LOL. Actual CNN transcript of timecline's quote above (snipit):

In fact, we have a movie clip that we're going to show that shows you what you shouldn't do. Let's take a look at that, first.

[Videotape begins]

ACTOR: Oh, my gosh! I was bit by a rattler. Help! A snake, a rattler!

[Videotape ends] ”

“I am defintley not an unltralighter-but I go light..21-28 lbs depending on season. I sleep in luxury-a real pillow, tent, pad and bag :-) But what I don't carry is junk I don't need-ie...a cookset, plates, a chair, etc...I cut my weigt in some areas so I can indulge in others ;-)
I personally cannot think of ever willingly humping a 50 lb pack again! Ugh!”

“The best advice ever for going lighter is simply to buy a scale.
Birch and I found a digital kitchen scale, at Meijers, for around twenty dollars. It weights items up to five pounds. If it's over five pounds it probably shouldn't be going.”

“I decided to pack water (two Nalogenes and my bladder for Camelback) and food (dried stuff) and total weight is 38 pounds for what I would carry for 3 night and four days.

Since I weigh 265 now and weighed 425 in January (thanks to gastric bypass and lots of excercise), I feel that 15% of my current weight is acceptable.

Thanks for all of the input. I haven't weighed what I extracted from my gear but it doesn't seem to be much, but the pack does feel better. One big improvement is that I took off the auxillary pockets that I had on the sides of the pack, more streamlined and weight is centered better.

The only thing on the exterior is my Thermarest, it is a Basecamp model, yes heavier and bulkier but hell so am I. I am storing it under the side compression straps of the pack and rides well.

No shelter as of yet. Might just get two sheets of Tyvek and make do. I have been going for years without shelter but if I ever go with a date, I think she will insist on a tent.

Thanks again for all the help on the matter.


Yerby”

“im with you freighttrain. im about 220 at my leanest so i don't mind my pack weighing a little more than most. if it's under 40 im happy and covering the miles doesn't seem like a chore. if it's over 40 i just start drinking before i get to camp.
my pack usually weighs more for shorter trips. when i did the smokies deathmarch with milemonster i think my pack started around 30 pounds for 4 days. i don't think i could have gone much lower than that. glad im a big guy i guess.”

“The gear counting ounce weenies tend to use a digital scale. My gear sheet has everything to the tenth of an ounce. I lost 30#'s a few years ago and my pack is always less than 30, well, that used to be the case anyway. I basically lost a pack. You, OTOH, lost a whole person. Congrats to you. That illustrates we're talking about degrees here. We're worried about ounces and you're worried about pounds. It looks like you're on the right track, which is what really matters.”

“ductape - still can't believe I missed that trip.”

“If it's over five pounds it probably shouldn't be going.”
Sassafras
7:44:40 AM
8/10/05

I use 3lbs as my cut off weight, mainly because that is all my scale tops out at”

“Dayhiker thanks for the support still wanna hit the 240 range and I will be the proverbial happy camper.”

“My pack for an 8 day trip is right at about 50 pounds, without water. I am hoping on final weigh in to be at about 45 but so far it keeps adding up. I generally carry alot more stuff for medical emergencies than most. I also carry a pistol, and it adds alot of weight, but I will always do so. Because I like photography the camera gear tends to add alot of weight also, but ya gotta have it. I won't go to digital photos I like my 35mm. The camera body and two lenses are a must. This year I cut alot of weight in food, going all dehydrated rather than MRE's. I almost always am fishing when I go so add a few more pounds for fishing gear. Bottom line is if I cut the pistol, fishing gear, and camera gear I would cut close to 10 pounds, but I just don't want to. Maybe when I am old and my knees are screaming I'll settle down, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Till then, I'll hike my own hike. I must admit though that there are alot of other ways to cut weight and still enjoy the finer things in life. I just have to save up for that down bag.....”

“Hey Freight train, that's a huge ammount of weight to drop! You should look into a siltarp for shelter, alot quieter and more flexible than tyvek. Weighs very little. Save the tyvek for your ground sheet.

We have an 8x10 siltarp and use it A frame style or lean-to style depending on weather. My favorite is lean-to style. It's like a backpackers palace there's so much room in there!”

“I might do that Sassafras, I have made "lean to's" in years past with ponchos and such and they do just fine.”

“My heavy pack

A Summer gear list

My hiking partner carries the first aid kit... I carry the pump. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head that's missing from my list. Oh yeah... no stove on the Winter list. Hiking partner carried it that hike.
last edited: 8/10/05 11:50:07 AM”

“Couple more. Late August wet weather hike. Took the Polarguard bag instead of the down... which really doesn't save me any weight since I have a ultralight polarguard bag. I was totally self sufficient in this one... and not too concerned about weight wince it was a quick 16 mile overnighter.

Late August”

“Pretty accurate with the "Summer Gear List" :D

”

“list is great but i saw no entertainment items...i bring a minifootball and/or a frisbee...the frisbee doubles as a plate”

“Alcohol and cigars are my entertainment. I don't go hiking to play frisbee or football. I'd rather use my energy to cover more ground if I have extra energy to waste.”

“alcohol makes frisbee that much more fun :)”

“It's funny. I used to weigh my pack. Got my weight down, etc. Then I stopped weighing my pack. Big mistake! I was putting all kinds of crap in there! LOL! Especially last winter in my attempt to stay warm at night.”

“Thats another benefit of the Gastric Bypass; i'm a cheat drunk. Small stomach wont allow me to drink much and I get drunk faster.

Heck I was always a light weight anyways but now it isnt even funny. Now more women at a lesser expense can get me drunk and take advantage of me.

The miracles of modern medicine.”

“LOL, my wife has always been a cheap drunk. One or two drinks, tops, and she's a goner. Made for cheap dates when we were dating.”

“Frisbees also are awesome "bellows" for campfire starting, a serving tray, side table (don't want that drink tipping over in he sand), and if you don't car to do dishes paper plates tuck inside just perfectly (also tortillas) for transport in the pack.

No backpacker should be without one. My model of choice: Aerobie superdisc. It's lighter than your average disc too! =)”

“So here I am, virtually on the eve of a 7- nighter. No matter where I have trimed, my pack is still coming in at 38.5 pounds and my camera and lunch are still not included.

Pack (Osprey Ariel)
Tent (Eureka Spitfire)
SB (Western Mountaining Antelope)
ThermaRest (with Chair conversion)
Whisperlite Stove w/stove rest
Fuel One 650ml white gas
MSR SS pot
Gripper/spoonfork/bowl/cup
Heat Exchanger
Pur Hiker Waterfilter
Personals Advil/Toothbrush/Paste/Moleskin/3 bandaids/insect repellant/hand sanitizer
Petzl Tikka headlamp
Compass/Whistle
Parachute Cord (15 ft)
2 pair socks
1 pair panties
1 pair shorts
1 tank top
1 long patagonia underwear
Sierra Designs Shell
small packtowel/sponge
soap (liquid for dishes/bathing/washing clothes)
5 dice
2 liters of water in nalgenes
Bear Vault w/7.5 lbs food

i still need to add alcohol, 3 lunches, trailmix and cheese.

help me please!”

“i'd get rid of the heat exchanger.
if you've got the money you could get a canister stove like a pocket rocket. you'd probably save close to a pound. also i don't know that tent but i know mosteureka tents are on the heavy side. could you go with a tarp?
i know that bearvault is probably heavy, nothing you can do about that.
if you're really gonna get anal you could drop the chair kit but i say take it. 7 days of hiking deserves some camp comfort if you ask me, but i know a lot of people would leave it behind.
i don't know what kind of soap you're carrying but you could probably leave it and just use hand sanitizer.(you're out hiking, why not be dirty?)”

“going lite is relative to your typical packweight as we all at some point strive to lessen the burden we carry
it is now easier to do this since gear manufacturers are lowering the weight of their gear
for some going lite is an obsession for others it's a necessity
if you can't afford to replace your perfectly good and unbroken gear with lighter-weight items don't sweat it just get out there and hike
last edited: 8/11/05 6:51:26 AM”

“Good point Troll.

One thing to do is make sure you're not carrying the entire bottle of biodegradable soap. Take a tiny bottle that'll carry what you need for a 7 day trip.

Your list doesn't look overindulgent SandyAnn. It looks great, probably the only thing else you can do is start to compare (by weight and calories) the foods you choose to take and make sure you weigh your clothes and select the lightest of the items you have that'll fill the need. Or start replacing perfectly good gear with brand new lighter stuff.”

“sandyann, your list looks fairly good.
I would toss the heat exchanger and the SS cook pot. Replace the cook pot with an aluminum or Ti model.
Replace the nalgenes with platys.
Which thermorest are you using? The new ProLite models are much lighter.
Use the Lite version of the chair.
Consider switching to a 'pepsi' stove and using chemicals to treat your water.”