Going ultralight, or trying to...

A

Ankar Sheng

Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Messages
596
A while back I posted my gearlist for a 5 day hike, my base weight (non consumables) was aprox 30lb. I'm going to try to get it down to 15lb. Here are the adjustments I'm making...

blue polyurethane tarp > silnylon
full tang micarta grip knife > stick tang with wood
wool sweater > fleece sweater
boots > running shoes
no sleeping bag liner > using silk longjohns for bed
no compression sack > just a garbage bag for the sleepingbag
regular bic > mini bic
4" sharpening stone > 3" stone

cut off unnecessary straps/buckles from my pack (surprising amount)

got some synthetic athletic wear (undies/tshirt), hopefully it'll be fast drying enough that I can get rid of some spare clothes.

ditched the toothbrush bag, everything just into a pocket on the pack
got rid of some molle pouches.

replacing hard nalgene bottle for one of the cheaper, softer ones (25g lighter)

plastic softdrink bottle instead of spare canteen

ordered a titanium cup and spoon to replace the stainless


On the fence about these:

mp3 player

fishing rod/reel/tackle



The fishing gear is a big weight expense, but I love fishing. I'll try doing it hobo style. If I can catch fish with a pickerel rig and a tin can I MIGHT leave the rest behind, but it's gotta weigh at least 3-4lb...

I need to get some light, fast drying pants for the trail, any suggestions?



I'm excited to see how much weight these adjustments will shave off, a base weight of 15lb would be good enough for me.
 
Ankar Sheng said:
:owait a minute... this isn't the WSS forum....:o
Click to expand...



Nope.... and here I was thinking I was lost for a minute there. ;)

I just noticed it looks like you won't be carrying a BUSSE! :eek: :(

Consider the Scrap Yard S5LE in INFI for Ultra-light yet still INFI and a VERY good all-rounder design! About 6.75 ounces with a 5.125" blade. Small enough for detail work, yet long and stout enough for digging, prying, batoning and such if the need is there. I don't know of ANY stick tang / wood handled knife that can offer the bang/weight of the S5LE (or S5CG for value!) :thumbup:

SERIOUSLY, the S5 is an AMAZING knife offering SUPERIOR performance and design at Ultra-light weight package.

The S5CG in SR-101 does it with great steel at a value.

But, the S5LE offers very corrosion resistant and UBER-tough INFI. And I prefer satin.

.... I wish I could afford one. :( ... but broke right now. :(

--------------------

Other good options:

Vex - also light-weight. 5.25 ounces - 3.75" blade

Bog Dog if you can find one - ULTRA-light at 5.0 ounces and with a 4.75" blade. :thumbup:



...... just sayin'! ;)

.
 
Ankar Sheng said:
full tang micarta grip knife > stick tang with wood
4" sharpening stone > 3" stone
Click to expand...

You need to pick up a Basic 5 or a Scrapyard SS4 and/or you definitely need to order an S5 LE for future such use, if you don't already have one on order (or 2 or 3... or 15 :cool: ).

I'd also suggest picking up a 3-4" diamond rod sharpener, the kind that slips out of a hard rubber tube sheath and then the butt threads back into the sheath to use as a handle. Super compact, lightweight and will get you through. Buck makes a decent one.

Oh, and if you're serious about weight savings, check out GOLITE packs if you haven't already. I've been using one for three years, and it's da bomb for weight savings IMHO. Just sayin'. ;)
 
I dunno, that S5 is a pretty hideous knife :P I think it's a pretty far call from ultralight too.

I'm sporting a Jukka Hankalla hand forged puukko, and this thing is the cats meow. Don't got a scale, but it feels the same weight as my buckmayo tnt, 3 ounces.

CIMG3056.jpg


Come on guys, I'm trying to get lighter, replacing my knife with a heavier blade is the wrong direction!




I do like the basic 5, but more just for the collection. And good luck finding one lol.

I've got the fallkniven DC3/4 sharpeners with a diamond plate on a ceramic stone. Rod sharpeners dont work so good on scandi grinds.


Thanks for the GOLITE lead, I do need a new, lighter pack.
 
I would recommend 4 years in the Armed Services with a 55lb Ruck strapped to your back. Then you could pack 5 of your favorite knives and 1911 with 200 rounds.:thumbup::thumbup::D
 
One thing that I found helped me with figuring out weight of stuff was to make up a big spreadsheet, where I listed the weight of every single item, so I could pick and choose things off the list and see how much different combos weighed.

With a 35 pound base weight, I gotta wonder if you have a couple of big weight items that you could cut out - you can save a lot by replacing tents, sleeping bags, etc.
 
I am not going to bash a good quality Puuko.
And I will concede that a nice looling Puuko (like yours) is a nicer looking knife than the S5.
The S5LE with a nice satin blade is a lot nicer looking than a coated blade IMO.

But, from my perspective, ultralight camping or survival camping, etc. is WAY more about function than bling!.... :thumbup:

But, if you want to look pretty and all. ;) :D

... in all fairness, I "Like" my knives to look nice as well. But, in most "function" cases (and ultralight camping and hiking is WAY high on the function over looks catagory IMO), I lean highly on function. I love many wood handles, but I prefer micarta because of durability, longevity, etc. - If considering Ultralight scenario needs, I will skip most micarta unless it is a "Well" designed tang construction or skeletonized properly.

If well made and if used properly, a good Puuko can do a lot and yes they are even lighter than the S5. I have been pretty impressed with a few I have "Lightly" used. But, most Puukos I have used have been pretty thin and flimsy. I haven't broken one or set a bend in one... yet. They have seemed reasonably "tough" considering how thin. And they have cut very well.

But, the S5 can do more and "IS" tougher. And while the looks of the Mudder handles are subjective, I personally think they are VERY comfortable and practical.

If you are planning on carrying the GB, then you are negating a LOT of weight savings. If not, then I personally think the Puuko falls short in a lot of needs departments that the S5 can help with a bit better. (baton wood WAY better, fell and split small trees by baton cutting, etc.)

The S5 will need some edge refinement to cut as well as most good quality Puukos... sorry to say. But, it can be sharpened to cut VERY well.

To each their own. I don't know your preferred needs or uses. But, I will carry the extra 3 ounces for extra functions, durability, dependability and peace of mind the S5 provides.

By the way, that Puuko's leather sheath probably doubles the Puuko's weight.

.
 
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Ankar Sheng said:
Don't worry, I know how to use my knives properly :p:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I hope you never have to rely on a knife in an unexpected emergency/survival situation in the back country, where your only choice is either to use a knife hard enough to risk breaking it or suffer worse consequences. Good luck, and I mean that sincerely.
 
I hike alot and the few ounces of saved wieght is not a good trade off for a knife i can stake my life on, five days out your gonna need a fire to cook on, what are you gonna chop wood with? i saw no mention of any food or cooking items, good luck have fun.
 
richstag, I usually bum around in the Canadian shield.


Mustard, it's a good idea, but I dont have a postage scale or anything. It was 30lb base weight before, probably at least 5lb for fishing kit though.

grey menace, if you go back and actually read it you'd see that this is regarding base weight, no consumables, isn't a list of gear but rather a list of adjustments to my gear, and cookware is mentioned. Camera always comes with, thats why it's not mentioned.

DWRW. I dont use the puukko because it looks pretty, its on my belt because it's lighter, more comfortable, has a better sheath and cuts as good or better (definitely better on wood) than than any of my other knives. Yes the sheath probably weighs as much as the knife, a whopping 3oz give of take. How much does the S5's sheath weight?

I realize you can do "more" with a sharpened prybar, but in my experience they dont do the things I actually need a knife to do nearly as well, and the extra things they can do, I dont need to do.

Anyway, this is going off on a tangent. I wasn't even asking for a recommendation for a knife in the first place, and I'm sorry some of you would feel so horribly under equipped with an extremely well made knife of a design thats been proven in the field time and time again for hundreds of years. I really wouldn't chalk that up to a shortcoming of the tool though.
 
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