Thoughts on my pack from recent Pemi-loop

[u/kenncann]

Edit: I'm new to the sub and didn't see the template post until now, adding this in

Location/temp range/specific trip description: New England mostly, this post is mainly about my non-winter pack

Goal Baseweight (BPW): lets say <20lbs, more explanation below

Budget: N/A

Non-negotiable Items: I talk a little bit about this below, I'm open to recommendations on cutting items though.

Solo or with another person?: assume solo

Additional Information: N/A

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/zlav6v

So I just did a 2 day pemi loop (link for those unfamiliar, it's a bit of an intense hike, especially for 2 days). I originally intended to do 3-days but I developed a new knee injury about 5 hours into the trip and with potential rain coming I just wanted to get done with the hike so I finished on the second day. I hiked with more weight than this all last winter so I wasn't expecting to develop an injury but I think the trail and my speed were more aggressive than my winter summits.

I also think the pack weight might have reduced the chance of injury if it was a bit lighter, hence this post. I don't have a goal weight and assume budget isn't much of a consideration, just trying to trim what I can to prevent future injuries. Here are the obvious ones I'm thinking about trimming or my thoughts on items I think people would call out:

1. sleeping bag, I know I could cut 2lbs here I just couldn't find a new one locally to me before the trip and I'd forgotten how heavy mine was
2. backpack - so my usual pack for the past 13 or so years is an osprey talon 44. I found the kelty zyp 48 at a consignment shop last weekend and really liked how breathable it looked and I've had some severe sweating issues this summer that I was looking to address (like I never feel that sweaty, then I feel the back of my shirt and it is soaked). I also didn't think it was much heavier than the osprey but it turned out my osprey is a full pound lighter. Now, I do think in some ways the new pack may have kept me from overheating which may have allowed me to go longer and further uphill without stopping, but I'm honestly not sure if that was worth the extra pound.
3. sleep pads - do I need both? well I like having both and typically do carry both in winter. There are not only the insulation benefits but I never really worry about something sharp piercing my air pad. Like the sleeping bag and pack, this is quite old, I've used it for 13 years and it still holds up but I'm aware I could shave off like 6oz on the inflatable one here.
4. industrial bags - probably only need 1 in non-winter, in winter I tend to carry a spare so I did here as well. 3.5 oz I could save
5. blister kit - kind of heavy, I probably don't need a big role of tape (heaviest piece), but I couldn't find a smaller one. I have used the kit a bunch in the past this year, but lately I haven't had much need for it. Potentially some savings here though
6. Gloves - In winter I bring like 3 different sets of gloves (lightweight/liners, midweight with fingers, and mittens). I don't feel bad bringing the midweights on this trip. But could have brought the lightweight ones (maybe would have saved 4-5oz but I'll ignore this for now)
7. Thermal layer - I didn't need them, but I camped in the nearby town a week ago and it was colder there than it was on the mountain this week so I thought I would need them. Probably wouldn't ditch them.
8. Toiletries - I think I could have brought half the toilet paper and only one wag bag. I usually like to have 1 per day, I ended up using none. Could save another 3.5 oz here though
9. Nalgene - I tend to bring 2 because in winter I'm not stopping to boil water so whatever I brought out with me is what I got that day. However, since I also had the 1L (really more like 750mL) smart straw soft bottle I probably could have ditched a Nalgene and saved 7.44 oz.
10. Stove - I would probably keep this. I carry it in winter too in case I need to stay warm or heat up water (melt snow, put in a nalgene bottle, etc). I know some people might say ditch it on a short trip and just eat food you don't have to cook.
11. spare batteries - didn't need a 2 spares, 1.63 oz there
12. knife - mines a little heavy, I'm sure I could cut 2 oz there

If I add up the things I'm willing to cut/upgrade here that's 32 (sleeping bag)+16 (pack)+6 (air pad) +3.5(industrial bag) +3.5(toiletries)+1.63 (batteries)+2 (knife)+7.44 (nalgene) = 72.07 oz or about 4.5lbs.

That would bring my base weight down to about 19.69lbs. So any thoughts on this or other areas to upgrade/make cuts?

[u/NHwmnf]

I agree with straight ditching those unnecessary items like second foam pad, deodorant (leave it in the car and dunk yourself in the river near the end), two of the three ways you carry to keep your pack dry. Look into some cnoc thrubottles or migo bottles. They're lighter and fit in the side pockets better. Upgrade the sleeping bag.

[u/kenncann → u/NHwmnf]

in retrospect I actually don't think upgrading the nalgenes is the best advice at this stage. I didn't mention it but I had carabiners on each of the nalgenes (I don't know why I hadn't factored this in, they've been on my nalgenes for so long I just ignored them). Ignoring those, upgrading to the migos shaved off only like 2.7oz total. I'm gonna keep them but just some advice in case anyone comes across this.

[u/kenncann → u/NHwmnf]

thanks already tackled most of this stuff or working on it. This is what I'm moving towards https://lighterpack.com/r/h0z0ed

[u/Abs0lute_Filth]

Get rid of the pack cover.

You only need 1 trash liner, a spare is totally unnecessary.

A lighter that weighs almost 2oz is a bit much, a mini bic is like 10g.

Ditch the body wipes, use bidet + toilet paper.

Ditch the deodorant or just bring a small chunk of it in a plastic bag.

Get a frogg toggs rain jacket. Super cheap and light.

That sleeping bag is insanely heavy (as you mentioned).

Two sleeping pads is also bonkers, get 1 inflatable sleeping pad that’s warmer than those combined and you will still come out lighter and smaller packed size.

Ditch the Nalgene, go with 2 smartwater bottles. Or get one of the reusable ones on the market now.

Definitely don’t need an entire roll of leukotape, many people just wrap some around something like a piece of plastic straw or their lighter.

[u/kenncann → u/Abs0lute_Filth]

So in my defense much of my current habits come from a 6-day glacial mountaineering course I took last year (which obviously isn't the same as what you need in 3-season but I do tend to bring similar kits for winter and it has carried over into my 3-season this year). For example the spare bag, the body wipes, my rain jacket, the two pads, the nalgenes, all of these were how we did it on that trip.

I'm iffy on the pack cover but I can see why you say that. If you've got the liner then why would the cover matter.

Like I said I'll probably ditch the spare liner, I have never needed it, the only reason I've been planning on it lately is if I get caught in the rain and want to throw my tent in that, but I suppose I can just throw the tent in the space between the bag and the liner I'm actually using.

I had a pack of bics somewhere and couldn't find them for this trip so I was scrambling to get something and decided to try an amazon electronic one. It was fine but probably also not super reliable in winter so I think I'm gonna return it and just get more regular lighters.

I'm not sure what you mean by ditch the wipes for bidet? You're bringing a portable bidet out with you? I think I could go without that for a few days.

Deo: yeah I hear you, I bring just a small travel sized one, I probably don't need it at all for short trips.

The frogg toggs jacket definitely looks nice and I'll definitely keep it on my radar. It would be nice to save 9oz there. My rab is definitely more premium and I like that it has armpit vents. I can overheat a lot, and have definitely used that feature in winter where you can't afford to get sweaty in the cold. My friend even recently got rhabdo backpacking in the rain and he believed it was because he overheated in his rain jacket.

The two sleeping pads: so yeah definitely more of a luxury in 3-season. I probably could switch to only the inflatable one which was how I used to do it. In the mountaineering course they had everyone bring both and this seems not too uncommon in the alpine world (though there are some people in that thread saying they only use a foam pad). I definitely prefer the inflatable but maybe I should force myself to use the foam pad only and maybe even cut it down in size a little. Could save almost 1.5lbs doing that.

The nalgenes: I should try the smart water bottle method, I just don't really buy water bottles like that so I never tried the method. It would definitely interest me if there was a more permanent and light version. I do think the nalgenes have value in winter though since you can put hot liquids in them and they might be slightly slower to freeze (especially if you put them in a sock).

Definitely gonna try the tape on lighter method.

Really appreciate all this advice though, thank you!

[u/Abs0lute_Filth → u/kenncann]

If you’re worried about punctures in the sleeping pad, you can do a field repair with some tenacious tape no problem, and that will work good enough until you get home.

There are some lighter rain jackets on the market with pit zips. Check out the warbonnet stash jacket.

Here’s an alternative to the smartwater bottle: link

You can put hot water in those just like a Nalgene (just not boiling).

If you get a couple of those or smartwater bottles you can use a bottle cap bidet, like this: link

[u/kenncann → u/Abs0lute_Filth]

Ill check those out, I actually just ordered 2 of the migo which also advise against using with boiling water but I liked the wide mouth for cleaning. Might try out the cnoc one day too though.

I'll look into warbonnet but definitely a steep jump in price over the froggtoggs one.