golite ion – packing and modifications?

It's big. In SUL style I could probably do 10 days out of it at a relaxed pace. I've done 3 easily already at race pace (a lot more calories).

Cut the straps shorter (they are so long!), trimed off one of the loops on the shoulder straps, no haul loop since it frayed already anyway. I just drop my bladder right in there next to my back and it works fine. Loops for treking poles sound good, that might be my next mod.

It's a basic pack but it's durable and I find the shoulder straps way comfy compared to most day packs.

Hello,
the small hook and strape (key holder) on the inside can be looped through the holes found on the top of some hydration bladders. For instance I have a Platy hoser bladder, which I loop the hook through then attach it to the hole for the hydration tube. Went for a 10 mile speed hike last weekend and it worked like a charm.

Christopher,
Please inlighten me on how you get 10 days out of your Ion. My way of thinking must need adjusting as I can not see 10 days food plus gear in this pack. (I just got one for 1-2 day trips)
You have my full attention!
Thanks,
Mikie

sub 4lbs baseweight, 2.4L platy, 30k calories. Stuffed full but it zips. That would do 10 days or so at a leisurely pace I think.

You have to be pretty darn committed to SUL to get there though. Good to lows around freezing, a bit under maybe.

Would you please share your gear list for the sub 4lbs baseweight.

Christopher:

A full list will be useful to us. Thanks in advance.

I'll try to get one for you guys. It's all in excel so I'll have to strip it out to text. It's not for everyone, IE I have only a WP/B bivy sack, no tarp.

I do know that 9 1/2 pouunds of food and a 2L Platy took up just under 2/3rds of my 1400 ci bag, (about 900 ci).

If you wanted to make the food lets say 17-18 pounds for the 10 days you would be up to about 1400 ci.
Your platy at 2.4L would easily hit the 1400 ci mark.

A sub 4 pound base that packs down to 100 ci, I would love to see that.

2.4L platy = the 2+L platy filled all the way up. 88oz or so. Call 10 days of food 15lbs and we're close no? I have fit 13lbs of food and gear including an esbit stove in it before and some of that was bulky (bagels etc). Esbit is half a tab a day.

It wasn't really meant to be a contest, just an estimate. If I was hiking most places I probably wouldn't carry a full 2L platy all the time either but I always fill it up biking so I don't have to stop as much. I cover ground between water stops much faster and frequently there is no water for 30-40 miles or more. Either way I will post a gearlist and you all can disect. Basic list is simple:

Arc AT
Skaha Plus
1/8"x40" ThinLite
Montbell Bivy
First Aid/Hygene/Emergency Fire kit (~4oz)
MP1 or SteriPen Adventurer (prefered)
Platy hoser cut short
Rain gear (modded DIAD, MLD Mitts, GoLite Reed Knickers)
Light
Stove (Sterno pot, DQ spoon, BPL ti stove and windscreen, alum lid)

Rest is food, pack is a large so golite claims 1600cubes?

Feel free to rip it apart, I've got thick skin.

EDIT: Whoops for got the camera. 5.5oz usually around the neck but included in weight calcs anyway. I won't take pictures if it's buried and I have to stop.

Christopher,
Many thanks for the gear list. One more Question. 30K worth of food must contain some high cal.foods. Please fill me in.
Thanks
Mikie

109.5 calories an ounce was the average for the 13lbs of food load. If it wasn't so hot on that trip I could have brought more chocolate ;) The snickers got a bit melted but they still tasted good.

Dinners are usually angel hair pasta or couscous in freezer bag cooking style. The sterno pot will do a whole box of couscous just fine as long as you stir it up in the bag well.

Here's a rundown:
King Size Snickers
King Size Payday
Olive Oil (for dinners)
Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Poptarts
Lay's Potato Chips
Clif Shot Bloks Black Cherry (Caffeine)
Oberto Beef Jerky Teriyaki
Summer Sausage
Salted Macadamea Nuts
Dark Chocolate M&Ms
Peanut M&Ms
Gatorade Glacier Freeze
Einstein's Chocolate Chip Bagels
Peanut Butter
Honey

Christopher,
I like your food choices. I have a massive sweet tooth and your list really caters to it. I have never considered trail food from a strictly calorie point of view. Not only does it make for less bulk and weight it also makes meals more fun. I have always taken the view that filling my belly was the point.

THANKS, I have learned a new way of looking at provisioning
my trips!

Mikie

Hey Chris,
Yeah, I would say you would be close.

I have been looking for what size pack I need to carry a 6-7 pound gear-list with 14 days of food, (say 25 pounds or 32 for total).

Right now I am up in the air on either a Golite Jam2 or ULA Conduit, or maybe even a Gregory Advent Pro.

I just need it to comfortably hold 30 pounds and still be able to move 30+ miles a day.

My wife has a Jam2 and I actually like the look of it quite a bit. Let me know if you need any pictures comparisons with a ion