Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Pack Weight ?

What total pack weight do you try to shoot for on a backpack hunt ? Let's say 6 days ..

When it's above freezing, my pack weighs 8.5-9 pounds including clothing worn/shoes. That doesn't include food/water/gun.

8.5 to 9!!!! No way. Maybe a day pack.

Figure 35 if you have sleeping bag, tent, bivvy, sleeping pad, stove, pot, pougie bait, 10 mountain house meals, water filter, GPS, ammo, butchering equipment, game bags, flash lights, snivel gear, weapon, couple gatoraides for the hike in, etc.

I'm usually in the mid-40's including food but no rifle or water.

It's been a long time since I've backpack hunted on a regular basis (30-35 years), but seem to recall pack weights of 60-70 lbs for a week's hunt in warmer weather which is pretty heavy by today's standards. Two years ago, I packed in for two days and nights and my pack was just over 50 lbs. Most of my gear is pretty old and not lightweight, and I'm in the process of replacing most of it for that reason.

I asked ED T a similar question recently and his response was for a 2 - 3 day solo trip, his pack weighs around 25 lbs. I had a similar conversation 10-12 years ago with a backpacker I ran into hiking the Continental Divide trail from Canada to Mexico. He would need to resupply every two weeks and said his pack was 30 lbs starting out full and 15 lbs after two weeks prior to resupply.

Based on that, I'd think 30, maybe 35 lbs would be a good weight to shoot for (with top of the line "ultralight" gear)...

I do a lot of summer backpacking. I just got back from a twenty-eight mile trek in the Lost Creek Wilderness, taking my time and it lasted four days and three nights. My backpack weighed twenty five pounds when I started, including three nights of food, a quart of water, a 3-season 2 1/2# tent, and a butane canister stove. When I was half a mile from finishing, I dumped out the last water and my food was gone so the pack weighed about twenty pounds. I can do that in the summer because temps are not very cold.

When backpack hunting during Colorado's 3rd season, I try hard and usually succeed in keeping my backpack below thirty pounds. That includes binoculars, range finder, field dressing gear & bags, cold weather clothing, white gas stove and fuel, GPS, extra ammo, a 4# 3-season tent that has endured a foot of snow and some pretty high winds, and food for four nights. Add a ten pound rifle and my outfit weighs about forty pounds.

KC

Conrad:

What's "snivel gear"?

Some people don't understand the difference between a daypack and a backpack. Obviously you do. When I'm day hiking/hunting out of a base camp, my daypack weighs about 12 pounds. That includes 2 quarts (four pounds) of water and it doesn't count a 10# rifle.

If you're backpack hunting during the early seasons, then you don't need the cold weather clothing. Consequently you can keep your pack and rifle weight near 35 pounds.

Thirty-five pounds is a good weight, not counting rifle, for the 3rd or 4th season, if you're carrying food for ten nights and cold weather clothing. I plan to return to base camp every four or five days so I only carry four nights food.

KC

This would be for the first rifle season..I think I will shoot for 35-40 pounds.

From urban dictionary.

snivel gear
Clothing and/or accessories generally associated with cold weather wear. Usually a derrogatory term given when wear of such clothing is unwarranted.
"It's only 50 degrees out here, why the hell do you have your snivel gear on?"

I was poking fun at myself b/c I do love my beanie and scarf. :-)

I'd say if you could get under 40lbs for first rifle you'd be doing very well. I shave weight out of my pack every year, but I'm still not there yet.

I'm usually at ~50-55lbs lbs including rifle, binocs etc. I use a pack frame and bags to carry stuff in to base camp and for carrying out meat. Once in, I dump the frame and just use a small day pack. This makes my initial gear wight a little more than using one larger internal frame pack for everything, but the method works for me and I like the flexibly of the frame pack especially when successful and carrying out meat.

Thank's everyone for the advice !

I just weighed my pack for a week long backpack hunt as I will leave from the truck. We will be at 12K feet so clothing is a bit heavier. My pack weighs 56 pounds. This includes 3 liters of water only.

6 days in warmer weather 47-50 pounds. Average
6 days in colder weather 55-57 pounds. Average

Thats everything, optics,rifle,water,food, everything etc etc etc. minus the clothes I wear. 3 liters of water weights approximately 6 pounds. Not sure how much the fifth of whiskey weighed.

The weight of your pack is inversely proportional to the weight of your wallet.

I am usually in the 35 lb range for 5 days. I can be as low as about 16 not including food / water / clothing / kill kit. That includes tent / pack / sleep / rifle / optics etc. I think getting below low 30 all in requires considerable effort in most cases.

That and a few years of hauling stuff up the mountain and figuring out what you can leave at home.

I run in the 40b range including gun, spotter/tripod water, food and bear spray for weekends up to 4-5 days.

Of that weight:
Rifle: 7lbs
Ammo: 8oz
Spotter: 2.25lbs
Tripod: 3.25Lbs
Rangefinder: .4lbs

My pack is the next place I could lose weight - currently 7lbs, but it carries big loads like a dream.

In late October sheep season we do a 9 day trip, temps routinely around -10C. Pack weight gets in the 55-60lb range then, including shooting gear. But a guy has to be able to live, not just survive on long cold trips. It helps you keep motivated!

PS: Just noticed this is my first post... Long time lurker here - you have a great forum!

First post and I'm jealous already. Welcome!

True. I've been at 27 for a weekend in Nov, but that was really cutting it close (too close IMO) .

These are always interesting to read as everyone has their own threshold of pain vs. comfort. With new equipment always coming out, it makes the hunter more efficient all the time.

Thanks, but don't get too jealous - we're blessed with general (OTC) sheep tags here in Alberta, but I'm going into my 7 year hunting sheep and still looking for my first ram!

I find weight can creep up on a longer trip because comfort and a few luxuries become more important.

I'd hate to tell you what my pack weighed on my first solo trip. Let's just the the pack out took two trips and I didn't shoot anything.....

Now that's some funny stuff.

My overnight pack isn't much different than my 7 day pack weight. Just add about a pound a day for food is really the only difference. 35-45lbs is where I am at.

break down pack weight for 3rd season... just curious what we carry that you have lighter or less of.

Glacier hunts require some specialized gear that has some weight to it. I dont go over 45 lbs with food for 10 days. I used to go at almost 65lbs but I actually go with much less stuff. It's sad when you use your GPS for entertainment but i am sure that the old timers probably were used to way more Spartan and miserable experiences.

I suspect that a lot of the old timers spend a lot of very boring days during the winter just picking the crud out from under their toenails.

My pack weighs more when hunting in the 3rd season because I use different gear.

During the 3rd season, I carry a 2.5# sleeping bag that's rated at 5° instead of a 2# bag that's rated at 20°.

I carry a 4# tent that's a little bigger (for more gear) and built with stronger material. It's still not rated as a 4-season tent, but I think it will stand up to bad weather better than the ultralight 2.5# tent.

I carry a puffer jacket that's too warm for summer/fall in lieu of a little down vest; 2# instead of 1#.

I use a white gas stove (MSR Whisperlite) instead of a butane canister stove. I don't know the weight difference including a couple of fuel bottles, but the weight upgrade is significant.

An extra pair of warmer gloves and a couple of extra pairs of socks.

That's all I can think of right now.

Everything else is pretty much the same as what I use in the summer.

I also dress differently for 3rd season but I don't count that in pack weight.

KC

Including the clothes on your back and your shoes... Really? For a backpack hunt?
Sleeping in the dirt with no bag or shelter, huh?

I think my first solo bp hunt I was a little over 50 lbs. Like others have mentioned, you quickly learn what is necessary and what can be left at home!

I've done quite a few multiple day backpacking trips. On most of those I'm setting up and tearing down camp everyday and averaging 10-12 miles of hiking in mountainous terrain with all of my gear on my back. I try to stay around the 40lb mark which includes three or four quarts of water in the bag. I'm 6'1" and 145lbs so I have a skinny frame.

I carried 51 lbs during a five day solo trip on Isle Royale and would have been fine except I twisted my knee on day two when a rock I stepped on moved. Fortunately the terrain is fairly flat there, I had brought a few pain killers and was able to break up my daily hikes by stopping to fish different lakes. Pan fried morel mushrooms and northern pike fillets gave me the motivation to keep pushing and kept a smile on my face.

I did a three day trip in the Sierras this summer with a 35lb pack including crampons and my ice axe. We covered 10 miles each day but on our climb day we left camp set up and carried day packs. Banner Peak elevation 12,936', my highest so far but I plan to climb Mt. Whitney next spring.

I have a tendency to overpack as far as food and clothes but dry clothes and a chocolate bar can really lift your spirits after a full day of walking in [bleep] weather.

SPEND THE MONEY AND GET QUALITY BOOTS!!!

Overall the best thing you can do is pack your bag, put it on and go for a hike. You'll need the physical training and you'll get used to weight while learning to pack a balanced load and adjust the straps to properly fit you.

A general question: for those hunting in mid-late October in the Rockies (northern CO, WY), how many cubic inches/pack size you carrying?

I've been playing around home with a ~ 3600 cu in pack and am finding it won't hold all my hunting gear. In the market for a bigger pack...........

Bill:

I've gotten tired of cramming my stuff into a small backpack. My current most favorite backpack is an Osprey Aether 85. I need the XL to fit my long torso and it has a capacity of about 5,500 cu. in. Most of the time I carry it with some unused volume. It takes discipline to avoid filling it up and I know that some people may ask why carry more pack than necessary? But I also carry it almost empty as a daypack so I can put an elk hind quarter inside it if I have to.

KC

I use a 7200cu pack for day hunts and pack in. It cinches down small enough and I always have my meat hauler with me.

KC - that is funny - I ordered the Aether 85 today. I bought an Osprey Atmos this past weekend but in the short torso version it wasn't much bigger than my other back pack. I guestimated I need ~ 5-700 cu inches over my present 3600. The 70 was right at 4100 cu in, the 85 in short comes in at 5000. With compression straps, I should be able to make it work for summer trips around home (1-3 nights) and elk trips for 2-3 nights with late fall/winter appropriate gear. I really liked Osprey packs.

Same as pointer. Sometimes he does it right.

I have recently purchased a Paradox Divide and the Multilid and Day Talon with it, the total CU.IN. capacity is around 5000.

This is OK for about 3 days in early autumn deer-grouse hunting here in BC and it performed admirably during a 3-4 day hunt in mid-Sept. in the Kootenays.

The weight of this pack is under 4 lbs. and it is really comfortable with "geezer" loads, I look forward to my next hunt starting Oct. 13 in the same area.

I keep a Dana Design Shortbed, the best heavyduty pack(s) I have ever used in my Taco for whatever big loads I can still handle and have my original MR NICE setup for general purpose uses.

Looking at a Paradox Evolution 6300 plus lid and talon for a large IF pack as I have sold three MR and DD packs, both Kifarus and gave away my Camptrails Freighters, etc.

Don't want to hijack the OP thread - why did you get rid of the MR? I've been looking at the Sky 5100.

I just ordered the 4800cu Kifaru Mountain Warrior for my 1-7 day pack. I am going to add some pockets to it though, and a guide lid. I've been using a longhunter, but sick of dumpster diving through the pack.

Simply, because I am 69, had many packs, guns and other gear and am selling anything I will never use to raise cash, make space and simplify my life.

The MR NICE I sold had the later style of belt and never fitted me as my original does, so, I sold it and kept my old one.

I still have four dedicated hunting packs and two MR general use packs and at my age, that should do me. IF, as seems to be slowly happening, my serious spinal problems DO heal and I can go back to snowshoe camping alone in the mountains here in winter, I will buy the SO Evolution I mentioned above.

I am VERY impressed by these packs so far and their customer service is just stellar. HTH.

My target weight is, ideally 30, realistically, 35. My actual weight is usually 40 or more. It just seems I tend to sacrifice weight for overall comfort as departure approaches.

7500 inches.

My gosh man, ^^what do you have in that big sack^^^??? Especially that last picture!

Is that during meat pack out or not? How many days of food in the pack?

First was pack in. 14 mountain house meals, plus other food, plus Ed T medium stove and golite SL4. It was gonna be nasty and we got 18 inches of snow that night some we had all the snivel gear to include zero degree bags. The food is bulky but doesn't weigh too much.

Last two are pack outs after putting elk down. So all the extra chit adds up.

It's not bad if you squat heavy and deep 3 times a week and do cardio 3 times per week.

It's just a big load if you staying 7 or 8 days and trying to stay in relative comfort. I did that travel light / freeze at night in the army. I'm 49 and like a full nights sleep now, plus a full belly.

The reason I went to the big bag is I had a MR crew cab and with 5000 (+/-) inches it wasn't enough when you put 2/3 of boned out elk in it! ;-). You had to strap all your gear outside like a vagabond. Yes it was freaking heavy. 9 hours to go 6 miles downhill.

Also, the load lifters now sit correctly with the real bag.

Yes I was fatter a few years ago. That was my first backpack hunt. :-)

Nasty weather will definitely change the ratio of "snivel gear" vs. "non-snivel gear"! 10 days of food and all of the other schit I carry when guiding will fill my big Kifaru up pretty quickly and it looked like you had quite a bit of stuff there. Snow gear/ cold weather clothing change the game, without a doubt.

I've not really weighed my pack before long trips, but I'd venture a guess that it's a solid 50# without bino's, rifle etc for a 10 day trip. Most of my stuff is fairly lightweight, but I pack what I need and don't really fret small stuff too much. I'm always fairly amazed at guys that can pack less than 40# for a 5+ day trip.


Kifaru AMR loaded with 3 Man Hilleberg Nallo, 6 days of food, etc for a sheep hunt...



Kifaru loaded with all 4 boned out quarters of a caribou, 4 days food, and camp...



Kifaru loaded with all meat from a boned out sheep plus camp, and probably 2 days of food.

Okay, 8 days and packing elk out. I guess that makes sense. Looks like you were packing a VW Beetle in there.

I keep forgetting about the elk. We don't have them out here. Well actually we do, just can't hunt'em, not legally anyway. 100 pound eastern whitetails won't fill one quite that full.