2.32 ounces. That doesn’t seem like much. It doesn’t seem like much, especially when a typical backpack for a weekend trip weighs upwards of 20 percent of your bodyweight (42-25 pounds for me). Compared to a heavy pack, 2.32 ounces seems insignificant. The weight conscious seemingly obsesses over ounces and compared to the average backpacker, the backpack weight of the ultralight crowd may seem impossible. Think of what that 2.32 oz number represents as a percentage. In this case, 2.32 ounces means a weight savings of 42% between my Fiddleback Forge KE Bushie and Hiking Buddy. Both of these knives are handled with desert ironwood, both are scandi ground, and both are A2 steel. If I am able to cut down the weight of the primary knife I carry while maintaining effectiveness in the field, I can repeat the process with other items selected. In this month’s blog, we take a look at some weight-saving measures that add up when tallied at the end.
Much like knives, the saw we choose for backcountry carry can ring up the overall pack weight. In recent years, I’ve taken a liking to the Silky brand as they have an incredible assortment of sizes and blade teeth configurations. One of the saws I carried for years prior was the Bahco Laplander. In comparison, my Silky Gomboy weighs in at 8.57 ozs and the Bahco Laplander at 6.63 for a difference of 1.94 oz. If I revert back to my old ways, that worked for years, and go with the Bahco, I will save 23% weight. This weight savings can go straight to my back soreness free fund or I can apply it to an additional item I want to add to my pack like a multi-tool, a better sharpening stone, or another nice-to-have item. Many times, we rob Peter to pay Paul before we see the totality of our weight saving decisions. I’d recommend only adding additional items to your kit after you determine how much you have to work with. Otherwise, your pack will stay the same weight.
Sometimes you will find certain items work best as a set. My Heavy Cover titanium cup with lid weighs 4.83 ounces and the Nalgene Oasis canteen it nests with is 4.62 ozs. I could carry one over another but I lose the benefit of having both. One is used to collect and treat dirty water by boiling it and the other is used to store and drink the treated water. On its own, the Nalgene canteen is great for moving around with a leak-resistant seal. It doesn’t react too well to heat and fire making the nesting cup a requirement. The cup transfers heat rapidly but it doesn’t work well for transporting water. In a situation like this, you could carry both a cup and canteen or you could select a dual-purpose container like the Vargo BOT 700. That container is meant for boiling and it has a screw-top lid that allows you to carry liquids in it over distance without having to worry about the contents spilling all over your pack. The BOT weighs only 4.8 oz allowing you a savings of approximately 50% (49.21% if you really want to be specific).
As you work through your pack, you will end up having to make some decisions that will likely go against your comfort level. While training students, I carry an EXOTAC FireROD XL that is a massive ½” ferro rod. This rod throws an impressive shower of sparks and I don’t mind handing it over to students to use if they brought an inferior rod. The FireROD XL weighs 4.09 ounces. Think of that weight as a quarter pound because it is slightly over that. By comparison, the FireROD 2.0 that rides in my right front pocket on a daily basis is 1.23 oz or 30% of the weight of the larger one. The current trend is to carry a massive fire steel but as long as good premade tinder is selected, carried, and used, the smallest spark will catch it. Of course, I don’t condone carrying the smallest ferro rod but rather one that accomplishes the task. ⅜” ferro rods have been carried all over the world and their sparks have lit countless fires. Learn to get the most out of your ferro rod. Ration it when you have to by using only the final 1/3rd of your rod nearest the tip with premade tinder. Use the full length of the rod when igniting natural tinder and make sure to use the same flat that forms to get the most amount of sparks out of your rod.
Looking at the rest of your gear, it is easy to apply the “well I’ve never needed this before” mindset. Certain items are worth their weight. A ratcheting medical tourniquet or “RMT” weighs a mere 3.53 ounces. Nothing works as well as a dedicated tool for a dedicated purpose. You may argue a short length of paracord is barely an ounce but it makes an inferior makeshift tourniquet. It also is too narrow than what is prescribed by the committee of tactical trauma care and it does damage to the patient when cranked down. Other safety items like a whistle, your prescription medication, cell phone or Garmin inReach are non-negotiable. No percentage of weight saving is worth opening yourself up to significant risk. When we travel in the woods with firearms for hunting, we should pack the equipment necessary to patch holes. When we use sharp tools to process wood, we should be ready to address deep lacerations. When we travel with a vulnerable group like the elderly and children, we should prepare to address heat related, hydration, and trip-and-fall injuries. Should you choose not to carry basic medical gear, you may end up being carried out yourself. That is a much heavier burden to pass onto someone than just having a few ounces of safety equipment. Think about it, when a race car is built, they don’t skimp on the seat belt.
There is a direct correlation between the weight of ultralight gear sold in backpacking stores and the cost of said goods. In this economy, we need to be mindful we can do a deep dive into ultralight kits but at a steep cost. Our goal may be to reduce the weight of our pack by 10% (for me about 4-5 pounds) or more but it can also reduce the weight of the cash in our wallet in the process. It’s possible to not only reduce the weight of the gear you carry but also avoid spending more than you have to in the process. We can look at cost-saving alternatives like recycling certain gear and reusing others. Disposable water bottles can be used instead of heavy-weight lexan bottles. Those brown MRE spoons work great and are strong enough to reuse over and over. If you break it, you should have a knife and the ability to make a spoon from off the land. You can apply the simple math to determine the percentage of weight you save across all the basic needs.
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Hunting is much more than pressing the trigger; it is an entire process you should enjoy year round. From preseason scouting to year round consumption of harvested wild-game meat, hunting can become more of your lifestyle than hobby. Some people think hunting is just as simple as pressing the trigger but to the true hunter, the experience extends long after you leave the field. You hear a lot of people say “I want to know where my food comes from” but so many of the same are quick to hand off their kill to a butcher. No disrespect to the great butchers out there but there are some hacks (no pun intended) in your industry with less respect for the game brought in to be processed. The only way to follow your game from field to table is to take it from field to table by yourself. In this month’s blog, I want to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned for butchering wild game. I believe in processing my own animals and staying hands on as much as possible through the process.
“Flesh runs from steel”. That’s an old Filipino expression. You can probably recall the last time you accidentally cut yourself. We’ve all had it happen to us. When that blade touches your skin, you retract your hand or pull away. Getting cut hurts and we all have a visceral reaction to the idea of it. Compound this idea with thoughts of your kids or kids entrusted to you and your blood pressure and stress levels will skyrocket. You never want to see a child in pain and yet there will come a time when you must teach a child how to use a knife because one day, they’ll need to. This task can be daunting but there are some very easy rules a kid can follow that you are probably already familiar with. When emotions overpower how we think, we can default to a proven method of breaking down safety by looking to another tool kids should know how to use. If you’re familiar with the 4 Rules of Firearms Safety popularized by Jeff Cooper, you’ll appreciate this methodology.
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Kevin Estela
Author
As a Survival Instructor, Kevin Estela founded Estela Wilderness Education. He formerly worked for Fieldcraft Survival teaching classes on various survival, preparedness, and firearms related courses. Kevin has been a frequent contributing writer for publications such as RECOIL, Athlon Outdoors, Beckett Media, and of course, here on Fiddleback Forge's site. He is a Sayoc Kali Associate Instructor Level 5, as well as a BJJ Purple Belt.