As to not clutter this tread http://www.backpacking.net/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=181857&page=1 I thought it would be interesting to discuss backpacking with minimal amount of gear, Duane brought up that there are organized trips where people can only take 11 items. Do any of you have experience with these trips? If so what did you bring? If not what would you bring? At the very least it will be fun to speculate.
If I was forced to pick it would be: 1 backpack 2 quilt 3 sleeping pad 4 poncho tarp 5 trekking pole 6 headlamp 7 water bottle 8 water filter/aqua mira 9 lighter 10 Metal cup 11 spoon
Man that's tough. I know I'm missing something obvious!
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The wind wont howl if the wind don't break.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Tyson, I didn't get a helpful reply from the trip organizer of the trip I mentioned. Stove, bear bag, ground cloth or sleep with the food, or eat cold meals for a night or two. Doable. Pack weight around 6 lbs. in nice weather in the summer. I need to pack my summer stuff in a box, measure it and see if I could get a UL pack for a weekend trip. ZPacks Zero under 8 oz., give or take a little on how many pockets etc. that are added back. Duane
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
They also jokingly mentioned cargo pants. Just personal items, food not included in the count. This was for a 25 mile, two days, one night trip. Not much sacrifice, but gets you thinking, what do you really need? Duane
Assuming: I would be starting out with 1 layer of warm weather clothing not including rain gear. Food not needing to be cooked. Not hiking in Brown bear country.
1 Water filter 2 Water bottle 3 Tent = Fly Creek 2 4 Fly 5 Pole 6 Sleeping bag 7 One extra top layer or lighter (not sure) 8 Rain jacket 9 Map 10 Compass 11 Backpack
Assuming the map and compass were considered a group safety item and I could add back in a couple items they would be.
1 Lighter or extra top layer 2 Headlight
Hmm. Not so easy but I think that would do it for me.
Edit = So much would depend on where we were going.
For one night (as described above) I could go without. My concerns are keeping hydrated, dry and warm. After that its just putting up with a little discomfort for a while.
Hiking with some of you long haul trekkers would have me so tired I wouldn't notice a little thing like a sleeping pad anyway.
jimmyb
Edit = if there wasn't a weight limit for the 11 items I would probably swap out the lighter or headlight for a mat. otherwise I probably wouldn't make the 6lbs.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Well, I need more stuff. 1. Pack-Zero with mesh frt pocket, shldr pouch 5.8 oz. 2. ZPacks Hexamid tent w/pole, stakes 13 oz. 3. EE 30F quilt 16.5oz. 4. GC 3 oz. 5. NeoAir small 9 oz. 6. Water filter-Sawyer mini 2.5oz. 7. Water bladders 5oz. ? 8. MT Down liner jacket 8 oz. 9. Sony camera 8 oz. 10 TP 2 oz. 11 Whistle .2oz. Total 73oz=4lbs.9oz. space for stove, pot, fuel and be under 6 lbs
Ooooh! If tent, pole and possibly fly come under one item that leaves me one or two more items assuming the 6lbs is out.
Technically though IMO the tent fly and pole or poles and each stake should all be individual items. Makes it a bit tougher. Something internal like batteries I would give a pass on.
Ok I was forced to get out my digital scale and weigh my list.
Pack-GG Kumo 13.4 oz EE quilt 15 oz Nemo pad 13.6 oz Go lite poncho tarp with guy lines 8.7 oz MYOG trekking pole/ tarp pole 3.1 oz Zebra light headlamp 3 oz Platypus bladder with filter hook up 3.4 oz Sawyer squeeze with bladder adapter and dirty water container 4.1oz Ti cup 2.5 oz Ti folding spoon .6 67.4 oz - 4.2125 lbs I could use my much more comfortable Exped mat and still make the 6 lbs. That would be 73.8 oz or 4.6125 lbs So technically I could get away with a more robust shelter too. Or my WM down jacket.
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The wind wont howl if the wind don't break.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Sticks for stakes, like I used Saturday night to guy up a tarp over my water resistant tent. Camera, there goes the event documentation. Who's making the rules around here? Duane
Ooooh! If tent, pole and possibly fly come under one item that leaves me one or two more items assuming the 6lbs is out.
Technically though IMO the tent fly and pole or poles and each stake should all be individual items. Makes it a bit tougher. Something internal like batteries I would give a pass on.
jimmyb
I'm not sure if a tent counts as one or each item! I guess it would have to otherwise you could say a cook set up is one item, stove, fuel, pot, or sleep system like bag, pad, ground cover. Good question.
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The wind wont howl if the wind don't break.
Sticks for stakes, like I used Saturday night to guy up a tarp over my water resistant tent. Camera, there goes the event documentation. Who's making the rules around here? Duane
I thought you were!
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The wind wont howl if the wind don't break.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
OK, rule modification. You are allowed to count the shelter as one, includes pole, stakes, fly. I wish I knew what the other group did to keep from making changes and complicating things. I can only count to 21 with my shoes off. Duane
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
jimmy, this gets you to thinking and see what gear is out there. Not cheap, but if you have sewing skills, many items can be made lighter than what can be bought ready-made and much cheaper. Surprising how cheap good down costs. Duane
jimmy, this gets you to thinking and see what gear is out there. Not cheap, but if you have sewing skills, many items can be made lighter than what can be bought ready-made and much cheaper. Surprising how cheap good down costs. Duane
I guess that's why I'm looking at a $650 1 lb tent/pyramid shelter thingy.
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The wind wont howl if the wind don't break.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Not 100% sure I'll go with another Hexamid tent, at the moment it seems like the lightest option. If I went to a pound, I may get more wind protection in something. I could use my S-S bug net with pole and shave another 7 oz. off the gear weight. Duane
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