Much wisdom in this post. Also, I will add buying used gear saves lots of money. I am not afraid to buy anything backpacking related used (except for a fart sack and that's just mental on my end). Also, there are a ton of great companies that make backpacking gear that is non hunting that is much less expensive than the equivalent gear from a hunting brand and sometimes better. The exception is a backpack. You don't get a meat shelf in a backpacking backpack and you do in a hunting backpack, but a contractors bag solves that problem but it sometimes leads to an extra trip. I would encourage you to use a backpacking backpack on your first trip and then you can see if you like and also the odds of killing something are pretty low on your first trip.@Tcatt First four replies LOL. 3 gave you an opinion but not an answer the question you asked. 6 day pack pack hunt. Completely ballpark numbers: 50-60 pounds for heavier, less costly equipment. 40-50 pounds for lighter, more expensive equipment. Most of that weight savings could be realized in the “big three” - backpack, sleeping bag, shelter (tent/tarp/bivy). Again, completely ballpark numbers (for others to give an opinion on, LOL) but figure roughly spending $100 per pound saved/eliminated/reduced.
Sleeping bag weight savings potential 3-4 pounds.
Backpack weight savings potential 3-4 pounds.
Shelter weight savings depends on the type of shelter you choose. Tent savings potential 3-4 pounds. Tarp savings potential 1 pound maybe. Going from a tent to a tarp 3-4 pounds.
Also, keep in mind there are two elements to the learning curve associated with first time backpack hunting. The first, and maybe most obvious is the weight and quality of the gear you take with, as mentioned above. Spending more money can result in lighter gear. The second, perhaps less obvious, is the amount of gear you take with you. Many first timers simply take too much crap with them into the woods they don’t need, myself included when I was at that point. (GIF: Good idea Fairy, use the search function). That extra crap that doesn’t get used can “outweigh” the more expensive gear, pun intended. (And I do see it every year: guys with super expensive backpacks stacked waaaay above their heads, with 7000 cubic inches stuffed to the gills. Always makes me chuckle when they say their pack weighs 75 pounds for a 6 day hunt in September. Decked out in the most expensive camo, boots, backpack….What are they doing? Hunting preparation and planning turned into an exercise of expensive gear accumulation because buying gear is so much fun and a variable that can be controlled. SMH!)
Anyhow, good luck with your preparations , enjoy the journey!!!
I'll second this answer. You'll pay a TON of money to drop those last 10-ish pounds to get under 50, so just get what you can for now and slowly replace things when stuff goes on sale or you find a deal.@Tcatt First four replies LOL. 3 gave you an opinion but not an answer the question you asked. 6 day pack pack hunt. Completely ballpark numbers: 50-60 pounds for heavier, less costly equipment. 40-50 pounds for lighter, more expensive equipment. Most of that weight savings could be realized in the “big three” - backpack, sleeping bag, shelter (tent/tarp/bivy). Again, completely ballpark numbers (for others to give an opinion on, LOL) but figure roughly spending $100 per pound saved/eliminated/reduced.
Sleeping bag weight savings potential 3-4 pounds.
Backpack weight savings potential 3-4 pounds.
Shelter weight savings depends on the type of shelter you choose. Tent savings potential 3-4 pounds. Tarp savings potential 1 pound maybe. Going from a tent to a tarp 3-4 pounds.
Also, keep in mind there are two elements to the learning curve associated with first time backpack hunting. The first, and maybe most obvious is the weight and quality of the gear you take with, as mentioned above. Spending more money can result in lighter gear. The second, perhaps less obvious, is the amount of gear you take with you. Many first timers simply take too much crap with them into the woods they don’t need, myself included when I was at that point. (GIF: Good idea Fairy, use the search function). That extra crap that doesn’t get used can “outweigh” the more expensive gear, pun intended. (And I do see it every year: guys with super expensive backpacks stacked waaaay above their heads, with 7000 cubic inches stuffed to the gills. Always makes me chuckle when they say their pack weighs 75 pounds for a 6 day hunt in September. Decked out in the most expensive camo, boots, backpack….What are they doing? Hunting preparation and planning turned into an exercise of expensive gear accumulation because buying gear is so much fun and a variable that can be controlled. SMH!)
Anyhow, good luck with your preparations , enjoy the journey!!!
You need everything? Tent, all that stuff? Base weight you should be around 25-27 lbs. The key is to not bring a bunch of crap. Figure 7 lbs pack + 5 lb tent + 4 lbs for sleeping bag/pad combo + 3 lb rain gear + 2 lb puff/second layer + 2 lb cook kit + 2 lb for knives/game bags/batteries/compass/headlamp. You can get stuff that will cover that for a reasonable cost. Then figure 2 lb/day for food and your weapon weight, plus maybe some trekking poles.What’s a pack weight I should expect starting with 0 gear and not a ton of money to spend? Obviously I noticed the lighter the weight the more expensive! I’m planning a 4-6 night backpacking archery hunt in September.