Going ultralight, or trying to...

[Ankar Sheng]

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.

 

[Bushman5]

the 5.11 tac pants are great for hiking, tough nylon, gusseted crotch (no blowouts) and they dry pretty quick.

for fishing gear consider a lightweight 3 - 4 weight fly rod and a tiny fly reel, and a few flies. Todays modern fly rods weigh NOTHING.

 

[hollowdweller]

Sounds like you are on the right track!:thumbup:

Try REI or campmor

 

[bearthedog]

cool

-RB

 

[siguy]

Looks like you are doing a good job!

But I would reconsider the compression bag for the sleeping bag...the space savings might not be worth the small weight savings (depends on whether you actually compress the sleeping bag or not).

 

[Ankar Sheng]

I can get the sleeping bag pretty compact in a garbage bag, and it'll be more water proof too.

My backpack is going to be too big now. I'm not just reducing the weight of items, but the size and of them, and others all together. Now my backpack which weighs probably at least 4-5lb still is excessively large for an average trip. I can definitely afford the space lost by not using a compression sack.

Thats another item I need, a light backpack...

 

[brians]

What about the big 3?

 

[Ankar Sheng]

What about the big 3?

sleeping gear, rain bag and backpack?


Using a Canadian army down bag and big agnes insulated air pad. I'm making no concession on the sleeping pad, it's small light, warm and super comfy.

for rain gear, I usually just bring my urethane nylon poncho, but this thing isnt even that water resistant. Water bleeds right through the fabric in a heavy downpour. It's alright in a pinch, quick and easy in a light rain, but I threw my colombia (or northface, what ever it is) windbreaker/rain jacket in the pack for my next trip. Thats +1lb at least, but if I ditch the poncho all together it balances out. Havent made my mind up yet.

This is my bag...
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524441776565&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302699867&bmUID=1251840111310

70L, and holy crap, almost 3kg. I seriously took about 1lb of straps and shit off it though. It's still overbuilt being made of 420 denier fabric, and being so loarge.

 

[mdauben]

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.

Sounds about right if you want to go true ultralight.

full tang micarta grip knife > stick tang with wood

A true ultralight hiker would probably carry something like a Gerber Ultralight LST (0.6 oz.).

I actually used to use one of these as my EDC years ago, and they are not bad little knives.

4" sharpening stone > 3" stone

Honestly, for a 4-5 day ultralight backpacking trip I'd leave the sharpening stone at home. If you feel you must have one, I might go with something like a DMT mini-Sharp:

You are not going to reprofile anything with it, but its good enough to touch up your edge.

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

Go CoolMax! :thumbup:

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

I use a pair on nylon "convertable" cargo pants. Light, dry almost instantly, and replaces two other pieces of clothing (shorts and long pants).

Thats another item I need, a light backpack...

If you want to spend the money for a true ultralight backpack, you can get a sub-1lb pack for around $150-160.

 

[Codger_64]

The August issue of Backpacker magazine had a decent series of hints and articles on reducing pack weight. Some of the hints came from UL gurus who manage a sub-ten-pound pack (not counting food and water).

 

[Bushman5]

ya wanna go insanely ultralight?

- ditch the shelter and make your own from materials in the woods
- ditch the sleeping bag and make a firebed (build a 3' x 6' fire and then scrape away the ashes and sleep on the hot ground), wear your cloths for top warmth
- heavy duty freezer bag for water , it weighs about 20 grams
-ditch the MP3
- make your own tootbrush from natural materials
- wear ultralight nylon clothing and lightwieght wool , fleece can heavier than a well made wool shirt
- ditch the sharpening stone, mother nature will provide a flat stone.
- ditch the cup and spoon, nature will provide you with materials to make your own
- ditch the fishing gear and use natures poisoness plants to harvest fish, or make fish baskets or barbed spears.

 

[Ankar Sheng]

LOL Bushman, I want to go light so I can actually finish a serious hike instead of just camping out and fishing. I wont get a mile down the trail before I've gotta stop to start harvesting my gear lol.


0.6oz for a knife, thats insanely light, but I'm not compromising on the knife.

I could probably make due without the sharpener, but then what would I do when I'm sitting around the fire?

CoolMax eh? I just got some antimicrobial athletic wear from walmart, the price was right. I'll let you guys know how they work out. Didn't someone review a pair of underwear a while ago, wore the same pair for a month or something and washed them in the sink every night, no?


I'd be happy with a 2lb pack. I don't want it to be so light its fragile. GOLITE's been recommended, any comments?

 

[AeroNautiCal]

Take a look at BackPackingLight.Com, here.

There's guy's doing trips with 5lb pack weights, and that includes the weight of the pack itself!

 

[Ankar Sheng]

Threw everything in the pack then stepped on the scale. Down to 19lb. Not bad. A light weight pack alone would get me pretty close to 15lb.


I need to replace my 6x8 ground tarp with a piece of heavy duty clear poly, like vapour barrier or something.

 

[gander6]

I need to replace my 6x8 ground tarp with a piece of heavy duty clear poly, like vapour barrier or something.

Ues Tyvek.

 

[PayetteRucker]

I don't know how you guys do it, I tried to go real light once I got artheritis but never got the pack below 60 lb... then again I carry 20lb in water with me

 

[brians]

A GG Gorilla pack at 686 grams chops almost 2.5 kg or 5lbs right there.

http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/Gorilla.html

And that army bag must be a monster. Get a BA bag to go with the BAIAC pad, and you'll probably chop another 2 or 3 lbs.

Your baseweight with a tarp would be around 7 lbs, or 9 with your pad.

Lots of water where you are, so look into this Sawyer inline filter that you splice into your hydration bag hose. Fill the bag/bladder, and away you go - Light and effective:

http://www.sawyerproducts.com/SP121.htm

 

[JB in SC]

If the fish are smallish (12"), you might consider a Tenkara traditional japanese fly rod. Collapses to 20" (11 to 12 feet long), weighs nothing, no reel or line, casts just a furled leader and tippet. I've been very pleased with mine...minimalist, but effective.

www.tenkarausa.com

 

[Bushman5]

I don't know how you guys do it, I tried to go real light once I got artheritis but never got the pack below 60 lb... then again I carry 20lb in water with me

I got to keep my load outs under 15lbs, I've dislocated both of my shoulders multiple times and had lower back damage in the past....... heavy loads are brutal for me, so i pack less and learn to do more with it. . The injuries also kept me from applying to the CDN Forces

 

[BenchmadeBoy]

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

Check these babies out. MEC has them. Light, fit very well for zip-offs and durable (so far). Pretty much my favorite hiking pants (or summer pants period)


http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...older_id=2534374302698621&bmUID=1251852903436