What’s the most you would pay per ounce to lighten your pack?

[Bustercluck]

Along the same lines as the mountain rifle thread. What’s the most you’ve paid? Would pay? And what’s too much to lighten your pack? Maybe there’s some free tricks you guys have out there to cut weight like snipping your toothbrush in half or not packing a stove and eating cold mountain house lol


I have a mix-match of gear, some arcteryx, Sitka, Walmart long johns and my favourite lu lu lemon running shorts. I buy stuff that makes a big difference and wait until something suitable is on sale, but my hunting partner has a full first lite setup right down to his underwear. His clothes are definitely lighter than mine and everything compliments each other, he’s setup for every situation as he bought a system rather than pieces, but it’s expensive.

A couple of the bigger things have been tents. I had a 3 man msr elixir, than went to the older model 2 man hubba and now a Cimarron. I bought a nice sleeping bag a few years ago too, it was a mountain hardwear -9 down bag I got for half price around $400, probably cut 2 pounds out of my load.

I just about bought a new Sitka dew point during the last sale at great north, but backed out last minute when I realized I was paying $400 just to lose a pound out of my bag. I told myself I’d just pack a pound less booze if I was worried about it. Then my partner chimed in and said “if you buy that jacket, then you’ll be able to pack an extra pound of booze”.

[warnniklz]

I'm lightening a couple things this year because I need to.

Getting a used pack. Should save a pound or two easily off my old one.

But I definitely need a new rain jacket, so comparing options there. So far first light, kuiu and Sitka all have rain jackets that are within fractions of an ounce of each other.

But this lead me to looking at other gear. Such as sleeping bags. Running a thermarest haven at -8. It's untreated down and I've been lucky I haven't been wet. But even if I got to a 0 degree bag, I'd be adding 10-11 ounces.

And that's comparing kuiu, stone glacier, kifaru, Marmot, mountain hardware, western mountaineering and thermarest (I haven't converted kilograms to ounces like Taiga and Valandre yet)

But pay more to save a pound? If I need to replace something... I need it anyways. But if not, I'll just keep running what I got.

[decker9]

Iv spent a lot of money over the years trying different things to lighten my pack. Finally, I put 60lbs in one Kifaru, and 70 in the other. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. That was the end of trying to cut ounces for me.

Bulk on the other hand, im always trying to cut down on.

[jac]

I’m always looking to upgrade and when I do I’m looking at light weight options. If you get gear that works better then your old stuff and is lighter then it’s a win win. For me I sold my mystery ranch backpack and bought a seek outside pack. I prefer the way it carries a load and it a 2 pounds lighter so win win. I know for myself I should just lose 5 or 10 more pounds of my body and it will be a lot cheaper then buying a pillow that is 1 oz lighter then my current.

[Redthies]

I know for myself I should just lose 5 or 10 more pounds of my body and it will be a lot cheaper then buying a pillow that is 1 oz lighter then my current.

You carry a pillow?? :wink:

[RackStar]

Iv spent a lot of money over the years trying different things to lighten my pack. Finally, I put 60lbs in one Kifaru, and 70 in the other. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. That was the end of trying to cut ounces for me.

Bulk on the other hand, im always trying to cut down on.


smart man... I always figured if 5-10 pounds is going to break me, then i deff shouldnt be backpack hunting cuz you’ll be facked once the meats on your back

bulk is the killer IMO

[KodiakHntr]

Iv spent a lot of money over the years trying different things to lighten my pack. Finally, I put 60lbs in one Kifaru, and 70 in the other. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. That was the end of trying to cut ounces for me.

Bulk on the other hand, im always trying to cut down on.

Same boat, on cutting bulk. I’m more bought into the theory that if you take care of the ounces, the pounds will take care of themselves though.

My first trip into sheep mountains cost only fuel and mountain house meals. Everything else I already owned or borrowed. Walking in, if I remember correctly, packs were a pound or four over 80.

Now, if it isn’t raining, walking in clothes out I am at usually around 54-56 lbs. An average sheep hunt for 8 days now verses then is 20-ish lbs of gear different (food choices and techniques changed over time as well).
I’ve done the math several times per trip as well, usually when the rain is pounding down on a $150 piece of silnylon held up with $200 carbon fiber hiking poles, and currently that 20lb weight savings is about $50/ounce.

Some years it runs as high as $110/ounce, but that allows the opportunities to add another 30km to the walk in, and the ability to add a moose or elk or both to the walk out and I’m carrying 0 lbs on the way in.

[264mag]

Change your diet, alter your lifestyle. I shaved 10 lbs off my load with this approach.

As far as gear weight goes it boils down to budget and personal choice. There is literally a lighter choice for every piece of gear in your kit. You need to find the right balance between budget and comfort. Lighter weight impacts both.

[KodiakHntr]

You carry a pillow?? :wink:



You need to find the right balance between budget and comfort. Lighter weight impacts both.

That is exactly right, there is always a balance to be had, be it a financial budget, weight budget, time budget, and personal comfort tolerance.

If a trip isn’t taking the horses, I’m counting ounces. But that Sea to Summit pillow is going every single time because I sleep better and I can justify that 2.1 ounce pillow for the comfort it brings.

[jac]

I do carry a pillow it’s a Nemo inflatable one not very heavy and if you have to lay in the tent for 24 hours waiting out a storm, pillow is nice to have for me anyways.

[HikerHunter]

i dont even use a pillow at home lol

[bangbangkhan]

Over number of years of trying different gear. Reading numerous reviews and trying it in the field I feel you have to find the right balance between comfort and weight. When I went ultralight the comfort wasn’t there and you don’t want to wake up miserable. Technology can only do so much. I would pay as much as a I can for quality irrespective of weight.

[Bustercluck]

You carry a pillow?? :wink:
A pillow is a must for me. If I’m not hiking I always bring my down pillow off of my bed. It’s probably the biggest single piece of kit that improves my sleep.

I use an inflatable klymit, but my head tends to go numb and I’m a side sleeper so I really need something higher. I was thinking of making a thin pillow case that I could put my inflatable in the bottom and zip some clothes into the top to put my face on. I think that would be a good balance.

[Bustercluck]

I just picked up a new nemo sleeping pad this year too. It’s heavier than any of my other pads, but I’m hoping the increased comfort is worth the load.

[Ron.C]

Although I didn't do it specifically with weight saving in mind, I knocked a hair over 3lbs off when I upgraded my pack this spring. Just did the math and that upgrade basically cost me $14.58/oz in saved weight.

After a good number of training hikes, can't say I really notice 3lbs but I certainly notice the better fit/comfort and increased mobility.

My next upgrade will be my backpacking tent or my spotting scope tripod. I still use the old North Face Rock 22 that I've had for years. I ditch the tent portion and just use the DAC poles/fly with a foot print. Its around 2lbs the way I use it which is fine but is getting a bit long in the tooth.

[tylerduce]

The OP is a great question. Jason Hairston made a good point about this exact same question.

The science behind going ultra-lite is that after the first 50lbs of backpack weight, the extra weight disproportionately effects your ability to hike and move. For example. Pounds 50-60 are not just another 10 lbs. Their true weight is effectively something like 15 lbs. If you have a 70 lb bag, pounds 60-70 have an effective weight of 20lbs due to the extra stress and energy on the average hunter. So a 70lb bag is more like an 85lbs in the field. In short, each pound you add to your bag over and above 50lbs great diminishes your ability to perform as you get closer to your max exertion.