Autumn 6 day kit list

[old-skool-lite]

I've gone full-on nerd on Lighterpack while getting my kit ready. Not an ultralighter by any means but try not to take too much. I use most of the gear all year round & add/substract clothes as required so not going to make any weight saving having a lighter sleeping bag or tent, although I have left out the inner on occasion. Personal hygiene kit wouldn't be carried for one or two nighters. I'm also carrying a few items to help keep plantar fasciitis at bay in left foot & swelling in right ankle.

@el manana - still 4 days until my trip so still chance to save 40g with a pot noodle mug!

The Exos pack is new & the latest 'replacement' for my 37 year old 2.2kg Lowe pack. It's passed the initial packing comfort test & I'm optimistic it's a keeper - especially for overnighters. It's saved me a kilo. I'm sure the old pack feels more comfortable with a weeks load though but will see this coming week.

I've also lost the equivalent of the base weight from my carcass in last 6 months so that should help too!

Any feedback welcome.

https://lighterpack.com/r/26mw2o

 

[edh]

Are you doing exercises for your PF?

 

[old-skool-lite]

@edh Best my poor self-discipline will manage. Stretches seem to be helping the most. Tight calves & quads are the main issue I think - inactivity following two major foot/ankle surgeries followed by cycling as my main rehab. I'm getting on top of it & can get through a 9 hour retail day on my feet with a 22 mile round cycle commute reasonably well.

You had/got it?

 

[edh]

I had it ages ago and used a PF sock and did the exercises pretty diligently. And stopped wearing boots.

 

[Odd Man]

@edh Best my poor self-discipline will manage. Stretches seem to be helping the most. Tight calves & quads are the main issue I think - inactivity following two major foot/ankle surgeries followed by cycling as my main rehab. I'm getting on top of it & can get through a 12 hour retail day on my feet with a 22 mile round cycle commute reasonably well.

You had/got it?

These are great tools for massaging tight tissue. Single ball for PF and peanut is great for calves and shins. Light too.

https://amzn.to/3rK5jdX

 

[Teepee]

Increasing the HF volume is proportional to a reduction in PF symptoms.

 

[echo8876]

Excersises help with PF\ITBS\runners knee, whatever it is called. aint fast tho.
i havent found any treatment to my metatarsaglia. i thought losing weight could help, but it didnt'. Many of my 60-70 kg relatives have it in severe form too, something with a feet.

 

[Shewie]

Good looking list

Enjoy the trip

 

[BogTrotter]

Only 135g for the Islay? Your hip flask weighs almost as much! That’s almost like carrying an empty gas cylinder for a Jetboil

 

[old-skool-lite]

These are great tools for massaging tight tissue. Single ball for PF and peanut is great for calves and shins. Light too.

https://amzn.to/3rK5jdX

Ordered. Will add to lighterpack once I have the weight.

Increasing the HF volume is proportional to a reduction in PF symptoms.

What is HF volume?

Excersises help with PF\ITBS\runners knee, whatever it is called. aint fast tho.
i havent found any treatment to my metatarsaglia.

Since I had my right foot/ankle surgeries (main metatarsal shortened, heel bone realignment, peroneal tendon repair, ankle replacement) I've really come to appreciate what a complex thing a foot is. Good luck finding a solution.

 

[old-skool-lite]

Only 135g for the Islay? Your hip flask weighs almost as much! That’s almost like carrying an empty gas cylinder for a Jetboil

Absolutely no comparison. The love of my life would never buy me a gas cylinder or a Jetboil.

 

[old-skool-lite]

I had it ages ago and used a PF sock and did the exercises pretty diligently. And stopped wearing boots.

I was bootless for a year or so prior to my ankle issues but advised to go back into them when the podiatrist was vainly trying to straighten me out & by the surgeon who replaced my ankle.

 

[BogTrotter]

Absolutely no comparison. The love of my life would never buy me a gas cylinder or a Jetboil.

View attachment 49183

Oh, nice! You’ll just have to resign yourself to having to take a bottle as well !

 

[el manana]

Does the Rab Xenair fit okay in size L?

(I take XL in current(new) Rab but L in older models)

 

[old-skool-lite]

Does on me! I'm xl or L depending on brand. Bought what I think was an old Xenair in xl off here recently but had to sell it on as too big. L is much better for me.

 

[tallest of pauls]

You'll probably find as I have the pack when your back gets sweaty won't sit in the small of your back the same due to the lack of lumbar pad.

It feels like an integral part of pack design for heavier loads that has been stripped away.

Its all very well manufactures making packs for 6 kilos (or what ever) base weights but a pack is never that on trail. A kilo of fuel, 2 kilos of water and 4 or 5 kgs of food and 6 kgs becomes 14kgs rather rapidly.

Its obviously better than the 20kg plus I used to lump around but I do wonder if the pack it's self is a rabbit hole I need to re access..

I nearly bought a exped lightning as this is one of a few that has a good size lumbar pad this year off tintin, but got a good deal on an exos instead. I'm wondering if this was a mistake..

@TinTin how do you find the carry difference between the osprey and exped?

I'm not rubbishing the osprey as all the other features were great.I just found I'm constantly adjusting the hip belt to try and get the pack to sit where it should.

 

[old-skool-lite]

Interesting. Not something I've seen mentioned before. I'll take it this trip & see how I get on. If it's a problem it may just get used for lighter overnighters in future & I'll go back to my Lowe for longer trips. Or sold.

 

[tallest of pauls]

It could just be my body shape, maybe my arse is bigger so the lumbar sits in just right. I've not heard anyone else bemoan the loss of the lumbar pad (RIP)
If the weight is reasonable then you'll probably not really notice. Like everything there's a tipping point and more ends up on the shoulders.

 

[el manana]

I've been really impressed by the carry on the Lightning 45. The lumbar pad does feel a bit weird when you first put it on (protruding) but once its loaded and you're walking it feels a really comfortable carry. Its so adjustable you can literally transfer all the weight to the hips so theres hardly any load on the shoulders.

Only used it twice so far but for the extra grams its a more comfortable carry for my pack weight.

 

[old-skool-lite]

Aye. Should be an interesting contrast. Lumbar pad & belt are massive on my Lowe.

 

[Corvair]

In my experience of the Exos, and looking at your current carry weight, you'll be fine if you're not doing a big water carry. If you can sneak another kg or two off the carry weight, it'll be dreamy.

I have the same GSI pot. If I'm carrying an additional mug/cup, then the lid is overkill. I use a MYOG lid fashioned from a takeaway bowl lid (from Wagamama) and an elastic band to secure the cook kit in transit. Been using it for the last 3 years with no heat deformation or degradation. I also ditched the pan sleeve and gripper. I instead use a multi-purpose buff or gloves in cooler months. Saving 69g for £0 cost

Couple of other observations or, "do you really need to carry?"...
- A lantern AND a head torch? 41g
- A thermometer? 10g

Potential saving total of 120g for £0 (or you could double your whiskey ration)

Curious to know what you did with your snow stake to get the weight down. I cut my 30cm version down by 4cm and only saved 8g

Congrats on the huge effort to get your carcass base weight down so much!

 

[TinTin]

You'll probably find as I have the pack when your back gets sweaty won't sit in the small of your back the same due to the lack of lumbar pad.

It feels like an integral part of pack design for heavier loads that has been stripped away.

Its all very well manufactures making packs for 6 kilos (or what ever) base weights but a pack is never that on trail. A kilo of fuel, 2 kilos of water and 4 or 5 kgs of food and 6 kgs becomes 14kgs rather rapidly.

Its obviously better than the 20kg plus I used to lump around but I do wonder if the pack it's self is a rabbit hole I need to re access..

I nearly bought a exped lightning as this is one of a few that has a good size lumbar pad this year off tintin, but got a good deal on an exos instead. I'm wondering if this was a mistake..

@TinTin how do you find the carry difference between the osprey and exped?

I'm not rubbishing the osprey as all the other features were great.I just found I'm constantly adjusting the hip belt to try and get the pack to sit where it should.

TBH I've not noticed much difference in comfort but I've only had the Exos out for four days ( two two day trips) and a couple of short carries with about 10kg total.

If the Exped fits your body shape, as it does for me, you are able to adjust it so that most of the weight is carried by your hips. I've seen people complain that the Exped shoulder straps hurt them but I think that is because they are not adjusting the pack well. The weight, when properly adjusted, with the Exped is transferred down to your hips really well. The Exos spreads the weight more over your back. Also it does move about on your back more. Having said that the Exos carries the sort of weights I carry so well it is very comfortable. I think it might get annoying if you were carrying 15kg plus.

I bought an Exos for my son recently and he said he almost forgot he had it on. I guess with 10kg. That was on a fairly up and down Lakes hill walk. Sail, Crag Hill, Grassmoor etc.

I find that I have my hip belt fairly tight (on all packs) and tighten it again once I'm warmed up. If I stop and take my pack off without loosening the waist strap then put it back on it is difficult to get the buckle to click back into place because it is so tight. Even given this the Exos does not "lock" the hip carry into place as well as the Exped does IME. As I said earlier the Exos spreads the load over a larger area of your back.

I really like the Osprey Exos but if I was carrying a bigger weight the Exped Lightning would be preferable for me and my body shape.

 

[Robert P]

It could just be my body shape, maybe my arse is bigger so the lumbar sits in just right. I've not heard anyone else bemoan the loss of the lumbar pad (RIP)
If the weight is reasonable then you'll probably not really notice. Like everything there's a tipping point and more ends up on the shoulders.

I too like some form of lumbar pad - both to help hold the pack in place with its shape and they are usually non-slipping material. I had the original Durston DD40 pack and found that it was difficult to hold in place without slipping dues to the non-grippy fabric and lack of lumbar pad.

I find a tight hip belt uncomfortable so a lumbar pad helps, even when just carrying using the shoulder straps. I use Atom Packs and the relatively modest lumbar pads suffice for me.

 

[old-skool-lite]

In my experience of the Exos, and looking at your current carry weight, you'll be fine if you're not doing a big water carry. If you can sneak another kg or two off the carry weight, it'll be dreamy.

I have the same GSI pot. If I'm carrying an additional mug/cup, then the lid is overkill. I use a MYOG lid fashioned from a takeaway bowl lid (from Wagamama) and an elastic band to secure the cook kit in transit. Been using it for the last 3 years with no heat deformation or degradation. I also ditched the pan sleeve and gripper. I instead use a multi-purpose buff or gloves in cooler months. Saving 69g for £0 cost

Couple of other observations or, "do you really need to carry?"...
- A lantern AND a head torch? 41g
- A thermometer? 10g

Potential saving total of 120g for £0 (or you could double your whiskey ration)

Curious to know what you did with your snow stake to get the weight down. I cut my 30cm version down by 4cm and only saved 8g

Congrats on the huge effort to get your carcass base weight down so much!

Should be good for water this trip - just carrying enough to drink on the move & I'll be eating my way through a chunk of the pack weight. The pack has a high bar to reach comfort wise & I have low tolerance of packs that don't work for me in any way.

Thanks for the observations - much appreciated. The sleeve I could probably ditch. I like the tight fitting lid for stopping it spilling when I wrap it in my hat & then in clothing or sleeping bag to finish off the cooking. Not sure about ditching the gripper for a buff as even with the gripper it can get a bit hot removing the pan while stove is still lit. I have several Speedster custom outfits to choice from - I may need to reassess using one of my older ones - all with built in handles, including a Ti one I use bikepacking - but then I need to be more cautious with cozying.

Lantern & a head torch. Small steps for now! The headtorch is already a good saving over what I had before & the lantern is a big saving over a 'candle, arctic, for the use of' NATO surplus I've used for decades. I'm hard-wired not to use a head-torch more than necessary but like a light on of an evening. My previous headtorch was 103g - more than these 2 together. A new candle is 90g so I'm down from 193g to 75g. Loosing the candle will be a culture shock!

I just found my 25g headshoz so added them to the pack!

Thermometer - valid call but outside of summer I'm with temperature like many folk are with windspeed!

Doing the lighterpack thing does make you acutely aware of weight so will be using it more going forward. Only really dabbled with it before.

 

[Corvair]

Doing the lighterpack thing does make you acutely aware of weight so will be using it more going forward. Only really dabbled with it before.

AKA a slippery slope