Weight Reduction Advise

[Ben]

So as of right now, with that list, I am at 45lbs with food and water for 5 nights.

I can take my lighter weight bag, rainfly/poles only, leave some socks, tripod/adapter, rain pants, and some other small items and be at 38lbs for 5 nights.

I spent a lot of time making a spread sheet to records the weights that I can email to people if you want. It really helped me seeing where the weight was and to compare different items. I also wanted to say thank you for everyone's input as it was greatly appreciated. I dropped a few pounds just for asking for help and a few more by spending minimal cash.

Thanks.

 

[dotman]

Dry out your baby wipes and you'll drop most of their weight, rehydrate when needed.

 

[_Nick_]

Even though I really like my Xtherm, I wouldn't upgrade your pad right away. Your pad is only 3 oz heavier so you would be spending over $150.00 for small weight savings. With that said though, I have probably spent more at times to save less.

Yeah, I should have said... definitely try to figure out where you can get the biggest bang for your buck. Rank the areas from cheapest to most expensive per oz saved and just go from there. But start with the skills and removal of excess... that's mostly free.

 

[_Nick_]

So as of right now, with that list, I am at 45lbs with food and water for 5 nights.

I can take my lighter weight bag, rainfly/poles only, leave some socks, tripod/adapter, rain pants, and some other small items and be at 38lbs for 5 nights.

I spent a lot of time making a spread sheet to records the weights that I can email to people if you want. It really helped me seeing where the weight was and to compare different items. I also wanted to say thank you for everyone's input as it was greatly appreciated. I dropped a few pounds just for asking for help and a few more by spending minimal cash.

Thanks.

The other piece of advice I'd give, having gone from where you are now to about a 25lb base weight now (including bow/arrows, excluding food/water), is to take your time and actually NOT to buy stuff. Do tons of research first. You can save a lot of money and effort over the long haul by upgrading slowly and only after lots of research.

I'd strongly advise looking into a enlightened equipment or hammock gear quilt, for example, rather than a big agnes. You'll save weight and get higher quality for a relatively marginal cost increase.

Going with tent fly is good for now... learn more about your options and then you can decide what will work best for you.

check out backpackinglight.com ... Rokslide is the best for hunting related stuff, but when it comes to cutting weight from the pack, backpackinglight is pretty unbeatable. Fantastic and creative ideas over there.

Anyway, take your time and buy right the first time (speaking from costly experience). Good luck!

 

[Justin Crossley]

Some good advice there Nick.

 

[scarboy11]

Everything I need for a five day hunt loaded in my pack with the exception of food,water is 26 pounds. That is including a 4 pound 85mm spotter. I went through what your attempting a couple years ago. Things I have changed along the way is this.
-make a "kill kit" a-z everything you need for after the shot and put it in a dry sack. You can also buy a kill kit on rockslide website and your done.
-water filtration. I used to carry a "lightweight" water pump. Then I discovered a sawyer inline water filter 3oz.
-sleep system I used to run a 4.5 pound bag and a fold out thermapad and one man tent. I have a couple sleep system setups now, one a cabelas bivy sack, paratarp setup the other a big agnes seedhouse sl2 and last a eureka one man tent. but what I can recommend is buy a 30 degree bag. People are scared of them but I use a 30 degree with a big agnes q core that sits me 3.5" off the ground and has a top notch R factor. So having a quality pad you can get a higher degree bag. I've been to below thirty degree weather and have slept like a baby every time and I sleep in boxers. I went from a 4.5 pound bag to 1.12 big improvement! Also I've learned with the more and more I am out there I realize things I have always brought to things I can go without.
Example I am headed out on a scout trip next weekend and loaded pack with everything including layers in pack except food/water it weighs 18 pounds.
So just go over everything I see things in here I would combined for example the medical kit and emergency kit combine those into one dry sack. My "possibles pouch" weighs right at one pound with a havalon knife inside.
What is the 10.2 ounce dry sack for? You could switch that out for pretty cheap and get that down to single digit ounces
Either way you have a great goal and keep chipping away at it. Evaluate your gear after each trip learn what you constantly grab and things you don't need so much and in no time your pack will get a lot lighter!
Just a few years ago I couldn't step into the woods with a pack under 60# haha

 

[5MilesBack]

I started loading my pack yesterday for a scouting trip this next week. My problem is that I've never been in this area and have no idea what's available for water. So I'm taking my 3L Camelback, my Nalgene bottle, and my 6L Dromedary full of water. That's over 20lbs of just water. Also, at my height (6'6") I have an all extra long/wide sleeping system, and sleep COLD. So total is about 9lbs just for tent, bag/quilt, and pad. Add in a spotting scope and tripod and everything else, and I have no idea where I'm sitting right now for weight. Will have to weigh it. Using a Stone Glacier Solo with a 35L Ultra Sil Dry bag between the frame and Solo as well. Funny thing is, I tried it on and it didn't feel all that heavy. If I can lose the 13lbs of water in the Dromedary, weight won't even be an issue. Still studying some maps and aerial imagery, might have found a couple possible water spots.

 

[scarboy11]

I started loading my pack yesterday for a scouting trip this next week. My problem is that I've never been in this area and have no idea what's available for water. So I'm taking my 3L Camelback, my Nalgene bottle, and my 6L Dromedary full of water. That's over 20lbs of just water. Also, at my height (6'6") I have an all extra long/wide sleeping system, and sleep COLD. So total is about 9lbs just for tent, bag/quilt, and pad. Add in a spotting scope and tripod and everything else, and I have no idea where I'm sitting right now for weight. Will have to weigh it. Using a Stone Glacier Solo with a 35L Ultra Sil Dry bag between the frame and Solo as well. Funny thing is, I tried it on and it didn't feel all that heavy. If I can lose the 13lbs of water in the Dromedary, weight won't even be an issue. Still studying some maps and aerial imagery, might have found a couple possible water spots.

Couple weekends ago I went into a situation exactly like yours. 13k feet lot of springs on the 7.5 topo but couldn't trust it. I ended up throwing a gallon jug on top of my pack for security. Ended up finding water at every water target waypoint I had marked out. Sometimes you need to add that extra buffer though. I forgot to mention both my sleeping bag and sleeping pads are long series. There is lightweight stuff for us tall guys just need to hunt it down. Good luck on the scout trip

 

[_Nick_]

I started loading my pack yesterday for a scouting trip this next week. My problem is that I've never been in this area and have no idea what's available for water. So I'm taking my 3L Camelback, my Nalgene bottle, and my 6L Dromedary full of water. That's over 20lbs of just water. Also, at my height (6'6") I have an all extra long/wide sleeping system, and sleep COLD. So total is about 9lbs just for tent, bag/quilt, and pad. Add in a spotting scope and tripod and everything else, and I have no idea where I'm sitting right now for weight. Will have to weigh it. Using a Stone Glacier Solo with a 35L Ultra Sil Dry bag between the frame and Solo as well. Funny thing is, I tried it on and it didn't feel all that heavy. If I can lose the 13lbs of water in the Dromedary, weight won't even be an issue. Still studying some maps and aerial imagery, might have found a couple possible water spots.

Carrying water sucks. I hunt the desert where there is basically no usable water. Three day trip means 22lbs of water to withstand the near 100 temps. But, that's where the deer are and the people aren't (guess they aren't as crazy as I am).

As to a sleeping pad, again I would recommend saving up and eventually going with an x-therm. I've tried many different pads (again, not the smartest way to do things), and found nothing comparable in terms of weight and comfort combined.

 

[mrmorton]

I was once and still kinda of am cheap and or low on cash. So here is what I would do if I was in your exact situation.

Shelter: would be titanium goat bivy. I would make sure if that was all i had for weather protection I would shelter under a thick tree at night in case it rained.
If that is still to much money then i would buy ripstop nylon at joann fabric and sew my own bivy or tarp shelter.
THE ONLY WAY TO CUT WEIGHT ON A SHELTER WITHOUT SPENDING CASH IS SACRIFICING COMFORT.

Tools: get rid of the full size multi tool and get the little mini ones you can buy at the counter at cabelas. I see the need for a pair of pliers if you own a havolon knife. Also the screw drivers if you use tripods and such.

There is no substitute for a light weight bag. ive tried it and froze. You are going to spend 300-500 dollars on a good sleeping bag.

ditch the dry sack for a nylon one. a 10 liter dry sack should not be over 3 ounces.

maps or gps, not both.

buy a msr tea pot to save 4 ounces on a pot.
ditch the carabiner.
i know that kill kit could be lightened. along with the med kit and emergency kit.
a kill kit is just game bags and 550 cord. Emergency kit and med kit is just a cotton rag, bright colored duct tape, sewing needle and braided fishing line.
all of that should not weight even 2 pounds.

 

[topher89]

maps or gps, not both.

Agreed with everything in the post but this. Extra navigation insurance is worth the weight penalty in my opinion. GPS is faster and easier to use than a map and map works when your GPS is dead. No excuse to get lost in the backcountry, I support bringing both a map and a GPS

 

[mrmorton]

I have never been lost so I dont see the need for either one unless marking wallows and water points. The only time I have used either one is to find short cuts. I see the benefit it both but I only carry the gps with extra batteries.

 

[5MilesBack]

ditch the dry sack for a nylon one. a 10 liter dry sack should not be over 3 ounces.

My Sea to Summit Ultra Sil 35L dry bag is only 4oz. Much better than the heavier 10+ oz options, and about the same price.

As for the maps and compass.........I'd keep them and the GPS. I ALWAYS have my maps with me along with my GPS. Neither are an absolute necessity where I hunt, but I sure like using them, and it sure makes it easier if you know how to use both.

 

[tttoadman]

GPS is great for on the spot hunting and tagging wallows, water sources, scoping stands, etc. The map is great for sitting in the tent at night making a game plan for the next day. Gives you something to do, and is all part of the fun for me.

 

[tttoadman]

I have never been lost so I dont see the need for either one unless marking wallows and water points. The only time I have used either one is to find short cuts. I see the benefit it both but I only carry the gps with extra batteries.

I think going into the wilderness without a map and a compass is irresponsible. The GPS's are an add on. A situation can easily arise where a map on a stump can be a big deal to help someone else out that has gotten turned around. You could even have a rescue situation where a group of people don't have to take turns staring at a little screen. The guy like you that has a map and knows the area very well could be a priceless combination in a bad situation.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I think going into the wilderness without a map and a compass is irresponsible. The GPS's are an add on. A situation can easily arise where a map on a stump can be a big deal to help someone else out that has gotten turned around. You could even have a rescue situation where a group of people don't have to take turns staring at a little screen. The guy like you that has a map and knows the area very well could be a priceless combination in a bad situation.

Irresponsible? I don't agree at all. I hunt a few areas that I know very well and have no need whatsoever for a map or a gps.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Irresponsible? I don't agree at all. I hunt a few areas that I know very well and have no need whatsoever for a map or a gps.

agreed. even a couple new areas this year that it would be impossible to get lost. 3k ft high walls on the drainage, just keep heading down hill!

 

[tttoadman]

As I noted, it isn't really us I was referring to. I was pointing out the possibilities to help others who may need help.

Additionally, I would rather send the message that a map of the area and a compass should always be on hand even if it is buried in the med kit. I put this in the same catagory as leaving rain gear at home because you didn't think it would rain.

 

[topher89]

I have never been lost

The reason you can post this is because have never been lost. Yes, you might know an area so well you don't need a map or GPS, but they day you do, you will really wish you had them.

Some hikers got lost near a trailhead on Mt. Evans this past winter. They found them a week ago or so 2 miles from the trailhead dead. No GPS, no map. I am not saying they would have saved them but there is a good chance it might have.

As an open forum that anyone can read, I think we have a responsibility to preach responsibility. Why couldn't some schmo from the South read your post and decide he doesn't need a GPS for his first backcountry trip in Idaho?

 

[Browtine]

agreed. even a couple new areas this year that it would be impossible to get lost. 3k ft high walls on the drainage, just keep heading down hill!

When you say impossible to get lost, you talking about lost for an hour or two or lost for a week?

I'll always have at least a compass. Been turned around too many times in fog or a low ceiling.