Newbie Gear List

Here are some inexpensive suggestions to lighten up:

1. Replace the Jetboil with a alcohol stove(MYOG) and Anti Gravity Gear Pot (~$10)
2. Replace the water filter with Aquamira Drops (~$10)
3. Cut down on the heavy med kit (you should be able to get it in the 1-3oz range and still have enough) and the repair kit.
4. Cut down on the hygiene kit (repackage?)
5. I know you said you wanted to take it, but I would drop the chair. I hate sitting without a backrest too, but I don’t spend much time around camp, and usually eat standing up.
6. Either drop the cup, or use it as you cookpot
7. Drop the MightyLite Mini
8. Replace the Leatherman with a 0.6oz Gerber Mini LST (~$15)
9. Replace the Precip with a ~5oz Dri Ducks Jacket (~$15)

Hi, Mark,

What region do you hike in? For summer, at least, think about replacing the tent with a tarp. An oware 5×8 silnylon tarp is 6.5 oz, which is a saving of over 2 lb.

Replace thermarest with a $16, 4-oz torso pad, http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/nightlight_torso.html?id=gKfRE7s6:75.83.69.196 , saving 12 oz.

Replace the water filter with ClO2 tablets, saving 11 oz. Replace toothpaste with baking soda.

That's almost four pounds of weight saved, and all of this is relatively inexpensive stuff.

-Ben

I pack in the NE. Tarp will take me another year or 2. City boy and like the protection. I know the mm of nylon will stop a bear or such, but can't see it; it ain't there. Stupid philosophy but works for me.

The filter has been considered to drop. Next trip out, I am bringing it with the Tablets to try them out. If it's good, then bye bye filter.

For me, it's not a goal to get as light as possible. It's lighten the load and enjoy. I know that comment is going to twist some people but I just looking to cut another pound or so. Much better than 55lb first overnight trip. HOLYSH@T that was heavy. I had to pack a lot for my wife. Very petite woman.

Thanks for the info. Please keep it coming.

Just saw that someone suggested I get a DriDucks Laminate Jacket for the rain. 5oz and $15??!! How are they? Is there a specific model or something?

Thanks

"I pack in the NE. Tarp will take me another year or 2. City boy and like the protection. I know the mm of nylon will stop a bear or such, but can't see it; it ain't there. Stupid philosophy but works for me."
It's a trade-off. I hike in California, mostly in the summer, so the tarp is basically insurance, and I don't even expect to need it. Pros and cons of switching from a tent to a tarp, as I see them:

pro:
– much less weight and space
con:
– no bug protection
– can be time-consuming to set up and take down
– can be difficult to set up if you don't have convenient trees and don't hike with trekking poles
– not a comfortable way to wait out a long, strong storm

"For me, it's not a goal to get as light as possible. It's lighten the load and enjoy. I know that comment is going to twist some people but I just looking to cut another pound or so."
Hey, it's just a hiking style, not a religion :-) But if I had to carry 55 lb instead of 23 lb, I would have a lot less fun. I wouldn't be able to hike as far, and I'd feel like hell going up hills.

-Ben

The "Hiking style" is the best way to describe it. You're 100% right about the lighter the load the more enjoyable it is. And hills are not too bad anymore. Still sucks but not as much.

Thanks