How to CUT WEIGHT in Your PACK | Full Gear Breakdown for a 5 Day Lightweight Fly Camping Hunt

Trying to cut weight out of your hunting or hiking pack? Want to know what gear we trust and use?
In this video we breakdown all of the gear that we took along on our 4 night mountain fly camping hunt. We talk through each piece of hunting/hiking gear, what it weighs and how useful we found it on our trip. We have been refining out gear selections over the past 9 years whilst hunting all over the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Through this experience we have learned what gear stands up to the tough New Zealand conditions, what's useful and what's not.
If you have any questions about any of the gear we mention in the video don't hesitate to get in touch in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them. And if you find some use in this video please consider subscribing, cheers!
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If you're keen to support the channel jump across to our website and grab yourself some merch. All of the proceeds go back into the channel on better camera gear and bigger trips. Thanks so much for the support 🍻
GIVEAWAY details:
In this episode we are giving away a Jetboil Flash - the same cooker we use on all of our adventures. If you're looking for an all-in-one cooker for your backcountry needs these Jetboils fit the bill. We'll also throw in a couple of 100g gas canisters and a 4L Sea to Summit drybag.
To get in the draw spot the codeword during the video and head over to our social media accounts linked below and comment the codeword on the giveaway post from Monday the 9th of October. You'll see a photo of the Jetboil in the post.
From there, like or follow our page and JetboilNZ and you're in the draw to win!
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[@richardt.4224]

Well done guys, well over due this kind of info. It was about time someone did it and so glad it was the South Island Walkers! Great job THANX.

[@chaceleitch6327]

Hey boys. I'm in a recon cell, and we live out our packs. Also, a keen hunter here in Aus and gotta say I love the way you're going here with these light weight hunts. It's all about just doing more with less. Cut out all comfort items to the bare essentials, and you might find it's not as tough as it seems. I'm really looking forward to seeing some more of this stuff. Cheers boys!

[@banyantree8618]

Glad you focused on lightweight vs. expensive and fragile ultralight gear. I did a trail with 24kg and revised my load down to 14kg. Main differences - pack for your needs and not your fears (a common saying). Reduced clothing, food (you need the cals but not dozens of bars) and ancillary items I.e very basic first aid.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Shit that's good going! We're about to head off on another one of these trips, managed to cut it down to ~16kgs. Will put out another breakdown video later this year with some new gear 👌

[@ruahinehunter7441]

Thanks guys really looking forward too watching this one as im about too under take 3 weeks solo covering the whole ruahine ranges north too south iv been doing some TEST runs on what i can go with out,im sure this video will give me some options and gear to consider

[@harrymax8072]

Fuck yea man that’s awesome 🔥🔥

[@davidshaw7823]

Hey guys just stumbled across your content. Great video on gear, very comprehensive. I will test the Exped myself. The bloopers added to your authenticity and humour! Well done, I look forward to more adventures and top tips. Hey that could be one of your segments " top tip". Go well.

[@FishandHunt]

Good stuff lads. Well put together and some good pointers for beginners or those trying light-weight for the first time 👍🏻

[@fanfan-77]

When you're a woman, a 100Lt 35kg pack is just not an option. We've been doing multi-day trips with 45-50Lt, 15-18kg packs for a long time now. If I carried over 20k I wouldn't go very far (I'm already not very fast!) Hunting as a pair helps because you can share some of the stuff (only 1 shelter, stove, plb, first aid kit, knife, etc) to save weight. Good on you for doing your own dehy meals. Ours cost us more like $8 for two people. Using your onw venison mince saves buying meat which makes the most difference. Keep experimenting, there is heaps you can do! Maybe we need to do a vid about that... DD Hammock makes very light weight tarps. Our set up including tarp, ground sheet, ridgeline, guy ropes and aluminium pegs is 900g for 2 people. I use an Aarn pack. They are a bit pricey but much lighter than Tatonkas, and if you add the cost of a bino harness your setup probably becomes more expensive anyways. I use the front packs as a bino harness. I use both front packs on the walk in, then after setting up camp I take the one on my right off (so I can shoulder the rifle better) and use the left one for my camera, binos and other small stuff. Like you I could probably save even more weight from my sleeping bag, mat and pack. But there's a choice to be made between weight, price and durability. I'll fork out more money for my next sleeping bag, when the one I have dies. Technology gets better all the time, so I hope my next mat will be both lighter and affordable. For the rain gear, go for lighter and cheaper trousers (you don't wear them as much so they should last) but I prefer a thicker jacket. I feel the cold and wear my rain jacket a lot. If it was too thin and light, I'd have to replace it more often, and that makes no sense financially or environmentally. I find it's also worth spending more on the puffer to have the best bulk to warmth ratio as possible, but when it comes to base layers and fleeces, any random cheap brand will do because there's not much difference in weight. We avoid synthetic baselayers for the stink. We buy our merinos on sale to save cost there (Kathmandu, Torpedo7, Macpac, wherever!).

[@lucyenzed102]

Only just found your content, chaps… epic; loving it!

[@jdsvideosec]

Great vid. Looking at getting into hunting in NZ soon. This video helps A LOT. Keep it up!

[@vincentjackson3472]

Bloody epic! Nicely done guys 😎

[@Erelyes]

Awesome vid, would love to see a Dehy cooking show with Raddy!

[@tonyg25]

Where the hell was this when I was getting into the hobby? Great work lads, its always nice to see reviews and recs from people who have really put their gear through the wringer.

[@shanenolan3647]

Flash. Great work lads, time to trim the toothbrush

[@Fletchersanders24]

Great video guys thanks for sharing

[@craigrobertson6082]

Great video fellas. One thing that may help with the tarp/fly sheet set-up. Grab a large sheet of Tyvek and use that as a ground sheet. Lighter than the bivi sacks and keeps the moisture off. Will give you a piece of mind for protection for the air mattresses too. New sub, howdy from Canada.

[@gjcoop5625]

That 18 kg lightweight pack will have the lightweight crew shocked. I take a good bit of weight on my two-week tramps in my 80 litre pack. Dehydrate my own food in my fan-forced oven. Lot of work stirring for the second part of the process, but costs about $4 a meal. I have 80g of meat/vege and the same for rice. I've had a lot of trouble with sleeping mats. I used a Thermorest when I spent around 900 nights on it when biking around Australia. Had holes from super spikey Spinifex but managed to patch them okay when I found a swimming pool. Have gone for some more lightweight versions but the seams leaking has been a major issue. Two have been replaced. I use a Sea to Summit now but at $380 a pop it's expensive if they crap out quickly. Gearshop replaced the faulty ones. I just take jandals for around camp, even when camping, and have used them in snow plenty of times, but then I'm in a hut. Despite not being a hunter I enjoy your videos, always trying to work out where you are.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Haha yea like we said it’s still not exactly lightweight but at 15kgs (excluding camera gear) , that’s over twice as light as our usual packs so we were pretty stoked with the outcome haha. Yea sleeping mats are a tricky one, so many brands out there but at the end of the day they’re all susceptible to getting holes… We’re hoping to do this once a year so will slowly chip away at getting lighter… Its cool to hear it’s not just hunters who enjoy our videos though!

[@philipmanning6642]

Cheers for this video lads, definitely helpful 👍

[@bobbroadhurst1648]

That's the best gear review I've ever seen .... and I've seen, and read a few. Most have been made by "once or twice a year" so called hunters or trampers, that test the likes of boots out, by walking round the local park, or tents by putting them up on the back lawn Advice from REAL hunters like you guys, that bash round in the extremes of NZ terrain, in all sorts of weather, and are doing it all the time, anyone should prick their ears up and take notice The bloopers are awesome haha. And I wondered if that bloody toothbrush would make another appearance ffs hahaha

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Cheers Bob, too kind! Glad it wasn’t too boring watching us talk to the camera for 20 minutes! Haha yea the bloopers are a good laugh, safe to say there’s never a shortage of them either 😅

[@JamieWestCoast]

Hi guys, awesome vid which helps beginners like me, is it possible that you could add to it by showing how you pack your gear....in your pack?. By that I mean what gear in the bottom of the pack as opposed to what gear at the top if needed urgently etc. Cheers.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Awesome glad to hear it’s been useful! It does differ from person to person but I prefer having the weight up higher as a pose to down low on your hips. I personally put all my light stuff / what I won’t need till camp, eg sleeping bag, sleeping mat, puffers, clothing, easy to stuff items like that down the bottom then then my cooking / food gear. Then at the top I have things that I will frequently use throughout the day eg camera, jacket, water bladder, separate snack bag etc. We’re planning to do another lightweight trip this summer so will speak about how we pack our bags in that one 👍 Cheers!

[@JoshTasker]

Thanks lads! Loving the new season, just about finished the back catalogue. Been tramping about 2.5 years, only hunting a few months, and after a solo mission in the weekend my next mission is to try and cut some weight out of the Tatonka 85L - some useful tips there! Cheers

[@auditor100]

Just love it guys

[@nzadventurer]

Here's a thought on an obvious easy weight saving - no undies! Also those gaiters sound heavy are other brands this heavy? Thanks for thr video - very thorough. Would love to do my own dehy - cheers for the inspiration. Also thanks for lugging all that camera gear so you can share what you do, legends!

[@ABCampingTony]

Good vid. I had the identical tripod but left it on Mt Patriarch accidentally.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Ahh gutted mate!

[@bushlifenz9378]

Great video guys. Lots of down to earth common sense info, Is there anything you would take if you weren't lumbered with camera gear?

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Potentially a good spotting scope if we didn't have the p1000 camera. Otherwise we'd just enjoy the weight and space saved not carrying it all hahah

[@bretthilton607]

FLASH loved the video guys, just starting out and seriously great informative vid to show me how it's done! Nice one.

[@2hands_and_a_brain917]

I'm dehydrating and vacuum sealing my foodpacks. Much less space required. Get a DSLR with video save on one camera . Check our. Aarn packs unconventional but much much easier to carry with the balance pouches on the front. Looks a bit wierd...Hilleberg Akto tent with footprint, remove the inner =1 kg stay dry in any weather and very tough.

[@harrymax8072]

Great vid gents. I’m confused at the 2kg tripod tho. You can find some for 1/4 great weight ?

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Cheer mate! Yea the tripod is a tough one, we need the extra weight to hold the camera still when filming animals in windy conditions. But yea if your just using it for photos then you could probably get away with a lighter one for sure

[@harrymax8072]

yeah that's a fair shout. Hanging out for the next video lads! Good stuff@@southislandriflewalkers5545

[@fanfan-77]

@@southislandriflewalkers5545 I've seen tripods with a hook underneath to hang weights... could you jig something up that you hang your bino harness (or water bladder, whatever) when you film, allowing you to bring a lighter tripod?

[@kylecameron9772]

Love it guys. Bloopers at the end had me just about pooing my pants. I shouldn't have eaten the whole tub of ice cream. Ok gotta go..!

[@jasonhoyle2414]

video guys....a point I'd like to make and I'm guilty of this as well....we carry a plb but typically its tucked into the top pocket of our packs...I think alot of us huntets kid ourselves that when taking a fall for example we will just open the top of the pack and push the button if you get my gist...some people carry a particular model on their hip etc but for long multi day hunts that's not practical and I personally carry a garmin inreach....ultimately long term would be great if there was something you can wear on ones body...just my 2 cents worth

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Yea that’s a very fair call! We either have a plb on one of the shoulder strap of our packs or an inreach/plb in our bino harness. Like you said a lot of people tend to carry them in their pack which would be almost impossible to get out after a nasty fall where some broken bones may occur. So yes people should 100% be carrying a plb on their person or within their immediate reach!

[@Grunzaa]

Going to try out that twin needle fly and bino bag when I get back into the country. Have you tried the 30D version instead of your heavier weight one yet? Always happy to spend my money with those smaller NZ businesses where the product is actually made in NZ. Sleeping mats are a tricky one, I've tried a few and they all suffer the same problems. The Bushbuck one has surprised me, it was dirt cheap and R5 rated and it hasn't popped yet after some pretty hairy locations.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

You won't be disappointed, can't rate twinneedle gear enough. Yeah we tried the 30D one on a trip this year, slept under it for 4 nights and had no issues. Awesome piece of kit! Yeah we're yet to crack it with sleeping mats, pretty important piece of kit!

[@jasonvanbeers8459]

Well done guys. Hey what make and model is your dehydrator please?

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Cheers mate! It’s the BioChef Arizona Sol 6 Tray Food Dehydrator

[@jordynmoody9354]

Love the vid guys, Keep it up. Iv got a question regarding the pack your using how do you find your rifle attaches to the pack with just the two side straps? Or would you recommend running an additional scabbard? Cheers

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

We just use a scabbard that attaches to one of the bottom side strap then obviously the top one around the barrel. Works perfectly and can barely notice it there

[@Overourland]

Try the CuloClean portable bidet. Game changer for hunting hygiene on long hunts

[@adrianmartin8474]

Hey guys...great stuff, we pretty much pack the same....1 tip: go to your dentist and ask for the mini tubes of Colgate toothpaste (28g) We were lucky enough also to get lightweight travel toothbrush...cover converts to a handle PM if you want a photo. Great work, happy hunting!

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Oh yea sweet will have to look them up, won’t be cutting a toothbrush that short again haha…

[@adrianmartin8474]

@@southislandriflewalkers5545 kzbin.info8JfTrkDzBzA?si=prwMDZAga-4RTC2P

[@BushEscape]

Wow, really impressive lads, great advice. Bit over 30yrs ago i cut my toothbrush down like Raddy 😅 carried freeze dried mixed veges, rice and bacon stock for flavour, i still haven't learnt the knack cooking good rice , yours meals win hands down. Loved the bloopers. Bring on the next vid. Phil

[@rocar716]

The rice trick is one measure of rice two of water boil till water just about gone. So no draining or wondering if cooked long enough. And some tasty to stir into it after it cooked.

[@BushEscape]

@@rocar716 thanks rocar, appreciate the tip, however it's probably waisted on me, I'll still manage to f#@k it up 😆. Cheers Phil

[@southflyfisher]

Wicked video, guys. Love yr work 😊 A couple of points to add … I’m running a Thermarest Neoair Uberlite sleeping mat. Only 250gms but I fret about it getting a hole! Check the Kuiu Pro LT 4000 (66L) only 1750gms so you can pack another GoNative Butter Chicken. And Peak Design carbon fibre tripod is only 1270gms. Plus a lotto ticket to pay for it all 🎉

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Cheers mate! Oh yea could be worth looking into that sleeping mat, hate to know the price it however haha… Yea the tripod is also an area we could definitely cut down on however it’s a bit of a catch-22, we find the lighter the tripod, the less stability we have in windy conditions which can make it incredibly difficult to get nice still shot of animals from a distance… Haha yea winning lotto would make going lightweight a hell of a lot easier…

[@BlacksheepMediaNZ]

Keen to know what dehydrator you run

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

I’ve got the BioChef Arizona Sol 6 Tray Food Dehydrator

[@BlacksheepMediaNZ]

@@southislandriflewalkers5545 thanks

[@FREDDAGGS]

You guys are pretty lean. There's not enough total calories in your meals for hill work and you don't have the reserves (fat). This will definitely make a pack feel heavy and it's hard to stay warm. Use butter like an antarctic explorer. You can get it freeze dried. There's an NZ company that does pure whey protein. Lightweight but very dense.

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

We managed okay in that trip, if we'd pushed it out to a couple weeks we might have run into that problem. Butter is a good idea, Raddy's been using it recently. Haven't looked into whey protein but can see the benefit in that for sure. Cheers for your input 🍻

[@donny92]

Legends 😂 keep it up!

[@baywarra]

Definitely food for thought. Gotta be better 🍺🍺

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

Great video lads, excellent tips and experience. ...perhaps taking a hair comb would help, Reedy? (just joking!)

[@imarogue1]

What do you guys use for fly poles?

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

We just extend our walking poles to max and tie / peg them down 👍

[@S.M.Emmerson]

More bloopers lads 😅

[@Shawn-ts4jw]

2000g for a 48l backpack is crazy, you get 60L ones under 1000g

[@HuntingCreed]

Onya. Its a bit of a journey getting lighter with your gear aye . . . what you can safely and effectively live without. All the best with that. Good to see a bit of honesty coming through too (,and as always, bloopers are worth including!)

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Yup definitely a balancing act! Haha yea it’s good to have a laugh at yourself every once in a while!

[@archerstuart5312]

I love your video

[@robinkennedy9974]

Excellent video. You could cut down a bit on the clothes. One pair of undies is surely enough!

[@Full_Pack_Adventures]

FLASH

[@belenellory2508]

'Promosm'

[@56wilfred]

The name of your channel is cutoff off “South Island rifle wa…” I was disappointed when I clicked on it and it says walkers instead of wankers

[@southislandriflewalkers5545]

Hahah glad it's finally been said, we've been joking about it between us for ages 😂