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OK so here's a kit list I intend to take. It isn't completed yet as far as weights etc, but maybe some of you could give me some pointers if you think I'm going a little nuts...My sleeping mat could be lighter, but it's comfortable! After sleepless nights on my 3/4 mattress with only one inch of inflation, this one is fab with a luxurious 2 1/2 inches(!)
Also the waterproofs are heavier than they could be, but if we have a summer like last year I want to make sure I have waterproofs that work. I once got incredibly cold and sodden wearing a Berghaus paclite jacket in torrential rain in Snowdonia. It was way out of it's depth! A day (or summer) in pouring rain can be improved so much with good waterproofs! I do feel the cold!! If anybody knows really good tried and tested lightweight waterproofs then please let me know as that would certainly shave some weight off.
Also you tougher blokes might live without the mozzy coils and deet but I always get eaten alive by mozzies!!
Backpack: Gregory Deva 60 - 2268g
Pack Liner: Binbags - 68g
Tent: Terra Nova Laser Competition - 960g
Groundsheet for above - 235g
Stove & Pot - Snow Peak Set - 100g
Lighter - 9g
Fuel Cartridge - 374g
Spork - 9g
Sleeping Bag: Cumulus Quantum 200 - 495g
Sleeping Mat: Big Agnes Insulated Air Core - 590g
Pillow: Montbell UL Comfort Pillow - 68g
Trousers x2: Sprayway - 544g
T'Shirts x2: Berghaus Tech - 224g
Fleece x2: N.Face & Craghoppers - 528g
Underwear x2: Lowe Alpine Dryflo
Socks x4: Smartwool 72% Merino Wool - 232g
Boots: Brasher Womens Supalite XCR - 1160g
Waterproof Jacket: The North Face - 628g
Overtrousers: Berghause Deluge - 352g
Hat: Tilley Lighterweight LT5 - 85g
Buff - 38g
Trekking Poles: REI - 340g
Sunglasses: Smith Toaster - 21g
Compass - 24g
6 x maps - 674g
Map Case: Haglofs Waterproof - 95g
Whistle - 11g
Head Torch: Petzl Tikka - 76g
Binoculars - 120g
Pack Towel x2 (one for Patch!) - 50g
Lip Balm - 4.2g
Multi-use soap - 145g
Toothbrush - 12g
Mirror from xmas cracker - 18g
Toilet Trowel - 54g
Toilet Roll - 116g
Shewee (very handy!) - 17g
Hand Santitiser - 92g
Water (4 x 500ml) - 2056g
Food -
Sunscreen - 98g
Deet - 42g
Mozzy coils - 100g
Mini playing cards from xmas cracker - 34g
Card/cheque book/money -
Phone & Charger -
Notebook & pen -
4 x stuff sacks - 90g
1st Aid kit -
Patch:
Waterproof coat - 138g
Boots?
Long lead for camping
Shorter lead & Halti (she'll be wearing - so no weight!)
Tweezers / Tick Remover
Bowls - 22g
Food -
Total so far - 13407g
Eeek!
I would welcome all comments - I'm trying to be minimalistic, but also realistic(?!) I must be able to get the weight down more though...the backpack itself is heavy but so comfortable to carry the load.
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7 comments:
Firstly the disclaimer: we are all different. What one person is happy with another person would be horrified by - so what I've said below is entirely subjective. But, with that disclaimer, here are my thoughts:
Pack Comfort is undoubtedly the most important factor when you're going to carry a pack over a thousand miles, but yours does seem to be on the heavy side. For example, if you could cram all of your stuff into something like an Osprey Aura 50 (and using the air gap for your sleep mat frees up room inside) then you'd save the best part of a kilo.
Groundsheet Is this for use inside of the tent to protect your Competition from dog claws? If so, I can see that it's necessary.
If not, and it's for use as a footprint under the tent, then personally I would save the weight and not take it.
Lighter Take at least two. Apart from the times that you don't put it back where it should be and can't find it when you're desperate for a cup of tea, I've had times when one lighter has got damp and wouldn't work, so always carry two - in different places in my pack.
Trousersx2 Could you make do with one pair? I walked the whole three months in one pair of trousers and just wore my waterproofs (not the nicest feeling on bare legs, admittedly!) when washing them. Alternatively, if you want something for camp-wear but appearances aren't too important have a look at Montane Featherlite Pants at 100g a pair.
Fleecex2 Personally, I didn't take a fleece on our walk at all. If it was cold I layered both of my baselayers (one short sleeve, one long) and wore my windproof as well as my waterproof. For camp I had my down jacket (300g). If you prefer to have a fleece with you, then I would suggest just taking one.
Socks I would suggest cutting down on socks too, so that you're carrying only two or three pairs at a time.
Waterproof Trousers You've obviously had a bad experience with Paclite. I've used my Berghaus Paclite Extrem trousers in day-after-day torrential rain and had no problem with them, albeit I can't think that my jacket has had such a drastic test.
maps You could save massive amounts of weight by printing your own maps from digital mapping software - albeit that does mean that you're limited in being able to vastly vary your route from what your plan.
If it's any use to you you'll find my kit list at here: http://gayleybird.blogspot.com/2008/03/lejog-packing-list.html
I think that I was at about 7.5 kilo base weight, up to a maximum of 12kg with food, water and gas.
Phew - sorry if I've gone on a bit there!
Hi Gayle, thanks very much for your comments!
As I was reading your post I was mentally justifying everything I'm taking - but I need to change something to get the weight down so I am open to all suggestions and will have a good think about yours.
The groundsheet is to protect the floor against Patch's claws. I haven't bought the tent yet so I'm still looking at different options - ie the Laser Competition plus a groundsheet versus a slightly heavier tent with a thicker floor but no groundsheet. I need to compare the weights....
I'm taking a lighter sleeping bag than I normally use so I wanted to make sure I had a dry set of clothes to wear inside if necessary as I am a bit of a wuss with the cold - but maybe I ought to cut that down as you suggest...
It's good to know you get on well with the Berghaus paclite overtrousers.
Food for thought - many thanks!
I think Gayle has some very good advice there, despite her disclaimer.
My own thoughts:
Pack - you must be able to get a comfortable lighter one, you should explore that further.
Paclite waterproofs should be fine, but start off with new ones, they aren't very durable.
Take a durable pack liner, and look after it - bin bags may be next to useless. Then you could ditch the stuff sacs in favour of ziplock bags.
Binoculars are a non-essential luxury.
2 pairs of socks are sufficient - x-socks dry very quickly, sealskinz keep your feet dry.
Are you expecting a drought - 2 litres of water sounds extreme! But you would counter the reduction to one sensible litre by adding a bit of food to your pack, and you'll find the phone/blogging stuff will add abit of weight.
Your sleeping bag/mat combination baffles me, but I suppose that's a personal thing (I go for a thicker bag, thinner mat).
You might find some camp shoes (eg Crocs) handy.
Surely a fleece can double as a pillow?
These are just a few thoughts - you should use your own counsel, and as long as you can carry the weight you'll be fine. There's a link below to our kit list for a 2 month trip across the Alps last summer. It may make you feel better - our loads were heavier than yours, we managed fine - even with 11 maps and a box of electric chargers and adaptors and heavyish cameras (you need one BTW, and a battery charger!). I even carried a 440gm flower identification book (it was one of our most used items, so luxuries like that are entirely allowable - if you can carry them!)
http://www.topwalks.com/GTAkit.htm
If you are interested, our trip is recorded at:
http://phreerunner.blogspot.com/search/label/GTA
Thanks for that Phreerunner - lot's of food for thought.
My reason for carrying 2 litres of water was to make sure Patch had enough water also, plus to have some to cook with when wild camping, but I doubt I will need this much the whole time - it's more a "worse case scenario". I have a "bottle filtration system" on it's way which could help with that.
I find I suffer from a thin sleeping mat! Very uncomfortable! I thought the spare set of clothing could be worn if necessary with a lighter sleeping bag - but maybe I'm going down the wrong road.
I have tried using spare clothes as a pillow but it doesn't work for me! With a comfy mat and pillow I find I sleep so much better and am in much better shape the next day!
yep, I may need to leave the bino's behind - they're an optional extra! They are good for enjoying the environment more as well as coming in handy for navigation if necessary, but I can live without them if necessary. There will be a bit of tweaking as I get more organised!
I'll re-weigh my pack to check the weight - maybe I left bits in the pockets before haha! Seriously though - I don't know that I'm going to be able to afford to replace it, but I will certainly bear your comments in mind.
As I say..I need help! (In more ways than one!)
Sophie
As both Gayle and I have said, our comments are subjective, and may not work for you. I suspect for example that Alan Sloman and I could enjoy the same walk with completely differing kit - neither of us would be 'correct', but the kit would work for us as different individuals.
I'm sure you'll be fine, as you are certainly taking the right approach to advance planning. I imagine you will be getting out for some multi day preliminary trips, and keeping fit in the meantime, once you have the gear sorted - and you don't need to feel obliged to go on a big spending spree just to save a few grammes. But do take care of the outer layer! That can make the difference between feeling wet and demoralised on the one hand or on the other hand feeling smugly dry at the end of a wet day.
Martin (Phreerunner)
Hi Martin, you are absolutely right - we are so individual!
My husband (John) and I have always enjoyed our hiking and as soon as the worst of the weather is over (so my horses can stay out overnight) we look forward to some multi-day trips again - where I can test the newer bits of gear!
Thanks for taking the time to comment - I very much appreciate hearing other people's points of view and experiences, and you (and Gayle) have given me lot's to consider.
Sophie
Hi Kate, great minds think alike! I've just bought some more very similar socks!
I read years ago in one of Chris Townsend's books about the benefit's of merino wool and - and he seems to be spot on!
Sophie
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