Winter backpack load

[TheMadIndian]

I'm not a weight weanie I just bring what I know I need and what has worked for me for years, I flip back and forth between tent, tarp and hammock camping so I try to get gear that works in as many of those as possible. Maybe one day if money allows I could specialize for each but for now this is my winter load out

Kelty Trekker 65

My sleep system is a Hennessy Explorer deluxe with hex fly, hennessy straps and eno atlas xl straps, thermarest ridgerest, contractor bag and MSS.

The outer pocket is most of my layers ( midweight thermal shirt, turtle fur, fleece breath mask, heavy weight gloves, Helly Hanson wind/rain shell

Bottom left pocket are quick access toiletries

Top left pocket is my camp headlamp and spare batteries and usb charger

Top right non zip pocket is my basic cook kit (GSI boiler pot, glacier cup, knock off pocket rocket, 2 fuel canisters, sea to summit utensils and x-bowl & cup, crushed water bottle for water collection

In the main compartment; the blue dry bag is breakfast lunch and dinner for 2 people for 2 days, Frogg Toggs rain pants, rothco canteen, painters tarp I keep to use as a pack cover or makeshift doors if I can't adjust for a storm in the hammock, the compression bag is my heavy weight base and mid layers, underwear and a pair of LA police gear operator pants, vanquest pouch I made for hiking / backpacking its a survival / toiletries / fire kit, m3 medic bag its empty but I sometimes use it as a waistpack for snacks and access for quick layers access and a sea line 30 liter bag I can toss everything in just in case for extra water protection

Here's the inside of that vanquest pouch

In the lid I keep my mini sawyer, rope for the bear bag, Israeli bandage and a garbage bag

Hanging from the straps is my uniqlo UL down parka (love this thing)

On my person I run way heavier than most
HL50 headlamp, UC35 Flashlight, a leatherman micra, mini bic, my bk11 kit, my bk2/b14/leatherman sidekick sheath, one bandana I wear under the Stetson and the other is in my pocket

 

[gadgetgeek]

Seems like a really comprehensive kit! Some things to consider, You can make a much lighter strap set up with some Dutchwear, the atlas straps are pretty heavy, and the dutch stuff is really good, and easier to use in the cold.

I think you might just have enough flashlights... but you know there might be room for another headlamp.

 

[Zemapeli]

Camel Back Motherlode Pack in Cayote Brown. 2 Climbing Calipers. AA Maglight with Niteize LED conversion and back button.

Carhaart coat and hat, theral undies, PX issue Cayote Frog, warm insulated leather gloves, 1970's Browning lockback, Custom leather sheath, Dickies work boots.

 

[TheMadIndian]

Seems like a really comprehensive kit! Some things to consider, You can make a much lighter strap set up with some Dutchwear, the atlas straps are pretty heavy, and the dutch stuff is really good, and easier to use in the cold.

I think you might just have enough flashlights... but you know there might be room for another headlamp.

There's more than I mentioned in flashlights LOL there is an LD02 in the vanquest pouch, an LD22 on the BK2 sheath and an inova xs in the bk11 sheath. I might have a thing for flashlights;-)

I've been thinking of switching my whole suspension to Dutch's straps and cinch buckle

 

[gadgetgeek]

I did g-clips (now called adutchables) as the range of tree sizes for me is pretty big, I can wrap anything up to a meter diameter. Because my rig has to be a fast-up, fast-down sort of thing, because I have others to look after, and to reduce wear, I stitched a belay ring into the end of each strap, for the hennesy rope, instead of doing a marlin spike hitch. The Gclips, 3/4 inch webbing and rings is only a few grams heavier than the seatbelts I had before. I'll admit I'm in an odd situation though, not many places have as big a range in tree diameters as here in my corner of australia, plus we have several species that are pretty nasty widow-makers, so I don't always get much choice. gotta be adaptable. That said, his new buckle design looks amazing.

One benefit of so many lights is never having to carry spare batteries!

 

[TheMadIndian]

I did g-clips (now called adutchables) as the range of tree sizes for me is pretty big, I can wrap anything up to a meter diameter. Because my rig has to be a fast-up, fast-down sort of thing, because I have others to look after, and to reduce wear, I stitched a belay ring into the end of each strap, for the hennesy rope, instead of doing a marlin spike hitch. The Gclips, 3/4 inch webbing and rings is only a few grams heavier than the seatbelts I had before. I'll admit I'm in an odd situation though, not many places have as big a range in tree diameters as here in my corner of australia, plus we have several species that are pretty nasty widow-makers, so I don't always get much choice. gotta be adaptable. That said, his new buckle design looks amazing.

One benefit of so many lights is never having to carry spare batteries!

LOL I still have spare batteries too

Got a pick of that with the hennessy rope?

 

[Woods Walker]

I have the same Fenix headlamp. Nice kit!

 

[gadgetgeek]

I thought I did, but I can't track it down. All my gear is packed for the move right now otherwise I'd dig it out.

 

[TheMadIndian]

I thought I did, but I can't track it down. All my gear is packed for the move right now otherwise I'd dig it out.

I currently have the rope through the rings secured with a half hitch with a carabiner and then I just do a marlin spike hitch in the strap using the carabiner as the spike like this

I was going to remove the rings altogether and do another marlin spike hitch in the hennessy rope

 

[TheMadIndian]

I have the same Fenix headlamp. Nice kit!

Thanks! Which one, the HL50 or HL30?

 

[LukeTheSpook]

Any idea on how much all that weighs? Looks like 45 lbs with no food /water?

 

[gadgetgeek]

I've found that a Siberian hitch works well on one end, and I use a timber hitch on the other end. Saves using the biners as well as the rings. I'm a little concerned that your marlin spike could pull out like that, I'd go for a water knot instead.

 

[panzertroop]

Why use a carabiner on the rings? The rings can be used alone as is.

 

[TheMadIndian]

There is food and water, there is breakfast lunch and dinner for 2 for 2 days in the blue bag and a full 1qt canteen and 1.5 liter bladder

I never weighed it, I'd guess around 35lbs though.

Adding up the big stuff
The pack is 5lbs, the sleep/shelter system I know is 16lbs (Hammock, tarp, suspension, thermarest and MSS) so that's 21lbs I'd be surprised if the rest including food and water was much over 10lbs but I guess its possible

 

[TheMadIndian]

I've found that a Siberian hitch works well on one end, and I use a timber hitch on the other end. Saves using the biners as well as the rings. I'm a little concerned that your marlin spike could pull out like that, I'd go for a water knot instead.

If you tie the marlin spike hitch in the wrong direction, yep, I've been slowly lowered to the ground but like this so far with 20 hangs like this its good

Why use a carabiner on the rings? The rings can be used alone as is.

Now that you mention it I guess I don't need them, but I'd have to change the otherside to a bowline or something to make sure the rings bite properly since the strap is thinner than the rope

 

[panzertroop]

If you have not already seen this page. Check it out. Lots of options on suspension explained with photos. It's pretty helpful

http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingSuspension.html

 

[TheMadIndian]

I've found that a Siberian hitch works well on one end, and I use a timber hitch on the other end. Saves using the biners as well as the rings. I'm a little concerned that your marlin spike could pull out like that, I'd go for a water knot instead.

If you have not already seen this page. Check it out. Lots of options on suspension explained with photos. It's pretty helpful

http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingSuspension.html

I knew a few of those but a few I didn't thanks for sharing!

 

[gadgetgeek]

Ah, now I see what you've done. There are so many options with that setup, which isn't a bad thing at all.