Gram Cracking - using a postage scale

[Gershon]

I bought a postage scale for $29. The kind doesn't matter, but it is good to get one with a TARE button on it, so it can reset to zero while holding a container.

On my last trip out, I was at 43 pounds for a 4 day trip. After a few days of gram cracking, I got it down to 22.44 lbs. The total cost in new gear will be about $50.

It's amazing how much things weigh. My wallet was over 1/2 a pound.

With the pack weight so low, I got rid of the pack. I can use a survival school type. The pack weight is ZERO as the straps to make it are also used to hang the hammock.

My weight minus food and water is 7.6 pounds now. This will be suitable for camping down to about 20 degrees.

Gram Cracker would be a good nick for me for a backpacking forum. Others might use it in a drug forum.

[GDeadPhans]

Gram Cracker is a good nick.

I recently came upon a postage scale and am planning on weighing out my gear this weekend. Been wanting to do this for a while because I truly don't know how much my pack weighs. So pretty good find.

[Gershon]

Gram Cracker is a good nick.

I recently came upon a postage scale and am planning on weighing out my gear this weekend. Been wanting to do this for a while because I truly don't know how much my pack weighs. So pretty good find.

For the bigger items like pack, sleeping bag and tent, take them to the Post Office. I've found the published weights for a lot of things are way off.

[Gershon]

This is as light as I can get it (for now.) The hammock stuff is estimates as I don't have one yet. It's for night time temperatures down to about 30.

[GDeadPhans]

What program did you use for that spreadsheet? Looks nice.

[Gershon]

I used an Excel Spreadsheet I wrote. If you don't know Excel, I could probably put one on Google Documents.

How is the Gram Cracking going?

[whiteOak]

I think you could do it some more

[Gershon]

I think you could do it some more

I have. I'm down to 21.5 pounds now. I'm hooked on hammocks, so I gain a little weight there. If I just used a tarp, I could be under 20 for temperatures down to about 40. Down to about 30, I'd have to add a fleece which is another pound and a half.

[GDeadPhans]

Jeez I have been so busy lately, still have to get to this. I am planning on gramming me out this weekend. I will get to it and post up here. I like critiques as well

Depends what hammock you go with and how you set it up they can be way lighter than a tent. Of course there are those really expensive tents for around $500 bucks that are only a pound and a half with bug net and outershell...but you can definitely get a hammock to weigh around that, and even less than that for a lot cheaper. I think there is always going to be around that 1.5 - 2.5 lbs deficit for shelter. But I am all about that, would much rather have some sort of shelter as opposed to sleeping on the ground without one every night. Speaking of how you too are hooked on hammocks, I got my two backpacking buddies in to hammocks. They both already have ENO's for the backyard, but it never occurred to them to camp outdoors in one hah. So they are now in the process of hooking themselves up with gear. Seems to be a catchy thing yea? Have you purchased one yet Gershon?

[Gershon]

I haven't gotten a new hammock yet. Last night, I cacooned my sleeping bag and it was great. It kept me warm down to 53 with no pad and I figure it can go another 10 degrees or so. Then I can use my fleece for a pad and get a little more.

I'm waiting on a new tarp for Campmore. I decided I wanted 8 x 10 rather than the little fly with the Hennessy. It just gives more reasonable coverage and if I configure it right I can be pretty tucked in on the side towards the weather.

For the next hammock, I'll probably go with the ENO for now. I don't need the fly or the zipper entry of the Hennessy.

Tomorrow, I'm going out on a shorter day hike to set up the hammock in the "real world" and take a nap in the woods. I'm taking a full pack for an overnight. It's at 24 pounds including one day food, but that's with the big plastic Walmart type tarp. I'm also taking the heavy sleeping bag as I can't cacoon with the new down one and I want some pictures of that. I'll try out some of my new food along the way and measure real fuel consumption.