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[TradLife406]

I've been backpack hunting for probably 10 years. Past few years have been more truck or atv stuff.

I'd say I've gone through the stage of too much unneeded crap, to UL and finally to I know what I need. And I'll pack some extra oz for comfort. But I'm only packing stuff that'll get used. Aside from first aid and kill kit

Loaded up my SH Terminus 8700 for three nights. By the time I added food it was maxed out. Which concerns me since I've got three weeks worth of hunting coming up in a couple weeks. And I'm wanting to do a couple four or five day trips.

Flat tarp for a shelter, my pad, a 20 degree synthetic quilt. One luxury item is the giant Nemo inflatable pillow. It's the only pillow that works for side sleeping with my big shoulders.

Sitka dewpoint rain gear, down pants and jacket and a wind jacket. Glassing mittens

Msr reactor, small canister and a spork. And the Peak titanium thermos. May or may not have a titanium flask of bourbon

Game bags, Tyto and some blades. And a UL pulley setup with cordage.

Kowa 55 and 2 Vets Infil

Empty water bladders


Food was two gallon bags and another half full for the last day. I'd say I ate about 90-95% percent of the food.

Some other small items.

But it seems by the time I load the sleep system, puffy layers, rain gear the pack in about half full. Everything is compressed in a Kifaru 3 string or similar.

Just wondering if there's a way to compress some of these things even smaller?

I can't leave out items as everything got used. Yes I "could" leave the pillow out, I could leave the bourbon and small cigar humidor. But if these couple things can keep me glassing longer they're worth it.

Food is Kyle Kamp approved. I don't do good hungry. Especially if I'm already tired.

I just know there's guys doing 14 days on a 3000" bag

 

[Dave0317]

What’s your dry weight and what’s your total weight? What areas and typical temps/seasons/precipitation are you looking at?

Only thing that stands out as easy volume savings is the synthetic quilt. I know the newer high quality stuff compresses decently, but I think you may be surprised how much space a down quilt/bag saves vs synthetic. I’m sure you know, so maybe this was a deliberate decision based on your climate?

Unfortunately the other easiest option is bring less stuff. Thermos is cool for scouting trips, glassing heavy short hunts, but they don’t come with me on any light and mobile backpacking type excursions. Can you use one of the stuff sacks and spare layers as a pillow? Leave the bourbon, leave the cigar stuff, download a good book or podcast on the phone to listen while you glass instead.

Depending on where I hunt, I sometimes take a risk and don’t bring rain gear. But that decision takes into account temps, how far out will I be, and local typical weather. In Colorado, usually I just don’t move in the rain. I set up a tarp and chill for a bit, and move when it clears up. But Colorado is dry compared to PNW or AK, etc.

I don’t do 14 days in a 3000 CUI bag, in fact, I have to sacrifice a few things to fit 5 days into a 4500. But, I don’t have a super high end kit or anything. So without spending a ton on gear, my best option usually ends up being to toughen up and bring less.

 

[sargent]

You might be able to decrease the perceived volume of your current gear and clothing by losing some of the stuff sacks. It looks like there are some gaps between the sacks (seen as dimples/loose fabric in the loaded pack) that are using up some of your pack space. I like to pack my quilt, pillow, and down booties in a stuff sack in the bottom of the pack, zip it up a little, then stuff my puffy layers and rain gear in between the sides of the pack and the quilt.

 

[Wprinkle]

Couple things.. Love Kyle he is awesome. For me the SG and Exo bags "fill up fast." I tried em both and always ended up back at the Kifaru hoodlum for a few reasons this being one of em, until the teratorn. With the slimmer taller bags I have found that loose items pack better than in compression sacks. (If its gonna be wet the entire time, ya use a drybag for bag and puffy) but I was amazed how much more "room" you have packing everything loose. Case in point: I can fit my bag and raingear in the bottom of the Teratorn with stuff sacks. Without I can fit entire sleep system. Tent, bag, pad and ground sheet when loose.

I also overlooked the hydration chamber for a lot of years. I keep an empty water bladder in there if I ever need it but also put my vacuum sealed gamebags, a tarp, contractor bag, and crap I need like paracord, extra socks, what ever you can stuff in there. Take it out when you get to camp and need the water bladder. Also, flat items like sitting pads fit nice and neat between the frame and bag. Saves space.

 

[justinspicher]

I like to put my folding pad between my bag and frame.

I also don’t put my sleep system in a bag of any sort, just stuff it in the bottom and let everything else just compress it.

Clothing is what takes up the most space for me besides food. I go with a pair of socks and a secondary level two base layer. Add a puffy and I’m done.

Food is not as much of a concern to me, I don’t eat much so it isn’t a space issue for me like it is for some. With that being said, I put my food at the top so I can get to it.

Put your game bags/knife in the water bladder pouch. Its out of the way but you can get to it without dumping the pack.

Less is more, and being comfortable with being a bit uncomfortable is how I have learned to live in the woods with a smaller pack.

 

[TradLife406]

Yep, definitely using the meat cell.


Yeah I'll be using a WM Versalite the rest of the season.

I don't think the flask, thermos and iron will box are the issue. It's the pad, bag, puffy layers. Hoping it'll start cooling off enough that I can ditch the rain gear.

Oh yeah context is Montana elk and mulies. A few miles in. Might end up going deeper because I've got horses on speed dial.

I was wondering if it's just the bag. I've been a Kifaru guy for the last 8 years.

But then I see sheep guys using SG bags. 15 days in Alaska and the bag is half full.

I might be able to reduce my food. I'm definitely a glasser vs hiker. There's zero need to put miles on unless I see something. Especially in this area where it's all straight up and down.

Not sure on actual weight. At the point where it is what it is. Buy light stuff and don't pack stuff "I may" need.

 

[TradLife406]

Couple things.. Love Kyle he is awesome. For me the SG and Exo bags "fill up fast." I tried em both and always ended up back at the Kifaru hoodlum for a few reasons this being one of em, until the teratorn. With the slimmer taller bags I have found that loose items pack better than in compression sacks. (If its gonna be wet the entire time, ya use a drybag for bag and puffy) but I was amazed how much more "room" you have packing everything loose. Case in point: I can fit my bag and raingear in the bottom of the Teratorn with stuff sacks. Without I can fit entire sleep system. Tent, bag, pad and ground sheet when loose.

I also overlooked the hydration chamber for a lot of years. I keep an empty water bladder in there if I ever need it but also put my vacuum sealed gamebags, a tarp, contractor bag, and crap I need like paracord, extra socks, what ever you can stuff in there. Take it out when you get to camp and need the water bladder. Also, flat items like sitting pads fit nice and neat between the frame and bag. Saves space.

Wonder if the teratorn has more useable space because it has more organization... I guess I'll know when mine gets here in a few days. Frick

I like the SG. But maybe there's a reason Avery sold me his and made the Teratorn

 

[cal30_sniper]

Is there more external pack space that you can utilize? I always keep my rain layers, jackets, 2x Nalgenes, and tripod strapped to the outside of the pack. When I carry a sleeping bag, it straps underneath. Opens up some space in the pack for food/water/essentials.

That kind of load out works well on the Pintler that I use. I’ve done 3 nights with it, and it’s only 2350”.

 

[TradLife406]

Is there more external pack space that you can utilize? I always keep my rain layers, jackets, 2x Nalgenes, and tripod strapped to the outside of the pack. When I carry a sleeping bag, it straps underneath. Opens up some space in the pack for food/water/essentials.

That kind of load out works well on the Pintler that I use. I’ve done 3 nights with it, and it’s only 2350”.

Yeah I strap my tripod to the outside. Seat pad on the bottom.

Thinking you all are right that stuff sacks and compression bags actually take up more space.

I'll try this Exo Teratorn out. I liked my Kif EMR 2 and 3 whatever it was called. Just had too many straps.

 

[CMF]

I repackage some of my food, not only for weight, but mainly for volume. I usually break food up by days, but I don't use a ziplock for each day; I use a twisty tie bag. It's a thinner plastic and no zipper.
I repack freeze-dry from the foil pouches into quart ziploc.

 

[TradLife406]

I repackage some of my food, not only for weight, but mainly for volume. I usually break food up by days, but I don't use a ziplock for each day; I use a twisty tie bag. It's a thinner plastic and no zipper.
I repack freeze-dry from the foil pouches into quart ziploc.

I think I'm going to try this again. Problem I had last time was I used a giant cup to cook it in which took up space. Watched an exo video last night and the guy was cooking his freeze dried just in a freezer ziplock with a hyperlite mountain gear pouch.

 

[CMF]

I think I'm going to try this again. Problem I had last time was I used a giant cup to cook it in which took up space. Watched an exo video last night and the guy was cooking his freeze dried just in a freezer ziplock with a hyperlite mountain gear pouch.

I kept a used MH bag as a pouch for a couple trips but eventually ditched it and just use the ziploc only. by the time it's hydrated its cool enough to hold and I eat it before its too cold. I'd probably try one of the bubble pouches on a late season hunt though to keeep it warm longer.

 

[Grady.J]

I got 8 days packed into a 40/56, with a synthetic 20* quilt and synthetic puffy, 77mm spotter, and a not-super-compact tent(TT scarp 1), puffy pants. 10+ days would be doable with some slightly different sleep and shelter choices. That was with just tripod, crocs, and glassing pad strapped outside.

The Exo video from a couple years ago with Steve packing for a sheep hunt with a 3600 bag is a really good one. Watch how hard he crams stuff in, don't be shy about it.

Packing individual days food throughout the bag, rather than one big food bag is a huge help.

Loose packing your sleeping bag at the bottom of the pack rather than using a stuff sack helps fill space more efficiently as well. I'll use a trash bag as a pack liner of sorts to cram my quilt into for protection but still allow it to fluff up into dead space.

Having a consistent system or method you use to pack also helps. With 8 days and that gear list, my bag was packed *tight*. Its a bit of a pain to get everything loaded into it at first, but doing it the same way every time makes it easier, and as you eat into your food, more space will open up.


Nothing about your gear list looks like it would be an issue packing into that bag. I reckon you should be able to get 10+ days easily into that. Less stuff sacks might be the answer to more space.

 

[grfox92]

Was there rain in the forecast? I have never packed rain gear here in WY. It never rains and if it's going to it will be in the forecast.

Seems like a lot of clothes and all the little stuff like the bourbon and cigars add up really fast.

I stopped taking weight penalties for anything besides water.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[ozyclint]

Less is more, and being comfortable with being a bit uncomfortable is how I have learned to live in the woods with a smaller pack.

Best little snippet of advice I've seen for a while.

Reminds me of the opening scene of Lawrence of Arabia.

Lawrence puts out a match with his fingers and shows no pain.
Someone copies him, burns his fingers, cries in pain and says, "That jolly well hurts"

Lawrence- "Of course it hurts"

Burnt finger guy- "What's the trick then?"

Lawrence- "The trick is not minding that it hurts"

 

[rogerdoger]

Since you have rain gear you could ditch the wind jacket, if it’s waterproof it will work in the wind. Also what are you using the thermos for?