Light? What am I doing wrong?

So 3705g with jacket. This tells us half the story. What else are you hauling around? Does that plush, thick pad work OK in that bivy?

I don’t own the pad yet. I’m a big lad, and a side sleeper, which is why I have my eye on this particular pad.
No shop here in Aus stocks it, so I can’t even test it.
Thanks for the question though, I will double check this.

I’ve just done some more calcs… and I’m up to 6.5kg, without electronics and some other stuff (such as bowl/utensils)

Here’s my current list. I hope an image is ok?

View post on imgur.com

edit: there was a calculation error in my first image. All good now!

It’s a lot of spare clothes.

Never planning on making your own hot meal or drinks?

Why are you carrying an extra pair of hiking pants? Why two merino shirts? Two undies? You aren’t going for a 3 day trip, everything will get dirty anyways no sense in a bunch of spares.

I wear my hiking clothes all day and when I get to camp, I change into some clean, dry clothes. Wear a thin merino top and bottoms to sleep. I wash my dirty hiking clothes in a stream or river and let them dry overnight. This allows me to carry minimal clothing but still keep things clean when needed.

Don’t mix up your hiking clothes and your camp/sleep clothes. You want to have clean clothes to change into every night.

That columbia jacket sounds really heavy. You want something with good warmth for the weight.

If the temps will be mild, carry a light puffy jacket that is warm for the weight. Hiking during the day you will not need it, the jacket comes out in the evenings and mornings when it gets cold. If you think you will get bad weather then carry a very light fleece in addition to your puffy jacket to keep you warm while hiking. Keep a light puffy jacket dry in your pack so if you get soaked and wet you will always have something warm and dry to change into.

Hi Mo,

I sort of remember your first thread but can remember if you planned to sleep under a roof of some sort or in the open.

The reason I’m asking is that your bivy is rather heavy but could be right if it has to be rain proof and not just splash/spray resistant.

Mo says:  A fellow hiker challenged me to get my gear weight down below 6kg,

This may be the source of your problems—a fellow hiker.  My fellow backpacking friends encourage me to just get out and could care less about how low my pack weight is . . . or how heavy; “getting out” being the pertinent challenge.

Whatev’ Tipi, he’s asking.

I am curious about this trip and it’s urban aspect. If that means homes and laundry facilities you certainly don’t need all the extra clothes.

Never planning on making your own hot meal or drinks?

Nah, I’ll be eating well this trip. Restaurants most nights etc. There will be a few nights when I won’t be near civilisation, but I’ll just carry pre-made food and eat it cold (e.g. sandwiches)
Will carry a bowl/cup/thingy, though.

Why are you carrying an extra pair of hiking pants?

Not sure. I wanted them to be my clean pair, for either sleeping and/or more formal events, such as night services in the temples (this is a pilgrimage, after all). Walk all day, sometimes in rain, get to temple, bath and get changed into clean clothing etc.
They are, however, 450g! This surprised me. I have been reconsidering taking a spare.

The marino shirts I wear as outer-layers, ie t-shirts. I can certainly take 2 instead of 3. Same for undies. Socks I’d like 3, as I expect ~12 days of rain.

The jacket.. 650g… I could spend ~$300USD and get a down jacket. This would save me about 300g. Indeed a decent weight saving but the cost irks me.

Some have asked re the urban-ness.
The 1200km is littered with huts for pilgrims, they look like this;
http://www.geocities.jp/henrogoya/koyapage/02/02.html

Although this is on the rough end.

Concrete floor plus roof. Other nights I’ll be sleeping in car parks, or train stations, or bus stops. Finding usable grass might be hard, especially as I’d want to get permission from the owners first (ie a front yard).

This hike is 85% road, 15% dirt.

My fellow backpacking friends encourage me to just get out and could care less about how low my pack weight is . . . or how heavy; “getting out” being the pertinent challenge.

Am I on the right website? :)

I agree with your initial assessment—

I hope the biggest mistake I’m making is thinking I’ve made a mistake :)

My point is (and the point of my previous post), is you haven’t made any mistake no matter what you plan on hauling.

My point is (and the point of my previous post), is you haven’t made any mistake no matter what you plan on hauling.

I know what you mean. This pilgrimage isn’t about gear. That is such a small part of it.
However, it is this website that I turn to for gear-related questions.
Hauling 30kg 1200km would be a mistake. Not carrying anything, ie 0kg, would also be a mistake. I’m hoping to find a balance between comfort, weight, and cost.

If the trip is more urban oriented then I can understand wanting to have an extra set of clean, decent looking clothes.

I know that down jackets can be very expensive. I don’t know what your jacket is like, but I would take a critical look at how warm it is for the weight, if it provides the warmth you need, and if the same warmth can be provided at a lower weight in an affordable way. Uniqlo (if you are able to get that brand) makes some inexpensive down jackets, pair that with a cheap light fleece and you would be set. It’s better to have two insulation layers than one for adjustability and so you can keep one of stowed away and dry,

Your list is not bad for that length of time and those conditions. Some of the items seem a shade on the heavy side, so maybe you could shave up to 1 kg off the total – at a price.

But you have to ask why you are going. Is the primary motive to have a UL pack lighter than your friend’s suggestion, or are other parts of the trip (including being comfortable) more important?

Cheers

But you have to ask why you are going. Is the primary motive to have a UL pack lighter than your friend’s suggestion, or are other parts of the trip (including being comfortable) more important?

As I said, I’m trying to find a balance.
I believe UL means I increase my chances of completing the pilgrimage, as it will be physically easier.
But cost is an issue. Well, a consideration.
I won’t go and buy another brand new bivy, for example, just to save 100g.
I do think I’ll get a 200g Uniqlo down jacket, though! (thanks Justin for the suggestion).

Actually, one of the biggest things I’m indecisive about is 3 season vs 4 season. Thermarest Xlite vs Xtherm. I do most of my travelling here in Australia, which doesn’t have a real winter! I’ve an infant son, and getting away to real mountains (e overseas) is going to be tricky over the next few years.

Sharing your gear list here is not a bad idea, but for the rest I agree with those that already mention that you shouldn’t focus too much on your gearweight. You should just enjoy your trip.

While I come here very regurlarly to read about interesting advise and ideas, my base packweight for longer trips is ± 8 to 9 kg’s. Sure, I could get much lighter, but I’m certainly not convinced that it would add to my enjoyment or/and my comfort.

My philosophy for every trip is to first list the basics I feel absolutely need, regardless of weight.  Then I look at those items and decide what my lightest options are for each (I am a gear hoarder).  Once I’ve decided on the basics and determined a weight, then I decide what additional “comfort” items or whatever I’d like to bring and pack accordingly.  My weight limit varies for each trip depending on terrain, length, purpose, etc.

I use my down jacket as a pillow, fwiw.  Its almost better then the pillow i have in my bed at home.  If you’re not panicked about temps where you need to wear it to sleep, it’s a multi-use item.

I do most of my travelling here in Australia, which doesn’t have a real winter!
Really ?
Or maybe you meant that you travel in the areas here that don’t get a real winter…