Hiking pack overkill issues

[freq18hz]

Ok I went way overboard...need to lighten the load. The funny thing is, all this stuff is very light...but still all this is way way overkill. Trouble is I can't decide what to ditch!

FYI basically my bag has a front pouch, a small pouch I call the main gear pouch, and a larger pouch which is the main hauling pouch and has a fold in the back for a camel back bladder. I've tried to arrange things so all my survival stuff goes in the gear pouch, everything else for the actual hike itself goes inside the main pouch. Basically if all goes well on the hike, the gear pouch should never need to be opened.

Contents:

-Knives- (all knives fitted or wrapped with orange safety paracord, attached to locking lanyard that clips to inside keychain carabiner/clip inside main gear pouch. This allows me to unhook the locking lanyard, and without my bag, have all the knives + maglite except the RSK Mk5 which is in the pocket survival pack, all in my hand very quickly.)

- benchmade mini griptilian black D2 plain edge
- benchmade griptilian (full sized) black 154cm combo edge
- swiss army knife camper
- ritter MK5 survival knife (inside pocket survival kit)
- esee izula (wrapped with firesteel/whistle on knife lanyard)

-Lights-

- mini maglite (standard bulb)
- gerber infinity ultra single LED task light (for backup)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside gear compartment, clipped to carabiner)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside pocket survival pack)
- eGear pico lite LED (inside pocket survival pack)

-Other-

-waterproof first aid kit (inside main gear pouch)
- tinder cotton balls, patroleum jelly, candle (inside main gear pouch)
- space blanket
- altoids survival tin (contains the gerber infinity light, clip for one of the photon micros, a firesteel scout, tinder, water purification tablets)
- Adventure Medical Kits pocket survival pack (in water resistant zipper pouch inside the main gear pouch, contains one of the photo II lights, pico lite, and the RSK MK5 knife, and some extra water purification tablets. The kit itself has stuff like a compass, duct tape, whistle, firestarter, tinder etc.)

Believe it or not, all this only weighs about 5 lbs or so.


All this stuff is great gear! I can't choose what to ditch Help me lighten the load!

-Freq

 

[PropThePolecat]

Man, 5 knives are overkill if you ask me. Dump everything but a fixed-blade and a SAK, no need for the other folders. Same goes with the flashlights. Get rid of the old Maglite and get a headlight, and a small/lightweight backup light. Not more than 2 sources of light. You pick.

Pack as much firegear as you realistically can, and keep your med-kit complete.

Thats what ive been doing for the past many years...Got a 4 inch fixed-blade and a small slipjoint or SAK. My headlight is a Petzl Tikka Plus, and as a backup ive got another headlihgt, the Petl e+Lite that weighs 28 grams. It works for me.

 

[mdauben]

You asked for it!

-Knives-

- benchmade mini griptilian black D2 plain edge
- benchmade griptilian (full sized) black 154cm combo edge
- swiss army knife camper
- ritter MK5 survival knife (inside pocket survival kit)
- esee izula (wrapped with firesteel/whistle on knife lanyard)

I like knives, too, but the SAK and one fixed blade is plenty, IMO.

-Lights-

- mini maglite (standard bulb)
- gerber infinity ultra single LED task light (for backup)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside gear compartment, clipped to carabiner)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside pocket survival pack)
- eGear pico lite LED (inside pocket survival pack)
- Replace above with quality multi-LED headlamp

I like Maglites and carried them for years and still use them for car and home emergency lights, but they are really too heavy compared to a featherweight head lamp and the old fashoioned regular bulbs are no where near as bright as the moden LEDs

-Other-

-waterproof first aid kit (inside main gear pouch)
- tinder cotton balls, patroleum jelly, candle (inside main gear pouch)
- space blanket
- altoids survival tin (contains the gerber infinity light, clip for one of the photon micros, a firesteel scout, tinder, water purification tablets)
- Adventure Medical Kits pocket survival pack (in water resistant zipper pouch inside the main gear pouch, contains one of the photo II lights, pico lite, and the RSK MK5 knife, and some extra water purification tablets. The kit itself has stuff like a compass, duct tape, whistle, firestarter, tinder etc.)
- Add emergency food (Cliff Bars, Jerky, etc.) and especially TP

That should do it!

 

[Calebklyne]

get rid of two of the knives (benchmades) 3 of you flashlights considering none of them are headlamps and that is all i would leave out

and like above carry tp

 

[rdgarbo]

you need no more than 2 knives...too many flash lights, maybe two with extra battery's. don't forget to pack extea socks...wet feet will ruin your trip. a metal cup is good and water purification item.

 

[freq18hz]

Have you guys seen the Surefire Saint Minimus?

I was thinking about grabbing that as a headlamp, and ditching the mag lite for a surefire. Maybe one of the cheapie yellow G2's. I'll probably keep the gerber infinity just because its built like a tank.

THe funny thing about these little photon micro LEDs, and the pico light, is probably all 3 together don't weigh more than an ounce....


What do I do with these benchmades? The Full sized grip has a longer blade than the izula, is a wee bit lighter, and takes up less space. Was the izula really the right choice as a go to knife? Seriously hate to take that benchmade out...

I mean what are the chances I'm gonna have to baton wood anyway? And even if I did, that full sized griptilian would probably do it...


-Freq

 

[PropThePolecat]

What do I do with these benchmades?

Send them to me...Ill make good use of them in MY hiking backpack

 

[Wildewinds]

If you're just going on a day hike, take one knife, one multi-tool/swiss army knife, one light, the amk survival kit, a first aid kit and some water.

Even that is overkill.

 

[Horned Toad]

What does your whole kit weigh. Folks said drop a bunch of knive and lights

The other answer might be like what the viking told antonio in the 13th warrior, "Get Stronger"

edited for I just saw the 5lbs at the bottom, if the whole kit weighs 5 pounds I cant see what the problem is. When your done its gona weigh 4.5 pounds

 

[woodsman102]

i'd drop the multiples a pretty good amount, so like knives and lights. If you have a good headlamp and a set of extra batteries your set. Maybe one mini light in your altoids tin. and for knives I'd belt the mk5 and have the sak accessible or pocket one of you mini grips and have the mk5 in the pack.

 

[Bob W]

After each hike make a list of which items you didn't use, and which items you wish you had. The process doesn't take a rocket scientist. Didn't use it, don't take it next time.

Never eliminate any of the Ten Essentials, but everything else is fair game.

For example, I rarely hike with a flashlight at all, and one good knife knife (mine weighs 0.8 oz) is plenty.

 

[Steel Talon]

Ok I went way overboard...need to lighten the load.

a camel back bladder.


paracord, attached to locking lanyard that clips to inside keychain carabiner
- swiss army knife camper

- esee izula (wrapped with firesteel/whistle on knife lanyard)

-Lights-

- mini maglite (standard bulb)
- gerber infinity ultra single LED task light (for backup)


-Other-

-waterproof first aid kit (inside main gear pouch)
- tinder cotton balls, patroleum jelly, candle (inside main gear pouch)
- space blanket
- altoids survival tin a firesteel scout, tinder, water purification tablets)
some extra water purification tablets. The kit itself has stuff like a compass, duct tape, whistle, firestarter, tinder etc.)

NEED
2 firesource
Pistol and ammo (22LR )
A leatherman multi tool cand replace the SAK
Mirror
Learn to hike with a walking stick

-Freq

All The Best
ST~

 

[Infi-del]

Ok I went way overboard...need to lighten the load. The funny thing is, all this stuff is very light...but still all this is way way overkill. Trouble is I can't decide what to ditch!

FYI basically my bag has a front pouch, a small pouch I call the main gear pouch, and a larger pouch which is the main hauling pouch and has a fold in the back for a camel back bladder. I've tried to arrange things so all my survival stuff goes in the gear pouch, everything else for the actual hike itself goes inside the main pouch. Basically if all goes well on the hike, the gear pouch should never need to be opened.

Contents:

-Knives- (all knives fitted or wrapped with orange safety paracord, attached to locking lanyard that clips to inside keychain carabiner/clip inside main gear pouch. This allows me to unhook the locking lanyard, and without my bag, have all the knives + maglite except the RSK Mk5 which is in the pocket survival pack, all in my hand very quickly.)

- benchmade mini griptilian black D2 plain edge
- benchmade griptilian (full sized) black 154cm combo edge
- swiss army knife camper
- ritter MK5 survival knife (inside pocket survival kit)
- esee izula (wrapped with firesteel/whistle on knife lanyard)

-Lights-

- mini maglite (standard bulb)
- gerber infinity ultra single LED task light (for backup)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside gear compartment, clipped to carabiner)
- freedom micro II keychain LED (inside pocket survival pack)
- eGear pico lite LED (inside pocket survival pack)

Too many of the same thing. In my little EDC kit I got the following pairs.

BRKT Kephart in Sharpshooter sheath with firesteel
Leatherman Charge XTI

And

Surefire 6PL with Malkoff M60LL Head
Streamlight Microstream (Great little LED for $12.00)

Not that, you should buy those. But a Medium Fixed blade + Multi Tool of some kind is all you need in the blade department. You can use whatever you like, Leatherman, SAK, Gerber whatever. And you have a nice fixed blade in the Izula. I think your SAK Camper and Izula would be all you needed. And then two lights (1 general use with good power and runtime, and then preferably a backup with low output and long runtime to get you through one really bad night.).

 

[Infi-del]

Oh yeah... might wanna toss a couple of glow sticks in there. They can save battery power and keep you company all night long. Something very comforting about having a light source near by when you're all alone in the dark.