Starting from scratch, suggestions welcome!

[Jonathan Ballinger]

Hi everyone. I've recently decided to take up backpacking again, but it's been about 10 years since I last did anything. Boy oh boy has gear come a long way since then! I had lost all my old gear years back when my basement flooded, and never replaced it because my ex-wife wasn't into camping at all. Since I'm divorced now, I have all this free time on my hands and a relatively flexible budget. I've purchased a ton of gear based on trolling these forums, but I know I still have a ways to go and areas in which I could improve.

http://lighterpack.com/r/68r0tc

I already plan on making certain changes (kevlar tree-straps, light weight top and under quilts to replace my heavier bag/pad combo, etc.)

Any other suggestions are very welcome though. Thanks!

[Ken Thompson]

Boots.really? Any thoughts on hiking in low top running shoes?

Unless that pack is comfort supreme, you can find lighter and not give up a frame or a comfortable hip belt.

Multi tool and a Mora. Both probably overkill.

Kitchen has room for improvement

Ditch the 100' feet of cordage. And ditch the majority or all of the duct tape.

I hammock and would ditch the tyvek for a sit pad for no weight penalty.

Main thing. Get out, have a good time and think about your gear when using it and what it could be doing better for you, if anything.

[Katherine .]

is the second s/s top a dedicated sleep clothes?

GSI cookware is heavier than similar hard anodized aluminum is. +1 on shaving weight there.

Your bag is on the heavy side. Quilts work well with hammocks. But what do you have for underside insulation? The Stratus? That's heavy. and probably awkward for a hammock (though comfy and cheap!)

Enjoy! You've got a least what you need to get out there.

[Jake D]

take the sharpening stone out of the Mora, ditch the leatherman.

Get some Dyneema woopie slings for the hammock. (man hammocks are heavy). ridgerest type pad.. since you're off the ground

20* quilt for 10+oz off the sleeping bag.

skip the 100' cord.

one T-shirt. Exchange for some insulation..light weight puffy.

skip the soap. water and hand sanitizer is plenty.

+1 on the boots.

[Michael Gunderloy]

You can save a fair amount of weight on the hammock…Hennesy may call that thing "hyperlight" but that's marketingspeak. If you switch to something like the Grand Trunk nano & a cuben tarp from ZPacks (well you said you had a flexible budget…) there's about a pound of savings to be had there.

[Link .]

Here is some general info to help you in case you haven't come across these links already:
Mike Clelland(NOLs instructor and author, his books are very good),he has some great free videos on lightening up be sure to watch(his clothing system,the entire contents of his pack,water treatment and part 1 and 2 on the dinky stuff for ideas),this is an article he wrote The fastest way to backpack weight loss ,this is pmags Lightweight Backpacking 101 and The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge .These are some other articles and videos for you to check out

Backpacking for Cheap: Gear for the Gearless

Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day

Lightweight Backpacking 101: An Introductory Manual for Lightening Your Load Today (1st Edition – August 2001)

Cheap Ultralight Gear List

Oregon Field Guide: Ultralight Hiking

Lightweight Testimony: Lighter, Farther, Faster
Jamie Shortt talks about his progression and shows his gear list for each stage, Lightweight Testimony: My Journey into Lightweight Backpacking
CleverHiker Light weight Basics
CleverHiker Trail Skills

Andrew Skurka has a very good website with trips and gear lists for you to check out, here is a talk he gave at google
Ultimate Hiking Gear & Skills Clinic
His book is worth checking out also
The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Techniques to Hit the Trail

[Steve Genest]

Welcome back, Jonathan. I was away from the trail for 40+ years, so I identify. Get some gear and get out there!

[Jonathan Ballinger]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've made a few changes accordingly, and have managed to eek it down to 11.4 lbs base weight, which I'm happy with for now. Anything lower would require a good bit more of an investment than I've already made (new quilts aren't cheap.)

http://lighterpack.com/r/bqp5q5

I really do love the pack I'm using. It is supremely comfortable, and I love having the plush hip belt and straps. I could drop probably 2 pounds by changing to frameless, but I'm not ready to go that route yet. Maybe next year though!

[Katherine .]

There are lighter packs that still have frames. But if you're loving that pack, enjoy!

[Michaael Gingras]

Maybe its just me but i didnt see a water container do you drink whit a straw atached the filter directly?

Good work on lowering your load

Also you may consider a cuben fiber tarp and hammock

What you need to keep in mind is that as a rule of thumb your big 4 aka Shelter / sleeping bag /sleepin pad-quilt / and backpack determime around 80% of your weight .

you should get the lightest one possible in the confort zone you are willing to go -always compare whit other poeple list an item you think is light may actualy be heavier than another choice

Also i vote to drop the 100' cordage
maybe keep 20' if you really feel better about having extra .

You have 2 dry bag ,if you whent whit a cuben fiber full seam taped for exemple you would not need any other dry bag than for food ,no pack cover or bag liner The arc blast is a good exemple and i think that it can hold up to 25 pound load quite good

Hicking in shoes also become easy and make for a more enjoyable trail in my opinion

You could also try to use the dri duck as a wind shield alone depending on you it may work i didnt try them but my Helium 2 rain jacket happen to block wind enought i dont need a separate wind shirt

Personally i would only use canister stove on longer than 5 day trip
or in reverse liquid feed mode in -12C max temp to melt snow or because when its cold you just want your meal fast lol colder than that and i'd jump to a liquid gaz stove.

So you can always tweak the small stuff but at that pack weight it does not make a big difference unless you get down the big stuff

Here is my list but im a tent user
http://lighterpack.com/r/6ii17

Hope it help and anyway the goal is to have fun doin what we love !

[Author]

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