Day Pack Weight- How much is too much?

[mtwarden]

Most Silky saws are offered in several teeth configurations and you can purchase spare blades. I carry a large tooth for wood cutting and a fine for bone.

 

[Ross]

It is the f180 and you can buy a separate fine tooth blade. It is very lite in comparison to the Wyoming saw which I also used for decades. @prm

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Year 45 of my elk and muley hunt. I don’t like to pack it, if I’m not using it. Pack is 19 pounds plus or minus 1-2 pds, if need another shirt/more food. Rifle and binos 9.5. Together 30 pounds. Decades ago I imagine it was 40 pounds and clothes that were warm, but oh so heavy and stinky when wet.

100 ft of paracord for elk and used it all this year.
Game bags 5.
Havalon with few extra blades and mini tool to change blades.
Headlamp and emergency backup. Had packed the emergency headlamp for a decade and finally needed it this year.
KUIU super down pro.
Smart wool second shirt.
Toak cup with stove and one fuel canister.
Days food.
Zoleo used it to communicate with packers who did not have an iPhone capable of texting. This was awesome between the two.
Extra rounds.
3bottles of water.
Silky saw. Packed the Wyoming saw for decades. This guy is so light and handy.
Charger.
Misc fire starter, lite gloves, partial roll of athletic tape, miniii phone holder for pictures, extra aleve, two lighters, beanie, flagging tape, clotting bandage.
Geovid binos.
Tikka 7mm with leupold 4.5-14x40.

Have to find that mix for that provides you a piece of mind, yet does not include the kitchen sink.

Ross- No tripod or glassing pad?

 

[Ross]

@Jesse Jaymes never have needed a tripod, my old pipes are stable enough and have not needed a pad. Glassing sessions over my decades in the jungle country don’t tend to last more than 10 -20 minutes and aren’t at distances over 1000 yards very often.

 

[Hussar]

My "day" pack weight is ~25lbs excluding bino harness & weapon. It includes everything to spend a reasonably comfortable night out down to about 20 degrees. If I know there is essentially no chance of staying out overnight, I'll usually drop the sleeping bag, pad, bivy, and cook kit, which will drop me closer to 20lbs.

https://lighterpack.com/r/pemfvv

I hunt in AZ, so weather is almost always fair where I hunt. If the forecast is calling for more inclement weather, I swap the Borah tarp for a DST.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Don’t know my day pack load. But, I know a 2 night, three day during 40 degree nights and 60 degree days loads out at 26.3 pounds. I have no earthly idea how anyone can validate a 30 pound day pack.

 

[fngTony]

Good points made earlier about a tiny weight increase not being a measurable difference. I would say that use case, species, location plays into it. Also if I’m taking my bare minimum for a day hunt I’ll still have options back at camp or vehicle.

Here’s two list summaries I made, both for the month of September in Colorado for mule deer. The lighter one is less water, frog toggs rain gear, no power bank or mid layer, lighter boots, lighter gloves& pants. The idea for the heavier list is to be comfortable in anything at any elevation even if it’s overkill for some situations. You could add to it depending on what kinda glassing you’re going to do.

 

[greyghostnw]

Don’t know my day pack load. But, I know a 2 night, three day during 40 degree nights and 60 degree days loads out at 26.3 pounds. I have no earthly idea how anyone can validate a 30 pound day pack.

lets see your list of gear.. i dont believe it. My day pack is more. I never count rifle or bow as its always in hand. Just a pack is say 5-6 pounds, spotter/ tri pod 5-7 pounds, usually 5-7 pounds water Add a pistol, leatherman on hip belt, head lamp batteries on hip pouch thats your weight u mentioned…no food, no shelter, no sleep system. no kill kit, no spare clothes, the list goes on. A three day kit for western high country is more likely 42-46 pounds pending on temps etc…

 

[CMF]

lets see your list of gear.. i dont believe it. My day pack is more. I never count rifle or bow as its always in hand. Just a pack is say 5-6 pounds, spotter/ tri pod 5-7 pounds, usually 5-7 pounds water Add a pistol, leatherman on hip belt, head lamp batteries on hip pouch thats your weight u mentioned…no food, no shelter, no sleep system. no kill kit, no spare clothes, the list goes on. A three day kit for western high country is more likely 42-46 pounds pending on temps etc…

I'm not there yet, but I will be one day. Here is where I'm at now and this is counting weapon as "worn" weight caust it's in hand, not in base pack weight cause it's rarely on my pack. https://lighterpack.com/r/tc8zg5

Here is my list with upgrades I want to make and try, it will get me less than 26lbs. base pack weight
https://lighterpack.com/r/7vzxas

I was over 40lbs. pack weight the first time I left a trailhead and I've cut piece after piece since then. Geese feet were the only thing I've added. I still carry a pistol, but really not needed most places. Don't need a spotter on majority of hunts and definitely don't need a leatherman. A kuiu pack is right at 4lbs. and I'm only carrying 2-4lbs. of water in most places.

 

[greyghostnw]

I'm not there yet, but I will be one day. Here is where I'm at now and this is counting weapon as "worn" weight caust it's in hand, not in base pack weight cause it's rarely on my pack. https://lighterpack.com/r/tc8zg5

Here is my list with upgrades I want to make and try, it will get me less than 26lbs. base pack weight
https://lighterpack.com/r/7vzxas

I was over 40lbs. pack weight the first time I left a trailhead and I've cut piece after piece since then. Geese feet were the only thing I've added. I still carry a pistol, but really not needed most places. Don't need a spotter on majority of hunts and definitely don't need a leatherman. A kuiu pack is right at 4lbs. and I'm only carrying 2-4lbs. of water in most places.

Fair enough… ill look at your list. Im not rich but dont shy from going in debt to get whatever gear i want and dont think theres any products lighter than my kit available. I go bare bones and it always just is what it is and its definitely not what your talking. Be curious to see what ones kit is as such

 

[WV Mountaineer]

This dosnt exist with spitt

lets see your list of gear.. i dont believe it. My day pack is more. I never count rifle or bow as it’s always in hand. Just a pack is say 5-6 pounds, spotter/ tri pod 5-7 pounds, usually 5-7 pounds water Add a pistol, leatherman on hip belt, head lamp batteries on hip pouch thats your weight u mentioned…no food, no shelter, no sleep system. no kill kit, no spare clothes, the list goes on. A three day kit for western high country is more likely 42-46 pounds pending on temps etc…

Why on earth would I lie about that?

Theres no need for spare clothes, kill kit, bino harness, etc…. On a back packing trip with the kids. I use my quilt as a woobie. So, there’s No need for anymore clothes than it takes to stay warm while hiking.

Here’s the pic. The pack in the top wears a DT3 on their lite frame on the trips. Inside those pullouts are my stove and extra gas, my camp gear and my personal bag. My food lives in the extra large pullouts. I have a quilt I made, a 10x10 catenary tarp sewed by simply light designs. I have an extremely thin simply light designs ground cloth I sleep on.

I use an hotel sized “travel”sleeping bag as a bivy.It’s all there.

I’m not lying. I weigh my packs on all trips. Packing meat or hiking with the family.

If you are comparing pack weights of hunting then I still don’t see a mid 20’s-30’s all day pack weight. Money will buy that down with compromise.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I don’t know. Maybe I am indeed wrong if you are carrying lots of water. There’s no way if you had to carry all that glass and 3 liters of water. I stand corrected on that.

 

[greyghostnw]

Why on earth would I lie about that?

Theres no need for spare clothes, kill kit, bino harness, etc…. On a back packing trip with the kids. I use my quilt as a woobie. So, there’s No need for anymore clothes than it takes to stay warm while hiking.

Here’s the pic. The pack in the top wears a DT3 on their lite frame on the trips. Inside those pullouts are my stove and extra gas, my camp gear and my personal bag. My food lives in the extra large pullouts. I have a quilt I made, a 10x10 catenary tarp sewed by simply light designs. I have an extremely thin simply light designs ground cloth I sleep on.

I use an hotel sized “travel”sleeping bag as a bivy.It’s all there.

I’m not lying. I weigh my packs on all trips. Packing meat or hiking with the family.

No need for a lill kit? Ohh boy.. due tell. This is a hunting forum. I dont know a single hunter without a kill kit.

I don’t know. Maybe I am indeed wrong if you are carrying lots of water. There’s no way if you had to carry all that glass and 3 liters of water. I stand corrected on that.

i just weighed my exo 5500 with bare bone less than id take in day mode and its 27, add my pistol thats 31 in total pounds. Guess im that guy. Betting my day kit is 34 and 42-46 if lucky in mild for 3 days. Bring a hot tent goes up. For 27 pounds thats exo 5500, gerber fixed blade on shoulder strap, ivory holster, hip pouch with head lamp, small sure fire 1000 lumen light, batteries two sets for each, leatherman on hip belt, in brain/lid sat phone, possible pouch with two epy pens, small first aid, beenie, kestrel, gloves . in bag half roll tp, sawyer straw, super down pro hoodie, kill kit, first aid , swaro atc spotter, slik 632 tripod wiser night hawk pan head and lastly one liter of water, usually theres two. Plus a 16 oz with wilderness athelete in it, keep it separate from main water…bottles currently empty..Thats togather 27 pounds.

I have a lot of sleep system configuration to adapt to from a 4 oz tarp to 16 oz double vest two layer dcf tent to 4 season to dcf cimmeron with large stove i always bring a 15 degree sub two pound bag, layers are temp pending, usually a soft shell only rain gear if snow or rain only puffy pants if under 40 degrees, onlly for over nites, one extra top, one extra sock, one extra beenie. My sleep system generally is 3 - 3 1/2 pounds in total with bed matt. Foods 2 pounds a day if no stove if stove count away up. If i bring the bigger swaro and outdoorsman add again. Plus add the pistol add more.also always have trekking poles ss archery poles , weight Its just the way it is.

 

[fngTony]

@CMF @greyghostnw @WV Mountaineer when and where are you hunting? here's my bare minimum early Sept CO MD 8k-11k altitude, 30-70 degrees, calm weather 3 night trip. terrain doesn't warrant a spotter. no significant predators to worry about=no side arm. https://lighterpack.com/r/pz9k64

 

[Tick]

Includes everything that I walked away from the truck with. 2024 October WY elk. Temps teens to 50s. Didn't carry a spotter or tripod.

 

[greyghostnw]

@CMF @greyghostnw @WV Mountaineer when and where are you hunting? here's my bare minimum early Sept CO MD 8k-11k altitude, 30-70 degrees, calm weather 3 night trip. terrain doesn't warrant a spotter. no significant predators to worry about=no side arm. https://lighterpack.com/r/pz9k64

NW sept- dec…

 

[mtwarden]

@Tick sleep system 1.3 lbs? Seems a wee bit, that’s basically a 20-30 degree bag- no shelter? no pad?

 

[Tick]

That would be my trecking poles I have in that category. No shelter. Not the lightest day pack but comfortable for me.

https://lighterpack.com/r/wpft71

QUOTE="mtwarden, post: 4001977, member: 15943"]
@Tick sleep system 1.3 lbs? Seems a wee bit, that’s basically a 20-30 degree bag- no shelter? no pad?

 

[CMF]

@CMF @greyghostnw @WV Mountaineer when and where are you hunting? here's my bare minimum early Sept CO MD 8k-11k altitude, 30-70 degrees, calm weather 3 night trip. terrain doesn't warrant a spotter. no significant predators to worry about=no side arm. https://lighterpack.com/r/pz9k64

pretty much same for my elk list Sep. archery CO, 9-11.6k, depending on lows/highs I may go lighter and wear my tiburon instead of attacks, but when I shared the lighterpack link it was attacks.
I'm not sure if those links will change after I've shared them, if I go back and make changes.

No need for a lill kit? Ohh boy.. due tell. This is a hunting forum. I dont know a single hunter without a kill kit.

There's a big swing in kill kit weights too, I'm at about 16oz for elk, but I'm down to 8oz for otc barbary.
I've considered running a lighter kit for elk and leaving half the bags at the truck. Take off enough for the first load, drop the guts and head for the truck to get the rest of the kit. But haven't done yet and I usually end up with a few garbage bags included so I can keep my plack clean. I've seen way heavier kits posted though. I carry outdoor edge 3.5 and only back up is my pocket knife. I'm trying a little folding scalpel blade knife in my sheep kit, but it will be a miracle if I need it.

 

[CMF]

Here's day pack for sheep including 15x56 and tripod that I usually don't have for elk.

https://lighterpack.com/r/kcjlh3