This page is going to document the Shaving of the weight in pack.  The effort is being called 52 to 16.  52 weeks to get to 16 lbs. for my base weight.
Base weight is defined (or at least I am defining my base weight as my pack and everything in it minus Food and Water.  It does not include the clothing I am wearing as that varies or anything that is in my pockets such as a pocket knife.
I know that in some circles of the “Ultra Light” community everything counts from head to toe and what on and in your pack.  I choose to go with the traditional view of base weight as my clothing and pocket items would be with me anyway.  Food and water depends on the time of year and where I am going.  On my spreadsheet I will be tracking food and water, but the spreadsheet parcels out the two weights (Base and Total).
I have placed my spreadsheet on Google Docs.  You have access to it from this link.
The picture to the left here is my pack.  Fully loaded with everything inside.
Watch as it changes over the next 52 weeks.

zpacks stuff sack

So here is the process- I am going to go from most recent to the past… so as you read this.. you need to start at the bottom if you are just starting to follow this.  It’s just easier to edit and add to as I go.  Hope you understand.

Week 8.  This week I added gear.  But reduced weight in the type of gear.  I added Dutch hooks to my ridgeline for the tarp.  I replaced the ridge line cord with z line (spectra) from zpacks.  I added the Solo Stove to the cook kit, but removed the windscreen and windshield/pot stand.  I did not save a bunch of weight there.. so what I lost in changing out my line I added back in the solo stove.  But that’s OK.. I really like it a lot.

Week 7.  Didn’tdo much this week other than to host a class for the parents of our Troop on the gear types we expect for the Scouts of our Troop for winter camping.  While I did not directly promote getting loads lighter it was implied in my gear choices.  Dumping the gear out and showing it I found myself not only telling the pro’s and con’s, but the weights of my stuff in ounces.

Week 6.  Took a hard look at the gear list again and replaced my clothing bag.  The clothing with go in a zpacks cuben fiber bag.  Also ordered from zpacks new z line for my tarp.  This will reduce volume and weight in the continuous ridge line and make set up quick and easy.

Week 5.  Got my underquilt in the mail.. that cut down on bulk in the pack and weight that I had to have in extra blankets, pads, etc to keep me warm.  Under quilt from Hammockgear.com

Week 4.  Bought a new Pack.  The ULA Ohm 2.0 weighs in at 29 oz.  I will get into more detail on the pack later.

Week 3-  Took a look at how I carried my fuel (denatured alcohol).  I have been using an MSR fuel bottle with the Trangia spout.  The fuel bottle held 11 ounces of fuel.  The empty bottle with spout weighed in at 116 grams or 4.1 oz.  I saw a video of another guy on youtube that used a platypus soft bottle to carry his fuel (denatured alcohol).  It seemed to work well.  I thought I would try it.

The 0.5 liter Platypus soft bottle weighs in at 22 g or .8 oz.  A net savings of 94 grams or  3.3 oz.  I modified the bottle by putting a pull cap from a water bottle on it.  Replacing the stock cap.  This allows for easier filling of the stove.
The new “fuel bottle” holds 17 fl. oz of fuel, but I filled it to about 16 fl. oz.  This allows for a little play in the bottle.  It does not leak and I even sat on it to see if would break, leak, or pop the cap.  It did not.  Just for a little insurance, I think I will put it in a zip lock bag just in case.. but it’s going on the outside of the pack anyway.

Platypus Fuel bottle

Here is a picture of my new fuel bottle.  I love the weight savings.  Yeah, I am still carrying more fuel than most of the alcohol stove users, but I tend not to worry about how much I use and I know I use a lot.  But then again, I typically cook three hot meals a day and then there’s the coffee and other warm beverages… So, I don’t mind (right now the extra fuel).

Week 2-  Removed all of the plastic stopper clips from my pack and opted to remove the pack lid pocket.  Net savings to pack = 9.1 oz bringing pack weight to 3.3 lbs or 54.24 oz.

Week 1 – Ordered and received order from zpacks.com.  The order consisted of 3 Cuben Fiber stuff sacks and a toothbrush.  Here is a picture of one of the zpacks stuff sacks with my cook kit inside.  The stuff sack weighs in at .1 oz or 5 grams.