Backpack progression list

[JustOneGun]

MODS: If this is in the wrong place or there is no good place for it, obviously do with it what you will.

On another thread Hambo asked me how I got my backpack base weight down to 7 pounds. A base weight doesn't include food or water as that varies depending on where and how far you hike between resupply. When I get home tomorrow I will drag my stuff out of the garage and take a few pictures of it with a complete detailed list of what I carry now and the exact weight per the postal scale. Yes, if you want to get fast at shooting you need a timer. If you want to reduce weight, you need a postal scale.

Until then I thought I would explain the progression from 25 to 7 pound. Just like shooting a combo of gear, experience and preference is how it's done. That takes money, time and knowledge. Side note, all my lists are for three season trekking on trails. I don't bushwack, peak bag or hike through massive snow drifts.

EQUIPMENT: The weights are from memory but close. I'll weigh it tomorrow and send a few pics.

I have no connection to any companies in my life, including backpacking ones.

RayJardine.com The theory of light/ultralight backpacking was coined by Ray Jardine. He has a few books that actually break down EVERYTHING on long distance trekking. The one I read was called, "Trail Life". Warning, he is more opinionated and crazy than even I am. That's saying something too. LOL.

GossamerGear.com Backpacks I have an out of production Hyperlite in the 9 oz range.

Golite(out of business) old breeze backpack-14 oz. Have a smaller "Day" backpack that is around 12 oz.

ULA-equipment.com Heavy weight convertible backpack. Weight is from 41 oz to 25 oz with everything stripped off. This is how I use it. Use this if your a hunter or go off trail. They are bomb proof.

Zpacks.com 900 down 20 degree long sleeping bag. 19.5 oz

TarpTent.com When I use a tent I use an old, "Moment" tent made by Henry Shires. 34 oz

Stove: Homemade alcohol stove.


What do I do with all this stuff? I started hiking when I was in my teens. I think my pack was around 4 pounds empty at that time. My longest hike was the southern portion of the Pacific Crest Trail a few years ago. I walked the crest from the Mexican border in east county San Diego to the southern Sierra just south of Mt. Whitney ending in the town of Lone Pine. A total of 745 miles plus side trips to town for water and food in 40 days and 39 nights.

On that trip I used a Golite(out of business) "Breeze" backpack, Zpacks long sleeping bag and a Henry Shires "Moment" Tent.

[Hambo]

Thanks for the thread. In my younger days I never worried about pack weight because a) I could carry it b) weather where I hiked was often unpredictable and c) I was young and stupid. Now that I'm older, wiser, and not quite as tough you've got my attention.

[blues]

Thanks for the thread. In my younger days I never worried about pack weight because a) I could carry it b) weather where I hiked was often unpredictable and c) I was young and stupid. Now that I'm older, wiser, and not quite as tough you've got my attention.

Been there, done that. My pack during my 5 week NOLS expedition was incredibly heavy. (We had a lot of climbing gear.)
And the added "benefit" was that the pack they issued me had a web belt instead of a padded hip belt. Wore both hips raw within a few days. (I was 21 and hadn't been on an extended multi-week trek before so didn't own a pack large enough for all the gear.)

On that trip I dropped from 162 lbs when I left NY to 137 lbs when I got back to Lander, WY at the end of the course. And I didn't need to shed weight.

[FOG]

Just fyi, Go Lite is back in business under the name of MTC or My Trail Company.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[SLG]

Just fyi, Go Lite is back in business under the name of MTC or My Trail Company.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

Sort of. No utopia line at all. very disappointing. :-(

[JustOneGun]

Just fyi, Go Lite is back in business under the name of MTC or My Trail Company.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

Good to know. Sadly they will not be making the breeze or the day in any form that is similar to the original due to a law suit between them and ray jardine. If you want a jardine pack you will have to sew it up yourself. Jardine will sell you pattern if you like.

[blues]

What are you wearing footwear wise?

[JustOneGun]

What are you wearing footwear wise?

People with duck feet like me wear New Balance running shoes. Try to keep them under 12 oz each shoe for a size 11.5EE

I went through two pair in 745 miles on the pct.

[blues]

People with duck feet like me wear New Balance running shoes. Try to keep them under 12 oz each shoe for a size 11.5EE

I went through two pair in 745 miles on the pct.

I have a variety of foot issues...Morton's toe, over pronation, flattish feet...none of which bothered me as a kid but started to in young adulthood with more and more climbing, backpacking, running and lifting.

I haven't had New Balance running shoes in some years but when I was backpacking and climbing in the Wrangells I had an old (heavy) pair of Raichle's that began to kill me. When we came out near Chitina we drove down to Valdez and I picked up a lightweight pair of New Balance hiking boots that were a revelation. They were so light, supportive and forgiving that the rest of my time up there I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.
The only problem was that they weren't particularly durable.

Not as light as your shoes but the shoes I have found work well for me the past couple of years are the Ahnu "Ridgecrest" (18 oz / size 11) and the Oboz "Bridger". The combination of built in arch support and stability in both pairs of shoes have been a godsend for me. It almost seems counterintuitive that they combine arch support and cushioning so well.

Thanks for the quick reply. I always enjoy hearing about and learning from the gear and footwear choices of others.

[JustOneGun]

I have a variety of foot issues...Morton's toe, over pronation, flattish feet...none of which bothered me as a kid but started to in young adulthood with more and more climbing, backpacking, running and lifting.

I haven't had New Balance running shoes in some years but when I was backpacking and climbing in the Wrangells I had an old (heavy) pair of Raichle's that began to kill me. When we came out near Chitina we drove down to Valdez and I picked up a lightweight pair of New Balance hiking boots that were a revelation. They were so light, supportive and forgiving that the rest of my time up there I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.
The only problem was that they weren't particularly durable.

Not as light as your shoes but the shoes I have found work well for me the past couple of years are the Ahnu "Ridgecrest" (18 oz / size 11) and the Oboz "Bridger". The combination of built in arch support and stability in both pairs of shoes have been a godsend for me. It almost seems counterintuitive that they combine arch support and cushioning so well.

Thanks for the quick reply. I always enjoy hearing about and learning from the gear and footwear choices of others.

Carrying a light load on a multi day journey has quite a positive cascading effect for me. If one is around 7 to 8 pounds of weight and adds food for 4-5 trip and then adds a gallon of water during a dry stretch that max weight ends up being around 23-24 pounds until the water is consumed. My heaviest weight with water, food and gear for a six day journey is 30 pounds. Of course by the end of the six days I was down to 7-8 pounds again.

With less weight the perceived need for boots diminishes. I went from boots as a kid to fabric high tops to trail runners and now I haven't hiked in anything but running shoes for over a decade. I have a high arch and use green Superfeet insoles. They have different colors depending on your type of foot. Others hate using anything but a flat insole. There are a lot of options. I just buy what's on sale from last years stock. I sometimes get trail runners. I usually spend $60 for my shoes and buy two pair. One for training and one for the trip.

I frequently hike 20+ mile days during my trips. Even as a young 20 something skinny gazelle like kid I was not able to do that without pain or bitching beyond belief. What shoes you wear often depends on the weight you're carrying.