I’m looking for suggestions in keeping packweight down. I did the Long Trail last summer and had a total pack weight of about 30lbs.
This summer I’m planning on the JMT, the additions of tent (split with hiking partner), bear canister and warmer clothes is adding up.
I see that some people have kept their base weight down to about 12lbs, and I’m curious to know what’s in their pack!
Tumblina
i would suggest looking at some peoples list on their journals. one good site is mags. he list everything he carries and he is light. he has his own site. what is it??? mags? i am sure you can find it.
dirty bird
tumblina–what time of year are you going? not sure if you mentioned already on another post. do you have a gear list you could send with everything you are taking.
one easy idea would be to ditch the tent. i took a tarp last year on the jmt. of 16 nights on the trail i only pitched the tarp 4 times. all other nights were spent directly under the stars. out of the four times i pitched it, only once did i really need it. it rained the first day out of the valley and was raining when we got to long meadow. that saved me almost 2.5 pounds over my msr hubba.
jerm
the tent I have is the msr trekker, cross between tarp and tent. I’m hitting the trail in early July. I’ve only been in the Sierras in the fall, when I was able to sleep under the stars every night - but this time am worried about rain. Also, last year on the LT the bugs were what kept me up at night, so I want the mesh.
Off the top of my head my gear is…
msr miniworks
nalgene
Marmot down 25 degree bag
light blue (brand???) closed cell sleeping pad
headlamp (BD ion)
titanium pot & mug & spork
soda can stove and fuel
marmot precip rain jacket
2 pr. extra socks
long pants (something lightweight and synthetic)
fleece shirt
capilene long underwear for sleeping
crocs for camp
journal
harrison maps
small knife
toiletries - dr. bronners, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb
first aid- vitamin I, spyroflex, etc.
raincover
1/2 msr trekker tent
wool hat
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head, seems like I’m forgetting something…
Tumblina
How heavy is your pack. My ULA P-2 weighs 2.5 pounds. I’ve seen many people with 4 to 6 pound packs. Also, use a hydration system rather than nalgene bottles–you’ll save another pound there. Ditch the second pair of extra socks. Ditch the sleeping clothes. Use a trash compactor bag as a pack liner and ditch the raincover. Use frogg toggs for rain gear (weighs 11 oz tops and bottoms). Consider investing in a light weight sleeping bag (mine weighs 1 pound 14 oz., 20 degrees). Enjoy!
Rainbow
i’d ditch the filter on the jmt and go with aqua mira. water is so plentiful in the sierra’s you never have to worry about a dried up source of water. in fact i hardly ever carried more than a liter of water at a time. don’t know if you use nalgenes or not, but go with some type of aquafina bottle.
ditch the mug. what kind of pack you got. a lot of weight can be saved there. like rainbow, i have a ula, but a p-1–only 24oz.
everything else looks pretty light. i don’t use the stuff sack for my sleeping bag, it just goes in the bottom of my trash compactor bag. it packs better that way too.
jerm
Hey Tumbalina,
I’m planning a late June/early July start as well. I did part of the trail last September and it was unusually cold. I’m not sure what to expect in July but I’m definitely not skimping on the warm clothes this time around. I think I ended up bringing way too much ood last time too. I’m going to try to fit all of my food except my first daysldinner, in my bear cannister. I lost some of my “excess” food to bears last time. I had a small amount that I hung in a bear bag…Gone! I’ll probably do the stealth camping thing this time around (cooking my meals acouple of miles before striking camp).
jalan
You can save a lot of weight in the pack but don’t go with something that is uncomfortable just to save weight. A uncomfortable pack can make even a light load feel miserable. You are better going with a slightly heavier pack and being comfortable.
That being said, here are some suggestions:
A tarp and light bivy combo works well. I used the BMW Vapor Bivy on the JMT last summer. It weights 6.5 oz and gives full bug protections. I tend to hike sunrise to sunset and the bugs tend to chill out at night so I would not tent or tarptent. Also, with the bivy, you have the option of not pitching the tarp and still having bug protection.
Definetly ditch the filter and go to AM or Klearwater
Go the Frog Toggs or DriDucks, etc. I don’t like the pants but the jacket is good. For pants you could get the GoLite Reed at 4oz.
Don’t bring any extra clothing aside from socks. You can wash as you go.
Realy give a close look at your emergency, repair, and first aid. Get rid of what you never use or don’t need.
Buy this book:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lighten_up_book.html
Bob
Thanks for all the feedback! Lightening my pack will be a slow process, I’m trying to balance what I can do without (extra clothes) with what I can’t live without (water filter, have tried other treatments and don’t like the taste). A couple of people have mentioned rain pants - how important are they? Typically when it rains I just throw on a jacket and let my legs get wet. Is it cold enough to warrent the pants?
tumblina
I always bring lightweight rain pants with me. I almost never use them while hiking, but on cold, windy nights they really help, even if it isn’t raining. Weather can range from warm sunny days to hail, sleet and snow (yes, even in the middle of the summer), and temperatures can drop below freezing even when the weather is great so I like having the extra protection.
As far as water treatment goes, have you tried Aqua Mira? I hate the taste of most treatments, but Aqua Mira doesn’t bother me at all. Worth a try if you haven’t already tried it.
As for clothes, I don’t bring extras except for an extra pair of socks. For long pants, I just use my long underwear. I usually bring a silkweight or lightweight pair (lighter than regular pants) and a heavier Powerstretch or expedition weight pair for warmth at night. Also, I didn’t notice a jacket other than your Precip. Unless you are going to hop directly into your bag after you stop hiking, I would plan on bringing a light fleece or down jacket that you can layer under your fleece.
Kanga