Need help to lighten the load

Frank

Frank

Backpacker
Last time I asked, your help was really appreciated.

Now, I'm still struggling to get to a truly comfortable level both weight and comfort wise.

Going out for a weekend 2 night solo trip I'm at 12kg and although it's absolutely doable I'd like to lower my weight.

Here's my brutally honest everything I bring lighterpack https://lighterpack.com/r/hrywg2

Items with 0 qty are things I'm debating.

I'm not too concerned about base weight, as it all counts in the end, I just want it to be lighter overall.

The Nemo Tensor Insulated is comfortable and wide, but rather on the cold side for the 1-2 degrees frost anticipated. I think at some time it will be replaced by a wide xlite. I could bring the wifes xtherm, but it's really to narrow for comfort. Debating adding the cff, but there's also the pad in the Mariposa.

Pillow is required as I think I'll have to wear the puffy in bed in order to keep warm.

All the bloody electronics. Bringing the smartphone necessitates the powerbank, but it's handy for entertainment and finding info on camping, water and shopping. The Nokia sure looks tempting.
 
Odd Man

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Ditch the Kindle and use Kindle app on your phone?
Seems that there's lots of hand sanitiser. Do you need so much?
 
Patrick

Patrick

Ultralighter
I would say your biggest problem is your honesty - its a pretty comprehensive list! However, there are a couple of areas that I notice. You could save about 400g on your sleep system with a different pad - say a thermarest xlite - and an inflatable pillow. I don't think you'd find that cold given that you're using some ccf below it. And the other area I notice is your food. 400g of tortilla wraps is pretty heavy lunch carbohydrate - I tend to take dry biscuits, such as oatcakes, at around 60g per lunch. Including water is being perhaps too honest. And you knew about the beer, didn't you:)? I guess we're all allowed a luxury item:laugh::laugh:.
 
dovidola

dovidola

Thru Hiker
A few suggestions in addition to those others have made:

Ditch the beer - drink water to hydrate, and Scotch to inebriate.

The pillow is bonkers-heavy - use Sea2Summit Aeros UL (Large) at 67g, and wrap it in a buff or somesuch if you prefer the feel.

Opinel No 9 is a lovely bit of kit but a No 7 (35g) or even No 6 (28g) will do most jobs just as well - I usually take the No 6 Inox in Walnut (less rusty/swelly in the wet). Unless you're 'bushcrafty' of course, in which case No 10 is the way to go.

Do you need all that backup electrical power for a two-nighter?

Two phones and a Garmin?

A Platypus 2L is half the weight of your Cnoc.

The 'Cotton Diaper' at 57g is a bit much - I use half a kitchen sponge (about 1g).

Your buff qualifies as a face covering.

The cookset seems to outgun your cooking requirements - halve the pot size, and most of its associated components too!
 
Frank

Frank

Backpacker
dovidola said:
A few suggestions in addition to those others have made:

Do you need all that backup electrical power for a two-nighter?

Two phones and a Garmin?
Click to expand...

No that was just playing with alternatives. It'll be the smartphone rather than the Nokia/Garmin combination this time.

Other suggestions looks good, thanks.
 
Frank

Frank

Backpacker
dovidola said:
A few suggestions in addition to those others have made:

The cookset seems to outgun your cooking requirements - halve the pot size, and most of its associated components too!
Click to expand...

Been looking at that for some time now, but hard to really figure out. Mostly I camp with the wife, and I like that the pot is somewhat wide to soak up the heat from the burner.

But I really should start writing down the fuel consumption rather than bringing too much.
 
Frank

Frank

Backpacker
Chiseller said:
Not familiar with ymmv ( bottom lip over top) :bookworm:
Click to expand...
No - your milage may vary - doesn't really make sense when you measure in kilometers.

Seriously though, we've been trying different plastic bottles for our drinks (rum mostly - sorry) but they all end up transferring a slight plastic smell and taste to the drink after a week or so. Does that work better with the CNOC?
 
EM-Chiseller

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Frank said:
No - your milage may vary - doesn't really make sense when you measure in kilometers.

Seriously though, we've been trying different plastic bottles for our drinks (rum mostly - sorry) but they all end up transferring a slight plastic smell and taste to the drink after a week or so. Does that work better with the CNOC?
Click to expand...

It's pre filter drinking water :D:D:D sorry for the disappointment :facepalm:
 
Rog Tallbloke

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
Frank said:
No - your milage may vary - doesn't really make sense when you measure in kilometers.

Seriously though, we've been trying different plastic bottles for our drinks (rum mostly - sorry) but they all end up transferring a slight plastic smell and taste to the drink after a week or so. Does that work better with the CNOC?
Click to expand...
You can make your drink last a week?
 
Foxster

Foxster

Section Hiker
The true conorsewer takes Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

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Back in Pack

Back in Pack

Section Hiker
Frank said:
Last time I asked, your help was really appreciated.
Now, I'm still struggling to get to a truly comfortable level both weight and comfort wise.
Going out for a weekend 2 night solo trip I'm at 12kg and although it's absolutely doable I'd like to lower my weight.
I'm not too concerned about base weight, as it all counts in the end, I just want it to be lighter overall.
Click to expand...

If you want to get the weight down then perhaps a little more intentionality about your pack/food. Are you hiking or camping? If the first then you can lose some of the extra stuff and minor discomfort can be handled on a 2 day trip if needed. If the second then take what makes you comfortable.

In addition to the suggestions above, my thoughts:
Kindle - leave at home. use phone
Food/Alcohol - seems very heavy for 2 days. Target max 1kg per day - nutrient dense bars.
Pillow - use your fleece/rain gear/etc in a stuff sack and put your buff round it (or exped pillow is 40g)
Fleece - Do you need a fleece and a down jacket if it is 10C/-1C and no rain
Pad - i would use the xtherm. (Practice at home to get used to it. It is only 2 nights.) Then you do not need a ccf pad as well as the one in your pack.
Thermals - I good set of warm merino thermals (not cheap) may help you push your current pad.
Water System - Katadyn BeFree (or Sawyer) + extra bottle is less than 100g (just put the filter in a bag in your sleeping bag at night to not freeze)
Hand Sanitizer - 100ml for 2 days > repack ito smaller bottle. I use pharmacy HPDE bottles.
Cook set- a smaller pot will save a little weight

If you really want to get this weight down, then over time, you just need to look at every item in your pack and decide how to lighten it (pack and tent/tarp could save 1.5kg) - unfortunately unless you are good at MYOG (not me) then it does not come cheap.

——
Just to give you some ideas, I too am trying to dial in my shoulder-season kit. This is my revised Spring/Autumn pack for 5d with skin-out weight of 13kg incl 1L water (i am sure there are some minor things missing). Testing this set-up recently, the day time clothing was ok at -15C with windchill and last night the camp gear was ok at -10C with wind. I just want to be sure that my gear can handle an extra 10C to the conditions I am expecting, just in case things turn bad.
 
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Heltrekker

Heltrekker

Section Hiker
Is the area you're going to particularly remote/risky? For just two nights if it's not challenging terrain miles from civilisation, is the InReach really necessary if you are able to get a phone signal?

I note you have a Buff, a Buff cap and a beanie - that's a lot of headwear for 2 nights, you could take just a Buff and use it as face covering, hat, headband, pillowcase.

If you have to take a Kindle (guilty, can't do without mine on longer trips just 'cos I can do over a week without recharging unlike my phone!) the flip case isn't necessary. I remove my case and wrap it in spare clothing for protection.

To lighten the food load, you could look into substituting homemade high calorie flapjacky type things instead of the digestives and chocolate, which will give more calories for less weight. Beer? So tempting, but could you live without it, or substitute whisky, brandy etc.? Kitchen wise, lots of lighter weight options for pot etc. If you are taking a Bic lighter and firestarters, do you really need the firesteel?

A lot of small items can be replaced cheaply to collectively shave a couple of hundred grams - dry bags, charger cables, etc. while you save up to replace e.g. tent or pack.
 
Taz38

Taz38

Thru Hiker
You have some nice gear!

Last week I packed 3.5 days food for my 3 day trip (could've been 4 so brought two extra meals) which weighed 2.75 kg. I brought back 700g worth (weighed it out interest as it seemed a fair amount). All of it except 2 mini naan breads was dehydrated (if possible). It can be done if you are not too fussy about food.

Lots of good advice from others already, just be ruthless and only take what you need.
 
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Frank

Frank

Backpacker
Chiseller said:
It's pre filter drinking water :D:D:D sorry for the disappointment :facepalm:
Click to expand...

Well, we're in the sub half liter class for drinks to bring anyway. Maybe a smal titanium
Taz38 said:
You have some nice gear!

Last week I packed 3.5 days food for my 3 day trip (could've been 4 so brought two extra meals) which weighed 2.75 kg. I brought back 700g worth (weighed it out interest as it seemed a fair amount). All of it except 2 mini naan breads was dehydrated (if possible). It can be done if you are not too fussy about food.

Lots of good advice from others already, just be ruthless and only take what you need.
Click to expand...

I've definitely brought to much food (snacks really). With a day left i can see that I'll have at buying back at least a kilo.
 
Frank

Frank

Backpacker
Heltrekker said:
Is the area you're going to particularly remote/risky? For just two nights if it's not challenging terrain miles from civilisation, is the InReach really necessary if you are able to get a phone signal?

I note you have a Buff, a Buff cap and a beanie - that's a lot of headwear for 2 nights, you could take just a Buff and use it as face covering, hat, headband, pillowcase.

If you have to take a Kindle (guilty, can't do without mine on longer trips just 'cos I can do over a week without recharging unlike my phone!) the flip case isn't necessary. I remove my case and wrap it in spare clothing for protection.

To lighten the food load, you could look into substituting homemade high calorie flapjacky type things instead of the digestives and chocolate, which will give more calories for less weight. Beer? So tempting, but could you live without it, or substitute whisky, brandy etc.? Kitchen wise, lots of lighter weight options for pot etc. If you are taking a Bic lighter and firestarters, do you really need the firesteel?

A lot of small items can be replaced cheaply to collectively shave a couple of hundred grams - dry bags, charger cables, etc. while you save up to replace e.g. tent or pack.
Click to expand...

I didn't bring the inreach. I was just debating bringing the Nokia and the inreach for tracking. And then lexington behind the smartphone and the watch.

The watch is good for a day and a half of tracking, and the phone more or less the same when used sparingly.

In the end I packed my fear of getting bored but not the kindle as i couldn't find it.

The cap was mostly for sun protection, but i managed to lose it on the first stretch. Sigh.
 
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