Bushwalk Australia

Hi guys,

I've made up a list that I think I would take on the Overland Track, going September next year. Have I missed anything I would need and is there anything I have that I don't. Trying obviously to keep weight to a minimum but comfortable. Any suggestions where I can save more weight.

Packing

Backpack - Crux AK57 - 1300 grams
Dry bag - S2S - 60 grams

Total Weight - 1360 grams

Sleep and Shelter

Tent - Big Sky Chinook - 1270 grams
Sleeping - EE Revelation 10 - 586 grams
Sleeping Mat - Terma-a-rest XTherm - 430 grams

Total Weight - 2286 grams

Clothing Packed

Montane Event Jacket - 400 grams
Montane Featherlite Overpants - 107 grams
Montane Fleece - 240 grams
Montane Antifreeze Down jacket - 410 grams
Smartwool Microweight Crew- 80 grams
Smartwool Microweight Bottom - 80 grams
2 x Merino Wool socks - 100 grams
2 x Merino Underwear - 140 grams
Montane Beanie - 50 grams

Total Weight - 1607 grams

Essentials

Toothpaste, toothbrush, loksak - 65g
Towel: MD Micro - 78g
Compass: Suunto Global - 36g
Headlamp: Zebralight H52w - 55g
Batteries: Eneloop AA, 27g x4 - 108g
Knife: Opinel No. 8 - 50g
Trowel: Lawson Equipment Little Deuce Scoop - 22g

Total Weight - 486 grams

Hydration

Sawyer Squeeze Mini + 1L pouch - 113 grams
Sawyer 2 L pouch - 40 grams
Platypus Soft Bottle 1L x 2 65 grams

Total Weight - 218 grams

Emergency

First aid kit - 270g
Survival/repair kit - 176g
Cord - 70g

Total Weight - 516 grams

Cooking

Optimus Crux Lite with Terra Solo Cook System - 272 grams
Lighter and waterproof matches 24 Grams
Sea to Summit foldable X-Cup 45 Grams
Titanium Spoon 12 Grams
MSR Knife 48 Grams
Salt & Pepper shaker - 10 grams

Total Weight - 411 grams

Electronic

Fuji XT-1 @ 14mm - 702 grams
EVO3 Punks Rick Carbon Fiber Tripod - 1100
PLB - 166 grams
Iphone 6+ - 226 grams

Total Weight - 2194 grams


Base weight -9026 Grams

Worn Clothing

Shirt - 240 grams
Pants - 270 grams
Hat - 80 grams
Socks - 85 grams
Undies - 70 grams
Sunnies - 18 grams
Gaiters - 100 grams
Boots - 1600 grams

Total Weight - 2463 Grams

Anything to keep the electronics charged?

You have the ability to carry a lot of water, there is plenty of water.

What do you carry everything in? Any dry bags etc?

List looks pretty good.

wildernesswanderer wrote:Any suggestions where I can save more weight.

Nope, there are a few minor extras that the pure gram counters wouldn't take but nothing extravagant and the overall weight is very good. As a comparison my equivalent weight for that trip would be 10.82kg - main difference being a heavy, bombshelter tent (split between two) - though much less camera gear.

If you really wanted to reduce effort from there, the best thing would be to go to trail shoes (with appropriate sock combinations) instead of the boots however this isn't for everyone and boots will work very well.

Only thing I would seriously consider adding (if not already in the first aid kit) is an emergency bivy / space blanket / vapour barrier such as this: http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/survival/shelter/survive-outdoors-longer-emergency-bivvy.html. This will give an enormous boost to warm if used as a vapour barrier liner during sleeping (just in case you get a really cold night) - as well as being great as a traditional space blanket for emergencies.

Great list BTW - I can see a lot of effort has gone into it.

Yeah I've worried about the tent, if my wife decides to come I'd probably get a more bomb proof tent and split the weight. Not sure about the the one man tent yet. Looking into Hillebergs as well, but will be almost a kilo extra which is cool.

Ah yes iPhone charger but the phone is more for emergency if I happened to need GPS or something. PLB is only if I go solo. So ditch the Platypus and 2 L Sawyer as well and keep the 1L

Have a set of trail shoes that are 874 grams too. Comfortable as, love them more than the boots but not as waterproof

wildernesswanderer wrote:So ditch the Platypus and 2 L Sawyer as well and keep the 1L

There is not a lot of weight in them but if your counting grams........

I walked the whole track and used only a 600ml water bottle while walking and and an extra 1ltr sawyer bladder for around camp use. I could have been very pedantic and only used the sawyer bladder but I liked the safety of having two. In fact now that I think of it I may have also carried an extra collapsible bladder! Perhaps I should practice what i preach

wildernesswanderer wrote:PLB is only if I go solo.

I really don't understand this logic. If its not with you, it can't save you. Take it.

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I wouldn't be too worried about that tent on the track itself, it is mostly a bit more protected.

Different if you want to be hanging out on the ridges - it'd probably still be ok - but I am a bit conservative in my tent choice for Tassie.

wildernesswanderer wrote: So ditch the Platypus and 2 L Sawyer as well and keep the 1L

Minor weight penalty really. Sometimes it is nice to have more than enough water in the tent for dinner and the next morning. Up to you really.

wildernesswanderer wrote:Have a set of trail shoes that are 874 grams too. Comfortable as, love them more than the boots but not as waterproof

I am a relative late-comer to shoes due to crap ankles (i do like boots but none do what I want - e.g. light, freedraining, supportive). However not being waterproof is not an issue for going to shoes if this is what is stopping you. Get your socks right and your feet will be just as warm, and probably a bit drier overall (The waterproof boots just hold in the water that you WILL get in them sooner or later). For socks what works for me:

- Liner plus thick wool (Darn Tough). I find this surprisingly warm even when wading in and out of cold water fairly regularly. I'd just do this for the Overland track.
- Liner plus neoprene socks. I only use this if conditions are very, very wet, overall I find the wool socks getting wet just as warm or warmer in most situations.
- Liner plus Vapour barrier. This is for drier and colder conditions (e.g. snow). Very, very warm .

YMMV of course.

Strider wrote:

wildernesswanderer wrote:PLB is only if I go solo.

I really don't understand this logic. If its not with you, it can't save you. Take it.

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I would have to agree

Ok so add the PLB back in, and a extra water bottle.

With the tent option would it be ok for the Western Arthurs walk as well or would I want something more bomb proof for there? Don't want to save weight on a tent that won't handle the conditions that Tassie could throw up. Hoping to move over to Tassie within a couple of years so main reason for trying to get the gear for not only next year but stuff that will last over there full time

wildernesswanderer wrote:With the tent option would it be ok for the Western Arthurs walk as well or would I want something more bomb proof for there?

Hmmm. I have no doubt someone is going to post they did the Western Arthurs five times with nothing more than a polycro tarp, carbon fibre chopsticks and shoelace guylines.

My opinion only (for what it is worth) is the Western Arthurs is considerably more exposed and committed than the track, and that part of the State gets reliably even worse weather. I'm not sure to what conditions the Big Sky has been proven in, but I would seriously consider if you need a more bombproof tent for the ridges and the southwest.

Much of the time you won't need a really strong tent in Tassie. However you'll never again regret carrying the extra weight after the first time you have to spend a day scared whitless within the tent with 100kmish winds, snow and ice outside (all on a 'fine' weather forecast).

With the 'mountain' style tents you'll find they trade weight for strength (though not always durability) and also for liveability. Well worth considering that if you ever get the pleasure of spending three days straight caught in your tent with one other person as a few extra square centimetres become very welcome.

When I was a boy I did the WA's with nothing more than a piece of old canvas and sticks as a shelter...............

I've got no advice, but how do you find the AK57? I've been interested in Crux packs for a little while..

beean wrote:I've got no advice, but how do you find the AK57? I've been interested in Crux packs for a little while..

I don't have the pack, quilt or tent yet, most of the other stuff I do. I like Aarn packs but they are all around 2kg or just under, saw these on another post that made me interested in them.

I do know a bloke who did the WArthurs with a bivvy (and no tarp) when he was young and keen and foolish. You can get away with the ultra lightweight option but the odds are against you. Just depends how much you're prepared to suffer if/when the weather turns on you - which is it guaranteed to do at some stage.

wildernesswanderer wrote: I like Aarn packs but they are all around 2kg or just under.

Don't let this put you off. Aarn packs carry much differently (read: better) to a regular backpack and you won't even notice this extra weight. Weight feels completely different when the whole load isnt hanging off your back. It would at least be worth trying one on for a comparison.

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wildernesswanderer wrote:I don't have the pack, quilt or tent yet, most of the other stuff I do. I like Aarn packs but they are all around 2kg or just under, saw these on another post that made me interested in them.

That's not a fair comparison that's comparing apples to oranges. A more accurate comparison would be this

Cryx AK57: Size 62l Weight 1.3kg

Aarn Featherlite Freedom: Size 57l Weight 1.4kg
Aarn Natural Balance: Size 65l Weight: 1.5kg

The above weights don't include the pack liner and the front pockets.

So yes the Aarn's are heavier, but not as much as you suggested.

Gusto wrote:

wildernesswanderer wrote:I don't have the pack, quilt or tent yet, most of the other stuff I do. I like Aarn packs but they are all around 2kg or just under, saw these on another post that made me interested in them.

That's not a fair comparison that's comparing apples to oranges. A more accurate comparison would be this

Cryx AK57: Size 62l Weight 1.3kg

Aarn Featherlite Freedom: Size 57l Weight 1.4kg
Aarn Natural Balance: Size 65l Weight: 1.5kg

The above weights don't include the pack liner and the front pockets.

So yes the Aarn's are heavier, but not as much as you suggested.

So ditch the whole balance system of Aarn to save the weight. I may even go a heavier pack for durability but as I said trying to keep weight down as much as possible. I may still go Aarn, I do like them have a Liquid Agility day pack and love it, plus being in Melbourne means I can see Tim at BPL and get it fitted correctly.

You would be stupid to use an Aarn pack without the balance pockets IMO. With them, the whole system is vastly superior to any other backpack. Weight is irrelevant when you have a pack that simply works so well.

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Strider wrote:You would be stupid to use an Aarn pack without the balance pockets IMO. With them, the whole system is vastly superior to any other backpack. Weight is irrelevant when you have a pack that simply works so well.

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That's sort of what I was getting at, defeat the purpose of the whole Aarn system if you ditched the front pockets.

At the moment even if I went a Aarn pack my whole base weight is still under 9.5kg so seriously still looking at them. I could also go 500gram more in the tent and be under 10kg so looking at Tarp Scarp as well.

I would worry less about your packs weight, and more about having a pack that is actually comfortable and suits your needs.

Im not a photographer but I imagine it could not get much better tha an Aarn pack with the Photo Pro balance pockets. Comfortable. No weight on the shoulders. An incredibly adjustable hipbelt. Photo gear very easily accessible.

My previous pack was a Golite Quest (1400g). I haven't looked back once.

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I wasn't suggesting that you use the Aarn pack without the front pockets. What I was saying is that it's not a fair to compare the weight of it to a standard pack.

The Aarn harness even without the balance pockets is most likely to be more comfortable than the crux. Which is worth it for the extra 150-200 grams. Whether you choose to use the front pockets is your call, you'll buy them anyway.

If the weight of the Aarn was really a concern then you could order a Cuben Aarn pack.

Thanks for all the help. Will still be looking at the Aarn packs, for a 700 gram disadvantage maybe just easier to carry stuff anyway. The other tent I was thinking was a Scarp 1 or 2 only because they seem tried and tested, The Big Sky is rated 4 season with the 3 poles or 3 season with 2. But until I look at one I must admit it concerns me that it's that light

That extra 700g is definitely not a disadvantage if it means you can walk all day with a full load and not be sore come dinner time

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Strider wrote:Im not a photographer but I imagine it could not get much better tha an Aarn pack with the Photo Pro balance pockets. Comfortable. No weight on the shoulders. An incredibly adjustable hipbelt. Photo gear very easily accessible.

I am, and it's a brilliant system. The weight of the pack is more than overcome by its comfort.
There are, however, drawbacks - the harness system is both complex and a little fragile. You have to be careful when pack-hauling. Well, just more careful than my occasional 'throw the bag over the edge' approach. Plus, the pockets can be a nuisance when scrambling - it slowed me down a lot in the WArthurs, for instance. There are plenty of spots there when I had to remove the pockets in order to climb.
Still think it's better than any other pack.

north-north-west wrote:

Strider wrote:Im not a photographer but I imagine it could not get much better tha an Aarn pack with the Photo Pro balance pockets. Comfortable. No weight on the shoulders. An incredibly adjustable hipbelt. Photo gear very easily accessible.

I am, and it's a brilliant system. The weight of the pack is more than overcome by its comfort.
There are, however, drawbacks - the harness system is both complex and a little fragile. You have to be careful when pack-hauling. Well, just more careful than my occasional 'throw the bag over the edge' approach. Plus, the pockets can be a nuisance when scrambling - it slowed me down a lot in the WArthurs, for instance. There are plenty of spots there when I had to remove the pockets in order to climb.
Still think it's better than any other pack.

Yeah that's the only thing that held me back from getting an AARN pack, the pockets are do not look ideal for scrambling or skiing.

Anyway, the Crux is an alpine pack. That means that you'll be sacrificing comfort compared to a backpacking pack, they don't tend to have the beefiest of suspension, despite whatever glowing review you might read online. You may already be aware of this but I think it's worth pointing out.

Might have been me mentioning the Crux pack on here?
That's right, climbing pack, narrow, thin harness. And there's no doubt the Aarn concept is sound.
As far as a basic pack for somewhere steep (ie WA) I doubt there would be much better commercial offering than Crux offers.
Light, tough material, narrow, great options for hauling and cinching tight (though the top strap clip is still not heavy enough).

Why not use the Aarn you have WW?, My Crux is the 47L (I get at least 20kg in there regularly).

Nuts wrote:Might have been me mentioning the Crux pack on here?
That's right, climbing pack, narrow, thin harness. And there's no doubt the Aarn concept is sound.
As far as a basic pack for somewhere steep (ie WA) I doubt there would be much better commercial offering than Crux offers.
Light, tough material, narrow, great options for hauling and cinching tight (though the top strap clip is still not heavy enough).

Why not use the Aarn you have WW?, My Crux is the 47L (I get at least 20kg in there regularly).

The Liquid Agility is a 30L pack, probably not big enough for 5-6 days worth of gear, and the harness is not the same as Aarn's backpacking packs

Fair enough.
I have that same Montane down jacket. Personally would leave that out in sept but then.. if standing around at dawn..

Good list, have fun!

Yeah the down was added for sitting around the huts or tent and while exploring early morning and late evening taking photo's.