Wilderness
My backpacking gear lineup. Any suggestions/help/criticisms (I can take it!).
Ok, I am definitely not an ultralight guy! I combine fly fishing with my backpacking, so my fishing gear will always be with me. But, I am 100% open to suggestions on ways to lighten my load, without sacrificing some comfort. I am also open to other gear suggestions, such as backpack. I really like my Mystery Ranch Radix 57, but I am open to alternatives without sacrificing comfort, or could be more comfortable, lighter, more appropriate for my needs.
I just got back from a 4-night excursion in Colorado, and most all of my backpacking and hiking will be there, New Mexico, and Arkansas. So, please fire away with recommendations, criticisms, opinions. I want to be a better backpacker! FYI: I am 6' 215lbs, 56yo, and I am built like a pack mule (I know this plays a part)
Too many clothes. You need one outfit to hike in, one to sleep in, and a layer system. Everything looked pretty good till there. I imagine that takes up a lot of space in your pack, maybe enough to get a smaller and lighter one. I'm also side-eying the deodorant and saw but hike your own hike.
I kind of agree with this being the issue (if you're wanting to cut weight). Two pairs of shorts and a pair of pants and a pair of sleep pants is a lot of unnecessary weight. Just the heavier pair of shorts and the heavier sun hoodie would reduce your pack by over a pound. The only other thing would potentially be the saw - you may use it, but if you don't use it regularly, I'd consider leaving it. Also, no waders?
I wet wade as long as I can do it comfortably. When itās too cold I use a pair of backcountry skinz, my gravel guards and boots. I do not like waders.
I know it's not a huge amount of weight but I'd ditch the patches in the repair kit. I just carry a few feet of duct tape wrapped around my trekking pole and that's enough to fix a rip in my tent or a hole in my sleeping pad until I get back and can do a proper repair.
I know a lot of people recommend gaffers tape too as it doesn't leave any residue after you remove it.
Duct tape will absolutely not repair a sleeping pad???? What a wild thing to say. Unless we're talking about a closed cell foam pad
I did not view the gear list but if you have an inflatable pad, ditching 12 grams of pad patches is insanity. A rip in a tent, sure, but a hole in a pad a full grown adult intends to sleep on? No way
For my saw I epoxied and fine-wired a jigsaw wood-cutting blade to a plastic hilt, specifically a spacer used for keeping bicycle disc brakes from locking closed when a wheel is removed. Weighs (IIRC) < 10g.
Also not UL but I keep trying to dial things in. I went on a backpack fly fishing trip last month. 8 days/7 nights. With food and water I was about 31-32 lbs which included a chair (Nemo Moonlight Elite) and camp sandals (Xeros). Making another trip in two days for 4 days/3 nights so will be a lighter load. Many good suggestions already made. One thing I would do is go through all the gear you took and make three piles. One pile being things that are essential, pile two are things you didn't use, and pile three are the things you used but could have gone without. Now start eliminating things from your 2nd and 3rd pile and see how you end up. With the first pile see what cost effective ways to replace items with lighter alternatives. There are lighter options for most all your gear so it depends how much you want to spend and your heaviest category is probably your food and water so it makes sense to make wise choices there.
You asked about a pack, I have three for different trips (UL, L, and heavy). Zpacks Arc Haul is my UL pack, Osprey Exos 58 is my light pack, and Osprey Atmos 65L is my heavier pack.
Most of the fish/trout I catch while backpacking are smallish and I don't use a net. I do bring a Ketchum tool which helps with the release. I use a button up shirt (Wrangler ATG Mixed Material) which holds a fly box, tippet, nippers, etc. in my shirt pockets. I do bring a small fanny which holds my lunch, water, other essentials which allow me to be gone all day. I try not to get in the water. If I do, I use my trail runners I hiked in and change into my camps sandals when I get back to camp.
As a general comment, it doesn't sound like you are doing big daily miles, you are still young and strong (late 60s here) so you can handle the extra weight much better than someone weaker than you.
Thanks for your input!! It is greatly appreciated!
I also stay in my trail runners/gaiters while fishing, and I am only in the water when I have to, or stream crossings. My runners dry quickly, and like you do, are kicked off as soon as I get to camp. For now, I am going to stick with my wade belt and hip pack rig, but I am going to reduce the amount of gear I carry in my hip pack. I have a water bottle holder on my wade belt that handles my smart water bottle well. The net, I just stick in the belt on my back. I do like having the net.
Which pack do you find yourself grabbing the majority of the time? Like you said, carrying weight is not a problem for me, but at the same time I still want to be doing this/be able to do this, when I am in my 60s like you. I train just so I am able to continue doing this! It really helps to hear from guys that are a little older than me, that are still out there, so thank you, it helps keep me motivated.
I am decently dialed in on my gear, and I have enjoyed seeing all of the suggestions, a lot of it makes great sense. I like your 3 pile idea. I have already eliminated things that I just didn't touch on my last outing. My camp chair will always be with me!!! haha
Most of the time I use the Osprey Exos 58. It is a nice blend of comfort and load carrying ability while being lightish. Its good from about the mid 20s and below but by about mid 30s it starts to feel uncomfortable. I only use the Atmos for shorter trips and carrying more gear. Packs are like shoes, what fits good for one person may not work for another. If you have an REI near you, try them on to see how they fit you.
The main thing to be able to keep at it as we get older is to stay active. Last summer, on a trail I met a 72 year old guy doing about a 25 mile loop carrying a 50lb pack. Then you have guys like Fred Beckey (see his movie "Dirtbag" on Prime) who was climbing into his 90s.
Well Iād do the backpack last even though itās a hog.
Do you have public transit where you live, or maybe your own car? If so, place the helinox chair in front of your car or a bus such that it gets run over.
11.5 oz is heavy for a pillow. Stuff sack with clothes or swap to lighter.
Who is going along with you? You can switch to a 1 man tent but thatās pretty expensive to save 7oz or something like that to get the xmid1.
Donāt bring the power bank on shorter trips. Phone should last three days or so in airplane mode.
Ditch the UCO mug and just use your pot for everything.
Can ditch the CNOC though I always bring mine I get it.
FAK, controversially can be around 1.8-2.5 oz. Repair kit can be lighter.
Poop kit needs a trowel.
Clothes is a mess. With that quilt, most of the non-snow season here in CO, I probably wouldnāt bring sleep base pants and just one fleece (preferably alpha) top. Youāre bringing too many clothes and what you have is heavy. 17oz puffy is heavy. My Uniqlo was cheap and is also kinda heavy but itās only 10.8oz in L compared to yours at 17. The base leggings are awfully heavy. My Patagonia leggings are heavy and too damned hot most of the time and they are 7oz. Look around about how to trim down what clothes you bring. If you want to spend money, get an alpha top and alpha bottoms to cover you for base layers and leave them home on warm trips. One pair undies, worn. Two (three max) pair socks, one worn. Rain jacket is light.
Knife kinda heavy, SAK classic is famously .7oz.
Saw: only bring this where campfires are legal and you plan to have one. My buddy has one and honestly, where allowed, itās great. Because usually the wood is picked over but you can get great little logs off of deadfall that you couldnāt really snap without a saw.
Fishing: I have my kit down to about 1.2 lbs and everything goes into a ziplock instead of a bag. 5wt setup. Net: obviously tough to not bring one. Iāve been thinking of using my back/sit pad, 4 sections of zlite ccf, as a ālanding matā for the trout, because nets are heavy, but Iād love to always have one because of how much easier it is to gently handle the critters.
No!!! Not my chair! Haha Thereās nothing more satisfying and peaceful than sitting in my chair making my morning coffee next to a stream or river.
Yeah, my pillow is heavy, but so comfortable. All great suggestions, I will definitely make some of these adjustments. I do have a Bogler trowel in my poop kit, it is calculated in the weight.
Do you have any recs on packs?
Thanks for taking the look, and your solid advice!
Oh also I donāt see a bear hang or bear bag like an Adotec. If Iām just hanging, my cord is 50ft and 2.5 oz, sack is .25 oz. You need one of those for CO to be legal. RMNP and a couple other places require hard side but thatās rare. I also think most people here leave the bear spray at home.
Packs? Like I said, Iād rather get everything else dialed first. If youāre digging your baseweight at 15 lbs but hating it at 12 because you miss the items, then that will guide your purchasing decision. I bet MR is probably a great pack for a 22 lb baseweight. Letās not forget carrying 4 days of food.
Any pack meant to carry 12 kilos isnt going to save a TON over the MR (a ātonā being relative to our scenario here) theyāre usually kind of in the 30oz class, but anyway:
Dan Durston Kakwa
KS ultralight Omega
Gossamer Gear Mariposa
Superior Wilderness Designs I forget the model.
There are others. Any of these I listed you can work directly with the owners so you get a good idea of the pack will meet your needs.
I feel like the easiest places to edit would be packed clothing, toiletry kit, poop kit, camp towel, repair kit, and first aid kit. Those items are about 6.75 and I think with some thoughtful editing you could shave a couple of pounds off that number.
The pump/lantern and the 20000 mAh power bank feel excessive for a four night trip.
Some ānice to have but do I really need themā items like the saw and the collapsible cup would be worth a second floor as just those two items are about .8 lbs.
The pillow is obviously really heavy for a backpacking pillow (sea to summit Aeros premium large pillow would be a great investment), and yes a pack upgrade for a lighter but still framed and comfortable pack (perhaps something from superior wilderness designs or ULA equipment) would make a lot of sense.
Iād say that the chair is unnecessary but, were I 57, Iād probably want a chair as well.
I like all of your suggestions! I am going to start trimming the fat in my kits and clothing. I will take a good look at a new lightweight pack. My current pack is 3.8lbs, I know I can shed at least another pound off that number. I will look at Superior and ULA packs.
Personally I wouldn't worry, some is just personal choice. You're out to fish. I'm out to just be.Ā
I have ULA Circuit and like it. Gave a Catalyst to my grandson, couldn't make it work for me. I'm small 5'5, 135 lbs, 73 y o. Got a Radix 57 it's worth the extra weight for me . When shopping for it saw someone ask "when you're on yhe way out and most of the food is gone does the pack feel that much lighter?" Maybe if the trip is long. The Circuit is now a loaner pack for nephews.Ā
My first aid and emergency/repair is 5 oz more than yours. Been tuning that up for 33 yrs. Not changing.
Never forget why you go- keep the chair. Ditch the pillow. Leave deodorant in the car with extra undies. Some things I'd trim a little on some trips but nothing eart shaking.Ā
I don't thru hike, check off a list, no FKT. I wander, dawdle, bushwack. In the northeast and dry camp often. Bear canisters either suggested or required so go always. Still close to your total without a chair.Ā
How do you manage food and water at low a wt. for 4 days?
The weight listed of my full pack does not include food/water. My food bag consists of freeze dried meals (Peak), jerky, trail mix, instant coffee packets and bullet proof coffee powder, and baggies of Reeseās Pieces. Iām going to trim some of my kits, eliminate some of the back-up clothing, drop the saw when I know Iām not going to build a fire, etc.
I do like my MR Radix. I have my doubts I can find a pack that is just as comfortable, that is light enough to make me switch. But Iām going to look.
Iām definitely keeping my chair! āļø
I am going to stick with my pillow, until I can find one that is just as comfortable but less bulky. It does take up too much room in my pack, and I know there are some good alternatives, I just have to locate the right one.
Thanks for your solid response, I truly appreciate you sharing your experience! šš„
Radix comfort. Recently in Iceland ended up with 4 days of food for 2 and 4 liters of water, pack total of 45 lbs. First day of 9 mi 3600 ft (3900 ft depending on who you believe). Pack carried fine even though it's years since I carried that much. I'd say 45 is it's limit, certainly mine. Second day was mostly downhill and a breeze even the sketchy places. Last pack I had that handled weight like that was a long time ago and weighed twice as much.
Pillow- I have a cheap little Mammut inflatable, useless on it's own. I wrap that in clothes then my puffy and put in t-shirt which I knot closed. Only need to wear the puffy while sleeping if below 30 (I switch to different bag at 25). Keep thinking of using half a pillow case but since I'm small t-shirt works and I pack that already.
Except for car camping I don't do fires so not sure if this helps. I use SAK Fieldmaster, 3.45 oz. It's heavier than the Classic but suits me. It has a good 3" saw, a decent size blade, screwdriver to open bear cans, used awl once to repair partners pack with bailing wire (porcupines ate it off the frame), a better scissors than the classic, the package carry hook is nice for pulling out tent stakes.
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u/all_the_gravy 2d ago
Too many clothes. You need one outfit to hike in, one to sleep in, and a layer system. Everything looked pretty good till there. I imagine that takes up a lot of space in your pack, maybe enough to get a smaller and lighter one. I'm also side-eying the deodorant and saw but hike your own hike.