Help me reach a sub 5lb base weight

[Mike Hopkins]

Here is my normal 3 season list. I know that the rain jacket is heavy, thinking about adding a hood to my myog tarp to solve that problem. My pack has been heavily modified and is about as light as I can make it, not bad for 50 bucks, but I would really like an MLD burn when I can afford it.

Mike Hopkins UL Gear List
(3 Season Ontario, 3 day/2 Night, -5 C and above)
# Item: Weight (oz)

Clothing Worn: 21.55
1. Helly LS poly pro T-shirt 5.10
2. MEc Soft shell Pants 12.50
3. Mec active polypro Shorts 2.70
4 .Mini Crew 1.25
Other Items Worn/Carried: 32.80
6. Watch 0.90
9.Camera w/battery & card (in pocket) 4.35
10. Photocopy of Map (in pocket) 0.75
11. Salomon XA pro 3d ultra 26.80
Extra Clothing: 25.15/21.15
12. Arcteryx Alpha SL 12
14. TNFDown Jacket 10/pati cap 4 8
15. Burton Fleece Gloves 1.50
16. Generic Fleece Cap 1.40
17. Mini Crew 1.25

Packing: 16.40
18. Mec Alpinelite 30 Backpack 14.00
19. MYOG SmallStuff Sack 0.20
20. MYOG small Stuff Sack ( tarp) 0.20
21. Mec Med linear Sack 2.00

Shelter & Sleeping: 29.6
22. BPL Cacoon 60 Quilt 10
23. 3/8" Sleeping pad – 38" trimmed 3.45
24. MYOG SILnylon Tarp 8×5 6.5
25. MYOG BUG Bivy 5.95
26. MSR NEDDLE Stakes (x8) 3.00
27. MLD 27 liteline guy Line&locks 0.70

Cooking & Hydration: 7.2
28. Evernew .90L Water Bottle 0.90
29. Platypus 1 L bottle 0.90
30. Katadyn Micropur, Purifications Tabs (6/day x 3 = 18) 0.45
31. Bear Bag (girz line 40' + Biner) 1.10
32. Fuel Bottle (4 oz cap.) 0.70
34. Molson Canadian pot and lid 1.2
35. Pepsi Alcohol Stove 0.50
36. wind screen 0.50
37. Dr Bonner's Camp Soap (micro-dropper) 0.10
38. Bic Mini Lighter with duct tape 0.60
39. Short Handled Spork 0.25

The list got really screwed up when I pasted it, sorry about that. Also I think some of the numbers are probably off. Most should be accurate based on other peoples gear lists and some scale use. I added some extra oz. though to compensate because I realize manufactures claimed weights are usually off.
I really want to try and get my base weight under 5 pounds, so any help is appreciated!

EDITED TO MAKE READABLE

[Robert Cowman]

lighter pack. like a zpacks blast
ditch the bug bivy. head net.

[Mike Hopkins]

Here is the rest/ the part that is directly after what is actually readable….

Essentials: 6.1
40. Compass(attached to pack).2
41. Mesh stuff sack for cooking .30
45.car key 0.9
46.Petzl E lite .95
47.spare contacts 0.5
49.Toothbrush .2
50.TP 1.5
51.toothpaste .2
52.gauze pads and ointmint .10
53.match book 0.15
55. sunscreen 0.20
56.ibprophen/ advil .30
57.Deet .2
59.razor blade .2
60.Ziplock bag 0.20

Consumables: 84.00
57 Total Food (2.5 days) 48.00
59 Fuel – 4 oz 4.00
60 Water – 1 liter 32.00

1 Total Items Worn/Carried (lbs.) 3.45
2 Total Base Weight (lbs.) 5.46/5.21
3 Total Weight of Consumables (lbs.) 5.25
4 Total Gear Weight Worn+Packed (1)+(2) 9.22
5 Total Carried Pack Weight (2)+(3) 11.02
6 Total Skin Out Weight (1)+(2)+(3) 14.47

[Kenneth Cowan]

TP
filter/tabs (aquamira in microdroppers)
car key (hide near car)
toothpaste (baking soda or nothing)

– also, do you need both the alpha jacket and TNF down?
– ditto, what robert said.

also, concerning MSR Needle stakes:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=2918

[Kenneth Cowan]

2 mini crews for 3 days?

[CW]

Why do you need a 5 lb base weight?

[a b]

Ditch the stove, pot, windscreen and stuff bag. Go cookless.
Carry a ziplock container instead to rehydrate food while hiking.
Ditch Petzl e-lite for a Photon stick a dime size piece of velcro to the photon and your hat for hands free light

[James Lantz]

A Gossamer Gear Murmur would cut your pack weight by half & is able to handle a 3 or 4 day gear set year round for me.

[Mike Hopkins]

A lot of those suggestions seem really good. I bring the down jacket for sleeping with because the quilt isn't warm enough for -5 type temps. I prefer a warm dinner for the same reasons. A warm meal is just awesome, going cookless is an easy way to go sub 5lbs though. I would love a new pack and the blast is a good suggestion, but I am going to stay with this one until I can afford a new one or can make my own.
My reasons for going sub 5lbs are kind of pointless I suppose. My main reason is probably the best. Last summer I went 100 kms in 19 hours total walking time. I feel that if I lower my base weight I could travel further or the same distance using less energy or in less time. It allows me to actually get into "wilderness" type situations even if I only have a spare weekend. Going along with this It makes trips that are usually week long become a lot shorter. I don't seem to have a lot of time for extended trips, so I like to pack in as much as I can in the time I can. The other reason is kind of shameful, I just like to see how light I can go and remain safe and comfortable. Its a bad reason, or at least not the best reason, but it works for me.
Thanks everyone
Mike

[JJ Mathes]

Chris Wallace
(simplespirit) – BPL Staff – MLIFE

Locale: NE GA / W NC

NEW Re: Help me reach a sub 5lb base weight on 02/10/2011 19:22:43 MST

Why do you need a 5 lb base weight?

WOW Chris, you're a BPL Staff member
This is the sort of comment I would expect on WhiteBlaze not BPL

Try offering the OP solutions or say nothing at all.

[Troy Ammons]

Why anyone would want to go 5# unless its a survival pack is beyond me, but go cuben, cuben, cuben and some M50.

Cuben pack
Cuben liner
Cuben tarp/poncho

Sub 3oz bivy.
Someone here built one. Cant remember who.

Cold food

[todd]

"Try offering the OP solutions or say noting at all."

JJ: Perhaps Chris asked the question so he could tailor his advice in some way?

Todd

[todd]

Mike,

I like your reasons to do 5lb!! Nice list, too. I won't even try to contemplate the kind of distance you can cover in a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow.

What do you use for a pillow?

Todd

[Dan Quixote]

JJ, in Chris' defense, I don't think he was questioning the validity of going <5 lb; He was wondering the OP's motivation for doing so. The primary difference is tone, and textual communication strips that from our words in a way that makes us all sound terribly rude at times.

-Daniel

[jim bailey]

Chris Wallace
(simplespirit) – BPL Staff – MLIFE

Locale: NE GA / W NC

NEW Re: Help me reach a sub 5lb base weight on 02/10/2011 19:22:43 MST

Why do you need a 5 lb base weight?

This makes me miss the days of old with BPL staff members who actually helped the UL movement & backpacked. Now we have staff members who are snarky, and post "Yoga" as gear of the year when they are not too busy posting "heavy" over other gear people are carrying while actually hiking.

Best of luck BPL, you will definitely need it if this continues.

[Jack G]

You might want to take a look at Steve Evans gear lists at Suluk 46, both for ideas on getting to your goal of 5 lbs. as well as for formatting your list. Also, you've got a 60' quilt for lows you say reach 23'. I'd definitely upgrade that before spending money on a new pack.

http://www.suluk46.com/adventure.html

[j lan]

Here's a guy that did it with an ion.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=13855

[Ken Thompson]

Speaking of the old days..

SuperUltraLight

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00138.html

And for when 5 is just too much

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/super_ultralight_cascades_sub_4_backpacking.html

And Chris W. tisk, tisk…

[CW]

Daniel was correct. I'm all for helping people out, but I'm not going to tell someone to get rid of a bunch of equipment without them having a good reason for doing so. If you've never even gone out with a 10 lb base, jumping straight to sub 5 could prove quite disastrous, and cause someone to hate backpacking forever. I'd prefer the OP enjoy himself, and his time in the Wilderness.

Back to the OP, I would not advise trying to go sub 5 in twenty degree temps. Having said that, if you're still interested I suggest Alan Dixon's site. He has a page on going sub 3 base in temps to freezing. Pay special attention to what he says about doing it, and what was necessary. His choices to throw out certain items worked because of where he was trekking. They may not be doable in your location.

[Mike Hopkins]

Thanks for the tips! As far as my sleeping system goes, your are totally right, the quilt isn't very warm, but paired with my down jacket, toque, gloves, fresh socks, hiking pants, and tarp pitched quite low I am fine getting through nights of -5 at the very limit, I prefer to hover around 0 however. I was not offended in anyway by the BPL staff member asking me why I wanted to go sub 5. I think that's a very important question. I had a look over all of those gear lists you posted and some of them seem like they can be quite helpful. If anyone has specific places where I could easily lose weight at a small cost I would love to hear them. I just can't afford to go cuben, or buy a pack right now. I was also thinking of stuffing some down into my synthetic quilt (keeping the synthetic insulation in too). Would this just be a pointless exercise and waste of down? Any ideas about that would be awesome.
Thanks again!

[Troy Ammons]

"getting through nights of -5 at the very limit"

The "getting through" part of your statement bothers me.
I guess the issue is there is no margin for error.

I would use your current quilt in warmer weather and try to find an
Ultra 20 for colder weather.

I would skip adding down and just save up for an properly rated bag
or quilt.

[Andy F]

Use sticks instead of stakes.

I didn't see sunglasses? Use the roll-up ones from eye doctor.

Carry a whistle.

[David Ure]

I can't add anything to the thread except to say that a 5lb base weight is incredible and quite frankly, kind of exciting. I certainly can't get there but if someone else can then great – I love to read about it.

[todd]

I'm with ya, David!!!!

[Mike Hopkins]

I guess what I mean by "getting through nights of -5 at the very limit" can be a little confusing. -5 is the max I can sleep comfortably with this sleep system, but I try not to push it to that limit. I.e I don't take this if I know for certain that is the avg. night time temp I am going to encounter, because than I don't have a back up. If the avg. temp and the forecast for the region I am travelling in is hovering around 0 C at night than I will take this system, knowing that the temp could go a bit bellow that, down to -5 C for example. Saying that, it is possible for it to go below -5C, weather is ever changing and unpredictable, and in those cases I know how to stay warm, like getting out of bed and going for a run and getting some food in me ect ect. I only have it labelled for down to -5 because I have taken it to those temps and been fine, but don't want to push it more than that. Maybe it should be labelled to 0C instead?

Ditching to down and getting a warmer sleeping bag may be a good option, but I feel like it isn't as diverse or multi use… maybe thats the wrong word, but you probably get idea. Perhaps a slightly warmer bag, and a lighter down jacket would be a better option when I have the money. What do people think about stuffing my synthetic quilt with down from thru hiker?

I always carry a whistle on me, and there is one of the whistle buckles on the sternum strap of my pack, just in case. Sun glasses aren't on there, but they should be on my items worn, if I am in a heavily forested area they may be left behind. Thanks for the help everyone
Mike

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