ORIGINAL: eatsleephunt

How on earth do you guys keep your packs 7lbs and under? Am I hauling around a lot of useless stuff or something. Minus water and food, take out the spotting scope and tripod - I'm still looking at about 18lbs.

I've basically got a small med kit, a stuff sack with survival gear(2lb), range finder, knife, knife sharpener,head lamp, small flash light, head sock, gloves, extra poly socks, poly pull-over, spare shirt,(I sweat like a pig so I need a change up), garbage bag, camera, game bags, and a few other odds and ends that don't add up to a pound. However, I do carry spare batteries for my range finder, GPS and head lamp also (I know that adds a little bit). I think the empty pack itself must weigh 3lbs.

I go through this stuff a couple times a year just to make sure nothing has found it's way in that doesn't need to be there. Like that big rock my father-in-law put there to slow me down once.