Thread: Ultralight Hunting Gear List

@burtonator that’s a great list of lightweight gear but I’m not sure if you’ve got the correct weight for a pair of Trango TRKs (840g for a pair?), looks like they weigh 600g/boot so 1.2kg for a pair?

Personally I’m not sold on the lightweight boot concept. Recently I gave some serious thought to leaving the meindl islands at home (about 1.8kg for a pair) and using my “lightweight” boots (1.4kg) for a Kaimanawa hunt, but I was damn glad I took the meindls. Walking home through chest high tussock in the dark and stepping in the odd hole that’s impossible to see with a headlamp, sidling round some very steep but soft country up in the beech on the way to the tops, and then descending a sketchy and very steep rock/clay slip down to a tussock valley, I was glad to have that extra ankle support and stiffness in the shank when it came to negotiating the steep stuff. People claim fatigue is an issue with heavier boots and there’s some truth to that, but if you have good base fitness/strength and maintain adequate hydration and nutrition during the hunt, this issue is minimised

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

Looks good enough to me, just purchased one as well

On paper you just cant beat it. I went with hydrophobic down and it came in just under $600 landed. Its a no brainer. Will let you know how I get on with it. Have a winter tops trip for a week mid July.

Originally Posted by 7.62

@burtonator that’s a great list of lightweight gear but I’m not sure if you’ve got the correct weight for a pair of Trango TRKs (840g for a pair?), looks like they weigh 600g/boot so 1.2kg for a pair?

Personally I’m not sold on the lightweight boot concept. Recently I gave some serious thought to leaving the meindl islands at home (about 1.8kg for a pair) and using my “lightweight” boots (1.4kg) for a Kaimanawa hunt, but I was damn glad I took the meindls. Walking home through chest high tussock in the dark and stepping in the odd hole that’s impossible to see with a headlamp, sidling round some very steep but soft country up in the beech on the way to the tops, and then descending a sketchy and very steep rock/clay slip down to a tussock valley, I was glad to have that extra ankle support and stiffness in the shank when it came to negotiating the steep stuff. People claim fatigue is an issue with heavier boots and there’s some truth to that, but if you have good base fitness/strength and maintain adequate hydration and nutrition during the hunt, this issue is minimised

Perhaps we should copy Muhammad Ali who wore weighted boots for training and swapped out to standard weight for fights. I think he put 5lb steel in each boot ?

Hammock Gear in the USA makes good value lightweight quilts with pertex outer shells, specifically their Economy Burrow Top Quilt. If you're really looking for ultralight, then definitely consider a quilt over a traditional sleeping bag. A quilt does away with the side draft tube and the hood of traditional sleeping bag. Instead you can just wear a beanie (that you're probably walking in anyway). If you think about it, you don't gain anything from the top quality down feathers you paid big money for if you're lying on top of them and compressing the down between your sleeping mat. Down needs to be lofted to trap warm air amongst its fine fibres. A good quality sleeping mat takes advantage of the quilt design.

Pro tip for anyone wanting to check out Hammock Gear. If you add a quilt to the cart and go to the checkout, put all your details in and then quit. About 24 hours later you'll probably get an email with a 10% off code.

This thread has been a good read, some good comments re weight especially in sleeping bags.
It seems to have spurred a few to look at their own gear a bit.
I did, I have been contemplating a decent winter bag but I needed to be compact in bag size/weight. I was trying to talk myself into a Domex Halo, but I came across a few reviews that indicated they weren't as warm as they were rated to be, which put me off a bit. Stoney Creek Black Stag sounded good but is bulky and quite heavy. Great as a camping bag perhaps.
I have just picked up a RAB Mythic 600 (-15) at half price. 885g so looking forward to trying it out.

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

This thread has been a good read, some good comments re weight especially in sleeping bags.
It seems to have spurred a few to look at their own gear a bit.
I did, I have been contemplating a decent winter bag but I needed to be compact in bag size/weight. I was trying to talk myself into a Domex Halo, but I came across a few reviews that indicated they weren't as warm as they were rated to be, which put me off a bit. Stoney Creek Black Stag sounded good but is bulky and quite heavy. Great as a camping bag perhaps.
I have just picked up a RAB Mythic 600 (-15) at half price. 885g so looking forward to trying it out.

Where did you get the rab from @ROKTOY ?

Originally Posted by EFriz

On paper you just cant beat it. I went with hydrophobic down and it came in just under $600 landed. Its a no brainer. Will let you know how I get on with it. Have a winter tops trip for a week mid July.

I'm heading to otago tops in June so hopefully arrives prior to then. I didn't get the hydrophobic option so was $515 shipping included

Originally Posted by 7.62

@burtonator that’s a great list of lightweight gear but I’m not sure if you’ve got the correct weight for a pair of Trango TRKs (840g for a pair?), looks like they weigh 600g/boot so 1.2kg for a pair?

Personally I’m not sold on the lightweight boot concept. Recently I gave some serious thought to leaving the meindl islands at home (about 1.8kg for a pair) and using my “lightweight” boots (1.4kg) for a Kaimanawa hunt, but I was damn glad I took the meindls. Walking home through chest high tussock in the dark and stepping in the odd hole that’s impossible to see with a headlamp, sidling round some very steep but soft country up in the beech on the way to the tops, and then descending a sketchy and very steep rock/clay slip down to a tussock valley, I was glad to have that extra ankle support and stiffness in the shank when it came to negotiating the steep stuff. People claim fatigue is an issue with heavier boots and there’s some truth to that, but if you have good base fitness/strength and maintain adequate hydration and nutrition during the hunt, this issue is minimised

yes your right @7.62 600g per boot, very light for the protection that they provide and way better than the 1080g of my lowa tibets

Originally Posted by burtonator

Where did you get the rab from @ROKTOY ?

Trademe, Secondhand, had been used 3-4 times. Arrived tonight and condition is as n.ew. Very pleased

I just weighed my "daypack" which is my over night or 2 night pack also as carryed a few days ago.

Included. Pack Rifle Suppressor Bipod 15rounds. 750ml water. Binos Range finder eperb. Knife,spare knife ,firestarting Firstaid. Dry base layer upper puffer jacket. Stowit Jacket. Hill snacks. Square of bedroll to sit on while glassing.

Not included, no sleeping gear or shelter or cooking gear or utensils .

I have to say I was shocked it was a touch over 13kg! The rifle aint exactly a fatty either.
Boots 1.2kg each with putties

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I just weighed my "daypack" which is my over night or 2 night pack also as carryed a few days ago.

Included. Pack Rifle Suppressor Bipod 15rounds. 750ml water. Binos Range finder eperb. Knife,spare knife ,firestarting Firstaid. Dry base layer upper puffer jacket. Stowit Jacket. Hill snacks. Square of bedroll to sit on while glassing.

Not included, no sleeping gear or shelter or cooking gear or utensils .

I have to say I was shocked it was a touch over 13kg! The rifle aint exactly a fatty either.
Boots 1.2kg each with putties

I didn't include my binos or rifle in my weights but everything adds up pretty quick eh!!

Originally Posted by burtonator

I didn't include my binos or rifle in my weights but everything adds up pretty quick eh!!

Yes it does!....I never used to notice it but after a layup I had my ring hanging out on a slight inline!

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by joelhenton

Hammock Gear in the USA makes good value lightweight quilts with pertex outer shells, specifically their Economy Burrow Top Quilt. If you're really looking for ultralight, then definitely consider a quilt over a traditional sleeping bag. A quilt does away with the side draft tube and the hood of traditional sleeping bag. Instead you can just wear a beanie (that you're probably walking in anyway). If you think about it, you don't gain anything from the top quality down feathers you paid big money for if you're lying on top of them and compressing the down between your sleeping mat. Down needs to be lofted to trap warm air amongst its fine fibres. A good quality sleeping mat takes advantage of the quilt design.

Pro tip for anyone wanting to check out Hammock Gear. If you add a quilt to the cart and go to the checkout, put all your details in and then quit. About 24 hours later you'll probably get an email with a 10% off code.

I run a quilt from enlightened equipment in usa

really rate it on top of my xthurm pad its a great combo and packs down was smaller then my summer bag
I got the -17c with 900 loft was about $500 landed.

I wouldnt rate it that cold unless also wearing a down hooded jacket but its bloody toasty otherwise.

Enlightened Equipment makes excellent quilts, I don't have one myself but I've seen a few.

Im not sure if this is in the thread yet, but a very cheap and lightweight fly /tarp can be made from window insulator film and duct tape.
FishnHunt - New Zealands Famous Hunting and Fishing Forum Since 1995 - Polycryo shelter - DIY FYI sequence (the other forum)

The first thing I would like to make lighter is my rifle. It is bloody heavy.