Free: Contests & Raffles.
Figure out how much you can comfortably carry every day. For me, that's 27 pounds. I took my hunting pack to work every day for a year, walking (or running) for the bus, transferring downtown, and walking another mile each way. I didn't carry the same gear, but I learned exactly how much I could carry and how far I could go with it not be sore the next day. Take the glass, take the raingear, wear the wool clothes.
Cut your toothbrush in half and drill holes in it. Don't forget whisky.
Few random thoughts on this stuff from a guy who spends 50+ days a year living out of a backpack and packing out a dozen plus animals a year. I've learned all this stuff the hard way and wish I would have had someone 15 years ago to drop some wisdom on me.Packs: regardless of what you have, fit it properly and learn the proper way to put it on. I see so many people who bypass this step and then wonder why they get hotspots or sore shoulders. Just last night I watched a video of a couple guys hunting. These dudes LITERALLY SELL several lines of packs and both had packs way out of adjustment. Food: pack what you are going to enjoy eating. Some stuff may not hit the calorie content that the internet tells you it has to have but by God you can eat it day in and day out it will be more beneficial than the calorie dense food you hate after two days and end up not eating. If you don't eat it then it's worth zero calories and hurts you mentally Weight: I stopped weighing my stuff years ago. Don't really care honestly. I've gone ultra light and its not for me. I pack what I want and what I need, weight be damned. I want good food, coffee, and I wanna sleep good. If that comes at a weight penalty then I'll do a few extra squats and lunges. The guy who struggles with a 50lb pack is gonna struggle with a 40lb pack. Get some weight on your back and make your lungs burn a bit before season and a few extra pounds is a non issue.Mental toughness: if you don't have some grit, it doesn't matter what your pack weighs or what gear you have, you will fail and you will come off the mountain early. When it gets hard, lonely, or boring, attack the issue. Always keep stepping! Physically and mentally. It won't kill you. Unless you walk off a cliff or mauled by a bear. Then it will kill you Like others have said, overall you've got a pretty good list going. With time you'll figure out what you need/don't need.
