What's in your pack? Critique Mine!

[Jamesonm]

https://i.ibb.co/6YCkwjR/20210204-083823.jpg (https://ibb.co/6YCkwjR)
https://i.ibb.co/Rv5sgkL/image-2021-02-05-083318.png (https://ibb.co/Rv5sgkL)



CATEGORY
ITEM

GRAMS
POUNDS


Shooting







small game rifle
remington 597 22
2868
6.3



bullets (12)

41
0.1



clip

21
0.0


Misc







first aid kit

365
0.8



AAA (3)

42
0.1



headlamp
petzl taktikka plus RGB
90
0.2



fire starter
flint and steel
83
0.2



camera
go pro
92
0.2



needle and thread

15
0.0


Comms/Nav







phone with case
samsung s8
215
0.5



compass
suunto
71
0.2



satellite messenger
zoleo
160
0.4



battery bank
10k mAh
223
0.5









Optics
rangefinder
bushnell elite 1 mile conx
475




binoculars
mavin c1 8x42
686
1.5



bino harness
AGC cub
415
0.9



tripod
manfrotto digi
1215
2.7



spotting scope
bushnell forge 20-60x80
1578
3.5


Cooking







fuel cell filled
MSR
549
1.2



water tabs
MEC
19
0.0



stove and pot
MSR whisperlite stainless steel
877
1.9



spoon
MEC
14
0.0


Rain gear







rain jacket
first lite stormtight
692
1.5



rain pants
first lite stormtight
726
1.6



gaiters
outdoor research
295
0.6



gloves
seal skinz
137
0.3


Hunting







trekking poles
atlas aluminum
527
1.2



backpack
northface creston 75L
3450
7.6


Clothing







midlayer
arcteryz hoodie
530
1.2



socks
bridgedale hiker
89
0.2



socks
icebreaker ski OTC
91
0.2



heavy bottom base
Icebreaker 280
271
0.6



hat

90
0.2


Sleeping







air mattress
thermnarest prolite 3
593
1.3



sleeping bag
Montbell downhugger #3
1001
2.2



yellow cord
2.5mm paracord
23
0.1



tarp
siltarp 2 integral design 8x10
398
0.9



bivy
outdoor research bug bivy
486
1.1



tent stakes (8)
aluminum
133
0.3



purple biners (3)
generic
32
0.1


Kill kit







knife and steel
benchmade bushcrafter
334
0.7



baby wipes

89
0.2



tarp
space blanket
50
0.1



killkit first aid
bandaids, etc.
51
0.1



flagging tape

44
0.1



eletrical tape

58
0.1



zip ties (8)

24
0.1



red cord
5mm x 15'
45
0.1



blue rope
10mm x 10'
106
0.2


Toiletries







pills

4
0.0



toothbrush/paste

13
0.0



toilet paper

19
0.0


Food







dinner
dehydrated meal
150
0.3



dinner
dehydrated meal
150
0.3



lunch
jerky, moon cheese
360
0.8



lunch
jerky, moon cheese
360
0.8



breakfast
protein meal replacement
16
0.0



breakfast
protein meal replacement
17
0.0



snacks
dried fruit, chocolate mix, fig bar
347
0.8



snacks
dried fruit, chocolate mix, fig bar
348
0.8


Water








2.5L
2500
5.5










TOTAL

24.8
53.5



CONSUMABLES

5.1
9.5

[warnniklz]

Not sure what phone and GPS you're using.

My phone I can cache maps with we'll known hunting apps. Then make sure my GPS is on before I leave service. Then if I'm on a longer trip, turn on airplane mode and power saving mode.

I also try and have all my electronics use the same batteries.

[KodiakHntr]

-That is a lot of batteries. Find a headlamp that runs off of the same battery as your range finder. Or stock with fresh batteries and take one back up. How many hours a day are you planning on needing your headlamp on? In most cases you will use it less than you think you will.
-Red cord and blue rope? 50' of 550 paracord and call it good.
-Change out the knife and steel for a replaceable blade and a few spare blades. (Although I keep a custom blade in a neck sheath on me all the time, plus a havalon)
-"mid level/light level/heavy level bottom base" Pick one.
-1.6lb liner for your sleeping bag LINER? Change out your bag for a 6oz liner and slightly heavier bag, or a pad with a higher insulation value. Cut at least a pound right there.
-wtf is a "zoleo"?
-you are already carrying your phone, ditch the gps. Any modern phone is using a gps chip that was in higher end gps's a few years ago, and you aren't doing property surveying.
-gopro stick? You aren't going to use that. And in all likelihood, you won't actually use the gopro either (and believe me, I have carried one for years, and never bothered to dig it out). If you DO use it, you are already carrying a hiking pole and electrical tape. Or tape it to your head.

One thing you don't have, is a water filter... Lots of guys rely on tabs, but it can be awfully difficult to fill a bottle in a lot of water sources. And personally, I struggle with hydrating if I have to strain floaties out of my water bottle through my "clean" boxers on day 4... Just sayin'.

Pretty sure your spreadsheet numbers are a little off though, a needle and thread shouldn't be 0.5 lbs, OR 7 ounces.
You seem pretty heavy if the numbers are correct though, once you factor in a water containment system and food.


Take care of the ounces, and the pounds will take care of themselves...

[WhiteTailAB]

Subbing to this as this year I will be backpacking for bear, then hopefully elk in the fall!

[Jamesonm]

-That is a lot of batteries. Find a headlamp that runs off of the same battery as your range finder. Or stock with fresh batteries and take one back up. How many hours a day are you planning on needing your headlamp on? In most cases you will use it less than you think you will.
-Red cord and blue rope? 50' of 550 paracord and call it good.
-Change out the knife and steel for a replaceable blade and a few spare blades. (Although I keep a custom blade in a neck sheath on me all the time, plus a havalon)
-"mid level/light level/heavy level bottom base" Pick one.
-1.6lb liner for your sleeping bag LINER? Change out your bag for a 6oz liner and slightly heavier bag, or a pad with a higher insulation value. Cut at least a pound right there.
-wtf is a "zoleo"?
-you are already carrying your phone, ditch the gps. Any modern phone is using a gps chip that was in higher end gps's a few years ago, and you aren't doing property surveying.
-gopro stick? You aren't going to use that. And in all likelihood, you won't actually use the gopro either (and believe me, I have carried one for years, and never bothered to dig it out). If you DO use it, you are already carrying a hiking pole and electrical tape. Or tape it to your head.

One thing you don't have, is a water filter... Lots of guys rely on tabs, but it can be awfully difficult to fill a bottle in a lot of water sources. And personally, I struggle with hydrating if I have to strain floaties out of my water bottle through my "clean" boxers on day 4... Just sayin'.

Pretty sure your spreadsheet numbers are a little off though, a needle and thread shouldn't be 0.5 lbs, OR 7 ounces.
You seem pretty heavy if the numbers are correct though, once you factor in a water containment system and food.


Take care of the ounces, and the pounds will take care of themselves...

Great suggestions -- exactly what I'm looking for -- cheers mate!

[Whipper Billy]

Perhaps an error - Compass 71 grams 32 oz 2.5 lbs (seems heavy to me, also 32 oz = 2 lbs, 71g = 2.5oz)
71 g = 2.5 oz = .156 lbs

Suunto MC-2 Compass 74 grams 2.6 oz 0.16 lbs

Phone with case 215 g s/b 7.58 oz = .47 lbs (original 7.6 lbs = about sako rifle 7.8 lbs)

So just saved 10.1 to .626 = 9.5 lbs or 9.5 / 50.3 = 19%

[Jamesonm]

What does everyone do for meals -- just end up buying ready made meals?

Breakfast
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Lunch
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Dinner
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Snacks
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

[porthunter]

What does everyone do for meals -- just end up buying ready made meals?

Breakfast
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Lunch
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Dinner
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Snacks
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Personally, I go with Peak refuel breakfast and dinner. Mid day consists of things like moon cheese, jerky, good fat bars, snickers, miso soup, justins almond butter packs, and my personal favourite, honey stinger waffle cookies. All of these things are very high in cal/oz and consist of high levels of fat(most of them) to help me keep going after multiple days.

Temperature/activity level dependent, I like to prep for 3000cal/day.

[HarryToolips]

Your list is very similar to mine.. I carry 1 extra headlamp, a spork not spoon...zip ties are a great idea..oh and I have a pack-alarm..

[twoSevenO]

No rubber gloves in the kill kit?

[Jamesonm]

No rubber gloves in the kill kit? I don't usually use gloves, im going to be geting bloody.

what about bear spray? i will be taking out my .22 and not the .270 -- do you guys take spray in with you?

[bighornbob]

I noticed three types of rope or paracord.

And the .22 for small game??? If you are back packing for bear and or elk( Im assuming you are carrying a bigger gun), stick with those and leave the small game hunting for another time.

BHb

[Fosey]

Nice work everybody

[sakohunter]

Review everything in your pack and if it doesn't have at least two uses, question its usefulness.

[Jamesonm]

I noticed three types of rope or paracord.

And the .22 for small game??? If you are back packing for bear and or elk( Im assuming you are carrying a bigger gun), stick with those and leave the small game hunting for another time.

BHb

Rabbit is the only open game on Van Isl right now. Headed out this weekend.

[AK-47]

+ bottle of vodka

[twoSevenO]

I don't usually use gloves, im going to be geting bloody.



Hence the gloves? Why get bloody if you dont need to. Especially if you're out there spending the night and have no water to waste.

[Jamesonm]

Good point - I have gloves in my first aid kit I can try out. Cheers.
Hence the gloves? Why get bloody if you dont need to. Especially if you're out there spending the night and have no water to waste.

[walker1985]

any Mio or something for flavoring your water?

[RugDoctor]

Review everything in your pack and if it doesn't have at least two uses, question its usefulness.
This is a really good one....and I like “Take care of the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves” as well....good food for thought.

[bighornbob]

any Mio or something for flavoring your water?

X100. Drinking clean water from a stream is not to bad, but if you are relying on melting snow for your water, flavouring goes a long way.

BHB

[sakohunter]

This is a really good one....and I like “Take care of the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves” as well....good food for thought.

He ask for a critique if his gear in his pack. Rather than being an antagonist to my post, you should focus on his question. My comment for self analysis of our hunting gear that we pack around is true and helps eliminate redundant items, and help us focus on the important gear. The process is never-ending and a continuously evolving process. As gear improves or our hunting style changes what we carry evolves.

[Greenthumbed]

Don’t need bears spray in the winter. Bears are sleeping

[WetLeopard]

Am I missing something here? Didn’t look like anything was antagonistic, just looks like some good constructive ideas so far.

Curious if that’s the bag you always run? Not trying to assume anything, but just based on some of the other high-end gear you have, I would think there would be a higher emphasis placed on meat-packing ability? Unless of course this is for a small game only trip.

[Jamesonm]

Am I missing something here? Didn’t look like anything was antagonistic, just looks like some good constructive ideas so far.

Curious if that’s the bag you always run? Not trying to assume anything, but just based on some of the other high-end gear you have, I would think there would be a higher emphasis placed on meat-packing ability? Unless of course this is for a small game only trip.

That's the only bag I have at the moment. It's been a process of acquiring gear.

[Kill-da-wabbit]

I don't usually use gloves, im going to be geting bloody.


I didn't think gloves were necessary either, until I cut my knuckle to the bone before shooting my moose this year. Had some rubber gloves with me and I am damn glad I had a way to bandage and protect my injury while gutting and quartering. Still took over a month to heal.

[Treed]

I think the previous suggestion of a backup headlamp is good. I’d also add some lighters (I usually have a couple in ziplocks stuffed in my pack and a pocket) and fire starter in case you wind up in a bad situation e.g. hands get so cold you can’t prep tinder and strike your flint.

[Greenthumbed]

Great and cheap fire starter is cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly. They burn forever! You can pack about ten cotton balls into a film canister.

[HarryToolips]

I think the previous suggestion of a backup headlamp is good. I’d also add some lighters (I usually have a couple in ziplocks stuffed in my pack and a pocket) and fire starter in case you wind up in a bad situation e.g. hands get so cold you can’t prep tinder and strike your flint.
Very good suggestion, I missed that on the original review of his post...I keep in my pack not only several lighters and a starter, but strike anywhere matches....

[wlbc]

Great and cheap fire starter is cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly. They burn forever! You can pack about ten cotton balls into a film canister.

Huh, that seems like a good idea. I'm going to try that.

[wlbc]

If water is a question mark I have carried one of these for decades. Works well and light weight.

https://www.katadyn.com/us/ca/89-2010000-katadyn-pocket