First things first, look on the non-bbs part of this site for charle's "27 pound 7 day pack"
or the "18 pound three day pack" - they are excellent places to start. If you click
my name I have a gear list that I carry.



Are you by yourself? this is a generous 2 man bombproof tent - if you're
sharing it, at 5 pounds it's ok. if you're solo, looking at a smaller lighter solo
shelter or hammock rig might be appropriate for you. Going with a shires tarptent,
hennesey UL hammock, or SMD lunar solo shelter would cut about 3 pounds of weight
right there.


In winter if you're melting snow for water or if you are gourmet cooking for a group
(where the weight it shared) the Dragonfly is fine - if you're by yourself or in a small
group - using dehydrated food that just needs to boil water, an alcohol stove or esbit
tablets will suffice and weigh a lot less. if you have slightly more complicated food
a small canister stove such as an MSR pocket rocket or snow peak stove would
also reduce a lot of weight here. Similarly, if you eat rehydrated meals out of a
bag you can probably dispense with all but a small pot, cup, and spoon.



Many will disagree with me here, but take Chlorine Dioxide solution or tablets (you here it called aquamira here - in canada the brand you'll find is "Pristine" - you can get it at
MEC in small bottles or tablets) It doesn't have a taste like the old stuff (iodine) and
properly used kills everything. That'll shave off nearly 2 pounds that your water filter
weighs



A good light sleeping bag helps. I carry 2 sets of socks, one to hike, and one
to sleep in. I wring out the hiking socks if they get wet. Good socks (polypro liners
and merino hikers or the like) help for this, since they're comfortable damp. Have
a peek at my list of clothing I carry. Something tells me if your bag is full
you're carrying a lot more clothing (rainwear, etc.) than one shirt and a few socks.
You can reduce a LOT of weight and volume by being CAREFUL with what clothing
you take. but you do have to be CAREFUL so as not to put yourself in a situation
where you risk hypothermia.



This is heavy. I've been around superior - you sure you can't just find enough
firewood by picking up deadfall/squaw wood? - although if you're burning that
much consider skipping the stove above and using the fire for all your cooking.
I don't usually have any trouble making fire without taking a hatchet.


all fine. if small, and the right amounts.



Probably but change your pack *LAST* after you have more experience at lightening
up, unless you are truly uncomforatble with the pack now. (which you didn't say you were) You want to buy a pack that is the right size and weight for the load you will
carry. If you buy a completely frameless pack and stuff 40 pounds in it, you'll be
uncomfortable most likeley - if you buy a pack that is too small, you'll lose gear.
If you buy a 7 pound 80 litre monster and put an 18 pound load in it, well, you're
adding 7 needless pounds.



Put a piece of tape on anything in your pack that isn't emergency gear that you take.
When you use it in the field, take the tape off. When you get home dump everything
out of your pack, pile up the stuff with tape still on it, and ask yourself if you really
needed to take that for a ride on your back in the bush. You'll drop it down soon
enough with some experience. Don't try to make it happen overnight or walk out
for 3 days with 10 pounds on your back next trip.

Most of all - reduce weight to have fun and stay safe. Don't reduce weight for that being your sole goal thereby making yourself miserable or dangerous in the bush. I *can* hike a lot lighter than I do - I just won't have as much fun doing it. As it is my typical three
day kit weighs about 20 lbs including a litre of water carried. Last year I carried that in
a 30 litre MEC alipinelite "daypack". While that may sound extreme, many here are much
lighter (mugs gives me total cuben fibre envy) but remember, reducing weight isn't the end goal, having fun safely is the end goal.