50lb Pack too Heavy?
JSRa...@gmail.com
I'm constantly trying to lighten the load of my backpack for moderately
short backpacking trips, usually under 5 miles one way, usually one or
two nighters. I can't seem to get the pack under 45lbs. How heavy are
other people's packs?
Donald Newcomb
<JSRa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129246152....@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
For a weekend? 23 lbs.
--
Donald Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
Daniel-San
'Too heavy' is relative. Most people say you shouldn't carry more than
25-30% of your body weight, but that' a guideline, doubt it's anything
'proven'.
Most of my hikes are solo, roughly 6 nighters. Not including food or water,
my 'base weight' is about 25 pounds. Certainly heavier than some, but
lighter than some also. There are some things I'm not willing to part with
(tent, thermarest, book(s), SLR camera, etc.) If I were to pare these things
down to a tarp, a RidgeRest, a magazine, and a small digi-cam, I'd easily
save at least five pounds. That's just it though, for me, these things are
worth their weight. For others, it isn't. Hike your own hike and all....
Some things to do:
Consider each piece of gear critically. Do I need to carry it? Is a lighter
alternative available/affordable?
Consider the "Big Three" -- tent, pack, and sleeping bag. These three items
are the largest single contributor to the weight you carry. Do you want to
replace them? Are better/lighter options available? Affordable? If you'r
looking to upgrade (lighten) your gear, these three will make the most
immediate impact. Unfortunately, to your wallet as well.
Evaluate the food you carry. It's usually a good way to judge many other
peices of gear. I'm pretty much a Mountain House guy. Easy, relatively
light, and to me, anyway, tasty. Plus, they suit my inherent laziness. Since
all I really do is boil two cups of water, I sure don't need the Whisperlite
I used to carry. I switched to an alky stove (Brasslite, btw -- rocks!).
Light, super reliable, and teeny. Perfect for me, may suck for you. Boiling
two cups only takes a small pot, so I picked up a .9 liter Ti pot. Mountain
House needs no plates, so that went away. No need to carry anything to wash
the pot, either.
Anyway, that's the way I look at it. Every piece of gear needs to have a
logical function **for you**. If you're a 'cook a real meal' person, then
the alky stove won't work. If you are a teeny person (I'm not), maybe a
RidgeRest will work for you (and take off about 8 ounces).
Good luck, it's a slow process that can drive you nuts, and if you're not
careful, drive you to Chapter 7 also.
Dan
JSRa...@gmail.com
cool. I got a coleman peak 1 stove and single mantle lantern. those
plus the fuel get pretty heavy. Other than that, the tent is about
7lbs (upgrading soon to Sierra Designs -Lightning 05), break down
fishing pole / lures, utensils, and a small pouch of necessities (1st
aid, soap, matches, cards). Sleeping bag is fairly light. My pack
only weighs about 5 lbs unladen. I guess the first step would be to
upgrade the stove if i'm only boiling water. My gf likes to make
pancakes in the morning, so that's that! lol
Thanks for the advice-
L
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:
45 lbs is pretty heavy for trips of a couple days. I agree with the other
posts about focusing on the big three for maximum weight savings - sleeping
bag, tent, and pack. Then assess every other item that you carry. Assess
whether you used the item on your last trip and if safety considerations
don't preclude it, leave the item home on the next trip. In recent years, a
ton of websites on ultralight backpacking have sprung up. I'd do a google
search for "ultralight backpacking" and check out some of those websites
for some great detailed information. Good luck.
Daniel-San
> Yeah, I use the mountain house, backpackers pantry meals too, very
> cool. I got a coleman peak 1 stove and single mantle lantern. those
> plus the fuel get pretty heavy. Other than that, the tent is about
> 7lbs (upgrading soon to Sierra Designs -Lightning 05), break down
> fishing pole / lures, utensils, and a small pouch of necessities (1st
> aid, soap, matches, cards). Sleeping bag is fairly light. My pack
> only weighs about 5 lbs unladen. I guess the first step would be to
> upgrade the stove if i'm only boiling water. My gf likes to make
> pancakes in the morning, so that's that! lol
>
> Thanks for the advice-
Well, you didn't mention there was fishing gear involved. :-)
There's an extra five or six pounds. Easily. I did the Sioux Hustler Trail
in the BWCA with my normal gear, but had about 10 extra pounds of fishing
crap. My back sure felt it.
As far as your 'normal' gear goes, if you'd like to, post a list of what
you're currently using. I did that a few years ago, and it was eye-opening.
Not necessarily the perfect answer, but it made me think about things
differently.
Dan
the Moderator
I can get my pack to 40 or 45 pounds for a winter hike. Since I don't hike
in warm weather that is the usual weight. My pack weight includes water of
course. I know a lot of people who list pack weight without water, but that
never made any sense to me. Depending on the length of the hike I take one
or two liters.
When it is cold an alcohol stove does not work so I have an extra pound for
stove and fuel. I like coffee so that is usually an extra pot, first aid
kit weighs a pound, water filter weighs a pound. Unless it is raining the
shell goes in the pack, sandals or fleece booties, extra fleece, sleep hat,
it adds up, but the guy with the 23 pound pack wants a cup of coffee, needs
an ace bandage, borrows my stove, water filter...
If you want to lower your pack weight write down everything you take and the
individual weight of each item. Now you have a basis of comparison for need
vs. weight.
Len McDougall, Outdoor Writer
The area where I teach survival courses is seven miles from here, and
my pack runs sixty pounds; my clients generally carry forty pounds or
so because I have our group's first-aid kit, water purification kit,
and all the extras one of them might need (toothbrush, socks...). My
ultralight outfit, geared for SAR and other outings where a pack must
be worn all day while traveling rough country, runs about forty pounds.
The only real trick to lightening your pack is to buy ultralight gear,
which is usually the expensive stuff. A three-pound bivy is lighter
than a six-pound tent; sodium chlorite tablets weigh less than a water
filter; Platypus (tm) type water bladders are lighter and take up less
space than a water bottle... You get the idea. The lighter the gear
that goes into your pack, the lighter the assembled outfit will be.
The pack you carry makes a big difference. As I stated in my
Camping Gear Best Buys article for the April '05 issue of Consumers
Digest magazine, my favorite do-everything pack is a Kelty 5,000 c.i.
Red Cloud -preferred for its many segregated pockets that can be packed
as dedicated kits. The pack I carried up to 12,000 feet in the Rockies
this past July was a Lowe Alpine, which I believe has the most
comfortable suspension of any pack made.
Keep all your heavy gear low in the pack, and close to your back as
possible to keep it from unduly influencing your balance - an overly
wide (frame) pack, or one that is off-balance, can send you to your
death off a rocky ledge. Avoid piling stuff on top of the pack, like
you see beginners do in so many documentaries, as this can severely
influence your balance.
Also, now that I'm damn close to fifty (I started backpacking in
1968), I've become aware that a proper boot is essential for humping up
to a third of your body weight over rugged terrain. You should wear a
boot specifically designed for backpacking, with extra arch support,
stiffer shank, increased ankle support - a hiking boot on steroids.
Lowa is probably top of the line, but try Asolo, Raichle, and Vasque.
Bring along hiking socks to the store, and actually lace on both boots
and walk around the store; the right boots won't feel good, they'll
feel so awesome that you might just wear them home. Break in your
boots with short hikes of a couple of miles before taking them
backpacking; after about ten miles they'll have creased or "broken" in
places that accommodate the unique structure of your foot.
Len McDougall, author of the books: The Encyclopedia of Tracks & Scats
* The Log Cabin: An Adventure in Self Reliance, Individualism, and
Cabin Building * The Field & Stream Wilderness Survival Handbook * The
Complete Tracker * Practical Outdoor Projects * Practical Outdoor
Survival * The Snowshoe Handbook * The Outdoors Almanac * Made for the
Outdoors
Wilderness Guide/Survival Instructor for Timberwolf Wilderness
Adventures, Paradise, Michigan USA
Chris Townsend
McDougall, Outdoor Writer" <LMwr...@yahoo.com> writes
>
>JSRa...@gmail.com wrote:
>> My first post:
>>
>> I'm constantly trying to lighten the load of my backpack for moderately
>> short backpacking trips, usually under 5 miles one way, usually one or
>> two nighters. I can't seem to get the pack under 45lbs. How heavy are
>> other people's packs?
>
>The area where I teach survival courses is seven miles from here, and
>my pack runs sixty pounds; my clients generally carry forty pounds or
>so because I have our group's first-aid kit, water purification kit,
>and all the extras one of them might need (toothbrush, socks...). My
>ultralight outfit, geared for SAR and other outings where a pack must
>be worn all day while traveling rough country, runs about forty pounds.
> The only real trick to lightening your pack is to buy ultralight gear,
>which is usually the expensive stuff.
Not necessarily. A tarp is less expensive than a tent. A foam pad is
less expensive than a self-inflating mat. Simple clothing with few
whistles and bells is usually less expensive than all singing, all
dancing garments.
> A three-pound bivy is lighter
>than a six-pound tent; sodium chlorite tablets weigh less than a water
>filter; Platypus (tm) type water bladders are lighter and take up less
>space than a water bottle... You get the idea. The lighter the gear
>that goes into your pack, the lighter the assembled outfit will be.
> The pack you carry makes a big difference. As I stated in my
>Camping Gear Best Buys article for the April '05 issue of Consumers
>Digest magazine, my favorite do-everything pack is a Kelty 5,000 c.i.
>Red Cloud -preferred for its many segregated pockets that can be packed
>as dedicated kits. The pack I carried up to 12,000 feet in the Rockies
>this past July was a Lowe Alpine, which I believe has the most
>comfortable suspension of any pack made.
The lighter your load the lighter the pack you can carry. For loads
under 40-45lbs I like the very light ULA P2, for loads under 30lbs the
ultralight GoLite Gust, for loads over 50lbs (winter ski camping) the
Dana Designs Astralplane, which weighs over 7lbs but is the best heavy
load carrier I've used (though the big Lowe, Gregory and Osprey packs
are pretty good).
> Keep all your heavy gear low in the pack, and close to your back as
>possible to keep it from unduly influencing your balance - an overly
>wide (frame) pack, or one that is off-balance, can send you to your
>death off a rocky ledge. Avoid piling stuff on top of the pack, like
>you see beginners do in so many documentaries, as this can severely
>influence your balance.
> Also, now that I'm damn close to fifty (I started backpacking in
>1968), I've become aware that a proper boot is essential for humping up
>to a third of your body weight over rugged terrain. You should wear a
>boot specifically designed for backpacking, with extra arch support,
>stiffer shank, increased ankle support - a hiking boot on steroids.
Now here I disagree. I'm over fifty and I much prefer lightweight trail
shoes or even sandals. I only ever wear heavy boots when crampons might
be needed. I wear shoes on very rugged rocky terrain and find them fine.
>Lowa is probably top of the line, but try Asolo, Raichle, and Vasque.
And many others. The fit is vastly more important than the make. In big
boots Scarpa fit me well while Asolo are too narrow. But both are good
makes.
>Bring along hiking socks to the store, and actually lace on both boots
>and walk around the store; the right boots won't feel good, they'll
>feel so awesome that you might just wear them home. Break in your
>boots with short hikes of a couple of miles before taking them
>backpacking; after about ten miles they'll have creased or "broken" in
>places that accommodate the unique structure of your foot.
>
>Len McDougall, author of the books: The Encyclopedia of Tracks & Scats
>* The Log Cabin: An Adventure in Self Reliance, Individualism, and
>Cabin Building * The Field & Stream Wilderness Survival Handbook * The
>Complete Tracker * Practical Outdoor Projects * Practical Outdoor
>Survival * The Snowshoe Handbook * The Outdoors Almanac * Made for the
>Outdoors
>
>Wilderness Guide/Survival Instructor for Timberwolf Wilderness
>Adventures, Paradise, Michigan USA
>
--
Chris
Fritz M
> I can't seem to get the pack under 45lbs. How heavy are
> other people's packs?
I'm not an ultralighter, but for a weekend my pack tops out at 30 lbs.
For me, this would be for running around the Colorado Rockies in the
late summer.
RFM
Puppet_Sock
[snip]
> break down
> fishing pole / lures,
Usually if you are going fishing, the thing to do is turn it
into a paddling trip if possible. Let most of the weight ride
in the bottom of the boat, so long as you are going to be on
water anyway.
> utensils,
Heh. I have this image of Samwise Gangee hiking along behind
Mr. Frodo, with his mountainous backpack, and a frying pan
hung on one side, and a huge string of sausages on the other.
There are these really light frying pans available. Weigh about
1/4 pound. Sure, they are not as nice to cook in as a nice
cast iron skillet. But you can really work to lighten the load.
My cook set came with two pots and a small frying pan that fit
inside eachother. I ditched the smaller pot and then the stove
cooking head actually fits inside the larger pot, lid on top,
and the frying pan under that. Total weight of the whole package
is like a pound, then whatever fuel I'm taking in addition.
For a one-to-two nighter as you mention, consider cold camping it.
The stove and fuel may totally outweigh the extra weight in food
you would need to bring in order to bring ready-to-eat stuff.
But pile up the stuff for each kind of trip first and see which
is actually lighter. Your style may make a big difference.
> My gf likes to make
> pancakes in the morning, so that's that! lol
Hey, if the gf likes to hike/camp with you, she's a keeper! Taking
a pack slightly heavier is a reasonable accomodation if it means
you guys are able to have a fun trip.
As mentioned, there are many ways to upgrade your cooking gear.
Also, there are many recipes that work better with camp stoves.
You can do things like adjusting the amount of water, cooking
only one small pancake at a time, etc. And adding some spice
to taste, or some walnuts or such, can make them taste really
good even though they are not "perfect" otherwise.
Also, if two people are "close" you can forego plates etc, and
eat directly from the cook pot. I usually take one metal cup
per hiker, and use that to eat out of, mix instant stuff, drink
coffee, etc.
When two people hike, I find some combination of the following:
One person carries the tent, the other the stove and food, and
the weight gets balanced out by other gear being traded back
and forth. Even with the food in a hiker's food bag ready to hang
on a tree, I prefer to keep it away from the tent if possible.
The less chance of food on the tent the better IMO.
Socks
Jon Danniken
> Yeah, I use the mountain house, backpackers pantry meals too, very
> cool. I got a coleman peak 1 stove and single mantle lantern. those
> plus the fuel get pretty heavy. Other than that, the tent is about
> 7lbs (upgrading soon to Sierra Designs -Lightning 05), break down
> fishing pole / lures, utensils, and a small pouch of necessities (1st
> aid, soap, matches, cards). Sleeping bag is fairly light. My pack
> only weighs about 5 lbs unladen. I guess the first step would be to
> upgrade the stove if i'm only boiling water. My gf likes to make
> pancakes in the morning, so that's that! lol
Leave the lantern and the fuel cannister that goes with it, and change your
stove over to an MSR whisperlight at a minimum, or if you're only boiling
water, look into the "tin can" alcohol stoves. I actually cook food so I
use the Whisperlight.. All you need for light is a simple headlamp..
Jon
dave(dot)trenkner(at)gmail(dot)com
lbs...that includes: tent, sleeping bag, sleep pad, extra food, filter,
1 litre water, extra clothes, first aid, trek poles, personal hygiene,
navigation (map, compass, head lamp), knife, flint starter, rain cover,
rain jacket/pants, gloves, digital camera and of course the pack
itself. The trail is 33 miles, we made it a 4 night trip so I would
guess my starting weight was 36 lbs for 5 days, 4 nights. When I go
for overnights in the 'dacks...I'm probably about 30 lbs (i'm carrying
less food and clothes...sometimes only 1 meal + snacks). My goal next
spring is to shave off 3-4 lbs off that.
Usually the heaviest items are the easiest to shave weight off
of...concentrate on these first because you'll get the most bang for
your buck: tent, sleeping bag, pack. The SD Lightning is an excellent
weight saver...I have a '05 myself...that is a good start. Good luck!
FYI, 1 litre of water = approx. 2.2 lbs.
Mister Fixit
(Lobster Grrrl) wrote:
>For a weekend about 23-25 pounds. I had to spend some cash to get
>that weight though. New lightweight pack, tent, sleeping bag. Freeze
>dried food. Single malt Scotch.
>
>lg
>
Yeah, blended whisky is so much heavier! :{)
>----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
>http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
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JSRa...@gmail.com
> you're currently using. I did that a few years ago, and it was eye-opening.
> Not necessarily the perfect answer, but it made me think about things
> differently.
>
> Dan
Here goes:
internal frame mountainsmith pack
30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
7lb two-person tent (soon to upgrade)
first need water purifier
1 liter water
3-5 mountain house/backpacker's pantry dehydrated meals
1lb misc food, spices, oil, coffee
peak 1 single mantle lantern (wrapped in thin towel)
peak 1 stove (stores in aluminum container = two pots)
1/2 liter fuel
1st aid/matches/tp
knife
poker cards
thermarest expedition mattress
sawvivor aluminum wood saw
lexan mug
fork/knife/spoon
msr coffeemate
empty 1 liter nalgene
minimal clothes
nylon rope
bug spray/snake bite kit
1 liter whiskey
-These follow me just about every trip
happy.wh...@spokane.wa.net.lib
>
>Here goes:
>
>internal frame mountainsmith pack
How much does it weigh?
>30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
How much does it weigh?
>7lb two-person tent (soon to upgrade)
There are lighter tents.
>first need water purifier
don't need one in most places
>1 liter water
>3-5 mountain house/backpacker's pantry dehydrated meals
>1lb misc food, spices, oil, coffee
>peak 1 single mantle lantern (wrapped in thin towel)
Leave at home and get a headlamps
>peak 1 stove (stores in aluminum container = two pots)
Only need one pot for dehydrated food
>1/2 liter fuel
have you thought of using a pop can stove?
>1st aid/matches/tp
>knife
How much does your knife weigh?
>poker cards
>thermarest expedition mattress
If you must have a thermarest try an ultra light one.
>sawvivor aluminum wood saw
I've never had a use for such in the back country.
>lexan mug
>fork/knife/spoon
>msr coffeemate
cowboy coffee!
>empty 1 liter nalgene
Nalgene bottles are heavy, try a pop bottle.
>minimal clothes
Weight?
>nylon rope
How much?
>bug spray/snake bite kit
Do snake bit kits works?
>1 liter whiskey
no comment.. :)
JSRa...@gmail.com
3 lbs - sleeping bag/pillow
10 oz knife ?
2 lbs - clothes
not much nylon rope
>1 liter water
>3-5 mountain house/backpacker's pantry dehydrated meals
>1lb misc food, spices, oil, coffee
>peak 1 single mantle lantern (wrapped in thin towel)
>Leave at home and get a headlamps
-need to have food! coffee too!
-What is a pop can stove? cowboy coffee?
-Don't know if the snake bite kit works, I hope I won't find out. ;)
-I tend to hike near the homes of the Eastern Timber Rattler.
-Thanks for the advice. -J
JSRa...@gmail.com
an ace bandage, borrows my stove, water filter...
Right on!
Cyli
happy.wh...@spokane.wa.net.lib wrote:
(snipped)
>>bug spray/snake bite kit
>Do snake bit kits works?
Not the person you were asking, but...
They work very well for wasp stings and mystery punctures. I'm
assuming mine would work well for snake bites, too.
Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.
http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: cyl...@gmail.com.invalid (strip the .invalid to email)
Daniel-San
<JSRaymond wrote
>
> Here goes:
>
> internal frame mountainsmith pack
Which one?
> 30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
Which brand?
> 7lb two-person tent (soon to upgrade)
Good, 'cuz holy smokes that's a heavy tent.
> first need water purifier
Personally, I prefer the MSR, and some get by on chemicals that weigh an
ounce or two, but no real argument from me on this one.
> 1 liter water
> 3-5 mountain house/backpacker's pantry dehydrated meals
I agree on this one. :-)
> 1lb misc food, spices, oil, coffee
Might be a little much for a weekend. May not. If you're bringing food home,
or gorging a bit on the last day of the trip, you probably brought too much
food. Coffee is one of those things that start arguments in gear threads.
Some do cowboy (<<<ugggggghhhh>>>), some do instant (slightly less
disgusting), and well, the list goes on. I use this:
http://tinyurl.com/2jh6h
Perfect? Heck no. Workable, and really light? Yep. Bit of a learning curve
to get the thing to work well.
Question... What's the oil for if you're eating dehydrated? Fish?
> peak 1 single mantle lantern (wrapped in thin towel)
Go headlamp. You'll never go back. I own something like 7, but this is the
one I use most: http://tinyurl.com/agglv
> peak 1 stove (stores in aluminum container = two pots)
Make thee one of these:
http://wings.interfree.it/html/Pepsi.html
Yes, they work. Very well. Total cost (If you have a few basic tools) a few
bucks for the tape, and two cans Pepsi. Runs on yellow bottle HEET, among
other fuels. Cost of fuel per trip: 75 cents or so.
> 1/2 liter fuel
See above
> 1st aid/matches/tp
Half roll TP? I know, but you usually bring some home, don't you?
How much does the first aid weigh? Knew a guy (former EMT) that carried
Christ-knows-what in a five pound FA kit. Bring what makes you feel
comfortable, but be reasonable. 10 ibuprofen tabs in a Ziploc instead of the
whole 500-pill bottle, etc.
> knife
More specific?
> poker cards
Full size? SWMBO found a deck at some goofy store that only measure about
1.5" by 1". Certainly not right for poker night at home, but they work just
fine in the field.
> thermarest expedition mattress
I though I slept well on my Pro-lite 4. If it's worth the weight for you,
fine, but that pad weighs about as much as my solo tent.
> sawvivor aluminum wood saw
86 this. Break small branches by propping one end on a larger log and
stepping in the middle. If they won't break easily in this manner, they
won't burn worth a shite either.
> lexan mug
Insulated? I haven't looked at mugs in a while (quite happy with mine), but
when I looked, the insulated lexans were heavier than the basic ones, like
this: http://tinyurl.com/d3m5j
Plus, that cheap mug keeps cup-o-soup and cofee hot for a very long time.
> fork/knife/spoon
All you need is spork. Wa wa waaaaa wa. All you need is spork .......
(with apologies to the late Mr. Lennon, etc.)
> msr coffeemate
Very similar to the doo-dad I use.
> empty 1 liter nalgene
For? Do you mix powdered drinks? I do, all the time. The new Crystal Lite
'On the Go' mini packets rock. However, 86 the 4 or 5 ounce nalg and replace
with http://tinyurl.com/aaj2l
> minimal clothes
Define minimal. For a week-long trip in the summer, it's one pair nylon
hiking pants, one synthetic Tshirt, one pair synthetic boxer briefs, and one
pair cheap wool socks on my corpse. And one extra Tshirt, one extra pair of
undies, and one extra pair of socks in the pack. Holy cow do I stink, but
most of my hikes are solo.....
> nylon rope
"Real' rope, or the 6mm paracord? the paracord is probably stronger, almost
definitely lighter.
> bug spray/snake bite kit
For bug spray, I bought a small pump bottle (an ounce or so) of Repel 100. I
refill it ('bout half way) with this before each trip.
http://tinyurl.com/8trvv PAck in a small Ziploc. Spray into palm, rub where
needed. Snake bite kits, IMHO, are much like snake oil. Nice too have but
not worth much. A doctor I'm most certainly not, just an amalgamation of
what I have read. Your call.
> 1 liter whiskey
No way I can polish off a liter of Jack in a weekend, and have anything
resembling a recollection of the trip. If you can, hey, you're a better man
than I. If not, you're carrying too much. Put some in one of those littel
Platypus Nippers mentioned above.
>
> -These follow me just about every trip
Just ideas. Do what makes you comfy......
Dan
JSRa...@gmail.com
> internal frame mountainsmith pack
>Which one?
Circuit VX-21 (similar to Circuit II, better fabric, lighter)
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39187511&memberId=12500226
> 30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
>Which brand?
Mountain Hardwear Comet 30
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=4&prod=984&cat=54&viewAll=False
>Question... What's the oil for if you're eating dehydrated? >Fish?
Yup, but the oil and spices have been staying home lately.
>Make thee one of these:
>http://wings.interfree.it/html/Pepsi.html
>Yes, they work.
Very interesting... are they safe? What about windy conditions?
>Half roll TP?
Yup.
>How much does the first aid weigh?
Very little, it's one of those Coleman paper-thin pouch things. I also
bring along just a few each of: painkillers, antacid, allergy pills.
> knife
>More specific?
Leatherman "Kick"
> lexan mug
>Insulated?
One of these:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=29611550&memberId=12500226
-Lightweight, great for mixing drinks (yup, I use powdered crystal
lite), measuring water for meals, packs oatmeal packets and coffeemate
within for the hike.
> minimal clothes
>Define minimal
Really nothing more than you carry. For a summer time two-nighter I'll
bring 1pr. extra boxers, 1pr extra socks. Fall/Spring, add a fleece
hoodie and 1pr. thermal pants.
> 1 liter whiskey
>No way I can polish off a liter of Jack in a weekend, and have anything
resembling a recollection of the trip.
Ha! Well, the liter is for two people, two nights most times. Extra
celebration.
Thanks, there is some great advice here,
-J
Daniel-San
<JSRaymond wrote
>
> > internal frame mountainsmith pack
> >Which one?
>
> Circuit VX-21 (similar to Circuit II, better fabric, lighter)
>
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39187511&memberId=12500226
How much lighter? Is it still a 6K in^3 pack? That is somewhere between huge
and gi-normous for a weekend. Unless you bring a lot of fishing gear along,
then 6K may not be enough. :-)
>
> > 30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
> >Which brand?
>
> Mountain Hardwear Comet 30
>
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=4&prod=984&cat=54&viewAll=False
Nice bag. If you don't need the 30 degree rating (summer trips and all),
have a look at the Kelty Light Year series. Heard lots of good things, and
super light. Not too rough on the wallet, either.
http://tinyurl.com/9z2gh
>
> >Question... What's the oil for if you're eating dehydrated? >Fish?
>
> Yup, but the oil and spices have been staying home lately.
I brought some oil for my first few trips. Figured I'd try to make one meal
some fresh fish. Either I got skunked or didn't feel like cleaning a fish.
Oil stays home. I do carry something similar to these half-ful of salt and
sometimes pepper:
http://tinyurl.com/cnxp2
>
> >Make thee one of these:
> >http://wings.interfree.it/html/Pepsi.html
> >Yes, they work.
>
> Very interesting... are they safe? What about windy conditions?
Test at home first. I've made a bunch. First one, was.... 'special', but
still worked very well. As long as the tape is well-applied, it's about as
safe as any other stove. Maybe moreso, as the fuel cannot explode. Windy
conditions require about the safe precautions as other stoves. Put the stove
in a less windy area (behind a log corner, near a big rock, etc.) or just
make a windscreen. StoveStomper's rocks
(http://www.datasync.com/~wksmith/msr.html). If you're a little handy,
adjusting the dimensions to fit your pot is easy.
If you're not handy (or just lazy :-) ) the stoves are all over ebay. Search
for pepsi stove or similar. Pretty cheap, too.
>
> > knife
> >More specific?
>
> Leatherman "Kick"
Quality tool, but have you ever used anything but the knife? I used to carry
this 9 ounce SOG Paratool. Super high quality. Never once used it in the
field. It's in the gear pile now collecting dust.
>
> >
> > minimal clothes
> >Define minimal
>
> Really nothing more than you carry. For a summer time two-nighter I'll
> bring 1pr. extra boxers, 1pr extra socks. Fall/Spring, add a fleece
> hoodie and 1pr. thermal pants.
Sounds 'bout right.
>
> > 1 liter whiskey
> >No way I can polish off a liter of Jack in a weekend, and have anything
> resembling a recollection of the trip.
>
> Ha! Well, the liter is for two people, two nights most times. Extra
> celebration.
>
> Thanks, there is some great advice here,
> -J
>
Glad to be of service. I'd also recommend having a look at:
Be sure to read a bit before posting. Most (all?) gear questions have been
asked/answered 500 times, and the search function is pretty good.
Dan
Derek Palmer
those Pepsi can alchohol stoves. At first I just boiled water, but then
I saw someone had taken the top of a soda can and widened the opening
you drink from and used it as a simmering ring. I made a few with
different opening sized and set them on my stove to get a light simmer
and a good low flame for pancakes. Between that and my Henry Shires
Tarptent, I carry less than two pounds for tent, stove, and pots. I
actually carry two of these stoves so I have a backup in case I drop a
pot on my stove and crush it! ;-) Don't worry, I make up for the it
with a 1978 Gregory Mountain pack that weighs about 9 pounds, big first
aid kit and big old Holofill sleeping bag. I'm not a ultralight fan, but
I do like to minimize weight when I can. If 3 pounds makes the
difference between a miserable trip or a fun trip, then I'm not in shape
to be out in the backcountry anyway. I took 52 pounds on a 6 day trip up
to Sheperds Pass for a climb of Mt. Tyndall and then down the valley
and up and over Mt. Whitney to exit out the Portal this last Sept.
Stove plans are at:
http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml
BTW, I happen to like making my own gear. Saves money and weight.
Derek
Cyli
If you're carrying the tent, the stove, the lantern, etc, what the
heck is your girlfriend carrying, aside from her own clothing and her
own sleeping bag?
If I were sharing a backpacking trip with a guy and were young and in
decent health, I'd be expecting to carry some of the common goods we'd
be using or expect to be nicknamed something like 'delicate flower of
womanhood.'
L
news:1129526026....@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:
>> As far as your 'normal' gear goes, if you'd like to, post a list of
>> what you're currently using. I did that a few years ago, and it was
>> eye-opening. Not necessarily the perfect answer, but it made me think
>> about things differently.
>>
>> Dan
>
> Here goes:
>
> internal frame mountainsmith pack
aim for 3.5 lbs max for the pack
> 30 degree down sleeping bag/small pillow
aim for 3 lbs max, preferably less
> 7lb two-person tent (soon to upgrade)
way too heavy, 4 pounds max for a 2 person tent but <1 lb possible by
using a tarp
> first need water purifier
heavy - options include tablets or inline filters (seychelles)
> 1 liter water
> 3-5 mountain house/backpacker's pantry dehydrated meals
> 1lb misc food, spices, oil, coffee
you should carry ~2 lbs of food per day
> peak 1 single mantle lantern (wrapped in thin towel)
leave home, carry a candle
> peak 1 stove (stores in aluminum container = two pots)
try a lighter stove - trangia, homemade alcohol, or esbit stove. Carry 1
2 quart aluminum pot (8 oz)
> 1/2 liter fuel
> 1st aid/matches/tp
> knife
carry a 1 oz swiss army knife
> poker cards
> thermarest expedition mattress
very heavy but surely comfortable. Try a foam mattress and see if you
find it comfortable.
> sawvivor aluminum wood saw
leave home
> lexan mug
1 oz measuring cup (8oz capacity) is an option
> fork/knife/spoon
need 1 lexan spoon per person only
> msr coffeemate
leave home
> empty 1 liter nalgene
use soda bottles or platypus
> minimal clothes
> nylon rope
> bug spray/snake bite kit
> 1 liter whiskey
carry a nip or two instead
JR
>Very interesting... are they safe? What about windy >conditions?
The kind of alcohol stove described is equivalent to the burner on a
tabletop chafing dish/fondue pot. They're pretty safe unless severely
jostled. They aren't pressurized so there's little chance of an
explosion as with gasoline/kerosene/butane/propane stoves. Spilled
burning alcohol can be doused with water.
On the other hand, in daylight it's hard to see if there's a flame so
singed fingers are a possibility.
John Reece
Truckee, CA
Derek Palmer
a round wind break. Fitted to my pot with 1/4in of clearance to not
waste heat. Used a hole punch to punch lots of little holes in the
bottom for air flow.
If you're trying to restart these stoves be careful. I had a minor fuel
splash when one ignited with a pop. Singe the hair on my hand. I now
use this stove in a small cat food can. I dribble a little fuel in the
cat can and light. The pepsi can stove is inside and warms up and
ignites. Never had a problem since. I've really fallen in love with
these little things.
Derek