Backcountry Gear List

[twp1224]

Does anyone have a breakdown of the items they pack into the backcountry? I'm looking to reduce my weight of approximately 30lbs. I dont have s scale, so i use the manufactures specs. Looking for the item and weight. Here is what i have. Would love to see someone from Eastman's list.

 

[BigSurArcher]

Bow, arrows, release and broadheads only add up to 4 lbs??

 

[Rob P]

what's wrong with your list now? I don't really see how you could cut that much further except lighter pack and less water. 30lbs is pretty light already.

 

[twp1224]

2009 PSE Bowmadness 3.5lbs. I added anothe .5lb for the other items. It may be 4-4.5lbs.

Bow, arrows, release and broadheads only add up to 4 lbs??

 

[twp1224]

I'm just looking for imput to see if there is anything someone else is using that may replace one or two of my items to get the pack weight down a little. Thanks

what's wrong with your list now? I don't really see how you could cut that much further except lighter pack and less water. 30lbs is pretty light already.

 

[Rob P]

you could go with the thermarest z-lite, but you'll give up some comfort

 

[mcseal2]

I recently bought the same pack and really like it. have been doing 3 mile conditioning walks through the hills with 45lbs in it every other night and it handles the weight really well. That said, you could drop some weight there. I like the J34 better than many of the lighter packs because it gives you the option of packing meat to camp right away, and out with camp sometimes. If you don't plan to do that you could drop 3-3.5lb by going to a lighter soft pack.

I think your list looks good, but I'm new to backpacking. My list is currently under construction and heavier than yours, but I'm also trying to trim it down.

 

[*******]

My gear list reads real similar to yours. A few different brand names but only one big change. I went away from the tent and footprint and went to a bivy sac. Mine is 1.94lbs and replaces my tent and footprint. I do add a siltarp at 0.51lbs if I'm going for more than 5 days or into the high alpine where I expect bad weather.

 

[CoBackcountry]

looks pretty good
i pack in 9 mi and run about 33-34 lbs for 4 days
i dont pack a tent footprint and i only use a 1.5 liter camelback and refill every 2-3 hrs

 

[Firearrow]

Look at the badlands sacrifice. You will save a few pounds. Other than that you are not going to loose anything worth weighing. Your pack of 30 pounds is really light. Mine weighed about 46 last year going into the Rubies.

 

[twp1224]

Thanks for all the feedback. Greatly appreciated.

 

[mthuntress]

I would go with the extra weight before I went with the badlands sacrifice it's to noisey unless you are going to be in all open ground with no trees/brush. Just my thought.

 

[arrowslinger21]

I also break my gear out with a postage scale by the tenth of an ounce. Just a few things that I do differently from your list... Like mentioned earlier I also use a bivy instead of a tent, which will cut a couple pounds off. They aren't as nice as having a tent as far as comfort but they do get the job done. I also dont use a sleeping bag liner, but I do not know about your situation with your bag, and I would not recommend cutting it if you are using a less insulated bag. I use a 15 degree bag, and so I do not need a liner. Also with my eberlestock blue widow, I do not pack game bags of any sort. They are nice to have, but they are heavy if you have anything nicer than the really cheap ones, and the cheap ones don't do alot. I carry two black garbage bags to keep my pack a little cleaner if needed, and then I will just simply hand wash my pack when I get home. I use a cheap tarp with my bivy set up and if i need something to keep the meat clean, I will set the meat on the tarp, and then I can throw it away when I get home and get a new one for around 6 dollars at Bi-mart.

 

[arrowslinger21]

And i also would not go with the sacrafice. The frame is too weak and light, the fabric isnt waterproof like the eberlestock packs are (which is a huge benefit in the backcountry to keep your gear dry during a rain while hiking) and it is noisy as are many of the badlands packs. Don't cut the weight to go with the sacrafice, its not worth it in my opinion.

 

[RUTTIN]

If you want some reference to some pretty good info, look into EHJ issue 108. Guy Eastman has a few lists to head into the backcountry with less than 27lbs. He has lists for gear, clothing, food, shelter, and field care. Great read check it out

 

[twp1224]

I thought about getting a bivy, but like the comfort of being able to change in the tent on those cold mornings or in the rain, etc. I read a lot about the bivy vs. tent options, but really enjoy the security of a tent in bad weather. I only carry my bag liner if it's going to get below 30's. Otherwise I leave it home. I carry deer bags to hang the meat in. I usually hunt with a buddy of mine and if one of us gets a deer, we still have to hunt for one more. It may take a few more days and hanging the meat at night to cool and then bagging them up during the day to keep the meat bees and flies away is are only option, unless someone has a better alternative. Thank you for your input and I’m going to look at the bivy options. Any suggestions? OR makes a good one I’ve heard. What do you use and whats the weight?

I also break my gear out with a postage scale by the tenth of an ounce. Just a few things that I do differently from your list... Like mentioned earlier I also use a bivy instead of a tent, which will cut a couple pounds off. They aren't as nice as having a tent as far as comfort but they do get the job done. I also dont use a sleeping bag liner, but I do not know about your situation with your bag, and I would not recommend cutting it if you are using a less insulated bag. I use a 15 degree bag, and so I do not need a liner. Also with my eberlestock blue widow, I do not pack game bags of any sort. They are nice to have, but they are heavy if you have anything nicer than the really cheap ones, and the cheap ones don't do alot. I carry two black garbage bags to keep my pack a little cleaner if needed, and then I will just simply hand wash my pack when I get home. I use a cheap tarp with my bivy set up and if i need something to keep the meat clean, I will set the meat on the tarp, and then I can throw it away when I get home and get a new one for around 6 dollars at Bi-mart.

 

[mcseal2]

View attachment 565
Does anyone have a breakdown of the items they pack into the backcountry? I'm looking to reduce my weight of approximately 30lbs. I dont have s scale, so i use the manufactures specs. Looking for the item and weight. Here is what i have. Would love to see someone from Eastman's list.

How did you attach your list?

 

[arrowslinger21]

I thought about getting a bivy, but like the comfort of being able to change in the tent on those cold mornings or in the rain, etc. I read a lot about the bivy vs. tent options, but really enjoy the security of a tent in bad weather. I only carry my bag liner if it's going to get below 30's. Otherwise I leave it home. I carry deer bags to hang the meat in. I usually hunt with a buddy of mine and if one of us gets a deer, we still have to hunt for one more. It may take a few more days and hanging the meat at night to cool and then bagging them up during the day to keep the meat bees and flies away is are only option, unless someone has a better alternative. Thank you for your input and I’m going to look at the bivy options. Any suggestions? OR makes a good one I’ve heard. What do you use and whats the weight?

Yeah the tent part is really nice for bad weather, and I agree that they are much more comfortable. The benefits I guess are the lightweight factor, and the higher freedom of mobility, but you do sacrifice comfort. I use an Outdoor Research advanced Bivy. Its a little heavier than most at around 2lbs, but it also has small poles that go into the bivy to keep it off of you face and head. Its a great bivy, and its always kept me dry and safe even in snow. I also carry a tarp though, like a little 6x6 to keep my gear underneath if the weather gets bad.
The Sleeping bag liner is good for those times when it gets colder, and it allows you to go lighter when it is warmer, so that is a good setup there. And yes deer bags are very nice to have, and I usually wish that I had some in most cases, but being as I have been hunting solo more often lately, I don't have to hang my meat after I make a kill, so they aren't as necessary as they are in your situation.

 

[arrowslinger21]

And I know I emailed my gear list and breakdown to twp1224 earlier, but if anyone else wants to take a look at it, I also posted it online at the link below.

http://kevinunderwoodbowhunting.blogspot.com/2011/03/hunting-gear-by-weight_20.html

 

[twp1224]

Yeah the tent part is really nice for bad weather, and I agree that they are much more comfortable. The benefits I guess are the lightweight factor, and the higher freedom of mobility, but you do sacrifice comfort. I use an Outdoor Research advanced Bivy. Its a little heavier than most at around 2lbs, but it also has small poles that go into the bivy to keep it off of you face and head. Its a great bivy, and its always kept me dry and safe even in snow. I also carry a tarp though, like a little 6x6 to keep my gear underneath if the weather gets bad.
The Sleeping bag liner is good for those times when it gets colder, and it allows you to go lighter when it is warmer, so that is a good setup there. And yes deer bags are very nice to have, and I usually wish that I had some in most cases, but being as I have been hunting solo more often lately, I don't have to hang my meat after I make a kill, so they aren't as necessary as they are in your situation.

I don't see the weight difference in carrying a bivy with a tarp versus my tent. Your bivy and tarp come in at 47.7 oz(30.8+17) and my tent, fly, stakes, pole & footprint come in at 37.7 oz. I do agree with you in regards to freedom & mobility. You dont have the setup and take down time I do. I can also take my footprint, fly, stakes and poles when the weather is going to be mild and reduce my weight to 26.6 oz. Thanks for your input. I'm going to updated list, since i purchased a digital scale this weekend and will weigh my gear instead of using the manufactures weight.