On the Survival Forum, the "weight of bob" thread made me think about what I carried during my 5 days of hiking, in the Vercors, in July.
It was only 5 or 6 hours walking each day, for about 15km, with a g?te or an hotel awaiting me for the night. Luxurius, I know <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> ?. Well, I quite like it so <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ?..

Anyway, I had in my rucksack enough gear :
- to dry myself and change my clothes, if soaked by a sudden rain (or a fall in a river) ;
- to shelter from the rain
- to drink for 2 days at least, if saving my water ;
- to purify water, if needed
- to eat to keep my strength
- to make a fire (heating, boiling water, signaling?)
- to signal,
- to light my way in the dark

This evening I put everything on a scale and here is what I found :
Weights :
- empty backpack and various pouches attached to said backpack 2.000kg
- spare light hiking shoes 0.950kg
- spare clothes 1.200kg
- 15m or so of 8.6mm cord + 2 carabiners 0.870kg
- Poncho + ties for tarp/shelter 0.650kg
- FAK, sun cream, TP, a.s.o., 1.000kg
- Fire making gear (matches, bic lighter, tinder, ?) 0.250kg
- binoculars 0.250kg
- mess cup + spork + spoon 0.200kg
- tea, sweets, sugar, dehydrated soup, high energy bars, beef jerky, a.s.o. 0.450kg
- PSK, Krill lights, Surefire G2, spares batteries, Emerson Commander 0.900kg
- empty canteen + empty Platypus hydration bag 0.400kg


Total 9.120kg = about 20 pounds

+ I had about 4 liters of water + a midday snack (bread, cheese, ham, fruits)
(let?s not count extra PSK, knife, paracord, worn outside the backpack, directly on my person)

Grand total : around 30 pounds ! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Who said his BOB was less than 10 pounds ? let?s see what is in it ! !
I'm sure he misses the terrine of foie gras and the bottle of Juran?on to go with.
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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Note 1 : one day, it was quite hot and I drank 3 liters of water just during the 5 hours hike ! That only left me a 1 liter reserve, in case of...
Note 2 : I guess whith all that stuff, I could have survived a few days, had I been immobilized ; only problem would have been water. I should take more water !!
Note 3 : now I know why I had more pain with my shoulder blades than with my legs! OTOH, I needed the practice ......