LighterPack Pack list

nothing you can get rid of, but your tent, rain jacket and quilt could shed at least 700-800g if you want to upgrade, but it's going to cost you at like £1,5 per 1g.
 
Pretty lean. Assuming short trips?
A few suggestions you can consider:

* ditch the pump (-75g). Mouth works fine.

* ditch the powerbank (-212g). The only things on the list that need power are the pump and headtorch. Neither should need a powerbank for short trips unless you're hiking at night.

* I'm guessing you're bringing a phone as well? That would explain the powerbank. Keep the phone off, and you won't need the powerbank. You can probably make it through a trip without doing whatever you do with your phone, unless you're navigating with it. In that case, bring a paper map (30g+ and IMO you should always bring a paper map and compass anyways).

* slightly more involved, but could potentially save you almost half a kilo on a weekend trip. I assume you're eating freeze dried meals? Ditch the cook kit (-160g + fuel and fuel container) and eat cold food.
I'm not suggesting you cold soak the freeze dried meals (unless you hate yourself). Think of whatever you like to eat when you're not eating hot food, then go with a low-water/high-fat (=lightweight) version of that. Shoot for an average caloric density above that of your freeze dried meals (not too hard with most brands), and you can save even more weight. If you need coffee, instant coffee can make a decent iced coffee. If you need tea, you're probably out of luck.
 
echo8876 said:
nothing you can get rid of, but your tent, rain jacket and quilt could shed at least 700-800g if you want to upgrade, but it's going to cost you at like £1,5 per 1g.
Click to expand...
Yeah, no desire in upgrading- sleeping bag and tent are fairly new. I can shed weight in the tent area if I either take just the fly of the tarpstar or just the fly and groundsheet or just the inner of my ordos 2. But that is weather dependent. If I know there is only a small chance of rain, I do have another, lighter rain jacket that is fine for a light shower, but will wet out quickly in heavy rain and isn't very breathable. My other rain jacket is brilliant in heavy rain, and is my go to for everyday winter use here in the UK.
 
Always a treat to nose around someone else's kit list!

It's not easy to see what combinations of gear you're taking on any particular trip, as it's a combination of cycling and non-cycling gear, for different types of hiking, there are several alternatives listed, and you're calculating your baseweight using the lightest options.

I can't see any stakes or additional guying - are these included in your shelter weights, or are you just using rocks?

Your torch could be lighter - I find the 39g Nitecore NU20 adequate, but your needs may differ.

Ditto your powerbank(s) - you don't list a phone or satnav (which are also carried weight), but if it's just a phone and your torch that you're needing to top up, and you're not away from a power source for more than a week, you can get by with a smaller powerbank, or even none at all. With my phone in Airplane Mode (GPS still functions) and modest usage, I don't need a recharge on a 4-day hike. I still carry a powerbank, but just a Nitecore Carbon 6K at 87g.

Do you need a 75g pad pump?

Where's your compass?

Poo Shovel?

Any other internal/ditty/wallet bags used in conjunction with your pack?

Gear repair kit, tool(s), cordage etc?

Firelighting?

Insect protection?

Gloves? Hat(s)?

400g might be a lot for spare clothes - ask yourself how often you've actually needed to use them, and perhaps reduce?

I wouldn't say 400g is excessive for a rain jacket if you like its performance, but I don't see any waterproof leggings?

Camp/water shoes?

There are lighter options than your Sierra Designs pack, but with similar functionality, with a potential saving of 350-450g, but packs are a personal thing and it took me a couple of years to find one that I was happy with in that weight range.
 
mlambere said:
Never done bike packing but is weight as critical as it is when on foot as the bike takes the weight.
Click to expand...
To a degree, yes. But terrain is also a factor. If it's a fairly flat route and most climbs are gradual, then weight doesn't matter. If it's hilly/mountainous, weight is a bigger factor, and hopefully your chosen gearing will compensate. For bikepacking trips, my lowest gearing is 19", which will get me up most things, but will still have a bit of hike a bike (especially if I'm underbiked for the given terrain).
As mentioned above, size is a bigger factor and my biggest struggle. I ride a 46cm (extra small) bike, so space is at a premium, and therefore a lot of my stuff packs up small. But I still have a lot of bags compared to someone who has a larger bike. I can fit a max of 4 litres in between my handlebars- so that is either my sleeping bag (which I don't like to compress that much but will for an overnighter) or my tent (either, but does not include any poles) with some electronics crammed in, the rest are in my top tube bag. My repair kit lives in my frame bag, and is on the bike permanently. I can fit my phone and some gels/small snacks in there as well, but not much else. My sleeping kit (minus sleeping bag) is on one fork, cook kit and first aid/toiletry kit on the other (i tend to take my firemaple for anything more than an overnighter), poles and food in the cargo pack, sleeping bag on one side in a 10 litre pannier, spare clothes (cycling shorts, sleeping clothes, socks) in the other. I could fit more in my cargo pack and lose my fork bags, but then I lose the ability to use my dropper post and most of the weight is centred towards the rear of my bike and I prefer to keep it more balanced. Rain jacket is shoved in the front pocket of my handlebar bag for ease of access. Water bottles are on the downtube and in 1 x stem bags, the other stem bag has my water filter and easy access snacks.
If I'm only off for an overnighter, and I know the terrain (and know I won't need my dropper post), I wil just use the cargopack, frame bag and handlebar bag as I won't need an extra set of cycling kit, will take the alcohol stove, and shove my sleeping bag in my handlebar bag and everything else in the cargopack.
When I take my son, the big guns come out bag wise (plus stuff strapped everywhere)- 22 litre panniers, 10 litre fork bags- he's only 4, so I need to carry everything (except for some toys- those go in his little saddlebag and handlebar bag). But it's flat, so doable.
 
dovidola said:
Always a treat to nose around someone else's kit list!

It's not easy to see what combinations of gear you're taking on any particular trip, as it's a combination of cycling and non-cycling gear, for different types of hiking, there are several alternatives listed, and you're calculating your baseweight using the lightest options.

I can't see any stakes or additional guying - are these included in your shelter weights, or are you just using rocks?

Your torch could be lighter - I find the 39g Nitecore NU20 adequate, but your needs may differ.

Ditto your powerbank(s) - you don't list a phone or satnav (which are also carried weight), but if it's just a phone and your torch that you're needing to top up, and you're not away from a power source for more than a week, you can get by with a smaller powerbank, or even none at all. With my phone in Airplane Mode (GPS still functions) and modest usage, I don't need a recharge on a 4-day hike. I still carry a powerbank, but just a Nitecore Carbon 6K at 87g.

Do you need a 75g pad pump?

Where's your compass?

Poo Shovel?

Any other internal/ditty/wallet bags used in conjunction with your pack?

Gear repair kit, tool(s), cordage etc?

Firelighting?

Insect protection?

Gloves? Hat(s)?

400g might be a lot for spare clothes - ask yourself how often you've actually needed to use them, and perhaps reduce?

I wouldn't say 400g is excessive for a rain jacket if you like its performance, but I don't see any waterproof leggings?

Camp/water shoes?

There are lighter options than your Sierra Designs pack, but with similar functionality, with a potential saving of 350-450g, but packs are a personal thing and it took me a couple of years to find one that I was happy with in that weight range.
Click to expand...
I'm a bikepacker first and foremost. But one of my very good friends has no desire to go bikepacking (though she is an avid cyclist, she would rather ride on road), however she does enjoy hiking and backpacking, and she's taking on my first backpacking trip. So my lighterpack at the moment, is a list of everything I own for the various types of bikepacking trips I go on, with a couple of added extras I have since purchased for backpacking (mainly the 2 x backpacks and set of trekking poles).
The trip my friend is taking me on is an overnighter, so I chose kit that I would take on a bikepacking overnighter. So for me, that's my alcohol stove- I keep a small lighter in with each stove, so the weight includes it. Same for tent weights- stakes, guylines, repair patches etc, live in the tent bag and were weighed with it included.
The pump also doubles as a light for my tent- I'm not a huge fan of using my headlamp in the tent.
My watch has a compass, and is what I'll be using for navigation if needed.
Weight of first aid kit and toiletries (including sunscreen and some sort of insect spray) include the dry bag they are in, same for the powerbank (inc charging cables for watch and phone). I do want a way to charge my phone as I need something to listen to in the background to fall asleep- usually this is an episode of Buffy.
Forgot about hat and gloves, not going to lie. I'm not worried about rain trousers. Due to my own personal/family circumstances, the longest I'm able to get out at any one is for a long weekend and if weather is looking that awful on the lead-up where it's likely to be a wash out, I'm re-scheduling. A day of rain or chance of showers, fine whatever. My shorts are quick dry, and I'll have a spare pair for anything more than an overnight.
Not worried about camp shoes to be honest.
I also have an atom packs pulse, which is what I'll be using.
 
rivers said:
I'm a bikepacker first and foremost. But one of my very good friends has no desire to go bikepacking (though she is an avid cyclist, she would rather ride on road), however she does enjoy hiking and backpacking, and she's taking on my first backpacking trip. So my lighterpack at the moment, is a list of everything I own for the various types of bikepacking trips I go on, with a couple of added extras I have since purchased for backpacking (mainly the 2 x backpacks and set of trekking poles).
The trip my friend is taking me on is an overnighter, so I chose kit that I would take on a bikepacking overnighter. So for me, that's my alcohol stove- I keep a small lighter in with each stove, so the weight includes it. Same for tent weights- stakes, guylines, repair patches etc, live in the tent bag and were weighed with it included.
The pump also doubles as a light for my tent- I'm not a huge fan of using my headlamp in the tent.
My watch has a compass, and is what I'll be using for navigation if needed.
Weight of first aid kit and toiletries (including sunscreen and some sort of insect spray) include the dry bag they are in, same for the powerbank (inc charging cables for watch and phone). I do want a way to charge my phone as I need something to listen to in the background to fall asleep- usually this is an episode of Buffy.
Forgot about hat and gloves, not going to lie. I'm not worried about rain trousers. Due to my own personal/family circumstances, the longest I'm able to get out at any one is for a long weekend and if weather is looking that awful on the lead-up where it's likely to be a wash out, I'm re-scheduling. A day of rain or chance of showers, fine whatever. My shorts are quick dry, and I'll have a spare pair for anything more than an overnight.
Not worried about camp shoes to be honest.
I also have an atom packs pulse, which is what I'll be using.
Click to expand...
Very interesting, I am do cycle but my main enjoyment is long distance running. Re the bike packing aspect I would always fear that some local charver will nick my expensive bike as it will be outside the tent.
 
mlambere said:
Very interesting, I am do cycle but my main enjoyment is long distance running. Re the bike packing aspect I would always fear that some local charver will nick my expensive bike as it will be outside the tent.
Click to expand...
i usually see zero people when hiking outside in the UK (not in settlements), which is honestly, quite strange.
 
mlambere said:
Very interesting, I am do cycle but my main enjoyment is long distance running. Re the bike packing aspect I would always fear that some local charver will nick my expensive bike as it will be outside the tent.
Click to expand...
I have a small lock that lives in my tool bag. Same with any friends that I go with, so we tend to awkwardly lock our bikes together to make it more difficult and noisy for someone to walk off with them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top