Chert
Guide
Me and a couple forum members are going on a 2 night backpacking trip this Friday, and I am more than excited for it. I've revamped, reorganized, and brought down some weight of my gear over the past few trips. I want to start taking pictures and comparing my load out for each trip so I'm starting now. I'm open to any and all questions/criticisms/comments, thanks for looking.
Total weight including 1 nalgene + 1 16oz bottle of water is 29 pounds.
Here is the trip report using this gear - http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57610
Clothing: Wicking top and bottom base layer, sweat pants to sleep in, fleece top, large warm sweater, gloves, hat, balaclava, shemagh, 2 pairs wool socks plus what I wear in, it is supposed to get pretty cold.
PSK/Possible bag/night kit/toiletry bag (whatever you want to call it). I was keeping everything in different compartments and in different pouches and stuff, but I find having all of this stuff in one place saves weight over multiple containers and it's all stuff I don't have to access multiple times in the day, this system works for me.
Contents:
PSK Contents:
Everything fits into a small stuff sack and doesn't weigh too much. 220 grams.
Tools/First Aid:
Cook kit, this has been changed multiple times to get to this point but I think I have it dialed in to exactly what I need and what weight I am willing to carry. 442 grams.
Cook kit contents:
The squishy bowl is a new addition to my kit, but it will go with me every time now. It is the perfect size for oatmeal in the morning or for coffee, and works great to boil bake. For baking I put the soup can bottom in the kettle, fill with water just under the top of the can, then put my squishy bowl on top of that with my muffin mix. After about 30 minutes over the fire, making sure you have enough water for boiling, you come out with a great muffin.
I also keep a titanium nesting cup with lid under my Nalgene, doesn't weigh much and gives me one extra cook pot or cup.
Food, I probably have too much but I like to eat. This is one of my heaviest items, 1475 grams.
Food contents: not shown is a few snacks I keep floating around in my pockets or backpack.
Shelter Contents:
The Tyvek goes in the stuff sack with the tarp. I keep a trash bag in the rope kit so I can set my shelter items on it, if it's wet out or raining.
Sleep Stuff, a Thermarest z-lite (this is a new purchase, trying to cut down weight over my self inflating pad - 10 ounces), a 35 degree bag (3.1 pounds), and a small fleece blanket I use to cover any parts during the night that get cold - usually my shoulder area or feet.
Firekit, I have redone my firekit more times than anything else in my bag, once I pulled out my scale I saw some problems though. I was using a Hudson Bay tin in a leather case with flint and steel strikers and stuff in it, well that made the kit close to half a pound, so this is my lightweight kit for backpacking it weighs less than just the Hudson Bay tin I used to bring, 46 grams.
Contents:
Everything loaded up and on the trail, I'm on the right, the bag is an Osprey Kestrel 58.
Thanks for looking.
Total weight including 1 nalgene + 1 16oz bottle of water is 29 pounds.
Here is the trip report using this gear - http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57610
Clothing: Wicking top and bottom base layer, sweat pants to sleep in, fleece top, large warm sweater, gloves, hat, balaclava, shemagh, 2 pairs wool socks plus what I wear in, it is supposed to get pretty cold.
PSK/Possible bag/night kit/toiletry bag (whatever you want to call it). I was keeping everything in different compartments and in different pouches and stuff, but I find having all of this stuff in one place saves weight over multiple containers and it's all stuff I don't have to access multiple times in the day, this system works for me.
Contents:
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Small powerful flashlight with replacement AAA battery
- Ear plugs (I can't sleep outdoors without them)
- Wet wipes (I am ridiculously allergic to poison oak, I use these for a wipe down on my exposed areas before bed to help mitigate any poison oak damage I may have if I came in contact with it)
- PSK
PSK Contents:
- Fresnel Lens
- Breastmilk bag
- Big trash bag
- Duct tape
- Rope
- Water purification tabs
- Whistle
- Bobbin w/ heavy thread
- Compass
- Fishing kit
- Firesteel
- Small saw and a small blade with repair needle taped to it
Everything fits into a small stuff sack and doesn't weigh too much. 220 grams.
Tools/First Aid:
- My First Aid Kit
- Mora
- SAK Farmer
Cook kit, this has been changed multiple times to get to this point but I think I have it dialed in to exactly what I need and what weight I am willing to carry. 442 grams.
Cook kit contents:
- Snow Peak Kettle
- Plastic Tupperware bowl that fits absolutely perfect inside the kettle (I got this bowl at the dollar store)
- Small squishy bowl
- Spice kit
- Bandana
- Bottom of a soup can lid with holes (for boil baking)
- Another breast milk bag for water holding
The squishy bowl is a new addition to my kit, but it will go with me every time now. It is the perfect size for oatmeal in the morning or for coffee, and works great to boil bake. For baking I put the soup can bottom in the kettle, fill with water just under the top of the can, then put my squishy bowl on top of that with my muffin mix. After about 30 minutes over the fire, making sure you have enough water for boiling, you come out with a great muffin.
I also keep a titanium nesting cup with lid under my Nalgene, doesn't weigh much and gives me one extra cook pot or cup.
Food, I probably have too much but I like to eat. This is one of my heaviest items, 1475 grams.
Food contents: not shown is a few snacks I keep floating around in my pockets or backpack.
- Breakfast pack with pop tarts, oatmeal, and wetwipes (I keep these in every food pack)
- Drink mixes for lunches and some more wetwipes
- night time drink mixes - hot chocolates and tea
- A rice packet
- A few things of top ramen
- Mountain house beef stew (this is my emergency food, goes with me on every trip)
- Lastly is a pack of beef jerky (I add this to my ramen and rice).
Shelter Contents:
- A reusable space blanket
- An Etowah 10x10 tarp with a piece of Tyvek for a extra wall or ground cloth(1.1 pounds)
- A bag with some rope
The Tyvek goes in the stuff sack with the tarp. I keep a trash bag in the rope kit so I can set my shelter items on it, if it's wet out or raining.
Sleep Stuff, a Thermarest z-lite (this is a new purchase, trying to cut down weight over my self inflating pad - 10 ounces), a 35 degree bag (3.1 pounds), and a small fleece blanket I use to cover any parts during the night that get cold - usually my shoulder area or feet.
Firekit, I have redone my firekit more times than anything else in my bag, once I pulled out my scale I saw some problems though. I was using a Hudson Bay tin in a leather case with flint and steel strikers and stuff in it, well that made the kit close to half a pound, so this is my lightweight kit for backpacking it weighs less than just the Hudson Bay tin I used to bring, 46 grams.
Contents:
- Fat wood
- Small trick re-lighting candle
- Firesteel
- Baggie with PJ CB's
- Small piece of innertube.
Everything loaded up and on the trail, I'm on the right, the bag is an Osprey Kestrel 58.
Thanks for looking.
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Have a great time!
I never use the chest strap at all on any of my bags. But it probably only weighs like a gram.
