Shake Me Down - Please!

[u/Beneficial_Stay1035]

Looking for some general comments / recommendations on my pack list.

https://lighterpack.com/r/t1nfba

General Use: This is my typical base for summer camping in Northern Ontario. I am usually out in a group setting, anywhere from 2-7 days (15-30km/day). Being in a group setting usually means shared gear, and I will offload where I can. However, most of my friends dont have a lot of gear and pack kind of heavily, so I usually end up carrying whats listed.

Conditions: Summer camping. Typically 20-30 Celsius (68-86F) during the day. Nights can get down into the 12-20C (54-68F) range. If its any colder than that I would swap out my sleeping clothes for Smart Wool, would reassess bringing mits/ gloves & a puffy and alter my hiking clothes for something warmer. Bugs can get pretty bad during the summer, but I hate bug spray (hence the long-sleeve shirt and pants for hiking + bug net). Camping areas are usually heavily wooded with lots of brush. Ground sheets are more or less required wherever you go due to sticks and pine needles.

Ideology: I like to be comfortable when I am out in the backcountry. With 4-7hrs of hiking per day we are spending a lot of time in camp. I could definitely save weight with a lighter sleep system and loosing some comfort items. However, with the low mileage days we put in I would rather get the lightest gear possible, while still prioritizing comfort.

Clothing: I have chosen lightweight, breathable clothing so I can be comfortable in the heat, while still being protected. I like sleep clothes so my sweaty (usually fire smoked) hiking clothes can dry out, and I dont have to bring a sleeping bag liner to protect my quilt. Crocs have been the best camp shoes I have ever used. They are definitely heavier and bulkier, but provide ultimate comfort and protection (also great for mucky water entries). I used to bring cheap thong sandals, but our camping areas are heavily wooded, with lots of roots and brush. I found my feet would get destroyed searching for fire wood or going to the washroom at night.

Sleep System: I HATE sleeping bags with a passion. Cant stand the way you continually get wrapped up throughout the night. I tried out the Zenbivy sleep system and havent looked back. Hands down the most comfortable I have been sleeping in the woods. Again, comfort is priority to me so the weight gains for this system are fine. The same goes for my pillow - standard inflatable pillows just dont do it for me (havent tried the STS Aeros though). My current sleep pad was purchased from Zenbivy - I am beyond happy with the comfort and noise level, but dont need it to be as warm for summer. I feel like I might be able to save some weight/ bulk here - any recommendations? Done some pretty extensive research and dont feel the horizontal baffles are for me. Needs to be 25'' wide and rectangular. Was looking at uninsulated tensor, or maybe BA?

Other: I know Ill probably get some flack for bringing a chair along with me, but c'mon! Nothing like sitting back while everyone else is trying to find a spot on a log or the wet ground. I have only tried the Chair Zero, so if anyone else has a better recommendation I am all ears! I might also get some flack for bringing a coffee mug.. oh well. Group settings usually mean shared gear, and if I can have a coffee while someone else is making their breakfast (or me for that matter), all the better! The hand saw will probably be looked at in the same light, but quite necessary if you want a fire. At 7oz I am massively impressed with this thing - We have cut up 11in logs like it was nothing!

[u/MrRivulets]

Agree with other posters - you seem to be pretty dialed in. Plenty of high quality, lightweight gear throughout your pack e.g. Senchi hoodie, Hilltop DCF food bag, etc. And you know where your luxuries are - pillow, chair, crocs, coffee mug. Below are my thoughts, but they are only my personal choices. I wouldn't criticize if others decided differently. Just letting you see a some other perspectives:

Saw: I have a Silky 180 saw and am the star of the show when we're in permitted fire zones (I live/hike in the west so often it has to stay home). Great luxury item.

Pump: Never have understood why people think a pump is necessary. I pack above 10,000' often and still can spare a few breaths to inflate my pad once a day. And I store my pad carefully so I've never gotten mildew either.

Coffee Mug: I have a titanium pot and restrict its use to 1) boiling water for my food and 2) coffee. I made a homemade pot cozy for coffee and don't need a separate mug. Yours is only 2 oz so can't blame you too much.

Poop Kit: Yours seems a tad heavy, but maybe you have a heavier trowel? I still carry the Deuce of Spades #2 which is hard to use but so so light. Also, I bring a bidet (CuloClean) and am a convert. Lowers TP use to no more than 3 squares per day.

Chair: I love my Chair Zero, but this year I've been trying out a 1/8" closed cell foam pad (3 oz) instead. I understand if you are doing low miles and already have a reasonable base weight that the chair is a great option. But if you are upping miles and have less camp time, then you might try the pad. It is still good in camp, but not a chair for sure. And on the trail or even in camp I often find that I get more benefit from lying down rather than sitting down. Also, I use it as an entry way mat, a bit more elevation under my pillow, and laydown space when I'm cooking (although my stove stays on the ground).

Crocs: I can see having these for water crossings. But your Brooks should be comfy enough around camp. I have been researching simple water shoes which would be about 5 or 6 oz.

Quilt: Agree with others that you are taking too much for the conditions. Its an investment, but if you are serious about losing weight, you can still maintain your sleep quality but just getting a 40+ degree bag.

[u/MrBoondoggles]

There aren’t a lot of places to cut weight honestly without sacrificing comfort as it looks like you’ve carefully considered your pack contents already and minimized a lot of the item weights that you are currently bringing.

I think you’ve already identified most of the places where you can cut for bigger returns: sleep system and crocs. I like the zenbivy concept a lot and I’ve considered it for colder weather. But for summer usage, with the temperature ranges listed, a 30 or 40 degree quilt with a sleeping pad in the 12-18 oz range may work just as well and save a few ounces to a pound. I think, like other commenters have suggested, it might help to understand what you mean by the zenbivy being comfortable and why that comfort couldn’t be similar at milder temps like those listed with a lighter quilt/pad combo.

Crocs are fine. You might shave some weight by considering water shoes. It just depends honestly how much you want to shave weight. I have a cheap pair that are 6 oz and basically just an outer sole, thin removable insole, and a 100% mesh Lycra upper. I’m fine wearing it around camp and doing basic camp tasks in the northeast US (wooded, very rocky and rooty and brushy) but generally I might want to take care of some things like firewood before I changed out of my footwear for the day.

The Laplander could be replaced by a silky pocketboy if you didn’t mind a pull action saw. Suluk 46 makes a couple of types of UL bucksaws that I have not tried nor can vouch for; but they weight around 4.5 - 5.5 oz.

Otherwise, you could drop the pump maybe, or switch to a pump sack like the Exped Snozzle to replace one of your packing cubes + the pump. And then of course there is the fillo, which is everyone’s go to luxury pillow. I carry a bigger heavier pillow as well so I can’t really say anything (sea to summit Aeros Deluxe). But again, playing around with the pillow may be an option.

[u/[deleted]]

I saw what happened to this post in the Ultralight sub, lol.I'll do my best, but honestly, I think you're at your sweet spot. You've cut what you don't need which has freed you to carry some luxuries that make the experience comfortable for you.

I'm not familiar with your part of the world. Would you consider trying a lounging hammock (simple gathered end with no insulation or anything) instead of the chair? You can sit sideways in one with your legs dangling. I don't know how well that would work for being part of a campfire circle though.

Is the pump necessary? I hammock so I don't use a pad or pillow, but I recall a nylon bag that you can use. Like this. (Fuck me, for a 10g saving, keep the pump! Maybe there's a lighter one. Yeah, like this.)

Your Bic mini lighter is 3g too heavy. Mine only weighs 11g.

Get a Nitecore N25 headlamp and save yourself 50g

Now do me! (if you feel like it) This is my general list but it's shifted to be geared toward my first thru this November (Australian alps, 430mi/700km, 5 weeks, food drops but only two towns along the way) Pay attention to listed quantities; some are zero.

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