Just listened to the the Backpacking Light - Episode 91 | Fishnet Mesh Base Layers podcast and was quite curious to try a fishnet base layer.

The show was sponsored by Brynje who make the Unisex Super Thermo Long Sleeve with Inlay. This thing weighs only 130g and they argue is incredibly warm because it moves moisture away from your body.

Interested to try something like that but it looks like shipping to Canada is ~$139 and I couldn't find a Canadian retailer.

Questions:

• Anyone tried this?
• Any good alternate brands available in Canada?

Free shipping is above 200CAD. Wondering if anyone wants to share an order, am based in Vancouver.

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6008-648/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul-2-person-tent?colour=Olive+Green

I’ve been using AllTrails but I’m looking for an alternative due to how much it lies (it doesn’t really I just can’t plan elevation lol).

I was looking at Gaia but it seems absurdly expensive. Does anyone have any recommendations for apps that have Canadian maps? Maybe any that have good deals for Cyber Monday?

Welcome to the r/UltralightCanada gear buy/sell thread!

Buying and selling gear from the US gets expensive for Canadians. This thread aims to allow Canadians to buy and sell between each other to avoid these added fees.

There are some simple rules that should be followed when using this thread:

• Top level comments should be ONLY for WTS (want to sell) and WTB (want to buy), and WTT (want to trade) posts.
• The first line of your post should make it clear what you are offering / wanting to purchase. Please format the first line of your post like this example: "[WTB] MLD Burn DCF".
• If you are posting a WTS, include an asking price and weight for the item, as well as photos if possible.
• If you are posting a WTB, be specific! Include things like sizing and colour if they are applicable.
• If your item or request has been sold or fulfilled, please mark the post as such. Edit your post and add some bold text to the top of your post that says sold or fulfilled so that other users do not waste their time.
• Include a reason why you are selling your gear. People like to know what the issues you had with the gear was, or why you are getting rid of it.
• Do not repost the same item in the same monthly thread. Wait for next month to repost.
• Do not attempt to sell purchased gear above its original selling price.
• Do not comment negatively on prices for posts not breaking any of the above rules.

Linking to other gear trade sites or cross posting is allowed.

Please post using CAD!

Any deals made on this subreddit are the responsibility of the participants. Please use your common sense and be careful when buying and selling gear on gear trade sites! We advise you protect yourself by using PayPal business for a small 3% fee.

Remember to sort by "new" to see listings in chronological order!

Wondering if anyone happens to know MEC’s old return policy before it was purchased?

Hello,

I'm on the lookout out for an emergency GPS that will worth for my backpacking adventures, 2 or 3 backpacking adventures in Algonquin for 5 days each, and hopefully increasing this.

I also kayak and would like to bring it with me as I do solo trips (both backpacking and kayaking) so I wanted something incase of an emergency. So whatever unit I get needs to be waterproof and robust when clipped to my backpack or lifejacket.

I have been reading out recent changes in the plans, is the Garmin still worth it? I don't do any winter kayaking or camping YET but plan on eventually kayaking In winter once I purchased a drysuit.

I don't want to rely on my phone incase it happens to break, get lost or runs out of battery (I have a Fold 5)

Any suggestions or should I purchase the Mini 2?

Since the Mini 2 is about 2 years or so old, is there any speculation of a Mini 3? I don't need it right away so I can wait until next year for the Mini 3 if one were coming out otherwise I'll just buy the Mini 2 now. It's on sale for $399 but I see this sale on Amazon frequently.

Anyhow I appreciate any advice and knowledge you want to pass on.

Thanks.

I’m after a Dooy wind jacket in Canada.

Amazon.ca has them for ~$80 but not the size I’m after.

I found a store, Suttonalliance.ca from Main St. Toronto that has them for $18 and free shipping. Seems too good to be true. Anyone know if this is the real deal?

https://www.suttonalliance.ca/product/dooy-running-cycling-jacket-windproof-sun-protection-bike-windbreaker-hooded-uv-protection-outdoor-coat-ultralight-and-packable-vrp4xmb6

I’m looking to try a quilt for my warm weather camping. I have Western Mountaineering TerraLite -4 bag and love it, but it’s much too warm for an anything above 10 degrees.

Any thoughts?

Interested if anyone has suggestions for a good quilt for next spring.

Right now I am rocking a MEC Talon 3C Down Sleeping Bag. It weighs ~800g (403g of down @ 800+).

Looking to lighten up but also need a second bag/quilt for a trip I am planning with my wife early next spring.

Requirements:

• Want to try a quilt. Seems like a good way to go lighter and every one seems to like that setup.
• Something like a 0C comfort rating.
• Not sure if it matters, but I sleep on both my side and my back.
• Right now sleeping on a wide Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT

General quilt questions:

• Does your head get cold?

Little Shop of Hammocks has some neat custom options - 0C

• $377
• 558g
• 0C (comfort or limit?)
• Possible to add draft collar.
• 850+ WDD Canadian Sourced Down.
• Fill weight - 388g
• Width: 55″ / 138cm

Little Shop of Hammocks - -7C

• $377
• 737g
• Fill weight - 496g
• Draft collar (maybe this adds weight)

Therm-a-Rest - Vesper™ 32F/0C Quilt Regular.

• $370
• 440g
• Comfort rating - 5C
• Limit rating - 0C
• Fill material - 900 Fill Goose Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, RDS
• Fill weight - 240g
• Width: 58" / 147cm
• Based on this review, probably not a good fit for anyone sleepers

Enlightened Equipment - Enigma - (20F/-6C) 850 Fill

• $424
• 600g
• Fill weight: 439g
• Width: 54" / 137cm

Them-a-rest Corus is also pretty tempting.

• $232
• 574g - Maybe too heavy but the price is very tempting.
• 650 Fill Nikwax® Hydrophobic Down

Suggestions welcome!

Don't know if this allowed in this sub (?) but it'd be great to collect some notable ultralight Black Friday sales in Canada.

No affiliation but Sporting Life has New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 GTX on sale for half off

Mec has tiger wall ul 40% off, Sail inreach mini 2 $140 off, both have echo hoodies on sale...

*Update : I know there is a lot of CP blaming on reddit however I wanted to let you guys know the other couriers are cashing in on CP's strike. To ship me 3 boxes of down it used to cost 375$ Now the same courier is charging almost 1200$. Crazy. I am searching for other options and yes basic freight with pallets and such are considered. It's nuts.
Hopefully (but unlikely) The costs go back to normal once it's over.
Hi fellow hiker people.

I thought I would ask this question here since I know some of the recent orders have come from members. With the Canada Post strike shipping with CP is at a stand still. What are your feelings on how to ship out product to you?
I have some options. Check and see if orders have an address that would support an actual courier. Many couriers have issues with personal dwellings especially if it's a small center (smaller).
Couriers often double the price of what CP charges. So it would have to be a changed shipping charge.
I could also simply have packages ready to go and hold onto parcels for a while to see if this resolves sooner vs later.
What are your thoughts?

James
Little Shop of Hammocks

I have updated the new(er) sale quilt which can be found here.

Please keep in mind this is a limited time offer (qty).
If you are planning a thru-hike in the spring get your orders in. As I cut orders I will try and predict the specials and precut stuff when I can.
Alpha Direct fabric is in and I have been making overquilts with it as well as a few toques. I have been playing with a few sweaters too. Very nice stuff. Not sure if there is enough of a need to make sweaters/pullovers but looking at all the options available. So many things to make but only 1 guy to make them.

Also wanted to let everyone know that Canada Post has a strike action pending between workers and CP. They are in position to strike with the 3 day notice. (nothing posted so far on actions) They haven't released anything specific but it could mean parcels would be held up. This affects a lot of people that aren't in a large(r) center. CP is the last leg carrier for many postal couriers that can't use 'dragonfly or etc (like amazon likes to use). It also makes sending items by courier such as UPS and Fedex super expensive or impossible in some cases. Have to see how that goes.

James
Little Shop of Hammocks

Hi all. Looking for some advice. I am looking to upgrade my 3 season bag. I currently have the Nemo Tempo 20F which 3lb 13oz and has a compressed size of 14" x 9". I have a few things I am looking for in my upgrade:

spacious shape versus strict mummy,

light weight,

small volume,

20F or lower temp rating,

not a wallet breaker = good value for money.

After a lot of research I came out with the Thermarest Presca20F or Questar 20F.

The difference between the two is basically weight and compressed volume. Presca 1lb 12oz and Questar 2lb 3oz so a difference of 7oz. Presca 7"x8.5" and Questar 7.5"x9".

The weight difference is due to Presca using 800 Fill Down and the Questar using 650 Fill Down.

Now the last note is price:

Presca $449 CAD

Quesstar $336 CAD

* Note I think I have a line on an "Open Box" Questar for $260 CAD!

I am leaning towards the extra 7oz and a half inch wider and longer when compressed for at least 25% less cost!

Thanks for making it this far. Any and all advice welcome!!!

Anyone tried this?

I have a long-wide sleeping pad, the MEC Vectair with a decent R-value of 4.4. I've been warm so far on it down to about 3C or 5C, but planning on a two-night this month which could go as low as -10C.

Has anyone stacked a long-wide pad on a normal 20" foam pad such as Thermarest? It would certainly hang over both the sides and top and bottom.

On Amazon I see a Mountain Spring Polar Bear XL which would match the pad roughly, but it's also more expensive and a lot bulkier to carry around.

Would like any input. I see on Amazon a couple have 22" width which is a bit better. I also have an older 20" self inflating Thermarest that I could use in theory.

Welcome to the r/UltralightCanada gear buy/sell thread!

Buying and selling gear from the US gets expensive for Canadians. This thread aims to allow Canadians to buy and sell between each other to avoid these added fees.

There are some simple rules that should be followed when using this thread:

• Top level comments should be ONLY for WTS (want to sell) and WTB (want to buy), and WTT (want to trade) posts.
• The first line of your post should make it clear what you are offering / wanting to purchase. Please format the first line of your post like this example: "[WTB] MLD Burn DCF".
• If you are posting a WTS, include an asking price and weight for the item, as well as photos if possible.
• If you are posting a WTB, be specific! Include things like sizing and colour if they are applicable.
• If your item or request has been sold or fulfilled, please mark the post as such. Edit your post and add some bold text to the top of your post that says sold or fulfilled so that other users do not waste their time.
• Include a reason why you are selling your gear. People like to know what the issues you had with the gear was, or why you are getting rid of it.
• Do not repost the same item in the same monthly thread. Wait for next month to repost.
• Do not attempt to sell purchased gear above its original selling price.
• Do not comment negatively on prices for posts not breaking any of the above rules.

Linking to other gear trade sites or cross posting is allowed.

Please post using CAD!

Any deals made on this subreddit are the responsibility of the participants. Please use your common sense and be careful when buying and selling gear on gear trade sites! We advise you protect yourself by using PayPal business for a small 3% fee.

Remember to sort by "new" to see listings in chronological order!

I posted here about ground backpacking quilts recently. After research and reading your advice, I ordered a custom made quilt, actually a hoodless mummy bag with quilt attachments, from Spirit West in Calgary.

Since then I found a good used LSOH quilt for sale locally, which I bought. It's down, but I have no idea of the temperature rating. It weighs around 700g and looks to be a regular size, so I'm guessing around -7C based on the size/weight/temp rating on the LSOH website.

The custom bag I've ordered is going to have a -7C rating. But now I have this quilt I'm wondering how best to update my order at Spirit West to give me the most versatility between the two.

I'm thinking possibly a warmer rated bag? What would you do?

Any easy way to order this in Canada? Or something similar?

Found this soft sleeve on aliexpress for like $6. The key is that the threads are compatible with my lifestraw (or your Sawyer squeeze) so you can fill this bladder up, screw your filter on, and filter all 500ml with one continous squeeze. No more crushing your bottles and straining your forearms!

I weighed mine at 21g. Definitely worth the quality of life boost on the trail. It's light and the quality seems good. It does not leak. And will let my Smartwater bottles last so much longer since they're not being crushed dozens of times every trip. Strongly recommend!

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNA9NQM

In store only at SportChek & Atmosphere locations (excludes Atmosphere stores in the province of Quebec, Whitehorse, YK)

Here I am again, with another big sportchek sale, if you look up the RFD post there's also a list of general discounts depending on brands. Last time I posted it the automod flagged the site as spam so that's why I'm doing it this way. I'd recommend that cause basically, the expensive brands (gopro, thermarest) don't tend to apply for this sale, no you don't know how much you get off until you're in store. Check my old comment for approximate discounts, further details are found on RedFlagDeals.

As mentioned before, they don't get to tell me how many friends (deal includes friends and family) I have so you can use my code too.

Show them this code and get some goods!

Code removed.

Let me know if you guys managed to get a wicked deal. I also accept payment in the form of dog pics.

There are quite a few of these "up to 70%" off sales at sportchek; military, CT Triangle mastercard, virgin mobile etc.

Note, there's a $4000 (after discount) limit on this, and it doesn't show how much is left on it (worker will tell you in store). You're welcome to share with your friends/family, but don't post it to other sites like RedFlagDeals (they have plenty of people who post theirs there) so more people here can use it.

I'm thinking about getting towards an UL system by getting a new pack and a quilt. I currently have an 80L Osprey Aether (I used to pack for myself and two kids) and -7 MEC down bag. I can replace these with a 40 L Durston Kakwa 40 L bag and a LSOH Serratus 20. Are the LSOH prices in cdn?. I typically backpack in July and Aug on the west coast and the rockies, and I've always found my -7 bag to be comfy so I don't think I want to go any cooler than that. My tent is an older BA Copper Spur and I have a thermarest NeoAir. My Big 4 would drop from 6.06 kg to 3.8 kg. I figure it would cost close to $1000 after taxes and shipping. That's $44 per 100 g. Seems like a lot but I guess that's what UL costs. Base mass goes from 8.71 kg to 6.45 kg.

Does that seem a like a logical path forward?

Any comments on the 20F (-7C) quilt for the coast and rockies, and trekking trips to places like Peru and Nepal (I can always rent a warmer bag at those places if needed).

Current pack: https://lighterpack.com/r/8e876p

Proposed pack: https://lighterpack.com/r/tk5y50

I know I know.. hammock..
So there are times I would like to sleep on a pad. Issue is I have had back surgery and it's tough. I have a 20" Exped and would like some recommendations for a pad. Something fairly light and could be used -10°C and warmer. Guessing 25" is the new 20" in width.

There are lot of recommendations for praNa Zion stretch pants. I decided to give them a try and I was happy with them. I wore them maybe 5 times just around town/home and washed them once or twice. When to undo the waist button and it broke off. I filled in a warranty form on their site and I’m learning that they don’t warranty their stuff for us Canadians! I can’t help but think there is some mistake and I emailed again and got the same message.

“at this time we are unable to cover warranty claims for international customers. I would be more than happy to provide this feedback to my team in hopes an option can be provided in the future. At this time, we would not be able to assist with the warranty of your item.”

Buyer beware!

Anyone else seen this of other companies? I’d like to know which other ones to avoid

Hey guys, wondering if anyone has bought from Katabatic quilts and what they paid for duty/taxes into Canada. I understand we pay HST regardless, but extra duty depends on where the quilt is made (Canada, US, Mexico or outside of those). On their website states quilt is imported, but “Designed, finished and inspected in Salida, Colorado”. Any experience is greatly appreciated!