PACK WEIGHT

“lite is the way go i know...but is it that maybe... because people are becoming lazy and willing to pay the price for that gear?”

“The lighter the pack, the more enjoyable the trip IMHO.”

“Why carry a big bulky pack if ya don't have to plus You feel better after hiking 15 or 20 miles a day.
Keep it simple and enjoy the walk.”

“"“The lighter the pack, the more enjoyable the trip IMHO.”"

I couldn't agree more. My hiking world became much better when I lost 23 lbs (base).”

“Your body will thank you for it.”

“My pack weight depends on the length of the trip. I know this will sound backwards but the longer the trip (mileage/elevation) the lighter my pack. I take more comfort items on trips less than five miles. Things like some beers, MP3 player, full size sleeping mat.”

“It's really tough for me to go any lighter. I carry about 1/3 of my weight. Sound like a lot? My problem is I only weigh 100lbs. I am not a posh packer, I don't take anything unnecessary. I do know I need a new lighter tent. Clothes may be an issue, without an ouce of fat on me I am very frequently, very cold. Nothing cotton and I layer it up. I am truly out of ideas to make it lighter.”

“without an ouce of fat on me I am very frequently, very cold. Nothing cotton and I layer it up. I am truly out of ideas to make it lighter.”
Pamela
5:09:20 AM
12/21/06

Add fat”

“ha ha, to me or to my meal? I wish I could add it to me! Believe I do eat, I also chug 3 ensure a day when I can afford it. I have an extreme metabolism.”

“If I'm out for two days I can range from 28-35 lbs. Longer and my pack weight goes up, 40+. But, being older, I like my comforts too: Thermarest "Trail" large, Sierra Designs "Sirius 3" tent, Dual Fuel cookstove, etc. In winter more weight than in summer, etc. In summer I sleep on my 'prolite 3' pad with a cheepo flannel blanket over me. Oh, and a Katadyn Pro Hiker filter pump so I don't have to carry water which is the heaviest thing you can pack.”

“I don't think I find 33 pounds of stuff to put in a pack. Even a 4 day trip is less than 25 pounds. That's with food & water.”

“but how old are you? lol. I like comforts. Btw, thats a nice axe ya got there. I almost blew my wife outta bed with the tunes..lol.
last edited: 12/21/06 6:14:28 AM”

“My last long trip I was at 32 lbs with about 9 days of food and some water ( had water all along route). Carried a bivy and piece of sil tarp, no water filter just Aqua Mira and a couple of coffee filters. 20 degree bag and liner and some fleece. Wore same clothes for 7 days. Insulmat for 2.5 inches of great sleeping comfort, used a space blanket alternately for VBL or a ground cloth.
The only luxury was a small book, and several pairs of Neoprene socks for the river wading.
It was great not hsuling a "suitcase". I'm not that big either so hauling a lot of weight is not that fun for me.”

“I took a two day trip a few months back to see what I could really get away with and came away with about 23 lbs. If I had a lighter pack it would have saved me a pound, probably. I use a Kelty Super Tioga (old model).
last edited: 12/21/06 6:20:53 AM”

“Hey Pam

I am in the same weight class than you. I have the same problems - be it with the weight of a full backpack and with getting cold.
If you have any tips and tricks to offer on "special challenge mastering backpacking as petit hiker" please let me know.”

“Weight is probably the reason I went to hiking instead of backpacking, especially in winter. My backpack in winter was around 80 pounds. Way too much.

I've dropped that WAY down just hiking, but still too heavy with my day pack. I carry enough gear (& luxuries)for emergencies or to (unexpectedly) spend the night.

I like the lighter weight & like hiking at night. So I hike out to my vehicle all of the time now in the Catskills & Adirondacks. I bring more gear because I like cooler & cold weather hiking much better then summer.

In the heat of summer, I'll take a bunch of 4 day trips in a canoe. The Adirondacks has a bazillion interconnecting or portageable lakes to use. A wide body 17' canoe can carry a LOT of luxuries. Large wheels make portages a snap.”

“Cat, I was thinkin of a kayak with some stowage compartments. I should be able to get a light tent and some food in it. About 12-14 footer I'm thinking. Not many portages around here so I could forget the wheels.”

“Chappy, Sierra Trading Pos has had the perception Carolina 14.5 for $500!! That's 50% off. It's a great boat for everything and has plenty of storage.”

“I have to second the dropping weight. In the Ranger Training your pack was 90+ then I had medical gear or extra equipment.

Now I think Clothes, pocket stuff pack and all adds only about 35 to 40 to my God Made Me weight. It is kinda neat to be able to toss on the pack rather than have to brace for the weight.
Pamela, try..um beer...seemed to work for me at one time. Another thing, eat REAL big right before you go to sleep. That will add weight like nothing you have ever done.”

“Pamela
Clothing is HEAVY.
I have pretty much quit fleece (except for my cap) and use fiberfill coat or vest instead. Much lighter and warmer.”

“i prefer a lighter pack but i also don't want to be unprepared. a lot of this ultra fast-light stuff works fine until you wind up in a mess. i like to say that i would rather have something and not need it than need it and not have it (of course i did not make this up). that said, you just have to be smart about packing and you can do fine.”

“mmm...has there ever been a threat on 'how to get fat', 100 wonderfull ideas to gain weight??”

“In winter all my gear weighs more.
Double plastic boots weigh more than my 3 season hikers.
Do not carry crampons or snowshoes in summer.
Do not need a snow pad for the stove.
Need more fuel, both for stove and for me.
More clothes, do not need mitts and liners in summer. Do not need goggles in summer.
2 water bottles instead of one.
And yeah, a bigger pack to carry all that extra gear.

Only weight saving is the filter.”

“Light weight is great, I feel much more confident scrambling up rocks and under blow downs. My feet are not sore and I wear low cut hikers or trail running shoes. It also helps that I have lost about 20lbs off my body so my 20lb pack feels like I am carrying nothing.
I do not feel like I am any less prepared for emergencies at my lighter pack weights. Experience and knowledge can replace alot of extra gear.”

“I'm not sure how you can equate backpacking with laziness. There's quite a gap in logic there.”

“My pack would be a couple pounds lighter if I didn't carry a scale with which to weigh it.”

“On the last trip the trail was dry so I carried 5 1/2 litres of water, that was my biggest weight. Tent, mummybag, woman's pro-weight short thermarest, food- (I eat a LOT), cup-bowl-spoon, clothing, 1st aid kit, compass, some toiletries, & clothing. That's it.

I have to admit, what I lost in food weight along the way, I picked up in rocks. Don't laugh, my husband is a rockhound. He used to backpack but he can't now due to his bad heart. The rocks are how I share the trip with him. Feldspar, Black Tourmaline, Cloudy Quartz, Mica, Shist, and some others I can't remember.

I've never had a problem carrying this weight before, but my knee started bothering me on Saturday night. I wrapped it on Sunday morning, ate advil and continued for what I think was about another 16 miles. After a while, the knee just locked up. I did finish the trek. Apparently even though an old meniscus tear has healed, I have thinning meniscus on that (left) knee; I've totally inflamed it.”

“Lazy? What is lazy about saving your knees, back and being able to go further, faster? Seems like common sense to me.”

“Laziness is not a bad thing. Almost all human inventions and innovations are do to laziness. It’s called working smarter not harder.

Now for pack weight, one has two choices, which neither choice is wrong, as to when they want the most comfort, while hiking or at camp.”

“I'm 41 years old. I've been backpacking for about 17 years so I've had my share of lugging a monster pack. I still could but gear is liter these days and I'm not into luxeries.

Glad ya got to check out my tunes and my guitar. Music is my hobby when I'm not in the woods.”

“I hear ya. I'm 53 and do like some luxuries which some of my friends doubt ARE luxuries, like my thermarest 'trail'. I have gotten more lighter (and expensive)gear but have found that some of it is really not needed, so going lighter is more discipline than cost. I pack stuff I never use, but I would rather have it and not need it......you know.
Rock on dude.................”

“With cameras and tripod, my pack is about 70 pounds.”

“lol, i have a friend with the same problem. he's a nature/wildlife photographer....”

“Good to see you post goat. Your photos are awesome, keep carrying the weight. A big guy like you can handle it.

Hope everything is going well for you out west!”

“I can see all the extra weight if most of it is really nice camera gear. I just take a pocket sized digital camera.”

“My 23lbs base weight (for more colder temps), includes backup equipment, survival stuff an extra day and a half of food, first aid, etc.

Slimming down can happen.

As far as getting cold, sounds like you need to employ some prevention methods. Pack high calorie foods, double portions if needed. Cheese, cheese, cheese!

Look at things that you can add to meals that will provide addition calories. Even adding hot chocolate to coffee is a nice, light weight way to add. You could even eat heavy during the week leading up to the hike to pack on some extra.

Good luck.”

“Still reading everyones posts, and it has been very helpful.

For a 5 day trip in the 30's at night i got a total weight of 42lb.And that is living high on the hog.Is that pretty good for 5mi a day on decent ground?”

“By total i mean 15lb food 5lb water...inc

I know that some people may still think it's large ...but i dont plan on missing out on anything around and done to much running in my day.... to be fast and not enjoy is only cheating myself.I guess getting older does help in some way.

Thank's for the help.”

“sounds about what I would carry under similar conditions, 6-8 miles per day.”

“I like my pack to be as light as possible just as most everyone else but I don't want to be wet, cold, tired and hungry. Especially if I'm going solo. I'm about 200lbs so a 35lb pack is light to me.”

“My last long hike was The Long Trail in VT at age 45. Pack weight including water was 68 lbs. Did not come off the trail for re-supply so 30 lbs was food! Completed the trek in 15 days. The question is not the pack is light but if the contents are right!
Dont pack what you dont need and dont forget what you do need. At 55 yrs. and 200 pounds body weight, a comfortable weight for a three day trip is around 40 lbs. Leaving stuff home for the sake of pack weight would men that i'd miss something on the trail.”

“Last month in RRG for 3 days my pack was 35lbs. at the trail head. But my pack is a monster external frame, to start with, and my bag could stand to lose a pound, also I use a long length ridgerest. I could have shed a pound of food, and my heavy Leatherman Super tool, But that stuff is there just to give me warm fuzzies about being in a strange new place. I have lightened up in the past year, but only by about 5 lbs. I don;t really mind the weight, because part of why I'm here is the exercise, so weight is kind of a good thing.”

“"For a 5 day trip in the 30's at night i got a total weight of 42lb.And that is living high on the hog.Is that pretty good for 5mi a day on decent ground? ...... By total i mean 15lb food 5lb water...inc"

Filed under "what might work for me, might not work for you", for my Isle Royale trip this past August, my food weight was 11 lbs, for 6 days/nights. That included an full day extra as backup (or additional if I needed along the way). Carry a filter, I didn't need to carry that much water, about one liter on average. We tried to stop for lunches next to a water source as much as possible.

My pack weight for this trip was around 46 lbs, or so. That included a lot of "toys and goodies", too.”

“On my thru hike I averaged 23-26 lbs, food & water included. This is mostly due to not cooking after tennessee, getting by with cold food on the trail and pigging out in town. I really enjoy a lighter load.

After hiking Isle Royale this past fall, I have made a few changes. I got a sturdier pack and threw in a small stove and some cookable food. The upgrade in the pack allowed me to carry the extra weight as easily as the lighter weight. The warmth and tastiness of the prepared meals more than made up for their weight and gave me a little something to anticipate during the days hike. I'll still go as light as I can, but somethings will not be eliminated. We all have our own hiking values as to what these items are.”

“As an "older bp'er" I'll second what oldhoofer said above.......I like my 'stuff'.”

“dang it, tried to hurry up and get in there before that nimblefooted outfit.......”

“I'm more of a hiker than a camper so I pack to walk all day. I tend to get bored if there's alot of down time in camp so I like to stay moving all day.
I'd pack more "stuff" if I did just the opposite.
Sometimes I find myself on a trip that includes more time in camp or even stanger, car camping........ I honestly don't have the gear or knowledge to do that kinda stuff on a regular basis. I was car camping last weekend and didn't even bring a tent. Just slept on the ground in the open. I used my Z-rest cause I don't have an air matteress.”

“Think I carry a 20-30 lb pack for my day hiking! (no bag, tent, stove or extra food)”

“I do that on day hikes too but that is just to help stay conditioned for the real trips. I carry a three day pack on my day hikes, so 30 - 35 lbs. of stuff that never sees sunlight. LOL!”

“So im not that bad off?

My pack dana 7lb

bag campmor 3lb

About to buy sd clip 5lb

prolite lg 2.1lb

So to have the comfort with the pack a 20d bag and pad plus a rainproof tent i think it's a good pay off,if only 5mi trip.”