Me and a mate are in competition trying to get everything down to a minimum so always trying to reduce the weight of our rucksack for short sessions inc tackle bait

Just as matter of interest what does yours weigh

He’s got his down to just under 4 kilo mine is nearer 5

In reply to Post #1
Do you have the same rucksack
If not one could be lighter than the other before anything gets added.

In reply to Post #2
There roughly the same it’s just trying to find out what people are carrying we are just interested to know what weight is safe to carry then maybe. Load more sell barra I spoke to a walker he said his is 14 kilo walk around all day. 20 kilo if camping

In reply to Post #3
Think mine was around 7 when I last weighed it

4 kilo is very impressive

Just weighed mine ,it's a ESP 40 litre,but I have my Trangia, 6 leads and 4 Original lockey bankstiks ,and a bit of bait ...I could do better,but my stainless is unbreakable..

In reply to Post #5
What’s your weight of rucksack

In reply to Post #1
I take the minimum amount of gear with me, but I have loads of spare in the boot of my car. I use a carryall, not a rucksack. For a day session, fishing 2 rods, I take

4 leads but more in the car
minimum amount of bait but with shelfies in the car
small tackle box (6"x3"x2.5")
small pots of hookbaits with about 5 hookbaits in each

Everything else is lightweight also, use a quiver instead of rod holdall, 10ft rods, 50" brolly instead of a shelter, lightweight chair, plastic pegs for the brolly, aluminium banksticks and buzzbars, lightweight chair. The only heavy item I take is a framed cradle, I find this better for self takes when alone. If I go with someone else though, take a lightweight unhooking mat instead.

Well i have a chair plus unhooking mat attached to it, that's 3.5 kg and i also put my bait in it, that's 3 kg max, then some sticks or a small rod pod, some tea and food, and lastly a small tacklebox. So without the chair and bait i will be hard pressed to even reach 2 kg. Rods and net in a small quiver btw, if i could attach those to the sack too i would:XD

In reply to Post #6
No idea,I'll have to weigh it ..

Before i load any bait, food and drink my rucksack is 3.1 kilo.

I do anything from 4 to 12 hours generally.

In reply to Post #7
If you only take one lightweight chair, things'll be more lightweight.

In reply to Post #11
Yeah, fair point. Bit stupid taking 2 chairs for one person.....

In reply to Post #1
When you’re weighing rucksacks you shouldn’t really include bait, food or water because everyone takes different amounts so there’s too many variables.

Why just weigh your rucksack, see how light you can get everything.

It’s a real opener when you start weighing your kit. I thought I’d got my normal full kit down to a light weight when I was carrying just 3 items , but it was 35kg for rucksack, bedchair and rod bag.

I’ve changed everything and I’m now down to 2 items to carry:

Rucksack - 9.5kg
Sling - 4kg

This is 13.5 kg for my full kit.

Rucksack, Bedchair, Sleeping bag, 3 rods, tarp instead of a bivvy.

Let me know if you want any weights of individual items. I weigh everything.

In general ,I don't know why those pop up shelters from Fox or Carper tackle aren't more popular they are a all in one shelter,door etc ,and are ok in the wind ..

They weigh very little ...the time is coming and I hate change ,when these bulky bedchairs are a thing to be confirmed to history ,biggest bulk has gotta be a sleeping bag ,especially if you don't want to damage the loft ..

The finger ,as always pointed at manufacturers, who make stuff overly big ,that's gotta change along with the bag for a bag ,brigade..

At the moment ,I don't see much innovation, only circular repetition..

As always ,look to bushcraft wild camping kit for design and innovation ..

In reply to Post #14
I'm got the fox easy shelter plus, it's a great bit of kit quick to put up, has options with the door & has internal bits pockets. Its surprisingly stable in the wind, have been out in a few gales no problem.
Bonus is the pack down size & weight, add a cheap lightweight tarp for a groundsheet & it all fits in a bed chair.
Only gripe is remembering how to pack it down if I haven't used it for a while
Also got a tempest which in comparison is a lot heavier & bulkier.

In reply to Post #15
I've looked at the Easy Shelter before but you've just reminded me to get one of these.

Looks great for the money, light and small pack size.

In reply to Post #14
You're absolutely spot on regarding innovation. The wild camping industry is 30 years in front of fishing. The trouble is, most fishing companies just want big fast profits so they'll churn out anything.

I believe ESP are working on a light weight bed chair. When you're looking at carp kit the bed chair is the bulkiest piece of kit. It can also be the heaviest.

Take a look at Helinox to see what's possible. I use their Lite Cot which is only 1.2kg.

LINKY POO™ https://helinox.co.uk/collections/cots

In reply to Post #14
Forgot to add, regarding sleeping bags.

I'm using a down top quilt. 875g. I compress it in to its bag after every use and haven't found any issue with lofting.


LINKY POO™ https://ugqoutdoor.com/product/bandit-top-quilt/

In reply to Post #17
I use Helinox stuff myself ..I hear that Ridgemonkey have made their versions of Helinox / naturehike/ onetigress chairs adjustable...soon as someone does that for 'cots'ill be getting one ..

I would recommend the Carper tackle speed flex shelter,well made and has its own groundsheet..


Pps I used the snugpak junglebag for a while ,I don't sleep cold,but I did feel cold In it ,so gave it to Will,the chef .,who took to Ben I'm ill,dane...in Morocco...

I'm into alcohol stoves,so that's another edge !

In reply to Post #19
I am so glad I started this thread I have learnt so much keep your ideas coming I love going light rucksack mat with brolly net retractable rods inside and light chair

which alcohol stove you use I have a mini trangia run it on enthanol but it takes so long to boil a mug of water I also have a jetboil incredible fast boil but no good in cold

In reply to Post #20
Have a look at this Firemaple gas stove. 95g.

LINKY POO™ https://firemaple.co.uk/products/petrel-titanium-ultralight-backpack-stove?srsltid=AfmBOooItKnOwOoL41nRSE-XjZ9Wq03FO7gzLmtPyyJ8piA_Zg4GS4K5

In reply to Post #19
Thanks for the heads up on the Speed Flex.

I did look at this but I think I decided it was too heavy.

Currently messing around with tarps. Rab Siltarp 3, 675g and 2 x Nero Angling carbon storm poles. I need to weigh them, I think they’re 200g each.

LINKY POO™ https://rab.equipment/uk/siltarp-3?srsltid=AfmBOoqGCpZWT4nL-2RhsVbP4nz-8kxls2A1jIq8tXuZyVZbvcVGpALK

In reply to Post #20
I have both, a trangia 27 ul ,triggers broom version..and a mini trangia 28 t plus foil windshield ,or fire maple 9 plate windshield the low level version ,,anodised blue...the windshield,makes or breaks the 28t mini,don't leave home without it..

Always wait for the burner,to bloom or pop before putting pot or similar on top,plus only use the exact amount of water,ie,want a cuppa,fill the cup up then pour into the pot or kettle,I use the smallest wildo folda cup ...

I got two of those folding waterbottles,from prolite explorer, filtering my water,from the streams ,but since the creamery destroyed the river,I don't do that anymore..



I also use ,a stick stove a UCO mini grill fire pit when I can ,plus a waterfilter by Sawyer,mini..it stays in my car,plus my 7x8 army tarp in a custom army Andy bag..

I can do the minimalist bit any time,but I'm older now ,and will use a tempest 100t if I can ..

I enjoy the process of not carrying to much crap,that the carp 'ayatollahs'say you need,you don't t need 80% of the plastic crap that's advertised..


I have often thought about going full on Rigged n Ready,tiny pack down rods ,but I'm in a quandary whether to go 10ft or no,because in reality, it's not rods that the issue it's the other unessessary toys. .

In reply to Post #23
Thanks for replying I see blokes with motorised barra with bags in bags and the gear stacked up very high barra bag cool bag 5 rod bag around 4 buckets cook bag big titan bivvy they say I’ve had to buy power barra I can’t push one to heavy
Then they say just doing quick overnight
Also I only ever put a mug full of water to boil everyone said that mini needs windshield looks like poor design

In reply to Post #24
Mini,needs more oxygen than the 27,so it's best to fill it 80% ,and 1tsp of water ,stir with a small stick..that way it'll burn not so fierce ..make sure windshield is away from pot stand

Or....get the Trangia Triangle ,which you can use the storm or knock off gas burner,or gel and meths burner..all bases covered then..

I use mini for days ,27 for overnights cos it's more stable and won't burn the deck.!

In reply to Post #12
Everything is only ever in jest, if posted by me with smiles.😍😍

In reply to Post #25
I’ve had a 27 bought one for fishing in 86 but using meths got fed up with black kettle I haven’t got a 27 to compare with mini is 27 a lot quicker I know u put water with meths i am using ethanol

In reply to Post #27
I just use wet grass,to wipe the soot off

I calk it provenance

In reply to Post #28
My mini has taken ages to boil but I like the concept of it all
A bloke done a test with fuel he said he will stick to meths others use to much

In reply to Post #29
I did a test a few yrs ago ,I put the 27 and 28 next to each other ,no wind in evidence ..

Put the same amount of fuel ,neat meths into each burner ,put windshield on the 28 ,lit them both waited for the bloom ,then put one wildo cup of water in the 27,same in the pot on the 28 ,put the lid on the 28...

Placed them on the burners,the 27 won,but only just ...The 27 is superior in every way ,however if you want compact the 28 is great

I tried bio ethanol,it's not as good as meths,it gets hot real fast and burns out fast,...