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Crasher
αἱρετίζω




Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 6,220
Loc: Tardy to the Party
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Base loads
#9499899 - 12/26/08 10:53 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've been cruising several sites and forums trying to configure an ultralight 3-season pack. The ultralight thread here was a good find, but I'd like to get more feedback.
My Big Three (pack, shelter, bedding) looks like:
Gregory Z55: 3lbs 8oz. Hennessey expedition: 2lbs 12oz Army synth sleeping bag: 3lbs (estimate)
9lbs 4 oz total.
I'm still working on the rest.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
Edited by Crasher (12/27/08 02:39 AM)
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Base loads [Re: Crasher]
#9500692 - 12/27/08 02:32 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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My Big Three is 8lbs 8oz:
Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian - 3lbs 8oz Hennessy Explorer Ultralight - 2lbs 9oz REI 15 degree down bag - 2lbs 7oz (If I add an underquilt that will add 26 oz)
With lightweight alcohol stove: 1.5 oz (I use a penny stove) Usually carry about 12 oz of alcohol. MSR sweetwater filter (because I refuse to use iodine) - 10oz Titanium Pot and cookware - 8.9 oz
Haven't weight the rest of my stuff, but I do believe I have my base load easily under 20 lbs.
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Crasher
αἱρετίζω




Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 6,220
Loc: Tardy to the Party
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I got a Katadyn Vario weighing in at 18 oz.
I don't know where to start on chow/mess because I've grown accustomed to MRE's. I reckon I'll have to look at stoves next, if nothing more than for boiling water as a backup for the filter.
I've had my share of iodine water, I'd like to avoid that route as well.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Base loads [Re: Crasher]
#9500818 - 12/27/08 03:05 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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That Vario looks pretty sick.
I'd highly recommend you build or buy a can or penny alcohol stove. The things weigh practically nothing and they will boil water just as fast as any $150 'backpacking' stove, if not faster. Not to mention they are super fuel-efficient. I wasn't sold on them at first. I used to lug around a whisperlite international, and with the stove and full canister, it weighed around 2 lbs, not even counting the bulk it used. I thought I 'needed' it due to being able to adjust the simmer and whatnot, but after trying a lightweight alcohol stove I was sold. Let's be honest, you're never cooking gourmet dishes on the trail.. and I've found my alcohol stove can cook anything just as well as my fancy whisperlite could.
As for food, well it varies from trip to trip, but I try and pack the lightest as possible without sacrificing nutrients/calories/protein etc. I aim for super nutrient-packed/high calorie foods. Staples I like to carry is peanut butter, cheese, tuna in the foil pouches, pita bread, GORP, chocolate, jerky, and pasta/rice of some kind, as well as dehydrated fruits.
If you have a dehydrator, you can make some bomb ass meals on the trail. What I'll do, is throw a bunch of nutrient-rich vegetables in the dehydrator.. stuff like carrots, seaweed, beans, mushrooms, onions.. whatever. Throw some spices in there, and section it up into little ziplock bags. Once you're on the trail, just dump that into some boiling water and blammo - instant super healthy soup. Throw in some rice or tuna or whatever. Dehydrated fruits and veggies is key. Gotta get those nutrients on the trail. But I usually have vitamin C tablets too, because C isn't stable to heat, light and air.. so dehydrated fruits lose most of their vitamin C content.
But that should probably be in another thread.. as food and water doesn't account for the base load
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 8 days, 32 minutes
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Re: Base loads [Re: Crasher]
#9501395 - 12/27/08 09:21 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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My pack is around 6 lbs. My bag and tent are each over 4. So before I add anything else. I'm already around 15 lbs. I rarely get out the door, even for overnighters, with less then 25 lbs. And if I'm doing an extended trip in areas where it can get cold I can easily push upwards of 50.
I will never get my gear down to a lightweight (let alone ultra-lightweight) hikers standards. But then again, most guys I've met who try to go light usually don't hike anything like me either. They seem to attack the trail as if it were a forced march or a race. Often times when I've met them on the trail they like to brag about how many miles per day they do. But me, my style of hiking probably looks more similar to a foraging squirrel. I wander back and forth, take my time, and stop at anything that catches my attention. And if I only get in 5 miles in a day I'm fine with that, as long as I had a fantastic day!
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Yeah, hike how you want to hike. Most of the people that are all crazy about ultra-lightweight are the ones thru-hiking or planning to thru-hike the AT or PCT, cause every ounce counts when you are pushing 2000+ miles in 4-6 months. As for me, I don't plan on thru-hiking anytime soon... I'm just a pussy and can't stand hiking with ~60-70 lbs on my back 
There's a famous lightweight hiker saying... "The more I carry, the more I enjoy camping. The less I carry.. the more I enjoy hiking. So with that are you camping or hiking?" So don't let anyone tell you how to hike, it is for personal enjoyment after all.
However, if you do start looking at replacing gear sometime in the future.. the lightweight option is one I would recommend. With the advances in metallurgy and materials over the years, you can get very lightweight stuff without sacrificing quality or comfort. If you can shave 5 or 6 lbs off your big three without compromising any quality, why not? Your back and knees will thank you for it
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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Quote:
I wander back and forth, take my time, and stop at anything that catches my attention. And if I only get in 5 miles in a day I'm fine with that, as long as I had a fantastic day!
My kind of hiking! It would probably drive my grandkids nuts though. . . 
I'm trying to figure out how much load my dog can carry.  RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Khrushchev
Stranger


Registered: 03/31/11
Posts: 158
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: Base loads [Re: Crasher]
#17041235 - 10/16/12 10:58 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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MEC Ibex 80L Pack 6.4lbs
US Military Modular Sleep System (2 parts: Intermediate bag & Goretex Bivy) 5.5lbs
Integral Tactical Nylon Tarp (8x10) 1.3lbs
Big Knife 1.4lbs
Edit: I didn't notice this was three years old!
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Edited by Khrushchev (10/16/12 11:23 AM)
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