What’s up with counting partial pack weights?

[BenFrank]

I seem to have developed the perverse hobby of weighing every piece of gear down to the 1/10 of an ounce (FYI my ration of toilet paper comes to 0.6 oz). Besides filling some time in the off season, it has proven to be very useful in analyzing and reducing my pack weight which, for me, directly relates to being able to hunt harder, further, and just having a more enjoyable experience. It's fun to compare what others are carrying and get ideas on how to save weight or add weight and be more comfortable. If you think backcountry hunters are bad you should talk to the ultralight thru hiker crowd, those guys are some uber gram counting nerds.

 

[JeffRaines]

Pack weight, in my opinion, is a useful thing to know.

I also agree with the notion of getting more fit, but not necessarily for the reasons of "having less weight" but more for just being in better shape in general, making better decisions when it comes to eating/etc. When you're huffing up a mountain, carrying 60lbs of extra weight is 60lbs of extra weight, it doesn't matter if you weigh 160 or 180 or 200 or 140. Its going to be easier if that number is lower, its a fact, regardless of your current weight.

In my experience, running a tent, you're going to hit a wall at about 29 or so pounds pack weight. When I say pack weight, I'm including everything but the clothes on your back, boots, and trekking poles. That number doesn't include consumables. That 29 pounds is also during the early season, make it mid-late season and that number can go up quick once you add in a stove, fire starting supplies, heavier bag, more insulated pad, etc.

That number(for me) includes an ultralight single wall floorless shelter(a Jimmy Tarps Hells Canyon), a down bag(WM Versalite, currently looking into a quilt for early season which will shave an additional 10oz or so off), an ultralight sleeping pad(TAR NeoAir Xlite), a SG pack, a mountain oriented rifle(a Kimber Montana 308 wearing a Swaro Z3 in this case, so about 6.1lbs all up).

Add in 3 liters of water(~6.60lbs), and a couple days worth of food(1.5lbs a day is a good, conservative number) and you can see how 40-45lbs is about as light as it gets. If I have to bring my spotter, add almost 4 pounds(maybe I'll buy one of those fancy 50mm svelte numbers for when a spotter is needed to verify legality).

All in all, the point I'm trying to make is that knowing how much everything weighs, along with knowing where I'm going helps me plan accordingly. If I'm going in with 50-60 pounds, depending on distance from the trailhead I may not get to hunt that evening and should allow extra time/food so I don't bonk or smoke myself too early. If its a quick early season trip I can go hard and fast into camp and spend more time hunting. Trust me, theres nothing worse than busting your ass to get in only to have your legs smoked or be so 'done' that you cant hunt effectively.

 

[sneaky]

Pack weight, in my opinion, is a useful thing to know.

I also agree with the notion of getting more fit, but not necessarily for the reasons of "having less weight" but more for just being in better shape in general, making better decisions when it comes to eating/etc. When you're huffing up a mountain, carrying 60lbs of extra weight is 60lbs of extra weight, it doesn't matter if you weigh 160 or 180 or 200 or 140. Its going to be easier if that number is lower, its a fact, regardless of your current weight.

In my experience, running a tent, you're going to hit a wall at about 29 or so pounds pack weight. When I say pack weight, I'm including everything but the clothes on your back, boots, and trekking poles. That number doesn't include consumables. That 29 pounds is also during the early season, make it mid-late season and that number can go up quick once you add in a stove, fire starting supplies, heavier bag, more insulated pad, etc.

That number(for me) includes an ultralight single wall floorless shelter(a Jimmy Tarps Hells Canyon), a down bag(WM Versalite, currently looking into a quilt for early season which will shave an additional 10oz or so off), an ultralight sleeping pad(TAR NeoAir Xlite), a SG pack, a mountain oriented rifle(a Kimber Montana 308 wearing a Swaro Z3 in this case, so about 6.1lbs all up).

Add in 3 liters of water(~6.60lbs), and a couple days worth of food(1.5lbs a day is a good, conservative number) and you can see how 40-45lbs is about as light as it gets. If I have to bring my spotter, add almost 4 pounds(maybe I'll buy one of those fancy 50mm svelte numbers for when a spotter is needed to verify legality).

All in all, the point I'm trying to make is that knowing how much everything weighs, along with knowing where I'm going helps me plan accordingly. If I'm going in with 50-60 pounds, depending on distance from the trailhead I may not get to hunt that evening and should allow extra time/food so I don't bonk or smoke myself too early. If its a quick early season trip I can go hard and fast into camp and spend more time hunting. Trust me, theres nothing worse than busting your ass to get in only to have your legs smoked or be so 'done' that you cant hunt effectively.

Don't overlook the lightweight early season bag options from WM. I was looking at them last night and they come in as light, or lighter, than my quilt. They have several in that 16-19oz range.

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[JeffRaines]

Don't overlook the lightweight early season bag options from WM. I was looking at them last night and they come in as light, or lighter, than my quilt. They have several in that 16-19oz range.

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Yeah that Summerlite is looking pretty good.

 

[Eric4]

WM also recently released a couple quilts. I just got my Astralite the other day! Very happy with what I received.