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Have we taken light weight too far?

Joshua2236

Joshua2236

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2017
Messages
61
Location
louisville,ky
I have seen a lot of things come into the hunting industry that claims to be extra light weight but I wonder if these things are made from materials that are not of the greatest quality or if they compromise safety like climbing methods tree stands saddles etc. Wanting to know your thoughts does one or 2 pounds really matter that much when normal Treestand hunters are not walking miles and miles like western hunters and premium materials are Looked down upon because of a few more ounces.
 
Lighter doesn't mean cheaper. Light materials often can cost more due to the fact that they are lighter and still as strong or stronger than a heavier material
 
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I think as long as a material is tested to be safe in the manner that it is to be used I see no issue, to me ultra light gear helps some hunters to feel more comfortable in the sense that there is no hassle of stuff to take into the woods. Even though stand hunters might not hike as far as western hunters on average I think that it helps contribute a feeling of stealth which helps you be more confident in your set up. I think light weight gear can help your mental hunting game just as much as less physical weight.


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X2 on the mental aspect.


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As long as it’s safe and comfort isn’t sacrificed by a great deal, I’m all for going as light as possible. Everybody has to make up their own mind on what crosses the line of “too light”. The less weight/bulk I carry into the woods the better.


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This is a good topic. I don't personally mind carrying some weight, but like most, I try to lighten the load where and when I can.
It does remind me of an off-topic conversation that I overheard one day between two avid triathletes; both of them were friends and coworkers.

One guy I worked with asked another if he thought it would be a good idea to purchase some high-speed carbon fiber seat post for his already sliver of a seat on his multiple thousand dollar bike. His logic is that it would save some weight. My friend asked him to stand up (which he did), then he asked him to bend his neck down as if he were looking at his boots - the guy complied.
My friend said, "You see that? That is your gut and if you lost about 20 lbs of fat you'd save a bunch of weight and even more money!"
I about fell out of my chair but it really does apply to more than just bicycles when you think about it.

Now that I think about it, maybe tomorrow I should eat a salad for lunch...
 
Scott F said:
This is a good topic. I don't personally mind carrying some weight, but like most, I try to lighten the load where and when I can.
It does remind me of an off-topic conversation that I overheard one day between two avid triathletes; both of them were friends and coworkers.

One guy I worked with asked another if he thought it would be a good idea to purchase some high-speed carbon fiber seat post for his already sliver of a seat on his multiple thousand dollar bike. His logic is that it would save some weight. My friend asked him to stand up (which he did), then he asked him to bend his neck down as if he were looking at his boots - the guy complied.
My friend said, "You see that? That is your gut and if you lost about 20 lbs of fat you'd save a bunch of weight and even more money!"
I about fell out of my chair but it really does apply to more than just bicycles when you think about it.

Now that I think about it, maybe tomorrow I should eat a salad for lunch...
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Absolutely true! I lost 35lbs last year and it paid off huge during hunting season. I felt like I could take on any hill and walk as far as I needed and that boosted my confidence tremendously. The truth is it’s EASY to spend money on lighter gear, losing weight and getting in shape isn’t so easy. Sad but true.


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I used to pack about 40# of "Stuff" into and back out of the woods every trip out between the climbing treestand, warm clothes, filming gear, etc. Every season I could count on losing 20-25 lbs of "dunlop".:sweat:

That is the only disadvantage to me of going lighter. . . my during season conditioning routine is cut back. To be honest I really didn't mind carrying the weight. The real plus to me of using the smaller/quieter equipment is that I can slip in and out of hunting spots without clanking that stand off every thigh high sapling in the woods.
 
I agree with the hot temps being awful. Here where I live in ky our season starts in September meaning 90s. By the time I walk to my tree stand I am drenched in sweat. Also any system that has the least amount of metal parts and I can fit in my pack is a plus. Where I hunt public land there is a lot of brush and getting in quiet is huge. That’s why I love saddle hunting so much no more clanking through the woods. I have debated on getting a platform or staying with steps for a while for that reason of noise but if it’s so small I can fit it in my pack that would make a huge difference.
 
Joshua2236 said:
I just think a lot of people (including me) focus to much on what’s the lightest and the latest and greatest instead on working on our craft of becoming a better hunter. I think time spent on my bow or scouting or site preparation would be time better spent.
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Very true it would be better time spent. But its all part of hunting. Lightweight is just another component. There are alot of pieces to this game we made it that way when it became more as sport than a matter of survival. I think as long as your safe doing this than have at but everything i also feel is somehow interconnected.
 
MCDM said:
Very true it would be better time spent. But its all part of hunting. Lightweight is just another component. There are alot of pieces to this game we made it that way when it became more as sport than a matter of survival. I think as long as your safe doing this than have at but everything i also feel is somehow interconnected.
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Trying to be the best at anything means looking after all the little things because they add up.
Weight, scent control, entrance to your spots, scouting, mobility, fitness, timing, understanding wind, and on and on. All these things have an additive effect. I want to be light as possible, it is easier on the body at 60 years old. I am in above average shape for my age but I could do better. Sometimes it is difficult to find time to work out... like this spring when many 16 hour days make fatigue a factor in working out. I don't feel like it.
Less weight means I can go farther, go longer, get closer to bigger bucks if I have to. It also means I can probably hunt later in life.
Being light is an important component of hunting for me. If I was 25 years old 1 or 2 pounds or even 10 pounds might not matter.
 
Joshua2236 said:
I just think a lot of people (including me) focus to much on what’s the lightest and the latest and greatest instead on working on our craft of becoming a better hunter. I think time spent on my bow or scouting or site preparation would be time better spent.
Click to expand...

I think that’s why most of us are saddle hunting. I can hunt where I couldn’t before. Trees just didn’t work. Now I don’t have to find a tree that will work I hunt the tree I want. Being lighter just means I can go in faster, farther and easier than before. Me I want a system that’s lightest, quite, easiest system possible.



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I agree. Lighter is better. Losing body weight is greatest benefit. If you do it right, you can save money by skipping one meal a day. Take that money to buy your next piece of ultra light kit. Then if you have concerns about being too heavy, you know your lighter already.

No sugar, no grains, lose one meal. It’s comes off.


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For me it’s not just about weight. Last year I switched to wild edge stepps instead of sticks. Those 8lbs of steps got me over 20’ and served as my platform. But was the weight savings alone worth tying on 8 steps. Probably not. What really made it for me was the fact I could fit them in my pack. That was a game changer for me. Same way with the mantis vs kestrel. Is the mantis worth buying if I already have the kestrel. I hope so because I’m ordering it next week. Not because it’s a little lighter but because it should be cooler. I should be able to give it a quick rinse and it dry reasonably quick. And one of the biggest reasons is bulk. Could I lose some weight? About 60 lbs would be great. That’s what I lost before going on a backpack elk hunt. While I was on the hunt I couldn’t help but think that if I had spent another thousand dollars on gear I could have cut 10lbs from my pack and it would have been worth it.
Hunting isn’t about survival for most of us. It’s also not about the cheapest way to put meat on the table. Those things are great but it’s for my personal satisfaction and fulfillment. I have to stay within a reasonable budget but if buying something that is ultralight either helps me be more successful or adds to the enjoyment of the experience then it is worth it.
 
That was the reason why I made this post is going lighter really mean better? Or is it A habit to buy something new when you can just work with what you have. I get it to each their own but I think the question is a good one to ask is lighter, faster ,bigger ,Smaller, More compact worth the money?or could we invest that money into something that would make us a better hunter?Thanks for the comments guys just trying to get the ball rolling.I have just recently found myself in this trap and would like to invest more time and money In boots on the ground. Thx for you thoughts.
 
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