I've been going through all of my gear, inventorying, weighing, trying to get rid of redundancies, using more items with a dual purpose, substituting lightweight alternatives to heavier items, etc. I have discovered that these items are the heaviest (note: the food list is not complete):
- 2 person tent with alliminum frame/stakes (weight=5 pounds)
Why a 2 person tent? A 1 person tent can save you a little bit of weight. Look at lightweight Sil Nylon tarps, or the "TarpTents" offered by Henry Shires as alternatives to tents if you find that the hammock scene isn't for you. www.tarptent.com
- Trail mix (14 8-oz bags), vienna sausages (weight=6 pounds)
Food is highly subjective. As people have mentioned in your other threads, depending on your weight, your metabolism, your amount of exertion, the amount of food you'll need will vary. Some people are fine with 1.25ppd, others need 2.00ppd. Aim for a caloric density of 100cal/oz or higher. You can supplement foods that are deficient in calories with a bit of olive oil. Whether you get the food now or on a resupply makes little impact on the cost of it.
- Backpack (mountineering, 65L/3966 cubic inches) (weight=3-1/2 pounds)
Exactly WHAT pack is it? You may be able to trim some excess fat on the pack to shave a little weight. Are there any straps or features that can be cut off that won't impact the functionality of the pack? If so, grab a pair of scissors. Extra webbing often just gets in the way. Cut it, and burn it to seal the ends.
- 2 16oz alluminum sports bottles (weight=2-1/2 pounds - full)
Ditch the aluminum bottles. Empty gatorade bottles work just as well, and are much lighter. Even lighter than gatorade bottles are the plastic water bottles that most spring water brands have switched to. Some use up to 33% less plastic, so they are lighter and thinner.
- Clothing (1 fairly thin jacket, 1 sweater, 2 fairly thin pants, 3 pocketed t-shirts, 3 underwear, 3 socks (weight=5 pounds)
Why do you need so many clothes? You need to be more precise with what you're telling us about your clothing and equipment in general. What kind of "fairly thin jacket" is it? What kind of sweater? What kind of pants? Think of clothing as a system that is designed to protect you, not as garments. You only need 1 rain shell, 1 insulating layer, and a base layer for most conditions. The only thing you really need multiple pairs of is underwear and socks, and you can usually get by with 2 pairs of each.
- 45 degree compact fleece sleeping bag (weight=1 pound)
Why a 45* fleece sleeping bag? You want at least a 32* bag, and for some that's pushing it for all except the summer months, and even still, you can only get away with a colder bag if you have the clothing system to supplement it. Shoot for a 20* down bag. Down is light, warm, and packs very small. A good 30* bag will weigh less than a pound and a half. A 30* down quilt will weigh even less.
I am not a gram weanie but I don't want to be lugging a huge mule pack up a mountain either. I'm a small, older fellow. Kind of out of shape and I just want to keep the weight down as much as possible.