Help Scaling Back Pack Weight

[Biscuit in GA]

Could you help me scale back my pack weight for a 5-day trip? Thanks in advance!

On my pack list I've got:
Tent, footprint, & stakes
Sleeping bag & pad
Hiking poles
Rain cover for pack
Bearbag & rope
Stove, fuel, & kettle
Lighters & firestarter
Food
Electrolyte tabs
Titanium mug, collapsible bowl
Water bladder, water filter, and a couple empty Smartwater bottles
Compass & maps
Phone
Emergency kit
Sunscreen
Medicines
Mini bottle of contact solution and case (I have astigmatism and have never been able to get my glasses right)
Toothbrush & paste
Duct tape
Small pocket knife
Small bottle of hand sanitizer
Rain jacket & pants
Extra moisture-wicking T
Mid-layer
Fleece
Light jacket
Extra hiking socks
Fleece hat
Toilet paper & ziplock bad
Trowel

[JC13]

Hard to say without seeing the actual weights.

https://lighterpack.com/

https://www.geargrams.com/

https://milestepper.com/

All of these will let you input your gear and are free I do believe.

Why bladder and smart water bottles?
Footprint?
Pack cover?

Just three things that were easy to possibly eliminate.

[Biscuit in GA]

Thanks! I'll check out those websites! I had both the water bladder and water bottles so that I could keep electrolytes in one of the bottles and keep my bladder with just water.

[Rex Clifton]

Biscuit, that’s my cats name! Anyway, it does not look like you are carrying a lot of excess gear so, if you’re running heavy, it’s probably the gear itself. I carry about the same as you with the exception that I use chemicals instead of a water filter, saving a few ounces. I also use a compactor bag liner instead of a pack cover, but the weights there are about the same (BTW, a pack cover will not keep your stuff dry in a serous rain). That being said, my fully loaded pack with 4 days of food and 48 ounces of water comes in at around 23 pounds.


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[Biscuit in GA]

Thanks, Rex!

[egilbe]

When and where are you hiking? I see too much clothing, a footprint, a collapsible bowl and firestarters you can easily ditch.

[Biscuit in GA]

We're going from Winding Stair Gap to Dick's Creek Gap - just 40 miles.

[egilbe]

When? Cuz that matters, too

[egilbe]

For clothing, keep it simple. A set of hiking clothes. If they get wet, who cares. Put them on wet. A set of sleeping clothes that never gets wet. One midlayer. One puffy that you never hike in. You wear it when you stop for a break, or at night when it gets cold. One rain jacket or poncho. Eating out of your kettle, you can get rid of the bowl.

[Slo-go'en]

What little you could live without isn't going to amount to much in savings. Personally, I don't like bladders. Can be more of a pain then their worth. But I agree with Rex, you'll have to start upgrading gear to reduce the weight by any significant amount.

Unless your crazy heavy like over 30 pounds, leave well enough alone and see what happens. You'll know better next time what you don't need - or desperately need to replace.

[Biscuit in GA]

Thanks, everyone!

[DownEaster]

Extra moisture-wicking T
Mid-layer
Fleece
Light jacket

A middle layer is typically only called for in winter hiking. "Fleece" could be a sleeping layer, and so could the T-shirt, but that's not clear in your list. You need something to hike in, something that stays dry to sleep in, and some insulation for when you're not hiking. Beyond that you're covered (literally and figuratively) by the rain suit against wet and wind. Take the gear which satisfies those requirements, and leave anything else at home.

[Kaptainkriz]

It's a trade between comfort and weight - stuff I would drop from the list are:
Rain cover for pack - use a compactor bag inside the pack instead
& kettle - just go with the mug and cook your water in that
Water bladder - overkill that takes weight and space just use the smartwater bottles instead
Emergency kit can get heavy - keep it simple
Duct tape - everyone has it and I've never used it - consider bringing as little as possible stuck to your pole.
Small bottle of hand sanitizer - some may argue but this is not needed - bring a tiny slice of soap and actually wash your hands, it's more effective
Fleece - unless it's winter, you have plenty of other layers - if you can't wear it all at once, don't bring it.

Deuteronomy 23:14 - Always carry a trowel!

Could you help me scale back my pack weight for a 5-day trip? Thanks in advance!

On my pack list I've got:
Tent, footprint, & stakes
Sleeping bag & pad
Hiking poles

Bearbag & rope
Stove, fuel,
Lighters & firestarter
Food
Electrolyte tabs
Titanium mug, collapsible bowl
water filter, and a couple empty Smartwater bottles
Compass & maps
Phone
Emergency kit
Sunscreen
Medicines
Mini bottle of contact solution and case (I have astigmatism and have never been able to get my glasses right)
Toothbrush & paste

Small pocket knife

Rain jacket & pants
Extra moisture-wicking T
Mid-layer

Light jacket
Extra hiking socks
Fleece hat
Toilet paper & ziplock bad
Trowel

[Maineiac64]

What are the models and weights of your big 4, tent, bag, pad, pack?

[AllDownhillFromHere]

Using sites like lighterpack only reinforces the stereotype that sites like lighterpack are useful.

[cmoulder]

Using sites like lighterpack only reinforces the stereotype that sites like lighterpack are useful.

Maybe because they are?

See thread title.

[garlic08]

Ditto what's been said and ditch the footprint for sure.

For a healthy person with a good diet, there's probably no need for electrolyte (or any other) supplements, and that will simplify your water carrying needs.

A rule of thumb for clothing--you should be able to wear everything you carry at the same time as part of a coordinated layering system.

With experience, you'll learn what works and what's extra weight. Most important, have a fun and safe trip.

[cmoulder]

It's a trade between comfort and weight - stuff I would drop from the list are:
Rain cover for pack - use a compactor bag inside the pack instead
& kettle - just go with the mug and cook your water in that
Water bladder - overkill that takes weight and space just use the smartwater bottles instead
Emergency kit can get heavy - keep it simple
Duct tape - everyone has it and I've never used it - consider bringing as little as possible stuck to your pole.
Small bottle of hand sanitizer - some may argue but this is not needed - bring a tiny slice of soap and actually wash your hands, it's more effective
Fleece - unless it's winter, you have plenty of other layers - if you can't wear it all at once, don't bring it.

Deuteronomy 23:14 - Always carry a trowel!

Not all that long ago I saw a pack list from somebody who had a 50 ft roll of duct tape.

[DownEaster]

A rule of thumb for clothing--you should be able to wear everything you carry at the same time as part of a coordinated layering system.

I don't think that's right. There's no way I could wear both pairs of hiking socks and my thick sleeping socks all together.

[garlic08]

I don't think that's right. There's no way I could wear both pairs of hiking socks and my thick sleeping socks all together.

As with all rules of thumb, they don't work in every case. It worked for me to reduce pack weight and maybe it will work for others. At least it's food for thought--as long as it's not too much food and weighs you down.

Funny how "sleeping clothing" get mentioned so often. That's one of the things I don't carry.