[pct-l] base pack weight

[Austin Williams]

Great question.  My Marmot Helium bag is rated at 15 degrees F.  I sleep
cold and it worked well for me. When it's cold out, I sleep with all my
clothes on inside the bag.  I think that adds quite a bit of warmth.  I had
a few chilly nights while above 6,000 ft, but that's to be expected.  Even
on those nights I wasn't shivering.

It really is the best piece of gear I've ever bought. I don't know when I'll
have to replace it, but when I do I'll get the regular size instead of the
long.  The long size was a bit too long - even for me and I'm 6' 2".

-Austin

On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 8:27 AM, Phil Newhouse <newhoupa1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Austin, is your helium bag sufficient for the Sierra in late June/early
> July (through hiking windows)?  what is the thermal rating on your bag? 30
> deg?
>
> thanks in advance
> phil
>
>   On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 5:03 PM, Austin Williams <
> austinwilliams123 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>  Hey,
>>
>> Great questions!  Love em.  According to some polls I took, most
>> thru-hikers
>> have a base pack weight between 10 and 15 pounds.  The next-largest group
>> of
>> hikers have a basepackwieght between 16 and 20 pounds. I kept the polls
>> up,
>> you can check em' out if you want to get an idea of how other's hiked
>> their
>> hike:
>> http://www.planyourhike.com/polls/
>>
>> My base packweight bounces around between 8 and 10 pounds.  Here are my
>> pieces of advice (ignore any and all that you'd like):
>>
>> 1) use a down sleeping bag.  Synthetic is too heavy.  Period.  I
>> *highly*reccomend
>> The Marmot Helium or the Marmot Hydrogen sleeping bag (depending whether
>> you
>> sleep cold or warm respectively).  Price tag may be a little high, but
>> it's
>> not too bad, and you will not regret it.  It's the best piece of gear I
>> ever
>> bought.
>>
>> 2) Use a tarp instead of a tent.  Tents are for weenies (I'm totally just
>> joking, I love all you tent people  :D ).  You don't need a $140 Cuben
>> fiber
>> tarp (although, that *would* be awesome).  Even a cheapo, $20, homemade,
>> 14
>> oz Tyvek tarp (like mine) will work.  Not a make-it-at-home person?  No
>> problem.  Buy a tarp for $80.  But go with a tarp and save at least a
>> pound
>> over the lightest of tents ( or igore this one, HYOY).
>>
>> 3) if you're commited to going lightweight (and you are right?  I mean
>> anything worth doing is worth doing right...  :D   ) then go with an
>> ultra-light backpack - the kind that dosn't have a frame... the kind that
>> -
>> when you pack your bag - you put your folded up (3/4 length) sleeping pad
>> towards your back and *that* becomes your frame.  I made a Ray-Way pack.
>> It's the most awesome pack in the world.  First thing I ever sewed... held
>> up over 30 miles of intesive bushwacking.  Even still, I think 'kits' are
>> too expensive for what they are.  I'd have spent an extra $20 to have
>> someone sew it for me.  So maybe just buy one.  The simpler the better.
>>
>> 4) if you are still using a stove that requires a canister, let me help
>> you
>> out:  get rid of it.  Use an alcohol or Esbit burning stove.  You can make
>> at home for about 50 cents.  Try googling it.  That will easily pull a
>> pound
>> or two out of your pack.  And they are way cheaper.  (In fact, going
>> ultralight, for me at least, was always cheaper than going LW or
>> heavier...
>> with the excepion of the Marmot Helium sleeping bag).
>>
>> 5) while we're working on your backcountry kitchen, rid yourself of all
>> your
>> extra cups and bowls and excess silverware.  All you need is one aluminum
>> (you're not scared of aluminum are you?) or titanium (much more
>> expensive..... but hey, at least it's not aluminum) cookpot.  I do this
>> and
>> I have my entire kitchen (including pot, stove, and spork) under half a
>> pound.
>>
>> 6) Then we come to water.  Leave your water filter at home.  Bring Aqua
>> Mira.  Feel lighter yet?  Nalgene bottles are banned, too.  Too heavy.
>>
>> 7) If your headlamp weighs more than three ounces... go to jail.  Do not
>> pass Go.  Do not collect $200.
>>
>> 8) Since you're already at 20 lbs, I know you aren't bringing the entire
>> Wilderness Press guidebooks (They weight about 30 pounds each, so you're
>> doing well on that front).
>>
>> 9) If your sleeping pad inflates (or weighs more than a quarter pound) try
>> a
>> 3/4 length blue foam pad (cheap) or a Zrest (fancy-shmancy).
>>
>> So far, without clothing, you should be somewhere around 5 pounds or so.
>>
>> I'll stop here, though.  If you'd like more on clothing, let me know.
>>
>> Despite my jokingly all-knowing-ultralighter tone, you should do whatever
>> works for you.  Even if that means a 20 pound pack.  Seriously.
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> -Austin
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