why so much weight?

[shoty2982]

whats up everyone! its been a beautiful beginning to hiking season and i hope everyone is getting out as much as possible. although i hardly ever post i am always browsing the website as often as possible. one thing that really stands out after reading posts is how much weight people go into the woods with. over the past 3 or 4 years i have researched everyway to make my pack lighter and lighter. i always see people on the forum talking about 40-60 lbs in their pack, others using a 6000 cu in backpack for a 4 day trip and some people even saying that they can't fit all of their food in a bear canister for a 4 day trip for 2 people. i mean what are you eating full steaks and baked potatos? all kidding aside though, i know that ever single person has their own opinion and thoughts on what they feel should be brought into the woods and what they "need" for luxury. but, at the risk of sounding like ray jardine, isnt that part of the reason we go into the woods, to get away from all the material possesions and just rough it and live nice and simple for a couple days? i'm a just a weight weenie and a minority on this website or is everyone else just that strong to be able to lug around 40+ pounds for miles on end?

On a 4 day hike my pack with food (in bear canister) without water is approximately 15-18 pounds. its not a contest but since i have shaved so much weight i am able to spend more time in the woods (my knees don't take as much of a beating), i am able to cover more ground and able to enjoy just as much as everyone else.

happy hiking everybody!!!!!!
P@uL

[lumberzac]

I guess I carry a little bit heavier load than you do, I think. The only time I've weighed my pack it came in at 25lbs with a weekend worth of food and 3L of water. I generally load my pack up and weigh it subjectively. If it feels too heavy I take something out. Most of the time I’m carrying all the same gear every time so the weight normally doesn’t change much from trip to trip. I do have to say I have a little bit of trouble fitting more than 2 full days worth of food in my bearvault 250, but I tend to eat a lot while backpacking over summits. I have no problem with other hikes carrying heavy loads as long as I don’t have to carry the load for them.

[shoty2982]

i agree 100 percent with you as long as it isnt on my back. hehe i am looking at picking up one of the bear vault 250's. how do you like it so far. ive onlyused a bear vault once and i loved the wide opening and the blueish, clearish container so you can see what you are grabbing. how many days worth of food can you fit in yours?

[Dick]

Would love to see your pack contents with weight. Care to share?

[Judgeh]

Hailing from the Gold Coast of Connecticut, I like to bring all the comforts of home when I backpack. Ergo, 6500 cu.". I also avoid backpacking to mountain tops. I have been interested in any topics related to cutting weight.

[lumberzac]

i agree 100 percent with you as long as it isnt on my back. hehe i am looking at picking up one of the bear vault 250's. how do you like it so far. ive onlyused a bear vault once and i loved the wide opening and the blueish, clearish container so you can see what you are grabbing. how many days worth of food can you fit in yours?

I can fit two days worth of food with my stove, teakettle, and cup inside and 3 days worth with out them inside. So far I've been happy with the canister, but I've only used it a few times. I haven't gotten a chance to use it with my GG Vaportrail pack yet, but I think I shouldn't have a problem with it fitting inside considering my last pack, a Golite Race, was a smaller pack.

[shoty2982]

heres the contents of my pack for a 3 season 3 day backpacking trip

Big Four
golite dawn backpack....13oz
marmot hydrogen sleeping bag....20oz
ridge rest sleep pad 3/4 cut to my body....8oz
tarp w/ tyvek ground cloth and mosquito netting...14 oz
vargo ti stakes(6)...3oz

clothing
polarmax silk weight top and bottoms for sleeping..8oz
2 pairs of liner socks...2-3oz
fleece hat...2 oz
light liner gloves...2oz
marmot precip jacket...11oz
patagonia micropuff jacket...12oz

kitchen
snowpeak 600 ti mug...2.8oz
homemade red bull stove... .75oz
windscreen and lid...1oz

hydration
2L platy...1.5oz
1L platy...1oz
aqua mira...3oz

misc.
just a bunch of things i cannot fit in any other category and weight varies

band aids and TP... 1oz
lighter...1oz
black diamond ion headlamp...1oz
emergency whistle... .5oz
candle... .5oz
neosporin, tylenol PM, ibuprofin...1-2oz
multi tool knife (swiss)...1oz


TOTAL... 114.5 oz =7.15 lbs roughly????

this is all off the top of my head and i know everyone will be seeing things that i forgot i am sure there is a bunch of things i missed but i didnt weigh each item nor did i go through my pack while i was posting this but i hope you get the right idea.

happy hiking
P@uL

[JohnnyMac]

Are you guys members of The Lightweight Backpacker and/or Backpackinglight.com?

[shoty2982]

i am not a member but i frequent them everyday. some very good info to be foundbut i am still kind of intimitated with all the knowledge thos guys have.

[JohnnyMac]

Anyone getting a base weight under ten pounds has nothing to be intimidated about. I am a moderator for TLB and agree there are some knowledgable folks there but many are arm chair contributors as well. Anyway, it looks like you learned a lot and are enjoying yourself which is what it's all about. Glad you're here!

[shoty2982]

can anyone see anything that is wrong with my gear list... i obviously forgot to add my bear canister... i have using the big black on b/c that is the only one that EMS rents out. but before my next though i am going to buy one of the bearvault 250 to shave a couple more pounds. can anyone give me some pointers on things you think i should have or should not have? thanks guys

[JohnnyMac]

At first glance, your first aid kit might be a concern, especially if you ever solo.

[shoty2982]

i rarely ever solo and despite what i posted earlier i have a little hodge podge of bandages and one of those tiny purell bottles of sanitzer. oh and some duct tape in there. what else for first aid type stuff?

[redhawk]

i rarely ever solo and despite what i posted earlier i have a little hodge podge of bandages and one of those tiny purell bottles of sanitzer. oh and some duct tape in there. what else for first aid type stuff?

Ace bandage dor sure. I would definately get a decent first aid kit. I think mine weighs around 12 ounces.

[shoty2982]

i wear 2 knee braces already while i hike and i have a bandana that could double as an ace?