View Full Version : How much does/should your Big 4 weight?
SOBO 2011
10-22-2009, 17:03
The big 4(if taken) pack, tent, sleeping bag/pad.... how much does yours or should yours weight? I think mine might be a bit heavy at 15 pounds 1 OZ.
What are your thoughts?:rolleyes:
Skidsteer
10-22-2009, 17:13
Here is a long thread on the subject:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3983&highlight=weight+big
Slo-go'en
10-22-2009, 17:33
The big 4(if taken) pack, tent, sleeping bag/pad.... how much does yours or should yours weight? I think mine might be a bit heavy at 15 pounds 1 OZ.
What are your thoughts?:rolleyes:
My thoughts are yes, that is a might bit heavy. You should be able to cut that at least in half - all it takes is money :rolleyes:
Read all the posts in the thread Skidder linked to.
UL - 6# is a good number
My 3 season rig is 7#
Consists of
Spitfire tent
Golite ultra20 quilt
Regular neoair
CC pad
6 oz tyvek bivy
Pack liner
18 oz pack.
With a contrail tent you could deduct 20 oz from that.
My hammock big 4 is about 8# but I am still working on that.
Jester2000
10-22-2009, 18:21
I think your big four should weigh somewhere between 5 pounds and 20 pounds. Wolf will say 5 pounds is too heavy; Tipi Walter will say 20 pounds is too light.
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.
7# is easy and not that bad.
You could probably just replace 2 things and get below 10#.
Campmor 20dF bag for $130 - 36 oz
Spitfire tent and replace the stakes $100 - 46oz
CC pad $10 5oz
Expensive part is the pack unless you MYOG which is what I am doing. Super light
external frame/cuben pack. Should cost about $80.
GG Miraposa plus with the internal frame $160 - 24oz
7# total - about $400
Spend another $200 and get a golite ultra 20 quilt and a contrail or a moment tent and you are down to about 5#.
If you just take you time and buy it used or on sale you can probably get everything for about $300-400. Golite quilts were just on sale not too long ago for $160 or maybe even less.
bigcranky
10-22-2009, 20:46
Fifteen pounds for the big four is kinda heavy these days. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- I mean, you have to carry it. My gear started out that way too. But it's pretty easy to get the big four weight below 10 pounds without spending a lot of money, and without sacrificing much in the way of comfort and safety.
le loupe
10-22-2009, 21:03
My thoughts are yes, that is a might bit heavy. You should be able to cut that at least in half - all it takes is money :rolleyes:
Read all the posts in the thread Skidder linked to.
It doesnt take a lot of money-
Neo Air- $73 (on ebay) 8 oz
Coleman 20* bag $40 (on ebay) 3lbs 8oz
Kelty Noah tarp $50 (web outfitter) 1lb 10 oz
Kelty Outback pack $50+/- (campmor circa 1992) 2lb 6 oz.
8 lb total weight for under $200.
granted the Neo-air is a splurge (and a steal at that price)
BlackRock
10-22-2009, 21:04
I think it depends on what you do. I do alot of alpine climbing which involves lots of hiking and camping. Sometimes I set up base camps and bring 50lb bags, sometimes I do lighter 2-3 day trips with a bag at about 30lbs. If I'm doing more of a through hike/climb I run about 22lbs fully loaded with water and gear.
If you look at my big four in each of those situations it's fairly similar most times. My pack is either a 65L REI pack for the heavy loads or my Golite Jam2 50L pack if I'm packing stuff under 30lbs and don't need a frame. I almost always go with my 3/4 thermarest but in winter I'll bring a full length pad. My sleeping bag is either my sub pound Highlite or my 2+ pounder Mt. Hardwear. Last on the list is my tent which again is either a heavier two person tent and 2-3 seasons depending on the trip or my MSR e-bivy that's only 7oz.
My light end for Pack, tent/bivy, bag, pad is 3lb 4oz.
My heavy end is closer to 10#.
Kerosene
10-22-2009, 21:16
Or, you can spend a lot of money, which might be worthwhile given that you'll be out there for 6 months:
NeoAir (http://www.rei.com/product/781093) (9.5 oz (not 8!) - $119 from REI, but there are no issues with returns...ever
Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20* (http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/bagdetail.cfm/WE2199) (1 lb 10 oz) - $385 from BackcountryGear.com
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36) (1 lb 7 oz) - $235 from SMD
Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone (http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/nimbusozone.html) (3 lb) - $230 from GG
6.65 lbs for $969
le loupe
10-22-2009, 22:47
Or, you can spend a lot of money, which might be worthwhile given that you'll be out there for 6 months:
NeoAir (http://www.rei.com/product/781093) (9.5 oz (not 8!) - $119 from REI, but there are no issues with returns...ever
He never indicated he was thru-ing. Maybe he's a section hiker who just got laid off from his job.
If you are going to be hiking for 6 months, can afford it and need the piece of mind, use Kero's gear list. But, do not be discouraged by the a $1000 gear investment. It is neither superior or inferior to a more economically friendly alternative. There are lots of ways to do this.
As BlackRock suggested it may be more important to think about what your intentions are.
Officially, Cascade Designs says the Neo is 9 oz.
My 8# total also included a homemade tyvek&sleep sheet cover for my Neo.
JoshStover
10-23-2009, 03:30
He never indicated he was thru-ing. Maybe he's a section hiker who just got laid off from his job.
If you are going to be hiking for 6 months, can afford it and need the piece of mind, use Kero's gear list. But, do not be discouraged by the a $1000 gear investment. It is neither superior or inferior to a more economically friendly alternative. There are lots of ways to do this.
As BlackRock suggested it may be more important to think about what your intentions are.
Officially, Cascade Designs says the Neo is 9 oz.
My 8# total also included a homemade tyvek&sleep sheet cover for my Neo.
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/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
Feathered Friends Swallow 20* sleeping bag, 1 lb., 15 oz., $354
Granit Gear Nimbus Ozone pack, 3 lb., $230
Therma Rest Neo Air, long, 14 oz. $150
Tarp Tent Rainbow, 34 oz., $225
Total weight: 7 lb-15 oz
Total cost, retail:$959 plus shipping, taxes
Jester2000
10-23-2009, 09:44
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/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
I depends. There are four different sizes with four different weights. The smallest is 9oz. Likewise, there are three different stuff sacks. The lightest is .4oz.
SOBO 2011
10-23-2009, 14:20
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 :-/
Jester2000
10-23-2009, 14:47
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 :-/
You'll do fine. Don't fret too much about it.
Big Dawg
10-23-2009, 14:56
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 :-/
Agree. I'm 6'5" 250#'s,, my 35 to 38# loaded pack for 5 days (12.5# big 4), feels relatively light. That same pack on a 5'9" 160# dude would be a different story.
Right now, I'm at a good comfortable Big 4 weight of about 7 1/2lbs
Montbell UL SS#3 30degree 23oz
Thermarest Prolite 4 regular 24oz
Golite Jam2 24oz
Six Moon Design Luna Duo 45oz+ 2.2 for Vargo ti stakes( a very recent purchase, haven't even broke it in yet.)
Even with that, I'm not in the UL category as I carry other things for my comfort. Better to be a slightly heavy comfortable than an ultralight miserable.
I am large and tall too.
6-3 235#
If you need a huge tent then a double rainbow is what you want at 40oz.
With my Eq as above but with a double rainbow that puts my big 4 at 6.5# and that is with a neoair regular, a blue pad, ultra 20 quilt, and a tyvek bivy.
Combined with the eq I suggested above and a neoair you would be at ..
Campmor 20dF bag for - 36 oz
Double rainbow tent - 40oz
CC pad - 5oz
Neoair regular - 14 oz
GG Miraposa plus with the internal frame - 24oz
7.5# total
Somewhat expensive but all decent gear.
If you can live with just a blue pad, the weight goes to just over 6.5#.
The actual feel of the pack will have more to do with the pack design and fit than your size.
If you were to do the big 4 above at 7.5#, add 10# for food for 5 days, 2 qts of H20 at 4#, and 8.5# for everything else, that would put you at 30# which is very reasonable and you would be very comfortable. Large tent, down bag, comfy mattress, comfortable pack etc.
Better than 40# anyway.
Skidsteer
10-23-2009, 17:45
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/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.
My neoair reg weighs right at 14oz.
The Cuben sack I made for it wont even register on my scales.
wisenber
10-23-2009, 22:12
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.
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
10-30-2009, 08:43
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...;)