Pack Weight

[ScottR]

Here you guys go, this should help some of you trim up a bit of weight.

http://blog.eastmans.com/benchmarks-and-baselines/#comments


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[25contender]

Thanks. Working on it!! Every year a little lighter still old school here and tough to leave a few things off the list.....

 

[RANGER619]

I wish I could get by on 1 lb. of food of day. I just set up my food for my deer hunt today. I am at 1 lb 9 oz per day and am hoping I can get by on that.

 

[ScottR]

Guy really is a light eater, I am about in your boat with food.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[micropterus79]

Good stuff, very helpful. I have one question though: is Guy packing water or just using the treatment drops? I am genuinely curious how people are dealing with water on these backpack hunts. I am going out for three days opening weekend and I remember doing these kinds of trips back home in Colorado where we always had very handy and reliable springs or creeks. Those exist out here in Arizona too but then it is a matter of the water being handy for the location you want to hunt and not being surrounded by other hunters. I mentioned this in the coyoting out forum and it was recommended that I cache some water. That is a great idea and I will use it when I get a little more familiar with my hunting grounds. For now, I have to slug it out with my 3 L camelback and two 1 L nalgenes (that alone is about 10 lbs.) I have a really nice MSR ceramic water filter that I feel comfortable using to treat about any kind of water but that water has to exist in the first place. I can't be sure I am going to be finding much water out where and when I need it.

Any recommendations from more seasoned backpack hunters in arid landscapes?

 

[Tom_AZ]

I'm with you mucropterus, when there's little to no water to filter, most of the weight is just water.

 

[dihardhunter]

I've got my early season elk, 7 day carried plus worn weight (in other words: me naked plus everything) down to 38.9 pounds figuring in 24 ounces of food daily and 33 ounces (1 L) water in the pack.

 

[jimss]

Water is a big issue for most backpack hunters. My preference is a filter/pump rather than hauling in water but obviously there has to be a water source. I seem to camp with the best hunting locations in mind rather than water so more times than not end up filtering and/or hauling water. If you are fortunate and scout early it would likely be good to pack in a water supply and/or figure out water sources in your area. A wallow is a spooky place to filter water...but I did it this year...and luckily didn't get sick! I must have a pretty good filter!

 

[WapitiBob]

Water weighs 2.2# per litre . I'd start there before I started cutting pack straps, buckles and the like.

 

[mnhoundman]

This year was my first pack hunt, mine was about 60ish with some water and gun strapped on for 6 days. Didn't think that was to ba . But of course it felt dam heavy the second day!! I know I brought way too much food I hardly ate anything during the day and a mountain house at night. I tried doing the so many calories deal, but that was way to much for me. Probably had enough food for 3 more days haha! Live and learn!

 

[DBull]

Food is something that I could cut down on, I always bring way more than I actually eat.

 

[Iron Mike]

Water is a big issue for most backpack hunters. My preference is a filter/pump rather than hauling in water but obviously there has to be a water source. I seem to camp with the best hunting locations in mind rather than water so more times than not end up filtering and/or hauling water. If you are fortunate and scout early it would likely be good to pack in a water supply and/or figure out water sources in your area. A wallow is a spooky place to filter water...but I did it this year...and luckily didn't get sick! I must have a pretty good filter!

jimss - You have a lot more ****s then me - An ELK WALLOW?? Must have been delirious from thirst!!!

 

[Retterath]

thanks for posting that

 

[Grantbvfd]

I stopped weighing my pack this last year. I know what I need to take. A pack is going to weigh more or less depending on length of stay, time of year, how familiar I am with a spot, what I'm hunting and who if anyone is with me.