Kit list review please

Last year I posted up a kit list for my attempt of the South West Coast Path. Alas life got in the way and couldn't give it a go, but am planning on doing it this year. I did though manage to go on a few wild camps and took alot of the suggestions members made on board, which I had first dismissed...carrying 13kg+ isn't fun!

Anyway here's my revised kit list. Any suggestions of cheap ways of shedding weight would be appreciated. I intend to wild camp where possible and buy most my meals.

*? means im guessing or don't know the exact weight yet. Only things I've not included are the clothes minus rain jacket i'll be wearing


head torch 118
monocular 72 luxury but would like to keep
phone 135
mini led lantern 20 ?
phone/powerbee charger plug 45
spare phone battery
power bee charger 168 need this as will have to do check up on emails etc
NotePad and pen 5
bag for tent inner 5
rubbish bags 5
matches 10


shelter
tesco sleeping bag 800
silk liner 110
Pacific outdoor ether elite 425
tent gelert solo 1500 brought this a few days ago, my scarp 2 is too big for stealth camping. Although have seen a terra nova laser competition on offer for £130 and am seriously considering returning the gelert!


pack
deuter act lite 1580
sleeping bag dry sac 135
water 1000
plastic water bottle 25 ?

cooking
Spork 17
meths burner 10
meths 200
pot cosy 20 ?
mug 100 ?
Caldera 20 ?

food
porridge x 3 150
noodles x 3 180
milk powder 150
tea bags 20 ?
soup x 3 90
hot chocolate x 5 100


clothes
waterproof trousers 370
spare socks 127 should I get lighter ones?
lightweight inner socks 30 saves my heavy outer socks getting dirty as quick, quicker to dry
montane smock 100
Sun hat 30 ?
spare underware 64
spare tshirt 185
rain jacket 610


Toiletries
small micro fibre cloth 40
anti bacterial soap 22
toothbrush 15
Toothpaste 10
Talc + gaffer tape 16
deodorant
shaving oil 20
Razor 8
Mirror 37
Wet wipes 115
toilet paper 14
First Aid Kit 130
sun cream 50
2 clothes pegs 10


Total: 9218 grams

What have you got for insulation clothing wise, or will it be warm enough not to need anything extra?

I'd maybe add a small sil tarp so you've got somewhere to sit and cook if the weather's bad, those Gelerts are fine for sleeping in but that's about it.

The only thing I'd drop from your list is the shaving kit, I prefer to just rough it for the sake of a few days.

As you're taking loo roll I take it you might be planning to "go outdoors" (hmmm... wonder if that's how the shop got it's name?? So maybe a trowel like this: http://www.andyhowell.info/Colin-Ibbotson/Peg-trowel.pdf

And what about a dry bag for your spare clothes?

Shewie, i'll be going in summer, so should think my t-shirt, thick fleece, smock and rain jacket will be more than enough.

I've seen you can rig the gelert up to create a little porch with a stick and guyline.

Beaker was thinking I'd be ok with just using a tent peg...hopefully I won't need to "go outdoors" much too much!! Good call on the dry bag for spare clothes, my dry sack for the sleeping bag is too big so was thinking it would be fine just to bung them in with it?

They may have modified the small end pole of the Gelert Solo but I found mine was under a lot of strain when in place so I cut about an inch out of the top section. This made a big difference to the strain without efecting the shape of the tent. I had read accounts of the pole breaking and wanted to avoid it happening in the middle of nowhere.

Not cheap but if you can find a TN laser, thats - 500g, and a lighter rucksack, osprey exis or similar, another -500g ish, so 1kg in total but would cost around £250, which is a lot.

Dorset Lad, yeah I've pitched the gelert solo and there's definitly too much strain on the end pole. If I cut it any specific tips? I've never messed around with modifying the poles before, I think the gelert ones are fibre glass, will i risk them shattering if I attempt to shorten them?

Dylan, i've seen a TN laser new for £130, I'm currently trying to stop myself from sendnig the Gelert back and bunging an extra £100 for the laser....

Rucksack wise I've tried countless ones, been to every camping shop in a 50 mile radius and ordered a few online. While the Deuter isn't the lightest its got a longer back than most which I needed for my long torso and lots of padding which I prefer. My previous Osprey Talon while light was extremely uncomfortable. I'll take comfort over weight when it comes to rucksacks!

You're never too far from habitation on the SWCP, so you maybe don't need to cart as much food about.

I think the cheap Laser Comps have sold out now.  Think of the money you've saved...

Pete.

They are GF. I put the pole in a vice just gripping it tight enough to stop it moving but no more. I had only the wall thickness above the vice jaw so that I would not cut into the elastic, then used a junior hacksaw to cut down to the vice jaw. I then turned te pole slightly and cut again until I got back to where I started. Once the cut off piece is floating freely along the elastic it can be gently crushed and the bits removed.

Simples

Instead of the solo i'd have gone for one of the original green Tiger Paws tents, a bit heavier but so much easier to live with and you'd be able to pick one up for £30 i guess, seeing as two went on here recently for £25 each.

I've had a solo but it immediately struck me that i'd never use it so i sold it, you're a long time dead, so bugger living in a coffin whilst alive. 

---

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Does anyone still sell the Tiger Paws new now? Would have to be second hand but I believe they too had a bit of a reputation for breaking poles. Aluminium ones. Also being taller it is more noticable and maybe not for "stealth camping".

 Why the lantern?

 A head torch can do the same job and easier to pack. Your carrying it anyway.

 Re. the Powerbee, if your taking a spare battery, do you need it for only 3 days?

 As for sleeping bag, If I could I'd take something better than a Tesco's one.

 Shaving oil, razor and mirror I'd dump. For three days why bother.

Chuck all the electrics.

Ditch most of the toiletries. I would take some of that sanitiser gel stuff and thats it. And bog roll..

Realistically though I doubt you will hack off enough to make any real difference.

Doubt you would notice a kilo even and that won't go without some serious pruning and spending.

huskyman I'd like to complete the whole path which will be about 30 days.

mattsccm, yeah I think you and Dylan are on the money...it'll start costing me big bucks to start saving any weight now, I think I've made all the easy weight savings.

Thanks dorset lad, have saved your instructions and will probably give it a go when i'm feeling brave enough.

Sorry John,

 OP didn't come across as wanting to do in one go.

 The only things I might want to change would be the sleeping bag and maybe the tent.

No probs my OP wasn't very clear. Thanks yeah as I thought no more cheap and easy savings to be made, unless I really want to rough it. I've already downgraded from a heavy alpkit skyehigh sleeping bag.

I better start saving up to drop another £100 or two, probably after my walk. This definitely isn't a cheap game!