After reading some comments in another site regarding lightweight backpacking, I think I could get my day pack down to 3 ounces:

1 newspaper hat from the 5 day weather section with route map drawn on it (replaces map, NOAA radio, tinder, toilet paper, writing pad, bandana, bulky fabric boonie, Chinese fan)
1/2 razor blade (replaces knife, axe, scalpel, saw)
1 pre-magnetized needle (replaces weapon, compass, toothpick)
1 new cigarette filter (menthol) taped to 1/2 half McDonalds straw (replaces water filter)
1 sheet of scratch and sniff food smells (to make worms taste better)
1 pair edible skivvies (replaces emergency food and Fruit of the Looms) Important: keep sealed to avoid unnecessary snacking
10' used kite string (replaces cordage, belt, suspenders, fishing line, snare wire, shoe laces, bow string, zip ties, sling)
1 matchbook with motivational message (replaces lighter, fire piston, flint rod, striker, toothpick, eyepatch, Tom Brown book)
1 real shiny penny (replaces signal mirror, digging spade, sharpen for spearhead, use for barter, crow-bait, with rock pound into any copper-age implement desired)

All slung with the kite string in a big plastic beer cup (replaces daypack, water bottle, fire bucket, use for gathering berries, ant trap, grow sprouts, strap to face to make dustmask or funny noises...cut out bottom and reverse for elk call or survival bullhorn)

NOTE: Splurge! with one more beer cup and the string, you have a basic communication device...no batteries to go bad!

NOTE #2 I used the numeral forms of numbers in this list instead of writing them out...saves weight!

Rofl.

I am also amused by the bunch that cuts labels off stuff to save weight.

You could lighten it some (.00008 ounces or something silly like that) by salvaging a razor blade from a disposable shaver. They are very narrow. I may have to build this....

This thread actually gave me some ideas for a bare-minimum kit. I need to make a quick trip to the store.

Buy the titanium ones, drill small holes in them and acid dip them as well.

Here she is:

• 10' of cotton string
• Aluminum mini-loaf pan (folded)
• Magnetized needle with 1' of thread
• 2 band-aids
• Small packet of peanut butter
• White 5mm ultra-bright LED
• 3v CR2032 lithium battery
• Single-sided razor blade
• BSA hotspark (ferrocerium rod with a short plastic handle)
• One Hefty Onezip freezer bag

The string can be used for general knot tying, as well as tinder or wick. The aluminum pan can be used for boiling water or for signaling. The needle can be used for sewing/general repair, as a basic compass, or as an emergency suture. The bandaids can be used as, well, bandaids, or as small sections of tape. The peanut-butter works well as food or animal bait. The battery and LED combine to make a simple flashlight. The razor blade obviously works as a simple blade and, when combined with the hotspark, can be used to start a fire. Finally, the plastic bag holds everything together; but it can also be used for water collection/transpiration bag.

So that's water collection/purification/carrying, food, fire, cordage, flashlight, a blade, a basic compass, and bare-minimum first aid gear....all in one 2.0oz package.

Now that's ultra-light hiking!

The sad thing is that some lightweight packer person thought this all up. They totoally forgot the ultralight plastic bag that is for placing over the head when the SHTF for real. It can keep you comfortably dry the rest of your life.

You can substantially reduce the weight of the kit even further by ensuring the cigarette filter is from a "lite" brand of cigarettes.

After relying on a cigarette filter to filter out giardia, I believe the hiker will find their "load" lightened for certain. Unless they are packing out everything, in which case they are going to need a bigger container.

Three (3) ounces of $100 bills is about $8500. That should cover most day hike problems.

Paul,that BSA ferro rod has a mighty beefy handle. Better
cut half of it off and drill holes in the rest.

If I was to do a refined version of that kit, I would just toss a ferro-rod itself in (with no handle at all). I just used that because it was what I had on hand (I actually took it off my key ring).

This filter will only work on the fat giardias

So perfectly fine as long as you're stranded in the US?
(I kid, I kid)

You missed the ultimate weight saver: make it all "virtual".