How much does/should your Big 4 weight?

[Skidsteer]

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-re...neoair/product

It looks like it says the NeoAir weighs in at 14 oz. plus you gotta buy the stuff sack extra and that will probably weigh another .5 oz

You don't necessarily have to use a stuff sack for the Neo-air.

[tammons]

My neoair reg weighs right at 14oz.

The Cuben sack I made for it wont even register on my scales.

[wisenber]

Speer Hammock w/bugnet, suspension and 8X10 Tarp 34.8 oz. $199
Speer 20 Degree Peapod 42 oz. $399
GoLite Pinnacle 30 oz. $85
Total 6lbs 10oz at $683

If you shop for sales, you might knock 20% off of the price. If you find used gear, you can spend much less (which I did).
I carry one of the heavy space blankets and half of a blue pad to give me flexibility on temperature or sleeping on the ground.
You'll appreciate the room and weight savings of the tarp, and the bugnet on the hammock takes care of the biting critters.
I'm not UL by a long shot, but I do like to sleep comfortably.

[Don H]

Thanks for the input ... the hard part for me is that I am a large guy and need the Long bags and Pad ... I have also looked at and tried out the solo tents/tarp tents and really find them too small to spend 6 months in. I am hoping that a pack of 40 lbs will be ok for the trip. I figure that with my size and muscle mass a 40 pound pack for me will feel like a 30 pound pack on someone else... I hope anyway :-/

Try a Tarptent Rainbow. Even the single model at 2 lbs. will be big enough for you.

[nitewalker]

My goal is to get my big 4 under 10 pounds (my goal after that is 7.5 pounds). I never want to carry a 40 pound pack ever again. EVER.

the big four is only the begining stage of how to backpack lite. usually it is all the extras that add up without realizing it. it hapens to me all the time. my big four will weigh anywhere between 7lb and 10 lb depending what season we are in. my overall backpack weight always seems to be 25lbs or more, sometimes 35lbs..


my big four are as follows. [summer]
mtn hardware phantom 45* bag.....................16ozs
gg vapor trail backpack..................................32ozs
hennesy hammock ultralite............................23ozs
z rest sleeping pad[cut down].......................12ozs

for a total of..............................................5l bs 3ozs

mild winter setup
ems mtn lt 0* bag......................................48ozs
gg nimbus latitude......................................48oz s
northface tadpole 23 tent............................65ozs
z rest.............................................. .........12ozs

for a total of..............................................10 lbs 13 ozs

i am in the process of changing out my winter rig but what i use is just fine...