Just curious, what raingear, leatherman, and tripod are you using? I carry a Leatherman Wave every day working, but hadn't really considered using it for quartering or boning game. Also that tripod is lighter than mine. ThanksI'm not a big proponent of strap cutting either. I did make a jump to a down insulating layer. This move saved me about 2 pounds over my old fleece. It also packs up into a space the size of a nalgene bottle.
Another great move was the tossing of my old Thermarest and the purchase of a Thermarest NeoAir. This thing is super! About 14 oz and it inflates to about 2" thick. I sleep like I'm at home when I'm on this thing. My old Thermarest was just under 2 lbs.
To the list below, I also wear my camo, which I don't count in my weight totals.
Here's my gear list:
Item Weight (lbs)
Gregory pack 3.9
Black Diamond Mirage Tent 4.75
tripod 0.7
Andy's Sleep Bag 2.8
Spotting Scope 2.2
Rain Jacket 2.15
Rain pants 2.05
NeoAir 0.8
Down jacket 1.2
MSR Hyperflow 0.6
Jetboil 0.95
Long underwear top and bottom 0.95
Binoculars 0.8
Leatherman 0.65
Journal 0.6
Elk Calls 0.6
Rangefinder 0.55
Small Jetboil fuel 0.4
Water bottle 0.1
Camera 0.35
Cell phone 0.2
wool hat 0.2
Compass 0.15
Headlamp 0.15
Black Fleece Gloves 0.15
Sunscreen, tooth paste, brush 0.15
Toilet paper 0.1
2 trash bags 0.1
Map 0.05
Platypus 0.05
totals 28.4
I have looked at that scope also. I'm debating now between buying that scope and using my current tripod, rifle bipod, and binocs. Or option two going to just my bogpod tripod with the switcheroo head that allows the rifle rest or ball and socket optics mount and 15x56 Vortex kaibab binoculars. I'm sure I'd miss my 10x binocs and having the 30x zoom of the spotting scope, but I've read every review I can find on the big binocs, and for a long day of glassing the difference in eyestrain from a spotter is huge.I have a set of lightweight RealTree raingear - and as I write this the numbers above might be from my old gear, which was heavier. I'll reweigh my stuff and post the weight. I too carry a leatherman wave. I switched my spotting scope to a Nikon ED50 - very lightweight, with great optics (not a Swarovski 80mm, but still pretty good). I pair that scope with a very lightweight Nikon tripod. It is not real tall, and a bit wiggly, but well worth the weight savings.
That could definitely limit your options on tents, don't think the Fly Creek will work for you but there is probably something out there lighter than what you are using.Good tip!! I'm 6'5" 200#. I have trouble fitting in a lot of the smaller tents - I'll check it out though.
It's small, but doable. I had a Fly Creek UL1 for the last two seasons, but just purchased the UL2. The UL1 was large enough to cook in, but you have to be really careful not to melt the fabric. I'm hoping the UL2's vestible will give me a little more room.How do you guys like the fly creek UL2 vestibule? I was looking at this tent and wondering about cooking/heating water inside the vestibule while it's raining or storming?