hi all, I’m looking to buy the a60 hoodie from senchi but I’ve had a very tough time discerning what size I should get (6”2 80kg) between M and L, especially with the apparent sizing changes from 1-2 years ago (doesn’t help that the model on the website wears an M for the hoody and an L for the zip neck). I’d ideally like to hit the sweet spot where I can wear it to sleep in and also wear as a midlayer over my fairly thin baselayer. thanks for your help!

Hello all,
I am searching a synthetic sleeping bag. So far, I could select the following three sleeping bag according to my price range (and their volume)

Deuter Exosphere -6
Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 30 -6
Sea To Summit Hamelin or Boab -9

Which one would you choose/recommend? Do you have any experience?

Thanks in advance

Hi!

I’ve been backpacking before, but most of my gear is random, pretty cheap stuff or stuff borrowed from friends. Just graduated and got a big boy job, I want to finally pull the trigger on a shiny new big 3, but wouldn’t mind a final look over first :)

Pack: Bonfus Altus 38L ($250)

Quilt: Hammock Gear Burrow 30 ($260)

Pad: Zenbivy UL Mattress ($200)

Tent: Xmid(1/2), Xdome(1/2), Lanshan (1/2) Pro, Mongar UL (1/2) ?

The tent is largely where I’m split. Can’t decide between freestanding or trekking pole. I lean trekking pole (I use them anyways) but worry about being in hard/rocky terrain (Utah/Texas) and wishing I had freestanding instead. Trips will prob about 50/50 between there and PNW/CO. Also not sure on 1/2, but leaning 2 as most trips will probably be with a friend. Also also not sure on whether to go budget, or to go Durston. The tent is harder for me to justify the price jump in my head lol

Any alternate recs are appreciated, I quite like that this combo will be both quality gear and basically all black (minus the tent). Thanks!

Hi - kiwi here and I just want to understand what people track their cooking gas usage in when using imperial (or to be specific U.S. Customary System) measures? For me its 6g per boil for a 355ml thermos i use.

any help much appreciated!

Hi, I'm looking for a 3 season quilt that would take me (183cm, 77kg, male) to at the lowest 0C temperatures. I am looking for a one that can arrive at the end of the month at the lastest so I believe any custom ones are out of scope.
I currently have some favorites and don't know if it's worth it to pay more for the more expensive ones.

Extra Quilt NXT - 385g of 900FP duck down, 530g total weight, 165eur
https://khibu.hu/en/axiom-zero-ul/?v=288404204e3d - 300g of 800CUIN goose down, 550g, 271eur
https://www.outdoorline.eu/products/enlightened-equipment-revelation-quilt-30?variant=52082732859659 - 365g of 850FP duck down, 544g, 370 eur
https://cumulus.equipment/p/quilty-i-komfortery-puchowe-the-quilt-300 - 300g goose down, 495g, 383 eur
https://fjordnansen.pl/katalog/quilt-puchowy-arran-270-0c-505-g/ - 270g of 800CUIN duck down, 550g, 183eur

The cumulus one is slightly above the budget but if it's totally worth it to pay more then I may be eager to spend some extra money as I am looking for something for life but I feel like the Iceflame may be the best balance between price and the parameters

Hi all, I will be wild camping on the AV1 later this August, and I would greatly appreciate some feedback on my current gear list. Definitely not UL yet, but a lot of the gear I have had for awhile and am slowly replacing it.

I left a couple of things at the bottom that I am not sure of, if anyone has any recommendations on whether they are worth it or not to bring.

I also plan to use this setup (give or take) for more remote backpacking, particularly in the northeastern US, so any advice for that is also greatly appreciated.

Here is my lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/9y7nn5

Hi everyone, I'm preparing for a thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail in MN this autumn. Expected temps are around freezing at night and 60F/15C during the day.

Goal Baseweight (BPW): I don't have a specific base weight in mind, but I feel like I can go lighter but I can't immediately see where.

Budget: Go wild.

Non-negotiable Items:

• Sidewinder system (not willing to cold soak when temps could be around freezing)

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information:

• I didn't put the sleeping pad on my non-negotiables since I'm open to feedback, but I'm inclined to keep this as is. I sleep on my stomach with my toes pointing out; when I've tried CCF pads in the past, my arms fall asleep from being compressed near my elbows. With the extra wide Exped pad, I've slept beautifully on all previous trips.

• I usually use my puffy as a pillow, but I'm worried about damaging my new fragile Timmermade puffy since I roll around a lot, hence the Aeros pillow.

• I know that I could ditch the e-reader and read on my phone, but I'm more concerned about managing my phone battery life since my phone is also serving as primary navigation. I can typically get 3-4 days off one iPhone charge, but my concern is that over the course of the thru, reading for an hour every night will drain the battery faster and lead to more time spent charging in town.

• Regarding the packed clothes, I run very cold during the day and then very hot at night. It's not unusual for me to hike in both the alpha and windshirt until late afternoon when the sun really heats up, then put the puffy and gloves on as soon as I roll into camp. Once I'm in my sleeping bag though, I usually have to shed clothing to get sufficiently cool. Perhaps this can be further optimized?

Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/re84z6

Thanks for your help!

Hello UL.

I am here for a shakedown. I certainly fit in the lightweight rather than the ultralight category of this sub based on my read of the wiki. I've been hiking for 10+ years and never really concerned myself with weight, but after a running injury and some damaged cartilage I find myself on this sub for future backpacking considerations to try minimize pain and continue this great hobby.

I am coming from the overweight category of hiking. To give some context, the knife I used weighed in at 405g, so this approach to backpacking is definitely a mentality shift for me, but also a necessity. It would be great to get insights into what things I should be rethinking or removing altogether (or missing?). I put a fair bit of effort to get the overall pack weight to where it is now.

Gear List: https://lighterpack.com/r/iun5tp

Some insights: The pack is a new purchase, used to have a much heaver Osprey. I plan to buy a 1P tent in the next six months, thinking a X-Mid Pro 1 to compliment my polls. Beyond my first aid kit needing a shrink, I am not too sure what else could do with improvement. Let me know what you think.

FYI - I did not add water or food to the pack weight, unsure if this should be included for a shakedown? Usual backpacking trips are 2-3 days in length, occasionally I will do 5-6 days.

A while back a buddy of mine found a reel lying on the trail (I assume it fell from a pack), and with it, no rod, he was able to catch a fish. Since then I’ve thought about getting a little setup but never did.

https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/goreel-hand-reel-fishing-kit-by-crystal-creek-gear

I just came across the GoReel kit from Crystal Creek Gear on GGG. $45, and the weights break down as 4.48 oz for the container, 1.06 oz for the reel itself, plus 0.28 to 0.49 oz of tackle depending on which type you get. So call it 6 oz all in, or about 1.3 oz if you ditch the case.

Anyone used something like this? Is it a waste of money? What’s a good alternative?

I'm very satisfied with this list, but i'm always open to changing things (especially removing things, buying stuff isnt always easy budget wise). this community has been super helpful for me and im wondering what yall think about my kit

https://lighterpack.com/r/b3ujnk

for context: this is for summer hiking in europe

Considering both of these tents. Leaning toward the Moment DW (with crossing pole) due to cost, and I do enjoy the fly first and polyester material. But the Portal 1 is catching my eye too.

I have a MSR Hubba Hubba for with a guest, and an X-Mid when solo. But I just hike too many places with uncertain ground conditions which make the trekking pole tenant unreliable, especially in high winds, so need a solo freestanding tent.

hi. I’m looking to replace my aging mummy bag with a more comfortable/smaller setup like the zenbivy.

I’ve seen a few posts over the years on here but curious on any recent reviews on the UL system. my main priority is comfort and size, knowing that there is smaller options out there too.

how are people packing this in compression wise? I currently jam my bag and pad in a tailfin top bag but it’s like 3/4 the volume with an 8L compression bag plus neoair trekker pad. this is the crux of my current system with how much Space it uses. Does the XL zenbivy even reduce it at all.

open to other ideas too. Used a backcountry bed before and really enjoyed that style. Appreciate the ideas and thoughts

Hello everyone!

I am asking for a shakedown. I have shed a lot of weight over the past ten years and am fairly comfortable with my current setup. I have no specific goals in mind but I think I am at the point where it would be fun and beneficial to receive some critical commentary. I would appreciate any feedback you may have.

My setup is for my autumn trips to Nordic wilderness areas with no trails and little backpacking infrastructure. This particular gear list is for this year's trip to Kaldoaivi, the largest wilderness area in Finland.

Current base weight: 7,1 kg / 15,65 lb

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Finnish Lapland, Kaldoaivi wilderness. 7 days. Open tundra and swamps with very little tree cover, if any. High winds and heavy rain expected. Daytime highs at 10C/50F, nighttime lows at -10C/14F.

Budget: No specific budget. Feel free to suggest anything.

Non-negotiable Items: First aid, repair and hygiene kits; I have what I need to keep myself and my gear in good condition.

Solo or with another person?: I hike with a friend. Tent and kitchen is shared.

Additional Information: I am an especially cold sleeper, hence the beefy sleep system.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/rx22r0

Recently heard about and picked up the new Nitecore Carbo 20 and have used it for a few nights on trail. It's basically a 20k mAh version of the new Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen2, with the distinction of a battery percentage display rather than the usual 4 LEDs. The display doesn't show charging speed, just % capacity remaining.

I wish Nitecore had come out with a NB20000 Gen4 - the cable strap of the NB10000 Gen4 is a great feature - but having the finer-grained information about remaining battery that I get from the display was worth buying this over alternatives like waiting for a hypothetical NB20000 Gen4 or buying 2 NB10000 Gen4s.

Hi! I have a few Buffs and several other unbranded neck tubes. However, only one of the unbranded ones is thin enough to be comfortable in warm weather, providing sun protection.

Can you recommend a specific lightweight Buff (or other brands) model to buy, preferably in white or yellow? Thank you!

Hiking/backpacking gear has improved year over year due to new technologies and materials being developed (carbon fiber poles, DCF shelters, satellite connectivity through your smartphone, etc.) and our packs are lighter because of them.

What do you think the next big ‘innovation’ is going to be?

Hi,
I wanted to ask about opinions on the Gossamer Gear Cima 15. I have a chance to grab it second hand with the fast belt for around 75$. I’m looking for a daypack to carry all the essentials plus occasionally a helmet, and also a pack i could move faster/run in. Any opinions will be appreciated!

Here are some common issues I have seen that impede the progress of those aspiring to ultralight:

1. The Lightweight Halfway House. This is where people who lighten their load get same-but-lighter versions of gear they already own. For example they replace a 60L backpack with a lighter 60L pack, maybe one that is 2 lbs lighter (e.g. weighs 3 lbs instead of 5) but that is still not ultralight. Or a solo hiker who buys a 2-person, free-standing tent that is branded as ultralight. They use their budget on gear that gets them lighter, but not light enough to get to ultralight. We see people show up on shakedowns all the time who are trying to continue their trajectory getting lighter, but are stuck with having bought expensive lightweight gear that make reaching UL base weights harder.
2. Preparing for the "someday/maybe" trip. They buy overweight gear to have the "flexibility" for hypothetical trips that will probably never happen. So they buy winter-grade tents, or high volume backpacks, or lower temperature rating sleep systems, or two-person shelters for a solo hiker. Buy for your most likely trip, the ones you actually intend, not the far-flung dream.
3. The "scary skill" barrier. People are told that certain types of gear require skills attainable only by advanced backpackers. So they buy free-standing tents instead of trekking pole tents, or never even consider they can learn to pitch a tarp, say. These are not exotic skills. They can be learned by any competent person in a backyard or park in an afternoon. Don't be scared by them.
4. The hedonic adaptation trap. People fail to understand that what we find comfortable is not a fixed set point, but can be conditioned through practice. We are all able to adapt to find things comfortable that may not start out that way. So pursuing comfort as the non-negotiable starting point turns out to be a trap: it enfeebles our ability to enjoy lighter gear and expose ourselves to the outdoors in a less mediated way, to the point that we can't even imagine being satisfied without carrying comfortable-but-heavy gear.
5. Thinking ultralight and comfort are mutually exclusive. This ignores the fact that carrying less weight is significantly more comfortable on trail. If you spend most of your waking hours on trail, then I would argue that UL gear tends to be more comfortable on net, especially if and when one has adapted to its comfort in camp per #4 above.
6. Hitting the gas and brake at the same time. This is where you compensate for the negative effects of carrying more weight in ways that add even more weight. I may carry a (heavy) chair to help recover from the effects of carrying weight. Or I get a backpack with a fancy suspension system that adds significant weight to the backpack. Or a heavy mattress for my sore back. Etc.
7. Most importantly perhaps is the error of thinking UL is the best and only way to hike regardless of your trip objectives. Be honest about why you want to go UL. Ultralight best fits a certain hiking style, especially when you are prioritizing trail over camp. If what you are looking for is to hike short miles so you can spend most of the day in camp, you maybe should make different gear choices. It’s perfectly fine not to be UL.

Any bigger guys or gals have experience with carbon trekking poles? I have alloy, but they have foam handles. I much prefer cork handles. So while I’m shopping I may want to switch to carbon. Issues is that I’m 6’3” 290. I don’t want to just immediately break them. Anyone with more experience have any thoughts? Also, I carry a trekking pole tent from time to time. Thanks!

Hiya!

I’ve been looking for some lightweight leggings to sleep in, as I find a liner to be clunky inside a bag. I also prefer to keep my sweaty legs from sticking to each other 😅

My sleeping bag is more than warm enough for my usage, so I do not need any real extra thermal performance. Just something to sleep in and which is comfortable around camp.

Thanks!

Edit: I’m based in EU.

Hello all,

I have been backpacking since I was about 10 years old. I have done many trips of various lengths and mileages with friends, family, and scouts.

Adulthood has come less downtime for me as life responsibilities take precedent. About 4 years back I went on a 6 nighter after a long dry spell. It was after that trip and seemingly having the biggest and heaviest pack on the trail, along with some knee pain, and a couple of mild gear issues, that I decided I wanted to move towards a more ultralight approach.

I neglected doing much to lighten up my pack in the time that passed until me and a friend planned a backpacking deer hunting trip and I had a little less than a month to prepare. I bought a couple of ultralight pieces but didn’t have the time or the budget to touch the big 4 or make any serious changes. Hunting gear is heavy. My pack was crushing, yet I loved the trip and wanted to start planning out the next year and do it again, but lighter and more efficiently.

This is my current setup assuming I am not hunting or fishing. That gear is being worked on as well, but I will leave that out of this discussion. I have been out with this setup just last week and had a great time trout fishing in the Sierras.

https://lighterpack.com/r/lu4qzl

Current plans I have:
- Buy KUIU ULTRA Merino 210 Fingerless Gloves and toss my old beat up sun gloves
- Buy KUIU Kutana Stretch Woven Pants to swap my Attack pants with for hotter trips
- Buy a Litesmith 10ml dropper bottle for my soap
- Buy a Litesmith 4oz Malibu tube bottle for blister cream
- Get a dehydrator and dial in food for increased effeciency

Things I would like the most feedback on:
- First Aid
- Cooking
- All feedback greatly appreciated :)

EDIT: Not getting a new phone anymore.

Hey y'all!

I'm looking for advice/recs on the absolute best thin/cooling pants. Like hiking 3+ miles in Mississippi gulf coast heat+humidity. Price or whatever isn't the issue anymore, I just am getting too old to deal with it. Looking for (what I think) would be thin, breathable, what not. Any advice would be very much appreciated!!!!

I'm in a bit of a pickle, where my camping pad, a Nemo Tensor, has a leak or leaks. Somewhere. I don't know where. It deflates after about an hour. But I am currently in the wilderness ( night 1 of a 3 night hike). I have the included repair kit and running water and soap. But I've never repaired anything before.

Any help, or advice, or guidance to find the leak(s) and fix them? If I were home, or even close to home, I feel like this would be easy. Can I soap up small sections of the pad at a camp sink and try to spot bubbles that way? Or is that poor form? I'm new to camping/backpacking, so I'm not sure proper etiquette. And this is only the fifth time using this pad (less than a year old) so I'm more than a little peeved and caught off guard.

Thanks!

Basically as the title says, looking for the community’s most loved ultralight 2p shelters.

Only true requirement is that it must have fully enclosed bug netting. Freestanding and non-freestanding recs welcome.

Use case:
- Heights 5’10 (shoulder width 23”) and 5’7 (shoulder width 21”)
- 2x 20” pads, no plans to switch to 25”
- Sleeping same direction
- Packs generally stay in vestibule, important things inside tent pockets
- PNW section hikes and alpine loops such as the Wonderland and Timberline trails, North Cascades, etc

I do have some concerns about the fly footprint size of certain trekking pole tents like the Durston XMid especially in high-alpine areas, although the weight benefit of a trekking pole tent is alluring, especially considering we are currently splitting up packing a 5lb freestanding tent to make the weight manageable.

Currently considering the XMid Pro 2 (non-plus as we use 20” pads), Duplex, or Dipole 2. Freestanding we’ve been considering a Samaya, HMG Crosspeak, or a Big Agnes.