[pct-l] ultralight packs

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

I'll add a couple more things to what Steve writes:

If you get the pack first, you don't know your gear will fit. Which means, 
you will need to do every thing to reduce your weight and gear - which is 
what Steve suggests you do first.

Another consideration is how to carry a bear canister (good bye light weight 
and small). I'd love to hear how folks managed to handle the can with a 
light weight pack - and still get the rest of the gear to fit. I'm using a 
ULA P1 (great pack) and haven't had to face that obstacle yet.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Sergeant" <stevesgt@effable.com>
To: <susanstar3@msn.com>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] ultralight packs


> susan stark typed:
>> OK, its been yrs since Ive purchased gear.  Gota start somewhere -
>> packs. Whats the scoop on ultralight packs?  Any opinions out there?
>
> First, a lighter pack should be the LAST thing you buy, after you've
> lightened everything else in your load first. It's far better to get the
> rest of your gear together, and then, knowing what it is you want to carry
> around, choose a pack to carry it in.
>
> Even if your current backpack is 6 pounds, I advise you to work on getting
> your sleeping insulation and padding as light as possible, perhaps around
> 2 pounds (or better, as close to one pound as possible) as a goal.  After
> that, work on getting your shelter down into the same weight range as your
> sleeping gear. Then look at what you have left that's still heavier than
> it could be, such as kitchen gear, clothing, and emergency gear (in that
> order), and work your way toward lightening that.
>
> Once you have your gear weight where you want it, then look for a backpack
> to carry it in.
>
> Since the sport is called "backpacking", most people tend to focus on the
> backpack as the first piece of gear to purchase. In my experience (gained
> from using at least 16 different packs on about 700 nights-out over the
> past 30 years) you'll save yourself much disappointment by choosing a new
> pack last, after your other gear is chosen.
>
>
>
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