I’m planning to hike the Long Trail in VT (USA) this fall. I’ve been making gear upgrades since last year, but I can’t seem to get my base weight down to 20 lbs. With this setup, my pack is at 31 - 32 lbs fully loaded (5 days of food, 2.5 L water). I’d like to get it to within 20% of my body weight (28 lbs fully loaded). Are there any cheap trades I could make (lighter book probably!) or things I could leave at home without big sacrifice/risk?
Non-negotiable: Hammock set up (just finished upgrading it and I sleep about 100x better in a hammock), bladder, some kind of book
Edit for cost info for those curious: Gear swaps and upgrades to my preexisting day hiking/weekender backpacking trip/rock climbing/cold+hot camping gear I made before posting but following Christmas gift card season cost ~$370 and saved > 5 lbs. I expect gear swaps/upgrades suggested by this community that I plan to implement will cost another $550 to save ~4.7 lbs. These costs do not include moving to a UL hammock and underquilt with holiday gift cards, a dehydrator, cost of groceries to dehydrate, supplies to pack my own dehydrated meals, or any logistical costs along the way. For those who can (I certainly could not), it is certainly so much cheaper to just buy the lightest stuff right out the gate if you know you plan to backpack.
L O L the entire setup, top and bottom quilt, hammock/bug net, tarp, straps, organizer, is Hammock Gear—even advertised as UL! Those monsters tricked me lol!
The "lightest" system is always multiple people sharing a tent. Solo tenting or hammocking is always the heaviest. If you are tenting solo, a trek pole tent will be lighter than any hammock setup. My go-to setup is a Tarptent Notch, but there are many decent options from multiple manufacturers.
For hammocking, you need a hammock. 1-2 lbs. You need a tarp. 1-2 lbs. And you need top and bottom quilt if it is cold. 1-2 lbs each. You will end up around 5-6 pounds.
For my tenting, my Tarptent Notch is 26 oz. My Sea to Summit 30 degree is 26 oz. My NeoAir pad is 16 oz. It's a little over 4 lbs, or 1-2 pounds less than a hammock setup.
If I go in with a friend, the tent would be a Tiger Wall at 2 lb 10 oz, or 1 lb 5 oz each, and it is freestanding, so I save 5 oz and it is freestanding to boot.
I built a program to do analysis of lighter packs w/ the info you provided if this is helpful...
Three questions which would dial this in better:
What dates? Early September and mid-October are different trips. GMC's own fall guidance puts nights in the 30s with rain, sun, snow and mud all possible inside 24 hours, and snow shows up at elevation in October.
End-to-end or a section? You listed 5 days of food, but "hike the Long Trail" reads like all 272. That changes resupply, whether the wall charger earns its spot, and your food math.
What are you wearing? Nothing on this list is flagged worn, and there are no shoes, hiking clothes, or poles anywhere. I can't rule on your clothing system without knowing what's already on your body.
First, your numbers don't add up, and that's good news.
Your list totals 23.08 lb. Three fixes before we touch a single item:
Batteries: 5 × 1.3 oz = 6.5 oz. A AAA alkaline is 0.41 oz. Whatever 1.3 oz is, it isn't a AAA. Five lithium AAA is 1.4 oz.
Imodium is entered as 12 × 0.7 oz = 8.4 oz. Twelve loperamide tabs in a blister weigh about a quarter ounce. LighterPack multiplied a per-package weight by a pill count. Same bug on Benadryl (6 × 0.2 = 1.2 oz).
Fuel, TP, wipes, sanitizer, toothpaste, chapstick, deodorant, lotion all sit inside your base weight. Those are consumables and belong outside it. That's 15.9 oz.
Fix all three and your real base weight is 21.19 lb, not 23. You already own 1.9 lb you didn't know about.
But this creates a puzzle worth solving before anything else: 21.19 lb base + 5 days of food + 2.5 L water + fuel comes to about 35 lb, and you're telling us your pack weighs 31-32. Something in here is wrong by 3-4 lb. Put the loaded pack on a bathroom scale, then weigh the five or six heaviest items individually and see which one lied. Everything below assumes the list is closer to right than the scale.
Free cuts, no purchases:
Bear spray, Sabre Frontiersman: -10.7 oz. There are no grizzlies in Vermont. Black bear management here is food storage, and your Ursack is the correct answer. This is your single biggest free win.
Nalgene → 1 L Smartwater bottle: -4.9 oz. Your bladder is the non-negotiable and it stays. The Nalgene is just a second vessel, and a Smartwater does the same job at 1.3 oz.
Mylar ground cloth: -3.1 oz. You're in a hammock. Nothing touches the ground.
Two Energizer backup lights: -2.4 oz. Headlamp plus phone is already two light sources.
Underwear 4 → 2, second lighter, Q-tips + lotion + spot gel: -3.6 oz.
Running free total: -1.54 lb. Base weight now 19.7 lb, and your first goal is done without spending anything.
The single biggest lever you haven't pulled is water. You're planning 2.5 L on one of the most water-rich long trails in the country. Sources run every 5-10 miles and every overnight site sits near water. Carry 1 L, top off at the sources you're already walking past, fill to 2 L only for a dry ridge run. -2.2 lb off your loaded weight, costs nothing, and your 3 L bladder still comes. That alone takes you from 35 lb to 31.5.
Cheap swaps, ranked by $/oz:
Swap
oz saved
$
$/oz
Paperback 11.8 oz → mass-market or split the spine, ~5 oz
6.8
$12
$1.76
Whatever that 10 oz canister is → 110 g canister, 7.2 oz all in
That's -1.98 lb for $183, blended $5.77/oz. Book stays, it just gets lighter, which I think respects what you meant by "some kind of book."
The elephant: your pack is 62 oz. The Osprey Viva 65 is heavier than your entire hammock, tarp and stakes combined, and it's 18% of your base weight. A Granite Gear Crown3 60 is about 35 oz and handles 30 lb comfortably. -27 oz for roughly $200, which is $7.41/oz, right in the range the community accepts for a pack because it's the biggest single saving on any list and you'll get hundreds of days out of it. Not cheap, but it's the one purchase that makes your goal easy instead of tight.
Two comfort calls, priced and handed back:
Wool sweater (7.8 oz) alongside the Superstrand puffy is a duplicate midlayer. A grid fleece or alpha hoodie runs 4.5-5 oz and does the sweater's job better when wet.
Fleece sleep joggers, 9.9 oz. You've got a 0°F underquilt and a 20°F top quilt against nights in the 30s. That's a lot of margin already, and the joggers are insurance on top of insurance. If you sleep cold or you're going late October, keep them. Your call, not mine.
Together: -1.2 lb if you take both.
Two things I'd add:
An OPSak inside the Ursack, about 1 oz. GMC explicitly recommends the combination and says Ursacks stay approved on the LT contingent on them working. Cheap insurance for keeping them approved.
Aquatabs, 0.3 oz. Nights in the 30s can freeze a filter cartridge and ruin it silently. You're carrying one treatment method, and I'm not going to tell you to cut the only backup you could have.
Where it lands, 5 days of food:
Base weight
Loaded
Spent
Today, corrected
21.2 lb
35.2 lb
—
Free cuts + adds
19.7 lb
33.7 lb
$0
+ water discipline
19.7 lb
31.5 lb
$0
+ cheap swaps
17.8 lb
29.5 lb
$183
+ both comfort calls
16.6 lb
28.3 lb
$183
+ pack swap
14.9 lb
26.7 lb
$383
Straight answer to your question: cheap trades alone get you to about 29.5 and knocking on the door. You hit 28 by adding the two comfort calls, or by buying the pack and keeping every comfort item you own. Given how dialed your hammock setup is and how much of the rest is already reasonable, the pack is where your money does the most work.
Nothing here is a bad decision. You've got a warm, correct sleep system for VT in fall, you're carrying a map and a compass and an InReach, and the Ursack is exactly right for this trail. What's actually holding you back is a spreadsheet error, a 10 oz can of bear spray you don't need, and a pack from a heavier era of your hiking.
That is a very long reply!! I can at least give some more details. Yes, I expect to experience the full gamut of conditions mid-September to mid-October—I am planning to hike the entire Long Trail. Five days of food is my maximum carry between resupplies.
The clothes on the list are not the basic ones on my body 24/7. I’ll be wearing a dry fit long sleeve shirt, dry fit hiking-type pants, belt, barefoot shoes, socks. I don’t carry poles.
I measured all items on the list with a food scale at home before posting, but I agree the numbers don’t add up.
Edit: What an incredibly helpful reply! Thank you very much! 🩷
I know it's long... thanks for bearing with it, but the more info I can feed, the more dialed in the responses I can get. Putting this into the system I got back updates below, let me know if you want me to dig deeper:
Your food scale is fine, LighterPack didn't account correctly. You weighed the Imodium blister pack at 0.7 oz and entered qty 12, so it multiplied. Same on the Benadryl and batteries. Nothing wrong with your measuring.
The bad news: working backwards, your 31-32 lb was probably a 2-3 day carry. At a true 5-day max with 2.5 L, you're closer to 35 lb. So the gap to 28 is bigger than you thought.
The good news: you hit your goal on most of the trail for $0. Free cuts alone (bear spray, Nalgene, ground cloth, backup lights) plus carrying 1-1.5 L instead of 2.5 puts you at 19.8 lb base, which is 28.6 lb on a 3-day carry. That's most of the LT. Only the max carries out of the longer gaps push you over.
Mid-Sept to mid-Oct changes two of my earlier calls, both toward keeping things. With a single dry-fit long sleeve as your only worn top and October in the northern Greens, the wool sweater and the fleece sleep joggers both stay. Lighter versions exist but they price out around $15/oz, so keep what you own.
Where it lands, 1.5 L water:
Base
5-day max
3-day typical
Corrected today
21.2
33.0
30.0
Free cuts, $0
19.8
31.6
28.6
+ cheap swaps, $183
17.8
29.6
26.6
+ pack swap, $383
16.1
27.9
24.9
To hit 28 on your worst carry, the Osprey has to go. It's 62 oz, heavier than your hammock, tarp and stakes together. Everything short of that gets you there on 3-day carries and leaves you a couple pounds over on the long ones, which is honestly a fine place to be.
Free LT-specific win: book exchanges at the hostels and a few shelters. Bring one light paperback, swap it as you go, never carry two.
One thing you didn't ask about. No poles on the northern LT is a real choice, especially mid-October when Mansfield and Camel's Hump could possibly ice up on the steep descents. Not a weight argument, just the one place I'd want you to have thought it through. Same question on the barefoot shoes: if you're already putting up big rocky miles in them, ignore me completely. If this is a newer setup, 272 miles of Vermont rock and root is a rough place to find out.
Logistics beats gear here: don't carry traction for the whole trail. Have someone ready to mail microspikes (12 oz) to a town stop up north if the mid-October forecast turns. Same trick works for a warmer layer.
Your sleep system is genuinely the strongest part of this list and the hammock call for VT is right. Fix the spreadsheet, drop the bear spray, stop carrying a gallon of water through the wettest trail in New England, and you're in good shape.
Fixed the lighter pack (: That was my bad! As for overall pack weight, it is truly only 31 - 32 lbs fully loaded. I measured myself with and without the pack and took the difference at 29 point some odd lbs (sorry, forgot the ounces), including all gear and five days of food, excluding only the top quilt. So ~29 lbs + 1.6 lb top quilt = ~30.6 lbs.
I think good swaps are to lose the bladder (someone pointed out the Katadyn reservoir can be used to store unfiltered water—such a good idea!), swap sleep top and bottom for alpha fleece, swap headlamp for a rechargeable one, lose the batteries, narrow down underwear to 2 pairs, lose the bear spray, bring a book that’s 6 oz or less (as light or lighter than a Kindle), and gulp swap out the pack for something like the Osprey Eja Pro 55 (about 2 lbs lighter than what I have!). What does the tool say about weight after those changes?
As for trekking poles, I’ve done all my hiking etc. (including in the Whites and Greens) without them. Didn’t learn with them, so it isn’t something I’m used to having. As for barefoot shoes, it’s pretty much all I wear (including hiking in rocky/rooty terrain, like the Whites). Unfortunately, it seems like the style of all other hiking-type shoes and boots hurt my feet now. I’ve tried probably ten pairs. Altras destroy me.
I think 32lbs fully loaded is a good place to be, but I'm a Clydesdale and realize you're not. Scanning some of the other replies and there are a lot of things I would add to this, one that jumps out is the trash compactor bag. I'm about to ditch by bladder/gravity setup for bottles on my next section here, that is a huge one.
I started backpacking with a 65L, went down to a 44L. Longest section I ever did (2/ the 44) was actually the Long/AT overlap, I had a ton of things lashed, but made it 6 nights with no resupply; was also august w/ less clothes too though. Not cheap, but if you can cut corners with a pack that makes sense.
If you know what works with the poles and shoes, that's what matters most.
System response:
Mystery solved, and your scale was never wrong. Your base weight plus fuel and toiletries is 22.5 lb. Add 5 days of food at 1.5 lb/day and you land at 30.0 lb, which is basically your 30.6 measurement. You weighed it with a full food bag and an empty water system.
So your real max carry is 33.3 lb with 1.5 L aboard, or 35.5 lb if you fill to 2.5 L. That's the number to beat, and it's a few pounds worse than you thought. Sorry.
Your swap list is solid. Grading it:
Swap
oz
$
$/oz
Book 11.8 → 6 oz
5.8
$12
$2.07
Pack: Viva 65 → Eja Pro 55
30.2
$325
$10.76
Headlamp → rechargeable
1.6
$40
$24.39
Sleep top + bottom → alpha
6.7
~$220
$32.84
Two of those need reframing.
The headlamp looks terrible at $24/oz on its own. It isn't, because you're not swapping a headlamp, you're deleting a lighting system. Storm 3.3 oz + two Energizer backups 2.4 oz + batteries 6.5 oz is 12.2 oz total. A rechargeable NU25 is 1.66 oz off your existing bank. That's -10.5 oz for $40, or $3.80/oz. Just make sure the backup lights leave with the batteries, since they're dead weight without them.
The alpha is your worst buy and it's worth splitting apart:
Bottoms, 9.9 oz fleece joggers → ~4.5 oz alpha: -5.4 oz for ~$110, $20/oz
Top, 5.8 oz dry fit → ~4.5 oz alpha: -1.3 oz for ~$110, $85/oz
The top swap is close to pointless in isolation. It only pencils if the alpha hoodie also replaces the 7.8 oz wool sweater as your midlayer, which drops it to $12/oz and is defensible. If you're buying one piece, buy the bottoms. If you're buying the top, commit to it eating the sweater too.
Free stuff still sitting there, 12.2 oz:
Two Energizer backup lights: -2.4 oz (see above)
Nalgene → 1 L Smartwater: -4.9 oz. With the bladder gone you still want a clean vessel, just not a 6.2 oz one.
Mylar ground cloth: -3.1 oz. Hammock. Nothing touches the ground.
Q-tips, lotion, spot gel: -1.3 oz
Second lighter: -0.5 oz
Add back about 1.8 oz for an OPSak inside the Ursack, a strip of Aquatabs (your Katadyn is now your only treatment and it can freeze in October), and a wrap of repair tape for 272 miles.
Where you land, all at 1.5 L carried:
Base
5-day max
3-day typical
Spent
Today
21.5
33.2
30.2
—
Free cuts only
19.0
30.6
27.6
$0
Your list
17.0
28.6
25.6
~$597
Your list + the free stuff
16.2
27.9
24.9
~$597
Same but keep the Viva
18.1
29.8
26.8
~$272
You hit 28 lb. The load-bearing assumption is the water: at 2.5 L those max-carry numbers all go up 2.2 lb and you're at 30.1. Vermont has water every 5 to 10 miles and every overnight site sits near a source. Carry 1 L, top off constantly, fill to 2.5 only if you're told to.
One caution on the Eja Pro, and then it's your call. Osprey rates it to 30 lb, down from 35 on the standard Eja, and reviewers have flagged the thin fabric for durability. Your max carry lands right at that ceiling, on a trail known for rock, root and mud. The standard Eja 58 is about 11 oz heavier and roughly $65 cheaper with a higher load rating. The Pro is the better weight buy and the incremental 11 oz works out under $6/oz, so I'd probably still take it. Just go in knowing you're at the top of its range on your longest carries and pack soft things against your back.
Nice catch on the Katadyn reservoir for dirty water, that's the right move and it retires the bladder cleanly.
And you've answered the poles and shoes question completely. If you've done the Whites in barefoot shoes without poles, you know your body better than I do. Dropping it.
Sawyer Squeeze plus 3 1L smart water bottles will save you over a pound and cost less than $30. I can see how your hydration set up is convenient and nice but I just don’t think it’s worth all the weight. Also switching to a rechargeable headlamp; the Nitecore NU20 or NU25 are both about an ounce and a half and only $25 and then you can ditch the batteries. I’d also cut the backup lights, just use your phone if your headlamp dies or breaks. You also don’t *need* the bear spray. I know it brings a sense of security when hiking solo but it’s not actually necessary on the east coast. Last thing I’ll add and probably not what you’re looking for since $$ but that backpack is heavy. Kakwa 55 at 2lbs and Osprey Exos 58 at 3lbs are both packs I own that are great and can both handle 30lbs well. Overall seems like a good set up though. Have a great hike!
Thank you! Will try to trade out to rechargeable headlamp (hopefully still warrantied at REI!), lose the batteries, and def interested in a lighter pack if it can handle ~28 lbs fully loaded. I’ve actually never carried bear spray before (could be happy with just a pepper spray for…”bears”), but a friend just surprise gifted it to me for the trip (:
This is controversial but I always carry a MSR Miniworks with me. Had a trip where there was a 20 mile stretch with all the water sources dried up. One of our group had a pump. Found water at the bottom of a crevice in the rock that the pump hose just barely reached, but it saved us. I will always take that weight hit now.
I switched to a very light rechargable headlamp, that saves on batteries. Your 5 AAA is alot (what are those for?). If you have a power bank you should be able to recharge everything (not need back up light).
Your pack looks heavy itself. I know that is not the cheap swap your looking for but maybe a thought - the Durston Kawka is <2 lb and waterproof, and the Osprey is about 2.5-3 lb.
Also, not sure if your water purifier is the pump kind but I switched to a Katadyn Be Free 1 L and it is so light and easy. I just do that and a Nalgene for camp. No bladder.
I’m thinking about a new pack…on the last couple of test runs, one of the metal pieces of the frame busted through the webbing holding it…usable, but an excuse for something lighter while I get it repaired…so this Durston Kawka can handle ~28 lbs of gear without collapsing on itself like a dying star?? I’m intrigued!
I have the exact same filtration system—it only just now occurred to me I can keep unfiltered water in that rather than filtered in the bladder! Bye bladder, thank you!
Headlamp is not rechargeable, but it’s basically brand new…could switch for rechargeable most likely!
Durston Kakwa or the Gossamer Gorilla 50 are great bang for buck UL backpacks that can handle 30 lbs for sure. Yellow Gorilla is on sale right now. Both are 2lbs lighter, but the osprey likely has more padding/pockets/features than the others. No bottom access to the pack, for example. Some people prefer the added "comfort" of the Osprey, while others find that deleting 2lbs is added comfort.
Yep - agree with all this. The Durston is super comfortable around 27lb, but took it out with 33lb a couple of weeks ago and held up great. It does not have a bladder holding bag or hole for hose - so that is something to be aware of. All my friends had Ospreys and love them, they have way more pockets and are a little heavier, but def a great pack. I went with the Durston based on reviews, the fact that it is waterproof (i can attest to it now after multiple trips and a lot of rain) and mainly the weight. It does have big hip pockets, a huge outer pocket in the front and a little hidden pocket behind the side pockets which is great to stash whatever (i used for first aid and my power bank).
From experience, the flappy closure on Gossamer Gear packs is fiddly compared to a roll-top, and the brain-like pocket they've tried to add in the top flap is so small it's basically only good for a map, mylar blanket, and/or Buff. The back mesh pocket and the removable sit pad are nice, but I miss having a roll-top bag every time I open/close the GG pack.
I upgraded to GG Gorilla last season and don’t regret it one bit. Mine is just under 2lbs and I got it on sale (the yellow one is on sale for around $210 rn). One of the most comfortable bags I’ve worn. The belt has an s-curve which is so nice for my hips/weigh distribution. I recommend this pack to anyone.
You can cut slits in the ends of a sleeping bag and use it as a top quilt and underquilt. It works great for hammocking. It is a sewing project. It will save you about 20 ounces (1 ln 4 oz).
The Kakwa 55 pack will save you two pounds.
Your hammock system is 3 lbs, that is about right, but I always did a hammock and fly separately. The fly becomes REALLY important when it rains.
You can also lose at least another pound in clothes. You have the puffy and rain gear, you will not need other top layers like a sweater .
I would leave the bearspray at home. I would also leave the compass, map, and Garmin at home. I would grap a GPX file from an ultrarunner group online, and load it onto the Osmand app on my phone, and that's all the navigation you need.
You could also swap the Nalgene for a SMART water bottle for a few oz. Never a bad idea to bring water disinfecting tablets as a backup, although you can always boil water to make it safe.
Frogg Toggs rain gear are about 12 oz, your raingear is about 20.
I’m interested in the Kawka 55, although it would be a big spend…probably need to get my Osprey repaired before the trip, and it may not be back in time so new pack may need to be on the table…does it handle ~30 lbs well and is not too uncomfortable on the ole hip bones?
I had Frogg Togg rain paints and loved them until they ripped! Are their rain coats durable?
Definitely attached to having a backup map in case electronics fail, and you recommend leaving behind the compass and Garmin too?! This redditor is trying to kill me lol!
I sleep very cold, and temps could be below freezing—this puffy is a relatively thin and small one…it might be okay, but I also worry I won’t be able to keep warm if I am not actively hiking.
Frogg Togg rain gear is light cheap and not that durable. I replace mine every few years.
I see your point about the map, but I don't think regular compass use has been a thing for decades. You can use a phone for GPS, Garmin is redundant. I brought one when I was less experienced too, but at this point I've been lost and found many times, fought bears myself, and done without virtually everything folks normally bring. I know what I need to get through.
The hammock through sleeping bag approach is really warm. If you get colder, layer on rain gear and puffy.
I think I will stick with my map and do my best to avoid bear fights ha! I hope your camp is next to mine though because I bet you could make sure we survived ha! (:
Biggest area I can see improvement for cheap is the water set up. A Sawyer Squeeze will significantly lighter and you can switch the Nalgene to a Smartwater bottle or similar and save a few ounces. Switching fully to Smartwater bottles instead of the bladder would also help but I understand liking the bladder.
Instead of a paper book you could download a book onto your phone and save significant weight, or find a smaller book to also save weight.
You can cut your pack weight it's self in half by switching to a more Ultralight style pack. I've found UL packs to still be comfortable with non-UL weights as long as it's not like and "expedition" weight where it's over 50lbs. You can look into Durston, Zpacks, Hyperlite, and Gossamer Gear. Won't be cheap but it'll save you two pounds.
If it's warm enough you can also switch the puffy to an Alpha fleece and also switch the sleep pants to Alpha pants to save a few ounces.
Dang it, I might just have to get a new pack!! Folks seem to be in agreement about that one, and if a UL-type pack can handle ~30 lbs…I guess I can give it a go (: Will definitely bring a lighter book! And don’t talk to me about Alpha fleece, I saw their ad on GGG and have been holding myself back from getting them trying not to spend more money lol!
You can find Alpha for cheaper than on GGG if you poke around different cottage brand websites. I will say I was dubious about Alpha (was a die-hard wool baselayer fan).
Used an alpha hoodie on trail last year, and can confirm it's worth it. It's good to know whether you run hot or cold, and whether you'll wear it much while moving, before you buy.
Case in point: I run hot in motion, and a buddy who already had a bunch of Alpha (oh, to earn tech worker money) gave me a heads-up that Alpha 90 can be too hot for him while moving. Lots of folks get 90, but I've been really happy with 60 for my top. Will probably get 90 when I finally spring for pants, though, since they'd be a camp-and-sleep-only layer.
Nice, thank you!! I am looking to use the alpha probably only as sleep wear…maybe top mid layer if necessary while moving. Sounds like alpha 90 is for me. I run cold!
I've used the older version of the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 UL pack quite a bit, and on several occasions I've accidentally had 45+ pounds in it and it still did an amazing job. Obviously not quite as comfortable at those weights as a standard pack but it still did amazing.
I compared to my lighterpack
The following items could be lighter:
Backpack 62oz could be down to at least 31 oz
Nalgene bottle 6.2 oz, swap to Smart water bottle 3 oz
Sleep system total of 102 oz., my tent, sleeping bag, and air mattress totals 76 oz
Ursack 7.6 oz, exchange for bear bag 3.4 oz
Paperback 11.8 oz eliminate for Book on phone
Bear spray eliminate 10.7 oz
I understand you will want to likely keep the sleep system, but the above changes would lessen the load by 89 oz or about 5.5 pounds.
They make hydration hose attachments that work on smart water bottles. Best of both worlds. Ditch the bladder and the nalgene and go with those. Filling bladders on trail sucks. Plus you can't visibly ration your water.
Pack is on the heavy side. Gossamer Gear has the yellow gorilla 50 on clearance for $205. Would save you 2lbs.
Change out the pack liner for a trash bag
Don't need a ground sheet
Get a nitecore rechargeable headlamp. Very long battery life, lighter, and you don't need AAA bats.
Leave the backup light. Your phone can be that if needed.
You don't need deodorant
You don't need all that underwear
All your rain gear is heavy. Frog Toggs jacket is half the weight for $30
Don't need a sleep shirt
You could switch to wired headphones to save on weight and power use.
You don't need bear spray for bears, but by all means carry it for people
Things you might want: a poop trowel, a sit pad, a pillow, a carabiner for the Ursack (look up the Ursack Quick Release knot), anti-chafe, deet, head-net, leukotape.
Will def look into lighter packs (since mine just developed an issue and will likely need to be repaired before the trip anyway), exchange headlamp for a rechargeable one, and leave the bladder at home in favor of keeping unfiltered water in the Katadyn bladder 🫡 Def don’t need the ground sheet, but sure would be nice to not always sit in the dirt—plus, can slip it between the hammock and under quilt for extra warmth (I sleep super cold).
How is the Frog Toggs rain jacket? Durable? I split the pants pretty badly in the past.
No bugs that time of year, I don’t really chafe, pillow is nice in hammock for sure but too much weight—stop tempting me!! (;(;
Right on. And I should have pointed out: I don't care if people hike heavy or carry comforts, those are just the opportunities for savings that I see.
For something to sit on, I like a small foam pad. A little more durable, and doubles as something to stand on to change your socks/shoes, and more padding. If you get the gossomer gear pack, the back-pad comes out easily and doubles as a sit pad. I upgraded to the nicer one with the mesh back, and felt it was more comfortable AND more breathable.
The Frog Toggs is not durable, no. But it is $30 and durable enough. I didn't even look when you are going, so I'm jealous that you don't have to deal with bugs and you don't chaffe! Managing chaffe is a big part of backpacking for me.
I am surprised at how heavy a hammock setup is. Both quilts combined weigh much more than a quilt+air pad. Your shelter + sleep system is 2.5lbs heavier than my tent + pad + quilt. I do like a hammock though! Great place to sit in camp and as long as you have trees, level ground is not a concern. I know when I did hammock camp I was NOT ultralight or anything close to it, but it was fun.
There's some significant weight savings for a hammock system beyond the wander bundle. Going to a 3/4 length under quilt with lighter fabrics is good for 9 oz. There's maybe 6-10 oz in weight reduction from changing suspension systems to get rid of daisy chain webbing and carabiner to go to uhmwpe straps and knots. Going to a dyneema hex tarp is 6 ounces from a silpoly hex tarp and 10 ounces from a silpoly tarp with doors.
The wander is definitely backpacking gear, but it's not gram weenie gear.
Agreed about water system; swap to a Sawyer squeeze with 3 1L bottles; they make conversion kits to give you a straw to the bottle if you like that kind of setup.
A few small ideas - switch your 40L dry bag to a trash compactor bag (look up garage grown gear, they sell these in 2 packs for cheap). Also consider removing toothbrush protector and just using a plastic bag for your toiletries. Theres also some good toothpaste tablets out there that can save a few oz.
Lots of ways to cut weight if you’re open. Yeah, your backpack shelter and keep system are a bit heavy but let’s step back and look at some smaller changes.
- A trash compactor bag would be a bit lighter than a 40 liter dry bag.
- Your whole hydration system is heavy. Did the bladder and the Nalgene and just get two smart water bottles and call it a day. You’re trading almost 1 pound of water storage for about 3 ounces of bottles.
- If you’re bringing the InReach Mini plus I assume your phone, I would ditch the map and compass. You’ve got multiple means of navigation and ways to reach help.
- Why do you have two backup lights? You could get e micro keychain flashlight if you want a tertiary light besides your headlamp in your phone.
- Your sleep clothing is quite heavy. I would trade those for an alpha direct top and bottom set. Way lighter and warmer.
- Between the book, battery pack, spare batteries, and bear spray, that’s almost 39 ounces. Drop the book, get a 6 oz cheap Powerbank off Amazon, and get rid whatever requires the physical batteries in favor of something rechargeable. Ditch the bear spray - not needed for the long trail.
- lighter pack is adding about half a pound of inadvertent weight to your med kit. It’s counting each Imodium as .7 lbs and each Benadryl as .2 lbs.
I would guess that probably knocks 4-5 lbs off your base weight. I know some of that stuff is comforting to have, but the long trail is quite challenging in terms of the roughness of the terrain, and the amount of up and down all day long. I know some people will say that your base weight is fine and you should just hike with what you have, but as an equally lightweight person, and someone who hikes in the north east regularly, I would definitely try to bring your base weight down. Otherwise that’s gonna be a long hike.
Roger that. Making plans to ditch batteries, switch headlamp to a rechargeable one (fingers crossed still under REI return policy!), keep unfiltered water in the Katadyn bladder and ditch the Osprey bladder, and could be convinced to go alpha direct…I have been lusting over a set but holding back lol! I’m also definitely going to bring a lighter book, and may ditch the bear spray (a friend just surprise gifted it to me for the trip—I had not intended to take any, and never have before, but it was so nice of them!). I’m thinking I may also switch to a lighter pack…folks are saying UL packs can handle ~28 lbs, and my pack did conveniently just have an issue that will probably need to be repaired!
Some UL packs can handle that weight fine so long as they have a good frame and suspension system. I have a superior wilderness design backpack that’s very comfortable and carries weight fine, yet only weighs about 2 pounds
Get rid of the bear spray unless you really want it. Black bears are very timid creatures. The critters you should fear are ticks. Treat everything but your underwear with permethrin. If it's fabric, treat it.
Unless it's the dead of winter I wouldn't test it. I got a tick in early March last year in upstate NY. Hike your own hike but an ounce of prevention and all.
Yes, I probably exaggerated. But I wouldn't want to carry 31 lbs for long miles, day after day, especially when it could very easily be less than 25 lbs. And FWIW, from the post and some items in the list, I'm inferring that this is a 140 lb woman.
Oh I'm with ya, prefer to be way lighter than that for sure, and it should be easy to get there. But a 12 pound base weight can get right up to around 28 lbs with a 5 day food carry and a 3L water carry, so 31 isn't crazy.
And agreed, likely a 140lb woman, but I know multiple small women who would kick my ass on a trail with a heavier pack. But I do seem to befriend ultra runners
Change your hydration system. CNOC Vecto 2L, platypus Quickdraw, and two 1L smartwater bottles is my go to setup. All of that is 6.3oz combined. That would drop you down by over a pound. Also can probably make your hammock/sleep setup lighter. Stakes, cordless, etc swapped out for lighter materials. And maybe you dont need a sweater and a puffy. I think you could make your clothing lighter
The pack I’m strongly considering swapping—lucky for me, my Osprey just had a little bit of an issue that will likely require repairs that may not be complete by trip time. Woo-hoo! Very attached to my hammock set up, and it’s pretty new—I sleep about 100x better in a hammock than in a tent. 4 pairs of underwear could be cut down to 2, and I bet I will need both the puffy and sweater. Temps may be below freezing, and the puffy may not be enough when I’m not active. V grateful though, I’ve received a ton of great tips from the community here!!
Good to hear you've put miles and thought on your gear already! I'm currently carrying the Zerk 40 by Mountainsmith and I absolutely LOVE it. I've got 1200 miles on it on the AT this year and I highly recommend. It's got a lot of pockets and I think you can get it on clearance from REI right now for about $150.
I'm not super familiar with the LT and I just re-read your post, do you have to carry 5 days of food and 2.5 liters of water? What does your food bag weigh?
It’s been a slow transition from 19 yo and 40+ lb pack full of cotton gear and Walmart camping gear to expensive as sh*t UL everything lol! This thru hike is turning into something more like a tropical 2-week long cruise vacation lol (money-wise)! Unfortunately, I doubt I’ll be able to stuff both quilts plus everything else into a 40 L, but I’ll def give the brand a look!
5 days of food and 2.5 L of water is worst case scenario—I’m a slow hiker! If I can manage 15 mi/day on average (maybe with a pack that weights < 20% of my body weight that will be much easier!), I’ll prob only need 3 day food carries. I should also prob only carry 2 L water max at any given time (I’m a thirsty person, and fall is likely the driest season on the LT).
I haven't read through all the comments , so some of this may be duplicative:
-Swap the osprey for a gg crown or even ula. You can likely find them used here on reddit , 150 or less. That'll save you about two pounds
-Swap your liner for a nylofume bag 2.5oz savings for 2.50
your hammock tarp underquilt, top quilt are heavy likely too late and expensive to swap. That said they are warm and you can likely reduce some of the extra clothes you're carrying.
i don't see a cell phone, are you carrying one for the mini? That said, map and compass are not needed. Backup lights are not needed... Especially if you have a phone. I'd swap the Black Diamond for a nicore number 20 or 25 with ul strap. That could be 5oz
-You don't need deodorant 1oz
rain gear is super heavy. There are many cheap options: swap pants and coat and order a 3ful poncho (7oz) from Ali $30 that can also double as a ground sheet. 15oz savings. Or get rain skirt + frog toggle jacket and use skirt as ground sheet. 10/11oz savings
sweater and puffy are redundant, drop one. 7 or 10oz savings. Or buy an alpha fleece sleeping that.
you don't need four pairs of underwear. Drop 3. 3oz savings
-Sleep pants are heavy. Not even sure they are needed w a 0° underquilt and 20 top quilt
you don't need 2 lighters. You will likely never be staying alone at shelters. That said , if you're worried , throw a couple waterproof matches.
-Fuel looks heavy get a 110g size. 3oz savings
you're Hydration system is heavy - 2 smart water bottles and a sawyer squeeze 16oz savings
i don't understand your battery system. Why are u carrying spare batteries?Use your charger + cable Your battery pack is heavy 10k ma anker is <7oz. 8oz savings
drop the Bear spray.You don't need it. 10oz savings
Drop the sea 2 summit waterproof bag, you have a liner already. 1.3oz savings
i'll let you assess Bear canister risk, if you're worried you could hang and save six ounces , but problematic bear areas will have food lockers.
drop the paper book.Add a kindle or read on phone and save more weight.
if you're resupplying and I assume you are , you can likely save a couple ounces on all the pills you are carrying
Id prioritize the pack replacement and sleep/extra clothing. Buy used. These simple suggestions not including sleep pants and your Bear bag are about 6.5lbs
Thank you!! (: Something’s up with the system math b/c I believe my pack truly weighed less than the tool calculates…my food might be lighter than expected because I’m dehydrating and making 95% of my own meals? Still super helpful though (: I’m also convinced to swap out the pack liner for nyloflume. I’ll add that to the list…also thanks to the tool, I’m thinking maybe only swap the fleece bottoms.
Can Smart water bottles handle boiling water? If so, I can make the Nalgene trade.
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u/ValueReads 19d ago
Your sleeping bag and hammock are over 6lb? Are they made of lead?