Playing w/ an ultralight pack, part 2

Well, when I last got out my freebie G-4 type pack, I'd tried putting my bulky Coleman Tru-temp 20 sleeping bag in it and it practically ate all the pack's volume. Since then I've made a few acquisitions and adjustments. 1st, I found a EMS LT 20 sleeping bag on eBay for about $25, its much more compressible, has a pad sleeve and 8 ounces lighter than the Coleman bag. Also I bought a Titanium cookset w/ the Alabama Outdoors giftcard from Matthew. That saves me another 8 ounces I believe. And I've played with the tarp in setting it up in a couple of different pitches that I won't go mad from claustrophobia.

So last night I assemble it all, pack, sleeping bag, air pad, cookset, penny stove w/ windscreen, rain jacket, extra clothes, etc.

And the verdict: it all fit! and w/out food, water or fuel = 13.6 lbs.  Holy cow!! I wore it around the house to see how it carried, especially since I didn't have a foam pad to add structure and rigidity. It felt alright, not forget-its-there perfect, but much better than the near 30 lbs I took down to the Walls of Jericho. I think I'll try wearing the loaded pack this weekend when we go dayhiking on Borden Creek, just to ensure it won't fall apart on the AT next month.