r/CampingandHiking • u/dan_thewoodsman • 19h ago
Gear Questions Help me lighten my pack weight
On my last 4 day trip my total weight was around 40lbs that’s with water and food included. I used this app to figure out my base weight was around 27lbs, which to me seems ridiculous. Like the title says, what can I swap out or get rid of entirely to get this weight down slightly? (The pack is non negotiable, as comfort is a priority for me on long days on the trail) thanks
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u/Sardawg1 19h ago
Ditch the sleeping bag liner, the thermacell, the 2nd nalgene, the mug, the bear banger kit, and the saw.
Add a 6mm rope for your hang bag.
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u/EpicCyclops 18h ago
I get wanting to have a drinking vessel that isn't your water, but definitely only need one of those if you decide to even splurge on the weight for that luxury. That cuts about 2 lbs there with what you listed.
Fixing the Nalgene weight gets rid of another 4ish lbs from the calculated total. The battery pack is probably somewhere else OP could cut weight.
Once OP is at that point, buying lighter gear is the next step. If comfort is a high priority, OP needs to accept their bag is gonna be a little heavier. I get it. I take extra weight in exchange for trailside comfort, but that is the tradeoff.
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u/Jolly-Slow1164 17h ago
I wouldn't start with replacement OPs quilt. 1.4 lb for a 0c bag is OK, unless it's actually only a 50F bag, then it's pretty heavy. Maybe that's why he carries a heavy liner.
Shouldn't bear spray be worn weight? I guess if you're carrying is on your shoulder straps or hip belt maybe it's pack weight, but bear spray should be near instantly available. So I would call it worn weight.
I don't understand why you would use a Sawyer squeeze with a nalgene, just switch bottles to something with standard bottle threads (like an Evian water bottle, or one of garage grown gear's $2.50 reusable HDPE bottles) when you use the adapter there is much less chance for spilling all your hard work, and at lunch break your can let gravity do all that filtering work. And you have a backup system if the CNOC gets punctured
OP says in another comment that processing firewood keeps him busy and warm ... Walking more miles would accomplish the same thing. Or processing medium sized branches, and breaking them in the crotch of a tree. There are also some really light saws based on reciprocating saw blades
IDK how a 6 lb pack (including add-on pockets) is non-negotiably comfortable. Most people find that they are comfortable in a beltless 1lb pack at a 10lb base pack weight, which means a third of his overage is his pack.
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u/walter-hoch-zwei 17h ago
Disagree on the sleeping bag liner, but that's only because I love mine and sleep is the only place I don't make compromises.
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u/Sassenach1745 19h ago
I think you have a typo- I doubt your Nalgene bottle is 74 oz. There- just cut 4lbs!
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u/nautilator44 19h ago
Why do you need a saw?
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u/dan_thewoodsman 19h ago
Campfires are nice, plus cutting wood keeps me busy and warm
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u/brat_simpson 18h ago
Ever used a serrated wire saw ?
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u/Hustle86 18h ago
This is a dumb question - wire saws are a gimmick for people who don't process anything significant for a decent camp fire.
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u/goldenboyphoto 18h ago
Obviously dependent on region/terrain, but I have a wire saw and it's great for getting smaller branches from larger fallen trees.
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u/iSeeXenuInYou 2h ago
I suppose your option would be either to cut weight so you can have a more comfortable pack and hike for longer, or carry a saw and other non-essential luxury items and chill out at camp. Unfortunately you can't have both unless you wanted to drop thousands on overhauling your gear (UL dyneema tent, 950+fp down bag, etc)
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u/really_tall_horses 4m ago
If you’re not staying at established campsites with fire rings or carrying a fire pan then ditch the fires all together. I live in a fire prone area so I’m sensitive, but reignition can occur long after you think the fire is out. That and the practice really doesn’t align with LNT.
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[deleted]
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u/Hustle86 18h ago
No - don't do this. Get a decent silky or agawa, or something similar. Wire saws are not a good solution for processing any significant amount of firewood.
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u/like_4-ish_lights 17h ago
Why are people processing so much firewood? You don't need a giant fire, just use some downed wood and call it a night
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u/Rikplaysbass 15h ago
For real. My last fire used twigs and branches I found on the ground, hand snapped, and the moisture packet from my mountain house meal. lol buncha Paul Bunyans in here
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u/goddamnpancakes 17h ago
i had a great campfire that i cooked over without any saw or knife at all a couple weeks back
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u/imhungry4321 19h ago
Do you need a pot AND a mug?
5 oz is heavy for a knife
How often do you use the saw?
Your backpack is very heavy
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u/Thedankf0x 18h ago
I dont think 26lbs would qualify as very heavy, tho im probably biased cus my pack is often 30+lbs and I do fine (personal bias) (willing to be educated) (I do recognize that 26lbs would be heavy for a light or ultralight setup)
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u/originalusername__ 7h ago
It’s pretty heavy to me. 26 pounds is before food and water. That’s going to end up being another 11 pounds on a three day hike. It’s not fun to carry.
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u/Flashy-Lie-5602 4h ago
Lol, I take DSLR stuff for nature photography, very heavy is a bit dramatic.
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u/MrBoondoggles 18h ago edited 14h ago
Most people are beating around the bush with the smaller stuff. Cutting to the chase: your pack, tent, and sleep system are nearly 13 lbs alone. I would look at every one of those things (except the quilt - 1.4 lbs for a 30F quilt is ok), including the pack, because once you get your base weight under control, you do NOT need a 5+ lb pack to be comfortable.
A well designed 2-3 lb pack with a good frame and suspension system will be comfortable at that point. Basically a light weight “Big 3” (pack 30 -40 oz, shelter 30-36 oz, sleeping pad 18-22 oz, quilt 23 oz) is going to be around 6.5 - 7.5 lbs. If your total base weight is only around 15 lbs, all that extra backpack padding is overkill. You could put everything in a Durston Kakwa and be perfectly comfortable because everything is so light.
Otherwise:
Nalgene bottles can be swapped out for store bought smart water style bottles
200000 Powerbank for 4 days is kind of overkill if your phone battery is decent
saw is optional
500 ml mug is optional
thermacell is optional
a 9 oz headlamp is heavy when a 1.5 oz Nitecore headlamp will do
the spoon + soap + lighter + scrubber seems oddly heavier than needed at 5.3 oz. If it’s 0.5 oz for the spoon,0.5 pz concentrated soap, .75 oz BIC full size, and maybe 0.3 oz for part of a scrub sponge, that should only be about 2 oz.
toiletries for what you listed should only be about 4-5 oz (1 oz travel toothpaste. 1 oz toothbrush, .5 oz toilet paper, 1.5 oz for wipes, .25 oz zip top bag)
a light load hand towel would only be about 0.5 oz vs your 3 oz towel
med kit seems heavy but don’t know what’s in it
knife could be something lighter like a mora companion, a folder, or a simple Swiss Army knife.
It’s hard to say if you need the bear spray/bangers or not. If you’re in the Canadian Rockies, ok. If you’re in a place where you’re only dealing with black bears, all that is getting be overkill. I hike in areas where black bears are a problem. I don’t bring any of that - I just cook and store my food and anything smelly in an odor resistant bag hung away from camp. If you’re in grizzly country, I understand the precautions. If not, the precautions should at least be reconsidered.
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u/OutdoorsNSmores 16h ago
So much good stuff here, but I like my 5lb pack. Yeah, I wish it was zero, but it is comfortable. I'm also getting old. The younger me would totally ditch it.
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u/Helassaid 4h ago
You can get extremely comfortable 2-3 lbs packs for hundreds of dollars less than what OP’s pack retails for.
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u/MrBoondoggles 14h ago edited 14h ago
I’m almost 50. The lighter it all gets at this age, including the pack, the better.
Edit to add - ok maybe not lighter at all costs, I do have some comfort standards 😂 But I do think a 2 lb framed pack with a good suspension system can be quite comfortable even with a greying beard and balding head.
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u/I_suck_at_uke 13h ago
Most people are beating around the bush with the smaller stuff. Cutting to the chase: your pack, tent, and sleep system are nearly 13 lbs alone. I would look at every one of those things (except the quilt - 1.4 lbs for a 30F quilt is ok), including the pack, because once you get your base weight under control, you do NOT need a 5+ lb pack to be comfortable.
This. In a nutshell what everyone should pay attention to first if they wish to hike lighter.
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u/TheDaysComeAndGone 4h ago
No, the first question is: Which items do you actually need? Then you start optimizing the stuff that remains.
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u/RaylanGivens29 18h ago
Look up r/ultralight . Don’t post this there, they will be mean as you are going for comfort more than speed and distance. But it will give you a much better idea of light weight camping gear and strategies.
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u/bk553 19h ago
Just get stronger, way easier
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u/dan_thewoodsman 19h ago
This is why I’ve been rucking on my off time, it definitely helps so your right
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u/BeerForThought 16h ago
I have had a sleep apnea machine since I was 18. The switch from a lead acid batteries to lithium was nice but I've never worried about weight too much.
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u/Knope_Knope_Knope 14h ago
I am a 5'4" woman who cRried a 55# pack for 4 days. Lol. Im down the 30 with water/food now
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u/Jacobwk1 19h ago
Two glaring ones that I’m seeing. First your nalgene is listed at 74oz, i’m guessing that’s 7.4oz. Boom just saved you 4lbs haha. On the topic of water bottles, I just bring smart water bottles. They’re super lightweight and fit the sawyer squeeze. Second, your backpack is over 5lbs and only 40L. I have a 90L pack that weighs about that. You should really look into another backpack. The Osprey Exos 58 and REI Flash 55 are two of the packs I own and would highly recommend. Both under 3lbs and carry 30-35lbs very well. Some less obvious but still notable: 20k power bank, do you really need that much charging? I’d go with at most 10k and I bet you could get by on 5k. The headlamp is very heavy, you can get a Nitecore for $20 and it’s under 2oz. Also do you need a saw? Maybe you do depending on where and what type of camping you’re doing, but i’ve never used one in backcountry unless i’m winter camping with my hot tent and need small logs, sticks. Your bag is a 0 degree, is that C or F? If it’s F then you don’t need that liner as well. Also your sleeping pad is heavy. Pads are expensive so it may not be worth the investment to you but Nemo and Thermarest make great pads about 1lb. Overall though this baseweight isn’t terrible and you should be able to cut off a good bit of weight without too much trouble, investment
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u/acidreducer 17h ago edited 17h ago
I personally wouldn’t buy a $220 pack just to drop 2 lbs.
Otherwise very well said.
Editing to say I see that OP bought a hunting bag designed to carry heavy loads. So yeah he probably need to cowboy up or spend the money on lighter gear
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u/rsukul 19h ago
Contractor garbage bag instead of bag liner.
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u/AWACS_Oka_Nieba_ 19h ago
If it’s 12.8 ounces I’m sure it’s a sleeping bag liner rather than backpack liner. That said, it could be left at home depending on the temperature too.
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u/Twoof3 18h ago
Some things I'm seeing...
Your pack is very heavy.
Your shelter, sleeping pad, knife, headlamp, battery bank, toiletries and med kit are all heavier than they could be. Utensils seem heavy too. I swapped out wet wipes for compressed towels and have never looked back.
Consider dropping the bag liner, swapping Nalgenes for Smart Water bottles and leaving maybe the saw or knife. I only ever use my knife to open food and I'll bet the saw could do that. lol
Keep the sit pad and mug; that's magical trail mornings right there.
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u/walter-hoch-zwei 17h ago
I completely disagree on leaving the saw and knife, but that's because I'm a little paranoid and I always want a folding saw and belt knife when I step into the woods.
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u/porkrind 17h ago
I’ve been backpacking for coming up on 40 years and have never once needed a saw. I bring a tiny knife that I don’t even touch nine times out of ten.
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u/EDC_KIT 18h ago
I built a gear app to ask questions about my loadouts. I uploaded your spreadsheet then hit the chat with the text from your post. here is what it had to say.
Let me pull up your full kit first. A few things jump out at me immediately.
The Anker 20000mAh power bank is almost certainly one of your biggest offenders. That's roughly 440g / ~1lb on its own, and unless you're running devices that genuinely need that capacity over 4 days, a 10000mAh (or even a smaller solar-capable option) cuts that in half. What are you charging out there?
The Nemo Quasar 3D is a comfortable pad but it's not exactly a weight-saver. How are you sleeping -- side sleeper? That usually drives people to it. If you're open to a hybrid like the Nemo Tensor or even a lighter r-value foam setup, there's real weight to recover there.
The GSI Infinity Mug is redundant if you're eating out of the Toaks 750. Mug plus pot is two vessels doing one job. Ditch the mug, drink from the pot.
The Thermarest Z Seat is light (65g) but if you're already carrying the Quasar, it's a luxury item on a weight-reduction mission.
Two Nalgenes at 1.5L + 0.5L totaling 2L capacity -- depending on water source frequency, you could swap both for a single 1L Smartwater bottle (basically weightless) and use the Sawyer's bag as a dirty water carrier, which you already have.
The bag liner is worth a look too. If your quilt is rated to 0°F and you're not in genuinely arctic conditions, the liner is probably hedging a bet that never comes in.
What's the sleep system combo doing for you -- is the quilt + liner + pad combo justified by the temps you're hitting, or is that a "just in case" stack?
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u/dan_thewoodsman 15h ago
Awesome reply, thanks. I find the liner is a nice backup in case it gets colder then expected. But I think the next move is getting a lighter/ warmer pad so I could leave the liner behind and that should cut it down by maybe 1.5lbs
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u/EDC_KIT 6h ago
hey glad the reply was helpful!
if you wanna check out the full app it's free at kit-app.co
use code KIT2026
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u/goddamnpancakes 17h ago
* don't need anything but a spoon. scrape your pot out with the spoon, rinse and drink the leftovers "broth." LNT. save 5 oz.
* ditch wet wipes for a 3 gram DIY bidet. save 6-7oz of your toiletries
* how on earth do you have 9 oz of headlamp?
* where are you recreating that you have this much "bear defense" without a proper bear canister? out west, this is a bizarre setup to me
* 4 day trip does Not need 20k powerbank. swap for a 10 (if that), save (at least) 8oz
* what is a thermacell. is this ambient bug repellent? stop indiscriminately spraying chemicals and save 6oz
* rain jacket, ditch for a poncho, my good sized gas station one is 6oz so you save 5oz
* 8oz gas for 4 days? are you cooking fresh fish?
* ditch towel for one swedish dishcloth cut in however many pieces you want separate use for save 2+ oz
* ditch nalgenes (weight is listed incorrectly) for thinner bottles save... probably 1lb, idk, your numbers are off
* ditch whatever "side pockets" is, save 3oz
your gear list is crazy for not even having any real extra clothing besides socks and puffy, but your "74 oz water bottle" is skewing it pretty bad
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u/bikehikepunk 17h ago
The knife seems excessive. A Benchmade Bugout is 1/2 the weight unless you spend a lot of time carving. The Izula is not a knife for detail carving, also not big enough for batoning.
Same thing with the saw, if you are trying to get lighter, the bushcraft stuff is usually first to go.
Have you looked into the lighter pack groups? They are brutal. People with 12-15lb packs and they can cover more miles a day and not need all the comfort sleeping because they do not hurt so bad from heavy packs.
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u/hkeyplay16 15h ago
You say the pack is non-negotiable, but there are plenty of comfortable packs around 2-2.5 lbs.
Totally fine, but cutting weight will also make you a lot more comfortable.
Sleeping bag liners are not worth their weight.
A 5.3 oz knife is just not needed. I bring a victorinox classic SD with scissors and it's less 0.74 oz.
I think you might have weighed the 1.5L nalgene with water in it because 74 oz is a lot for a bottle. I don't consider water to be part of base weight. For tjat matter you can skip both the nalgenes for smart water bottles and save the vase majority of that weight.
Nemo quazar looks heavy. My long/wide thermarest neoair is half the weight and rolls up small or forls flat.
Thermacell is not needed. A small bottle or lotion or wipes is better for the weight.
Replave the sit pad with a GG thinlight 1/8" foam pad. You can fold it up and put it next to your back in the pack to keep things from poking you. You can fold it up and use it as a sit pad, and you can put it under your sleeping pad to keep things from poking the pad. If it's colder you can put it on top of your inflatable sleeping pad for extra insulation. It actually is slightly heavier than your 2.1 oz sit pad at 2.7 ounces, but you can optionally cut it down and it has multiple uses. Will keep you earmer than the bag liner, keeps your inflatable from being stabbed, and can still be used as a seat.
BSR 3000t is quite a bit lighter than a pocket rocket deluxe an saves a couple of ounces.
For my 4 day trips I typically only take a 10,000 mah battery pack. I put my phone in airplane mode and charge my headlamp and garmin inreach mini daily. I usually don't use more than half the capacity.
Check out litesmith.com for a 0.14 oz thumb toothbrush. They have dry toothpaste tablets as well at 0.02 oz per tablet. You can also dry out some white, chalky toothpaste to make your own tablets.
Your headlamp is 9 oz. Nitecore NU20 is only 1.3 oz. It's plenty bright for most people and has enough features for hiking.
Ditch the mug. I made a cozy out of reflectix that slides over my Ti cook pot after I'm done boiling water. I usually do oatmeal packets for breakfast, pour water in the packets and eat directly out of those, then pour my instant coffee in the pot inside the cozy. Almost no cleanup. For dinner I usually eat out of a bag as well, so I mostly just boil water in the pot twice a day.
Leave the wet wipes at home...you have to pack them out anyway. Get a bottle cap style bidet. You'll feel cleaner, and it will be less weight as long as you're not backpacking in the desert. I use a mini coke plastic bottle. I do bring the cap in case I feel one coming and need fill it from a water source and hike a little further away. I still bring a tiny bit of TP to dry off and make sure I'm all clean. You can start out with some moss or foliage to save on TP even more.
And finally, that tent is nice but it's big and heavy. If you go for a dyneema 1p shelter you can save a couple more pounds. Most are under 1lb. They're expensive, but try r/ULgeartrade to save some money on a gently used one. I use an assortment of different stakes to save weight, but also have some better anchor points when I need them.
I think my baseweight for 3 seasons is around 12 lbs
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u/Gunsmokenburnouts 19h ago
Stop carrying water, saves tons of weight. Although the cramping and dying of thirst will bring additional issues
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u/Fantastic-Hat5138 19h ago
bruh 27lbs
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u/dogquote 17h ago
Is this a lot or a little?
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u/CreatineAddiction 18h ago
Tent is kind of heavy. Lanshan 2 is 2.2lb Ditch the saw. 10000mah powerbank.
Bear stuff doesnt help the weight calculation but I dont have to worry about it. Probably just leave it at home and die?? Sacrifices have to be made.
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u/ComfortableWeight95 17h ago
That sleeping bag liner is almost a pound!! And you have a zero degree bag so there’s no reason to take it.
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u/walkingoffthetrails 19h ago edited 19h ago
Bear spray and bangers. Gone. Sit pad. Gone. Saw Gone. Thermacell. gone. Nalgene - switch to seltzer bottles.
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u/732 18h ago
I mean, don't ditch the bear spray if you're in grizzly country
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u/BeerForThought 16h ago
Ditch the bear spray but double the weight. All of the groaning and heavy breathing will make the grizzlies think you're one of them.
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u/der_horst23 19h ago
why the large powerbank? Why a sitting pad?
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u/CreatineAddiction 19h ago
Why a sitting pad?
Its kind of in the name no? Out of everything on the list this is not an issue.
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u/dan_thewoodsman 19h ago
Sit pad weights nothing and is way more comfortable than sitting on a log without it, also doubles as a wind screen when cooking on windy days
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u/MrBoondoggles 14h ago
No offense, but everything weighs something unless it’s nothing. Then it weighs nothing.
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u/Response-Cheap 18h ago
Are you stuck on the idea of using a gas stove? Could get one of those click together mini titanium wood burning stoves, that run on pinecones and sticks. They're almost weightless, and are about the size of a dvd case when packed. Work mint too. Mini feather sticks, birch bark, wood shavings or fatwood will get it going if it's wet out. You'll get more use out of your saw and knife too.
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u/dan_thewoodsman 15h ago
This is a great idea, thanks. Any you recommend?
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u/Response-Cheap 15h ago
This is the one I use. Can find a bunch of them by different Chinese brands on Amazon. I don't think it matters who makes it. The concept and designs are all the same. Just make sure it's actually titanium for the weight saving and longevity.
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u/videoman2 17h ago
Replace the two Nalgene with one of the bags linked. Just used one for a three day trip in the BWCA, and with the 2l sawyer squeeze dirty bag it works amazingly well. Make sure you pack the syringe for back flushing- it got really slow after about 4-5l of water filtering, and needed back flushing at least once a day.
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u/zippysnowball27 16h ago
Folding saw, knife, mug, bear bangers are all on chopping block. I’d say pick your favorite to keep. Also toiletries seem a bit heavy you may have to much tooth paste and or wet wipes. After that you’d be surprised how much you can cut by shortening straps and replacing zippers with parachord and heat shrink on your pack
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u/jessyownsyou 15h ago
That Mystery Ranch pack is a tank but it weighs over 5 pounds empty, which is your biggest area to save weight immediately if you are trying to go lighter. You are also carrying a lot of redundant items like the extra Nalgene and the heavy bag liner.
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u/Rikplaysbass 15h ago
Did you get the “oops all frames” backpack. How is it over 5 pounds? Is it just one giant zipper?
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u/NID_Cowpoke 13h ago
What is your end goal here? Hard to tell what to cut without knowing the mission. Of course you can spend $ and replace everything on the list, saving you many pounds. If you don’t want to go that route and are just looking to cut stuff, it comes down to how much comfort you’re willing to sacrifice to meet your end goal.
Camping in summer? Probably don’t need a 0 degree bag and liner. Willing to do a bit more cleaning? Don’t need a pot and mug. Cooking with your stove and not deathly afraid of animals? Probably don’t need a folding saw.
I know it’s not the most direct answer but you’ll just have to pick 2 of these 3. Either comfort, lightweight, or inexpensive (in terms of not replacing all of this gear with lighter alternatives)
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u/ShiftNStabilize 11h ago
Lighter pack: Durston Kawaka??
Lighter knife - mora companion if you want a fixed blade or ragweed forge finman, that or a victronix classix
Dig the heavy headlamp, get a nitecore 20 or 25
Switch nalgenes for smart water bottles
Lighter bag liner
Ditch the saw, unclear why it's needed. If you want a fire then I've never found a shortage of sticks on the ground.
Get rid of the bear banger kit, and unless you're in grizzly country you don't need bear spray.
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u/BluePinata 7h ago
5 pounds for a 40 L bag is a bit much these days. I have a 60 L pack (gossamer gear Mariposa) that weighs 968 grams (2.1 pounds). It's super comfortable. I know you said it was non-negotiable, but it's the comfiest pack I've ever used and it's also the lightest. There has to be at least one other backpack that weighs less and fits your body well/is comfortable.
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u/basarisco 6h ago
Start using 20th century units
get rid of the saw
get a $30 frameless pack for 1/3 the weight
use a smaller gas canister
drop bear bangers
drop the sit pad
get an opinel
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u/iwillregretthislogin 5h ago
I'm by no means a minimalisit but:
- Ditch the power bank. I don't get why people need these. You're in the wilderness to get away. Turn the electronics off and use a map. If you use a phone for pictures, then put it in low-power mode - they will last for days if the battery is half decent if you're not using it all the time.
- Ditch the nalgene bottles completely. Use platys. Super lightweight and can be inverted with a hose to drink from while walking.
- Ditch the saw. Not needed.
- Your sleeping pad is HEAVY - more than half the weight of your tent. Get an inflatable.
- Can you get away without the bag liner? That's more dead-weight.
- Sit pad - extra weight. Not necessary.
- Ditch the bear banger kit - carry bear spray if in grizzly country. Otherwise just camp in a bear-safe manner. This is from someone who regularly hikes solo in grizzly country.
- Ditch the thermacell in favour of a small spray of picaridin
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u/chiefhondo 16h ago
This isn’t really that heavy of a pack weight. Your food and water might add another 12 pounds (2 pounds of food per day + 4 pounds of water).
I think your backpack is on the heavy side for a 40L like many have said but it’s going to have a lot of padding and good suspension as well. I actually prefer a solid backpack that carries weight well compared to those plastic potato sack backpacks everyone prefers these days.
My concern was I don’t see a bear canister but I see bear spray and bear bangers.
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u/dan_thewoodsman 15h ago
That’s been my logic in terms of the bag. Regarding bears, I’m in Ontario so no grizzlies. I just hang my food.
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u/shenandoahhunter 18h ago
Drop the sleeping pad. Use your gear or place your tent on something soft.
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u/goldenboyphoto 18h ago
Sleeping pad isn't for comfort, it's for warmth.
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u/shenandoahhunter 18h ago
I find a sleeping bag liner and a little leaves/grass/pinestraw to be more comfortable and warmer than a liner.
To each their own, but I’m surprised about the downvotes. Am I the only one that uses natural materials for insulation?
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u/like_4-ish_lights 17h ago
Natural materials are unreliable (not going to have much in the desert, on the beach, above the treeline etc) and it's very much against LNT principles to be pulling out living vegetation to sleep on.
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u/lilgreenfish 16h ago
If the shenandoah part of your username is an indication of where you live, then I highly recommend you try this method out in like Colorado or Utah. Then see why sleeping pads are usually important things to have. Most of where I camp, leaves/grass/pinestraw aren’t available in any meaningful (or any at all) quantity. Even pine needles aren’t a guarantee. Plus if you’re high up, it gets cold at night (I’ve been snowed on in mid-May more than once).
Someone mentioned OP might be in the Canadian Rockies, and as someone from the Colorado Rockies area…sleeping pads are important.
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u/goldenboyphoto 18h ago
You use the word liner so maybe there's confusion here. A liner and pad are two separate things. Next to the actual backpack a sleeping pad is your most important piece of gear.
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u/TpointOh 19h ago
One of your Nalgenes is marked down as 74 ounces. Im guessing that’s not correct, and might be swaying your total weight a bit