Man we went packing this weekend pack# 42# carried it about 4 miles . bad rain gear got wet ,boots wet / Lots to learn about lite weight back packing
JT...when I geared up 3 years ago for bivvy hunts I spent quite a bit of time reading forum chat on the "lightbackpacking" web-sites. It's just like being on Tradgang...you can research there. Do that and you will be able to decide what components you want. I decided on Tent, Bag, Mattress, and other things (even learned to make my own alcohol stove for pennies) from the help I got on those sites. Also, you have to spend money to get the goods and dont skimp if your serious about gettin out there. Good Luck.
Backpackinglight.com articles and forums. Great resource.
I am bragging but my 5 day hunting backpack only weighs 30 lbs,if you need some help,PM me and I will help you out.
Howdy Pilgram, nobody said it was going to be easy, but can be fun with the right gear.
Drop me a PM with specific questions and I"ll help you as much as I can. I pm'd you a bivy list about a year ago.
One thing to point out--you can spend a lot of money and time in that quest to eliminate the last few pounds. Concentrate on the big items (shelter, bag, boots, clothing, stove) and then just carry fewer items. I carry extra weight in my pad (because it helps immensely with sleep) and in my pack (because I have to haul meat...sometimes), and my big savings are rarely carrying a tent, using a down bag, fleece clothing, and virtually no change of clothes. Obviously, it's a lot cheaper for most of us to lose that last 5 pounds off our guts than out of our packs.
Things that can do double- or triple-duty get to come along on more trips with me. Things that are single purpose need to be absolutely essential -- not merely convenient or "nice to have along" -- and should be as light as possible.
Simplifying meals will usually help a lot in saving weight, in ingredients, utensils, stove, and fuel. A person can go a long way for a few days on Ramen noodles, instant oatmeal, dried fruit, peanut butter, pilot bread, dried soups, etc. Save the tastier, longer-cooking, heavier stuff for car camping, canoe camping, and horse/mule/goat packing.
If you're going hunting with someone else, one small camera will suffice. Really, it will.
Tents come in several varieties, including cheap, weather tight, durable, and light. None of them -- none of them -- are all four of these. You can have weather tight, durable, and light, but it ain't ever gonna be cheap. Spend the extra bucks now on a tent, if you think you want to do a lot of backpack camping in all conditions. Ten years from now, you won't be sorry you did. Ignore this advice, and you'll be sorry the next time it rains and blows hard on your punkin' little head while you curse the tent maker.
I'd like to see alot more on this subject,in the west this seems like the only way to get away from the crowds and into good hunting
A good friend and I do at least one backcountry hunting trip every year. The area we go into isn't super distant from the trailhead (about 5 miles) but the terrain is wickedly rugged.
Last year we invited a couple of his cousins along. Their packs going in (for a 5 day/4 night trip) weighed over 80 lbs! They were even packing in 6-packs of Mtn Dew! Needless to say, these guys were hurting long before the hunt ever began.
For the last couple of years I've been going through the process of lightening my load.I've got a good int. frame pack thats made for hunting and hauling meat out.I've also got a tarp/tent/wood stove setup that should weigh in at about 2lbs.6oz.Still need a better sleeping bag and to break in my new hiking boots.I learn a little more every year,usually through pain.Hopefully I'll get it all figured out while I'm still young enough to take full advantage of all I've learned.Tim