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HuaL
95
Aug 29, 2018
I go for mainly 2-4 day tramps, just started out and I'm filling up my 75 litre pack easily. around 17 kg with all the food, water and camping gear. around 10 kg without sleeping bag, tent and water. My question is: How can I pack lighter. I feel like I'm only bring the essentials but I've got super heavy packs... Please help.
miles.erickson
15
Aug 30, 2018
HuaLStart with a smaller pack. 40L is enough for 2-4 days in a group :)
If you have a big pack it's hard not to fill it.
HuaL
95
Aug 30, 2018
miles.ericksonok. Should I get a smaller sleeping bag? my current one is around 1.5kg, 3 season. The temperature barely gets lower than 7-8 at where I normally go.
HuaL
95
Aug 30, 2018
miles.ericksonAlso, do you have any budget pack recommendations? I'm currently kinda broke and also saving up for a new travel camera so my budget is really tight.
miles.erickson
15
Aug 31, 2018
HuaLI got my smaller 40L pack at Costco for about $35-40. It's something like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/High-Sierra-LoadBackpack-High-Performance-Backpacking/dp/B00HA3DGVK/ Expensive gear is nice, for sure, but sometimes there's inexpensive high-quality gear too!
HuaL
95
Aug 31, 2018
miles.ericksonThanks! I currently have a High Sierra Appalachian 75 so it's nice to stick with high sierra I guess.
SAnCLT
62
Dec 29, 2018
HuaLI don't know where you are camping but water is very heavy, if you have water sources you can likely greatly reduce your weight w/a water filter like a Sawyer or Lifestraw which are relatively inexpensive. Additionally I would take a hard look at what I am taking and if all of those things are needed, especially in regards to food. What are you using for a cook system ? You can get a fairly inexpensive cook system as well. Look at the used areas in Patagonia, North Face and REI for used gear in lieu of paying full price for new things. Gear can be expensive, and light gear even more so...so keep your eye out for sales and such. Right now there are lots of discontinued items that are seriously marked down on many.many sites. If you tell us what you are carrying perhaps we can be more specific in our suggestions.
HuaL
95
Jan 2, 2019
SAnCLTThanks man. I used to have a macpack stove and one of those big canisters, but I've recently made the jump to a home made soda can stove. I generally carry 3 leters of water that I finish by the end of the day, and food as well. I also switched to the 60L Massdrop x granite gear Crown X2 and a lighter sleeping bag. These got me down to 12kg on my load, which is so much better.
SAnCLT
62
Jan 4, 2019
HuaLLike I said if you have a water source you can probably cut your water down by a liter or two as well. And where are you hiking/camping ? That makes a huge Difference as we hammock camp a lot into Fall. (I'm in North Carolina)
RustyBridges
106
Jan 5, 2019
HuaLI second what Sanclt said, I’d start small scale first, practice a lot, try to dial down your food and clothing weight, know your body, warmth needs calorie and water intake etc. this is cheap to do. Shop discount stores buy fleece, frog Toggs, work out style clothing. Then work your way up to your kitchen, again seconding sanclt. Also cheap to do, carry a small butane canister stove, primus makes a cheap one and a comfortably sized aluminum pot. Practice with what your comfortable with, a floppy pack isn’t the worst thing. Then move into the big 3 (tent, bag, pack) and base your decisions on what you’ve learned about yourself. Practice practice practice. And don’t stress to much, after a week of carrying 30lbs it pretty much just becomes another part of your body
HuaL
95
Jan 5, 2019
SAnCLTNew Zealand, near Auckland. I'm still at school so can't exactly go too far away for too long.
HuaL
95
Jan 5, 2019
RustyBridgesok thanks!
SAnCLT
62
Jan 5, 2019
HuaLI have never had the priviledge to visit New Zealand but I would think water sources a plenty. I don't know about shipping, but here in the states most all of the big retailers have started selling 'used gear' which will save you money. Patagonia, North Face and REI all do used gear and there are some specific websites as well. I am sure w/the outdoor vibe in your home country there are some options there. Again, if you can hammock camp, you can save a lot of weight as well, which I would think would be a viable option in New Zealand. Eg. https://kammok.com/products/bundle-camp-starter-kit I'm not sure of the weight of their stuff comparatively speaking but I think you get good value for the price and they do stuff on Kickstarter all the time - add a tarp and you would be all set. You can add a quilt and or under quilt if need be. Just an idea/option.
(Edited)
HuaL
95
Jan 7, 2019
SAnCLThmm... These are good points. Thanks a lot! I'll try them later in the year probs after summer cuz I'm really not good with the heat and don't do much in the summer. I'll try some second handed stuff off ebay and if I don't like it I could always sell it for around the same price. Thanks!
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