Ok, so I have been busy getting myself fitted out over the last year and have probably bought too much gear. I now think I have a kit that I am comfortable with for my novice skill set.

FYI, the Japan Alps can be rugged and mostly consists of narrow, somewhat maintained short trails supported by a developed hutte network including lodging, water, toilets and hot food. You can almost count on a hut always within 2-4hrs hiking distance but they are expensive to use, ~$100/night.

In Summer, heat and humidity can be unbearable but things start to cool off above 600m or so altitude. And we have lots of rain from summer typhoons. Hopefully, careful planning will let me avoid the inclement weather. Of course, in the high mountains anything is possible.

I am looking to do a few 3day/2night hikes, mainly from mid-July thru early September. Expected temp range is 5°C-30°C with altitude gains of 300-3000m.

A concern is my ~6.5kg base weight is getting close to the capacity for my backpacks, especially if I want to add nights or go out in the shoulder seasons and have to add more food and insulation. I'd like to drop another 1kg off the base weight so I need to cut more but not sure where. Everything thing on the list now I feel I "need"! I think because I am 187cm tall and ~103kg I am having a harder time going lighter without compromising comfort/safety.

Any advise on my list below is appreciated. Category total is followed by item detail. All weights are in grams.

Clothing Worn: 1192g
Shirt The North Face Velocitee Crew Short Sleeve 112
Pants/Shorts Salomon Trail Pro Shorts 148
Socks SmartWool PHD Outdoor Light Mini Socks 70
Hat OR Sombriolet Sun Hat/Gortex Coastal Sobrero 88
Shoes/Boots Inov-8 Roclite 370 698
Watch Casio Protrek 2000 Comp/Alt/Baro 76

Other Items Worn/Carried: 614g
Trekking Poles Soletrek Carbon/Duralumin Anti-shock (2) 135cm 392
Gloves Paine Sun Gloves 43
Multi Towel MSR Packtowel Ultralight S w/sack 19
Map/guidebook Japan Yama Kogen Photocopy 26
Sunglasses Swan Cynium Polarized w/case & lowlight lenses 134

Extra Clothing: 606g
Rain Jacket Montbell Storm Crusier Gortex XL w/sack 346
Windbreaker C.A.M.P. Magic Anorak XL 98
Windpant Montbell Dynamo XL w/sack 90
Spare Socks SmartWool PHD Outdoor Light Crew Socks 72

Packing: 1234g
Backpack Osprey Exos 49L 1130
Pack Liner Sea to Summit Ultra-sil Pack Liner S 84
Essentials Sack Sea to Summit Ultra-sil Dry Sack XS 20

Sleep System: 1473g
Sleeping Bag Montbell U.L. Super Spiral Down Hugger #5 Long L/zip 500
Sleeping Pad Thermarest NeoAir Large w/sack 519
Sleeping Bag Liner/Cover Coolmax Liner w/insect shield and sack 271
Pillow Montbell U.L. Comfort System Pillow 70
Sit/Knee Pad Montbell Extension Pad 30 70
DrySack Big Agnes Pumphouse 43

Shelter: 1225g
Tarp/Fly Tarptent Rainbow v2010 742
Inner Breathable Liner option 118
Support Poles Duralumin (1) 215
Stakes Stakes (6+4) w/sack 100
Guy Line 3m (4) 32
Stuff Sack Sack 18

Kitchen & Hydration: 814g
Water Storage Nalgene Encapsul Big Bore, 2L Reservoir 160
Water Carrier Nalgene Wide-Mouth GLOW bottle 1L 185
Stove Monatauk Gnat Ti 48
Lighter Butane Lighter 22
Windscreen/Heatshield Aluminumized homemade 5
Cozy/Food Bag Aluminumized nylon 100
Cup Snowpeak Ti Mug MG-002 34
Pot Set 2p Snowpeak Trek900 Ti w/mesh bag SCS-008T 169
Spoon Snowpeak Ti Spoon SCT-004 16
Bowl Snowpeak Ti Bowl STW-003T 53
Trash Bag & Paper Towel 2 plastic bag + 8 pieces of shop towel 22

Essentials: 470g
Whistle Included w/pack 0
Toilet Paper Generic w/wet wipes 55
Light Zebralight H31w LED Headlight w/CR123A 73
Hygiene Kit 153
First Aid/Repair kit 93
Backup Fire Source Matches (waterproof) x15 1
Insect Protection Natrapel spray 42
Medicine 9 Ibuprofin + 4 Melatonin w/case 11
Knife Leatherman Style CS 42

Consumables: 3971g
Food (3 days) 2328
Stove Fuel Snowpeak 110 Canister 143
Water Water – 1.5 liter 1500

Total Base Weight: 6436g
Total Weight of Consumables: 3971g
Total Carried Pack Weight: 10407g
Total Skin Out Weight: 11599g

You dont really need your bowl, mug and pot set. I would just go with the 900ml pot.

I have similar weight pack and tent and am just having to switch those out because could save a lot of weight here. Could shave that kilo between those two things easy.

To your list you might want to add a radiation dosimeter and a lead apron.

--B.G.--

You could save 87 grams by deleting the mug and bowl. I use a set like the Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo with paper coffee cup. Your tent setup could be changed to something that uses your trekking poles. I use a Tarptent Sublite 567gr or MLD solomid 453gr helps keep my load lighter. Your pack is a bit heavy but if it works and is comfortable use it.