Backpacks

I recently bought a 45l pack...did a packing test run at home and reckon I'm good for a good 2-3 day berg trip...It forces you to only take what you need and think carefully about food and clothing. Now all I need is a trip to test it . @ghaznavid...your "tons per hour" device is a gem!!

Don't forget to add the 6-8kg of camera gear. That tends to require a slightly bigger pack, i usually use a 65l pack, then i can pack the camera and other gear away when it starts to pour.

Mine was 19kg when we did the Sentinel to Cathedral hike (65liter), my wifes one was about 11kg (38 liter). I will definitely be leaving a few things I took that trip ... need lighter sleeping bags ...

Probably about 20-25kg depending on trip length. I enjoy good food and wine in the mountains and usually carry the lion's share for my wife.

Mine was up around 23/24 kgs. Never again. Way to much stuff I didn't really need...I've found a smaller sleeping bag in the cupboard (snug pack merlin3 I think it is) and going to get a set of proper thermals (HHs). Noted what I had left over when I got back after my last 4 day hike to help decide what to pack (not to pack) next time. My heaviest was 32 kgs, but that was just stupid! Too much camera gear. Aiming for around 17 kgs next time...

I aim to keep mine around 17kg but for the GT carrying for 6 days i was at 20Kg with water and i must say i was carrying a lot of fresh food, i knew to keep my moral up, good food would definitely help so i did not use a lot of back country.

Firstly are you talking summer or winter? Secondly length of hike? And how heavy are you?
Summer 3 days - 10kg or less
Winter 3 days - 14kg last time and that was more than I had wanted.
I weigh 70kg.

In terms of others with heavy packs....

Its simple, you begin the trip by picking up everyones pack, yours generally is about 5 to 10kg lighter. If they refuse to remove weight you help them.... On my last hike I took 4 newbies, they each had 85l with 20l expandable packs full to the brim for three days..... I could hardly pick them up. I removed more than half the packs weights to what I thought they needed, much grunting and moaning occured. I them said they could choose one luxury item....

On the hike we found the one member was far less fit than the rest and that one of the newbies had far to much energy. The less fit guy had half his pack moved to the overkeen individual.. problem solved.


This worked well until the last day when I had to take on quite a bit more weight for a steep decent. Was okay though.

My question is mountaineering, ie, ropes, harness, cams, etc. How much weight do you carry then? Seems like things get very heavy fast...

I weigh about 70kg.

For one winter 5 day trip including the 6kg of camera gear (tripod, camera and 2 lenses) i have carried 25kg. This was far to much for my scrawny little frame and i battled to get the pack comfy.

Now i carry about 19/20kg in winter and about 17/18kg in summer.