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Tell me why weight is so important!!!

cspot said:
Another thing with weight is where you are carrying it on you. I fooled around trying to get rid of carrying a pack and carrying the stuff on me. The issue is the "perceived weight" didn't seem any different than carrying the pack even though my setup was likely a couple pounds lighter. The pack distributed the weight across me far better and therefore was more comfortable. Also wasn't limited to what I wanted to pack with me on a given day.
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Yeah this is what I had been referring to about reducing weight "letting you downsize". You need to drop enough that a less-efficient carry is COMFORTABLE, not just squeeze stuff into a lighter but less comfortable pack.

If you can go all the way down to walking around the woods with a pocket full of bolts - that's streamlined. It you're hanging 10 pounds of crap off of your saddle to save the weight of a pack? That's a false economy for sure!
 
mattsteg said:
Agreed. This is why weight is a poor proxy for being "streamlined".

Actually the weights aren't that far off. A squirrelstep with an OCB is about 9.5 ounces I think. 2 of them are more or less right in line with the lightweight 2-step sticks. Stepps are a bit heavier, but in the same ballpark, especially getting into aiders etc. (do aiders "streamline", or "complicate"?)
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Weight = Streamlined - is based off things being small and packable. Making your physical size more streamlined. Making moving through the woods easier and quieter. Thats what i was referring to. Not streamlining how u climb.

I know most one sticks, like the "Ultimate" one sold on double step, is around 3lbs with the 3 step aider, rope, etc.

I believe an aider does add streamline to your packability. It may complicate climbing slightly, but once you learn it, its not terribly difficult. I would say carrying one stick with an aider that can do the job of 4 sticks is pretty streamlined.
 
I do like streamlined but I also don't understand the crawling through thick stuff with all my gear. I consider myself a very successful public land hunter and I rarely if ever go through real thick stuff. I hunt right up to the edge of bedding areas but don't crawl through them. I started this thread out of curiosity not to knock anyone. It shows we are all different but it also shows we define success in different ways. I agree somewhat that it is about the hunt and it's preparation but to me let's face it we are doing for the end result and that's the kill. I say this cause a lot of guys say it's not about the kill, well than hunt with a camera cause I sure as hell want to kill something! Shawn
 
Weight is completely relative, every hunter has different parameters, there are times where I want the absolute lightest saddle set up I can use and others instances where I can carry in a hang on and sticks with as much equipment to keep me as comfortable as needed for as long as needed, and I want to be able to adjust to every situation in between. In the national forest where I'm scouting for miles looking for the sign I want to hunt, 5lbs might not sound like a difference, after a week in the mountains your body might say something different. If I'm hunting the farm country in southern part of state I can carry a set up a stand within site of the farmhouse. I build a system within a budget to give me the most opportunity to attain productive time pursuing whitetail. If 3-5lbs doesn't inhibit a hunters ability then its not worth worrying about.
 
cspot said:
Another thing with weight is where you are carrying it on you. I fooled around trying to get rid of carrying a pack and carrying the stuff on me. The issue is the "perceived weight" didn't seem any different than carrying the pack even though my setup was likely a couple pounds lighter. The pack distributed the weight across me far better and therefore was more comfortable. Also wasn't limited to what I wanted to pack with me on a given day.
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This for me has been 100%

The pack makes a huge difference. I have a 511 Rush 72 pack that has the internal frame system. It made a huge difference on how the load is distributed on me. Problem is that pack weight is 8 pounds! It is heavy made material. Finding a small backpack with an internal frame type system made a huge difference to me. I cut the weight where I can and try ti cut bulk. I use the S biners from my gear hanger and my back strap to carry my sticks. Try to minimize the gear I bring it. Save where I can and make sure I'm not compromising on safety.

I am still working out my system but every time I go out I get better at doing things that works well that changing things that do not.
 
I have a generally “lightweight” mountain rife. It’s been so much nicer to tote about the big woods than my other rifles, even though it’s only 1/2-3/4 lb lighter.

I changed the scope mount to a 1 piece QR mount and added a 30mm LPVO optic. Total weight gain probably 10oz max.

Man does it carry differently now, feels as heavy as rifles 1lb + heavier.

Changed my sling up and I’m satisfied with the system overall.

Gear in general trends this way, in my experience. You pick and choose what you need and want. As others have said, how weight is distributed is critical. Think of how packing horses or mules properly is almost an art. Sometimes you have to trim the load, sometimes pack it differently.

But, lighter, while nicer to carry, also almost always means giving up something else you need or want.

For my rifle, I preferred the lighter scope and mount for carrying, but needed the extra durability of the mount and scope I added. I only made that change, as a result of having a problem with my former setup.

I can buy an even lighter rifle, but I don’t really need to. Would I see an improvement in felt weight, probably but not significantly, in felt recoil, of course but also not significantly, in practical hunting success, nope...otherwise I would spend the money.
 
To really evaluate the importance or not of 3lbs, however, as a singular focus...the evaluation must consider only the 3lbs. That means same carry method, objects, and distribution.

Hard to do, actually. Everything a percentage heavier in a single system to increase that system weight 3lbs.

If you’re between 10 and 20lbs system weight, adding 3lbs results in a 30% and 15% increase, respectively. As you get heavier, less percentage impact...but maybe closing in on peak stress of the machine (aka person carrying the weight)

Is 30% a big deal? It can be. So can 1%. Just depends.
 
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