Hammock = Smaller pack?

[Rune]

My winter pack for a one nighter
Don't ask me about weight, I don't want to know.

[Atlas918]

I use an Osprey Kestrel 58, size S/M which is really 55L; I find I have extra room in there when I pack all my stuff, but it compresses well. I would rather have extra room than not enough, but ymmv

[E.A.Y.]

I haven't been out in far too long, but I have found in the past that having a tarp + hammock + uq + tq means that I have flexibility in what I put where. I switched from polypro insulation to down since it compresses better. I use wool clothing where possible as it is less bulky than fleece.
I use a Molly Mac Pack so all my stuff is strapped to the pack sheet. I have decided to separate my quilts into two drybags.for future trips since that will give me more packing flexibility than one monster bag.

[SteelerNation]

Here's the introduction/overview of what's in my pack:



Thanks,

SN

[Medecine Hat]

I've been over my list, and while there may be some things that are excess, I don't really think I'm carrying egregiously too much stuff. Here is what I was carrying on my last trip (a 4-day outing with some rain in the forecast). Temps during the day were around 65* during the day, and in the 40s at night. There are a lot of items on the list, but keep in mind many of them are small (i.e. the matches, band-aids, toothpaste, etc). The full load with water and food was just under 32 lbs. I really would like to get the weight in the mid-20s and the volume down so that I can carry a smaller and thus lighter pack like an Ula Circuit.

REI Crestrail 75 backpack
WBBB hammock & rigging
DIY Hex Tarp & rigging
PLUQ Under quilt & rigging
REI Sub Kilo sleeping bag
Vargo titanium stakes (10 ea)
Small Reflectix square
Tyvek ground sheet
ThermaRest sit pad
MSR Pocket Rocket stove
GSI haulite pot & lid
MSR fuel canister
12 Matches
Fire steel
Lexan mug
Titanium spoon
MSR small pack towel
Platypus Gravity Works water filter
Pee bottle
Black Diamond Orbit lantern
3 spare AAA batteries
Petzl Tikka headlamp
Small knife
Cell phone
Kindle (I like to read in the hammock)
Car keys
ID & credit card
Small notebook & pen
Hand sanitizer (travel size)
Toothbrush & paste (travel size)
5 Baby wipes
Contact lens case & solution (travel size)
4 Band aids
Small pill case w/12 ibuprofen tablets
Bug repellent (small bottle)
Trash bag
Duct tape on a card
50 ft. 3mm line for hanging food bag
Emergency whistle

Marmot rain shell pants & jacket
Primaloft light jacket
100 wt fleece pants
1 pair thick socks for sleeping
2 pair liner socks
1 pair hiking socks

Nalgene 1 liter soft canteen (full)
Platypus 1 liter soft bottle (full)
Food in a silnylon bag (4 days worth - about 8 lbs)

So what sticks out that I might be able to cut, or is it indeed the size of the PLUQ and the sleeping bag that are doing me in?

[Gideon]

I got back into backpacking a year ago but decided after a short time to move towards ultralight. I did it because I have a back knee and because I enjoy hiking a lot better when it doesn't feel like so much work to get there.

After a great deal of research I realized that everything I had came in much lighter, more efficient sizes. I made a spreadsheet broken out by sleep system, cook kit, etc. I started with the biggest/bulkiest items and researched to discover the ridiculously low end of the spectrum, say hyper light. Then I backed off to find good/true ultralight stuff and started charting.

The first thing are your big ticket items, pack, hammock, quilt or bag, tarp. Research like crazy and then spend the money and you'll drop significant pounds right there. Then I ranked everything else in my pack by how much weight I could save if I replaced it.

Finally, I stopped packing so much stuff that simply isn't needed like a "pee bottle". I don't carry a trowel for digging a cat hole. I carry the tinest fixed blade knife, no axe, etc. I'm retired military and had a habit of carrying extra/redundant gear as if i was going "in-country" for 6 months.

If you can open an Excel file, I can send you mine and it shows every item plus weights in grams and lbs. If interested, just PM me.

Thanks and don't worry, you'll get there!

Gideon

[Medecine Hat]

Gideon, I've started doing that exact thing. I'm making a list of the items that I have and the weights, and also those that I'd like to replace them with and those weights. I found that if I replace my pack, UQ, sleeping bag, and go with a cuben tarp, I can save almost 6 pounds right there. The downside? That's a $1000 upgrade.

Oh, and I strongly disagree with you on the pee bottle being unnecessary. That 1.25 oz is a godsend on nights when I have to go, but don't want to get out of the hammock!

[Theosus]

Hammocking is more bulky than ground dwelling for sure, for 3 season I use a ULA CDT and for winter a ULA Ohm 2.0

I agree! A know a ground bounder that uses an inflatable mattress, a down bag and a tarp tent. His stuff is smaller than my UQ in its sack.

It's definitely not a bulk saver.

[Brute1100]

that list looks acceptable to me... other than "pee bottle" and the trowel... sticks dig holes, pee bottle is a personal thing, but i don't want urine near me any long than necessary...

also since you have the cell phone and kindle, the pen and paper could be left at home... nothing pen and paper won't do that a cell phone and kindle won't...

do you need credit cards? ID i agree with...

i could do without the lexan cup, but if you want coffee with your breakfast, kind of a necessary luxury...

i still say your biggest savings in weight is going to be investing in down for top and bottom quilts... other than that they are all personal choices for the weight...

[TallPaul]

Maybe get rid of the lawn chair?


Just seeing if anybody is paying attention.
I looked over your list & didn't see anything obvious.
I've got to believe it is your PLUQ, sleeping bag & clothes that take up the space, and possibly food depending on what you bring - though 8 lbs for 4 days seems reasonable unless they are bags of Doritos