Gear list

[ffparamedic]

Myself and another forum member are going out for our first elk hunt, this will be DIY OTC Sept 7th-14th.

I have spent my time on the board lurking and learning and building my gear up, I think I have built a solid list and tried to keep the weight to a minimum but I know I am still packing too much and I have noted some of these things on the spreadsheet. If you will take a look at it and critique what you think I could/should leave behind.

My pack should be here mid next week (EXO) so I am going to have to be doing a lot of last minute training in it.

A sample of my food is this

Brkfst: Protein bar
Snack: dried fruit
Snack: Nuts
Lunch: Butthole sandwich
Snack: Jerky
Snack: Clif bar
Supper: MH
About 1.5 lbs/day and 2800-3k calories

I am currently running about 3 miles a day and doing a lot of core work...

I think I have everything dialed in except maps, I really need to spend some time going over that and may have some questions on that later

Thanks!!

 

[ffparamedic]

I can't get the spreadsheet to attach so I will copy and paste.


Backpack elk list
Base Pack
Pack EXO 3500 76 oz
Water bladders (2) 18 oz
Sawyer filter 3 oz
97 oz
Sleep system
Big Agnes scout UL2 28 oz
Tent pad 5 oz
Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15 42 oz
BA Q core SL 18 oz
Tent stakes 5 oz
Hiking poles 16 oz
OR Dry sack 5 oz
119 oz
Cooking
MSR Reactor 14.7 oz
MSR fuel x2 4oz 15 oz
Spork 0.5 oz
30.2 oz

IFAK/Emergency
Meds 3.5 oz
Ace wrap 1.5 oz
Tri bandage 1 oz
Moleskin 0.5 oz
Water tx pills 1 oz Remove from bottle?
Fire starter (flint, bic, vaseline lint) 3 oz
Duct tape (10'? 1 oz
Kifaru small bag 0.6 oz
12.1 oz

Hygeine
Pack towel 1.5 oz
Soap/shampoo 3 oz Gonna remove
Toothbrush/paste 1.5 oz
Deodorant 1.5 oz
Bodyglide 1 oz
Kifaru Small 0.6 oz
Baby wipes 17 oz Gonna take away some and dehydrate
26.1 oz
Kill Kit
Havalon & 5 blades 3 oz
Buck knife 3 oz
Sharpner 2 oz
Gloves 1 oz
Tag bags 16 oz
Trash bags 3 oz
Flag tape 0.5 oz
Pepper 1 0z
50' P cord 3 oz
Kifaru bag 1 oz
33.5 oz

Clothes (packed)
Socks x1 4 oz
Boxers x1 3 oz
Merino top 8 oz
FL puffy 18 oz
Core 4 rain jacket 15 oz
FL rain pant 16 oz
Gloves (warm) 2 oz
Gloves (cold) 4 oz
Beanie 1 oz
Pants UL 13 oz

84 oz

Navigation
GPS 7 oz
Compass 3 oz
Map 1 oz
Bushnell Head lamp 6 oz
Energizer backup HL 3 oz

SPOT 4 oz

New trent charger 14 oz
38 oz

Misc
Backup batts 3 oz
Tripod 41.5 oz

Wyoming saw 22 oz Leave at truck?
Bugle tube and calls 7 oz
73.5 oz

Worn in 513.4 oz 32.08 lbs
UL pants
Merino top
Gaiters
Boots
Bow
Bino


Food for 7 days @1.5 lbs 168 oz 10.5 lbs
Water 100 oz 6.5 lbs


Total pack weight 49.08 lbs

If I remove the Pill bottle, Soap/shampoo, dehydrate the wipes, saw, I lose about 34 oz.
If I also ditch the spare pants I lose 13 oz more and I could probly lose the extra knife an sharpener.

 

[Rucker61]

What are you charging with the New Trent, and how many mAh does it have? Can you get by with a smaller one? Will you need to sharpen your backup knife?

 

[ffparamedic]

Cell phone....Which is comms and pics. Don't know the mAH but it will charge my MAXX 3 times so it's a lot.

I have the Havalon and buck knife.....I could drop the Sharpener by using the fixed blade for heavy duty cuts and the havalon for delicate work I suppose.

 

[Bmcox86]

I wouldn't drop the 2nd pair of pants, I did on my trip last week and regretted it the 2nd day.

 

[thejones]

Your bringing rain pants, use those as a back up pair if need be, while the others dry for example. I would ditch the 2nd pair of pants.

 

[Bmcox86]

I'd defninetly drop the saw, probably drop the deodorant too.

 

[stevenm2]

I'd defninetly drop the saw, probably drop the deodorant too.

I have the same dilemma regarding the saw but I do not see how I can lose the saw. it is way too valuable. I am at 50 lbs with food and water myself.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Wind check bottle? I started using one, they are awesome.

I bought a Wyoming saw and have never packed it with hunting......I've found I can always just break up whatever wood I want for fire, and I don't absolutely need it to break down an animal.

 

[Bmcox86]

What about one of those gerber saws that pull out. Probally weighs 6oz. That's a pound less. What are you using it for.

 

[charvey9]

That would be a lot of food for me, but everyone eats different.

Just my .02, but I don't really think you need the tent footprint. Just clean the ground well when putting it down. And if you haven't already, replace all of your tent stakes with Vargo Ti, if ordered now you'd have them for your hunt and would save a few more ounces.

Don't need the sharpener IMO with two knives and one of them being a havalon. I also don't see trash bags and gloves as a neccissity your kill kit.

Deodorant is a noble gesture, but lets face it you'll be wearing the same clothes for a week and that is a losing battle.

Only need one pair of pants, and my reccomendation would be the lighter ones for this time of year. Pack a merino bottom layer instead. Only need the rain pants or the gaiters, not both. I'd choose the rain pants.

What is the tripod for? I don't see a spotter.

Definately leave the saw. If you wanted an alternative, ditch the pocket knife and pick up a multi-tool that also has a saw...then you'd have some other tools as well for about 8oz.

Some things to think about for the future if you want to go lighter is think about upgrading your bag and pad. BA is great gear for the money, but you could save as much as 2lbs with some of the bags and pads available. (like zpacks and thermarest xlite). Also the Zpacks cuben fiber dry bags are lighter than the OR. You are right about the weight I was packing in at when I started doing this. This season I'll be at 35lbs with 9 days of food, 2 liters of water, and binos in my pack.

 

[_Nick_]

I can't get the spreadsheet to attach so I will copy and paste.


Backpack elk list
Base Pack
Pack EXO 3500 76 oz
Water bladders (2) 18 oz This doesn't include water? That's pretty heavy for two bladders. Can drop a bunch of weight by using Platypus bladders
Sawyer filter 3 oz
97 oz
Sleep system
Big Agnes scout UL2 28 oz
Tent pad 5 oz
Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15 42 oz As Charvey mentions, bag and pad are heavy. First place I'd upgrade in the future.
BA Q core SL 18 oz
Tent stakes 5 oz
Hiking poles 16 oz
OR Dry sack 5 oz This is pretty heavy for just a dry sack.
119 oz
Cooking
MSR Reactor 14.7 oz
MSR fuel x2 4oz 15 oz
Spork 0.5 oz
30.2 oz

IFAK/Emergency
Meds 3.5 oz That's pretty heavy for just meds. Take only what you could possibly need at max for the trip (don't take full bottles of things). Pack in a small ziplock.
Ace wrap 1.5 oz
Tri bandage 1 oz
Moleskin 0.5 oz
Water tx pills 1 oz Remove from bottle?
Fire starter (flint, bic, vaseline lint) 3 oz I don't take redundant fire starters, but you may be more comfortable doing so.
Duct tape (10'? 1 oz
Kifaru small bag 0.6 oz
12.1 oz

Hygeine
Pack towel 1.5 oz I don't take one. Have never really needed it. Bring small hanky instead and if you need to wash off, just do it at heat of day some day.
Soap/shampoo 3 oz Gonna remove
Toothbrush/paste 1.5 oz
Deodorant 1.5 oz Remove.
Bodyglide 1 oz
Kifaru Small 0.6 oz
Baby wipes 17 oz Gonna take away some and dehydrate Yeah, that's way too heavy.
26.1 oz
Kill Kit
Havalon & 5 blades 3 oz
Buck knife 3 oz I'd drop this. Really not much need for two knives IMO.
Sharpner 2 oz Drop.
Gloves 1 oz
Tag bags 16 oz
Trash bags 3 oz Probably don't need unless you plan on submerging in water. If you do, get contractor bag instead.
Flag tape 0.5 oz
Pepper 1 0z Substitute citric acid spray... seems to perform better overall.
50' P cord 3 oz What do you need 50' for? Also, spectra or dyneema cord is basically just as strong but a lot lighter.
Kifaru bag 1 oz
33.5 oz

Clothes (packed)
Socks x1 4 oz
Boxers x1 3 oz
Merino top 8 oz
FL puffy 18 oz
Core 4 rain jacket 15 oz
FL rain pant 16 oz
Gloves (warm) 2 oz
Gloves (cold) 4 oz
Beanie 1 oz
Pants UL 13 oz Bring only the pants you'll wear, plus base layer if needed.

84 oz

Navigation
GPS 7 oz Could sub just your phone for this.
Compass 3 oz This seems like a fairly heavy compass, especially if you're only using it as a backup to gps.
Map 1 oz
Bushnell Head lamp 6 oz This is heavy. Can find much lighter and still bright.
Energizer backup HL 3 oz Are these batteries or a full backup headlight? If full backup, just bring a small keychain light.

SPOT 4 oz

New trent charger 14 oz This is a heavy item.
38 oz

Misc
Backup batts 3 oz
Tripod 41.5 oz

Wyoming saw 22 oz Leave at truck? Probably don't need... but could get lighter if you wanted a saw.
Bugle tube and calls 7 oz
73.5 oz

Worn in 513.4 oz 32.08 lbs
UL pants
Merino top
Gaiters
Boots
Bow
Bino


Food for 7 days @1.5 lbs 168 oz 10.5 lbs
Water 100 oz 6.5 lbs


Total pack weight 49.08 lbs

If I remove the Pill bottle, Soap/shampoo, dehydrate the wipes, saw, I lose about 34 oz.
If I also ditch the spare pants I lose 13 oz more and I could probly lose the extra knife an sharpener.

I don't see a phone or a camera on this list... I'd add a smartphone and ditch the gps. Pictures are a valuable aid to remember your hunt.

 

[Andy Dana]

boy you got a lot for the weight..I don't have that that sort of gear so do without some stuff you have in order to come in about that weight. I think your good to go...from your list I could make it lighter. If you know your water sources maybe you could half fill your bladder save 3 pounds the way in? a few tweeks like that it be under 45 pounds if you take some of the others trimming advice. Have a good hunt!!

 

[justinspicher]

Ask ten folks for an opinion and you'll get ten different responses. You'll do fine, nothing beats experience. Take a small note book or use the notebook app on your smart phone and write down the things you used alot, the things you used a little and the things you didn't use at all. Do this each night and when you get back you'll have an active list of what you need the next time, what to leave home and what to upgrade.

Enjoy your hunt, that is what really matters.

 

[Jon0311]

I would keep both the gps, and your phone. I have been in places here is CO that has no signal, and with no phone signal means no gps(well for my phone anyhow). However I would get rid of the trash bags. There is no major need for them. The knife sharpner, I never carry one, that's just added weight that you may or may not ever use. I also went with a saw, and multitool and decided on my first overnight scout trip that the saw was pointless, and that I could do the same with just my multitool. I wouldn't worry about a camera if you have a smart phone, because you can just take the pics on it, and can email them to yourself when you get home. Also from experience being in the military, keep your water treatment pills in the original container, and I would also get a small (snack) size zip lock bag to put them in, because it sucks when you need to use them after a rain and they are all mush. Also if you keep them in the bottle, you have no worry about possibly mistaking them in the middle of the night, or them coming open and contamination of other gear/food. But that's just my .02 in all this. Good luck.

 

[ffparamedic]

Thanks for all the responses, I am on my phone so I can't type a whole lot but I will get back and answer questions.

Plz keep the suggestions coming.

 

[16Bore]

What the heck is a "butthole" sandwich?

 

[Trr15]

What the heck is a "butthole" sandwich?

I was just thinking the same thing...

 

[Shrek]

Peanut Butter , bacon , and honey on a toasted bagel.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Aron Snyder's daughter came up with the name when she saw him making them. The name stuck