Dummy load for 5-day hike...

[tlbj6142]

I'm putting together this newbie guide to the AT thingy for this site. I want to describe to readers how much weight and space 5-days worth of food would consume just for the purposes of determine pack volume and frame load transfer.

Using the 2# per day standard, I'd end with 10# of food, but how much volume does the "typical" 10# re-supply take up? What about a 15# (3# per day) re-supply which might be needed for thru-hiking planing after your "hiker hunger" has kicked in?

Originally I was thinking about 10# (or 15#) bag of potatos, but the volume seems to be a bit high. Any suggestions?

Maybe it would need to be a 2-step process? Use 10# weight for load testing, but use a X" by Y" stuffsack filled with a pillow for volume testing.

BTW, I hope to have a first draft tomorrow or Tuesday which all of us and tear apart.

[ACH05]

Would a bag of flour accurately simulate the weight/volume of trail food?

[chris]

Would a bag of flour accurately simulate the weight/volume of trail food?

Too compact and uniform.

A weekend supply of food for me usually takes up half my food bag, which is a standard large silnylon food bag.

The best test would be to gather up the food and take photos of it in a food bag. Food doesn't squish down in volume like a pillow will.

[The Solemates]

[QUOTE=chris]The best test would be to gather up the food and take photos of it in a food bag. [QUOTE]

yea, how hard is this? go buy some candy bars and pasta and give it a go. hiker food isnt expensive and you can eat it on your next hike.

[The Solemates]

whups...oh well

[Moose2001]

I've always found that 5 days of food fills a #4 OR Stuffbag. Here's the listing from OR's webpage on sizes and volumes.

Hydroseal Stuff Sacks
Size Dimensions Volume
in. cm cu. in. liters
#1 6 x 11 15 x 28 300 4.9
#2 7 x 13 18 x 33 500 8.2
#3 8 x 15 20 x 38 750 12.3
#4 9 x 17 23 x 43 1100 18.0
#5 11 x 18 28 x 46 1700 27.9
#6 13 x 19 33 x 48 2500 41.0
#7 7 x 20 18 x 51 800 13.1
#8 7.5 x 28 19 x 71 1250 20.5

[tlbj6142]

What if you don't have your gear yet? I guess its sort of a chicken and egg thing.

We often tell newbies to take all of their gear to the shop and load up a pack to help them determine volume, load transfer, etc. So, what do they use on their pack buying trip? Or do we expect them to decide what food they'll need for 5-day trip before they go on their first overnighter?

Its not a big deal. Just something I'm stuck on at the moment.

[The Solemates]

What if you don't have your gear yet? I guess its sort of a chicken and egg thing.

We often tell newbies to take all of their gear to the shop and load up a pack to help them determine volume, load transfer, etc. So, what do they use on their pack buying trip? Or do we expect them to decide what food they'll need for 5-day trip before they go on their first overnighter?

Its not a big deal. Just something I'm stuck on at the moment.

Do it all in the store. Get pack, gear you want, etc. Bring stuff you already have to the store with you. Bring food. whatever. outfitters dont care, and will be happy to help, especially if youre a newbie who needs all new stuff.

[tlbj6142]

I've always found that 5 days of food fills a #4 OR Stuffbag.
#4 9 x 17 23 x 43 1100 18.0

1100ci for food? That would be one-third of the "typical" 3000-3500 ci bag they most folks recomend for AT hiking. And given that a pack's volume includes outside pockets, etc. It is probably more like one-half of the "main bag".

I have a tough time with this one as I get all of my gear (including 5-days worth of food and 2 qts of water) in 1800ci. But, then, I don't carry 2-3# per day like a "thru-hiker" needs to.

[tlbj6142]

Do it all in the store. Get pack, gear you want, etc. Bring stuff you already have to the store with you. Bring food. whatever. outfitters dont care, and will be happy to help, especially if youre a newbie who needs all new stuff.

I don't understand this...

[The Solemates]

1100ci for food? That would be one-third of the "typical" 3000-3500 ci bag they most folks recomend for AT hiking. And given that a pack's volume includes outside pockets, etc. It is probably more like one-half.

I have a tough time with this one as I get all of my gear (including 5-days worth of food and 2 qts of water) in 1800ci. But, then, I don't carry 2-3# per day like a "thru-hiker" needs to.

I would say that 1/3 of my pack is food (if Im carrying for a 5 day trip). For sure. In fact, on a thru-hike, it may be more than 1/3 because thru-hikers are hungry people. then again, I dont really carry a whole lot else other than food besides the basics, so...Im an exception. I only carry something if I use it every day.

[The Solemates]

I don't understand this...

Bring every thing you currently own and are going to take on a thru-hike to the store. Gear that you do not have yet and need to purchase, grab from the store. Put your gear and "borrowed" gear into the pack you are thinking of buying.

whats not to understand?

[tlbj6142]

OK, 1/3 it is. But that would be 1/3 of the main bag, correct? With, or without, extension collar?


I can see 1/3 of the "typical" 3000-3500 (~50-55L) pack's main bag without using the extension collar.

[tlbj6142]

whats not to understand?

There is the problem. Most of the outfitters I go to do not sell food. Maybe just mountain house meals.

OK, given this, how many mountain house meals would be a good "dummy load" for 5-days worth of food? 10? That might be enough volume, but no way that's enough weight.

[tlbj6142]

Am I making this too difficult?

[The Solemates]

Am I making this too difficult?

Yes. Go the grocery store and buy food for 5 days. Take that food to the outfitter.

[chris]

If a newbie wants someone to tell him what to do, then here it is: Buy a large silnylon stuff sack. Make it work.

By the way, my food bag is usually about 1/3 the volume of the rest of my gear. In terms of weight, it is usually around 60-75% of my baseweight (12 lb base, another 7-9 lbs of food).

[tlbj6142]

Yes. Go the grocery store and buy food for 5 days. Take that food to the outfitter.

I guess the problem I have with this approach is that food (at least for me) is one of those things that took several trips (6-7) before I ever "got it right". And on those first few trips I always had too much food and assumed it would take up far less space in my pack. Furthermore, food tends to be a highly personal piece of "gear". I may eat 20 packs of ramens every day, you might like 1.5# of hard cheese.

Most of us think of this as a trival task because we have already gone through this process. Think of someone who has never gone hiking. What food should they buy before they go to the outfitters? I know if I had took that apporach, I'd would have felt justified in purchasing an Arc'Teryx Bora 80!

[The Solemates]

I guess the problem I have with this approach is that food (at least for me) is one of those things that took several trips (6-7) before I ever "got it right". And on those first few trips I always had too much food and assumed it would take up far less space in my pack. Furthermore, food tends to be a highly personal piece of "gear". I may eat 20 packs of ramens every day, you might like 1.5# of hard cheese.

Most of us think of this as a trival task because we have already gone through this process. Think of someone who has never gone hiking. What food should they buy before they go to the outfitters? I know if I had took that apporach, I'd would have felt justified in purchasing an Arc'Teryx Bora 80!

For a five day trip, purchase:
Breakfast
6 packs of oatmeal (2 per day for 3 days)
4 pop-tarts (2 per day for 2 days)
3 hot ciders (for the days when you cook oatmeal)
2 large honeybuns (for the days when you eat pop-tarts)

Snack 1
5 granola bars

Lunch
2 7 oz. packets of tuna
2 bags of Ritz crackers
1lb bag of sour candy
1lb bag of fruit chews
2 packs of peanut butter crackers
1lb of raw nut mix
2 pita slices
5 small candy bars

Snack 2
5 large candy bars

Supper
small pack of spaghetti noodles
small pack of dry spaghetti sauce
box of mac-n-cheese
2 Lipton's pasta sides
1 Uncle Ben's rice
5 packs of hot chocolate

Mix and match as necessary.

[tlbj6142]

Interesting list, but at least its a list.

For now I'm leaving food out of the document. And just going to reference other works.