Help 2 day walk pack to heavy

[mark]

Some of us from the breakfast club are plan a little walk next year through Kent. Having finished work early for the week I got bord and started packing. Can't get the pack under 15 kilos. HELP !!!

Kit list as follows:-

DD tarp solo
Light weight hammock
Half length form mat
Army blanket
Army poncho
Warm smock
Scarf
DD sleeper
F/A kit
Poo bag and scoop
Milbank bag 2 litre
Mora clipper and fire steel
Banco folding saw
Swedish Cook pot and stand which will also use as food storage and has a combined 2 litres of water containment
Spork
Osprey cup and bottle
2 other 1 litre water bottles
2 small tins with tinder
Head torch
Warm hat
Dry bag
Sharp stone
Sewing kit

Help me !!!!!!!!

[admo919]

Sewing kit and sharp stone, for a two day walk I wouldn't bother... should way 14.95 kilo's now!

[Ehecatl]

Unroll the army blanket and remove the bottle of port and the bottle of brandy. That should lighten the load?

Presumably the army poncho is your water proof in case it rains - otherwise I'd ditch it.

Maybe ditch one of the tinder tins assuming the others will each bring a little tinder. Similarly with the FAK. Do you all need to take the same? Assuming of course some idiot from Hinckley isn't planning an ambush.

[mark]

Sewing kit and sharp stone, for a two day walk I wouldn't bother... should way 14.95 kilo's now!

Ok sharp stone ( dc4 ) and swing kit gone.

[mark]

Unroll the army blanket and remove the bottle of port and the bottle of brandy. That should lighten the load?

Presumably the army poncho is your water proof in case it rains - otherwise I'd ditch it.

Maybe ditch one of the tinder tins assuming the others will each bring a little tinder. Similarly with the FAK. Do you all need to take the same? Assuming of course some idiot from Hinckley isn't planning an ambush.

No booze on this trip sir. Yes poncho is waterproof and multi purpose. The tinder tins are mustard tins. Not big or heavy.

[mark]

Ok so I've removed 1 litre bottle of water plus small bits and bobs weighing 2 kilos. Getting better, all I need now is the donkey to carry it and me.

[jbrown14]

Maybe it's just me, but 15 kilos doesn't seem that bad... :D

My honest assessment of your kit list is that you've done very well.

Good advice from the others on here, I can't even add anything.

Best of luck!

Josh

[Dazza190]

A man of your physical prowess should be fine with that weight, MarkT^

Funnily enough Paul and I were discussing this very point the weekend and 15-18kg is about right including water, probably just need to get out walking with some of the weight on board and acclimatise yourself. Sounds easy telling someone else how to do it!:happy-clapping:

[Sylvanbilly]

[QUOTE=Ehecatl;122528]Unroll the army blanket and remove the bottle of port and the bottle of brandy. That should lighten the load?
Haha
+1
I think sharing the load could help, don't double up
Sounds a good trip, what time of year will you be going?
Good luck

[saxonaxe]

What's the weight of your empty Bergen Mark? If it's a surplus pack or a Gucci civvy one it may be heavier than you need for a two day trip.
Just as an example, I've got a civvy 60 litre pack which when empty is about the same weight as an old Northern Ireland 30 litre Patrol pack.
Just a thought. Obviously if you're going for a long trog out in the boonies then a good quality pack is best, but for a two day walk across Kent something lighter may be sufficient.

Now say thank you Sax, 'cos I've just given you an excuse to buy some more kit...........;) :D

[ian c]

Mark if you need a light weight rucksack I have a new one that I can lend you its about 60 Ltr and weighs next to nothing.

[jus_young]

I would also agree on that weight being about right. Personally I would only carry two litres of water using two of the one litre bottles. One bottle in use and the other doing what it needs to do for water treatment purposes. By only having the two it would free up a little weight for a spare set of clothes which is missing off your list, you should carry a dry set for camp in case you get wet and cold.

Check the first aid kit and make sure it is not full of unessential bits as well

[mark]

Mark if you need a light weight rucksack I have a new one that I can lend you its about 60 Ltr and weighs next to nothing.

Thanks for the offer Ian. I'm trying to use a 30/40 litre to keep the weight down

[mark]

I would also agree on that weight being about right. Personally I would only carry two litres of water using two of the one litre bottles. One bottle in use and the other doing what it needs to do for water treatment purposes. By only having the two it would free up a little weight for a spare set of clothes which is missing off your list, you should carry a dry set for camp in case you get wet and cold.

Check the first aid kit and make sure it is not full of unessential bits as well

Fair point about the clothes. F/a kit is only small but compact.

[Humakt]

I suppose it will depend on what time of year you are planning your walk but here are some guidelines.

Firstly, you are taking a lot of water. You are walking through Kent, not the Sahara. I live in Kent and have walked a great deal of it (the entire North Downs Way). You will not, at any point, be somewhere remote. You will pass many places, or near to many places (garages, shops, etc) where you can stop to purchase water during your walk. I know, because I have done. I'd be carrying no more than 2L of water, at the very maximum.

You can also get rid of the Milbank bags. They aren't needed - some parts of Kent are rural, but none of it is remote. Any water you find is likely to be polluted with chemicals from farm run off. I live in the county and I wouldn't drink from any of the streams and rivers.

If you want to make it light (which you say you do) then do without a fire and use a small gas burner instead. That way you can get rid of the laplander, firesteel, and tinder (although I acknowledge there's not much saving in weight between the swap of items) - alas there are a lot of farms and that means chemical pollutants.
Do you really need a Swedish cook pot? I don't know how big it is, but if it's big enough to carry food and 2L of water then it sounds big to me. If you want to go light then get a smaller ally or Ti pot.

Tarp and poncho? As someone else said, is the poncho to keep the rain off? If so, a pack-a-mac would be a smaller and lighter option.
Really can't see you needing a sewing kit and sharp stone either. Yeah, I know pretending one is off on an expedition is all part of the fun and games, but you really won't need them. Maybe just have one set of those items between the group of you, at most.
I'd say your main area of saving should be in how much water you are carrying - 2L in that Swedish pot, 2 1L bottles AND a Osprey bottle!? Blimey. If it was me I'd have just the Osprey and another, and when they are empty I'd stop at a garage on the way and buy some more water! That's what I did.
If you are really trying to save weight then ditch the hammock and sleep on the ground.

Personally, I've never used a headtorch all the times I've been out. Your eyes soon adjust to the dark. It may seem like a small item (like one or two other things I would ditch) but those little items soon all add up.

What's a DD Sleeper? Is it a sleeping bag? If so, then why do you need a blanket?

Anyway, that's what I would be ditching.

[jus_young]

Missed that blanket, i agree, wouldn't bother taking that one as it adds to the weight and bulk

[mark]

Thank to everyone for all the input. Very helpful. A lot of good ideals and information. Will try to make a video of the final load with explanations for my choices.

Thanks mark.

[OakAshandThorn]

Think everyone beat me to it :p. Lots of great advice here, don't think there's much left to add. As Jus, Humakt, and Ehecatl said, it would probably be wise to ditch the blanket. Modern sleeping bags are a much better option in terms of weight, insulation value, and pack space.
Don't really see the point of taking the poncho if you're also taking along a tarp, though you could ditch the hammock and use the poncho as a ground sheet, perhaps. If you plan on hammock camping, the poncho is just added weight in your pack. A waterproof shell jacket is a better option. Oh, and if you're expecting rain, use a large plastic bag to cover your pack so your kit won't get wet or dampened. Won't add much weight besides a few grams.

[trovilcl]

So maybe im just in the clouds or its because im from the US, but what the heck is a mustard tin and a poo bag? Like you cant defecate in the woods? Im lost guys please bear with me cause i know most of you guys are from Europe and have different slang terms.

[OakAshandThorn]

So maybe im just in the clouds or its because im from the US, but what the heck is a mustard tin and a poo bag? Like you cant defecate in the woods? Im lost guys please bear with me cause i know most of you guys are from Europe and have different slang terms.
lol Mustard tins would be the equivalent of our shoe polish tins in size, a way of re-using bits and bobs for Bushcraft, in this case, for storing tinder ;).
Don't confuse a poo bag with Pooh's bag, I'm not sure he would like it 'cause it sure 'aint honey LOLOL :p. OK, OK, I'll stop :rolleyes:. On the serious note, there are some spots that have strict regulations regarding waste. I believe there are a few places in the US that require human waste to be carried out. It's also good manners if camping on someone else's property.

[Magicdave]

I’m a long distance, ultra light, hillwalker. I’m currently looking at the opposite of you. Beefing up my gear for more chilled out experiences. But I wont ever lose the weight saving mentality. I see it as saving weight for the purpose.

The biggest problem is that saving weight without losing equipment means spending lots of money, gathering lifetimes of knowledge, or both.

Without any understanding of your needs, here are my thoughts.


The first thing I consider is essential. Territory, how long and how far? Other than the 2 days you never mentioned anything, and these aspects are key as to what is saving weight and what is just dangerous.

I’ll concentrate only on what I know for sure.

2. Swedish Cook Pot: Maybe you could include the weight/size? If parking a car a few hundred yards from a campsite, it is pretty much irrelevant. But for distance this is the second major area where weight may be saved.

But it is a massive dependance. Is the weight spread across a number of people? If it’s a group cook set could it be lowered in weight by sharing the load, or by changing the material or size? If material, i.e. titanium it will be at a stupid cost, and thats even if it is available at whatever size.

3. Osprey cup and bottle and the cook set? Is this necessary? It might be, that’s your decision based on your knowledge of the cook set and alternative thoughts on water containers. I gave mine (Osprey) up for titanium long time ago.

4. Sharp Stone: Unless your carving a masterpiece your fine without it.

5. Army blanket/Army Poncho: This is the biggest area where weight can be saved, sleeping systems and shelter. It’s also where most thought needs put in. Ultralight down sleeping bags and tarps are great, but will burn like there’s no tomorrow. Just a place you may like to consider for your needs.

This also relates to weather/temperature and cooking methods of course.

6. Finally, your sewing kit. I just weighed mine for the first time. It weighs 0.6 grams. It’s a needle and maybe around 1-2 meters length of nylon thread. Other than a global disaster I see no need for anything more. Can you save weight there?

[Magicdave]

Just something else I should have added. It reaches the point where saving weight is best, not for the pocket, done by replacing all individual items with lower weight alternatives (If the alternatives suit the need) rather than cutting down on equipment once you know what your minimum equipment is.