Hello Forum

SQWIB here, that's my online name of course,

I am going to make this post a 2 for 1,
An introduction post and question.

A little about me, I have been an outdoors person my whole life and enjoy being outdoors.
I am usually accompanied by friends, but have been trying Solo Camping and really loved it, gives me time to reflect.

My most recent Back Packing trip was the North Loop of Pinchot Trail. My pack was 50-55lbs, temps were in the teens at night, we were prepared for the cold but that was the only thing I was prepared for.

I did not do well hiking with the pack, and not only did I look like Russel from "Up" I also became that whiny kid, are we there yet?

I was overweight and 49.
I decided to make some changes, I started eating a little healthier and loose some weight, about 14 lbs so far, I started exercising just recently.

I’m still overweight and 51 but feel a tiny bit better.

My potential hiking buddies want to do the South loop in early Spring and I want to be ready.
My goal is to loose another 10lbs on me and with a pack weight of 25 pounds, including Fuel Food and water.
This would be a difference in 50lbs. This is the goal I have set.

Future goals are to advocate hiking in our Boy Scout Troop however, I will need to be the one to take the lead, so-to-speak,. We are doing a canoe trip down the Batsto River and I will be checking out the Batona Trail for a possible Scout Hiking trip next fall.

I have been researching and reading for 2 years on this subject, and there is a lot I have done for lightening up and there are also a few things I wont do such as switch to a tartptent.

I have been acquiring light gear for months now and I am ready to purchase a pack. My gear is not quite ultra light by UL standards and that is because there are a few things I will not do without, such as a tent or my 5 oz. frying pan!

Now onto the question part of this post, I am looking for a smaller lighter pack.

My choice is between the Gossamer Gear Gorilla and Mariposa. I do understand that packs are very personal and that they should be tried and fitted like a good shoe.

I am 5’9” , 204 pounds,
Measurements 21” torso and a 40” waist (clothed)
Pack would be a Large and same with the belt.

I will be backpack/Camping, Spring, early and late winter, and fall, no summer.
These trips would be in Friday Morning Out Sunday afternoon, mild hiking 4 miles per day (to start) and basically a Bushwacking/Hiking/Camping hybrid trip.

I have read everything I can about these packs and have written to GG many times. I am pretty set on ordering a pack From Gossamer Gear.

I really want to get the Gorilla over the Mariposa, from my understanding of the reviews is that the Gorilla carries better than the Mariposa.

My Concerns, the Mariposa would be too big and the Gorilla may be too small, it looks borderline with my gear as shown in the 5 gallon bucket challenge, posted below, not sure of links, mods delete if its against forum rules.

I am hoping it will all fit and not be jammed too tight.



Weather could be at or around freezing.

I am looking into clothing but most will be worn

I have a few luxuries I bring in when camping in the colder weather, such as fresh food

I took the 5 gallon bucket challenge and got everything inside except, fuel, Food, water and bushwacking tools.

You Can see that here




My last trip camping with my son I was at 30lbs.
I am currently at 25-26lbs with food, fuel and water. No problem to get to 24lbs if needed and 22 without bushwhacking tools.
I am usually the person in the group to carry the wood processing gear.


My gear is as follows.

Shelter and sleeping

Back Pack High Peak Trango (switching to gorilla) saves 1-½ lbs
Sleeping Bag Western Mountaineering Megalite and eVent ultrasil stuff sack
Tent Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, packed loose
Air Mattress Thermarest NeoAir® XTherm™
Pillow Aeros Large


Cook Kit

Fuel canister small
Titanium Pot 650ml 2.20 oz. (62g)
Fry pan w/lid(removable handle)5.80oz. (164g)
Titanium mug 450ml, w/flashing lid 2.95oz. (84g)
Olive Oil 1.55oz. (44g)
Hot Sauce .50oz. (14g)
Salt .6 oz. .50 oz. (14g)
Crushed Red Pepper .6 oz. .50 oz. (14g)
Mini Bic and Fire starters (inner tube pieces on Mini-Bic .50oz. (44g)
Fire Maple Canister Stove 1.6oz. (45g)
P-38 Can opener .15oz. (5g)
1” x 2” scrubby sponge (0)
Silicone Muffin Cup
Frying Pan Handle
spoon,
spatula



Food Bag

English muffins x 2
Eggs/Egg Holder x 2
American cheese x 4
Idahoan Mashed Potatoes
Trail dads Spaghettis
Bisquick
Pepperoni
String Cheese x 2
4 oz frozen sauce.
Blueberry Muffin Mix


Snack Bag Three day coffee and snack bag (16 oz. 1 lb.) (5 cups)

Via coffee x 5
Sugar Packets 25
Creamers 30
Hot Chocolate 2
1 Oatmeal
1 Peanut Butter Crackers
Jiff to go peanut butter
Nutty Bar x 2
Pringles
Oatmeal Bar
Kashi Fiber bar x 2


Hydration

Water
16 oz frozen water bottle (weather dependant)
16 oz frozen Ziploc (weather dependant)
33 oz Smart Water

Filtration

Dirty water bag 96 oz. Nalgene canteen
Hose connection
Sawyer Mini
Stuff sack


Essentials, Ditty Bag

Toothpaste (in straw)
Mini toothbrush
3/4 ounce of hand sanitizer
3' Duct Tape
Half pencil
One piece of paper folded into fours.
5 pk of Wysi wipes (Highly Recommended)


"Firestarter Kit"

6 Cotton Vaseline fire starters in Wax Paper
1 pack of regular Book matches
1/2 dozen Storm proof matches
Fire Steel





"First aid Kit"

spare pair of glasses
Moleskin
1 finger bandage
1 gauze pad
1 knuckle bandage
1 small band aid
2 medium band aids
1 large band aid
1 gauze pad
1 roll of gauze
1 single of burn cream
1 single of neosporin
4 pks of antacid
4 pks Tylenol
6 pks Ibuprofen
4 pks Aspirin
4 benadryl
2 packs of Imodium
1 Exacto Blade



Misc.

Becker BK-9 (bushwhacking)
Becker Companion Knife (bushwhacking)
Sawvivor Saw + 2 extra blades (bushwhacking)
Zebralight Headlamp H600 Mk II 18650 XM-L2
Small dish Towel
Socks
Underwear
Shirt


Toiletry Bag, Ziploc

T.P. no core
Baby Wipes
Toilet Seat Cover

Thank you so much and I am looking forward to reading and possibly contributing to the forum.

I think you have already answered your question. Get the pack that feels best when you are carrying a load. The differences between these two packs will be minor compared to how they fit you.

And leave the bushwhacking tools at home---that will save you weight and leave fewer traces of where you have hiked!

Yeah the bushwacking tools stay home for certain trips "Leave no Trace Hikes" and will save over 2.5lbs, but for trips with designated camping areas the scouts camping trips and our canoe trips on the Delaware, I'll bring them.

I think I should be able to get everything in the Gorilla, was hoping someone had experience with this pack and could give me an idea if the gear in the picture would fit in the GG Gorilla

from a numbers point of view I should be ok, however I prefer real world opinions.
5 gallons = (5 x 231) = 1,155 cubic inches
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 2400 ci + 600 ci

I will most likely order the Gorilla and tweak my gear to fit.
I'm afraid if I get the larger Mariposa, that I may take advantage of the extra space.

Order both at the same time. Have your gear all ready andtry each pack around the house. Send back the one you don't want.

If you juggle the timing right, the credit for the returned pack will hit in the same credit card billing as the debit for the two packs. You will be out the shipping cost for the pack you return, though.

Thanks, I should have thought of that, anyhow I ordered the Gorilla already and will post back.

OK I forgot about this post.
First I want to the folks on this forum for helping me reduce weight, pack smarter, reduce fiddle factor and to see the error of my ways.

Here's my tweaked list, this is for 4 season (within reason), 2 - 3 days, I am still working on my clothing.
So far I ordered some Railriders, Synthetic Briefs, Marmot Precip, Wright Socks, LTM6 Tilley and I have some hiking shirts already.

This is by no means an all inclusive list.

Back Pack:
GG Gorilla
Weight: 29oz. (822g)

Sleep System
WM Megalite
Aeros Pillow
Neo Air Xtherm
Weight: 2 lb. 15 oz. [47 oz.] (1,446g)

Shelter
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2
Weight: 3 lbs. 9 oz. [57 oz.] (1,616g)


Cooking (Freezer Bag Cooking)
This has been a bit tougher coming up with a one pound cook system to cover all my cooking needs.
This system works great but with one caveat, If I need to boil water for drinking and fire is not an option, it's a long process and consumes a lot of fuel using my little 650ml pot, so I now carry Aquamira tablets to save on fuel.

650ml. Toaks Titanium Pot 2.80oz.( 79g)
Fuel 3.5 oz.(100g) oz. 6.81oz.(193g)
Titanium Wind Screen .81oz. (23g)
Mini Bic Fire w/firestarters .42oz. (12g)
Canister Stove 0.88oz. (25g)
Spoon .60oz. (17g)
Cozy 1.00oz. (28g)
Bandana/cloth 1.00oz. (28g)
Hand sanitizer 1.00oz. (28g)
Plastic Cup (M.Y.O.G.) 0.70OZ. (20g)

Total (includes fuel) 16 oz. (453g)


Food
Idahoan Mashed Potatoes
Trail dads Spaghettis or Mountain House
Pepperoni
Peanut Butter
Tortilla Wraps
Pop Tarts
Olive Oil
Spices


Snack Bag
coffee x 5 premixed with creamer and sugar (reduces fiddle factor)
Hot Chocolate
Oatmeal
Pringles
Little Debbies Oatmeal cookie
Duchess Honey Bun
Snickers
M&M's


Hydration
Gravity Feed Filter
96 oz. Nalgene Canteen (dirty bag) 2.25oz.
Sawyer Mini 2.00oz.
32 oz. Platypus 1.30oz.
Water scoop Sawyer Bag with top cut 0.30oz.
Hose attachment 1.75oz.
Ditty Bag 0.70oz.
Aqua Mira Tablets 0.70oz.

Filtration system weight. 9 oz (255g)


First Aid/Essentials/Fire "Ditty Bag"

"Essentials kit"
Toothpaste (in straw)
Mini toothbrush
3' Duct Tape
Half pencil
One piece of paper folded into fours.
Thermarest Repair Kit
3 pk of Wysi wipes (Highly Recommended)
Nano Stream light
Squirt PS4 Knife

"Firestarter Kit"
6 Cotton Vaseline fire starters in Wax Paper
Fire steel and scraper
Mini Bic (redundancy bic)

"First aid Kit"
spare pair of glasses
Moleskin
1 finger bandage
1 gauze pad
1 knuckle bandage
1 small band aid
2 medium band aids
1 large band aid
1 gauze pad
1 roll of gauze
1 single of burn cream
1 single of Neosporin
2 pks Tylenol(4)
4 pks Ibuprofen(8)
2 pks Aspirin(4)
4 benadryl
2 packs of Imodium(4)
1 Exacto Blade
Coban

Weigh 11oz. (312g)

Tools/Misc
Morakniv Companion
Hiking belt
Zebralight Headlamp H51
Suunto A10 Compass


Spare clothing
Socks
Underwear
Shirt


Toiletry Bag, Ziploc
T.P. no core
Baby Wipes
Toilet Seat Cover
Clorox, "with bleach" wipes
Weight: 4.25oz. (120g)

For a weekend trip I am at about 21-23 pounds including food fuel and water. I know I can do better on the food, I always over pack food.
I am still tweaking slightly and my next purchase may be a quilt to shed 8oz.
As mentioned earlier, I am working on my clothing now and still trying to loose weight, I'm up 6 pounds since this post.DAM

again for everyones help

Lookin' good, I think any lightweighter would be happy to head out with that kit. I assume the tent is for two?

Cheers,

No and I'm guilt stricken over it. I was looking into some sub 2lb shelters but after a few trips in heavy rain and being stuck in the tent for hours, I decides to lighten up everywhere else.
Setup is incredibly easy, maybe I'll try to use just the fly and footprint when the weather is cooler, most areas I hike are swampy and while gnats, flies and the like don't bother me, I cant take the mosquito bites.

I could carry that and have fun. Thanks for sharing it.

I get it. Being cooped up for long periods emphasizes head- and elbowroom a lot more than just sleeping. And the bug thing is pretty much non-negotiable at least in their peak season.

At some point you might look at the Tarptent line to see whether there's a compromise shelter that will shed a couple pounds and still give the needed space.

Cheers,