Pack weight

[simmo]

Hi there can anyone tell me what a realistic pack weight would be when
hiking , im finding it hard to get down under 17kg or is that around about
the going weight . my pack is a Kakoda 75lt if this helps.
looking for help on this .
Cheers Simmo

[ILUVSWTAS]

It depends on how many nights your going to be gone for? For 3-6 nights about 17kg would be normal. Alot of lightweighters would disagree, but for most of us this is a good average weight.

[Turfa]

It's probably best to talk about base weight..that is pack weight without food & water, as food & water varies so much depending on how long you are out for & water availability. There will also a difference between winter & summer loads.

I have spent a lot of time & effort (and $) getting my base weight down, & now carry about 6.5kg for summer & about 7.5kg for winter (non alpine, NSW winter). Certainly don't consider myself an ultra-lighter. This weight still includes a double wall tent (MSR Hubba HP) as I don't like hammocks or tarps.

with 3 days of food & 2litres of water that comes to about 11.5kg for summer trips

The general process I used was to.....
1. Look at every single piece of gear (& I mean everything....right down to the tube of sunscreen) & figure out if I had the lightest/smallest version that would do the job I needed.
2. Eliminate unnecessary gear eg. extra cooking pots, too much spare clothing

If you have some monely to spend, look at your Big 4 ..... pack, tent, sleeping bag & sleeping mat. You can save several kg just on these (but is can be expensive) Here is what I have

Pack - Osprey Exos 58 1050g
Tent - MSR Hubba HP 1300g
Sleeping bag - winter Marmot Helium 1050g
Sleeping bag - summer Marmot Atom 450g
Sleeping mat - Thermarest NeoAir 270g

So for summer that is just over 3kg ...my old bombproof Macpac 80l pack weighed more than that by itself !

Also, plan your food & water carefully. You need to have enough to cope with the unexpected, but you don't want to end your walk with 2kg of food still in your pack.

[Tony]

Hi there can anyone tell me what a realistic pack weight would be when
hiking , im finding it hard to get down under 17kg or is that around about
the going weight . my pack is a Kakoda 75lt if this helps.
looking for help on this .
Cheers Simmo

Hi Simmo,

I personally think that 17kg is far to heavy and I would like to second turfa's post, he has some very good tips for reducing pack weight.

A suggestion is to post you gear list for other members to make suggestions as to where you can save weight.

My big four weights range from 1.4kg for insect free warmer walks to 5.5 kg for four season snow trips, one three day snow shoe trip my pack weight was around 11-12kg including food and water, we had temps of around -18C.

My current three season big four kit is
Golite Jam2 50l (old and modified), 595g
Zpacks Hexamid with pole and pegs 488g
Thermarest Neoair Reg, 410g
Sleeping BPL 180 Cocoon quilt, 555g
Total, 2048g. Notes I have used this big four kit in Alpine country and have experienced heavy rain, strong winds and sub zero temps.

Tony

[simmo]

Thanks to you all this has been a help as i repacked my pack and found i was 2 kg
lighter . i must say you do tend to pack gear that is not essential for the trip.
but i think we have all done that if we are truthfull
Cheers And thanks once again Simmo

[ILUVSWTAS]

Maybe I should have added 17kg is about the average for someone walking in Tasmania. Although i've come around somewhat, you simply wouldnt last long down here relying on ultra light gear.

[MichaelP]

Depends on how young you are too! Us 18 year olds are quite okay to start a six day hike with a 20+kg pack... extra chocolate is worth that extra few kilos right?
Plus, consider the heavy pack extra fitness training for later in life when you do harder walks.

[simmo]

Maybe I should have added 17kg is about the average for someone walking in Tasmania. Although i've come around somewhat, you simply wouldnt last long down here relying on ultra light gear.

ILUVSWTAS thanks for that now i know im on the righr track now i have got my pack down to 14.1 kg,s, just by weighing
everything. everything im taking weighed 10.1 kg,s and i was supprised to know my pack weighed 4 kg on its own.
Cheers Simmo

[vagrom]

It might help as seeing total weight divided into two parts: the Big 4 and then the rest. Work on them separately. The former may by now be non-negotiable, in which case you have to take care of (eliminate) from the pennies, the rest of the stuff.

Big 4 should be between 5 to 8 kgs; 7 would be ideal for 1) offtrack Tasmania for 2) an extended walk: 5-12 days (5 days being for 4 nights);

That leaves about 10 kgs to play with for the rest as, 16-17 kgs really is pretty damned good as an ideal weight, in consideration of the above 2 criteria.

Last edited by vagrom on Wed 29 Jun, 2011 7:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[climberman]

Plus, consider the heavy pack extra fitness training for later in life when you do harder walks.

Or, a quick way to destroy your knees !

[Nuts]

Sounds like your doing alright simmo, 17kg isnt bad by traditional standards. I now have the gear to go much lighter but it only seems to happen if i concentrate on doing so. A few luxuries and camera gear can add up fast. Still, sans SlR I would feel safe enough with the gear I have to make a 7/8kg base weight max (nothing in it 'U/L').

Have you thought of a new pack, you could save at least a kg if not two (if not 3) could be a good next move?

Plus, consider the heavy pack extra fitness training for later in life when you do harder walks.

Or, a quick way to destroy your knees !

Good call. Carrying excess weight on your back is not sound fitness training, you get to a point where you are as fit as your anatomy will allow. Once this is reached your joints take the extra burden. Eventually, given there is no effective grease and oil change, your shockies take up (and wear out under the) load where the muscles cant. Once the shocks are worn, you will be walking bone on bone. Of course, this only happened to the 'old school', everything's changed right

[Nuts]

PS Multi-use gear is a good weight reducing concept :

green_men_2__29903_thumb.jpg (9.19 KiB) Viewed 22625 times

[Tony]

Have you thought of a new pack, you could save at least a kg if not two (if not 3) could be a good next move?

I agree with Nuts.

A question for the Tasmania bushwalkers.

Would a One Planet Shadow which is made of 200 gsm canvas hold up to Tasmanian conditions, the 60l version would be less than 2kg but heavier than 1.45kg.

Tony

[baronessbunyip]

I have been looking for a new pack recently and found that none of the outdoor shops in hobart stocked the shadow model (or the WBA) even though they had other one planet packs.

[Nuts]

I had the Umbra, took it out for a week. I had seen the rip iluv pointed out on another Umbra. I got paranoid about the scratches the Umbra had after light use, they did look awfully close to being rips. I'd imagine dyneema reinforced nylon would be much stronger. Sold it last week and bought the vertex to replace it. Its a shame, the Umbra was comfortable and the suspension handled weight ok, its a shame that OP didnt try dyneema, i get the feeling that they wont use this 200gsm canvas for long....

[ILUVSWTAS]

Tony, MJD has a Shadow and a WMA OP.

His Shadow has lasted quite well, the WMA lasted one trip. 4 days into it a large hole was formed by puncture.

[ULWalkingPhil]

What about the Osprey Exos packs, I was considering purchasing a Exos 58 pack, but I don't know how durable they are with the fabric. I ended up picking up a Aarn pack of eBay last night for a bargain price, so the Osprey is of my list now. The Aarn pack is not as light as I would have liked, but the pack has one of if not the best concept in backpacks so I've been told and read. It's still a lot lighter than my Oneplanet McMillan.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well look, we do ALOT of off track walking. Most people wouldnt dream of it, so any gear is gong to be ok. But some of the punishment we give our gear requires it to be of the highest standard.

It all depends on what your intentions are.

[Tony]

Tony, MJD has a Shadow and a WMA OP.

His Shadow has lasted quite well, the WMA lasted one trip. 4 days into it a large hole was formed by puncture.

Thanks ILUVSWTAS,

That is interesting as the WBA is made from the same 200 gsm canvas material.

Tony

[ILUVSWTAS]

Sorry, I thought there was a B in that name somewhere.... WMA is a pearl jam song.

Yes it was interesting, it LOOKS a decent pack, but when you feel it, it does feel a tad on the thin side.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Same here, we do a lot of off track hikes, last weekend a had my trousers slashed by the time I got back to the car, they where old pair and I was expecting that to happen, hence I did not wear my better trousers, I don't think anything would have survived what we walked through. My Deuter Futura 28 daypack held up against all I've put it through so far, I just don't find it a very comfy pack to wear

[Nuts]

'Jesus greets me, looks just like me' lol

Anyhow yer, not the Umbra, whatever, all cut from the same cloth though aren't they?

I have an exos (46?), the only thing good as a bush basher is that it was cheap. Used it a couple of times in summer, great summer pack for open country walking.

[Penguin]

Tony, MJD has a Shadow and a WMA OP.

His Shadow has lasted quite well, the WMA lasted one trip. 4 days into it a large hole was formed by puncture.

Thanks ILUVSWTAS,

That is interesting as the WBA is made from the same 200 gsm canvas material.

Tony

I have taken the previous model Shadow off track in Tasmania a bit over the last 12 months. No issues so far and a very comfortable pack. I have not weighed in accurately - but it is around 1.5kgs. When I bought it the sales person wanted me to buy the WBA, as that is better for weights over 15kg. I could not get it into his head that the idea was to be under 15kg. I would be happy to recommend the Shadow. Its narrow profile means that it is less likely to get slashes in off track use compared to a wider and taller pack.

Penguin