I have been wondering, if trekking with a footprint when going ultralight, makes sense or not? The distributor of our tent brand has pointed it out on their website.

Is it just marketing or actually a must to retain your tent? And if so, which footprint can you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all. Taking some friends & kids out to my favorite place in California.

https://lighterpack.com/r/76ius4

Different circumstances in my being responsible for Other Humans™ so I'm overpreparing a bit and could use some add'l opinions from the amazing folks here. I know emigrant well and spend time there. But I'm taking my 10yo and semi-leading (as in, you can come with me but i'm not responsible for your happiness) a group of a few other families.

Notes, for your consideration, although maybe I am still dumb:

• Seriously the most important thing is sleep. I'm 48 and a trail runner. I need my comfort, my darkness, and i need my damn pillow to stay in place.
• My 10yo is carrying a lot of his own stuff (not sharing his LP but it's similar) but I'll still be carrying more of it, like all food + shared things such as tent, water filtration.
• I don't have any lighter quilts and my budget for the year is all used up. If it wasn't then yes I'd be bringing a 30º or 40º.
• Yes I know my gear list reads like a damn instagram influencer but don't hate me, I've been a durston fan since buying the first xmid on massdrop, which i still have and use.
• Stuff sacks are minimal and helpful for kids -- "go into the orange bag" vs "find the bag with the ___ in it"
• I know the sierra pretty well so this assumes "who knows" weather, with the super mica + senchi for layering if needed, and intention to use quilt for a puffy poncho at night if we're hanging out

Thanks in advance for all your feedback and roasting. I do love this sub. One of the main reasons I'm on reddit. And too fucking bad I'm bringing that flextail, unless you'd like to come join us and blow up the pads for the kids 😁

Hi all, as I prep for my trip and once again choose to not bring my convertible pants because i hate them, I'm wondering: Has any company made non-"REI GUY" convertible pants? Perhaps with attachments that aren't zippers, or loose joggers that roll up and latch somehow?

I'm using my Ferrosi since you can pull them up and cinch them at the knees, but it's not the same as shorts. In theory i love convertibles but I just hate the weird zipper rigidity and then the feel of it, and prefer just pants or trail runners.

Thanks!

(if not, i imagine there's a market opp here)

Hey!

I'm planning a NOBO Thru-Hike on the AT in 2025, and I've just about got all my gear except consumables/toiletries. I've taken a lot of advice and inspiration from this sub, and I'd love your advice on optimizing my gear! I've listed everything I plan on bringing on LighterPack, anything starred is something I don't have, though they're all relatively minor items that I can easily obtain. I'd love some feedback, is there anything I'm doing wrong or missing? Thanks so much!!

LighterPack: https://lighterpack.com/r/y8diw0

Current base weight: 11.3 pounds

Location/temp range/specific trip description: AT in Southern Virginia/Shenandoah. Forecast temps are between 61-86 Fahrenheit, with some light rain. This is a weekend trip: 3 full days.

Budget: Around $500.

Non-negotiable Items: Nothing is non-negotiable. But some context might help:

• I prefer having two soft flasks so that one can be used for hydration mixes because the other contains dirty water. I could use the smart water bottle for this. I don't like pouring the powders down the small opening.
• I find the hip pockets on my Exos annoying to work with, the fanny pack is my solution. Although, I don't really like the Exos (see Additional information).
• My standard bag is a Kelty Cosmic 20. But because it's so warm, I'm bring an old 50 degree bag that I keep around for hot weather trips.

Solo or with another person?: With one other person. We will share the power bank and I'll use his poop kit if needed.

Additional Information: My main goal is to dial my kit in for weekend trial runs. I've been eyeing GG's Kumo Fastpack. it would be a huge upgrade from the Exos (which is not very good for going fast). But I'm afraid my kit is too heavy after taking food and water into account. It seems that the only real option to reduce a significant amount of weight is to upgrade my sleeping bag. But I have not yet because of the cost.

My main questions are two:

1. Can I comfortably carry this kit in the Kumo Fast or something like it?
2. What are some good options that won't break the bank for a sleeping bag with this kit?

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/gnjjdl

Current base weight: 17.8lbs (accounting for the BearVault)

Location/temp range/specific trip description: July 28-August 13, 2024. Planning 13 days on trail. Two resupplies. Temps: 70s-40s?

Budget: $300. Pretty locked in since this is my usual kit. Still need to buy a bug net and bugspray (I usually don't bother but keep reading it's a good idea here.

Non-negotiable Items: I do have a cheap poncho and Frogtoggs but do like using this Arcteryx jacket bc I have it. And has pit zips. It has served me well so far.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: Expecting to burn up at night with my 22F quilt. I have 2x costco quilts (one sewn into the footbox, one not) that I like to use for summer but that would add 500g so figured better safe than sorry.

Interested in hearing tips on flying with everything and not having a car. Planning on checking everything in a cardboard box so the straps and bits don't get caught up. Will have a carryon nylon tote for ID, snacks, batteries, etc.

A little worried about sun protection. I ordered a FarPointe sunhoodie but I got the sizing wrong without time to re-order.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/1h82n7

https://imgur.com/81y9Ojj

Got out my sleeping pad after over a year of not having a chance to use it and uh...

This likely wouldn't have happened if I had properly cleaned and dried it after getting home from my last trip, but storing a sleeping pad partially inflated (if you have the room) can help mitigate risks of mold growth.

On an entirely unrelated note, anybody looking to sell an Insulated Tensor RW?

I was recently on OutdoorCrunch.com and they have a down jacket chart that shows all of their specs and temp ratings. I’m wondering if anyone on here knows why almost similar spec’s jackets would rate significantly different?

Specifically I was looking at the Arcteryx Cerium Hoody and Feathered Friends EOS. According to the chart here are the specs listed:

Feathered Friends EOS 8F / -13C 900 fill power 105g of down 3,333 in3

Arcteryx Cerium 26F / -3C 850 fill power 113g of down 3,388 in3

Based off the specs you’d assume the jackets would be closer than 20degree temp rating which is a huge difference. Of course baffle volume would influence this but judging by looks they are same width, not sure about depth though. What would be the cause of this big of difference? Or are these temp rating just off?

Took a deep dive the last couple days into sleeping bags while looking for a new one for my lovely wife. The rating are complete horse manure. There are some sites, like REI, that do a nice job of showing fill weight, total weight, comfort temp and limit temp (both EN ratings). So I built a table of women's bags, and after doing so, realized that there is very little weight variance manufacturer to manufacturer. In other words, if you hold down fill power reasonably consistent (within 50) and fill weight also reasonably consistent, the EN temp rating ends up being about the same and total weight ends up being about the same - within maybe a few oz at most.

For example, Sea to Summit has a Spark 15 Women's bag that's supposedly a super lightweight bag. 25.7 oz. Problem is the comfort rating on it is actually 30 degrees, not 15. Compare that to an REI magma 30 with a comfort rating of 34 and a weight of 24.4, Similar, but totally misnamed. And by the way, the Feathered Friends Egret, which is not EN tested so can't "really" be compared to the EN bags, has a fill weight slightly less than the Spark, and fill power 100 higher, and a total weight about the same, which would mean that it should perform, at best, only very slightly better than the 30 degree EN comfort rating of the Spark. Marketing crap all around.

Another example in warmer bags: Compare the Neutrino 600 10 degree bag from RAB. 34 oz. That 10 degree bag is actually an EN comfort rating of 23. The BA Torchlight W UL 20, REI Magma 15 (unisex), MH Phantom 15 (men's) and Sierra Designs Nitro 800 20 all have comfort ratings between 20-23, 800-850 fill power, 19.2-20.9 fill weight, and total weights between 33.2-37. Nearly identical despite the names and claims. The 3.8 oz difference is almost entirely attributable to features and size (37 oz torchlight has collapsible baffles and can expand to the largest width, 33.3 Phantom is the thinnest cause it's a tight men's cut).

So this is half rant, half PSA - there are no silver bullets for lightweight sleeping bags. There are no bags that really outperform others, and same with quilts. Pick your sleeping system style (quilt or bag, mummy, etc.) then find a reasonably high power fill (the higher the better to shave an oz or two), then get a fill weight that fits your temp range, then find your shape you like, then find the cheapest thing you can get that fits those parameters. No manufacturer has any secret sauce.

I want my two days back. Frustrating marketing BS.

Hi everyone 👋

I'm going for a 1400 kms hike in New Zealand (Te Araroa).

I have a Hilleberg Rogen (2.1Kg - 2person) which was planned to be used with my wife for other smaller hikes.

But since I'll be doing a long hike alone, I wanted to get a Tarptent Moment DW (1.040Kg - 350$).

I can't choose between saving money or shaving on weight ?

What would be your opinion?

Kind regards 🙏

NB : The weather can be really bad here, and turn from full sun to thunderstorm in no time.

I'm leaving for a 6-day trip to Olympic NP on Sunday and can't decide what layers to bring! I've been revamping my approach to trail clothing, so interested in other opinions. Forecast so far seems to be for daytime highs between the low 50's and 70-ish, nighttime lows in the low 50's, and a couple days of heavy cloud cover and light rain showers. Recent trip reports indicate lots of mosquitoes in some areas. Trail is mostly forested with some open ridges. Minimal bush whacking as far as I know, but one trail has a lot of reports of blow down in previous years.

Options I have, with weights I can remember off the top of my head: -Sun hoodie (MH Crater Lake) -Synthetic t-shirt (can be permethrin treated) -OR Insect shield/sun sleeves -Light merino blend 1/4 zip -OR wind jacket (old, don't remember model) ~4oz -100 weight 1/4 zip decathlon fleece ~8oz -Outdoor Vitals Ventus hoodie (lightly insulated 1/4 zip with mesh pit vents, and hood) ~8oz -Uniqlo down jacket ~8.75oz (I always want my puffy at camp, even though it won't be that cold) -Rain gear is my myog "parcho" and rain kilt

Will be wearing zip off pants on the bottom (usually in shorts mode, but like the pants for cool morning/ evening and bug reasons) and bringing sleep pants. I don't usually bring a sleep shirt, but if there could be constant drizzle for a couple days, idk if my hiking shirt will be dry enough. I don't feel like the sun shirt is necessary, but I do want some kind of light sleeves for bug protection, at least when stopped. Probably won't be too bad when moving. If there's something that would really complete my kit that I can pick up at REI or local outdoor store, I'm open to suggestions. I want an Alpha hoodie, but haven't gotten one yet.

I’m getting more into backpacking, specifically ultralight and have done a few trips without a gps, mainly because they’re so expensive and I’m guessing they’re heavyish . I have an AllTrails subscription and know how to orienteer with a paper map so it doesn’t really seem super critical, but it would be really nice to be able to see weather updates. Does everyone else use a gps? I genuinely don’t know how common they are or how critical they can be since I’m kind of new to backcountry stuff.

Thinking of buying this tarp. $70 for a lightweight tarp seems too good to be true. Claims to be only 8oz.

Does anyone have any experience using this tarp? Do I need to be worried, or should I just purchase? Thanks in advance.

https://www.amazon.ca/Klymit-Portable-Lightweight-Waterproof-Packable/dp/B08FCQQFSV

https://klymit.com/en-ca/products/roamer-throw-tarp?variant=35155702317215

Hi all,

I've spend some time reading through the many posts and the submission rules. I'm looking for a ULTRA lightweight, that is available in Europe/The Netherlands, but I don't have much reference and experience of ULTRA lightweight, other than I like a very light jacket after trying on some jackets (that I now know don't qualify as UL).

Ideally I would like my ULTRA lightweight jacket to have the following features and I would like to know what product (brands / types) would be advisable to research:

• Size: L
• Center Back Length: 78 cm minimum
• For what its worth reasonably Waterproof and Reasonably Breathable (I now know both is not possible)
• Stretch optional
• Sleeve articulation for freedom of movement (Raglan Sleeves)
• Mechanical ventilation
  • Pit zips using (YKK® AquaGuard Zips?)
  • Hem-To-Bicep Venting
• 2-way YKK® VISLON® centre front zip
• 2 YKK® AquaGuard® zipped hand pockets

I found some jackets with Paclite (felt very smooth) but I was prompted that these are not ULTRA lightweight jackets (Rab Men's Kangri GORE-TEX PACLITE® Plus Jacket and the Outdoor Research Men's Foray II GORE-TEX® Jacket). So I am looking for jackets that are ULTRA lightweight.

I've read about the following options, but I would like to receive some more advice:

• Mon Bell Versalite
• Patagonia Torrentshell
• Silnylon Warbonnet Stash jacket
• Vertice
• yamatomichi
• Visp (no pockets)

Anything that I can add or disregard, or any other advice/guidance is appreciated.

EDITS:

• Removed Patagonia Houdini Air as it a wind shell

I'm planning on spending a few days hiking around and staying overnight in Ontario this August. The longest time out will probably be 3 nights in a row, with multiple shorter trips as well.

This is my first time doing backpacking as previously I've only done car camping with a big cooler and a heavy tent and such. A lot of my equipment is huge or old so I looked for some alternatives. I'm struggling to get the weight and the cost estimate both down.

I'm hoping to get gear that can play double duty in Ontario in the fall, doing some weekends into October.

I'm planning on buying the freeze dried meal packets and eating out of the pouch with the spork.

For water, the purification tablets take 4 hours but there will be water almost everywhere. I plan to run it through the coffee filters into the pot and then pour it with the funnel back into one of the folding bottles. Add the tabs and wait 4 hours. Then I'll have a throughput of 0.5L per hour with one bottle being drunk out of and up to two purifying.

Also please let me know if I've missed anything critical. My previous strategy was to throw big clumps of stuff into the car and figure out what I need once I got there.

Current base weight: 11.96 lbs

Goal base weight: I'd like to get under 10 for true ultralight

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Ontario, August. Daytime 70F-90F, Night around 60F

Budget: I'm trying to get items that are going to be flexible and I can use during fall in Ontario as well. Prices are in CAD not USD. Ideally I'd spend under $1000 CAD but I'm not sure that's realistic.

Non-negotiable Items: The binoculars for birding, prescription meds, health insurance card, phone. I'd like to keep some pyjamas or another solution as I can't take the feel of the sleeping bag or hammock material without a layer.

Solo or with another person?: Sometimes by myself and sometimes with my significant other.

Additional Information: Stuff that I own, I weighed with a scale and I have as $0 in lighterpack. Stuff I would need to buy has the price, a link, and the MEC weight where possible (they weigh it themselves IIRC rather than work off the manufacturer).

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/9v4g2y

Location/temp range/specific trip description: High Peaks Wilderness in the Adirondacks, late September - early October. Expecting good chance of freezing temperates and high winds at peaks, lower temperatures but above freezing below treeline. Will be attempting Mt. Marcy and Algonquin in a loop over 3 days.

Budget: I can manage a few hundred to replace items. Mainly trying to figure out what I can get away with leaving behind.

Non-negotiable Items: Currently not in a position where I can replace the pack, tent and sleeping bag. Compass is not an item I am willing to leave behind. Bear canister is required at this location.

Solo or with another person?: Will be attempting with a friend.

Additional Information: I don't expect to go very light this trip with my pack and tent, but I would like to aim for a goal of low 30's and swap out more gear as I can manage in the future.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/nokn5t

any good brand readily available in Europe? here in Norway all imports from cottage brands that sell nylofume bags have to pay costumes duty and VAT, so is there another bag that you could buy at hardware stores or supermarkets ?

Overview: 

I've just received and set up a very light-weight (less than 3 lbs.), 15d Sil-nylon tent from Aricxi, the well-known Chinese UL tarp maker. It appears, from dimensions, design, and features, to be their version of a Lanshan 2 (or Pro?), though 2 inches longer & wider.

The color is solid black....which I like (though I set it up in the shade, it doesn't seem to be excessively hot inside), but it also comes in grey. The outer tent/tarp is separate from the inner netting-tent and I set that up first, before hanging the netting, with a bath-tub floor inside. The stress points, like the Lanshan, have Dyneema re-enforcing. Guy-lines are very long (8 ft?) which is best for a good pitch. As you can see in the AliExp. ad, there are various ways the tent can be set up...depending on your own creativity.

It comes with a sil-nylon footprint too (but that raises the weight a bit.) Oh, it's about 5 cm longer & 5 cm wider than the Lanshan 2 Pro, according to the dimensions shown.

The shipping was fast (about 2 weeks from mainland China) and free, from AliExpress. Best of all, the price was only $89!

I set it up in a local park (as I have no yard), and have not been camping with it yet. One reason I set it up was the seam-seal it--as I know Lanshans need this. To my happy surprise the seams are all factory sealed already! Aricxi is looking for loyal customers, I guess! I decided to seal the top seams from the outside anyway, since I was already prepared to do this--no reason not to double seal it.

It took a while to set up--as it was very hot out, my first time with it, and I'm old. But, I eventually got it decently pitched.

https://imgur.com/LVM5rwy

https://imgur.com/Vulxllk

https://imgur.com/oaRtn9P

https://imgur.com/a/2dQ704x

https://imgur.com/a/tRIHQbU

Here's a link to the tent in Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805524591346.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.34.68721802QjzlvG&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Pros: 

+The Weight: Very light for a full 2 person tent.

+The Price: At $89, a real BARGAIN!

+The Quality: Everything seems well put together, sewn seems correctly, zippers are good, & most importantly it is factory seam-sealed.

Cons: 

-Shipped straight from China means...if there's a problem with it, that may be impossible to resolve.

-One annoyance--which I assume Aricxi will soon correct--was I had to re-tie all the tie-down points since, as the AliEx. ad reveals, they were "incorrectly operated by a new worker." Just a minor thing though--that the fact that it is factory-seam-sealed more than makes up for!

-Everything with the tent is black (including the aluminum stakes & guy lines). For me I'd rather have bright colored stakes and lines to avoid tripping on them or losing them. Maybe this is the Goth version of this tent? A wide variation in colour would be nice for this tent.

Limitations: 

Since I haven't actually camped overnight yet in this tent, I cannot give you the fullest review--this is simply a first look. So far so good though--and I'm sure as a quality copy--this will compare favorably to the standard Lanshan 2 (or Pro?). I'd be very curious though for an owner of a Lanshan 2 Pro to compare the 2 tents side by side, to see what the differences are.

Disclaimer:

I bought this myself, with no connection to Aricxi or AliExpress. I just thought the group would be interested in a review of this very inexpensive tent.

Hey guys,

please shake me down for the CT (again, shuffled some gear around).

Edit: obviously 08/24 - 09/12

Current base weight: 8.06 lbs

20f - 90f, mostly 30f - 70f

Budget: 1$/g, sales of gear I have possible

Non-negotiable: sleep shirt and loofah, needed for skin health

Solo

Goal Time of 20 days

https://lighterpack.com/r/pxh80c

What I'm thinking:

I realize rain pants are somewhat unpopular, with some saying (looking at you u/nunatak16) they haven't used them in 20 years, and some saying they absolutely always take them into the Colorado High Country. I've hiked in a cold downpour with just a poncho, it sucked and I don't want to set up shelter just for rain. Open to all perspectives though. I'd take leggings otherwise, which weigh the same, and the rainpants are breathable enough to not be miserable without rain. Some of the last years seem to have seen wetter periods.

Please don't come at me with phone worn weight semantics, I care about the load on my shoulders.

I dislike the bulk of ccf outside the pack, and my normal 3mm won't be warm enough unfortunately.

Looking forward to what you guys are seeing that I'm blind to!

I recently had my garmin mini 2 stolen and am asking if I need ti replace it. I also recently upgraded my iPhone and have the satellite messenger features that got a workout on a recent PCT hike. The iPhone was great at messaging over satellite and though I didn’t have a need for it seems like a good SOS communication device. There are some downsides to using the iPhone over the garmin but the thing I really missed was sharing my location with family via garmin’s mapshare feature. You CAN share your location via satellite on iPhone but it’s clunky and needs to be done manually (you connect to the satellite and tell it to update your current location).

Is there another device like the mini2 that can just share location via satellite?

Hi everyone,

I've been working on fine-tuning my ultralight camping setup and would love some feedback from the community. I want to make sure I'm on the right track and see if there are any areas where I can make further improvements. Here’s the link to my gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/22lvi4

I'm open to any suggestions or critiques you may have, whether it's about reducing weight, improving functionality, or swapping out items for better alternatives. Your expertise and experience would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: reposted with updated LighterPack link
EDIT2: Adding in info based off of the Shakedown Template

Do you have a goal base pack weight (BPW) in mind? BPW is all the gear you're taking on a trip minus food, water, and fuel.

No. But I have had a pretty bad shoulder injury and want to get my weight as low as possible to minimize strain on it/

What's your budget and what are you looking to replace with this budget?

Open ended budget where I like to hit the area of diminishing marginal return.

i.e. not spending an extra $250 to save 1oz, but willing to spend to for future proof and good quality UL gear.

Are there any pieces of your existing gear that you are attached to and will not shed regardless of our advice?

No. Open to a full pack rebuild.

What region and seasons do you normally hike in? Do you have any trips planned that don't fit that mold?

North East of the US with West Coast trips every couple years.

Do you hike with others (dogs, significant others, close friends, not-so-close friends)?

Solo or with friends who are self-sufficient

Do you have any anxieties or uncertainties about ultralight gear (e.g., tarps instead of tents, quilts instead of mummy bags, etc.)? How big a plunge are you willing to take?

No. I've been hiking for 15+ years and am actually quite interested in lowering what gear I have available to improve my skills. I'm willing to stumble to get better.

Location/temp range/specific trip description: New England with proper three seasons. 90 degrees to below freezing. Less frequently below freezing.

Goal Baseweight (BPW): Sub-10lbs

Budget: Open.

Non-negotiable Items: None

Solo or with another person?: Both.

Additional Information: Shoulder injury. Maybe can fit my UL set up into a big fanny pack?

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/22lvi4

I live in northern rockies and do 90% of my summer backpacking in sandals (Bedrocks), but occasionally want to enclose my feet for sharp rocks or scrambling. Anyone have a pair of aprroach style shoes that live well in/on their pack? ie they pack well and aren't heavy. Ideally they have some edging ability, eg NOT altras or lems.

PS, I'd prob go with something like the La Sportiva Tx2, but they don't make my size (14). Thx.

I am 52 years old and have stayed in fairly good shape but just came back from a three day trip with my teens and it kicked my ass more than I’d hope. I have definitely never been ultralight and have always just “thugged it out” (as my 17 year old daughter would say) with stupid weights. Probably a minimum of close to 30lbs and definitely more like 50 for longer trips. I have promised my kids that as long as I am able and they want to we will do a trip at least once a year. This trip convinced me that I need to make a change to keep that promise going as long as possible. Where should I start? Tent? Bivy? Hammock? Smaller lighter pack? Lighter sleeping bag or different option? All dried food? Where do I even start to make a real and immediate difference?

I have a Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ with Dyneema floor on order, but I'm questioning my decision and wanted to see if you all had any advice for my first UL tent. Here are my needs:

• 2+ person for my girlfriend and myself and we both use 25" pads
• I'm 6'4" so need some extra length
• Backpack primarily in the rockies (Colorado, Wind Rivers, Beartooths) but also in the desert (Utah, Death Valley)
• Large vestibules would be nice to protect gear from monsoon rains
• I'm concerned about the large footprint of the X-Mid, but I assume it's a problem with any 2+ person tent
• We both have non-adjustable BD carbon fiber poles, so I had to order the Durston poles but plan to order Dan's hiking poles whenever they come back in stock.

Any ideas? What else am I not thinking about? Thanks!

I like to make photos and videos while climbing with my camera, combined with two lenses. The problem is that I have a hard time finding out what the best way is to store one of these lenses, while the other one is on my camera. For moderate terrain, I've used a hip/chest bag in the past to store one of my lenses in (biggest lens is 80x165mm in size, cylinder shape) and swap them around if needed. This however doesn't really work all that well when I am on a glacier having coils around my chest, or just climbing in general. I don't want to store the lens in my bag, because then I will never ever take it out. The camera itself is connected to a PeakDesign sling, which I put crossways over my chest. On technical terrain, I clip my camera to a carabiner on my harness, so it won't sling around that much.

Any recommendations on this? I was thinking about buying a lightweight bottle holder, which I can connect to my backpack, but I am worried this might wobble around to much and isn't that secure or easy to use. I can't find any info on how professional climbers/photographers do this like Jimmy Chin.

I'm planing to start the NST in spring of 2025. The trips take around 20 weeks. Got my pack pretty dialed in without sacrificing on too much comfort.

Expected conditions during the day are mild, probably rarely if at all going below freezing at night as we are talking Spring/Summer in Central Europe.

Any suggestions?

Am I not strict enough with worn weight / consumables for my BW?

Isn't total pack weight the only real metric for comparisons anyway?

https://lighterpack.com/r/fc0ee8

I'm in the market to buy my first own backpacking tent. I always slept in someone elses tent with them on trips and I personally only own a pretty standard car camping tent that is not ideal for backpacking because of bulk and weight. Of course — like any other UL noob — I'm eyeing the Zpacks duplex but I heard it can be a hit or miss on durability. I know a guy who has used his for 4000+ miles and it only now starts to get small holes, but I also heard of people having their duplex break after only a few weeks. I know Zpacks has a good warranty policy but I just don't want to deal with the hassle of it for something so expensive. What are your thought on this?

Any tips and reccomendations are welcome. Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm looking to get a new backpack for my paragliding gear, and none of the light packs made by the paragliding brands fit me (6' 5"/196cm)

The pack needs to be frameless as it needs to roll up and fit in my harness while flying.

My current plan is the granite gear virga3 55L (I'm hoping it's big enough), and I will cut in/add a full length zipper down the back of it for easy packing of my folded paragliding gear.

Before I pull the trigger though, I'm curious if you all have any other recommendations for similar packs that I should look into. Thanks!!

this is in USD btw.. and i live in Europe, the Czech Republic…i posted this over in campingandhiking and people suggested i post here too :)

Is this going to be enough budget for decent equipment?: two man tent, sleeping bag (3seasons), sleeping pad, a solid, well made backpack(where i can carry many days worth of supplies), rain gear, and some basic cooking supplies/equipment. maybe some poles and any other essential clothing i may need to own. i already own really solid boots i bought last year.

of course i understand it all depends on the quality of each item one is buying but id hope to be able to buy at least mid range stuff or better?

i’m pretty new to all of this so am a bit clueless. i’m just ready to buy all of this stuff and begin doing small trips and slowly longer/bigger trips.

UPDATE:: APPRECIATE all the helpful tips here!

I just took my kid (5) on their first backpacking trip and it was a blast. HOWEVER, carrying two sleeping bags and two pads (plus all the food and tent) was heavier than it needed to be. In a couple of weeks all three of us are going together. I was thinking of getting a two person quilt for my wife and me and using my kid can use their Big Agnes bag. For this trip I have an older 3p Marmot tent we've been using for years.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a 2p quilt and/or pads? Or what is your set up with a kid? Just trying to cut down on weight and save space.