7/6/08: See edits below marked "EDIT", "DELETED" or "ADDED"

Stop laughing. 16 may sound high but my old base weight was typically more like 30 pounds. I have lots of gear but it's mostly circa 1980-1995.

I'm getting back into backpacking after an 8 year hiatus. Took a short trip last week with the family (wife, 7 year old daughter & 5 year old son) and my pack started out at 52 pounds. On top of that I carried my daughter's 8 pounds and son's 4 pounds most of the trip. Good news is that I was very happy with Montrail Continental Divides even with that much weight.

Trying to lighten up for a 220 mile hike on the JMT in August I thought a bit about what is needed and not then put a bunch of gear on the scale. Here's what I came up with- requiring more new purchases than I was hoping.

Please take a look and comment. Gear list is for a 15 day hike of the John Muir Trail in August. Some undecided issues remain. I was going for 15 pounds base but it looks like 16 at this point.

Jim
43 year old, southern California



Ounces, Description, H=Have B=Buy, $ Cost to Buy
__________
PACK: My old packs are both over 6 pounds so something new is required.

31.00 Pack SMD Starlight w/ stays B $200
1.00 Water bottle carrier On shoulder strap B $5
2.00 Rain protection Plastic bag liner B $1

34.00 Ounces $206
2.13 Pounds
__________
SHELTER: I predict any rain will be afternoon thunderstorms.
18.00 Tent Early Winters Gore-Tex Bivy H
Groundcloth None
28.00 Sleeping bag Moonstone H
27.00 Pad Thermarest LE H

73.00 Ounces $0
4.56 Pounds
__________
COOKING: Current options are MSR XGK, Svea 123, Bluet Gaz.
EDIT 7/6: I may go with a canister stove instead of alcohol.
2.00 Stove Caldera Cone B $35
5.00 Pot .9 liter or so pot B $15
1.00 Plastic cup B $1
0.25 Lexan spoon H
1.00 Knife H
0.75 Lighter bic B $1
0.50 Stuff sack B $5
0.75 Fuel bottle Plastic bottle, for alcohol B $4

11.25 Ounces $61
0.70 Pounds
__________
BEAR CAN: Already have the Garcia.
43.00 Ounces Bear Can Garcia Machine H
2.69 Pounds
__________
CARRIED CLOTHING:
17.00 Rain parka Marmot Precip Adventurer H
3.00 Rain skirt ULA H
7.00 Thermal shirt Early Winters Fuzzy shirt (light fleece) 7 oz H
DELETED 7/6: 4.00 Balaclava Black wool snood H
ADDED 7/6: 1.5 oz. Balaclava light gray.
0.00 Gloves none
2.63 Socks, spare_1 3/4 crew Smartwool H
2.00 Socks, spare_2 Rhoner light trekking H
DELETED 7/6: 6.00 Sun Bug Shirt option_1 Ex Officio long sleeve Buzz Off Crew Antimicrobial Dri-Release 85% poly, 15% cotton. 6 oz estimated. B $22
DELETED 7/6: 0.00 Sun Bug Shirt option_2 Ex Officio Baja +Sawyer Permethrin 9.5 oz (leave behind?) H
8.00 Pants Ex Officio (Sawyer Permethrin) Maybe substitute Rail Riders vented? H

EDIT 7/6: Was 49.63 Ounces, saved 8.5 oz.
41.13 Ounces
__________
WATER: I'm going to drink untreated water except where suspect.
3.00 Bottle Empty water bottles 27 oz x 2 H
1.00 Purification tablets ClO2 (suspect water only) B $10

4.00 Ounces $10
0.25 Pounds
__________
TOILETRIES:
0.50 Stuff sack Aloksak B $3
0.50 Toothbrush H
1.00 Toothpaste Crest mini-tube H
EDIT 7/6: 0.5 oz. (WAS 2.00) Deodorant Small Crystal stick H
0.50 Soap Small vial H
2.00 Toilet paper & ziplock bag H
1.00 Baby Wipes Dried, in ziploc w/ TP H
0.00 Pack towel Bandana, worn H
1.25 Insect repellent 1 oz 100% DEET B $5
EDIT 7/6: 2.5 Sunscreen 2 oz. (WAS 4 oz.) H
1.50 Bug head net H

EDIT 7/6: 9.75 Ounces, was 13.25 Ounces $8

_________
FIRST AID:
0.50 Stuff sack Aloksak B $3
0.25 Antihistimine 4 H
0.50 Ibuprophen 36 H
0.25 Imodium 4 H
DELETED 7/6: 0.75 Lighter Spare B $1
1.00 Storm matches In plastic match safe H
0.50 Bandages 12 bandaids, 6 butterflies, 4 4x4s H
0.75 Ace bandage 2" H
1.00 Blister care Hydropel 1/2 tube B $20
2.00 Blister care Assortment Moleskin H
1.00 Blister care Leukotape B $15
1.00 Rope 1/8" cord H
0.25 Sewing kit H

EDIT 7/6: 9.0 Ounces, was 9.75 Ounces $39

__________
MISC:
3.00 Headlamp Black Diamond LED H
EDIT 7/6: 5 oz Camera (swapped with wife's camera. Was 10.00 Camera With battery H )
0.50 Car Key Subaru H
3.00 Navigation Maps JMT Map Pack in ziploc H
1.00 Navigation Compass B

EDIT 7/6: 12.50 Ounces was 17.50.
__________
TOTAL PACK WEIGHT, DRY
EDIT 7/6: 14.1 Pounds, saved 1.8 from 15.96 Pounds
__________

WORN:
36.00 Shoes Montrail Cont. Div. w/custom orthotics H
4.00 Shorts Running B $15
2.00 Underwear Duo-Dry Antimicrobial H
5.00 T-Shirt Icebreaker 140 H
3.00 Socks Smartwool 3/4 crew light trek H
DELETED 6.00 Hat Ultimate Hat H
ADDED 2.9 Hat mesh top alpine hat.
1.00 Bandana Blue H
2.00 Sunglasses H
Trekking poles No
0.25 Chapstick H
0.50 Whistle H

EDIT: 56.65 was 59.75 Ounces 0.00 $15

__________
TOTAL SKIN OUT WEIGHT, DRY
EDIT 7/6: 17.61 Pounds Was:19.70 Pounds
__________
CONSUMABLES

2.00 Fuel 2 oz. alcohol per day B
24.00 Food & Packaging 1.5 pounds per day B
X 7
182.00 7 Days Food & Fuel
27.00 Water 1 Bottle full

209.00 Ounces 0.00 $0
13.06 Pounds
__________
EDIT 7/6: 27.1 Was:29.02 Pounds TOTAL PACK WEIGHT FOR WEEK
EDIT 7/6: 30.7 Was:32.76 Pounds TOTAL SKIN OUT WEIGHT FOR WEEK

EDIT 7/6 NOTE: Saved 2.0 pounds from fairly minor tweaking of gear list.

$361 Cost for new gear in this list. Donations accepted!

Edited by jimqpublic on 07/06/2008 09:26:47 MDT.

Can I suggest the Six Moon Desgins Gatewood Cape? It weighs in at 11 ounces and will double as a tarp and rain protection. Between your jacket and biy that is 34 ounces. Remember every once counts.

Bill's 16 pound gear list:

Normal Sub 5 Pound Gear List-5 lb.
Camera stuff - 5 lb.
Laptop Computer with DVD Movies and extra battery - 6 lb.
--------------------
16 pounds

This is in fun.

You have done a lot better than my first try at lowering my gear list.

The extra clothes, the Thermarest and the Bivy account for 6 lbs.

Dump the extra clothes for a pair of zipoffs and a insulated jacket only, switch to a gatewood cape with no bivy, and go to a foam pad.

You've reduced your weight by over 4 lbs .... then you can carry a lighter pack than the starlight, like a Maraposa for half the weight ... saving another lb.

... That takes you to 11 lbs right off the bat.

Wondering if you really need the balaclava for the JMT in August, but I'm not familiar with temps in that area, so maybe you do. If so, I'd think you'd also need at least a light pair of gloves? I can't imagine needing a balaclava but not gloves.

Lose the deodorant crystal. You will likely swear all over, and you will stink regardless of whether you apply deodorant or not.

There's another 6 oz.

Take a really close look at your FIRST-AID KIT. I'm sure you could cut that in half - Think simple wound care and meds only. GOODLUCK

I've recently been trying to lighten up as well. I'm at the point now where I'm starting to look at the price per ounce to replace an item. Some of the things I had been looking at are not the most cost effective things to change. This has made me look at replacing other items I had not thought of. You also have to evaluate your hiking style and see if changing to a different way of doing things to eliminate a piece of gear is a better way to go.

In addition to the items mentioned above (especially first aid), here are some items on your list that stand out to me:

43.00 Ounces Bear Can Garcia Machine (replace)
4.50 Sunscreen 4 oz. (1 oz tube)
2.00 Deodorant Small Crystal stick (0.5 oz or drop it)

Tony

Edited by TonyFleming on 07/01/2008 04:42:55 MDT.

Good luck and congrats on your upcoming JMT trip. It's a lovely hike.

A few ideas to cut weight. Some require purchases, so take those with a grain of salt! Just some options.

Sleeping bag - A 35 degree WM Caribou MF at 20 oz - saves 8 oz
Groundpad - Gossamer Gear Nightlite 3/4 length 8 oz - save 19 oz
Shelter - MLD Gear Poncho tarp with no bivy (also works as rain gear / pack cover / pack liner) at ca. 10 oz - save 17 oz from the jacket + 3 oz from the rain skirt + 2 oz from the bag liner (summer thunderstorms are about all you'll see, probably
Groundcloth - GG polycryo or equivalent (you'll want a groundsheet if no bivy)
Cooking - I'd take a small isobutane canister and Crux stove (or similar) if I did the JMT

Gloves - I'd take thin liner gloves (cold in mornings/night perhaps?)
Bug shirt / pants - leave behind (or take zipoff pants)
Deodorant and soap - leave behind (wash up with multi-purpose bandana and hot springs shower at Red's Meadow)
Bug head nut - will you need in August? (just use a bit of DEET)
Sunscreen - won't need too much with long sleeves & hat with bandana
Rope 1/8" cord - necessary?
Compass - don't need in August on JMT - very hard to lose the trail, for sure.

Cheers!

Unfortunately money is a pressing concern.

Sleeping bag/bivy:
I would love to get a new bag but I don't see that happening this year. My 28 oz. liner bag requires the bivy and balaclava for me to be comfortable down to the frosty temps that hit 10,000 feet in late August. Since I need the bivy for warmth there's not much point in a tarp. I also like the speed, ease, and flexibility of setting up/breaking camp with a bivy. Maybe next year...

I will experiment with my Ridge Rest to see if I can tolerate a foam pad. Otherwise the Thermarest is coming as my luxury item.

Raingear:
The Marmot jacket and ULA rain skirt were impulse buys. I didn't expect the jacket to be so heavy, but it's still way, way lighter than my old one.
I'll consider substituting my 5 oz. windshirt and a superlight poncho.

Clothes:
I'm going to drop the long pants, long sleeve shirt, and third pair of socks. Head net stays as long as I'm sleeping out.

First aid, toiletries:
I can cut a little but I want a class-A blister care kit. I'll drop the deodorant down to 1/4 ounce, take only 2 oz. sunscreen (2 more in my resupply), and cut the handle off my toothbrush.
Regarding compass I know it is seldom needed in the high Sierra but one near death experience in a blizzard caused me to promise myself I'd always carry one.

Cooking:
Bear can is required and the only significantly lighter option is over $200.
I'll drop the spare lighter since I have matches as backup. My cooking plan is 12 oz. hot water for midmorning coffee and 20 oz. for dinner/soup. 2 oz. alcohol per day may be excessive; I'm doing a second family trip in a few weeks to sort that out- truly I'm still undecided between a cannister and the Caldera Cone.

Pack:
With the bear can and plans to use the pack on family trips I had homed in on the Starlight. There aren't many that appear to work well with a horizontal bear can.

james,

sounds like you've done some good thinking about things. i'm planning an 8+ day solo trip between cedar grove and mineral king and back in early september, so i'm also thinking about lots of the decisions you are, with similar weather (perhaps no thunderstorms though, and zero bugs).

i guess i'd just stress that the jmt is basically easy trail, the weather will be mostly sunny and warm (except thunderstorms), and there are a number of bailout points over passes to owens valley and other stops such as reds meadow, vvr, etc. basically on trail. so the safety margin is a big broader (plus LOTS of people around on the trail). that would mean bringing less stuff to me.

for my trip (perhaps 1/2 on trail and 1/2 off) i think the basics will be:

mld poncho tarp (long) with lines & 8 stakes
polycryo groundsheet
gg nightlight 3/4
wm alpinlite 20 degree bag
montbell pillow

probably granite gear virga pack (or mld zip if i can get one and it will all fit)

small isobutane canister with crux stove
0.9l or smaller ti pot
bearvault solo cannister (crammed with food)
2 1L aqua fina bottles (or 1 with a 1L platy)

minimal med kit / toiletries
perhaps geko 301 with waypoints (doing lots of off trail)
optio w30 camera
ipod nano with powermonkey pack
fenix L0d-RB80 light

puffball vest
houdini windshirt
maybe r1 flash layer
gloves and balaclava
shorts / longsleeve shirt / cap

trekking poles - rei cf ul


you'll have a great hike! it's amazingly beautiful up there...

cheers!

you really need gloves. thats an essential. wind and rain without gloves, early morning or evening-- thats no fun. lose a lot of heat and energy.

and, it seems a balaclava in summer is too much-- plus weighing in at 4 ounces... it has to be winter weight too.

i agree with the above post. you have too much extra clothing too. dont need that.

cook system seems solid.

your sleep system weighs a lot; a lighter bag and pad at some point. my buddy wont go to foam, but he has back problems. i gave up the air based sleep pads when i went light and have never gone back.

last note:

ALL WATER IN THE SIERRAS IS SUSPECT. treat it all.

but dont use that soap your packing near, in, or around it.

Edited by nevadas on 07/05/2008 23:39:01 MDT.

Thanks for all the comments. I did some tweaking and cut 2 pounds from the list. See the original post with marked edits.

Most of the savings were simple. Saved 3 oz by picking up a hat for $5 that will be much cooler than my old hat. Plan to switch cameras with my wife and save 5 oz. Simply deleted the extra shirt for 6 oz.

The 2 pair of spare socks and multiple foot care items are worth it if I need them. I did a three day trip with the family a couple weeks back and my feet were fine. Mileage was low and the trip was short; for the longer trip I think insurance is good.

I agree that the sleeping system is too heavy. I should have bought the BMW quilt here on Backpacking Light when it was on sale last week. I took a nap the other day on my Ridge Rest- it was fine for an hour on a hardwood floor but I have concerns about all night on rocky soil.

Finally, on water treatment. Other than the section from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite, I plan to generally drink untreated water.

Jim

"Finally, on water treatment. Other than the section from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite, I plan to generally drink untreated water."

I know it's your colon and your decision, but why not treat water? A little preventive care can keep you from a month or more of gastrointestinal suffering.

I agree that the sleeping system is too heavy. I should have bought the BMW quilt here on Backpacking Light when it was on sale last week. I took a nap the other day on my Ridge Rest- it was fine for an hour on a hardwood floor but I have concerns about all night on rocky soil.

Hi Jim,
I would have the same concern...for two or three days out..no problem. There are no places to find soft turf that I saw...mostly hard dirt and rock.
My boys had l bs 4 oz Therm-a-rest pads and I had my BA air pad...they would of gladly traded with me. Even those 1" pads Therm-a-Rest Pro 3 was not want you would call a great nights sleep.

Each to there own...but sometimes the extra pound makes the difference of just why you are out there to begin with.
I know I like to enjoy myself and have a good time.

Then again you could carry the extra weight in say Wild Turkey and you would not feel the hard ground at all lol :)

Gail,

Sorry the snow cut you guys short.

My wife has a 7/8" (so- called 1") Thermarest. I think it's worthless for side sleeping. To me the Ridge Rest is more comfortable.

I find 1-1/2" Thermarest marginal for side sleeping. My 1-7/8" Thermarest LE is super cozy and lets hips, knees, and shoulders nicely sink in. It is 27 ounces though.

Jim

>>Finally, on water treatment. Other than the section from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite, I plan to generally drink untreated water.<<

James - I would suggest at the very least carrying an Aquamira Frontier drinking straw. Mine weighs .6 oz. and is good for approx 20 gallons (mileage may vary). I carry it as a backup system for my Steripen, but for $10 and .6 oz. it's better than nothing.

http://www.aquamira.com/emergency/aquamira-frontier-filter/

My pack is pretty much together for my JMT hike. It didn't hit 16, according to my bathroom scale it's 17.

Note it does include a 43 ounce bear can. Theoretically I was looking at about 12 pounds not including the bear can. My comfort level got compromised though. I added my 3 pound sleeping bag, Jetboil stove, and some assorted doo-dads which upped the weight.

One interesting thing is I bought the Six Moon Designs Starlight. I was concerned that this pack, being half the volume of my Lowe Expedition, would be a tight fit. Not at all- even with the bear can my gear is swimming around. This will be good for family trips where I carry my kids' extra gear.

I want to thank everyone for providing input. I'm pretty happy with cutting my base weight from 30+ pounds down to 17. Loaded with a week's food I'll start out less than I used to end a trip with.

Jim

> I'm pretty happy with cutting my base weight from 30+ pounds down to 17.
Just as a thought: go with this, and don't try to lower it any more. Do a few trips with this weight, get used to this lighter gear, and then look again. Trying to stage a huge reduction in a single go is probably not even smart.

It probably does bear repeating (many times!): going UL does require both skill and experience. Fortunately, neither has any weight. :-)

Thanks Roger.

I like to think that my techniques are pretty good. Much of the weight has just been excess stuff, redundancy, etc.

For next year I'll look at the sleeping system. I figure with an infusion of money I can cut 3 pounds from pad and bag.