I’m a future hiker whos worried about weight. Keep in mind I don’t have the money to be spending on expensive lite weight items. At the time of purchase, thought I was doing good BUT…with just three items seems like the weight has added up. Pack-5lbs 15oz, Tent-5lbs 3oz, sleeping-5lbs 4oz. Over 15lbs! Do you think this is too much weight for just three items? Or is this average normal weight for these items?
Palmetto Tar
Yup… you identified the big three for weight. IMHO… pack of 5 lb 15 ounces isn’t to bad. There’s lighter for sure but there’s also heavier. Tent of 5 lb 3 ounces is WAY to heavy. You can easily save a couple of pounds here. Same with sleeping bag. A 5 lb 4 ounce bag is WAY heavy. Easy to save 2 pounds here by simply getting a good down bag.
Moose
Hey Palmetto… By today’s standards, my pack weight was very high, - average of 40-45 pounds, once I got rid of excess at Neel’s Gap ( I began with 53 pounds). My body weight was about 145 and dropped by 5-8 pounds over the whole trail. My tent weighed the same as yours, bag was less but pack was more. While it is great to go with less weight if you can do it, I had no problems lugging my pack. As you hike along, you will decide about the worth of somethings you bring along (book, radio, etc). I will say this, too- I loved my roomy, if weighty-for-one-person tent! I would never go without it, as it provided huge relief from bugs at night and the freedom to stay almost anywhere I wanted. It’s great to have company at shelters, but staying in your tent near one gives you a great night’s sleep free from snoring, mice, etc., and yet the benefits of company at the shelter.
Everyone is different and able to handle different loads, so try going out for a couple of overnighters with your full pack and see how you do. You won’t make the “big” miles as those with 20 pounds of weight, but you’ll have to decide if that is the kind of of trip you want or not… I hiked the AT comfortably in just under 5 months. It was the highlight of my life.
Lucky Laura
Well the thing is I already spent money on these items and really don’t have a choice to return them. I could go with out the tent, but don’t think i will. Do you have any other helpful hints to keep the weight of my pack down?
Palmetto Tar
If you have already bought the pack, bag, and tent, there are only small things you can do to save weight. The more you do the less comfortable you become though. The best you can do is to try to bring stuff you’ll get a few uses out of. Why carry gloves if you can throw a pair of socks on your hands? Why carry hiking pants if you have rain pants? Why carry a parka if you have a sleeping bag?
You can save some weight by choosing a foam sleeping pad as opposed to an inflatable kind.
You’ll only need a one liter pot if you decide to cook at all.
Make yourself an Alcohol Stove
Don’t carry Nalgene bottles, they are heavier than empty soda bottles.
Really into it people cut off excess straps, handles that you don’t need.
Just some ideas
Grimace
ME->GA '01
Grimace
Can you set up the fly from the tent, with out the tent. I have one I sometimes use when there are no bugs. In the rain it works as good as the tent if I pitch it were water dosen’t flow across the floor. Then you can leave the tent itself home.
Blue Jay
Send me an address and I’ll send you a stove. They’re easy to make, otherwise. If you’re interested in going that route, I can e-mail some pointers.
Flat trails and fair skies
Jim2
Don’t buy the First Aid kits you find in stores. Just assemble the basics at home. Your first aid kit should fit in your hand. Duct tape and triple ointment was the only thing we used (other than Vitamin I) on our thru hike. No bowls, one spoon, fork, kitchen knife, cups, spatula, multi-tools. Use chemicals for water purification. Carry tooth powder instead of tooth paste. You can make your own out of baking soda, salt and some peppermint for taste. A quarter of an ounce will last months. No comb, no razor, use the same soap for you clothes, dishes and bathing. We carried no towel or wash cloth, just two bandanas (They lasted the entire trip.) Just leave all the junk at home. You walk, sleep, eat, drink, and plan the next day. There is not a lot of time for extra.
Papa Smurf