Let's Go Ultralight!

[chisos muse]

I'm ready....

I know there's bits and pieces of this stuff scattered amongst this section, but let's try to put any tried and true favorite's right here. And no, I will not be making my own stove with a Sucret's tin! 

Please share anything you feel is a really great piece of gear, a "must have" and lessons learned on the subject. I've started to research and there seems to be so much to choose from....

Thanks!

Musey

[SA Bill]

At first I thought you were talking about one of these 
http://www.windsockweb.com/ULPhotos/FrontLeft.jpg

I come from the old school of heavyweight backpacking but after a 20 year lay off, I'm now trying to embrace light weight equipment to save my aging body the strain of hiking with too many pounds on my back, especially since in BB you have to carry a fair amount of water wherever you go.

I recently picked up a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL (Super Light) 2 tent. I tried a Eureka! Solitaire on my S Rim trip and found it too confining. The BA weighs only a few ounces more and gives me a lot more space. Total trail weight is just over 3 pounds. Might not be true ultralight but pretty darn light for a two person tent.

I just got a GoLite Quest backpack that weighs almost 2 pounds less than my other pack. Again, middle of the road for light weight equipment.

I'll be trying everything out on a tune up camping trip next weekend and then at the end of March, I'm off to BB with the intent of doing part of the Marufo Vega as a one night backpack trip. These two new additions to my gear should make the trip a little nicer on my back.
  Bill

[mule ears]

Hey Musey,
I know you probably found this thread on the board but there are a lot of good links and suggestions.

http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/hiking-the-desert/ultralite-pack-in-the-desert-wayno-way-t3870.0.html

From backpacking light.com this is one of my favorite primers on the subject:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00034.html

More folks will chime in and I will give it some more thought too. 

[jeffblaylock]

Going straight to ultralight can be shock -- both to you as a backpacker and to your wallet. Especially without a plan.

The best place to start is, with the gear you already have. The first best purchase you can make is a digital scale which measures in ounces and grams. The lighter things get, the more precise you'll want to weigh them!

With your scale and either a notebook or spreadsheet, write down and weigh all the stuff you have used or would consider using on a trek. Think about what purposes everything serves, especially focusing on multiple purposes. Thin the herd to create the most functional group of stuff, putting aside items which serve one purpose, are unnecessary, or you just don't want to be out in the backcountry with it.

You've now lightened your pack, and the only thing you've bought is the scale. Evaluating what you have costs nothing.

Now the fun part: substituting ever-lighter things for the stuff you already have. Here is where the plan comes in. First, set a budget. Next, find lighter gear, noting its weight and cost. Calculate the cost per ounce (or gram) saved. Then figure out the combination which reduces weight the most within the budget. It may not be the new pack or sleeping bag that delivers the most reduction for the dollar, although these are frequently great places to start. Little things like swapping out a Platypus cantene for a Nalgene bottle can save lots of weight for very little money, so it's sometimes actually better to change out lots of little things and save the big purchases for later.

Ultralight, or lightweight backpacking, should not devolve into making sacrifices in comfort or performance in the name of weight. That ultralight foam pad isn't worth the weight it saved if you can't fall asleep on it!

So, before we get into "must haves" and "lessons learned," let's see a spreadsheet of the gear you would take with you if you were going backpacking this weekend, complete with weights and comments about how you use the gear and what else it can do for you. Then I'll bet you'll get more advice than you can stand.

[jeffblaylock]

This is an example gearlist from Yosemite for an idea on how to organize things. Don't have access to the gear deliberation list from here, but it looks a lot like this one (just more stuff on it).

[Picacho]

I'm certainly no expert at ultralight, but I do know this is one very light and really good stove.

MSR Pocket Rocket

[RikD]

I recently did a first pass on getting my pack lighter.  I didn't use a precision scale, but went for obvious low hanging fruit using a bathroom scale or looking up the specs online.  Here are a few things I did:

Originally purchased a Big Agnes +20 sleeping bag with a weight of just over 5lbs. I like this bag, as it's comfortable and roomy, but the weight seemed just a bit too much.  So went to REI, and after a 2 hour sleeping  bag try out session, found that the North Face "Cats Meow" was just as comfortable, but about half the weight.

My water containers were all Nalgene bottles, and Camelback bladders.  I went out and got Platypus bottles, and have to admit they are very nice in more ways than one.  This cut almost another pound of weight.

I also ditched my Thermarest compression pillow, and am now using the stuff sack for my Thermarest Prolite 4 sleeping pad.  I also got a Thermarest "Lite Seat" - that can also double as a filler for the stuff sack pillow if I let most of the air out of it.  Ironically this camping pillow setup is much more comfortable than the actual Thermarest pillow.  This didn't actually save any weight, but gave me a compromise camping seat and a more comfortable pillow - and freed up a little bit of space in the pack.

-Rik

[dkerr24]

I'm certainly no expert at ultralight, but I do know this is one very light and really good stove.

MSR Pocket Rocket

I've been using this stove since 2005 and highly recommend it.  Never had any problem with it, and it is very efficient on fuel usage.  A single 8oz fuel tank should last for a weeklong trip with moderate usage.

[jeffblaylock]

I use one of these guys. Weighs 11 grams (0.4 ounces). The necessary windscreen weighs another 11 grams. 10 days' worth of fuel weighs 124g (4.4 ounces). Not the fastest to boil, but definitely among the lightest.

[Al]

Jeff, that is a really neat little stove.  A couple of questions.  Is it legal to carry the fuel on an airplane, since it is a solid?  By 10 days fuel, what would 4.4 oz of fuel translate into pots of boiled water say at a liter or so a pot (or some other unit of heat output)?

Thanks,
Al

[chisos muse]

Love the responses! 

Jeff, I will never reach your guru status, but sure am glad you are available for recommendations. 

I will prolly never create a spreadsheet. List, yes... I already have a Brunton Crux which has lasted for years and boils very quickly and holds up against wind. The fuel can is not a big deal for me. I am a boil water and rehydrate kinda gal when it comes to backpacking.

My main concerns are:

1) A new pack. I have researched online, but fit and ease of movement is very crucial, so it will be a try on in person decision.
2) Tent vs. tarp & bivy. I really like the contentment of being protected from the elements and crawly critters. I don't mind sleeping in a bivy, but the reviews I've read aren't great unless they are the "mini tent" kind. My REI half dome 2 has stood up to crazy elements over the years and REI has come up with some great, solo lightweight new designs that weigh in a bit over 2lbs. with the rain protection.
3) Water purification. Jeff tried the Steri Pen and we know the results on that one... I would like something light and dependable!

I have always preferred a bladder/bottle combo, not a Camelback. Just don't like em. I use 1 bottle to mix with Gatorade powder, and 1 for plain water.
I need a full size sleeping pad, but not the pillow. I think rolled up clothes are more comfy for your neck.
I already have a great lightweight REI bag, but would like to try another sleeping pad. I have a self inflatable Thermarest, bit I think I could do better? It's "ok"... Musey always wants more, LOL

I don't drink liquor when I hike, nor use a GPS. I would take a camera, though. 

[mule ears]

Love the responses!

Jeff, I will never reach your guru status, but sure am glad you are available for recommendations.

I will prolly never create a spreadsheet. List, yes... I already have a Brunton Crux which has lasted for years and boils very quickly and holds up against wind. The fuel can is not a big deal for me. I am a boil water and rehydrate kinda gal when it comes to backpacking.

My main concerns are:

1) A new pack. I have researched online, but fit and ease of movement is very crucial, so it will be a try on in person decision.
2) Tent vs. tarp & bivy. I really like the contentment of being protected from the elements and crawly critters. I don't mind sleeping in a bivy, but the reviews I've read aren't great unless they are the "mini tent" kind. My REI half dome 2 has stood up to crazy elements over the years and REI has come up with some great, solo lightweight new designs that weigh in a bit over 2lbs. with the rain protection.
3) Water purification. Jeff tried the Steri Pen and we know the results on that one... I would like something light and dependable!

I have always preferred a bladder/bottle combo, not a Camelback. Just don't like em. I use 1 bottle to mix with Gatorade powder, and 1 for plain water.
I need a full size sleeping pad, but not the pillow. I think rolled up clothes are more comfy for your neck.
I already have a great lightweight REI bag, but would like to try another sleeping pad. I have a self inflatable Thermarest, bit I think I could do better? It's "ok"... Musey always wants more, LOL

I don't drink liquor when I hike, nor use a GPS. I would take a camera, though.

Jeff, RikD and others are right, many ounces can be shaved by 1) just leaving stuff out that you never use or don't really need and by 2) making changes in what seem to be light items but add up to real weight.

The "list" is where you can make big strides in the first item, before a trip use it to check off what you take and then after make quick notes of what you actually used and the conditions (weather mostly) that you faced. You will be amazed at the things you take that you never use (first aid kits, compass, etc don't count), for me I find clothing to be the item I have to resist the most, it is easy to tell yourself you need one more piece to stay warm and then never take it out of the pack.

With the second, small things as has been mentioned like changing nalgene lexan water bottles for platypus or soda bottles can save 3-4 oz. a bottle, that quickly adds up to real weight. Stuff bags are another one, a standard heavy stuff bag can weigh 3-4 oz, a silnylon one is 1 oz. or less. If you have one for clothes, sleeping bag, food, sleeping pad, etc you can quickly lose a pound by buying new stuff bags or just not using them at all for some things.

As all the literature says the big three (pack, sleeping bag and shelter) are where you shave the most weight the quickest but also can be the most expensive (sleeping bag the worst). For packs if you have to try them on that will limit you to the bigger brands. Try hard and get one under 3 pounds and probably around 3000 cu. in. for most people and trips. Granite Gear, golite, some Osprey and Gregory's will fall into this grouping. This chart lists many and you can sort it by weight and volume to see. It doesn't have some models and no really excellent small makers like ULA Equipment, Six Moon Designs, or Gossamer Gear.
http://www.backpacking.net/gearpack-chart.html

Tent vs. tarp and bivy is hard too but if you can stay under 2 lbs you are doing well. You might consider a Tarptent by Henry Shire as a compromise on bugs and snakes issues.
http://www.tarptent.com/index.html
I have a friend who uses a Contrail at 24 oz with bug netting etc. which is as light as my bivy and tarp combo without bug netting. He has used it in snow and warm and really likes it.

The pad thing, there are new ones just now coming out that will be really light and comfy see the discussion here
http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/general-outdoor-stuff-camping-equipment/maybe-the-perfect-lightweight-sleeping-pad-set-up-t7234.0.html
The new prolites and neo air will certainly be lighter than what you have now.

Water purication has been discussed here a lot, I am happy user of AquaMira chlorine dioxide drops, light, easy, never fails, no after taste, may have to prefilter thru a bandana sometimes but otherwise perfect in my eyes.

I do completely agree with the Bruton Crux, great little stove.

For the desert here is my gear list for my last trip if you didn't see it already
http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/your-trip-reports/lajitas-to-the-basin-1215122108-t7226.30.html

And of course no one set of gear meets all needs and trips, which can lead to multiple packs, shelters, etc. Then it becomes an addiction 

[mule ears]

A couple more resources that I always forget about

Mark Verber seems to have thought about and tried everything this is his recommended gear discussion
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/index.html

and this chart from Adventure Alans site
http://www.adventurealan.com/lightweight_backpacking_gear_list_comfort.pdf

[texjur]

If you're looking for a new sleeping bag, I cannot recommend Feathered Friends out of Seattle enough.  By far the best piece of gear I own is my sleeping bag from them.  Not the lightest out there, but still very light and one of the few bags I've used with a temperature rating that I actually find to be pretty accurate.

If you're looking for a new backpack, Granite Gear will always be tops in my book when considering all factors - weight, price, comfort, capacity, etc.

[catz]

If you're looking for a new sleeping bag, I cannot recommend Feathered Friends out of Seattle enough.  By far the best piece of gear I own is my sleeping bag from them.  Not the lightest out there, but still very light and one of the few bags I've used with a temperature rating that I actually find to be pretty accurate.

I will add a strong endorsement of Feathered Friends bags also.  The one i have has 900 down, a rain-and-windproof shell and weighs just under 2 pounds.

I also use a Big Agnes pad.  It's much lighter than a Thermarest and folds up next to nothing.  When fully inflated, it must be 2.5 inches thick.

I put my pad on the ground cloth which came with my tent (which I never use when I backpack) and which, in turn, can be used as emergency cover in the highly unlikely event that you get caught in a downpour.  Total sleeping gear weight (bag, pad, and groundcloth):   3 pounds.

I also second the recommendation of the MSR pocket rocket stove, although that gizmo that Jeff uses is very intriguing.  I have to look into that.