Here is a link to a trip we did on Old Loggers Path, this will set the stage for this post.
After thinking more about what she said I decided to see what I could change to lighten my pack.
REMEMBER: OUNCES = POUNDS, POUNDS = PAIN
WATER BOTTLES
OLD: Nalgene, 6 ounces
NEW: lightweight Nalgene, 3.5 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 2.5 ounces X 2 =5 ounces
HEAD LIGHT
OLD: Coast, 5.2 ounces
NEW: Nitecore, 1.5 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 3.7 ounces
COOK KIT
OLD: gas stove, Snow Peak pot and large mug, 16.5 ounces
NEW: alcohol stove, Toaks pot and small Snowpeak mug, 10.4 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 6.1 ounces
TENT
OLD: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3, 61 ounces
NEW: Durston X-Mid 2P, 40 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 21 ounces
SLEEPING BAG
OLD: Western Mountaineering, 34 ounces
NEW: REI Sub Kilo, 28 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 6 ounces
FOOD STORAGE
OLD: BEARVAULT, 33 ounces
NEW: Made by Leann, 6 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 27 ounces
CHAIR
OLD: REI, 874 grams
NEW: HELINOX, 31 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 12 ounces
SLEEPING PAD
OLD: Thermarest Prolite 4, Nemo Switchback closed cell foam, 32 ounces
NEW: Thermarest NeoAir Xlite NXT, Flextail Tiny Pump 3X, 15 ounces
WEIGHT SAVINGS: 17 ounces
Most of the new gear is thanks to our daughters, they got me Amazon gift cards for my birthday.
Total weight savings from these changes:
97.8 ounces or 6.1 pounds
The measurement for backpacks is called base weight: gear minus consumables like food/water/fuel. Here are the base weigh classifications for backpacking
- Ultralight is <10 pounds, also known as crazy
- Lightweight is 10–20 pounds
- Traditional is >20 pounds
Backpackers tend to obsess about the weight of their gear and know what everything in their pack weighs. This is the first time I weighed my gear. I then had to weigh my entire pack to get my base weight.
The final answer is: 19.5 pounds
I went from traditional to lightweight. We are headed on a trip and I will let you know if I notice a difference.
HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE