3.8 lbs of Camera Gear + 14.3 lb Pack = 18.1 lb Base Weight

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Epic Gear List Time! What is in Koty’s Pack?

but first a few words…. about the camera… because I already know what is going to be said

1. I am not documenting my hike, but rather choosing to pursue a passion as I hike.
2. I have hiked many miles with my DSLR and despite what many say… no… my iPhone does not even come close to replacing it.
3. The intention of this post is to help others by showing what is tested and known to work for me.

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Base weight – the total weight of one’s backpack along with everything in/on it (without consumables: water, food, fuel)

Backpacking base weights: Traditional = 30+ pounds | Lightweight = 20 pounds or less | Ultralight = 10 pounds or less

A little backstory…

A few weeks ago I decided it was finally time to start weighing out my gear and get everything in order. For almost a year prior to this point, due to an over-exhausting trip with a 28 pound base weight, I knew I wanted to go lightweight and have a base weight of 18 pounds or less. After weighing my pack and everything in it, I was right at my intended goal of 18 pounds. The only problem was that number did not include my DSLR set up.

Now, I will go ahead and forewarn you. Once you start counting ounces and shaving weight it kind of becomes obsessive…. for instance… I know the weight of every single item in my pack off the top of my head… everything… to the tenth of an ounce… like I said…. Obsessive

To get my base weight to 18 pounds or less, with camera gear included, meant dropping nearly 4 pounds from my pack. To do this I went into my pack roughly two dozen times over the last two weeks on a mission to eliminate everything not essential to my success. Every time I dove back into my pack I could see more and more items reserved for “what if” and “just in case” scenarios. Unnecessary items that I have since removed and now have a new pack weight of 14.3 pounds. This combined with my 3.8 pounds of camera gear has left me right on the mark in terms of my goal weight. Thus, I have created a nice balance between weight and comfort to start my trek.

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And Now… Everything I will be starting from Springer Mountain with…

A detailed list is further down the page if you wish to skip the video and get straight to the goods

*planned future adjustments for after the AT 

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Packing:

• Osprey Atmos 50 AG (5.5 oz Top “Brain” Pouch Removed) – 63.5 oz
  • Future Replacement: Hyperlite Mounatin Gear 3400 Southwest – 33.6 oz
• Homemade Bear Bag Kit (20L stuffsack, opsack, 40ft guyline, carabiner) – 5.2 oz
  • Future Replacement: Zpacks Bear Bag – 3.0 oz
• Ziplock (for electronics and other stuff) – 0.2 oz
• Zpacks Pillow Plus Dry Bag (for clothes) – 1.9 oz

Total: 70.8 oz / 4.425 lbs

Future Total: 38.7 oz / 2.419 lbs

Shelter:

• Warbonnet Outdoors Blackbird 1.7 (whoopies, snakeskins, stuffsack) – 26.1 oz
• Warbonnet Outdoors Edge Tarp (guylines, dutch hardware, stuffsack) – 14.5 oz
• Accessories (stakes, stuffsack) – 3.4 oz

Total: 44.0 oz / 2.750 lbs

Sleep System:

• Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Top Quilt (with stuffsack) – 21.5 oz
• Warbonnet Outdoors Yeti 20 Underquilt (with stuffsack) – 12.8 oz

Total: 34.3 oz / 2.144 lbs

Cook System:

• JetBoil Minimo Kit (bowl and stand removed) – 12.8 oz
  • Future Replacement: Ervernew 0.9l Titanium Pot – 4.1 oz
  • Future Replacement: MSR Pocket Rocket 2 – 2.6 oz
    
• Light My Fire Titanium Spork – 0.7 oz

Total: 13.5 oz / 0.844 lbs

Future Total: 7.4 oz / 0.463 lbs

Rain Gear:

• Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket – 10.6 oz
  • Future Replacement: Outdoor Research Helium II – 6.4 oz
• Zpacks Rain Kilt – 1.9 oz
• Trash Compactor – 1.0 oz

Total: 13.5 oz / 0.844 lbs

Future Total: 9.3 oz / 0.581 lbs

Clothes (Extra):

• Arc’teryx Atom Lt Hoodie (Puffy jacket) – 10.4 oz
• Patagonia Capilene MW Zip Neck – 6.5 oz
• Patagonia Capilene LW Long Bottom Underwear – 3.4 oz
• Reebok PlayDry Shorts – 2.4 oz
• Northface Gloves – 1.6 oz
• Darn Tough Socks – 2.7 oz
• Zpacks Fleece Cap – 1.1 oz

Total: 28.1 oz / 1.756 lbs

First Aid/Hygiene:

• Homemade First Aid Kit (includes tweezers & nail clippers) – 2.1 oz
• Zpacks Toothbrush Kit – 0.5 oz
• Sea-to-Summit DryLite Microtowel – 2.4 oz

Total: 5.0 oz / 0.313 lbs

Other:

• Black Diamond Spot Headlamp (with batteries) – 3.1 oz
• Sawyer Mini Water Filter – 1.8 oz
• Sawyer Backwash Plunger – 1.1 oz
• Smartwater Bottle x 2 – 2.6 oz
• Emergency Whitsle – 0.2 oz

Total: 8.8 oz / 0.550 lbs

Luxury:

• Iphone 7 Charger – 2.0 oz
• Spot Gen3 Gps Tracker (with batteries) – 4.6 oz
• UL Knife – 1.8 oz
• Hairbrush (for my gorgeous locks of course) – 1.1 0z
• Thermarest Z Seat – 2.0 oz

Total: 11.5 oz / 0.719 lbs

Camera:

• Nikon DSLR, Lens, Hood, Remote, Hoya Circular Polarizer, Osprey Case (Attaches to pack hip-belt in front. For this reason it is included in baseweight) – 45.5 oz
• Nikon Charger and Extra Battery – 4.9 oz
  
• Tipod – 10.8 oz

Check out my photography: Instagram kotysapp.com

Total: 61.2 oz / 3.825 lbs

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Worn:

• Patagonia Capilene Daily Shirt – 4.2 oz
• North Face Weather Resistant Convertible Pants – 11.6 oz
• UA Boxerbriefs – 2.7 oz
• Smartwool Socks – 2.1 oz
• Salomon XA 3D Pro Trail Shoes – 32.0 oz
• Superfeet Green Insoles – 2.8 oz
• Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trek Poles (always in my hands while on the move) – 19.6 oz
• Iphone 7 – 6.3 oz
• Wallet (with id, bankcards, and insurance card) – 0.9 oz

Total: 82.2 oz (zero toward baseweight)

 

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