Ultralight Backpacking

“I know this has been discussed before, but I will bring it up again. There has been a lot of talk lately about light weight tents etc. So how much do you usually carry? And how light do you think you could go?”

“I'm at the sub 12 lb range with out food or water. With, I'm still under 20 lbs.

I guess if I wanted to go lighter I could just leave it all at home.”

“So what's in your pack and what's it weigh?”

“I liked reading the article on how to cut weight in this last issue of Backpacker.”

“i had 16 lbs once, with 4 days worth of food. that was water, gear bag, AND clothes that i was wearing.”

“I'm shooting for 25# on my next hike. It's hard to get the weight down, but if you listen to the folks in here, you'll be able to.”

“Last week I took 18oz pack, 1# thermarest, 1/2 tent for 2#, <4# clothing, 2# "other" 5# food for 5 days and 4# water. That looks like 19 pounds but it was probably a pound more with whatever. On the last day it was about 12 pounds hiking out.”

“OK here's my basic packinglist. Depending on where I'm going I may add to it a little or swap for different stuff. Seeing I live in Southern California going light is easy. Your results may vary.

GoLite Daypack 12 oz
Slumberjack 40º Sleepingbag 43.3 oz
Hennessy Hammock 27.55 oz
Trangia Mini-28 11.75 oz
Nalagene Fuel Bottle (16 fluid ounce) empty 2.45 oz
Spoon .3 oz
Water Bottles (2) 3.5 oz
Iodine 1.15 oz
Mini Bic .45 oz
Wind Jacket 10.25 oz
Wind Pants 6.45 oz
Fleece Jacket 13.65 oz
Fleece Hat (home made) 1.5 oz
Fleece Mittens (home made) 1.3 oz
Knife (little Swiss Army) 1.1 oz
3? Duct tape .35 oz
Needle 0 oz
½ pencil .1 oz
Silva Compass .8 oz
Map 1.35 oz
Mini Mag AAA flashlight (w/Batteries, lanyard & whistle) 2.1 oz
AAA batteries (2) .8 oz
1 qt. Ziplock bag (2) .4 oz
Toilet paper 1 oz
Hand Sanitizer 2 oz
Tooth Brush .3 oz
Floss .25 oz
Soap .95 oz
Chap Stick .35oz
1st Aid Kit (home made) 1.05 oz

Total 148.5 oz = 9.3 lbs”

“I've tried the "adding up the individual ounces" before, but somehow the weight is ALWAYS more when I finally get everything packed and get the total pack weight from the bathroom scale.

Ultralight is great...when it ain't wet and freezing!”

“I see LaRock uses at hammock. What are the other choices, 3/4 length self inflating or closed cell foam? Which is lighter? I've been using a self-inflating pad, but I am getting tired of patching the holes!”

“because the great night sleep it provides the hammock will always be my first choice. But when heading into the desert or any other treeless area I opt for the 3/4 closed cell Ridge-Rest chopped just a little (weight 8 oz). I keep the Therma-Rests for car camping.”

“My pack is TOO HEAVY. I've identified the main culprit as my 5 lb 8 oz Eureka Apex 2 with fiberglass poles. I'll probably replace it with a sil tarp this fall (13 oz).”

“I alternate between an enormous winter pack for snow shoe and winter mountaineering trips, and a light weight pack during the summer. I am going to try ultralight soon. I tested the tuna can stove last night and it was great. Boiled a quart of water under 10 minutes and kept burning for another 20!”

“You do not have to give up the ultralight concept for winter--in fact you need it even more then. Yes, your base weight may go from 10 pounds to 15 or 20 because of added clothes, a warmer bag and more fuel but you do not need to haul the kitchen sink. Using the lightest stuff you can find that will suffice and leaving the extras at home is always good smart policy.”

“The place I'm looking for the greatest weight savings is the pack itself. Mine's over 7 lbs. before I start packing! It's really comfortable but jeeze. I want to keep it for hard-core mountain adventures in the winter but want something a lot lighter for the rest of the year.

Who's using what and what are the specs?”

“It is still hard to be light weight in winter if you are carrying a four season mountaineering tent, ice axe and crampons. I did cut the handle off my toothbrush last trip and I think I could really feel the difference!”

“I have a Kelty Velocity Daypack. It's 2lbs with a capacity of 1,800 cu. in. I am able to fit all of my food, water and gear for a two night 3 day trip in the pack, and it saves weight big time!”

“I just looked at several packs including Gregory and others, and they're all pretty heavy. Most are at least 5 lbs. unless you cut way down on capacity. Even then, they still weigh as much as the larger packs per c.i.

My Jansport Adirondack 5000 c.i. is one of the lightest packs I've seen for its size at 4 lbs 6 oz.

Soooo, looks like I'll have to cut weight elsewhere. Starting with that goddam tent!”

“too funny gecko. I agree about the weight of the tent, though. It is hard to find an easy to setup, bombproof, waterproof 2 person tent that doesn't weigh more than 5 lbs and cost more than the monthly food bill.”

“General rule seems to be at least 1 lb per 1,000 cu.in. If anyone knows a pack that significantly beats that, lemme know.”

“I am working on a desgin for a four season tent the weighs less than 2 lbs. It's is going well so far, only the tent is a little short on legroom and headroom. I can't seem to fit my legs and head at the same time!”

“wasn't there a recent discussion about a vendor PackLite something or other (Butch) with a 5400 ci pack (High Country ?)for under 4 pounds with a new lighter material?”

“I'm usually out for a week at a time (6 nights, 7 days) and I average 45 pounds wet. My pack is a Dana Terraplane that weighs somewhere around 7 pounds. Honestly I'm not too concerned about the weight but it would be nice to ditch some pounds.”

“The Kelty Cloud is very light and modular. You might be able to beat the ratio with it. It only comes in white though.”

“SnowDude has the Cloud and loves it. I need a little more back support.”

“http://www.backpackinglight.com/

Ryan Jordan does lots of winter lightweight camping. You might write to him for help.

The boyfriend and I have the Kelty Vapor 45. I bought mine for half price from EMS last Nov. They also make a Flight which is blue and weighs about 6 oz more.”

“Is that Ray dood related to Michael Jordan?”

“Not to brag...but my Terraplane-X weighs in at 7lbs 7oz.

I bet I got everybody beat!”

“Most people could probably do a warm summer weekend trip with a day pack load of gear and be just fine. It becomes more challenging to cut weight as it gets colder.”

“I have an old WWII issue French Alpine Pack. It has a cast iron frame and is made of thick canvas and leather. I haven't weighed it, but it has to be at least 15 lbs. Back then, that was ultralight - lol!”

“I used to have one of those old boy scout packs with the wooden frame from when my brother was in the scouts. I was never in the scouts though.”

“Wooden frame????!?! That would be a collectors item now!”

“bacpac - How much for the Cloud?”

“Just finished packing for a trip tomorrow. 7 nights, 8 days. 42 lbs., I can't get under that regardless of how hard I try. Has some to do with where (high altitude / Sierra's) & being prepared for abrupt / severe weather changes; some has to do with my desire to not do without a few creature comforts (thermarest vs "old blue" closed cell pad); some has to do with playing it cautious (first aid kit to support me & a few other hikers); I also like a firmer pack (Arcteryx Bora 70, about 6 lbs I think) than the Jardine jobs so am willing to carry the extra weight...”

“Sounds like it's going to be a nice trip wanderer. How many miles will you cover during that time?”

“Should be 50+ miles. According to the maps we'll do anywhere from 4.5 to 8 miles/day, a lot of up & down with some days over 3500 feet elevation change. I'm estimating we'll be on the trail about 6-7 hours each day, hopefully time left in the eve for swimming, fishing, etc. (oh yeah, about 1.5 lbs of my pack wt. is my fishing pole, reel & assorted tackle - can't do without that!).”

“Did no one else find it ironic that Buddha Bear has a French pack?

Sounds like a cool collector's item.”

“My pack with food (4 days) weighs 32lbs. And I bring along plenty of luxuries; book, Thermarest w/ chair kit, etc.

I know I can trim out the guilty pleasures, but I don't wanna.”

“Violin, It was a WWII French Alpine Pack - obviously never used, and probably picked up by a German soldier after the French soldier ran.”

“Indubitably.”

“here we go again”

“Yup.”

“One thing that bugs me with some people in the ultralight crowd is their attitude. Not all but some think that in some way because they carry a few pounds of gear that they are right and everyone else in out of step. I think some eliteists jumped all over Ray Jardine's popularity and now they think they know it all. People have been hiking light in the summer for years before any of these hikers were even born. 30 years ago when I started hiking packs didn't have hipbelts and were light because manufacturers didn't have tons of features on them as a marketing theme. Now, Ray Jardine cuts his hipbelt off and it becomes something new. Many people made their own gear back then and there wasn't much good gear to buy. My hiking pals and I started out sleeping under a poly tarps for years because as teenagers we couldn't afford a tent so we used what we could gather from around the house and used that. Sneakers instead of boots, light blankets, plastic bottles, sterno an aluminum pot just a few items and we were happy on the trail with minimal and homemade gear. Many old timers I used to see hiked with bare minimum gear too. Ray Jardine didn't in invent any of this he just recycled it and it became popular. Any boob with half a brain can go out in the summer and do well with a few items if they really want to and people have been doing it for years. Heck, there's a homeless man that's been living under a poly tarp for a few years in the woods a few miles behind my house. He makes his daily trek of 4 miles and back to the soup kitchen and makes a pit stop at the liquor store and back to his tarp. He see him all the time when I'm out riding my mountain bike. This guy probably has more bag nights than any of us will ever see and he didn't need Ray Jardine to teach him how to camp.
Fact is most of these elitists probably won't even be backpacking by the time they turn 50. Backpacker magazine did a survey a few years ago and only about 5 to 10 per cent of hikers will be doing overnight trips by that age.
I checked out some websites from ultralight hikers and what I can't understand is the guy tells about going ultralight and buying titanium this or that to save a few grams. He shows a picture of himself and he has a gut hanging over his hipbelt with 30 pounds or more of excess body fat. Give me a break! Wouldn't be easier to be fit for the trail lose the weight you carry all the time than worry about an extra pound in your pack.
Ultralight only exists in the summer. Light weight and common sense exists when it's colder and even Ray Jardine will tell you that.”

“So, RichB is full of his own attitude...

Each of us needs to seek the right kind of experience when we hike. Who are we to judge what another may enjoy.

On the ultralight topic, I have gone from a 7.5 Gregory to a 12 oz. LWGear pack, finally settling on the Osprey Aether 60. At 3lbs 5 oz. it is a good compromise of support, quality, capacity and weight. Sure it is a couple more pounds, but the supportive hipbelt and harness are worth it. Even at 28lbs (total) the LWGear was a pain in the shoulder. My own style is becoming 'kindalight' with a total packweight of 30-34 lbs depending on how many days of food I carry (4-6). I have also found that I am not willing to compromise on a certain level of comfort and safety, so I do carry a few more items that a true ultralight load. But, this work sgrat for me and I can carry 30lbs all day and go 15-20 miles. On my last I hike, I had consecutive days of 17, 23 & 10, with 110 overall in 8 days. Not bad for a 48 y.o. guy. The main reason for my mileage was the lighter pack. So, experiment and find out what works for you..as the syaing goes, hike your own hike. And, by the way, leave the attitude in town..”

“I like the ultralights. I have learned techniques to lighten my pack and maintain comfort. I still carry enough to make me comfortable, but less than I did three years ago.

Hiking is not a contest for me, but it is for some folks and I appreciate their input.”

“Absolutely, hike your own hike and that's my point.”

“short trip was right on when he wrote,

"Each of us needs to seek the right kind of experience when we hike. Who are we to judge what another may enjoy."

My backpacking style is aimed toward trail comfort. I would much rather hike along a trail with a light pack seeing the sights and covering the miles. Earlier in my life I would carry a 60+ lb pack and ask myself after the first day why am I doing this. I gave up the campsite comforts. There have been those rare times when I pass by someone else camp and see the nice thick Therma-Rest with camp chair coupler, The solar shower hanging in the tree, and you can't forget the beer. But I have far to many mile to go to think about those things.

Do I think my way is the right way, yep, it is for me.

Side note, has anyone else ever gotten strange looks out in the middle of now where form people who thought you day hiked in?”

“Isn't RichB talking about the attitude problem, not the technique? I doubt RichB is anymore accepting of "heavy" packers who show disdain for ultralighters, criticizing them for their recklessness or self-flaggelation, than he is of ultralighters who act superior or wiser.

The hard part always is separating enthusiasm from egotism, both for the proponant and the audience. If you are committed to a certain style of backpacking, then you may find the enthusiasm of someone committed to a different style to be egotistical or overbearing. It is a natural, though not always appropriate, defensive response connected to the formation of self-image. Maturity is when you recognize these defensive tendencies, or when you recognize that your insistent enthusiasm could be misread by another as egotism.

Ah, that was a good warmup for my fall lectures on interpersonal communication, LOL.”

“For two or three night trips I've gotten my pack weight down to about 25 lbs. Probably could go lighter but I refuse to give up a few creature comforts such as my thermarest chair.”

“I use a Burton Snowboading Daypack. I dont know the all the specs but it is plenty roomy enough for three days. Being employe and all cuts into my bping time.”