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Cutting Weight
5 posters
RangerChat :: The Field :: Gear
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Cutting Weight
My gear is coming along, but now I want to start upgrading items here and there to start cutting weight on the trail. Looking to eventually upgrade to the Kodiak bag that Mark has and has recommended. It's about a pound lighter than my current bag, albeit about 3x as expensive.
I'm also looking at a tent called the Squall 2 that's only 2lbs. Supposedly sets up and tears down quickly too.
Think I need to get some lighter weight clothing too. Any suggestions about what is durable and lightweight?
I'm also looking at a tent called the Squall 2 that's only 2lbs. Supposedly sets up and tears down quickly too.
Think I need to get some lighter weight clothing too. Any suggestions about what is durable and lightweight?
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
Phillip Gross wrote: Think I need to get some lighter weight clothing too.
According to the National Geographic channel, "naked" is all the rage.
joecool- VIP Member
- Posts : 3330
Join date : 2013-10-28
Age : 69
Re: Cutting Weight
Mmmm. Imagine navigating briars like that...
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
Please spare the poor animals eyes!
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Bring a pack mule. Load it up!
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Don't think I haven't thought about that, but alas, they don't allow pack animals in most places...RRCmdrBennett wrote:Bring a pack mule. Load it up!
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
Delegate it to the Rangers?
Seriously a buddy of mine, Rob, first experience with Rangers as a boy was a bit of a prank. His friend, a Ranger invited him out on an Outpost hike. Rob said sure, he'd barely camped at all and never hiked.
To be kind the Ranger "helped" Rob "pack". Rob appreciated it because he, again never hiked.
So the next day comes and the entire trip Rob is the caboose. He is dragging and sucking wind and he is just plain dogging it, all day the entire day. He is amazed that the Rangers can just about dance down the trail while he can barely stand.
So finally, mercifully, they make camp. He drops his back with a very VERY loud clank. The Commander comes over and asks, "What was that Rob?"
"The gear, where do you want all of it?"
They open the pack, and apparently Rob has humped in two cast iron dutch ovens, a heavy steel shovel, a pickaxe, a normal ax, 5 lbs of flower, nothing but beans to eat, "because you've seen the movies right, you have to eat beans when you camp" and some other gear too.
Rob was a good sport so they all got a good laugh, and the packing Ranger had a heavy load to carry home.
Beans tasted good though!
Seriously a buddy of mine, Rob, first experience with Rangers as a boy was a bit of a prank. His friend, a Ranger invited him out on an Outpost hike. Rob said sure, he'd barely camped at all and never hiked.
To be kind the Ranger "helped" Rob "pack". Rob appreciated it because he, again never hiked.
So the next day comes and the entire trip Rob is the caboose. He is dragging and sucking wind and he is just plain dogging it, all day the entire day. He is amazed that the Rangers can just about dance down the trail while he can barely stand.
So finally, mercifully, they make camp. He drops his back with a very VERY loud clank. The Commander comes over and asks, "What was that Rob?"
"The gear, where do you want all of it?"
They open the pack, and apparently Rob has humped in two cast iron dutch ovens, a heavy steel shovel, a pickaxe, a normal ax, 5 lbs of flower, nothing but beans to eat, "because you've seen the movies right, you have to eat beans when you camp" and some other gear too.
Rob was a good sport so they all got a good laugh, and the packing Ranger had a heavy load to carry home.
Beans tasted good though!
_________________
"Pick battles big enough to matter, but small enough to win."
Cmdr. Tom Strodthoff
#35 - Dsm IA
strods- Senior Member
- Posts : 393
Join date : 2013-05-23
Re: Cutting Weight
That's funny.
I'm the opposite though as I carried not only my tent, but the main body of another tent for some boys. They carried the ground tarp, poles, and rain fly.
They were still pooped when they made it back out of the woods.
I'm the opposite though as I carried not only my tent, but the main body of another tent for some boys. They carried the ground tarp, poles, and rain fly.
They were still pooped when they made it back out of the woods.
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
On a one-week backpacking trip, one of the young men developed a physical problem and couldn't carry his own gear. Fortunately, it was on the last day. I put his pack on backwards, against my chest and my arms still through the straps. Worked surprisingly well for 8 miles.
joecool- VIP Member
- Posts : 3330
Join date : 2013-10-28
Age : 69
Re: Cutting Weight
Just had to one up me, didn't you?
Well I carried....
Just kidding.
Well I carried....
Just kidding.
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
My son has his ultralight setup down to 21 lbs. Hammock with a tarp. He has a lot of money invested in to.
My pack is 45 pounds on a 2 mile in and out trip. On a 27 miler. I can get it down to about 33 lbs. Yet that is leaving a lot at home. Comfort being one of them. GRIN!
Mark Jones
My pack is 45 pounds on a 2 mile in and out trip. On a 27 miler. I can get it down to about 33 lbs. Yet that is leaving a lot at home. Comfort being one of them. GRIN!
Mark Jones
Re: Cutting Weight
One of our Cmdr's and his son went with some hammocks and said they were comfortable. I'm hesitant because I'm a side sleeper... Of course I could cut about 8 lbs out by not carrying a tent, cot and sleeping pad. I've thought of cutting out the sleeping pad anyway and just keep the ultralight cot and then go with a light weight tent. My other issue with the hammock is what to do with my gear in the event of rain. I like having my bag in the tent with me to get whatever I may want.Mark Jones wrote:My son has his ultralight setup down to 21 lbs. Hammock with a tarp. He has a lot of money invested in to.
My pack is 45 pounds on a 2 mile in and out trip. On a 27 miler. I can get it down to about 33 lbs. Yet that is leaving a lot at home. Comfort being one of them. GRIN!
Mark Jones
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
strods wrote:Delegate it to the Rangers?
Seriously a buddy of mine, Rob, first experience with Rangers as a boy was a bit of a prank. His friend, a Ranger invited him out on an Outpost hike. Rob said sure, he'd barely camped at all and never hiked.
To be kind the Ranger "helped" Rob "pack". Rob appreciated it because he, again never hiked.
So the next day comes and the entire trip Rob is the caboose. He is dragging and sucking wind and he is just plain dogging it, all day the entire day. He is amazed that the Rangers can just about dance down the trail while he can barely stand.
So finally, mercifully, they make camp. He drops his back with a very VERY loud clank. The Commander comes over and asks, "What was that Rob?"
"The gear, where do you want all of it?"
They open the pack, and apparently Rob has humped in two cast iron dutch ovens, a heavy steel shovel, a pickaxe, a normal ax, 5 lbs of flower, nothing but beans to eat, "because you've seen the movies right, you have to eat beans when you camp" and some other gear too.
Rob was a good sport so they all got a good laugh, and the packing Ranger had a heavy load to carry home.
Beans tasted good though!
The beans on camping reminds me of Star Trek V Final Frontier when the main trio of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy had beans while camping in Yosemite. Even sci fi movies have to have beans when camping. Beans do help keep you warm...!
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
There is a trade off on the trail for lighter and at camp heavier for comfort.
I shaved off another pound this year but keep adding more items so my base weight is about 33 lbs with out food or water. Most backpacks 2 miles or less I carry 54 lbs. That includes a lot of extra stuff. Cameras, batteries, 860 lumena flash light, saw, pack shovel. About 5 lbs. Then of course the steak and bacon and eggs and donut grease and bisquits and powdered sugar... all well worth the weight. GRIN!
If I have to I can leave it all at home and take a tarp and a sleeping bag.
Mark Jones
I shaved off another pound this year but keep adding more items so my base weight is about 33 lbs with out food or water. Most backpacks 2 miles or less I carry 54 lbs. That includes a lot of extra stuff. Cameras, batteries, 860 lumena flash light, saw, pack shovel. About 5 lbs. Then of course the steak and bacon and eggs and donut grease and bisquits and powdered sugar... all well worth the weight. GRIN!
If I have to I can leave it all at home and take a tarp and a sleeping bag.
Mark Jones
Re: Cutting Weight
I'm trying to find that best balance of weight to comfort ratio for me. Obviously it will change from person to person.
My back is stiff enough in a regular bed (have some issues there), so I need to have something under me and I'll still pop 600-800mg of ibuprofen before bed.
I think I'm still in the beginning stages of gear acquisition where I still need to get more, but I've gotten enough stuff and started to backpack enough that I see the value in the lighter weight (read: more expensive) gear. Not just tent, sleeping bag, etc, but even my clothing. Pategonia has some nice pants and shirts that are really lightweight yet durable.
The epiphany that I've recently had is that there is no "one thing" that I can spend enough money on to reduce all the weight. It's going to be everything I get that has to be as light as I can afford that will add up to the weight savings that I want. Obviously, as I've already stated, I need a little extra comfort than a teenager or at least someone without back issues, so I've got to be very intentional about my purchases compared to someone who can just leave almost everything at home and lay on the ground.
My back is stiff enough in a regular bed (have some issues there), so I need to have something under me and I'll still pop 600-800mg of ibuprofen before bed.
I think I'm still in the beginning stages of gear acquisition where I still need to get more, but I've gotten enough stuff and started to backpack enough that I see the value in the lighter weight (read: more expensive) gear. Not just tent, sleeping bag, etc, but even my clothing. Pategonia has some nice pants and shirts that are really lightweight yet durable.
The epiphany that I've recently had is that there is no "one thing" that I can spend enough money on to reduce all the weight. It's going to be everything I get that has to be as light as I can afford that will add up to the weight savings that I want. Obviously, as I've already stated, I need a little extra comfort than a teenager or at least someone without back issues, so I've got to be very intentional about my purchases compared to someone who can just leave almost everything at home and lay on the ground.
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
If someone would invent hoverboards by next year our problems would be solved!
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Just remember they don't run over water!
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Awwwh shucks. I was going to RED GREEN me in a real trail hover board hauler.. Now I will just have to hike. GRIN!
Mark Jones
Mark Jones
Re: Cutting Weight
Just came across ZPacks tents online a couple days ago. I've been toying around with going the hammock route like a few of the other guys in the outpost, but that won't be very good for a field or up past the tree line of a mountain. These tents look awesome and they seem to have nothing but good reviews. Looking at the Duplex version because it can sleep two adults if I needed it to, or just have plenty of room for my pack inside by myself. It's only a few more ounces heavier than the solo, so that might be the way I'll go.
I hadn't heard of cuben fiber before, but it's super lightweight and totally impervious to water. They are a little pricey, but that's the way it goes with ultralight equipment.
I only took two tarps for my shelter on this past backpacking trip. One smaller one to cover backpacks, and the other for my shelter. It only sprinkled lightly here and there, so I was fine, but would probably have gotten wet in a downpour especially if it started running across the ground. I did like how much lighter my pack was without a tent in it, so I started looking for an ultralight option. The ZPack duplex only comes in at around 20oz all total. That's the tent, guy lines, stakes and stuff sack!
I hadn't heard of cuben fiber before, but it's super lightweight and totally impervious to water. They are a little pricey, but that's the way it goes with ultralight equipment.
I only took two tarps for my shelter on this past backpacking trip. One smaller one to cover backpacks, and the other for my shelter. It only sprinkled lightly here and there, so I was fine, but would probably have gotten wet in a downpour especially if it started running across the ground. I did like how much lighter my pack was without a tent in it, so I started looking for an ultralight option. The ZPack duplex only comes in at around 20oz all total. That's the tent, guy lines, stakes and stuff sack!
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
Mark Jones wrote:Awwwh shucks. I was going to RED GREEN me in a real trail hover board hauler.. Now I will just have to hike. GRIN!
Mark Jones
Unless you have a powered one.
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Its related to cutting weight hi tech way
_________________
Dan Bennett
Sr Commander (2007-2016)
N Central Area Communications Coord, CI (2016)
Outpost #215, Ohio District :flag:
GMA #83 Potomac Dist-#2366 Nat'l
"Be Ready, It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
FCF Frontiersman 9/91
Free Trapper 2016
Training Seminars/Camps:
LTC LMA 5/94, Ranger Basics 1/05, LTA LMA 5/05, NTC IL 5/09, WCO 10/09, ICS 4/10, RKTC 7/10, Ranger Essentials 8/10, NRMC 10/11,
Outpost Leader Advancement Levels:
LMA-Advanced 10/11, MoE 2012-092
RR v1.0
Lima
Golf
Bravo
RRCmdrBennett- Moderator
- Posts : 3605
Join date : 2013-05-15
Age : 48
Location : Ohio
Re: Cutting Weight
Spoken like a true Rangers 2.0-er!RRCmdrBennett wrote:Its related to cutting weight hi tech way
Phillip Gross- Special Member
- Posts : 2557
Join date : 2013-05-14
Re: Cutting Weight
When we do the 25 miler this year. I will be hoping for 2 things. A self propelled over board or be raptured out before my tired muscles say I can't take another step. Ha!
Loose a thread obi one said. (my attempt at being funny using yoda to get Dan out of trouble for hijacking the thread again) Grin.
Loose a thread obi one said. (my attempt at being funny using yoda to get Dan out of trouble for hijacking the thread again) Grin.
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RangerChat :: The Field :: Gear
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