My canoe camping has all been decades ago and was all fairly heavily loaded to extremely heavily loaded depending on when or where it was. In more recent years I have started packing lighter and lighter when backpacking and bicycle touring. I guess by most standards I have become a pretty extreme weight weenie. I have no plans for any trips any time real soon, but am starting to anticipate how I might pack when I do venture out. I have been using a hoopless bivy or bug bivy and a small tarp and have managed to pack pretty light. My last backpacking trip in the Sierras I think my entire base weight was 14#. Leaving a restock point with my little bear canister (BV45) and water bottle full and some food not in the canister I think the pack was a bit over 21 pounds. I probably had enough food to go 3-4 days with some margin of safety. People would see me and either assume I was day hiking or ask "What do you have in that little pack?"
I really kind of enjoy the minimalist style, but do like to indulge by taking the luxury of a fly rod or maybe light weight spinning gear. I found that in the Sierras the fly rod's weight was pretty easily offset by savings in the need to carry as much food. The trout were plentiful enough and hungry enough to be relied upon in the tiny streams as long as you were okay with small fish. The fishing in the lakes was way less reliable.
I figure the same style could be applied to canoe camping or the ability to carry more could be exploited. I still own a variety of nice gear so a variety of options are possible for me without buying much if any new gear. I could see myself going a little heavier especially where there were no substantial carries, but I have gotten in the habit of not taking much even when I drive my car and live out of it for much of a trip so I guess I am not likely to ever go real heavy again. Then again, who know what I might decide to do next year.
Any way, how heavy or light do you guys pack for back country trips?
I really kind of enjoy the minimalist style, but do like to indulge by taking the luxury of a fly rod or maybe light weight spinning gear. I found that in the Sierras the fly rod's weight was pretty easily offset by savings in the need to carry as much food. The trout were plentiful enough and hungry enough to be relied upon in the tiny streams as long as you were okay with small fish. The fishing in the lakes was way less reliable.
I figure the same style could be applied to canoe camping or the ability to carry more could be exploited. I still own a variety of nice gear so a variety of options are possible for me without buying much if any new gear. I could see myself going a little heavier especially where there were no substantial carries, but I have gotten in the habit of not taking much even when I drive my car and live out of it for much of a trip so I guess I am not likely to ever go real heavy again. Then again, who know what I might decide to do next year.
Any way, how heavy or light do you guys pack for back country trips?