Bad packing test run/ quilt help

[nyhiker50]

No one here mentioned this so I'm adding it.

You can try to use what's called a compressor stuff sack. It has four attached straps on one end and a cap on the other. When you pull the straps tight it compresses everything and make it smaller. Look it up on the web. Let me know if that works for you.

By the way, I think that someone already mentioned this a few posts back. Oh well, 'm just reiterating it.

[sargevining]

Go to the Zimmerbuilt website and look at the hammock packs. If you become a donating member here on HF you can go to the bqckpqcking thread and read about them. They are designed to solve the problem.

[JollyGreen]

You're using a Catalyst? That thing is HUGE, you should have no problem fitting everything in it with room to spare for 25lbs, especially this time of year. Why don't you post your gear list here and let some of us look at it for you?

[Anonymark]

You're using a Catalyst? That thing is HUGE, you should have no problem fitting everything in it with room to spare for 25lbs, especially this time of year. Why don't you post your gear list here and let some of us look at it for you?

You asked for it!

Sleep System:

WBBB 1.1 double, stock with tree straps 34.5 oz
Edge tarp 11oz
Kelty cosmic down 20 44 oz
Arrowhead New River UQ 32oz

ULA Catalyst 48oz (I weighed my empty, old Mountainsmith pack, 68 oz..... )

Cook Kit

Imusa 12 pot (it all nests in here)
homebrew 1.5 cup plastic cup
Homebrew Imusa 10 pot (for coffee, tea etc while other stuff is hydrating)
Bios Micro stove/windscreen/some aluminium foil
8oz fuel (newbie still, so I like the cushion of more fuel)
small coozy
lighter

Total about 13 oz

Clothing (packed)

REI fleece stuff sack (not the lightest, but doubles as my pillow)
2 pair sock
2 pair underwear
1 extra convertable pants
running shorts
boony hat (usually on my head)
Rain jacket (14 oz) (heavy, but it keeps me dry, and doubles as a wind jacket)
Lightweight fleece jacket
watch cap
long underwear top (PA can get coldddd on mountain ridges)

Misc:

Headlamp (LED one 2.75 oz)
Pack Cover 4 oz (It's so tiny, I just bring it, could probably leave it)
First Aid kit (12 oz, I think, it changes depending on trip)
katadyn water filter 11 oz
Nook/charger
New trent battery 4.6 oz (I phone, nook charger)


Food:
5 dinner/breakfast/lunch snacks
2 liters water/ extra empty 2 liter for dinner/water less stretches
instant coffee/ small creamers (7)
some hawk vittles meals
some homemade dehydrated food
Probars (mmm 380 calories and delicious)
oatmeal packets
PB jar
jelly packets
flat bread

I have no idea what the food weighs, but it is the heaviest thing in here



Total weight of all that ^^^^ 24.5 pounds as per the Vets scale


The Kelty and New river are just huge in the pack, I pack them loose in the bottom, and even compressing them "a lot", they take up 1/2 the pack.

I made an impulse purchase from Jack's are better of the Hudson River (UQ) and Shenandoah (TQ)

This saves me 40oz! and hopefully a lot of pack space.

I'm open to suggestions, but I think bulk and compression are/were my biggest issues.

[JollyGreen]

When you get the new quilts load your pack and report back, I have a Catalyst and have all sorts of room for my winter set up. Don't put your new quilts in a compression sack, put them in a trash compactor bag and stuff it in the bottom of your pack.What's in your first aid kit that weighs 12oz? Not sure you need both 10 and 12 Imusa pots but that's not much weight. Good Luck

[Anonymark]

When you get the new quilts load your pack and report back, I have a Catalyst and have all sorts of room for my winter set up. Don't put your new quilts in a compression sack, put them in a trash compactor bag and stuff it in the bottom of your pack.What's in your first aid kit that weighs 12oz? Not sure you need both 10 and 12 Imusa pots but that's not much weight. Good Luck

Thanks. My first aid kit is heavy-ish, but it also includes bug spray, lots of sunscreen (FYI don't get burned in an explosion, you have to wear SPF 1,000,000 forever and man, do burns hurt) ,hand sanitizer, extra matches, small lightweight knife. I use it for hiking, camping, backpacking. I may take some stuff out. I guess that weight includes stuff that most people don't include as a first aid kit. I just like it all in one place.

I'll report back. I think my bulk will be a lot less.

[Ratdog]

Jarbidge instead of New River long - 12 oz
JRB Sniveller instead of Cosmic - 20 oz
Golite Jam 70 instead of Catalyst - 17 oz

3 lbs lighter

3/4 length quilt is good if your feet are in a footbox (like a mummy bag or TQ)

[Anonymark]

Ratdog, Thanks! 3 lbs is a lot. Unfortunately, the post office is a day behind, so I'm heading out tomorrow with a stuffed pack. The Jack's R Better down stuff should be here by Friday and will save me 2.5 pounds. It's funny, my pack weight seems really good , it's just bulky....

[Anonymark]

Update: Mailman came as I was just about to leave. Threw in the quilts, and they took up less room than just my Kelty Cosmic Down 20. Went hiking with my buddy, then set up camp. I accidentally put the Shenandoah up as an UQ and used the Hudson River as a TQ. Temps went down to 45 overnight and I was still toasty. Now that I know to put the Hudson River underneath, I should have no problems. Had plenty of room in the pack.