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Fist of all, can you tell me where you get the light water (23L !)?

On a serious note, for 6 days I would be at 18lbs and am not sure I consider all of my choices UL.

Hee, hee, Dave, you know that was a typo. I meant TWO liters of water.

(Why haven't "they" invented freeze-dried water? – or at least freeze-dried IPA beer?)

Dave, do you have your gear list posted in that page? I'm interested to see where you saved weight.

If it's by using a tarp I'm of the "tenting persuasion" and we tenters have fears of bugs and snakes in the night and windblown snow any time. Plus, I got tarping out of my system in my early (and poorer) days of backpacking.

Freeze dried hot water exists.

You dump the package into your mug and add boiling water.

–B.G.–

Bob, I can always count on you for sage advice. ;o)

Actually when I see that you have commented I always read them B/C I know they come from long experience. This time you have exceeded your usual wisdom with "sage" advice.

Reading your list and weight, I feel like I might be missing something – not anything big, just something around a pound or two. Assuming ~13 pounds for food and water and the nice selections for sleep, pack and tent, are there some extra items among the other things you're packing?

Not critiquing, and not really caring myself about any arbitrarily defined magic number, but curious, and it seems like the answer to your question – at least some people's answer – would depend on what makes up that extra pound or two.

Cheers,

Bill S.

Bill,

For one thing I often carry retort pouched food like tuna, chicken, etc. for freezer bag cooking. It's definitely not lightweight.

Also I do carry an extra day of food – "just in case"

And I love cheddar cheese for lunch, and cookies, and PBJ mixed in a refillable tube, and honey in a small squeeze bottle
Plus pita bread or "sandwich rounds"

(I live to eat, not eat to live)

Also I carry an Olympus TG 1 compact camera that is not too light. Shoulder mounted pouch for camera also.

And then the inevitable batteries for headlamp, Steripen and GPS

Plus down jacket (see my avatar) when in the mountains of Utah, Nevada or California

and a bike bottle (for electrolyte drink) in a silnylon front mounted zippered pouch with map, Silva Ranger compass, micro headlamp, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, "etc."

REI Kimtah eVent rain/wind parka and a nylon baseball cap

My stuff sacks are light silnylon or 3 Outdoor Products light dry bags for down bag and jacket and extra clothing.

And I have 2 side pockets added to my pack for frequently used items.

It all adds up!

I do try to keep clothing to a minimum with only one extra pair of socks, one brief and T shirt (plus a sleeping T)
Long pants and long sleeved shirt are always worn and just get rinsed out when possible.