How much do your packs weigh in at?  Any tips for reducing weight?

Currently my 72 hour bag has a base weight of 29.4 pounds without food and water.  I'm not getting any younger, and am thinking of good ways to reduce that weight without getting rid of things that actually should be in it.  I'm planning to take a shakedown weekend hopefully soon and see what I think I can get rid of.  The change of clothes I currently have in there weigh more than I like (just over 3 pounds), so thinking about looking into lighter weight options.

Great post! And my pack weighs too much too. Some quick ideas....

Know the weight of everything, including the pack. My mul-surp packs weigh 5-8 lbs, my Civi pack weighs maybe 3 lbs?

Coats/clothes weigh a lot. Cutting down is helpful. Socks are NOT something you cut down on. But pants can be a few ounces to several pounds (Dickies, Carhartt). NO wool. Except something like a smartwool shirt and pants. In winter. Plan on making heat with your body, not with clothing. Dress to be a little cold.

Down sleeping bags are better on weight. A down quilt will be even better.

Tents are a lot of weight. A tarp or tarp/poncho will be lighter. And a mil poncho is much heavier than the lite civi tarps.

Light weight boots.

Multi functional items are usually lighter than the sum of the weight of the single purpose items.

Skip any big metal tools like axes, hatchets, Bowie knives. Just rig up some rope and a tarp and a sleeping bag.

My wife says "get a bug out mule."

Just quick thoughts. There are more, and there are people here better able to answer your question, but I thought I'd get you a quick answer.

I do multi-day backpacking treks so my loadout may be a little different, but there is always stuff that can cross over.  full disclosure, I'm a large person and can carry more weight and "luxury" goods than a 150pound person would be comfortable with.  I know this and accept the added weight as the balance of keeping me sane. 
Follow the tips from "Gram weenies" that backpack.  These are the ones that do ultra lightweight packing.  While some may not work (Food drops, etc)  Some will.   
Here are 2 calculators that can help (Adapt where you can):
https://weighmygear.com/pack-weight-calculator/
https://backpackers.com/blog/how-to-calculate-backpack-weight-with-lighterpack/

Any big item you can reduce weight on is a win!   ie. Do you really need 2 pairs of steel toed boots?
Do you really need a separate set of camp shoes instead of just a heavy duty insole and some 550 cord to make an improvised camp shoe at a fraction of the weight?  DO you need a full size toothbrush, or can you save an ounce by cutting the handle down on your toothbrush?  I usually suggest 3 pairs of socks.  1 to wear, 1 dry, and 1 cleaned and drying.  Some only use 2.   Same with clothes,  You don't need multiple sets of clothes.  1 to wear, 1 to wash/dry. Underwear is the same.  I always jokingly told my scouts, a pair of underwear can last 4 days.  Front, Back, inside, outside...    They laughed, but they understood what I was talking about and would cut down the amount of stuff they carried.   
Look at your weather and what temps you may be required to use this in.  I have a 'GHB' I keep in the truck,  it gets opened and sorted 2x year in fall/spring.  This allows me to check on the foodstuffs, and adjust spare clothing for the climate.  No need for Thermal underwear in Summer...
In all seriousness, post what you have setup and let us do our best to tear into it.   More eyes looking at something is a great resource.  We may see things you don't realize... 

Quote from: SCBrian on June 26, 2021, 09:28:12 AM
**snip**
In all seriousness, post what you have setup and let us do our best to tear into it.   More eyes looking at something is a great resource.  We may see things you don't realize...

I will try and do that, though it might not be until next weekend before I have the chance to do so.  I too am a bigger guy, and even though I'm working on loosing weight, I will never not be a big guy, so I feel you on the carrying more, and sometimes our clothing items just weigh a little more.  Good points as well!

Also consider how you are carrying your gear. A 5.11 Rush pack or ALICE without frame and kidney pad will take a greater toll on your body. A pack which properly transfers the weight to the hips, and is adjusted right, will be very nice and help carry whatever load you have. But soldiers expecting contact don't use things like waist belts because of the added screwing around under fire. If that is something you feel you want to plan for, then pack accordingly. But otherwise, using a pack which transfers the weight to the hips and can properly adjust will do wonders even if the weight stays near 30 lbs.

Quote from: woodsghost on June 26, 2021, 01:10:08 PM
Also consider how you are carrying your gear. A 5.11 Rush pack or ALICE without frame and kidney pad will take a greater toll on your body. A pack which properly transfers the weight to the hips, and is adjusted right, will be very nice and help carry whatever load you have. But soldiers expecting contact don't use things like waist belts because of the added screwing around under fire. If that is something you feel you want to plan for, then pack accordingly. But otherwise, using a pack which transfers the weight to the hips and can properly adjust will do wonders even if the weight stays near 30 lbs.

Agreed.  My current pack (LAPG Atlas 72) has a minimal frame panel and a decent hip belt.  Not as good as my Deuter frame pack, but currently that is too small for what I carry.  I may try paring stuff down to eventually fit that and that would save a couple pounds there.  Until I get to that point, I'm sitting at 5.7 pounds for the pack.  I'm looking at changing out the spare clothes to something smaller and lighter, which would help as well.  I am hoping that next weekend will be the opportunity to go out and camp, and go through what I have/need and get some pics of what I'm carrying.  I'm also planning to take a luggage scale, and weigh some stuff, see what maybe can eventually be replaced with lighter options, or consider if something is needed less than its weight penalty.

Given that I plan for this to continue to be a 72 hour pack, there will be things I wouldn't take for just camping, and certainly not for backpacking.  I'm interested to see where this journey will go, and hope this thread can end up helpful to others as well.

Here is a preliminary list, with some weights, though the total weights (total, consumables, and base weight) are accurate to within a tenth of a pound.  I'm going to try and get out for a night or two next weekend, and will try and get some more weights and maybe some pics.

https://lighterpack.com/r/ht6iph

Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 01:14:12 PM
Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

I might consider the poncho liner, it's really less than a pound? 

I considered the z series, but I am usually a side sleeper and without the padding I wake up with pain in my lower back and shoulder.  May still consider it though.  Also the reported R value of the klymit makes it a 4 season ready choice.

Good suggestions, keep em coming.

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 01:33:19 PM

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 01:14:12 PM
Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

I might consider the poncho liner, it's really less than a pound? 

I considered the z series, but I am usually a side sleeper and without the padding I wake up with pain in my lower back and shoulder.  May still consider it though.  Also the reported R value of the klymit makes it a 4 season ready choice.

Good suggestions, keep em coming.

I have a lot of experience with the poncho liner. My experience says "get something else." I would consider the Snugpack Jungle blanket or Jungle bag, which should be close in weight and should, based on what I've been reading, give better performance. Currently I'm just using some 40* bags I got from Walmart for clearance/$10 each, and I don't expect to find anything working better than that for my warm weather use scenarios.

Also, you can consider taking the bivy cover, putting a space blanket or casualty blanket in there, then either putting the poncho liner or other equivalent inside and sleeping. I've done just a poncho and space blanket and while it was warm, ALL moisture was trapped and I was soaked. A poncho liner would have been useful as a place to absorb moisture while the other elements actually kept me warm. A poncho (or better, a BCUSA MEST), a space blanket, and a poncho liner are light and compact. A little crinkly though, so consider if that is an issue or not.

Also consider a 3/4 or 2/3 sleeping pad. That will cut down weight. Not a lot, but the total from say, 5+ different changes adds up.

Quote from: woodsghost on June 28, 2021, 01:48:37 PM

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 01:33:19 PM

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 01:14:12 PM
Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

I might consider the poncho liner, it's really less than a pound? 

I considered the z series, but I am usually a side sleeper and without the padding I wake up with pain in my lower back and shoulder.  May still consider it though.  Also the reported R value of the klymit makes it a 4 season ready choice.

Good suggestions, keep em coming.

I have a lot of experience with the poncho liner. My experience says "get something else." I would consider the Snugpack Jungle blanket or Jungle bag, which should be close in weight and should, based on what I've been reading, give better performance. Currently I'm just using some 40* bags I got from Walmart for clearance/$10 each, and I don't expect to find anything working better than that for my warm weather use scenarios.

Also, you can consider taking the bivy cover, putting a space blanket or casualty blanket in there, then either putting the poncho liner or other equivalent inside and sleeping. I've done just a poncho and space blanket and while it was warm, ALL moisture was trapped and I was soaked. A poncho liner would have been useful as a place to absorb moisture while the other elements actually kept me warm. A poncho (or better, a BCUSA MEST), a space blanket, and a poncho liner are light and compact. A little crinkly though, so consider if that is an issue or not.

Also consider a 3/4 or 2/3 sleeping pad. That will cut down weight. Not a lot, but the total from say, 5+ different changes adds up.

Thanks for the heads up on the poncho liner.  I've looked at the Snugpack Jungle blanket, not sure if I could get away with the smaller one, I'm 6'4" with really wide shoulders.  And a belly lol.  It might work, even without the space/casualty blanket, I do sleep pretty warm.  I think part of me likes the convenience of having the one bag snapped into the bivy, and being able to just snap in the second for winter (I'd run 2 patrol bags, not the heavy winter one, I don't even have that one anymore).  Perhaps I should consider exploring more options.

As for the pad, part of my concern with finding/using a smaller pad is the size issue.  3/4 pads are even shorter on me, and most of those are a lot thinner.  I'm not closed to heading that way, I need to revisit how comfortable my current mat is.  Doing some preliminary math with almost entirely stuff I have, I can cut the base and overall weight a bit, by about 5 pounds on the base weight and about 10 overall ( may have added the water weight since you looked, I was curious).  It involves a different pack, that wouldn't hold everything, but I am sort of thinking that the stuff that doesn't make it into the hiking pack can live in the Atlas, in the car, and if I need to go into Bushcraft or survival mode, switch things from the Deuter over to that one.  That or I might look into a tactical fanny pack for most of that stuff.

Poorly organized Alternate Pack list here:  https://lighterpack.com/r/elo2cp

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 01:33:19 PM

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 01:14:12 PM
Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

I might consider the poncho liner, it's really less than a pound? 

I considered the z series, but I am usually a side sleeper and without the padding I wake up with pain in my lower back and shoulder.  May still consider it though.  Also the reported R value of the klymit makes it a 4 season ready choice.

Good suggestions, keep em coming.

The poncho liner is listed online as 1.5 pounds. I have carried it and used it lots over the years but never weighed it myself. It CAN be used down to the 20s. I have done but was absolutely miserable. The last time I looked up the weight of patrol bag, it was listed as 3.5 so you will save 2 pounds but give up a good bit of temp range. I would like to try the Snugpack products that Woodsghost has mentioned but I just got a new poncho liner to replace the one I had to give back to Uncle Sam.

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 02:42:10 PM

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 01:33:19 PM

Quote from: Lettuce Pray on June 28, 2021, 01:14:12 PM
Being as this is a seasonal bag, I would recommend a couple changes. During the summer I have used a poncho liner aka woobie inside of the MSS bivi and been plenty warm. Of course that was in southern Alabama. If it works it will save you about 2 pounds. You also might consider moving to something like a Thermarest Zlite for a pad. It won't be as warm ot probably as comfortable but it weighs 12 ounces and is fairly inexpensive.

I might consider the poncho liner, it's really less than a pound? 

I considered the z series, but I am usually a side sleeper and without the padding I wake up with pain in my lower back and shoulder.  May still consider it though.  Also the reported R value of the klymit makes it a 4 season ready choice.

Good suggestions, keep em coming.

The poncho liner is listed online as 1.5 pounds. I have carried it and used it lots over the years but never weighed it myself. It CAN be used down to the 20s. I have done but was absolutely miserable. The last time I looked up the weight of patrol bag, it was listed as 3.5 so you will save 2 pounds but give up a good bit of temp range. I would like to try the Snugpack products that Woodsghost has mentioned but I just got a new poncho liner to replace the one I had to give back to Uncle Sam.

I wonder if the 3.5 is with the bivy, I weighed just the patrol bag, in a suffsack at 38.4 ounces.  I'm sure I could take a few ounces off with the big zipper pulls (the cloth parts) and the shock cord I don't use anyway...  Now I want to weigh the bag with the bivy, or just the bivy LOL.

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 02:19:05 PM

Quote from: woodsghost on June 28, 2021, 01:48:37 PM


I have a lot of experience with the poncho liner. My experience says "get something else." I would consider the Snugpack Jungle blanket or Jungle bag, which should be close in weight and should, based on what I've been reading, give better performance. Currently I'm just using some 40* bags I got from Walmart for clearance/$10 each, and I don't expect to find anything working better than that for my warm weather use scenarios.

Also, you can consider taking the bivy cover, putting a space blanket or casualty blanket in there, then either putting the poncho liner or other equivalent inside and sleeping. I've done just a poncho and space blanket and while it was warm, ALL moisture was trapped and I was soaked. A poncho liner would have been useful as a place to absorb moisture while the other elements actually kept me warm. A poncho (or better, a BCUSA MEST), a space blanket, and a poncho liner are light and compact. A little crinkly though, so consider if that is an issue or not.

Also consider a 3/4 or 2/3 sleeping pad. That will cut down weight. Not a lot, but the total from say, 5+ different changes adds up.

Thanks for the heads up on the poncho liner.  I've looked at the Snugpack Jungle blanket, not sure if I could get away with the smaller one, I'm 6'4" with really wide shoulders.  And a belly lol.  It might work, even without the space/casualty blanket, I do sleep pretty warm.  I think part of me likes the convenience of having the one bag snapped into the bivy, and being able to just snap in the second for winter (I'd run 2 patrol bags, not the heavy winter one, I don't even have that one anymore).  Perhaps I should consider exploring more options.

As for the pad, part of my concern with finding/using a smaller pad is the size issue.  3/4 pads are even shorter on me, and most of those are a lot thinner.  I'm not closed to heading that way, I need to revisit how comfortable my current mat is.  Doing some preliminary math with almost entirely stuff I have, I can cut the base and overall weight a bit, by about 5 pounds on the base weight and about 10 overall ( may have added the water weight since you looked, I was curious).  It involves a different pack, that wouldn't hold everything, but I am sort of thinking that the stuff that doesn't make it into the hiking pack can live in the Atlas, in the car, and if I need to go into Bushcraft or survival mode, switch things from the Deuter over to that one.  That or I might look into a tactical fanny pack for most of that stuff.

Poorly organized Alternate Pack list here:  https://lighterpack.com/r/elo2cp

I should be clear. The GI poncho liner basically works. But if I'm looking at paying $40 for a poncho liner or $40 for something like a Jungle Blanket, I'll go with the jungle blanket. Or the sleeping bags I got which...are not really 40F bags, just "rated" at that.

If price is no object, then I don't have any suggestions that I have actual experience with.

And if I stand sideways and suck in my belly, I can stay dry in a rainstorm by dodging between the raindrops.

Quote from: Nyte on June 28, 2021, 03:15:13 PM


I wonder if the 3.5 is with the bivy, I weighed just the patrol bag, in a suffsack at 38.4 ounces.  I'm sure I could take a few ounces off with the big zipper pulls (the cloth parts) and the shock cord I don't use anyway...  Now I want to weigh the bag with the bivy, or just the bivy LOL.

Just weighed the patrol bag with the bivy, 4.3 pounds total which seems to put the bivy at 1.9 pounds by my math, or 30.4 ounces. 

Puts the 72 hour kit as stands at 25.02 pound base weight, and the alternate config I am considering at 17.22 pound base weight.

Not disrespectful, though I am still curious, and I bet others at some point could benefit from further exploration of this topic.

Getting ready to head out for at least an overnighter to see what works, what I need, test some gear, and see what happens.  Will report back in after the weekend.

Quote from: Nyte on July 02, 2021, 09:05:12 AM
Getting ready to head out for at least an overnighter to see what works, what I need, test some gear, and see what happens.  Will report back in after the weekend.

Great! I'm sure you have heard this before, but whatever you don't use can probably be left behind next time. Exceptions include first aid items and rain gear. But I think I've made it clear, I like to combine items and my rain gear IS my sleep system/shelter. FA is harder to combine, but duct tape and fluffy paper (tissue paper, toilet paper, paper towels, etc) has worked for most FA needs I've had in the field.

A TQ is something I'm ok having as a single purpose item. I used to say "I'll just improvise from rope/bandanna/etc" but now I'm pretty set on having a real TQ in the woods.

I'd certainly focus on your big three. These are usually where the most weight is and thus the lowest hanging fruit.

The pack is quite heavy for its size; several pounds could be saved there. Something like a Granite Gear pack or a Kelty Redwing, I don't believe the LAPG's volume rating for a second so a much "smaller" bag from a different brand should be a similar size.

The tarp and bivvy sack are fairly redundant in my experience, especially with a tarp that big. You could likely either a) ditch the bivvy outright, b) switch to a much smaller tarp or c) both. Option c) would likely take you from almost 4lbs to 1lb for your shelter. If you really want a bivvy something like an SOL Escape will do most of the same job for less weight and size, I used an ECWCS bivvy for years and used the Escape to ease my transition to no bivvy.

The MSS bag is pretty darn good value, but much lighter (and more compact) alternatives exist. Cottage quilt makers like hammock gear or enlightened equipment make very light, quality sleeping quilts in a variety of subdued colors. If you live in a wet climate a climashield quilt, or if you live in a dryer area a down quilt will save even more. My 30*F down quilt (in my experience much warmer than an MSS green bag) is 1lb 4oz and fits in my butt pack:



(this was my sleep system doing an overnighter out of a british belt kit)

If you do shave down your shelter and sleep system weight you will likely save a decent amount of volume and can get away with a smaller/lighter pack; I'd say keeping the pack under 3lbs shouldn't be a major challenge.

So I got in an overnight, weighed some gear, tested some gear, made some changes.  Wound up with a deal on a lighter, 40 degree down bag, will keep the MSS set up for winter.  Decided the ground setup just isn't for me, and in my AO finding two trees or other to hang the hammock is pretty easy.  The fly for that is lighter, and overall it let me get my base weight down.  Overall enough down that I am comfortable adding in the 10 pounds of medical equipment I need to sleep comfortably/safely.  Right now the setup gets me one to two nights (I think I can get 14 hours out of the Jackery at my current cpap settings), but to get much more takes a heavy weight and cost penalty at this time.  Which is a no go.  Everything I tested performed well, and my camping food choices worked well.  Was a great weekend until my vehicle broke down. 

Here is the current set up, and I have a slightly lighter pack than listed on the way, mostly for some updated fitment and features for me and my huge frame.  https://lighterpack.com/r/elo2cp

Either way, I ditched the LAPG pack, so now I gotta figure out what to do with it, or maybe sell it off.

Quote from: RonnyRonin on July 04, 2021, 11:46:40 PM
I'd certainly focus on your big three. These are usually where the most weight is and thus the lowest hanging fruit.

The pack is quite heavy for its size; several pounds could be saved there. Something like a Granite Gear pack or a Kelty Redwing, I don't believe the LAPG's volume rating for a second so a much "smaller" bag from a different brand should be a similar size.

The tarp and bivvy sack are fairly redundant in my experience, especially with a tarp that big. You could likely either a) ditch the bivvy outright, b) switch to a much smaller tarp or c) both. Option c) would likely take you from almost 4lbs to 1lb for your shelter. If you really want a bivvy something like an SOL Escape will do most of the same job for less weight and size, I used an ECWCS bivvy for years and used the Escape to ease my transition to no bivvy.

The MSS bag is pretty darn good value, but much lighter (and more compact) alternatives exist. Cottage quilt makers like hammock gear or enlightened equipment make very light, quality sleeping quilts in a variety of subdued colors. If you live in a wet climate a climashield quilt, or if you live in a dryer area a down quilt will save even more. My 30*F down quilt (in my experience much warmer than an MSS green bag) is 1lb 4oz and fits in my butt pack:



(this was my sleep system doing an overnighter out of a british belt kit)

If you do shave down your shelter and sleep system weight you will likely save a decent amount of volume and can get away with a smaller/lighter pack; I'd say keeping the pack under 3lbs shouldn't be a major challenge.

Yeah, I ditched the LAPG pack, right now I'm packed in my old Deuter, but I have a newer pack that will fit me better en-route.  Will bring pack weight down to 3#.  I found a screaming deal on a Kelty down 40 degree bag, which is 28 ounces, so I ditched the MSS bag and bivy, will keep them for winter use.  As for the tarp weight, I went to a lighter tarp, my hammock rain fly, because I also ditched the heavy sleeping pad for my hammock.  Pad's a great pad, I just can't get comfy on the ground without finding a much taller pillow option, and I have the hammock, live in an AO where trees are plentiful, so why not.  Base weight is now 12.57#, which I think is pretty respectable, and it will drop several ounces with the new pack.  Now I won't hate life having to add in the cpap gear.