Here is a mandatory gear list of what I have for the Arrowhead 135. Definitely could be improved, but a good start. I'll try and get a recommended gear list up soon as well. That is the list of equipment that you use to make up the rest of the 15 lb minimum.
Mandatory Gear List (15 lbs at ALL times)
-20 Sleeping Bag – The North Face Tundra Polarguard Delta Regular Length
3 lbs 15 oz
Insulated Sleeping Pad – Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 Regular
1 lb 8 oz
Bivy Sack or Tent (NO space blankets) – Bibler Bipod Bivy
1 lb 13 oz
Firestarter (Matches or Lighter) – Coghlan’s Windproof/Waterproof Matches
0.25 oz
Stove to heat water – MSR Whisperlite International Stove
14 oz
8 fl oz of Fuel at all times – MSR 11 oz Fuel Bottle filled with White Gas
2.7 oz bottle / 11 oz white gas
Pot (min volume 1 pint) – Snow Peak Titanium Folding Cup (Holds 21.2 oz)
2.8 oz
2-qt insulated water container – 2 Nalgene Lexan 1 qt Water Bottles
6.4 oz each empty
- 2 Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parkas
5 oz each
Headlamp or Flashlight – Cateye HL-EL410 Compact Opticube
2.6 oz including batteries
Flashing red light (both front and back) – 2 Knog Frog red LED lights
0.7 oz each including batteries
Whistle on string around neck – Coghlan’s Survivo II 5-in-1
1 oz
1-day of food at ALL times (3000 calories) – 1 lb of butter
1 lb
Total Weight = 12.07 lbs
10 comments:
You must like butter.
:D
Best firestarters in the world, they are cheap and awesome. Just take some cottonballs and rub them with vasoline. The cotton lights extremely fit and vasoline burns a long time.
-20 Sleeping Bag – The North Face Tundra
No way that's a true -20deg bag but if you've got other clothes with you anyway it does meet the "rules"
Insulated Sleeping Pad – Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 Regular
1 lb 8 oz
Closed cell foam is lighter but more bulky. I've been waffling between this and a CCF combo on my lists
Bivy Sack or Tent (NO space blankets) – Bibler Bipod Bivy
1 lb 13 oz
Lots of weight to lose here. The Event bivy is 17oz and the Montbell wide and long is 8.3oz and only $130
Firestarter (Matches or Lighter) – Coghlan’s Windproof/Waterproof Matches
0.25 oz
Fire in 3's for me. Mini bic (or 2) for normal use, esbit tab for emergency wood fire starting and waterproof matches for bic backup. Not going to save any weight but I won't go out without at least 2 easy ways to start a fire
Stove to heat water – MSR Whisperlite International Stove
14 oz
Coleman Extreme is 11oz unmodded and $50 at campmor
8 fl oz of Fuel at all times – MSR 11 oz Fuel Bottle filled with White Gas
2.7 oz bottle / 11 oz white gas
Coleman aluminum canisters plus 8oz fuel saves more weight
Pot (min volume 1 pint) – Snow Peak Titanium Folding Cup (Holds 21.2 oz)
2.8 oz
Two ways to go here. If you really want to melt snow you need a bigger pot. The Trianga Ti 1L is 2.36oz and ~$30. If you really are just after meeting the rules then a 16oz Soda or Beer can meets the rules and weighs under an ounce. You already have gloves so you don't need handles.
2-qt insulated water container – 2 Nalgene Lexan 1 qt Water Bottles
6.4 oz each empty
- 2 Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parkas
5 oz each
Meet the rules with one insulated 2qt container and carry a empty platypus for backup. What about just wrapping a platypus big zip or nalgene soft cantene with closed cell foam? You can glue or tape or sew it together pretty easily. Oware has 1/8" thick stuff that sews well and the hardware store always has options. Plus you can use the soft bottles as camelbak bladders. The big zip and nalgene have wide openings taht should be less prone to icing shut.
Headlamp or Flashlight – Cateye HL-EL410 Compact Opticube
2.6 oz including batteries
Princeton Tec EOS. 3oz with lithium batteries and way brighter if you need it. If not run it on low for 40+hours of light.
Flashing red light (both front and back) – 2 Knog Frog red LED lights
0.7 oz each including batteries
Not really enough weight savings here to worry about if you already have them
Whistle on string around neck – Coghlan’s Survivo II 5-in-1
1 oz
REI has whistle buckles to add to packs and the Flash UL actually comes with one. Does it have to be around your neck?
1-day of food at ALL times (3000 calories) – 1 lb of butter
1 lb
3000 cals of butter flavored crisco is only 0.75lbs. Butter is 20% water. You have to finish with this left anyway so you'll only be eating it in an extreme emergency in which case I have no doubt it will go down fine.
All good points Chris.
The North Face bag is pretty cold. I slept out in it one night last winter when it got down to -23F. It definitely was cold, but I got a good deal on it. I think of it as emergency only for the Arrowhead.
The Thermarest pad rolls up pretty small and works well. I like it.
Bivy Sack is heavy, but again I don't plan to use it. Again a good deal at the time.
The matches fit well in the whistle I have. I'll definitely have to throw an esbit in for emergencies.
The Whisperlite works great in the cold. I remember someone saying last year at Arrowhead that they had to keep their Coleman canisters inside their jacket next to them to keep them from freezing. Not sure what was going on there. Any issues that you know of with that senario?
I don't plan to melt snow, but that Trianga pot is light. I like the idea of the can to meet the requirements.
The nalgene bottles were the only thing not to freeze up last year for me. I had an insulated camelbak bladder that froze almost instantly.
The cateye light I have has a 30 hour run time. Plus it is pretty bright, and you don't need a whole lot of light out there. The EOS would be a good backup. The cold really cut down on the batteries last year on the cateye. I'm definitely bringing a back up this year.
I'll write the organizer of the Arrowhead and see if that whistle on the pack qualifies.
Mmmmmm, Crisco :)
Another heat idea. Melt snow and if you have the propane or fire to do so bring water to boil, put water in nalgene(s) set at feet and under armpits.
My solution to getting lighter and saving a little cash? I'm going to use the gear I already have (which isn't too bad or heavy) and lose five more pounds of body weight before the AH 135. I'll be five pounds lighter and little bit richer.
That's a great plan Doug, but then what would we blog about :) Seriously, that is the best way to cut weight. I just wish I had a bigger belly to lose :)
Personal weight loss is always a great goal. However at 5'11" and 155lbs I'm not really going to lose much more so it's got to come from the bike/gear etc.
That's where bang for the buck comes in. The Bivy is heavy and if you aren't really planning to use it, the AM emergency bivy is a good enough one. I have actually used it and it is functional, just doesn't breathe like a nicer one. However they do pop up on www.steepandcheap.com freqently for $15 :)
Also lithium AA/AAAs are expensive but they are lighter and do MUCH better in the cold. Check them out.
Dave,
Sell me all our old heavy gear cheap! I figure the 15lbs is proportional to the weight of rider and machine, and therefore you are at a distinct disadvantage to say, someone my size. However you want to figure the math (ht/wt or wt/ht) you are coming out on the bad end of the scale. Oh yeah, but wait, power output and duration needs to come in play, a by-product of training. Now you have the advantage. Oh what a vicious circle! Still, sell me all your old heavy gear and rest better.
Here's just some of the gear I will be using. Since I also winter camp and use this equipment to survive 4-5 day stretches in the BWCAW, I don't cut corners. A few extra ounces are worth it for the peace of mind that my equipment could help save my life if I were to get into trouble.
Bivy-Intergral Designs eVENT fabric South Col
Sleeping Bag-Marmot Col EQ -20
Pad-Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 regular.
Stove-MSR Dragonfly or Whisperlite(I have one of each).
Doug
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