I am sure it depends on the season. What do you consider essential and what are you willing to leave behind or bring in the interest of weight? I try not to take too much but what I take seems to always add up to more than I hope.
First thing I did this year is buy a smaller light weight pack. Water always seems to add a lot of weight would carrying a water filter instead of water be better? I am interested in seeing the responses.
Thanx
MZ

I suppose I could cut and paste but...

viewtopic.php?t=5811

Didn't mean to be redundant. Thanks

There's probably others who didn't respond there. I'm just too lazy to do it twice!

It kind of depends on where I'm going ... if there's a hut nearby then I go light on water and dont carry the filter either.
If I'm not sure of finding water (Davis Path) then I'll carry extra.... but there arent really that many places in NH where you can't find water.

Depends on time of year too - in black fly season or heavy mosquitoes, I'd rather carry a bit extra than stop and pump !

Looks like my summer day pack is 18.5 pounds, with the GPS, video cam, and 2 liters of water in the hydration bladder. Add 2 pounds if I fill the bladder for a hot day.

On a 90 degree summer day, it's about 5 pounds plus water weight.

Winter is closer to 30 pounds.

In the summer, I pretty much only carry a fleece, little bit of food, and water. I hate hiking in the heat, and hate it even more with a full pack.

In the summer, I pretty much only carry a fleece, little bit of food, and water. I hate hiking in the heat, and hate it even more with a full pack.

That's exactly how I feel.

I just did 5 days from tuckermans to lincoln woods
I started off about 55 lbs. carrying 3l of water
And not splittibg any gear with anyone
My goal is to shave 8 lbs off that by getibg a lighter pack and tent

Hey Ray.
Couple of things - when looking at new packs, look more for comfortable distribution than weight. My pack is a little heavier (7 lbs), but it distributes weight in a manner such that I'm more comfy in this than in many lighter packs.

For tents, consider camping hammocks. I'm investigating this as an option for myself this year.

I will say that 55 pounds for 5 days ain't that bad.

Rite now my multi day pack is. A ascend. From bass pro shop
Not a bad pack. But could use a litte. More padding on the sholder
Straps A d maybe the hips. I was starting to feel it. By day 3
For the money i cant complain tho
I wS thinking of the ospey 65l. Its almost 2 lbs lighter than my
Current pack.

egads!
You're talking 'pack' not skin-to-trail, right?
Shaving 15 lbs off that should be pretty easy.
Actually, 20 lbs should be doable without even going to expensive gear ...

Im listening

This coming from a guy who can shave off 15 pounds just by leaving his camera at home...

That's pretty much exactly what my multi day pack weighs too in summer with water. Seems quite normal to me. Honestly I can't see shaving anywhere near 20 lbs off without the ultralight expensive gear. You've got 7 lbs in water, 8 lbs in a pack, 5 in a tent. That's 20 right there, so that would leave only 15 to get to the 35lb mark with sleeping bag, clothes, food, stove, fuel, map/guide, emergency supplies, headlamps and if you're like me probably 5+ lbs of camera gear. I don't see how it can be done for a 5 day trip myself without spending $$$ but I'm listening too!

Even my microlight tent for 2 people weighs less than most hammocks with bug/rain flys and can be split between two people if one carries the poles so maybe it's more comfortable or easier to fins a spot but wouldn't save me any weight.