What's your base pack weight?

[kanangra]

Don't feel like that. This is a broad church. I used to have a base weight of 17kg too. Are you interested in lightening your load?

K.

[Pika]

Any advice would be appreciated kanangra.

I am just putting the list together and will post it soon.

[kanangra]

Happy to help in any way I can. You maybe young and perhaps the weight is not a problem. but with me it has really helped me as I get on a bit. It also means I can cover more ground which I like. In many ways I think back country travel is actually safer with a lighter pack.

Post your gear list and we'll see where we can go from there.
K

[Burnsy]

Interesting thread, out of interest does everyone who has replied carry just for themselves or have they split weights if they always walk as a pair?

For instance, my wife and I would split our tent, cooking gear and some personal items between our packs, so as a minimum it would halve our tent and cooking gear weights, do others accounted for this in their base weight?

[kanangra]

Just for myself.

K

[Mark F]

My base weight increases by 400 grams when walking with my partner as I swap my Soloplex 1 person tent for a SMD Haven. Cooking setup is the same as for solo so I remain on the edge of ultralight. I also carry a bit more than my share of the food for two as my partner has a problem back.

[bikehikesafari]

My list that I'll carry on the Pacific Crest Trail this year! Less when doing hikes shorter than 4000km!

Shelter, Pack, Sleeping, Cooking, Eating and Drinking

Tent – Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 person tent- 1050 Grams
Sleeping bag – Sea to Summit Traverse Xt1. 1085 grams
Sea to Summit Silk bag liner. Weight 135 grams
Sleeping Mat – Neoair Xlite 350 Grams
Thermarest stuff sac Pillow 77 Grams
Backpack – Osprey Exos 58 litre 1200 grams
Pack Liner/Garbage bag 60 Grams
Evernew Ti DX titanium stove 86 Grams
Lighter and waterproof matches 24 Grams
600ml empty coke bottle to store alcohol for stove 27 grams
1 litre Titanium pot and lid 174 Grams
Sea to Summit foldable X-Cup 45 Grams
Titanium Spoon 12 Grams
MSR Knife 48 Grams
3 Litre Camelbak 195 Grams
2 x 2 Litre Platypus collapsible bottles 72 Grams
Sayer Squeeze Filter System 85 Grams
Water treatment tablets 20 Grams
Total Weight = 4745 Grams

Electronics and Camera

Iphone 5S + headphones + Lifeproof case 149 grams
Kindle 191 Grams
Canon G1X + spare battery+ case + spare memory card 673Grams
Petzl Tikka rechargeable headlamp 85 Gram
PowerGen 12000mAh USB Battery 425 Gram
USB electrical charger + Cables 105 grams
Total 1628 grams

Clothing, Raingear and Shoes

Short sleeve smartwool shirt 150 grams
long sleeve smartwool shirt, 255 grams
Merino long pants 165 grams
Merino Wool beanie 60 grams
MEC long pants 355 Grams
running shorts 125 grams
Patagonia down jacket 371 grams
2 x ExOfficio underwear 170 grams
Merrell Moab Ventilators with custom orthotics 780 grams
Gloves 65 grams
3 x Darntuff Merino wool socks 148 grams
Goretex jacket Kathmandu 360 Grams
Macpac Jetstream rainpants 240 Grams
Sunhat 55 grams
Sunglasses 50 grams
Bandana 66 Grams
Total weight 3415 grams

First Aid, Toiletries and Misc

Moleskine Notebook and pen, Plastic snap lock bags, Money / ID / Credit Cards, Permits, Passport, Blister pads, Strapping Tape, Giardia anti-biotic, Foot infection, anti-biotic, Ibuprofen, cottonwool soaked in Vaseline (fire starter), tweezers, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Dental Floss, Wilderness Soap, Deodorant stick, Bandage, Safety Pin, Needle and thread, Superglue, Duct Tape, Deet insect repellant, Sunscreen, Lip Balm, re-hydration tablets, Toilet paper, Trail town info, Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Stuff Sack
Total Weight 1125 Grams (will try and lighten these items before I set off!)

Total weight about 11 kilograms. At any one time I should be wearing between 1.5 – 3 kilograms of clothing. At some times I will post some of my gear ahead and pick it up at a town further down the trail, So my base weight should average between 7 – 9.5 kilograms!

Food and cooking fuel will weight about 1 kilogram per day on average. Water weight is extra again, at 1 kilogram per litre!

[Empty]

You look like you are really well prepared. Sounds like a fantastic trip. Hope it goes well.

[AlicePearson]

Pack 1.5kg
Shelter 4.0kg
Sleep 1.6kg
Cook 750g
Clothing 2.3kg
Electrical 250g
Other 1.5kg
Safety 640g
Navigation 230g
Personal 600g

Total: 13.4kg

I thought I was packing pretty light, but some of you are doing much better. Lots of room for improvement!

[Joomy]

4kg shelter? Unless you need expedition-level strength you can definitely shed at least 2.5kg there for a modest outlay.

[JohnStrider]

Pack 1.5kg
Shelter 4.0kg
Sleep 1.6kg
Cook 750g
Clothing 2.3kg
Electrical 250g
Other 1.5kg
Safety 640g
Navigation 230g
Personal 600g

Total: 13.4kg

I thought I was packing pretty light, but some of you are doing much better. Lots of room for improvement!

How many days would you be carrying this for?

[Mark F]

If you are equipped for one night then there really shouldn't be any increase in base weight for additional nights unless you are moving through different climatic zones.

[stry]

If you are equipped for one night then there really shouldn't be any increase in base weight for additional nights unless you are moving through different climatic zones.

That works for me, but some of us are perhaps a little more fussed about socks and jocks

[north-north-west]

If I can make one thin pair of socks last the entire Larapinta (with sidetrips), or a single set do for 11 days of variable (but mostly *&%$#!) weather in the Arthurs, then more than one emergency pair is overkill.
Jocks is another matter. One pair does for two days (inside out for the second day) but that's as far as I'm prepared to stretch it.

[Gadgetgeek]

exoficcios. I've gotten by with two pairs, rinse one wear one. Did one week where the only chance I got to deal with them was cleaning the pair I had been wearing in the shower, and just let them dry, but at least that way I had clean shorts for the drive home. Sometimes there isn't that much time for myself when I'm thinking for 15 others. the exos get the job done.

[JohnStrider]

Re: jocks, I reckon unless you are in constant contact with people, then two pairs over an extended period should be ok.

But that's just me. Can appreciate others peoples thinking on the matter.

[north-north-west]

Re: jocks, I reckon unless you are in constant contact with people, then two pairs over an extended period should be ok.

But that's just me. Can appreciate others peoples thinking on the matter.

It's a bit different for women. A hygiene matter. UTIs come easy if you're not washing and a change of jocks is the next best thing.

[JohnStrider]

Re: jocks, I reckon unless you are in constant contact with people, then two pairs over an extended period should be ok.

But that's just me. Can appreciate others peoples thinking on the matter.

It's a bit different for women. A hygiene matter. UTIs come easy if you're not washing and a change of jocks is the next best thing.

Yeah true that.

I say two will be fine and chances are I'll probably take 4 with me whenever I'm on a hike longer than a week

[weeds]

Re: jocks.....I don't own any, it would be 20 years since I have worn them.