Trip Prep - Weight Shocker

[fishbait]

So I did a prep pack of my backpack for my over night hike with the Boy Scouts next Saturday. My goal was to be under 20lbs. Well the pack came in at 25 Lbs with out food. I must be getting old; I felt every ounce of that weight when I put the pack on my back.

3 Lbs - Cooking system (Stove, fuel, and nested Pots)
8 Lbs - 2 Sleeping bags
1 Lbs - PLUQ
2 Lbs - Tree Straps
4 Lbs - Back Pack
2 Lbs - Tarp
20 Lbs - Total that could be reduced

Future upgrades:
UQ
TQ
Lighter Tarp
Light Weight Back Pack
Lighter Tree Straps

Think I'll go watch Shug's Packing Tips again and dream of future upgrades.

[2Tall]

Leave the pack till last, 4 pounds aint bad for a good pack...the sleeping bags is where Id dive in. Maybe convert them to quilts or buy outright.

Make sure your balanced, maybe water sources on the trail will help with less water carried.

Are you using both sleeping bags? Can ya supplement with clothes carried or a cheap down jacket from good will to get uya by.

Jus thoughts, thats awesome you help.with BSA

[normis1]

Given the weather in the NE right now, can you ditch one of the sleeping bags?

[thepikey]

+1 on the sleeping bags. What kind of set up are you using that you need 2 bags and a poncho liner? There's gotta be some ways to tighten that up.
What kind of cook system are you using? That seems really heavy to me as well.

[tacode]

4lb pack isn't a deal breaker, nor is the tarp, but why 2 sleeping bags? Are they both for you, or are you carrying a "just-in-case" spare for one of the kids? If it's just for you, maybe just carry one and a walmart CCF pad. Warmth-wise, great bang for the buck and a lot lighter.

I went down to 11F with a 20deg down bag, PLUQ, CCF pad, and a thermarest. Awkward to pack and heavier that Id like to be, but a lot lighter than two 4lb sleeping bags, and I was toasty warm all night.

As for you cooking set-up, what does it consist of? Do you absolutely need more than one pot? If you are carrying troop gear, I get that.

Why are your tree straps so heavy?

Aren't BSA trips a blast, though? I'm on my son's troop committee. It's so fun to be able to teach kids how to backpack! Good on you!!

[Millerville]

I recommend a titanium pot and a Emberlt titanium wood burning stove that will help to reduce the weight of the cooking system.

[Catavarie]

I hate to beat on a dead horse, but I have agree with everyone above about the 2 sleeping bags and the cook kit. If you carrying troop gear I can understand, but if it's just for yourself then perhaps you should ask if you really need those nested pots. Perhaps you only need the larger pot, or maybe the smaller. Do the BSA allow cooking directly on the camp fire? That saves you the weight of stove and canister right there.

And you must have some seriously heavy duty tree straps for that much weight, I'm guessing 2in rachet strap reused?

[fishbait]

Leave the pack till last, 4 pounds aint bad for a good pack...the sleeping bags is where Id dive in. Maybe convert them to quilts or buy outright.

Make sure your balanced, maybe water sources on the trail will help with less water carried.

Are you using both sleeping bags? Can ya supplement with clothes carried or a cheap down jacket from good will to get uya by.

Jus thoughts, thats awesome you help.with BSA

The goal is to get quilts first, thankfully it's only a 6 mile hike. I'm planning on leaving one of the bags home, keep the PLUQ and supplement it with a foam pad. I've been in Scouting since my son was a Cub in 1st grade, going on 10 years with the organization now.

Given the weather in the NE right now, can you ditch one of the sleeping bags?

Yes, That was one of my decisions

+1 on the sleeping bags. What kind of set up are you using that you need 2 bags and a poncho liner? There's gotta be some ways to tighten that up.
What kind of cook system are you using? That seems really heavy to me as well.

The PL was going to be my UQ, I was gonna add a sleeping bag as insurance, but I'll use a sleeping pas instead. My Mummy bag will be used as a TQ for the trip. The cooking kit is a Coleman Anodized Aluminum Cook Set that weighs about a pound. All I'll really use from it is one pot. I also have a Lightweight Large Burner Classic Camping and Backpacking Stove.

4lb pack isn't a deal breaker, nor is the tarp, but why 2 sleeping bags? Are they both for you, or are you carrying a "just-in-case" spare for one of the kids? If it's just for you, maybe just carry one and a walmart CCF pad. Warmth-wise, great bang for the buck and a lot lighter.

I went down to 11F with a 20deg down bag, PLUQ, CCF pad, and a thermarest. Awkward to pack and heavier that Id like to be, but a lot lighter than two 4lb sleeping bags, and I was toasty warm all night.

As for you cooking set-up, what does it consist of? Do you absolutely need more than one pot? If you are carrying troop gear, I get that.

Why are your tree straps so heavy?

Aren't BSA trips a blast, though? I'm on my son's troop committee. It's so fun to be able to teach kids how to backpack! Good on you!!

Gonna reduce to 1 pot and leave a bag behind. The BSA has been a blast but the costs of the trips are starting to get expensive. We're looking at more local locations now with the higher gas prices.

I recommend a titanium pot and a Emberlt titanium wood burning stove that will help to reduce the weight of the cooking system.

Titanium is on my list for the future. I was thinking of upgrading to an Alcohol system. I got a lot of recommendations from the folks over at BushcraftUSA.com regarding the Trangia.

[SilvrSurfr]

My base weight looked a lot like yours a few months ago, but then Santa came, and my birthday in January, and tax return in March!

1. I dumped the Swedish Army Trangia Mess Kit at 2.9 lbs for a MBD Elite and a Fosters Pot. I shaved maybe 42 oz. off.
2. I ditched the 4 lb. sleeping bag for HG 20* TQ & UQ for a weight savings of 26 ounces.
3. Goodbye blue foam pad! That was at least 10 oz.
4. The HG 4-season Cuben Fiber tarp is on order. Bye-bye to another 16 oz.
5. Ordered a GoLite Jam to replace my 1985 North Face pack. The Jam is 30 oz., and I would guess the North Face was at least 5 lbs. (80 oz.). so I've saved 50 oz.
6. I now wear just a Speedo banana hammock and women's panty hose for 3 season hiking. Just kidding.

Anyway, in just a few months I've lost 9 lbs. of base weight at a cost of around $850. That's roughly $100 per pound.

I don't even want to think about the Amsteel, Zing-It, Emberlit Mini Titanium Stove, head lamps, Dutchware, etc., I've purchased. All weight saving, but tough on the pocketbook. I'm surprised the wife hasn't divorced me!

[fishbait]

I hate to beat on a dead horse, but I have agree with everyone above about the 2 sleeping bags and the cook kit. If you carrying troop gear I can understand, but if it's just for yourself then perhaps you should ask if you really need those nested pots. Perhaps you only need the larger pot, or maybe the smaller. Do the BSA allow cooking directly on the camp fire? That saves you the weight of stove and canister right there.

And you must have some seriously heavy duty tree straps for that much weight, I'm guessing 2in rachet strap reused?

My original plan called for three - I was going to make an UQ using two 40* bags. I've decided to use my 20* as a TQ, my Poncho Loner as my UQ for now and a Foam pad in the Hammock. It's my first camping trip using a hammock system, all my other trips have been in tents. So this is all new to me. But I've been going through the threads and finding out what has been working for others and will make adjustments. So your not really beating a dead horse, just restating good advice is all and it's appreciated.