Bushwalking gear and paraphernalia. Electronic gadget topics (inc. GPS, PLB, chargers) belong in the 'Techno Babble' sub-forum.
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Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 4:50 am
how would you describe the weight of your gear?
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 6:22 am
Usually in grams for individual items, but in kilograms (to one decimal point) for the whole pack.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 7:36 am
Lightweight
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:22 am
sthughes wrote:Usually in grams for individual items, but in kilograms (to one decimal point) for the whole pack.

that made me giggle
I would say on the lighter end of lightweight lol. It depends on where Im going and what Im doing. Some trips I could be closer to ultralight and others Id take the kitchen sink
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:44 am
Well to the heavier side, I haven't bought new gear in over 2 decades
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:54 am
At the beginning of a walk....heavy and at the end of the walk ......b....heavy

Actually being a fairly new hiker I've wondered about this question.
My pack contains -
Bag, SI Mat, SI Pillow, Reactor, wool thermal pants, poly thermal zip neck top
2 man tent (2.8kg), 3m sq. tarp
rain jacket, rain pants, spare polar fleece jumper (100 weight), spare socks, Polar fleece beanie
Trangia, cup, headlamp, compact LED lantern, first aid kit, PLB, compact knife, multi tool.
Trowel, .5L fuel bottle, sunscreen
Food
Sawyer filter and bag, 3 litre hydration pack (filled)
This comes out including the pack at about 19kg. So my question is what weight category does this fit?
(I was thinking above medium.)
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 9:23 am
yes i'd say medium heavy
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 9:28 am
I had a slow day yesterday and I got out the kitchen scales and did some weighing. My gear weight, no consumables, but does include everything I wear/carry from boots to hat when I leave the car park is 15.1kgs. This is my summer weight. I put myself in the medium weight range. Trying to get my gear weight down even further but don't want to compromise too much on safety and comfort. When I walk, I am completely self sufficient and I don't rely on anyone else's gear when walking in a group, ie always have my own PLB, first aid/repair kit, GPS, compass etc.
Biggest weight I have taken off my shoulders in the last 12months is going from a 80l to a 60l pack. Saved over 1kg.
Roger
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 9:30 am
Even though my pack is still relatively young, it features a very interesting bouquet. With blackberry, anise, spices, tobacco, and powdered cocoa, this pack begins with an inviting charm. Of course, the nice tannic structure that Macpac is famous for is there, but a little more refined this time because of a nice balance with the acidity and a trace of saline.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 11:26 am
Jeez Norts, 50 litres is close to what I consider a daypack in winter.
I have tried getting a summer loadout into my Breakout and it is tight and that is supposed to be a good 55 to 60 litre pack ( although maybe WE use a very small litre when measuring) Truth is my load really doesn't change much from summer to winter when packing for the High Plains, winter just gets an extra warm layer usually. maybe I should do more beach and coastal walking.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 11:44 am
Norts, the pack change is a good start, leves no choice. Lots of 'traditional' items can be much lighter or aren't really needed. In tas 'some' stuff needs to be a bit heavier but not all. When I went thru the WA's last April (iirc) I had 13kg in a 40L(?) One Planet Vertex.. nothing ridiculously light and a few days food left at the end. Iv'e tried to go lighter but its getting pretty retentive and i refuse to bother
I'd say i'm approaching 'Ultralight Nirvana' (tassie wise)
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 11:53 am
doogs wrote:acidity and a trace of saline.
You pissed out into the wrong vestible?
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 12:02 pm
I am pretty happy with where am I with my gear for Tassie walking. I could spend alot of money and get a lighter sleeping bag, and a lighter tent, but my wife would just say to me if you want to carry less weight why not get rid of your belly.
Roger
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 12:08 pm
That's the survival rations, very important!
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 12:20 pm
Nuts wrote:Norts, the pack change is a good start, leves no choice. Lots of 'traditional' items can be much lighter or aren't really needed. In tas 'some' stuff needs to be a bit heavier but not all. When I went thru the WA's last April (iirc) I had 13kg in a 40L(?) One Planet Vertex.. nothing ridiculously light and a few days food left at the end. Iv'e tried to go lighter but its getting pretty retentive and i refuse to bother
I'd say i'm approaching 'Ultralight Nirvana' (tassie wise)

Hey Nuts,
Would be very interested to see a rough gear list- type of tent, sleeping bag, cook system etc. That sounds pretty impressive. How many days did you spend up there and was the weather kind? Any gear you wouldn't take again- or would look for a heavier/more durable option.
Cheers
Liz (have got this walk back into my head....)
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 1:04 pm
Everything is a bit modified Lizzy (I have more time to fiddle with gear than do long walks.) and there were a few compromises.
The 38L pack was packed solid, a bit of a chore but it gets easier day by day..
A bit hard to describe but the main ones (in saving bulk) were:
SL3 shelter (mesh 'skirt' mod)
Neoair/ DWR (diy) quilt 'thing' (this wasn't the best, warm enough but I think i prefer a waterproof bivy (used as pack liner as well)) and summer weight down bag i'd then use it with the cuban fly (DIY section of the forum). Iv'e since swapped the neo air for a Klymit mat which i find ok. The SL3 fly was in a bag strapped on the front of the pack (since modified the front pocket to fit the fly 'in' rather than strapped on).
Cladera Cone, 750ml Pot
The weather was ordinary for the first few days. I have montbell UL parka and pants which are PJ's if needed. Took a RAB event 'smock' style jacket and event pants, probably 600g's for both- they're fine for open walking.
I find it hard to quickly list gear as it all works together, is so much 'personal' tolerances (and changes so often) (and I seem to have gathered a lot of options..)
Food would have been abt 700gs a day. I think we had food for 8 days each so the base weight was around 7kg (so not 'U/L), a few changes have probably brought this down a kg, perhaps two since then... I'm thinking of making a pack, the vertex is tough but it's 1.4kg (modified) is relatively 'heavy'.. a friend did WA with his golite pinnacle & no dramas.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 2:35 pm
Thanks Nuts. Interesting to see what others are doing. Don't think I'll ever get that light but nice to dream- I camped up at Cygnus and froze in a Montbell ULdownhugger no. 3 - I've now gone with the WM Apache. I have an Aarn guiding Light which I love but wonder about the pockets/bits on more scambly terrain. Hmmm maybe I'll aim for my 40th next year
I guess I rate my gear as medium-ish
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 2:51 pm
Yeah, there is a big difference in how warm people sleep. The down clothes (and able to use a summer bag into the minuses) were the biggest change there for me.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 2:57 pm
what time of year were you were on cygnus? that no 3 isnt really a winter bag for cold places
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 3:42 pm
wayno wrote:what time of year were you were on cygnus? that no 3 isnt really a winter bag for cold places
I was up there in November and thought I'd be warm enough using it in combination with thermals and a down jacket but the wind/rain/hail/snow taught me a lesson- do not compromise here!
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 5:18 pm
I've got a Montbell 0 for winter
<----wuss
I don't want to carry more than 15 kg
Lighter in summer.
Medium?
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 5:54 pm
This question depends on far too much to answer.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 5:58 pm
norts wrote:I am pretty happy with where am I with my gear for Tassie walking. I could spend alot of money and get a lighter sleeping bag, and a lighter tent, but my wife would just say to me if you want to carry less weight why not get rid of your belly.
Roger
<3
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 7:09 pm
Always to suit my requirements for the walk ,distance weather etc,some things never change like pack, wet weather gear,sleeping bag, tent depending on solo or share , Thermarest Prolite 4 mat,stove eating gear and first aid kit and I always carry spare joxs sox and very cheap light weight fleece jumper and quality fleece pants for night time use out side or as extra layer if it gets really cold and a nice down vest regardless.
Sure I have forgotten something important but sans food I seem to be able to keep my starting weight around 15 kg more or less
corvus
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:09 pm
Being my gear is all older gear 15-20 kg. Depends on where and who accompanied me.
Do you count boots? They make a considerable contribution.
doogs wrote:blackberry, anise, spices, tobacco, and powdered cocoa
Is that all rolled in together? One heck of a puff that'd be
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:17 pm
Nice flavour from a Hooka
corvus
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:23 pm
My weight includes boots, walking clothes, gaiters, walking pole, only thing it doesnt is any consumable from food water to toilet paper.
Roger
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:29 pm
[quote="taswegian"]Being my gear is all older gear 15-20 kg. Depends on where and who accompanied me.
Do you count boots? They make a considerable contribution. quote]
Boots are on my feet and have never noticed them as an obstacle to walking (perhaps because boots were my school shoes in Scotland when in Primary years) I then had to have Beatle Boots

, I guess that Ages me however I wear Boots albeit lightweight ones with orthotics every day that I do not use my Walking Boots (which is restricted owing to health issues at the present

)
corvus
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 8:51 pm
I never considered boots a weight to be considered. Wearing boots for work its almost part of the anatomy. My Scarpas don't feel heavy on but I wouldn't like them hanging around my neck all day.
Beatle boots? Am I really showing my age? What ever are they? We'd wear hobnails to primary school! Niblicks to high school.
Must say the new pack designs are nice.
I've still got my original metal framed canvas and leather H frame. It only hangs on a hook. But that's an interest comparison to the one I looked at.
Mon 28 Jan, 2013 9:18 pm
taswegian wrote:I never considered boots a weight to be considered. Wearing boots for work its almost part of the anatomy. My Scarpas don't feel heavy on but I wouldn't like them hanging around my neck all day.
Beatle boots? Am I really showing my age? What ever are they? We'd wear hobnails to primary school! Niblicks to high school.
Must say the new pack designs are nice.
I've still got my original metal framed canvas and leather H frame. It only hangs on a hook. But that's an interest comparison to the one I looked at.
Beatle Boots were very expensive elastic sided full leather boots (cost six Quid + when I only earned around less than two) other name was Chelsea boots ,the were very similar to to our classic R M s

.
You missed out on this sartorial event I guess

more in to gum boots eh!!
corvus
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