Pack weight

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and will probably be sticking to the
designated trail i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65
and the Mrs a Karrimor HOT30 KS 60ht. Tent is a 2 man
Horizon Ultimate and sleeping bags are mummy style. All
gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has seen
little use, but

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials. We
aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four
days change of undies and

t-shirts

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can (probably
local Inns!!!). The usual 1st

aid

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2 Maglites,
lightweight rod

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes'
at 25lb. Are

these

Quoted message said:

usual weights or should I reduce the weights. God knows
what I'm gonna

take

Quoted message said:

out tho. Everything seems pretty essential to me.

Cheers

Andy

--
[email hidden]

Hi Andy, sounds like too much Stella mate..

Vince

andicee said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first walking
trek and will probably be sticking to the designated trail
i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge taking 5 days. We are both
reasonably fit but are in dispute regarding pack weights. I
have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65 and the Mrs a Karrimor
HOT30 KS 60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon Ultimate and
sleeping bags are mummy style. All gear was purchased at
least 20 years ago but has seen little use, but is
obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials. We
aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four days
change of undies and t-shirts (new, lightweight)

Psahttt! Four days worth of undies? Real men don't care and
take one or two at the most.

Any mate you go backpacking with to the wilds had better be
a good mate, being Mr. and Mrs. I'll take that as a given.
Mind you, is a 65 30 split fair? You won't notice the stink
as it will grow on you slowly. Best to have clean undies to
change into afterwards otherwise you may find bars suddenly
becoming empty...

One of the great pleasures of a multiday backpack to the
wilds is getting clean afterwards, you can't beat ploughing
off a four-day stubble IMO.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the
"Westminster Gasworks"

In message
<[email hidden]>, Phil Cook
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

andicee said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and will probably be sticking to the
designated trail i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge taking 5 days.
We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute regarding
pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65 and the
Mrs a Karrimor HOT30 KS 60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon
Ultimate and sleeping bags are mummy style. All gear was
purchased at least 20 years ago but has seen little use,
but is obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight
materials. We aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of
meths, four days change of undies and t-shirts (new,
lightweight)

Psahttt! Four days worth of undies? Real men don't care and
take one or two at the most.

Any mate you go backpacking with to the wilds had better be
a good mate, being Mr. and Mrs. I'll take that as a given.
Mind you, is a 65 30 split fair? You won't notice the stink
as it will grow on you slowly. Best to have clean undies to
change into afterwards otherwise you may find bars suddenly
becoming empty...

One of the great pleasures of a multiday backpack to the
wilds is getting clean afterwards, you can't beat ploughing
off a four-day stubble IMO.

I find one pair of Tilley underpants and a small pack of
baby wipes gets me through a whole week - although I do
notice the smell myself after a while.

Means then I have enough room in the pack for a pair of
wire cutters.

--
Martin Richardson
227/284 Munros - 20% to go 34/34 'Furths' & 439/439 Nuttalls
- 0% to go
228/89 Donalds - 53% to go 0/? Himalayans - 100% to go
229/1552 Marilyns - 73% to go

"Vince" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

probably be sticking to the designated trail i.e Yeoford
to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar
S65 and the Mrs a Karrimor HOT30

KS

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon Ultimate and sleeping bags
are mummy

style.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

All gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has
seen little use,

but

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials.
We aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths,
four days change of undies and

t-shirts

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can
(probably local Inns!!!). The usual 1st

aid

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2 Maglites,
lightweight rod

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes'
at 25lb. Are

these

Quoted message said:

usual weights or should I reduce the weights. God knows
what I'm gonna

take

Quoted message said:

out tho. Everything seems pretty essential to me.

Cheers

Andy

--
[email hidden]

Hi Andy, sounds like too much Stella mate..

Vince

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ok for those staying in luxury cabins!! 🙂

Vince said:

Hi Andy, sounds like too much Stella mate..

Sounds to me like he's under-utilising his wife. If she
were to carry eight pints of Stella, they'd both be
carrying 35lb.

--

Paul

My Lake District walking site (updated 29th September 2003):

paulrooney.netfirms.compaulrooney.netfirms.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

probably be sticking to the designated trail i.e
Yeoford to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar
S65 and the Mrs a Karrimor

HOT30

Quoted message said:

KS

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon Ultimate and sleeping
bags are mummy

style.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

All gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has
seen little use,

but

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight
materials. We aim to take

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four days change
of undies and

t-shirts

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can
(probably local Inns!!!). The usual

1st

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

aid

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2
Maglites, lightweight

rod

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the
wifes' at 25lb. Are

these

Quoted message said:

usual weights or should I reduce the weights. God
knows what I'm gonna

take

Quoted message said:

out tho. Everything seems pretty essential to me.

Cheers

Andy

--
[email hidden]

Hi Andy, sounds like too much Stella mate..

Vince

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ok for those staying in luxury cabins!! 🙂

Luxury! Actually this time it's wild camping - staying high
too!

Vince

"Vince" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

probably be sticking to the designated trail i.e Yeoford
to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar
S65 and the Mrs a Karrimor HOT30

KS

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon Ultimate and sleeping bags
are mummy

style.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

All gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has
seen little use,

but

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials.
We aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths,
four days change of undies and

t-shirts

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can
(probably local Inns!!!). The usual 1st

aid

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2 Maglites,
lightweight rod

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes'
at 25lb. Are

these

Quoted message said:

usual weights or should I reduce the weights. God knows
what I'm gonna

take

Quoted message said:

out tho. Everything seems pretty essential to me.

Cheers

Andy

--
[email hidden]

Hi Andy, sounds like too much Stella mate..

Vince

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ok for those staying in luxury cabins!! 🙂

Martin Richardson said:

I find one pair of Tilley underpants and a small pack of
baby wipes gets me through a whole week - although I do
notice the smell myself after a while.

Means then I have enough room in the pack for a pair of
wire cutters.

Good man! Good smelly man!

--

Paul

My Lake District walking site (updated 29th September 2003):

paulrooney.netfirms.compaulrooney.netfirms.comOpen ↗

Paul Rooney said:

Martin Richardson said:

I find one pair of Tilley underpants and a small pack of
baby wipes gets me through a whole week - although I do
notice the smell myself after a while.

Means then I have enough room in the pack for a pair of
wire cutters.

Good man! Good smelly man!

Cheers guys. Highly amusing replies one and all but NOT very
useful🙂 Seriously tho, even taking out a few pairs of
undies and 2 lightweight tshirts I'm only saving half a
pound at best. Come on, divulge pack weights and or
contents. Please!

Andy

andicee said:

Paul Rooney said:

Martin Richardson said:

I find one pair of Tilley underpants and a small pack of
baby wipes gets me through a whole week - although I do
notice the smell myself after a while.

Means then I have enough room in the pack for a pair of
wire cutters.

Good man! Good smelly man!

Cheers guys. Highly amusing replies one and all but NOT
very useful🙂 Seriously tho, even taking out a few pairs of
undies and 2 lightweight tshirts I'm only saving half a
pound at best. Come on, divulge pack weights and or
contents. Please!

Andy

I'd seriously resist a 35lb pack, but it's perfectly normal
for a 5 day trip. Some here would carry *much* more. I
reckon I'd get it down to about 20lb, but I don't carry
anything I don't think I'll use, on the odd occasion I do a
multi-day backpack.

--

Paul

My Lake District walking site (updated 29th September 2003):

paulrooney.netfirms.compaulrooney.netfirms.comOpen ↗

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and will probably be sticking to the
designated trail i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65
and the Mrs a Karrimor HOT30 KS

A general guide if you're fit is 1/3 body weight maximum.
You can usually get a week's pack for that weight, even with
food if your trekking in the Spring.

Quoted message said:

60ht. Tent is a 2 man Horizon Ultimate and sleeping bags
are mummy style.

I'd recommend you both pulled your weight with at least a
55l sack each, 30l is too small IMO.

Quoted message said:

All gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has seen
little use, but

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials. We
aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four
days change of undies and

t-shirts

I'd recommend 2l of fuel minimum and then you may run out
after 5 days unless you're frugal.

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can (probably
local Inns!!!). The usual 1st

aid

...this is a good idea to keep food and fuel weight down.
I'd probably stay there as well if the wallet can stand it.

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2 Maglites,
lightweight rod

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes'
at 25lb. Are

these

So, if you're 12 stone, that's about 75 kg, divided by 3 =
25 kg or about (25 x 2.2) 55 lbs maximum recommended. I
think you can carry a bit more than you're suggesting but
you'll have to judge how fit you are and how fit your knees
are! 25lb's not far off a comprehensive day sack (but then
I'm over cautious, survival bag, bothy bag, blow up
doll...!!)

Oh, and the Stella....

Steve.

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and will probably be sticking to the
designated trail i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days. We are both reasonably fit but are in dispute
regarding pack weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65
and the Mrs a Karrimor HOT30 KS 60ht. Tent is a 2 man
Horizon Ultimate and sleeping bags are mummy style. All
gear was purchased at least 20 years ago but has seen
little use, but

is

Quoted message said:

obviously NOT of the most modern lightweight materials. We
aim to take a Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four
days change of undies and

t-shirts

Quoted message said:

(new, lightweight) and some lightweight grub to last a
couple of days, supplementing as and when we can (probably
local Inns!!!). The usual 1st

aid

Quoted message said:

and emergency gear, kept to the essentials, 2 Maglites,
lightweight rod

and

Quoted message said:

minimal kit. My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes'
at 25lb. Are

these

Quoted message said:

usual weights or should I reduce the weights. God knows
what I'm gonna

take

Quoted message said:

out tho. Everything seems pretty essential to me.

Hate to add weight, but 0.6l of meths won't do you much; 2
breakfasts and 2 evening meals at the most, I would have
thought. Also, don't underestimate the cold; I'd certainly
take hat & gloves at this time of year. Depends on the size
(obviously), but most Maglites seem very heavy to me. Fine
for carrying in the glove box of donut-laden US cop cars,
but even the very small ones seem heavier than some sort of
cheapo Everready plastic thing. Consider leaving one of the
Trangia pans behind - and don't take the 'kettle' if you
have one. Utterly pointless, IMHO. Clothes could save you
weight too. Underwear I can see - but IMHO it's really not
worth putting on clean clothes to walk in each morning as
they'll be just as wet and dirty as the old stuff an hour
into the day's walking. One set of dry/clean clothes for the
evenings/mornings, and one set of wet/dirty walking clothes.
It takes a good long time to work out what you really need
and what you don't; I imagine that after the first couple of
days, you'll have a much better idea of where you've
overpacked. If you only take old/knackered/cheap stuff,
there's always the option of binning what you don't need.
Finally, be utterly ruthless about what you include.
Lightweight anything is still extra weight. Pack it all,
unpack, take things out, repack. Rinse & repeat until
there's nothing that you absolutely can't do without. Then,
when the first ascent starts to hurt (and on the morning of
the third day, which is always the worst), at least you know
you couldn't have taken any less.

andicee said:

weights. I have an old Karrimor Jaguar S65 and the Mrs a
Karrimor HOT30 KS 60ht.

A Hot 30 won't be much fun with Real Weight in it, it's
meant as a climbing pack rather than a walking one. If Mrs.
gets a bigger pack with a proper hipbelt she'll have much
less pain carting 25lbs around for the duration.

Quoted message said:

Trangia, 0.6l Sigg bottle of meths, four days change of
undies and t-shirts (new, lightweight) and some
lightweight grub to last a couple of days,

As has been mentioned elsewhere, a pint of meths quite
possibly won't last 4 days with major use between 2 people.
Though if you can resupply may well not be a problem.

Quoted message said:

2 Maglites,

If you can get a couple of LED headtorches these are miles
better than Maglites, and hugely recommended.

Your overall weights seem okay. I skied about 100 miles last
month with a slightly heavier pack, and though lighter is
better you shouldn't collapse under the strain.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext.
33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177
Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello again, have decided on Dartmoor for our first
walking trek and will probably be sticking to the
designated trail i.e Yeoford to Ivybridge

taking

Quoted message said:

5 days.

<snip>

35lb/25lb sounds about right for 5 days for 2 people who
aren't trying to go as minimalist as possible (ie, who
aren't at the "sawing the handles off spoons and
toothbrush" stage)

I agree with others that you seem light on fuel for that
length of time. However, personally, I wouldn't take a
Trangia on that kind of trek. I find them bulky and inclined
to get dirty on the outside. Meths is quite an inefficient
fuel, too, so the heat output to weight ratio's not as good
as other fuels.

Check out your pans and eating utensils, too. I wouldn't
normally bother with a knife and fork, for example, just a
spoon (I'd have a Swiss army knife anyway, if anything
needed cutting). And I'd just take 2 smallish nesting pans,
for cooking, eating and drinking from. The pans are your
plates/bowls and your mugs, too.

I'd ditch some of your spare base layer clothing...I
might go with 2 changes of underwear for 5 days ('cos I'm
a bit over-fastidious) but would stick at 1 spare base-
layer shirt.

I'd take something like a Petzl Zipka LED headtorch, rather
than Maglites (the tiny ones aren't much good for camping,
and the bigger ones are too heavy/ bulky).

I wouldn't bother with emergency survival bags...you
have a tent.

Rob

andicee said:

My pack is coming in at 35lb and the wifes' at 25lb. Are
these usual weights or should I reduce the weights.

Those weights seem reasonable to me. For a multiday camping
trip, I think my pack weighs around 30lb. I find that bl**dy
heavy but at least it goes down a little every day when I
eat things. I carry it all in a Karrimor Jaguar 65, which is
a heavy sack but I find it comfy.

What you could do is individually weigh all your kit and
compare it with the advertised weights of what is available
now. It is almost certain that you can get lighter things
but..... they all cost money to replace.

I don't know the trail you're going to do but, if you're
worried about the weight on your back, plan your route to
avoid any steep bits! Obvious really, but carrying a heavy
rucksack up a steep, nasty hill does not improve your
enjoyment of the trip!

Also, ditch some of those undies. Keep a set of clothes
clean and dry for going into pubs etc and for
travelling home.

Judith

In message <[email hidden]>, AndyP <[email hidden]-
spam.co.uk> writes

Quoted message said:

"andicee" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Thanks, one and all, for some, eventually, helpful
replies!! So in

essence,

Quoted message said:

what we're saying is, you're a bloody smelly lot when
on the trail. I can cope with that but wifey may have
a prob.

If you're either fit enough or walk slowly enough to avoid
overheating and sweating too much you shouldn't get very
smelly. There's always streams about to wash in and modern
synthetic T shirts dry out enough to use in the morning
overnight if you do need to wash them.

I was serious earlier on about the Tilleys. And I've said
it before if you look at the washing instructions on the
label they recommend washing them in a stream, not using a
washing machine.

There is always the wear them back to front and inside out
on alternate days - to spread the load (as it were).

--
Martin Richardson
227/284 Munros - 20% to go 34/34 'Furths' & 439/439 Nuttalls
- 0% to go
228/89 Donalds - 53% to go 0/? Himalayans - 100% to go
229/1552 Marilyns - 73% to go

When I spent a week wildcamping in the Lakes (TR in a
separate post), I was carrying just over 51 pounds all told
(including 6 pounds of clothing and kit I was wearing), so
my "pack weight" at the start was 45 pounds. About 14 pounds
of this was food. I can produce a list of what I took if
you're interested (I don't have the packing list to hand at
the minute).

As for underwear/base layers: I didn't take a spare
set. The new base layers made with X-static fabric
do keep the smell down noticeably; I washed them
once on the trip.

Hope this is useful! Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

Thanks, one and all, for some, eventually, helpful replies!!
So in essence, what we're saying is, you're a bloody smelly
lot when on the trail. I can cope with that but wifey may
have a prob. I realise that the age of the gear is
contributing to the weight, but don't want to go and spend
loads of dosh when what I'm looking for is economy at the
mo'. I actually have 2 x 0.6l meths and we won't be bashing
it. Looking forward to the occasional pub lunch. I am gonna
leave the hydration pack filled with Stella at home
tho'!!!!! I'm gonna go and repack, and may get to the
'sawing handles off toothbrushes' stage. Will have to as I'd
forgotten to pack the toothbrushes!! ANOTHER couple of
ounces. Doh! Thanks again and will keep you posted. Going
end of May incidentally.

Andy

Quoted message said:

I'd recommend you both pulled your weight with at least a
55l sack each, 30l is too small IMO.

Hmm, dunno about that - I've spent a fortnight backpacking
on my own before carrying just a Kimm Sack 35. Also if you
take a large and a small sack as the OP is doing then you
have the option of pitching the tent as a basecamp and do
day walks taking just the small sack.

--
Boo