Packing Mild: My 10kg-ish Pack for 4 days in Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness

Why intention for a light-weight backpack?

Once you’re heading out for 4 days in one in every of NSW most distant and rugged Wilderness areas, each gram counts. In Kanangra-Boyd Nationwide Park—with its steep n’ deep gorges, breathless ascents and climate that may change in a heartbeat—doubly so. After years of tweaking and experimenting, I used to be stoked to pack for this journey and uncover the weigh-in at 10.4 kg + water. I’ve all the time had a 10kg pack as a little bit of a purpose, however by no means actually put a lot effort into it – till now.

The park suffered badly within the 2019-2020 bushfires, and the regrowth has fully obliterated lots of the previous routes and tracks. I knew I wanted to pack mild as a result of the elevation achieve and loss over 4 days was substantial—round 3,000 metres of ascent AND descent was forward of us. The thick regrowth meant severe scrub-bashing (full-body armour can be useful, however it doesn’t pack mild). It was October, with forecasts hitting 24-26°C+, which meant some scorching, uncovered climbs on spurs that misplaced their shade within the fires. Mild pack or undergo—these have been my choices. What we discovered, was that the forecast temps felt a lot increased within the dry, uncovered spurs and ridges. My suggestion is to not try something massive on the market if it’s prone to be >26c.

Right here’s precisely what I carried on this journey, why every bit labored for me, and the way you may put collectively one thing related on your subsequent journey. I’m not saying my approach is the correct method for everybody—simply what I’ve discovered works for me.

Be aware: Click on the merchandise headings for hyperlinks to extra data on every product. A few of these are affiliate hyperlinks which implies I’ll earn a small (like 3% if I’m fortunate!) fee on any gross sales, however you pay no extra. It’s a method of supporting the work I do ~ thanks!

Shelter and Sleep System

Whippa 60L Overland Pack – 1.175kg

This Blue Mountains-made pack from Summit Gear has change into my absolute favorite for longer journeys. The 60-litre capability swallows 4 days of meals and equipment with out grievance and room for extra. The best way it distributes weight throughout my hips and shoulders (even with out a body) makes these lengthy days far more bearable. What I actually admire is how robust it’s—Kanangra’s scrubby vegetation likes to seize at packs, and the Overland simply shrugs it off. Take a look at my gear assessment for extra particulars.

Macpac Ultralight Pack Liner – 50L

Within the Blue Mountains, the climate modifications quick. Actually quick. Though the Whippa pack is fairly good at conserving water out, the seams on the bottom (if you happen to put it down) can are likely to let a little bit of ooze in. A water-proof pack liner is crucial, and I a lot desire this method over fussing with rain covers or stuffing every thing into separate dry baggage. Easy, mild, and it really works.

Nemo Hornet Osmo 1P Ultralight Tent – 1kg

At round 1kg, this tent punches effectively above its weight for consolation, roominess and climate safety. I tossed up whether or not to go for the Elite mannequin, shaving off 200g, however opinions out of the UK (suppose Peak District climate) swayed me for the usual one. Keep tuned for my full assessment on this coming quickly.

Historically used as home wrap in building, Tyvek is mainly bombproof and weighs nearly nothing. It’s a simple selection to guard the ground of a tent, as an alternative of the usual footprint.

Sea to Summit Ether Mild XR Sleeping Mat – 445g

Look, I’m all for going light-weight, however consolation issues if you’re out for a number of days. This mat offers you correct cushioning (I’m speaking 10cm of ethereal, luxurious, goodness) with out the burden penalty, and the insulation saved me on these cooler nights. Properly definitely worth the grams for me, although others may select lighter choices.

Sea to Summit Flame III Sleeping Bag – 850g

Rated to -4°C, this 850+ loft down bag is my go-to for about 80% of the yr. Not out there, I’ve linked to a more recent mannequin right here, which has up to date supplies however related efficiency (-2c). For me, down remains to be the winner if you’re watching weight.

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow – 79g

Some individuals skip the pillow. Positive, I might sleep on my rolled-up rain jacket, however meh, at underneath 80 grams I couldn’t be bothered. It’s a tiny luxurious that makes an actual distinction to my sleep high quality—and sleep issues if you’re tackling difficult terrain day after day.

Kitchen and Hydration

Cooking Package (Range, Pot, Cup, Spoon) – 470g

I take advantage of a metho range system from TrailDesigns—lifeless easy, dependable, and lightweight. I’ve tweaked my cook dinner system to nest every thing inside a GSI FairShare mug, and I’ve received a titanium spoon and Sea to Summit collapsible cup to spherical issues out. Alcohol stoves are sensible for peace and quiet over pace (cough, JetBoil/Pocket Rocket) plus you don’t should lug gasoline canisters round.

Gasoline (Methylated Spirits) – 240g

About 240 grams of metho coated 4 days of cooking with a bit left over for security. That works out properly for morning porridge and rehydrating dinner, with room to spare. My range takes 30mls of metho per boil.

Opinel No 8 Bushwhacker – 47g

This basic French knife does every thing I would like round camp. Mild, sharp, dependable—what extra would you like? Oh, wait. The truth that this one was discovered buried deep within the sandy seaside at Gungaddy, coated in fish guts, which my good mate cleaned up and gifted to me.

Water Bladder 10L – 49g (empty)

An empty goon bag weighs mainly nothing when empty, however lets me carry additional litres after I must. And in Kanangra, the place water may be scarce (or non-existent) alongside the ridgelines, that flexibility is gold. I ended up carrying 5L up on the hardest day. Even with an early begin, the nice and cozy day made me glad I did.

Grayl Ultrapress Water Filter – 350g

Water remedy isn’t optionally available within the bush. The Grayl filters and purifies in a single press—micro organism, protozoa, viruses, all gone. Positive, it’s heavier than Micropur tablets, however I actually worth the peace of thoughts and immediate drink – no ready for remedy or a sluggish drip. That mentioned, that is one space the place I might undoubtedly lower weight if I needed to (extra on that beneath).

Meals for 4 Days (approx 2.5kg)

Getting the meals stability proper on a multi-day hike is essential—you want sufficient gasoline with out carrying extreme weight. I aimed for easy, light-weight choices that pack down effectively and don’t require elaborate preparation after an extended day on my ft.

Breakfast (3 x mornings) ~210g whole

Three sachets of Uncle Tobys porridge at 36g every offered straightforward, heat begins to the day. I added Frisp freeze-dried strawberries and mango (2 x 15g) for flavour and further vitality with out the burden of recent fruit.

For espresso, I used three Laughing Pug espresso drip baggage—an excellent invention for correct espresso within the bush with out carrying my beloved Aeropress. I additionally packed three black tea baggage and three natural tea baggage for selection and night drinks.

Lunch (4 x days) ~800g whole

My lunches have been based mostly round wraps—4 tortillas that pack flat and don’t crush like bread. Every day I’d make up a wrap with one Child Belle cheese (sure, my fellow Australians, ‘Child Cheesus‘), three recent inexperienced beans for crunch, two cherry tomatoes, and a mini salami. My model of a ham, cheese, tomato wrap, however the beans add that satisfying crunch you miss within the bush.

Recent greens might sound odd for light-weight packing, however cherry tomatoes (in an previous plastic vitamin jar) and beans are surprisingly strong, and the psychological increase of recent meals on day three is value a number of additional grams to me.

Dinner (3 x nights)

Night time one: Campers Pantry Indian Rooster Pilaf – 100g. Easy, tasty, quick – add boiling water.

Night time two: I made a dehydrated Shepherd’s Pie based mostly on a Recipe Tin Eats recipe (thanks Nagi), switching out for dry sauce elements (20g) plus Campers Pantry pulled beef (56g) and Campers Pantry tacky chive mash (90g). I prepped sufficient for 2 serves as I used to be sharing meals duties with my strolling buddy—dividing meal prep is a great strategy to scale back pack weight and cooking gear between mates.

Night time three: I didn’t have to hold (or cook dinner) it – my good friend did!

Snacks

I additionally carried varied snacks—muesli bars and scroggin —distributed all through my pack for simple entry throughout the day. I discover grazing all through the day works higher than lengthy lunch stops if you’re overlaying severe distance or elevation change.

Climate Safety

Macpac Traverse Rain Jacket – 270g

This 3-layer Pertex jacket dealt with Kanangra’s wind and climate brilliantly. It’s mild however robust, breathes effectively if you’re working laborious uphill, and retains you dry when the rain hits. Which it did, on day three.

Macpac Nazomi Rain Pants – 170g

Full rain pants are important for me when pushing by moist scrub, ready out a storm or mountaineering someplace with a status for changeable circumstances. These pack down small and go on quick—one thing I used to be very grateful for when that climate rolled in.

The vital heat mid-layer that goes all over the place. Chuck it within the washer, chuck it within the dryer, it’s a type of Polartec Alpha Direct jackets which can be nice for heat:weight ratio, breathability and moisture wicking.

Macpac Merino Thermals (High, Bottoms, Beanie) – 469g

Merino remains to be one of the best for layering in my expertise. This thermal set stored me heat in camp, plus the pure odour resistance means you don’t get too pongy after a number of days out… possibly simply odor a bit like a moist sheep.

Riggers Gloves – 72g

Folks typically neglect gloves, however they’re sensible if you’re scrambling by scrubby vegetation or coping with chilly, moist gear within the morning. These tradie gloves are low-cost, robust, and saved my palms greater than as soon as throughout the endless acacia regrowth, laywer vine and off-track bits.

What did I put on?

Nice query. The one change of garments I took was lingerie. I wore the identical mountaineering pants, long-sleeve Mont shirt, solar hat, Merrell MOABs, socks and gaiters for the entire journey. Aye. Sure. The stench was actual and the rain on the finish washed all of it away… nearly.

Security and Communication

RescueMe PLB1 Private Locator Beacon – 116g

A PLB isn’t negotiable for me. This light-weight mannequin offers you one-touch emergency contact by way of satellite tv for pc when there’s zero cellular protection. I by no means stroll with out one. I’ve written varied articles of the years evaluating totally different programs, right here’s one.

ZOLEO Satellite tv for pc Communicator – 150g

Two-way satellite tv for pc messaging lets me verify in with household and seize climate updates within the discipline. The peace of thoughts is value it to me—and my security contact appreciates the day by day “I’m OK” check-in messages. That mentioned, it is a consolation merchandise somewhat than important security gear if carrying a PLB. (I do know what you’re pondering, ‘she carries each?’… Yep!)

iPhone 14 – 239g

Past emergencies, my cellphone is my digicam, GPS by way of Gaia app (with offline maps downloaded) and even my bush-nerdy flora/fauna interp. Paired with the ability financial institution beneath, it stays charged the entire journey and is hooked up to my belt loop by way of an extended piece of hi-viz wire. I’m not dropping this pet over a cliff/into river/over waterfall.

Nitecore NB20000 Gen3 Energy Financial institution – 291g

With 20,000mAh on faucet, this stored my cellphone working for 4 days. I’d forgotten to cost my headtorch earlier than leaving, so was capable of high that up too, with cost nonetheless to spare. The capacity-to-weight ratio is fairly spectacular—undoubtedly one of many higher choices if you happen to’re powering a number of gadgets.

Petzl Actik Core Headtorch – 118g

Rechargeable means no spare batteries to hold (see above!). The 600-lumen output handles every thing from navigating to camp duties, and the purple mild mode retains your night time imaginative and prescient intact.

First Support Package – 830g

That is one in every of my heavier gadgets, however a medical package isn’t one thing I compromise on. It covers frequent bushwalking accidents and extra severe conditions—important if you’re hours from assist. I’m going by mine commonly to verify every thing’s present and acceptable for the journey, and re-certify my Distant (or Wilderness) Space First Support course each three years – information weighs nothing!

Private Care and Hygiene

Bathroom Package (Paper, Hand Sanitiser, Folding Trowel) – 236g

The whole lot I would like for Go away No Hint ideas: folding trowel (to dig 15cm down), hand sani, tampons, biodegradable (a budget stuff) bathroom paper and ziplock bag. In some high-use areas, I’ll additionally carry my poo-pot.

Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Drugs, Salt – 80g

I’ve a useful folding toothbrush I pair with a type of teeny paste tubes you get from the dentist. All stored in a re-used ziplock produce bag. Salt in a teeny Nalgene for leg cramps.

Chapstick, Sunscreen, Insect Repellent – 68g

My necessities – lip balm and sunscreen. I might do with out repellent if I needed to.

HRT Gel (Estrogel) – 90g

I see you women-off-a-certain-age. I carried the complete bottle this journey, however I’ve since found Sandrena single-dose sachets at simply 1 gram every. Recreation changer, because of Dr Tatiana for the tip! Chat together with your GP to see if it’s best for you.

The Full Image

The place I Might Minimize Even Extra Weight

Look, though I’m fairly pleased with my pack weight, there’s all the time room for enchancment. Even with this setup sitting simply over 10kg, I can see areas the place I might shave off extra grams if I actually needed to push in direction of ultralight territory. Whether or not that’s best for you is determined by your priorities and what you’re comfy with.

The Grayl water filter at 350g is an apparent goal. Switching to Micropur tablets—they weigh nearly nothing and work brilliantly. I caught with the Grayl as a result of I needed the moment drinkability of fresh water on this journey—one pump and drink.

The ZOLEO satellite tv for pc communicator is one other 150g I might doubtlessly go away behind. In true emergencies, the PLB does the vital job. The ZOLEO is extra about comfort and conserving household knowledgeable—good to have, however not important if you happen to’re dedicated to slicing weight.

I might additionally go lighter on the sleeping mat and energy financial institution. There are mats underneath 300g that will nonetheless present first rate consolation, saving me 150g or so. A smaller capability energy financial institution would trim one other 100g, although I’d have to be extra strategic about charging gadgets.

The factor is, I’m all the time experimenting. I’m always having a sticky beak at what my mates are carrying, studying gear opinions, and attempting new concepts. Each journey teaches me one thing about what I really use versus what simply sits in my pack. My setup retains evolving, and that’s a part of the enjoyable—discovering that excellent stability between mild sufficient to benefit from the stroll and comfy sufficient to benefit from the camp.

Remaining Ideas

Attending to round a 10-kilogram pack weight for 4 days in difficult terrain means making deliberate decisions. Each merchandise I carry earns its spot by a mix of low weight, reliability, and truly being helpful. Kanangra-Boyd’s distant location and changeable circumstances demand gear you possibly can belief—however that doesn’t imply hauling pointless weight.

The key is high quality light-weight gear, slicing out redundancy, and being trustworthy about what you really want versus what simply makes you are feeling higher. This setup stored me comfy, protected, and shifting effectively by one in every of Australia’s most spectacular wilderness areas.

Now, let’s be actual—high quality light-weight gear is dear. Taking a look at this record, the overall funding is substantial, I undoubtedly didn’t purchase every thing directly and I’ve been fortunate to be gifted lots of this stuff over time. My recommendation is prioritise the large three gadgets (pack, tent, sleeping bag) first, then progressively improve different items as price range permits. Should you’re simply beginning out, think about renting gear from outside retailers or borrowing from associates to check what works earlier than committing to purchases. Many bushwalking golf equipment even have gear libraries and don’t neglect you possibly can rent PLBs at no cost from some nationwide parks or lease on-line from high bloke, Neil. Again within the day (2008 for him, 2012 for me), the 2 of us have been just about the one Aussies with a bushwalking/mountaineering weblog – earlier than social media and influencers have been even a factor.

What’s your goal pack weight for multi-day bushwalks? Drop your light-weight gear decisions within the feedback over on Fb—I’d love to listen to what’s working for you.