I am going to agree with Oregonmouse. We usually start with a base weight of fifteen pounds--and that includes a Bearvault. The big three weight concerns are the pack, the sleeping bag, and the tent. If you can keep each one to about 3 pounds, then you can easily make the fifteen pound goal--and that is a really good idea. If you want to spend a ton of money, you can add a ultralight pack, an ultralight sleeping bag, and a tarp--and the should you below ten pounds.

But don't let a heavy tent keep you from backpacking. If you are only going a few miles, and only for a weekend, the most important thing is to get out there and have fun. Once you do that, you'll have a better idea of what works--and a better reason to get better stuff!

THere's a section on our website on gear--and it includes a full list of what we take and what it weighs.