2 round list on page 2

Edited by QNelson on 04/29/2010 16:04:03 MDT.

I would consider dropping the flashlight, knife, and packtowel. I would definitely nix the flashlight if you are carrying a BD Spot as well. Why the redundancy with the lighting? My view on the knife for such a short trip is that you won't need it and it has the potential to do more harm than good. As for the packtowel it just seems uneccessary since you are carrying a bandanna. Your rain jacket seems kind of heavy at one pound. Then again it is springtime and rain protection might be a bad area to try to be a weight miser. As for your insulation clothing I would be sure to carry a beanie hat and go with the powerstretch top. The down jacket might be a good option but you didn't list a weight for it. Is it more of a down sweater or is it really a down jacket? If it is a lighter down sweater type garment I would probably go with it instead of the powerstretch. I hope this helps. Have fun on the trip.

Edited by frankenfeet on 04/11/2010 08:01:20 MDT.

Your sleeping bag would be the easiest thing to cut weight off that list. You could cut 1/2 a lb by switching and I agree totally with dumping the flashlight if you have a headlamp.

- You could switch to a torso length pad and save 5oz or so.

- You could switch out your Moment and go with a tarp/bivy and save around 13oz.

- Not sure on the type of cooking you do, but a 1L pot seems like a lot of pot for solo use. You could easily go smaller and lighter.

- Stove, if you are just boiling water then look at an alcohol stove. A Fancy Feast stove weighs 0.3oz, which would save you 2.3oz.

- Nix the hose from your platy and save some weight. You could get a standard 2L Platy which would weigh 1.3oz. Save 4.2oz

- Rainjacket at 1Lb is also heavy.

- Do you really need three pair of socks?

- BM 530 is heavu at 1.8. Could you get by with a razor blade? Save yourself 1.5oz.

- Ipod is easily nixed

- Flashlight is easily nixed. Go with just your spot, it is more useful.

- Nix the trowel. Firstly is snow expected and secondly, if it is, then just use a rock or stick. Save 1oz.

- Nix the pack towel. Use your bandana. Save 1.8oz.

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I don't see much insulation in your list: down or fleece vest/jacket, hat or gloves-- you may need them in the evening and morning.

Some feedback...
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- NIX ----- NeoAir StuffSack 0.5

- NIX ----- REI Travel Down Stuff Sack 0.5

- EXCHANGE ----- Tarptent Moment 28.5 - Is it bug season in may? Use a tarp. Easy! And, you have a bug head-net, easy to sleep with if it's buggy. Save approx. 18 oz!


- EXCHANGE ----- Platypus 2 liter Big Zip w/ Hose 5.5 Why so much water capacity in May in the south? THere should be water EVERYWHERE. No need to carry it on your back. And, no need for the hose, you'll be fine with just a bottle.

- EXCHANGE ----- Fuel Canister 7.0 and Soto OD-1R Micro Regulator Stove 2.6, Exchange for a simple alcohol or esbit stove. Those canisters are heavy, even after they are empty.

- NIX ----- Synthetic underwear 1.5 - Is this an item you carry with you?

- EXCHANGE ----- Benchmade 530 Pardue Axis 1.8 - no need for a "real" knife, a single edge razor in a cardboard sheath will do fine, weighing 0.1 oz.

- NIX ----- Ipod Nano/Headphones 2.0

- NIX ----- Gerber Infinity Flashlight 2, you already have the Black Diamond Spot, no need for redundancy.

- NIX ----- Wet Wipes 3.0 - You have Soap & Purell, no need for redundancy.

- NIX -----Snow-stake Trowel 1.0 - Use a stick to dig. Easy.

- NIX -----MSR Pack towel Large 01.8 You already have a bandana, no need for redundancy.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. So heres kind of what Im thinking based on the above suggestions

Things cutting out
- Pack Towl
-Snow Stake
-extra pair of underwear
-wetwipes
-Ipod/headphones
-Sleepingbag stuff sack
-one of the pairs of socks
-the BM knife
-Gerber flashlight

I'm going to stay with the TT Moment mainly because I will have a dog along with me for the trip and I really need some way to keep him contained at night while I'm asleep which unfortunetly is something I can't do in a tarp. I'd like to keep one pair of extra socks just so I can have a pair on while I dry/wash the others but your right 3 is probly to many. I don't really have any other rain jacket other then the eVent on and it is heavy so i'll ask around and see if I can bum a jacket from a friend. I think my Dad actually has a Mountain Hardwear Cohesion which is aroun 11oz.

Now some questions. Is it worth ditching the Neo Air stuff sack? My worry is that thing is so fragile and I really dont want to worry about poking a hole in it when I stuff my pack. How much weight am I really going to cut from my sleeping bag? I dont really want to drop another 200$ to save 8oz to bring it down to 1lb. What size water containers are you guys suggesting? Just a 1L platy? As far as the stove goes I actually asked about the benifits of a canister stove vs a alcohol stove in an earlier post and was told to check out a spread sheet that showed that after 15 days weight between the two is about the same. If thats true then I'd rather go for the canister stove because its easier but if thats not true I have no problem going with an alcohol stove. Perhaps something like the Caldera system?
The 1L pot is a litle on the big side and I will mostly being boiling water for oatmeal and freezedried meals so I might just got with a henni pot.As far as insulation I can bring a beanie no problem, as for insulation I have a couple things to choose from. A REI Polartec Powerstretch sweater, an Arcteryx Polartec Polarguard sweater, an Mountain Hardwear Nitrous 800 fill jacket, and a light weight New balance running jacket that turns into a vest. Ill try to post links to those items when I get off of work tonight.

Thanks for the help guys keep it coming.

Does your dog carry a backpack? If not, it should. No reason that you should have to cart around its food, gear, and water as well as your own!

Add a tie-out to that backpack, and your tarptent problem is solved. Just tie the tie-out to the same tree your tarp is tied to and you're good to go. A leash is also nearly as good. You'd be surprised how easy it is to hold on to one while sleeping at night. If your dog wakes up at a sound, you'll wake up before it takes off after it and be able to hold on the leash. I've never had an issue with that. Still, a tie-out offers more piece of mind.

Yup hes fully outfitted with pack, shoes,cut down pad, and rain coat although it should be warm enough he won't need the rain coat. I'm thinking that if the weather warrants me bringing my down jacket he could probably use that as a make shift blanket if need be. Im also considering ditching the boots for him but I'm not really keen on the idea of us getting a couple of days out there and having him hurt his foot or something dumb and having to call the trip.

Why is it that the dog doesn't look very happy?

--B.G.--

I've heard that dog boots can cause problems because they allow grit inside, etc. I don't worry about bringing them, though, because my dog's pads are nice and tough from regular hiking and trail running. He's done some pretty big mileage days with me with zero issues.

Bob: Ha I noticed that too but my dog loves his.


Nate: Ya I think I may just leave them at home.

I can imagine that it would be nice for a guy to take his dog along on a long backpack trip. However, what does the dog like? Does the dog get a chance to chase squirrels and stuff that he couldn't do at home?

In some of the national parks, there are no dogs allowed in the backcountry, so you will have to get by with the AT or similar dog-friendly trails.

--B.G.--

So to add to this any thoughts on the bag situation. Do you think that Im going overkill with the GoLite Quest? Maybe the Deuter ACT Zero?

I carry what my dog needs, all I ask is that she keep up with the pace and the miles that the trip demands. My dog, a female border collie, is tough, strong and smart. She is in her element and happiest when on the trail.

Thom, my dog is a male border collie / bull terrier mix. He LOVES his pack. What I've heard is that it gives them a "job" to do and therefore some mental stimulation. It also weighs him down a bit so he's slightly more on pace with me as far as energy levels go.

I'm sorry, I know we're getting off topic here, but it may not be a bad idea to start a dog thread elsewhere. It's my opinion that there's not nearly enough good information out there for backpacking with dogs. I also think some lighter dog gear would fill an important gap in the ultralight community.

Dogs like hiking basically for the same reason humans do....it is fun.

One thing to keep in mind. The dog pads could be hit/miss in my opinion. On a lot of the AT it is a rather smooth trip with soft dirt trails. On those sections I dont see a need for dog boots. However when you start to hit Maryland and PA you start to hit rocks. Those can tear up dog pads just like they can a pair of boots.

Its ok, I too feel that theres not enough good info or gear out there for our four legged friends. I was actually surprised when I joined this forum that there was no dog hiking section. I assumed it was because there is a section of people out there who do not agree with dogs on the trail. WhiteBlaze.net has a full section but I prefer to steer clear of that forum if I can.

hehe, some parts of this list look very familiar! Have you thought about running esbit instead of alcohol or canister? You could save a lot of weight there (no need for the canister, the stove, the heavy liquid alc etc). Also, nixing the stuff sack shouldn't really be a problem so long as you keep all your tools/sharp things packed seperately. But then again its only .5 oz saved...your call. You're going to want to carry some repair tape/kit for the neo air anyways, so take that into consideration.

btw, I've updated my thread to show it all packed up, per your request. Good luck!

Edited by Konrad1013 on 04/12/2010 23:27:34 MDT.

I don't hike with my dog for various reasons. I did get some of the ruff wear boots because of the summer heat and we go for a walk at least twice a day when I am at home. He hates them. And no matter what I do, I cannot keep them secure on his paws. Do some research on the Web regarding boots. Also, coyotes and wolves don't wear boots.

Lol, as they say konrad imitation is highest form of flattery! That and I'm incredible lazy and most of that stuff was very close to my own :)