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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum What do you use to weigh your gear? |
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02/07/2018 02:32PM
The thread on light weight yokes has me asking this question.
I am seeking information on what people use to weigh gear.
I am talking about the light things, from 0 oz to 5 pounds.
I am trying to get my canoeing and backpacking gear weight down and I need to know how much my stuff weighs.
I am seeking information on what people use to weigh gear.
I am talking about the light things, from 0 oz to 5 pounds.
I am trying to get my canoeing and backpacking gear weight down and I need to know how much my stuff weighs.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
02/07/2018 03:11PM
Weighing gear is a double edged sword...lol
Sometimes that super heavy pack that you carry makes you feel super strong isn't as heavy as you thought it was---now you feel the opposite :) Sometimes ignorance is bliss :)
Overall though if you are concerned and really want to cut weight--weighing is the only way to know and be more conscious of what you bring and how to shave weight.
I just bring stuff to the post office in off hours and use the scale they have their self service shipping for specific items and an baggage scale for the total pack weight.
T
Sometimes that super heavy pack that you carry makes you feel super strong isn't as heavy as you thought it was---now you feel the opposite :) Sometimes ignorance is bliss :)
Overall though if you are concerned and really want to cut weight--weighing is the only way to know and be more conscious of what you bring and how to shave weight.
I just bring stuff to the post office in off hours and use the scale they have their self service shipping for specific items and an baggage scale for the total pack weight.
T
02/07/2018 03:35PM
For most items I use a Salter kitchen scale. For lighter items I use a scale (AWS brand) that maxes out at 3.5 oz. and will let me weigh items too light to register on the kitchen scale. Everything that goes into my pack gets weighed, as does the pack itself.
I also have a hanging scale that has the ability to weigh the entire pack after it is loaded, but that is really not very useful in making decisions aimed at reducing pack weight and I find that I very rarely use it.
I also have a hanging scale that has the ability to weigh the entire pack after it is loaded, but that is really not very useful in making decisions aimed at reducing pack weight and I find that I very rarely use it.
02/07/2018 03:36PM
I'll use a bathroom scale and weigh myself with and then without the gear. If it's smaller or lighter, like an individual item I have a food scale that weighs to 0.1oz. I recently picked up a scale that does to .001g for measuring epoxy & other things. I suppose it would work too.
When a man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known. - Sigurd F. Olson, "The Singing Wilderness"
02/07/2018 04:10PM
mirth: "I'll use a bathroom scale and weigh myself with and then without the gear. If it's smaller or lighter, like an individual item I have a food scale that weighs to 0.1oz. I recently picked up a scale that does to .001g for measuring epoxy & other things. I suppose it would work too."
I also use a bathroom scale as Mirth describes, and a kitchen scale for light things. The bathroom scale is digital, claims .1 lb precision, and seems accurate at least down to a half pound. The kitchen scale is also digital, and good from .1 oz up to about 2 lbs.
02/07/2018 05:02PM
A Smart Weigh Postal scale for small items and a hanging digital for large. It's no longer available but similar are. Smart Weigh is shown with a Primus Essential Lite cook kit and stove.
I do not keep written records but photo records instead.
butthead
I do not keep written records but photo records instead.
butthead
"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin
02/07/2018 05:31PM
I do not weigh my gear. If I weigh anything, it is me. Always kind of laughed at folks who count grams/ounces, yet when they look in the mirror, they see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (like I do!).
OP, please know I am not calling you fat!
OP, please know I am not calling you fat!
"The future ain't what it used to be" Yogi Berra
02/07/2018 05:32PM
I use a kitchen scale and a bathroom scale because that's what we had. The bathroom scale I use for larger items and it's not accurate to the gram, but I'm not a gram weenie. :) The kitchen scale is like the postal scale only probably a slightly smaller platform, maybe 6" x 6", so not as useful for larger stuff.
02/07/2018 06:26PM
Frenchy19: "I do not weigh my gear. If I weigh anything, it is me. Always kind of laughed at folks who count grams/ounces, yet when they look in the mirror, they see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (like I do!).
OP, please know I am not calling you fat!"
You calling me fat :-)
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
02/07/2018 06:33PM
LindenTree3: "...
I am seeking information on what people use to weigh gear.
I am talking about the light things, from 0 oz to 5 pounds.
...."
Postage scale. Bought mine to weigh Pinewood Derby cars (5 oz) but, it has a 5 lbs capacity. Available at Office Max or Target for about $15
02/07/2018 07:35PM
For the lighter items, a Taylor Kitchen Scale, found cheap at Target, similar this one
For the heavier stuff, a Mango Spot Digital Hanging Scale, found on Amazon
Both (not the exact models, just the concept) at the suggestion of butthead. And at the urging of my OCD tendencies. :-)
For the heavier stuff, a Mango Spot Digital Hanging Scale, found on Amazon
Both (not the exact models, just the concept) at the suggestion of butthead. And at the urging of my OCD tendencies. :-)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." -- Yogi Berra
02/07/2018 08:03PM
Indeed...as a backpacker (ultralight/lightweight) I weigh absolutely everything. Good for you - you'll be happier once you've 'right-sized.'
Digital kitchen scales that go to grams or fractional ounces, and up to 2-5 lbs, seem to do the trick for me.
Cheers
Digital kitchen scales that go to grams or fractional ounces, and up to 2-5 lbs, seem to do the trick for me.
Cheers
"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
02/07/2018 08:06PM
LindenTree3: "Frenchy19: "I do not weigh my gear. If I weigh anything, it is me. Always kind of laughed at folks who count grams/ounces, yet when they look in the mirror, they see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (like I do!).
OP, please know I am not calling you fat!"
You calling me fat :-) "
Could be aimed my way! Anyhow I find it easier to reduce gear weight (it does not grow back as fast), but sure do work at the rest-O-me, less successful there.
butthead
"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin
02/08/2018 08:24AM
Only things we actually weigh are finished packs to be sure weight's distributed how we'd like. For individual items, I just figure lighter is better (all else being equal - which isn't always the case of course).
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau
02/08/2018 09:38AM
boonie: "I also use the bathroom scale to weigh my full packs. They always add up to more than the individual items . . . :).
I thought you already packed pretty light, Linden . . . ?"
I think I pack pretty light, but it's always been a guess when I say I can do a week solo in under 40 pounds of total gear and food.
In a nutshell I'm trying to go UL for backpacking. I just bought a UL Big Agnes Fly Creek tent at 1 pound 11 oz.
I will still take luxury items on canoe trips like a chair.
I want to hit the Grand Portage with as close to 20 pounds of food and gear in BeaVs Border Challange this Sept, and single portage as much as possible, hence the need for a scale.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
02/08/2018 12:28PM
Absolutely no idea how much my packs way so don’t have to worry about the scale. I load what I have to have in my packs and go. We base camp though and take comfort items so don’t worry about cutting the handle off the tooth brush to save a half ounce.
02/08/2018 04:48PM
I kind of figured you were aiming at the Challenge, Linden. Here's my advice for that one: Don't take the chair! :) Or anything else you can do without. Leaving pounds behind is easier than whittling off ounces once you've done the big stuff like shelter, sleep, pack, etc.
02/09/2018 01:52PM
schweady: "For the lighter items, a Taylor Kitchen Scale, found cheap at Target, similar this one
For the heavier stuff, a Mango Spot Digital Hanging Scale, found on Amazon
Both (not the exact models, just the concept) at the suggestion of butthead. And at the urging of my OCD tendencies. :-)
"
Thanks Schwedy, I ordered what you recommended.
If you ever get to Detroit Lakes :-) send me an E-Mail if you ever want to have a beer or coffee sometime, I'll buy.
Doesn't matter either way to me, just thought I'd offer.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
02/10/2018 12:57PM
I weigh my backpack for hiking on a bathroom scale. Otherwise, I evaluate all my stuff and upgrade to the lightest best quality I can find. It's more about if I'm getting across in 2 trips, 3 trips or, yes, even 4 trips. And that usually depends on how long I'm in for.
Lets Go!
02/10/2018 01:37PM
I haven’t weighed my gear for typical bwca trip. Backpacking I am spartan, in appropriate weather I use a bivy sack rather than a tent. Yet on my last solo backpack trip I found myself carrying at least six pounds of dog food, but a solo trip without my dog would be unthinkable.
We’ve done trips where we fly in. Pilots needs to know weights. On the last fly in trip our food/equipment pack weighed 80 pounds. Most of the weight was food and beer and other delicious refreshments. We made quick work of the beer, convincing ourselves that it was for the good of our trip.
We’ve done trips where we fly in. Pilots needs to know weights. On the last fly in trip our food/equipment pack weighed 80 pounds. Most of the weight was food and beer and other delicious refreshments. We made quick work of the beer, convincing ourselves that it was for the good of our trip.
02/10/2018 04:36PM
Kitchen scale, digital fish scale, and bathroom scale( hold the larger stuff like packs and weigh, then subtract your weight from total). Counting ounces can get to be a hobby unto itself. An ounce or 2 here and there can add up to many pounds. At My age I would gladly pay 100.00 per pound if I could. Those Quetico portages are getting longer and harder, and most of our trips are in the 80-100+ mile range so ounces add up.
So many fish,so little time
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