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Edit: I'm planning on using a EXO 3500 pack for 3-4 day trips so that is why I'm also interested in items that will compress down.

Tent - Mountainsmith Morrison - 6lbs with footprint

Sleeping bag - Teton Sports +5 bag - 4.1 lbs

Pad - In the market for one

Hammock setup for the same temp rating is coming in at 5 pounds 9 ounces.

I hand made most of the stuff minus the hammock I use and the tent. I have roughly $400 in the tent and hammock. An an additional $150 in the hand sewn stuff. If I had to do it over again, I'd forgo the more expensive teepee for a mountainsmith LT or jimmy tarps version of it. The teepee is just too big for one guy and gear. But, it's nice with stove jack and room. I could've saved $250 on the alternatives though.

And a 1-liter Nalgene bottle filled with piping hot water and tossed into the foot of your bag can work miracles, too. One night, I slept out in a (floored) tent on top of some extremely dense/water-saturated snow at frosty cold temps with just a standard, 3/4 length Thermarest and a kid-sized down bag that I've had since I was about 7. Not particularly warm, but you can't beat the weight of it....

" I could shave off a half lb or so by going to a little slimmer bag and a few more ounces by using a smaller pad, but it's not worth it to me for 3/4 of a lb. "

Amen to that. The idea of a "sleeping system", as you put it, is TO GET SOME DAMN SLEEP. If you wake up in the morning with your energy reserves depleted and your muscles all stove-up because you spent the whole night locked in the fetal position and trying to keep warm, but on (or beyond) the verge of shivering... you're going to have a long, hard day no matter HOW light your pack is.

So just remember what the bike-shop guys like to say: There are 4 degrees of "light" weight: Light, Ultra-Light, Freaky-Light...

And Stupid-light.

For tents (I won't touch on tarps) there are a few options that come to mind like the Hilleberg Akto (3.75 lbs, $530), MSR Hubba Hubba (2.75 lbs, $350), and Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 (2 lbs, $350) that will all save you quite a bit of weight (and space!).

For sleeping bag/pad, I don't know if I will ever buy anything other than the Big Agnes system again. The BA System incorporates a sleeve in your bag where the pad goes. It prevents the bag from rotating and sliding off the pad. I recommend the Q-Core SLX pad (1 lb, $150) and if you want a 20 degree bag the Mystic UL 15 (2 lbs, $400) would be the BA System bag that is most packaable and lightest weight in that rating. Even though I'm only 5'8", I prefer the long versions which means you need the 20"x78" pad. You can find these on sale or discounted fairly regularly too.

There are lighter bags and pads out there but I have never slept in anything more comfortable. You'd be at 5 lbs with that bag and pad and one of the lighter weight tents I listed.

"Amen to that. The idea of a "sleeping system", as you put it, is TO GET DOME DAMN SLEEP. If you wake up in the morning with your energy reserves depleted and your muscles all stove-up because you spent the whole night locked in the fetal position and trying to keep warm, but on (or beyond) the verge of shivering... you're going to have a long, hard day no matter HOW light your pack is." Totally agree GF

I have also nixed the idea of getting a floorless shelter for now. I just dont like the idea of having creepy crawlies in my tent.

I use Klymit Inertia X pad: by far the lightest and most compact and for me very comfortable whether on my back or side even in cold weather.

Tent will depend on how robust and how bad the weather. Here in NM there are plenty of 2 lb 1 person tents that work great, I use Nemo Obi-1, MSR Hubba is very similar as are several others. For Alaska in the rain it's going to be some version of a Hilleberg.

Sleeping bag again many options. I use now discontinued down Mountainsmith Vision and Wisp depending on temp: 1 lb or 1.5 lb. Plenty of sleeping bags in the 2 lb or less that will keep you warm.

Tent, Kelty Ridge 2, bought used for $50 on craigslist. 5.1875 (83 oz) with Tyvek ground print. Bag, Cabela's Getaway 15°, on sale for $80, 2.75 (44 oz) Pad, Klymit V Insulated, $75, 1.43 (22 oz) Pillow, Sea to Summit Aeros UL, .125 (2 oz)

These are all weighed on my food scale, which varied from the manufacture's specs by a little. Total weight comes in at 9.4925 pounds with some room to improve. I don't think I paid full retail for anything...maybe the pillow but I thought it was discounted at REI when I ordered.

I'd like to upgrade pads and get a Big Agnes pad that is a bit thicker and comes in at just under a pound. Next year I'll split the weight of the tent with my son.

A lot depends upon the area I'm going, length of trip, type of trip, and the weather in that particular weather. If you hunt a dry area you can obviously get by with a lot less gear to keep you safe and comfortable than if you are hunting late season in deep snow...verses an area where it's super rainy.

The best all around set ups and one of the best investments I ever made was buying a 4 season tent. They are built for high winds and deep snow. It's pretty tough to beat the Hilleberg line of tents. They are pretty much bomber-proof and don't really weigh that much for the quality of their products. The reason I mentioned a 4 season tent is it is super flexible. If I hunt early season elk in Colorado, Utah, or where it's warm and dry I often use only the fly, poles, and painters plastic floor. I believe my bomber-proof fly set up weighs less than 2 lbs! If I plan on late season snow or area similar to Alaska where it blows I obviously can bring the entire tent plus a footprint.

It's pretty tough to beat Western Mountaineering bags. They are super lofty and light for their warmth ratings. I've always used a down bag with waterproof outer because it is generally more compact and lighter weight than most synthetics. I always put it inside a super light waterproof dry sac and have never had a problem. I also use a Neo-air pad that is super light, compact, and I sleep like a baby!

Don't know the total weight but it's not much over 5 lbs.

Kifaru mega tarp. 1 lb 5 oz's Mtn hardware 15 degree bag. 2 lbs 4 oz's Therma rest x therm 1 lb 4 oz's

AndyJ has the best comment on this - "It all depends on your tolerance for suffering".

By God it was right!

I've slept from 80* down to 4* with this setup. It's not for everyone, but works for me. I'd estimate without the stove it weighs about six pounds, probably nine with it.

Also reiterate that a good insulated pad may be more important than the bag.

And yes you are too heavy. One other thing is that the lighter gear will compress more so not only will you save weight but space/volume in your pack

WRT weight, $$$$ buys ounces/lbs and condenses bulk. Lots of cheaper things out there that provide the same performance..... but at the cost of weight and bulk. Everything is a trade off.

OK, as it stands now.... tent is a 3man Stephenson's warmlite (think a silnylon Hilleburg). Double wall (no condensation) double vestibule and doors..... with ventilation wings screens and floor. It's good for two AND all your gear, easy... and a palace for one. 6 lb with poles, stakes, lines and bag. Quick up and down even in the rain and has stood up to some pretty good weather..... one night wind collapsed another tent, I was fine and took in the survivors.... =D

WM 15 degree bag about 3 lbs. Very roomy, not a mummy. Thermarest x-therm about a lb.

10 lbs of security and comfort in most everything I've even had thrown at me in late sept.

Wasn't always that way. Been some miserable nights before, teeth chattering nights that you would have paid any money at the time to be warm and dry..... found it's best to pay it up front and avoid the "experience". "Experience" is what they call it after you &%$# up.

Western Mountaineering bags are top notch. They are pricey but they will last you a lifetime of use. You can find some cheap prices on them. Buy them "used." I've seen some brand new bags but considered "used."

ExPed synthetic pad saves so much heat loss that I've actually been too warm on it unless its in the 40's temp range. Weighs aprox 1 lb. ( I used to like Thermarest).

Combined with my 20 yr old 30 degree down bag from rei, (1.5 lb)I'm warm in a seek outside beyond treeline floorless tent (2 lb) Add another .5 lb for stakes = 5 lbs.

This tent has a stove jack, which i could use with stove that fits my 6 lb. Kifaru sawtooth. As pictured above by Ermine.

Bowsite is great for recommendations from tried and true hunters. I also always search web reviews of the product before making my final decision.

I have total confidence in this combo down to about 15* , with a bag liner and UL bivy added I can stay out to about 0* at under 10 lbs..

I also have a 20* down Rei Bag, REI uninsulated pad and REI 1 man tent that comes in at about 5.5 lbs. for summer lake hikes with my wife but it is not nearly as warm, trustworthy or comfortable as my heavier setup it is also about $650.

I used a 1 man 1.6 pound tarp-tent(@$250) with the ultralight setup my wife uses for a couple years which got me under 5lbs. total but that tent let me down( got soaked from underneath with the down bag) on my sheep hunt and is mothballed now.... No amount of weight savings is worth putting yourself in an unsafe situation IMO.

I'm a little heavier than average for my kit but sacrifice on food ( one of the advantages of going into the season over objective..lol) and can go in for 5 days at under 35# with ,food, water (to walk in 3+ miles)and a kill kit, including an extra 10x10 tarp for living/ cooking space.

You don't have to spend a ton to have a serious safe and responsible, backcountry setup!

DS