Weekend Pack weight anyone getting under 45lb and how?

[FisherKing]

Besides the "I sleep under a tarp people," I'd love to hear how everyone is lightening up their packs.  You ditching the spotting scope, going all ti..etc.


Cheers

[kentrek]

put up your gear list..should have no problem getting you down ten pounds 

[boneaddict]

I'll probably ditch the camera this year and seriously hunt.   I have a big one I am after.   

[Bean Counter]

I'm thinking of picking up a pair of 15x56 binos and leaving both the 10x32s and the spotter behind. That should cut quite a bit of weight.

[Mudman]

I like items with multi uses.  My 655gps is gps radio weather alarmclock camera etc.  Small binos, Water filter, multi tool knife, paracord and one of most important to me a book to read with plant/tree/grass info on whats edible medicinal and useful in many other ways including Indians use of local plants etc.

[MLHSN]

put up your gear list..should have no problem getting you down ten pounds 

That's a good idea.  I'll post mine while I'm at it.  Up until this point, I've just been a backpacker/fishermen.  I'll post my normal backpacking list first and then what I plan on taking for my first year hunting.

Golite Pinnacle pack 1 lb 14 oz.
Golite Adrenaline 20 deg. bag 1 lb 14 oz.
Neoair pad  9 oz.
Tarptent with bug netting, 1.5 lbs
clothes  2.5 lbs
food and adult beverage for 4 days 10 lbs.
2 liters of water, 4.4 lbs
Platypus Gravity filter 11 oz.
Snowpeak Litemax stove, fuel, ti pot, cup and spork 1 lb.
fishing gear 1.5 pounds
headlamp, gps, camera, first aid, bug/sunblock, batteries, etc 2 lb

With that, I'm sitting around 26-28 lbs usually.

If there is a chance of rain I take frogg toggs and if it's suppose to rain a lot I take my gortex so that's either .75 or 1.5 pounds more for rain in the forcast.  Some lakes I really want to raft so I'll take my 4 lb packboat.  When I want to go really light and cut some food/clothing I get in at 23 lbs.  When I splurge I hit 35 lbs. 

Additional gear I plan on taking for hunting.

Cabelas external frame (going to attach my ultralight pack to it and take straps to attach meat.  The web site says 4 pounds but it feels lighter then that to me.
Binos 1 lb
game bags 1 pound
rifle 7.25 lb or
bow 5 lbs

If I'm hunting, I'll plan on going with my light backpacking gear so with hunting gear I'm going to try going in with 35 lbs and hopefull come out heavier.   Some of the ways I cut weight:  Share the filter and stove with a buddy.  If he carries the filter I just take a 3 liter platy bottle and drink tube (4 oz, saves me 7 oz.)  1 fuel bottle will last two for 4 days, that saves .5 pounds.  I like to eat well while backpacking because I hate freeze dried food (ie, steak, fajitas, etc.) but will probably cut a couple pounds for hunting.  I'd like to add a spotting scope eventually but I've already spent enough on my initial hunting gear for now.

And the biggest weight savings, cutting the midsection.  That's why I joined the HW biggest looser comp.  I need to drop 30 lbs.  I can't believe I gained 30 after getting a desk job. 

Thoughts?  Ways to cut weight?  Things I'm missing you think I need?

[Mudman]

Lose the water and filter and get a katadyn type filter.  4-5lbs there. :dunno:Pretty good setup you got!

[kentrek]

put up your gear list..should have no problem getting you down ten pounds 

food and adult beverage for 4 days 10 lbs.
2 liters of water, 4.4 lbs
Platypus Gravity filter 11 oz.
Snowpeak Litemax stove, fuel, ti pot, cup and spork 1 lb.
headlamp, gps, camera, first aid, bug/sunblock, batteries, etc 2 lb

 Some lakes I really want to raft so I'll take my 4 lb packboat.   

game bags 1 pound

Thoughts?  Ways to cut weight?  Things I'm missing you think I need?

i hardly eat when in the back country for some reason so my opinion differs than with alot of people but id think you could get away with half as much food,prolly 3 pounds if ya do alil research..food is fuel..fuel gets flaverd with hunger 

for booz just take grain alc and bring cider packets..first swigs are alil rough but it gets better the more ya drink it 

2 liters of water seems a bit much, once you know where your water sources are it really doesnt take much to water to get around,but you know your body much better than i do so do whats comfortable..next time your on a trip tho try not to drink so much an see just how much water ya really need,it very surprising

water filter seems excessive,tablets are much lighter..also do some research on your own on the odds and reasons for getting sick off back country water..its prety interesting and an eye opener

try out the cat can stoves..there pretty rad an you can pack exactly how much fuel ya need
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/myog-hybrid-alcohol-twig-wood-stove/

get a high end game bag from "gote" or "caribou" and should cut down alil there

maybe upgrade you pack but thats spendy

just replace the batteries before you head out then you dont need to pack extras...unless your in very cold weather
first aid kits can sometimes be reworked to cut down

more ya know the less you need,try not to pack for "what if's"

other than that looks good 

what kind of pack raft are ya using ? and how do ya like it ?

[fillthefreezer]

if I'm going for a weekend with a buddy its not too hard to get under 45lbs. if its just a scouting trip even easier.

[MLHSN]

Lose the water and filter and get a katadyn type filter.  4-5lbs there. :dunno:Pretty good setup you got!

I'm not quite following how that will save 4-5 lbs.  The system itself only weighs 11 oz. and it's what I carry water in.  I've tried the chemical treatment which can save me about 6 oz. but I just never got use to it.  I would come to a water source thirsty and have to wait at least 30 min. to drink the water.  Plus it tasted a bit different.

[Mudman]

Sorry maybe I misunderstood.  Thought you were packing 2liters plus with you plus filter for camp.  My suggestion was a hiker pro or type filter where you filter any source and only as much as ya need when ya need it.

[MLHSN]

Kentrek, I'm usually going about five miles between water so I like to have about 2 liters if I'm going steeply uphill.  Sometimes I want to knock out ten miles without stopping also so that's why I might have more water.  If I know water sources are close I'll often go down to a liter and save 2 pounds.  I do like my food,  I have to get the calorie intake in the backcountry or else I bonk.  I could, and often do, cut down the weight of food by 3-4 pounds when I want to go really light.

I have a cheap Sevylor trail boat.  They have some really nice ones out that are lighter and more durable for about $400.  I'm happy with my $50 raft.  It's lasted me a lot of trips.  However, my buddy has bought two and popped both so maybe I just got a good one. 

As far as booze goes, I'll often put a fifth of 151 in one of those thin bottles that water comes in.  I put a few squirts of that ice tea mix. It's kind of like miox but ice tea.  I then add a few squirts of lemon juice.  At camp, I'll mix it about 1/4 booze/tea mixture with water.  It tastes like lemon ice tea.

[MLHSN]

I see mudman, that makes sense.  I just don't like to go without water.  I've pushed it a little to far without water before and got pretty dehydrated.  So I always take water now.

[Mudman]

I am same way.  I always have more water then I need.  My bladder is 100oz.! Same with food, I eat alot when active thats one reason I have my book so I can eat some native plants if I choose.  I would rather be happy and carry more weight then be super light.  Just trying to help with suggestions.  You have a good set up-better then I do!

[FisherKing]

I'm working on my list, you guys are making me weigh all my *sh*!
I usually head out solo so the sharing option is a no go for me.