Sub 20 lbs. for the first time!

[andrewsmith729]

I'm leaving for Springer this coming Thursday, doing a section hike with two friends from college. We are hiking from Springer to the Smokies, which will connect two significant chunks that we've done. I'm guessing the first time I hiked on the AT in '05 my pack weighed close to 50 lbs. For my upcoming hike my total pack weight is 19.6 lbs. That includes 2 liters of water and 3 days of food, which will be the max we will carry. I've shaved weight by updating gear, sharing responsibility between the three of us, and cutting out all unnecessary items. I'm not an ultra-lighter by any means, but a 44 liter pack that weights 19.6 lbs. feels much better than an 80 liter pack that weighs 50 lbs!

No real reason to post except that I was super excited to be under the 20 lb barrier!

[ScottP]

Congrats! I hope you enjoy your hike.

[Fiddleback]

Congrats indeed!! Doesn't it feel great!!!

FB

[Loneoak]

Nice, would like to see your gear list

[swjohnsey]

I'm at about the same weight. I think we're gonna be much happier. I start from Springer the 30th.

[Wags]

great job man. i'm sure your knees will be happy after you get home! you stomach will too b/c you'll probably be taking less ibuprofen. next benchmark: 15lbs

[MaybeTomorrow]

Cool, tell us how you did it and what you pack.

[skinewmexico]

Awesome. Although there are a large group of people on this forum who will say you're gonna be uncomfortable and then die now. Silly rabbits.

[Firefighter503]

Another congrats from me. I finally hit <20 lb when I got to Damascus last year on my 650 mile section hike. I shared your excitement, it is a wonderful feeling. Wait until you hit a <10 lb summer base. I am even more excited about that!

[Falcon]

What's on your gear list? I have carried 27 lbs. and would like to get lighter.

[Stir Fry]

Con grats, I'm have done the same, I'm doing a section from Davenport gap to Erwin TN and have finaley got my pack down to less then 20lb. 19lb 10 oz to be ex. Feels good. I did this same section 5 years ago and started with 48 lb.

No mater how much you read, untill you have gone out and seen for yourself what you do not need you will always carry extra.

[Airborne]

I would also like to know your gear list. I start a section hike April 1 but pack is still 35 lbs which includes 2.5 quarts of water

[Stir Fry]

2011 List
Item Description Weight

Back Pack	1. ULA Catalyst	2lb 12oz Total 2lb 15oz 47oz
Shelter	1. Warbonnet Black bird. 2. Home made Cubin fiber tarp, with 6 Titanium stakes 10.5X8.5 3. Home made UQ, 72”X48” ( 900 fill down) Momentum 50, 3” loft, good to 15*-20*	24oz 10oz 17oz Total 3lb 04oz 52oz
Sleeping	1. Home made Quilt good to 15*-20* 2. Pillow, Cocoon	24oz 03oz Total 1lb11oz 27oz
Cooking and hydration	Pocket Rocket Stove Titanium Pot 1.3 L, Evernew Cup, Ever New titanium Spoon, IKEA Carabineer Knife, Kershaw. Water bladder 3L, Platypus 7. 1L water bottle, Gatorade Bottle	03oz 05oz 03oz 01oz 02oz 05oz 02oz Total 1lb 10oz 26oz
Hygiene	Tooth brush Mouth wash Towel/ handkerchief Soap Toilet paper Wet wipes	01oz 02oz 02oz 01oz 02oz 02oz Total lb 06oz 06oz
First Aid and Miscellaneous	First aid kit, Mole skin, Tape, , Q tips, Medications, Tweezers, antiseptic ointment, Camp shoes, Under Armor 3 Extra batteries and batteries chargers. 4 Camera, Cyber Shot 5 Cell Phone 6 I Pod. Nano 7 lighter	03oz 08oz 04os 06oz 03oz 01oz 01oz Total 1lb09oz 25oz
Rain Gear	Z Packs Cloud/ Cubin fiber Home made, Rain skirt /Cubin fiber Hat, Marmot, wide brim Home Made, Rain cover for pack,/ Cubin fiber	05oz 01oz 02oz 01oz Total 09oz 9oz
Extra clothing, warm weather	Underwear synthetic, Under Armor Merino wool socks wind breaker pants Wind breaker Patagonia Merino wool long sleeve shirt Smart wool, Marino wool , Long Johns MontBell Puffball jacket Black Rock hat down. .	03oz 03oz .03oz 04oz 10oz 06oz 08oz 01oz Total 2b02z 38
Clothing worn	Mt Hardware Kilt T shirt Ice Breaker Marino wool Merino wool socks Underwear Under Armor	11oz 05oz 04oz 04oz Total 1lb 04oz 20oz
Total for each category	Pack Shelter Sleeping Cooking and Hydration Hygiene First aid and Miss Rain gear Extra clothing Total Base weight.	2lb 12oz 47oz 3lb 01oz 52oz 1lb 08oz 27oz 1lb 04oz 26oz 0lb 10oz 06oz 1lb 09oz 25oz 0lb 08oz 09oz 2lb 02z 38oz 14lb 06oz 230oz 230

[andrewsmith729]

I don't have an itemized list with individual weights but I do have some of the major items that I definitely was able to cut weight on....

- I went from an old Jansport internal frame pack to an Osprey Atmos 50 and then even lighter to an Osprey Talon 44

- I went from a heavy TNF Cat's Meow sleeping bag to a 2 lb. Sierra Designs 800 fill down bag. Packs down half the size of the TNF bag.

- I went from an old heavy ThermaRest to a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mummy pad

- I went from an old Coleman white gas stove to an MSR Pocket Rocket

- I carry an old sil-nylon tarp when I solo, but for this trip I am only carrying the poles for a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2

- I wear short gaiters, shorts, Treksta hiking shoes, smartwool socks and a synthetic shirt. In my pack I have a Mountain Hardwear Drystein jacket, spare shorts, one pair socks, beanie hat, Underarmour tights, a light fleece, and a long sleeve synthetic shirt.

- I stopped using Nalgenes and bladders and carry lightweight bottled water bottles

- Some ways I cut weight elsewhere...stopped carrying unnecessary items. i.e. heavy headlamp, candle, water filter, rain pants, too many spare clothes, pillow, etc.

[RodentWhisperer]

@Stir Fry: That look's dialed-in-perfect, man! It's awesome to see all the homemade stuff. My only question: where's your water treatment system? Are you using AquaMira or Potable Aqua? Or something completely different?

[Stir Fry]

I carry AquaMira tabs X10 not listed but its in the fers taid kit. Mostly I do not treat unless the water is suspect.

[RodentWhisperer]

I carry AquaMira tabs X10 not listed but its in the fers taid kit. Mostly I do not treat unless the water is suspect.

You have more faith in water purity than I. Have a great hike!