4090Sharps
WKR
Where are you cutting weight this year? I'm curious to learn what lightweight gear solutions and changes folks have already implemented or are planning to this year.
Like most in this forum, I've spent (an obsessive amount of) time thinking about where and how I hunt, and how I can optimize my gear, cut bulk and weight, and be more mobile and effective. To start, I dropped about 25lb body weight
Late last year I switched from primarily hunting with an EXO K4 pack, to a Durston Kakwa 55, saving about 4lb.
Then I started thinking about how I approach glassing and where I can cut weight and bulk. With AZ's extremely short rifle seasons for deer, and long seasons for bear and mountain lion, I realized that as much as I love my big eyes and Leofoto two-section tripod, I carry a ton of weight for glass that goes underutilized most of the year. I don't need my big eyes for a lot of the canyons I spend my time in, but I still like a tripod to glass off of. My Sig 16x42's are nice but for their field of view, and my other handheld binoculars, Swarovski CL 8x25, can't mount on a tripod.... Or so I thought, then I fell into the Kramer Designs rabbit hole.
I ended up with their bipod/tripod (SnipePod) setup, Swarovski CL Pocket Adapter, and NanoHead panning head--it's a really neat piece of gear. With my bino harness, rangefinder, Swaro pocket binos, Sig 16x42's (for closer looks or longer distance scanning), and tripod, my glassing setup weighs 4lb 5oz, which is less than my big eyes alone. One big advantage to this system that I see for myself is being able to leave my binos on the tripod locked on target, while getting a closer look through the Sig IS binoculars offhand. Not as close a look as with a scope, but I don't have to swap optics on the tripod, potentially losing track of an animal. I could see switching to a Zeiss 10x30 SFL later on to replace the pocket binoculars, but then I'll lose my handy DIY bino/RF harness.
I'll still turn to the big eyes for deer season.
The engineering involved in the KDC setup is really impressive.
Then I turned to my rifle. Switched it over to a straight pull setup from gas, and went to a light optic, cutting almost a pound while moving to a heavier lower receiver.
All in, I think that puts me around 33lb down over the last year, with more body weight to go
Like most in this forum, I've spent (an obsessive amount of) time thinking about where and how I hunt, and how I can optimize my gear, cut bulk and weight, and be more mobile and effective. To start, I dropped about 25lb body weight
Late last year I switched from primarily hunting with an EXO K4 pack, to a Durston Kakwa 55, saving about 4lb.
Then I started thinking about how I approach glassing and where I can cut weight and bulk. With AZ's extremely short rifle seasons for deer, and long seasons for bear and mountain lion, I realized that as much as I love my big eyes and Leofoto two-section tripod, I carry a ton of weight for glass that goes underutilized most of the year. I don't need my big eyes for a lot of the canyons I spend my time in, but I still like a tripod to glass off of. My Sig 16x42's are nice but for their field of view, and my other handheld binoculars, Swarovski CL 8x25, can't mount on a tripod.... Or so I thought, then I fell into the Kramer Designs rabbit hole.
I ended up with their bipod/tripod (SnipePod) setup, Swarovski CL Pocket Adapter, and NanoHead panning head--it's a really neat piece of gear. With my bino harness, rangefinder, Swaro pocket binos, Sig 16x42's (for closer looks or longer distance scanning), and tripod, my glassing setup weighs 4lb 5oz, which is less than my big eyes alone. One big advantage to this system that I see for myself is being able to leave my binos on the tripod locked on target, while getting a closer look through the Sig IS binoculars offhand. Not as close a look as with a scope, but I don't have to swap optics on the tripod, potentially losing track of an animal. I could see switching to a Zeiss 10x30 SFL later on to replace the pocket binoculars, but then I'll lose my handy DIY bino/RF harness.
I'll still turn to the big eyes for deer season.
The engineering involved in the KDC setup is really impressive.
Then I turned to my rifle. Switched it over to a straight pull setup from gas, and went to a light optic, cutting almost a pound while moving to a heavier lower receiver.
All in, I think that puts me around 33lb down over the last year, with more body weight to go
