Help me reduce pack weight

[oldranger]

When I started my grandkids backpacking I made sure that they were packed real light so that they would enjoy it. Now I load them up to over 25% body weight and I still can't begin to keep up with them while I am carrying less than 25% of my body weight. Thinking next time I should carry 20% and they carry 30%.

[Wandering Daisy]

Yes, get the grandkids hooked on backpacking, and then when they are older they can carry your entire pack! Getting the kids off on the right foot with a light weight gear attitude is also good. Even the Boy Scouts (who have historically been really over-geared) are getting on the lightweight bandwagon. Kids have more energy than you can imagine and pack weight does slow them down. Just be aware that heavy packs on small children may not be the best for their growing bones. By about 17 years old you can make them your sherpa.

[sambieni]

Pack shmack. At what age can the kiddos carry me?

[Tom_H]

Pack shmack. At what age can the kiddos carry me?

I'd like to buy one of these:

[steiny98]

I see your pack, but what are you using for tent/sleeping bag?

As others have mentioned, too many pants. You should be fine with hiking pants/shorts, capilenes, and rain pants.

As far as your rain paints and jacket go, you can find something lighter (more expensive) with Luke's Ultralite, or consider Frogg Toggs DriDucks. Work great, super light, super cheap.

Ditch the tent lamp, nalgene, fleece pants and jacket, and camp shoes. You can use a gatorade bottle. Is your iphone case really 5 oz? That seems heavy.

[sambieni]

Whatever camp gear list is posted on here was from 1 year back when I started this endeavour. My rainpants now are about 6 ounces or so. Pants - I have the pair for daytime, rainpants, and 1 capilene and no more. Did I have fleece before? I cut that out.

Lamp is just 1 headlamp for 3 ounces,
Tops are now Patagonia R1 hoody, daytime short and longsleeve performance shirt, UL down jacket, 10 oz rainjacket/shell.
Camp shoes, I still use 'em cause I am not comfortable shifting to trail shoes just yet. I still use hiking boots. But my camp shoes are 10-12 ounces for the pair and good for water crossing too.
Water - hydration bladder + Sawyer + 2 Smart Water = 10-11 ounces total; down from much more beforehand.
Iphone + Case is like 7 ounces total.

Tent at moment is Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2. It was best bang for buck as far as solo and buddy trips. I won't go cowboy or tarp. If I am able, I will upgrade likely to a Nemo Hornet 1 man UL to shed 1 pound.
Sleep bag upgraded and now using WM Ultra Lite at 29 oz + Neo X Air Lite pad. LOVE this setup

All in, when I started reviewing my gear last winter, I was at 25-26 pounds base weight before bear can, food, and water. I was starting off trips at 40-45 pounds. Last summer base weight was about 21 pounds + food/bear/water started trip about 36-37 pounds. After review, I am at about 18.5 pounds once I upgrade my backpack (likely to an Exos 58) and drop Arcteryx. I can shed about 1/2 pound of meds/tools, etc to get to 18. If I can get the new tent, 17, but doubtful. If I am able to comfortably do this summer at that weight, next summer may ditch camp shoes and get trail runners dropping me closer to 16 base weight. I cannot envision ever getting much below that.

Really appreciate folks looking at my list closely.