BIG 4

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Re: BIG 4

Postby South_Aussie_Hiker » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:19 pm

Old Big 4
Tent: Mutha Hubba HP, 3095g
Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20F Long Quilt 651g
Pack: ULA Circuit, 1275g
Mat: NeoAir All Seasons, 540g
TOTAL: 5561g Solo, 4014g Dual

New Big 4
Tent: SS2/Solid Inner 1419g
Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20F Long Quilt 651g
Pack: ULA Circuit, 1275g
Mat: NeoAir All Seasons, 540g
TOTAL: 3885g Solo, 3176g Dual

Over the last 7 years I've done a lot of tweaking, but I'm fairly content with my setup now. Any nominal gram losses from here on will only be when gear gets old (like cooking pot for example) and gets replaced out of necessity. I've pretty much reached my $1 per gram saved line in the sand - and any further losses will start reducing my comfort. Plus, I feel really happy and confident with my pack weight now - it is an absolute joy to carry for a whole day, I don't think further reductions below where I am now will make walking any more enjoyable. With my wife, I can start out on day 1 of a 7-8 day trip at about 15kg (including 2kg of water) - and finish the week below 9kg.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby makinbacon » Sun 24 Apr, 2016 5:07 pm

Summer
Cumulus Quilt 150 (360g)
Thermarest Neoair Original (270g)
Exped Lightning 60 (1100g)
Tarptent Contrail (710g) or half Big Agnes Slater UL2+ (550g)

TOTAL: 2440g Solo, 2280g Dual

Winter
Cumulus Panyam 450 (760g)
Thermarest Neoair Xlite (470g)
Exped Lightning 60 (1100g)
Tarptent Contrail (710g) or half Big Agnes Slater UL2+ (550g)

TOTAL: 3040g Solo, 2880g Dual

I'm going to be adding a Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet (450g), Borah Gear UL Bivy (158g) and 5.5x9 Tarp (210g) to my arsenal which means my summer big 4 will be down to around ~1450g and ~2050g in winter with the same set up.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby [Jack]son » Sun 08 May, 2016 7:14 pm

My big 4 for the moment...
Pack: One Planet Strezlecki, medium 85L ~3000g
Sleeping bag: Tier Gear Possum top quilt rated at 2 degrees, ~560g
Mat: ThermaRest Neoair Xlite regular~350g
Shelter: Hilleberg Akto ~1540g

Total: 5450g
Reasonably light and scrub ready! :wink:
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Re: BIG 4

Postby drewmac » Wed 25 May, 2016 1:16 pm

Hi,

Always good to see what others do, can always pick up something.

Big 4 - 2,750g
Happy with that.

Tent - Zpacks Tarp, tyvek sheet, bug net thing, Ti pegs - 750g
Sleep - One Planet 500 - 1250g
Mat - Klymit Skel - 250g
Pack - Zpacks blast 52 lt - 500g
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Re: BIG 4

Postby dagsands » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 10:04 am

dagsands wrote:
...
Mat - Sea to Summit Comfort Lite Insulated Large, 695g.

....

I relied heavily on this forum in my decision to purchase the S2S mats. Thanks everyone for your contributions to this forum. I know the large is heavier than the regular and comfort is heavier than the insulated and the insulated is heavier than the non-ins but I don't mind carrying the extra gms when I've had a good night's sleep and I liked the puncture insurance inherent in the two layered system of the comfort and the higher R rating. I also hate having my arms on the floor or having to cross my arms when I sleep on my back (which is what happens on a 55cm wide mat) and I am a bit of a fitful, tossabout side sleeper so the extra width space, albeit just 9cm, I hope will help keep things sweet.

...


Was just rereading some of my old posts (yes I really am that bored while recovering) and feel the need to clarify/correct what I said about the sea to summit mat – this mat does not have 'puncture insurance' as there is no two layer system. This must've been a feature on a different mat that I had come across while shopping around. So no puncture insurance but still a very very comfortable mat.
Two dags and their pooch who live at the beach in their home called Dagsands, of course.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby SergeantMcFly » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 10:30 am

Current Big 4,

Shelter: Tarptent Scarp 1 = 1.3kg
Bag: S2S Spark 3 = 700g
Mat: Generic CCF = 300g
Pack: Osprey Atmos 50L = 1.8kg

Total: 4.1kg

For now this has suited me fine, eventually looking at picking up a GG Mariposa and still undecided on an inflatable mat, the generic ones have served me fine for the time being.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby damoprz » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 3:47 pm

Currently:
Shelter: HMG Echo II Tarp + Beak ~ 500g depending on stakes
Bag: Sea to Summit Talos - 880g
Mat: Neo Air regular - 350g
Pack ULA Ohm - 900g

Total - 2.63 kg
Almost finished a home made ~-5 degree down quilt, should come in at under 500g. Planning on making a bug-bivy or net for summer which will +100g. I also plan on dropping down to a small neo-air (-100g).
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Re: BIG 4

Postby [Jack]son » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 4:38 pm

Revised big 4:
Shelter: cuben MLD Duomid 400 (plus 212 for pegs)
Bag: Tier Gear Possum 566
Mat: Neo Air Xlite short 230
Pack: Wilderness Threadworks Luxmore 715

Total: 2023g
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Overlandman » Thu 05 Jan, 2017 8:40 am

Around 350 New members to the forum since the last post by Jack son
A new year, Christmas presents, Boxing Day sales, etc
So just putting Lizzys fantastic BIg 4 back on the front page :)
Tell us about your updates or what you have.
Regards OLM
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Neo » Tue 24 Jan, 2017 7:47 am

OLM I was thinking the same thing this morning:

Osprey stratos 34 (1250)
Protrail (740) +poles+4pegs (~930)
Roman palm 1 +10°C (~800)
Nemo tensor 20s (240)
STS aeros regular (85)

3305g
Hoping to drop 200 on a different pack and another 200 on a -2 down bag or quilt this year.

Edit: rethinking summer conditions I'll try dropping the bag and just using a liner as I carry longjohns anyway, theres another half kilo gone :)
Last edited by Neo on Tue 24 Jan, 2017 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Drummo62 » Tue 24 Jan, 2017 9:10 am

After getting lots of good ideas from the forum I have reduced my Big 4 from 8.6kg down to 3.3kg. I could go lighter but I'm prepared to pay a weight penalty for warmth and comfort.

Currently
Osprey Exos 48 (1130)
Tarptent Moment DW (963)
Exped Downmat UL7 (590)
Under cling Mike -8 quilt (625)

Total 3308g
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Supertramp » Tue 24 Jan, 2017 8:04 pm

Bag: Osprey Exos 58 - 1140g.

Tent: Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker - 685g (including 15g of seam sealer).

Mattress: Exped Hyperlight MW mat - 415g.

Sleeping Bag: Sea To Summit Micro MC III - 710g.

Total Weight: 2950g.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Rlgm12 » Sat 04 Feb, 2017 6:03 pm

Tent: WE Ace Ul
Discontinued :(

Pack: WE Lost World

Sleeping Bag: Macpac down bag
Discontinued and name forgotten

Mat: Closed cell foam mat
I add another mat for snow.

I don't count my grams, probably should, but don't.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby crollsurf » Thu 25 May, 2017 11:08 am

Thought I'd bump the thread.

Tent: Tarptent Protrail + pole (920g)
Bag: STS Trek III L(1300g)
Mat: Thermarest Neo XLite L (450g)
Pack: Osprey Exos 48 L (1190g)

Total weight: 3860g

Not bad for a big fella.
Minus a few grams by removing the Osprey lid.
Minus ~1 kilo with a fleece blanket in summer.
Love the STS Trek III and will keep for the snow but want to swap it out for an undercling-mike (need to see if he can do x-wide) or STS Ember II L or Enlightened Revelation L x-wide
That will bring me down to just over 3200g for cold and 2800g for warmer weather.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Stew63 » Sun 07 Jan, 2018 5:59 pm

Below is my non-winter/non-snow BIG4:

Shelter: MLD Grace Tarp (190gm/cubenfibre) - but with wife/kids or poor weather expected: 4person tent: LocusGear Khafra (480gm/cubenfibre) - custom made in Japan by Yuki.
Pack: KS27Z (300gm) custom designed/made in Japan by Laurent Barikosky. (and downright nice guy!)
Bag: UnderClingMike 900fill down quilt (600gm) but overkill warmthwise most of the time. Custom made by awesome Mike in Sydney.
Mat: EVA CCF mat (140gm) - but in colder/alpine conditions - ThermaRest NeoAir Xlite (Short/220gm)

Sorry if mine sounds a bit like the GoldenGlobes red carpet - naming the shoe and dress designers. But ^these^ guys do some totally excellent work! :D
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Re: BIG 4

Postby undercling-mike » Sun 07 Jan, 2018 6:45 pm

Stew63 wrote:Bag: UnderClingMike 900fill down quilt (600gm) but overkill warmthwise most of the time. Custom made by awesome Mike in Sydney.


That's actually 950 fill!
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Neo » Sun 07 Jan, 2018 6:49 pm

Woah I calculate that as 1230g solo using Cuben
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Re: BIG 4

Postby norts » Wed 02 Jan, 2019 10:30 am

My new big 4, I should go back and look at how many times I have changed the big 4, I do know that my big 4 now weigh less than my WE Expedition 2 pack.
Pack - Katabatic Onni Liteskin 65
Tent - Tarptent Notch Li
Bag- Katabatic Flex 22
Mat - S2S Ultralight insulated
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Re: BIG 4

Postby warnesy » Wed 02 Jan, 2019 10:39 am

I’ve got an updated big 4 now (well for over 12 months now)

Tent - Zack duplex (894g with pegs and carbon fibre poles)
Bag - Mikes -8 quilt (680g)
Mat - S2S ultralight insulated (489g)
Pack - Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60l (845g)

Really liking this set up at the moment. Comes in at 2908g, so pretty light as well.


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Re: BIG 4

Postby CasualNerd » Wed 02 Jan, 2019 2:07 pm

My personal update, what a difference three years makes !

Pack - Macpac Torre 90Litre - 3400
Mat - S2S Comfortlight Pad - 680
Sleeping Bag - S2S Trek II - 1050
Tent - Macpac Olympus - 3100
2016: Total: 8.23 kg


Pack - Granite Gear Crown - 1200
Mat - Tier Gear Quenda -12 - 750
Sleeping Bag - MSR Hubba NX - 1300
Tent - Thermarest NeoAir Short - 210
2018: Total: 3.46 kg
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Overlandman » Wed 02 Jan, 2019 5:54 pm

Thanks guys for putting Lizzys Big 4 back on the front page,
Almost a year & 686 new members since the last post.
Let us know what you have.
Regards OLM
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Lizzy » Wed 02 Jan, 2019 6:06 pm

Yeah I should update my own- but it looks too heavy as half the time we are lugging around a 4 man tent & I haven’t managed to drop down to a quilt yet (but Mikes are very tempting!)
Love seeing everyone’s changes... the weight drop in packs is huge.
Regards
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Overlandman » Sat 04 Jan, 2020 8:05 pm

Hi forum members
Just putting Lizzy’s Big 4 back on the front page.
As it is interesting to know what gear members use.
Also 600+ new members since the last post.
Regards OLM
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Re: BIG 4

Postby coimon » Sat 04 Jan, 2020 11:50 pm

I'd be one of those new members. I have a few possible configurations for big 4, but for the current Queensland summer:

Pack: Gossamer Gear Murmur (with upgraded backpanel / sitpad) 410g
Tent: Tarptent Aeon Li (with pegs, pole) 618g
Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Revelation +5 (Regular / Regular) 448g
Mat: Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite 250g

Total 1.726kg

Depending on location / weather I can leave the quilt at home and take a 140g silk liner, bringing me to ~1.5kg, but generally prefer to take the quilt.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby PedalRoll » Sun 05 Jan, 2020 9:45 am

Current 3 season setup. Not sure how long I will keep using the pad...however, I enjoy the weight savings and am yet to find an inflatable I actually like to sleep on.

Pack: Wilderness Threadworks - Sonder. No hipbelt and cut right back. Currently 440g but can make it lighter. Might have to contact Dan before this years end to end of the Bib....
Shelter: MLD - 1.9x2.8m DCF tarp. 285g inc. guylines.
Pair this with either Katabatic Bristlecone Bivy (224g) or Terra Rossa Mesh Bivy (185g). Polycro groundsheet and 10 pegs 124g.
Quilt: Tier Gear - Quenda +5 495g. I’m a really warm sleeper.
Mat: Gossamer Gear - 1/8” cut to torso size 40g

Total: 1600g
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Re: BIG 4

Postby JohnnoMcJohnno » Mon 06 Jan, 2020 12:57 pm

My gear is in a constant state of flux, but I have used the following on my last two walks, both winter, one three days and one 6 days:

Pack - Modified Kelty Trekker - 2230 g
Tent - Novaprosports Illumina Amber (basically a Naturehike Cloud up 2) - 1540 g
Bag - Cumulus Panyam 450 - 820 g
Mat - Blackwolf ultralight 3/4 - 400 g

Total - 4990 g. Have some lighter gear but haven't used it in anger yet.
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Re: BIG 4

Postby cameron » Tue 07 Jan, 2020 4:05 pm

Summer-
Tent: Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2. 1.1kgs
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Summerlite. 600gr
Mat: Thermarest prolite 3/4. 310gr
Pack: Exped lightning 45. 1kg

3kgs

Winter-
Tent: Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2. 1.1kgs (will replace with something more "robust" for coming winter and onwards ie: minaret, akto or soulo)
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Ultralite. 870gr
Mat: Thermarest prolite plus full length. 650gr
Pack: Exped lightning 45. 1kg

3.6kgs
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Re: BIG 4

Postby rowdy » Tue 07 Jan, 2020 4:19 pm

My 3 season setup is currently:

Pack: Wilderness Threadworks Sonder 508g
Tent: Zpacks Duplex 542g
Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Enigma +5 (Long/wide) 416g
Mat: Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (Regular) 340g

Total 1.806kg
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Kott » Tue 14 Apr, 2020 8:52 pm

Pack Deuter Actlite 50+10 1600g
Tent Mont Moondance1 Tent 1500g
Quilt Undercling Mike Quilt -8C long/wide 750g
Mat Thermarest Xlite Large/wide 470g

Total: 4.320g
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Re: BIG 4

Postby Rosscodj » Wed 15 Apr, 2020 7:53 am

Pack: OMM Phantom 25CL 625g
Tent: X-Mid 1P 844g
Quilt: Undercling Mike +4c 426g
Mat: Exped Synmat 7 UL S 450g

Total: 2.3 kg
Last edited by Rosscodj on Wed 15 Apr, 2020 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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