5 Day hunt- What does your pack weigh?

RobinHood

Member
Feb 27, 2011
61
0
Henderson, NV
I am headed out tomorrow for my Nevada hunt and got everything in the pack ready to roll. I weighed it with a hanging fish scale and it was heavy... 56 lbs. I am gonna look at it again in the morning and hope to be able to shave a couple pounds.

Just curious what others packs weigh when they head for the backcountry?
 

JNDEER

Active Member
Mar 11, 2011
337
0
With my BL 4500 I run between 50-60 lbs depending on If I am going solo or with others, but I eat a lot!
 
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A3dhunter

New Member
Feb 28, 2011
46
0
When I had the Kifaru EMR with 5 days was 58 lbs, but the pack alone was 12 lbs of that with the pouches and XTL lid.
 

elk*hunter

New Member
Jan 5, 2012
36
0
Kalispell, MT
My knees hurt just reading those weights. I did 7 days at 38# last week of bow season last year and had extra layers and plenty of food that included my bow, binos, and rangefinder. If you plan right and take notes on each time you go out, no matter the game, you can shave weight and save your back and knees. I usually lay everything out then scrutinize every item to save weight, because ounces add up to pounds. Big savers for me include 3# off my pack by "trimming off" unneeded buckles, straps, and compartments, down sleeping bag, titanium pot, and for week long trips just tent fly and poles. Lots of resources in the ultralight backpacking world that can easily be integrated into DIY hunting. Hope to break 35# next year.
 

WillPower

New Member
Jan 14, 2012
11
0
This past year, I was about 42 pounds for a 8 day hunt using my Badlands 4500 pack. However, this did not include water, my weapon or binoculars/rangefinder and I added another couple pounds of food as this only included my MH meals for dinner. So, for a 5 day hunt, I think I could weigh in around 40-42 pounds, max 45 pounds. Would have to get a lighter pack to break under 40 I think, but like elkhunter, I try to get lighter each year. Good information on his thread as I also take notes and lay everything out before each trip and I take a picture of my gear spread for future reference.

Heck, I'm not sure which is more fun; getting the gear ready or the hunt itself!

WP
 

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,103
399
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
My knees hurt just reading those weights. I did 7 days at 38# last week of bow season last year and had extra layers and plenty of food that included my bow, binos, and rangefinder. If you plan right and take notes on each time you go out, no matter the game, you can shave weight and save your back and knees. I usually lay everything out then scrutinize every item to save weight, because ounces add up to pounds. Big savers for me include 3# off my pack by "trimming off" unneeded buckles, straps, and compartments, down sleeping bag, titanium pot, and for week long trips just tent fly and poles. Lots of resources in the ultralight backpacking world that can easily be integrated into DIY hunting. Hope to break 35# next year.
Elk Hunter please help.... I am all ears. My note system would blow your mind. I pack by an excel spreadsheet, over the years I have weighed out everything. i could "pack" my bag right now in 20 mins and tell you the exact oz. But I can't shave the weight, I bet I could drop maybe 2-3 lbs in luxury items but 17 lbs boy I am ears.... Here is a list of my big ticket items that quickly come out to 29.27 lbs....

Binos 34 ozs. Swaro, I've thought about getting lightweight less quality for pack trips
Tent 64.37 ozs.
Pack 77.5 ozs
Big Agnes Sleeping bag 45.89 ozs.
Thermarest 25.93
Rifle with scope and loaded 111.09
Tripod 33.51
Spotter 52.03... I know this is my monster. Another Swaro and just having a hard time compromising the quality.
Water I pack in with 24 ozs.

So there she is... 29.27 lbs with just a few things. PLEASE HELP!!!!! :)
 

chuffness

New Member
May 7, 2011
39
0
Over 4lbs for a tent ? Why Kind of tent are you using ? In the pre season when I do over night scouting trips I usually take my 5lb $25 tent. But when Im hunting I take my 1P Six Moon Design weighs 34oz... Thinking of trying out a 16oz bivy this year.


I mostly take the 5lb tent cause its a 2-Person and im usually overnighting it with the dogs.
 

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,103
399
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
It is a 2 person 4 season tent, that weight is with fly and poles. In Montana during rifle I promise you wouldn't be too comfortable in a bivy for 5 days with a foot of snow and 10 degrees... But I don't know maybe you would be... Do you take that tent in those conditions? Again... Trust me, i want to shave the weight but it has to work too...
 

chuffness

New Member
May 7, 2011
39
0
Ahhh. Yeah for a 4-season 2 person that tent seems to be the setup for ya.

I scout the summers and bow hunt the early season. So i stay away from the 4 season tents. With winter backpacking you always seem to be carying more weight then what you can get away with in the earlier months.
 

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,103
399
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
Ahhh. Yeah for a 4-season 2 person that tent seems to be the setup for ya.

I scout the summers and bow hunt the early season. So i stay away from the 4 season tents. With winter backpacking you always seem to be carying more weight then what you can get away with in the earlier months.
I checked out the one you recommended and it is pretty impressive too.... this site is great because you constantly get new info/ideas. Thanks for the tip.
 

chuffness

New Member
May 7, 2011
39
0
Last year I ran a Jet Boil weighing in at 1lb with a full canister of fuel. But all I ever did was just boil water for the mountain house and oatmeal.

This year im gonna try an esbit Titanium plus Ti Snow Peak mug ( 20 oz ) For an over nighter it will weigh 5 oz. For a 5 day ( Solid fuel Tablets weight .5 oz ) it will weight about 8oz

Thats half the weight of my jet boil. Granted I did like the fast boil times with the jet boil. But whats waiting a couple more minues if it will save me half a pound.



Also Ive been running a Katdyn Hiker Filter total weight = 11oz
Gonna try a sawyer filter total weight = 3oz

I only cook with boiling water so my cook system and water filter system is where im gonna try to save some weight this year. We'll see how it works out.
 

mcseal2

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,171
195
midwest
I'll have to find an esbit TI, I've been using the metal one. It works fine with my snow peak mug like yours though.
 

twp1224

Active Member
Mar 6, 2011
224
1
Central Coast
Right under 40lbs. Thats with 1lb of food per day, water, bow, etc. I have an excel spreadsheet as well. If anyone wants a copy they are more than welcome to ask for it.
Aaron
 

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
0
Montana
Last year I ran a Jet Boil weighing in at 1lb with a full canister of fuel. But all I ever did was just boil water for the mountain house and oatmeal.

This year im gonna try an esbit Titanium plus Ti Snow Peak mug ( 20 oz ) For an over nighter it will weigh 5 oz. For a 5 day ( Solid fuel Tablets weight .5 oz ) it will weight about 8oz

Thats half the weight of my jet boil. Granted I did like the fast boil times with the jet boil. But whats waiting a couple more minues if it will save me half a pound.

Also Ive been running a Katdyn Hiker Filter total weight = 11oz
Gonna try a sawyer filter total weight = 3oz

I only cook with boiling water so my cook system and water filter system is where im gonna try to save some weight this year. We'll see how it works out.
I have tried the tablet stove thing, and it is kind of a bugger. Boil times are much longer, and windy conditions are tough with them. I saved some weight going for the standard Jetboil to the Jetboil SOL ti. It is pretty darn light, everything included. Mine scales out at less than ten ounces, canister included. I save a lot of weight but just taking one full Nalgene of water and Steripen treating as I go. This, of course, depends on the availability of water to sterilize.