Who are the gram weenies?

[Scratch]

I meet at least one of the requirements for Gram Weenie-hood...I keep track of my gear weight with a spreadsheet!

Unless you actually weigh and keep track of things you wear/eat/drink/carry, your membership in the GWC ("Gram Weenie Contingent") may be revoked!!

Oh, and my warm-weather gear (carried, no food or water) is 17 - 18 lbs (lighter if ground dwelling, heavier if hanging).

I couldn't agree more.

If anyone is looking for a good spreadsheet, already setup to keep track of weights, BPL has a number of them available for download at:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...eets_2005.html

I like Dave Johnston's the best.

[Pastorus]

Haha - "Weight is something I struggle with every day" means something different to a gram weenie, huh?

A few years ago at REI, I was reviewing my gear with a salesman to see if there was anything more innovative with less weight. Realizing that he wasn't going to make a sale, he poked me in my belly and said, "There's about 20 pounds right there that can lighten your load."

It seems logical that one would save money while losing weight. Eat less = spend less. But instead, weight loss costs money. My wife buys diet books, exercise equipment, and special food programs. I just keep buying lighter gear.

[Dutch]

AC I like your new avatar.

[Just Jeff]

So this gram weenie stuff got me thinking about my gear list, so I redid the one on my site. This is almost the exact gear list I took to Springer in late July...base weight 8.2 lbs. I could go lower by switching out the MacCat Standard with a 9oz MacCat 8x5 prototype or the JRB 8x8, which would also reduce the number of stakes and tensioners needed. And of course by switching out the suspension.

http://www.tothewoods.net/GearList.html

I'll paste it here...the format doesn't hold very well but the info is there. It's easier to read if you click on the link.

Comments?

Item - Cost - Weight (oz) - Weight (g) - Notes
Big 4:
Gossamer Gear Murmur Backpack $90 7.8 222 Includes shoulder and hip pads. No shockcord installed. Weight w/o Nitelite pad (110g)
Gossamer Gear Nitelite Torso Pad 3.9 110 Used as backpack frame, sitpad, and foot insulation for half-underquilts.
Warbonnet Blackbird 20.1 570 Given to me by HF members while I was deployed overseas…thanks guys! 1.7 oz OD green.
Warbonnet Suspension $0 7.8 220 Weight includes 2 x 107" webbing (114g each), 2 x Camp Nano Biners (30g each), 4 x Triangle Rings (8g each), 2 x attachment cords (6g each)
Half-Underquilt (.8" PrimaLoft) $25 12.9 366 0.8" Primaloft, 61" x 36", 1.9 oz DWR. Originally made as kids' underquilt. Could also be used as elephant's foot half-top-quilt with a jacket.
Half-UQ Suspension 1.4 40 Includes four small JRB mini-biners and three lengths of shockcord.
Blackbishop's Sack $1 0.7 20 Used to stuff DownHammock and No Sniveller. Cost is 1 yd of Walmart $1/yd silnylon.
OES MacCat Standard Tarp $95 13.5 382 Weight of tarp only. See my JRB-MacCat Comparison.
JRB Ridgeline Cord 0.2 6
JRB Self-Tensioning Line (STL) 1.7 48 4 x STLs to keep tarp taut. Weight includes cord and tensioner.
Y-stakes (4) w/ Bag 1.9 54 Includes stake bag (6g) and 4 Y-stakes (10g each)
JRB Stealth $210 16.3 462 Summer bag, lofts at 1.5-2".
Big Four Total 5.5 lbs 88.2 2500 Includes ground equivalent of Pack, Shelter, Bag and Pad.

Kitchen:
JRB Compression Sack 1.3 36 Jack says this the lightest compression sack commercially available.
Stove Set 2.0 58 Includes OES Pepsi Can Alcohol Stove (10g), Foster's Pot (22g), Foil Lid (5g), Ground Cover (4g), Windscreen (8g), Pot Stand (10g)
Measuring Cup $5 1.5 42 Used for measuring cup, mug, and bowl to hold freezer bag for meals. Foster's pot nests inside for protection. Made from 32 oz soft Nalgene bottle cut down to 16 oz. I used the mouth for the gravity filter.
Lexan Spoon $.50 0.3 8 On-sale at REI
Nalgene Soft-sided Canteen $9 2.3 66 48 oz wide-mouth version. Used for camp water, hot water bottle at night, and pillow.
20 oz soda bottle $0 1.2 34 Free with soda...I like the wide-mouth Aqua-Fina bottles
Katadyn Micropur Tablets (10 ct) 0.2 6 Consumable...weight per 10 ct.
Kitchen Total0.6 lbs 8.8 250 Includes food bag, kitchen gear; no food.

Clothing:
Clothing Bag $5 1.8 52 ThermaRest bag from REI member sale. Silnylon outside, microfleece liner for pillow.
The Packa $30 10.9 310 Silnylon jacket and pack cover...like a poncho, only better. Weight includes seam-sealing.
DropStoppers Pants $16 4.2 120 Cost includes jacket, but I carry the Packa instead.
Mountain Hardware Polypro Watch Cap 0.8 24
SmartWool Socks 2.0 56
Clothing Total 1.2 lbs 19.8 562 Includes raingear; no change of clothes.

Sundries:
Sundries 12.6 356 First aid kit, fire kit, toiletries, photon light (8g), compass, etc.
Small wire-gate Biner 0.1 4 Cheap Walmart type.
Bandana $2 1.2 34 Used for everything!
Gerber 400 Lockblade $20 1.3 36 2.5" blade.
Misc Total 0.9 lbs 15.2 430

Base Weight: 8.2 lbs 132.0 3742

Luxuries:
Canon SD300 Digital Elph Camera $300 5.1 144 Includes batteries and 4 GB media card.
Extendable Camera Tripod $15 3.6 102 I forgot the brand name.
Inflatable Pillow $0 0.6 16 Small white inflatable that Ed Speer and JRB sell. Includes straw inflater.
Notebook w/ Pencil $2 3.2 90 Used for trip notes, journaling, etc.
Luxuries Total 0.8 lbs 12.4 352

Consumables:
2L Water $0 70.5 2000
Denatured Alcohol 4.0 112 Enough for ~6 hot meals/drinks.
Food 70.5 2000 About a kilo per day.
Consumables Total 9.1 lbs 145.0 4112

Overnighter Pack Weight 18.1 lbs 289.5 8206 Includes 4112 (9.1 lbs) of consumables

Worn Gear:
Nike CoolMax T-Shirt $18 5.7 162 Short sleeves.
REI Hiking Swimtrunks $5 4.7 134 From REI member sale. Weight includes liner so no underwear needed.
Alpaca 3/4 Length Socks $8 2.0 58
Merrel Moab Ventilator Boots $90 34.6 980 Awesome boots!
Black Diamond Contour Hiking Poles $90 19.6 556 278g each.
Worn Gear Total 66.7 1890

From Skin Out 13.2 lbs 211.1 5984 Does not include consumables
FSO w/ consumables 22.3 lbs 356.1 10096 Includes 4112 (9.1 lbs) of consumables

[Mikensalem]

I can't qualify I carry my Blackberry

[Scratch]

I can't qualify I carry my Blackberry

I think everyone is allowed ONE luxury item ... I bring an iTouch.

[pgibson]

I'll raise my hand. I have been more and more focused on cutting my pack weight down over the past year. Before I was introduced to the hammock, I had cut my pre-consumables weight to about 12 pounds. So for an overnighter I was at 15-16 with a litter of water and chow. But as I learned about and got my hammock gear together my pack weight went back up a bit but then so did the comfort. Well the comfort went way up. I have been having trouble the past few years sleeping on a thermarest. I always used to sleep realy well on the ground. But over the past couple I would get sore and end up tossing and turning all night long, with little good sleep. So Yes I count grams, no I am not under 10 pounds pack weight, but now I can sleep and wake up feeling rested without a sore sholder, back, neck, legs,......

Thanks Hammock Fourms, and everyone here for a better way.

Paul

[sir_n0thing]

I don't own even a bathroom scale, so I only have a vague idea what my stuff weighs (just listed weights on sites lie rei.com, etc).
No gram weenie here!
That said, I believe I'm in the neighborhood of 17 pounds before food and water.

n0thing

[BillyBob58]

....So Yes I count grams, no I am not under 10 pounds pack weight, but now I can sleep and wake up feeling rested without a sore sholder, back, neck, legs,......

Thanks Hammock Fourms, and everyone here for a better way.

Paul

I think the hammock forums are a bargain, much cheaper than:
"We got a genuine Indian guru
He's teachin' us a better way"!
ARTIST: Dr. Hook
TITLE: On the Cover of Rolling Stone

[gnome]

Interesting take on wgt. I don't quite understand the different defs. for wgt. It seems to me every thing carried or worn is wgt. the only variable is consumables, [water, fuel (if carried) & food.] count your water containers and your fuel containers too! goodness I don't want a controversy but I know any wgt that ends up on my feet affects my hike! I am older so wgt definitely affects me! would need a motorized wheelbarrow to cary 35 lbs. gnome