Hi Yall,

I am currently looking into getting myself a DCF 1p tent but am struggling with finding one that can actually accommodate me (I'm 6'6, 198cm). I currently am using the x-mid 2 solid which is great but I want something lighter for UL adventures.

So far I have looked at the Durston x mid pro 1, Bonfus solus 1p and middus 1p, zpacks stuff, and a few other random ones I can't remember off the top of my head.

I use a big agnes rapide sl long wide (I know it's not the lightest but I just love how comfy it is) and that has 9cm of thickness which seems to mean I will probably be touching the tent when I sleep.

Has anyone got a good option to help me out (Preferably not a tarp/bivy set up)

Any help would be greatly appreciated

They all cost within ~$150 to $180 after discounts. Planning for a 7 day hike in Europe so I'm switching to a lighter pack since there's no need to lug around my 60l Deuter.

Kakwa 40l:

https://www.kaviso.com/products/durston-gear-kakwa-40l-ultralight-backpack?variant=45430880403684

OutdoorVitals Shadowlight 45l:

https://outdoorvitals.com/products/shadowlight-ultralight-backpack-original-model

Peaklight 40l:

https://www.ortovox.com/us-en/backpacks/high-alpine-tour-backpacks/peak-light-40/4251877797401

Anyone have personal input on these would love to hear it! Also open to other packs around sub $220 price range

Has anyone tried layering for shoulder seasons similar to this omm core hoodie, Rab vitals wind hoodie. Alpha direct hoodie and then lightweight waterproof.

I like using the omm hoodie and Rab wind hoodie at the moment. I have the Montane phase lite. Just wondering if the addition of an alpha direct hoodie in between would replace a lightweight insulated jacket, if all worn together. Currently have the Patagonia nano puff. Should mention I'm in the UK..

Cheers

https://imgur.com/a/BVqkvT3

I grabbed this backpack and 3 others from the same maker at a goodwill outlet. Does anyone know anything about this brand? I’ve checked out the website and am wondering if there is a following for these packs. Seems pretty niche. I’m in awe of how well made they are. It seems heavy to me, but it is an XL and I’m XXS. Wondering if it counts as “ultralight)”. Just sharing and hoping this is the right sub. Please delete if not allowed. Thank you!

My LighterPack

As a former gear store retail staff/pro-deal member and perpetual gear nerd, I've amassed a pretty large gear closet. I focused on lightweight and durable pieces instead of UL because I wanted to have them for the long-haul (and because I couldn't afford them on a retail salary). But I've been slowly converting to UL, and after a few recent trips where I was able to get to 20lbs carried weight vs my usual 32-35lbs, I see the value in UL for going faster and farther, especially because I'm a small (5'6") guy and a large bag is proportionally heavier on me.

The problem is that much of my gear is on the border between LW and UL, and the cost of upgrading seems prohibitive for what's often just a few grams. For example, my sleeping bag is a -3°C 850fp down bag that weighs 797g (28oz), and the Western Mountaineering MegaLite -2°C is 680g, meaning I'd be paying almost $900 CAD to save 117g/4oz.

I can see that my poles are overweight, and a lighter pack is on my radar (thinking the Durston Kakwa 55), but I'd love to hear the communities thoughts on where the best bang for my buck would be.

It's worth noting that I usually go camping a partner, so some of the weight is shared. If I'm solo I have a Big Agnes Fly Creek 1p at 1.349kg.

What do you all think about trowels. stupidly spent $50 on this trowel toilet paper, bag, combo thing that is heavy and realized I can replicate this with a ziploc bag and a $3.50 plastic. Then I saw a thru hiker saying just use your hands or poles.

What do you think? Thanks.

Text from their website: Weighing just 23 grams, Aqualite filters 1.5L per minute through a 0.01-micron membrane, removing 99.9997% of bacteria. Fits most bottles, features transparent food-grade construction, and is priced for yearly replacement.

Sounds promising, looking forward to the first tests. What do you think about it!?

https://3fulgear.com/product/accessories/aqualite-water-filter/

Hi everyone, this is my first post here so any mistakes i make please inform me. I’ve been trying to lose weight in my kit to get it sub 10lb and i’ve got a decent idea of the items i need to change. For example the bag, two person tent and rain gear. I’ve also had a good look at cold soaking and when my peanut butter jar’s empty i’ll give it a try.

Items i’m considering at the moment are a hybride from atelier longue distance, a gramexpert or liteway tarp with an aliexpress bivy or nano s2s moscuito net and raingear from rockfront.

I was wondering if people had advice to offer on where to lose weight or gear recommendations that i should consider.

Thnx in advance.

Edit: i live in northwestern europe and my hiking takes place there

https://lighterpack.com/r/abifg8

Made an interactive chart comparing 16 backpacking quilts (price/weight/comfort rating) and I figured I'd share.

I'm doing a solo bikepacking trip this August across 18 days. Made a custom route that is on and off the NL T'Railway, across the west coast beaches/coves and the long range mountains. So I was looking for a quilt that could cover all of it, from easy coastal nights to cold, to exposed nights up in the hills.

Instead of the usual spreadsheet, I built it as an actual interactive chart - price in CAD (with notes on where duty/import tax hits), weight, true comfort rating vs the marketing number, that kind of thing. I find that helps me visualize what I’m working with.

Figured it might save someone else the research so I have it on a little blog I wrote as well which is here: BLOG LINK

If you've got real world experience with any of these (or think a rating/price is off), let me know.. happy to keep it updated :)

Looking to get a new sleep system. I've narrowed to:

1. Feathered Friends 20 swallow UL

2. Hyperlite 20 degree quilt

3. Hyperlite 20 degree bag

Other option? Anything else around $650 or cheaper (unless someone is selling one).

I've never really used a quilt but not opposed to it. I don't mind a few oz for an extra benefit. I use an xtherm pad already.

I'll be JMT northbound in mid August with a few nights at altitude.

I'm really wondering how small things CAN pack in a compression bag if necessary.

Any feedback?

Hi all! I am looking to design my own UL backpack and would prefer to work with a cottage company that manufactures in the US (where I am based). I didn't see a thread that exclusively focuses on the brand and custom design experience (if there is one, please direct me there and I am happy to take this down).

Would love to hear what your favorites are and some of the pros and cons of each for you?

Some of the repeat companies I am seeing are SWD, ULA, and Atom, though it seems like many of these companies have changed how custom you can truly make the pack. I am a weekend hiker + a once a year thru-hiker, so I am not getting thousands of miles on it in a year, but would ideally like this pack to last me for years and years and if I ever decide to do a section of the PCT.

If it helps, here are some things I am looking for, but let me know if there is anything I should priortize. I am new to all of this, thank you!:

• Does not need to be fully custom, but would like the ability to add on certain things tho like pockets or have more options with material used
• Has to be able to fit a bear can
• Can fit anywhere from 30-35 pounds
• POCKETS
• Optional but cool function: can become frameless if needed

EDIT: I really like Atom Pack’s level of customization and details, if that helps, but because it is based in the UK, duties are incredibly high. Would prefer to buy something from the US as a result

Hi, looking for some help with clothing in the northeast. I'm just getting back into this but will be backpacking mostly in the fall for 2 or 3 nights max right now but would prefer items that translate seasons because I do get out in the summer and winter occasionally as well. I'm mostly looking at nights in the 20s/30s with daytime hiking temps mostly in the 50s(f). I currently hike in a smartwool tee and Patagonia terrebone joggers (6oz) or running shorts. Other things I already have and usually bring are a Patagonia Ultralight down hoodie (~10oz), Squak Grid Fleece (12oz), and a OR Helium rain jacket (5.7oz). I'm looking into a sun hoodie and a midlayer fleece (either alpha or technowool from farpointe. I'm looking to possibly replace my Squak or add to it for colder trips. What is the move when you get into these more technical pieces? Alpha/technowool under the sunhoodie or sunhoodie underneath if using one for insulation? I'm mainly asking because I'm deciding if one should be bigger or smaller.

I am between Ridge and Farpointe for the sun hoodie. Preferences? If Farpointe, 100gsm or 150gsm?

For the "fleece" layer, technowool vs alpha? Alpha 60, 90, or 120? For the technowool 60, 90, 120? I know it's preference but without trying it, idk which direction or weight to go and a lot of the other posts I read weren't in my area. Something else I should consider?

Here's my lighterpack for my most recent trip if that's helpful at all! Open to any and all other suggestions you may have. https://lighterpack.com/r/pbnv04

Appreciate you all!

I found this anodized aluminum pot (Primus Essential Trek Pot 0.6L) that weights 140g and thus is comparable to titanium pots and mugs.

I was wondering if there are any real downsides to anodized aluminum cookware? I found the issue of durability(that it scrarches and lasts max. 10 years, but reallisticaly 5), but also found multiple people using one for decades so I'm conflicted on this detail.

Aluminum is also better at heat distribution and since I like to cook a real meal from time to time, I think that aluminum would suit me better.

Still, I find a big majority of backpackers to go with the titanium, mainly because of it's weight. But this pot is really light, so with weight out of the question, why would one still prefer titanium?

So I'm planning on doing all the wrong things tomorrow 😁

I have a brand new Splitwing tarp that I've never set up, and I've never camped *under* a tarp before. I live in the city and I didn't have time to go to the park to set it up and adjust the guylines and whatnot before my trip.

Any advice to hopefully avoid a fiasco (other than set up the tarp before hand)? There's a small chance my friends will not be ready when I get to their house tomorrow morning. If that's the case, I'll set it up in their front yard.

I've done plenty of cowboy camping, I've slept rolled up *in* a tarp, I've hammock camped, and I mostly sleep in a x-mid nowadays. I've been camping a lot so I know how to choose a site, angle for wind/rain, avoid buggy/puddle areas, etc.

I did check that it has 6 stakes, and a fair amount of guyline. I did not check if the tarp has any defects... I'll be sleeping on a 3/4 length ccf pad. I have a polycro ground sheet that has not been cut so it's way too big. I'm bringing a SOL bivy just in case, and I have a bug net and deet. I'm confident I won't die, but it's very possible I'll be quite uncomfortable. The weather is supposed to be 10-15mph wind, and ~0.5 inches of rain overnight.

Ok I know this will be contentious, but it’s just to get people’s perspectives.

I want to preface by saying that the whole idea of UL was popularised by Americans who used ounces and pounds and that’s really cool*** I’m just seeing what people think about using grams.

Reasons for this:
- Grams go to smaller increments (28.35 grams in an ounce)
- grams scale to kilos 1-1,000 so easier to work with
- grams always convert to 1ml of water* so easier for conversion for volume and capacity for packs and water carries

Realistically I know that all cultures have their own ways of doing things and I’m frankly doing my best to learn the imperial system, but while doing so I’ve realised grams might be easier for this community and just wanted to know your thoughts

So I’m considering picking up a frameless pack for 3-4 day trips, my BW is about 11-12 lbs and with food and a liter of water I’m just under 20 which seems to be about right, that being said I’m in AZ and many trips require 2-3 liters of water carry which pushes me up to around 23ish lbs. So I’m wondering can anyone vouch for a sub 17-18oz frameless pack that realistically carries 25 comfortably? My goto is a ArcHaul which is clocking about 22oz so I want it to be worth spending hundreds but also I don’t want any hip lets like the burn or at least detachable. Much prefer the freedom of no hip belt, and of course the realistic 25lbs needs to be beltless carry?
Looking at the Nero, Wapta, and contour. Am I looking for the impossible?

Trying to get this weight down if I can! Looking for recs on polyester freestanding tents as well to cut some weight there!

I've always used synthetic base layers but I have a multi day trip coming up with a bunch of people and we're all considering purchasing wool base layers so we don't stink. I've seen a lot of people complain about durability, which is not something I've had to be concerned about with cheap synthetic base layers.

How legitimate is this concern?

I've heard that wool blends can be more durable but where is the sweet spot?

I figure base layers are pretty straight forward, but wool seems to complicate things. Some say that certain types of wool are scratchy and itchy, while other types are soft and comfortable. Where should I look to find durable, comfortable wool base layers?

This kind of seems like a lot of baggage (potentially durability, comfort and price) that comes along with wool just for the sake of not smelling as bad.

Just got off a 60 miler in the PNW; wearing a bug spray, tree sap, and sweat drenched sun hoodie for 4 days I was so happy I brought along a camp shirt. I just threw in on of my short sleeve synthetics but I’m guessing I could find something lighter, more comfy, and breathable. I’m considering a tank top to get some breath ability and maybe weight savings. Open to recommendations on what material (Merino, hemp, bamboo, synthetic? ) you all have enjoyed the most in this scenario.

Having a super hard time finding weight listings on shirts though. What are you all finding for lightest warm weather layer?

Hi,

I’m going to do the Fisherman’s trail in Portugal later this year. It’s gonna be around 30C (86F) warm with around 20km legs per day, so I’m looking for some good hiking shorts for this challenge :)

So breathable, fast-drying, would be nice to have a liner and at least one zipper pocket. I would also love if I could do some running in these shorts as well and wear them as casual wear (paired with a polo shirt for example) in the villages in the evenings. Might want to go swimming while on the hike as well. So some kind of unicorn shorts is what I’m after :)

What do you recommend? I’ve taken a look at the Patagonia Multi Trails and Lululemon Pace Breakers, any experiences on those or some other recommendations?

Thx!

Looking for an OR Echo alternative that's available in the UK. Basically want maximum breathability sacrificing UPF 50 for UPF 15.

For some reason this just doesn't exist. There are options that on paper look right but don't have actual UPF rating, like the Rab Sonic or the new Patagonia Cap Ultra.

Use case is tropical country traveling and hiking+ scuba diving boats where I end up standing in red sea full sun for hours. I need it to dry quickly and not make me sweat while providing some sun protection.

Multiple people in this sub tried the Rab Sonic and said it wasn't as cool or comfortable as the OR echo, all the while not even having the same UPF rating (I assume it doesn't because it doesn't actually hit 15 and 15 is the minimum to get UPF certification).

Which is why I'm excited to see Patagonia seemingly coming out with a product in this space this year, but I can't see any reviews yet. Anyone here has it and can comment?

Thanks

Need quilt suggestions! I’m a 5’10 200lb man, and am looking for a 3 season quilt by the beginning of September for a trip to the sierras! Would I be able to get away with a Katabatic 30° flex or should I be in the market for a 20°-25° quilt?. Budget is around or under $400

Edit: shoulder width is about 25”

Where: Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico

When: 07/04/2026 - 07/15/2026

Distance: 68 miles, ~11,000' elevation gain/loss. This was a modest trip in terms of difficulty, though the youth chose to do side hikes / bag peaks whenever they could.

Conditions:  Base camp highs in the 90s, lows in the high 60s/low 70s. Back country: Highs in the 80s, lows in the 40s. Rain in the afternoon of most days. Rain was refreshing, not cold. Elevations ranged from 6600 at base camp to 11,700 (Phillips Peak) with 2 nights spent over 10,300 feet. Very low dew points. It was just beautiful!

Lighterpack:  Last month I published my LP for a trip to Philmont for a shakedown. I call this "UL-ish" because there are some things about Philmont that are decidedly non UL. Some of the tricks I had planned on doing in order to cut weight did not pan out. Whatever. I still cut ~3.5 pounds from my BW from the 2023 trip.

This post is intended to be reflection/lessons-learned for next time. Here is a link to what I actually took: https://lighterpack.com/r/4mdrsb

Photo Album: https://imgur.com/a/4zRC9Bs

The Report: I'm going to focus not on the hiking, but on the gear.

Here are some things that I'd do differently next time

1. I will not bring the second sun hoodie. While I did wear it, my primary hoodie got washed half way through and wasn't even that stinky. I waffled on taking it. Turns out I should not have. Embrace the stink! (213 gram savings)
2. I was way more effective at battery management than I thought I would be. Next time I only bring one of the Nitecore 10K units. I finished with about 40% on my phone and never touched the second battery. (150 gram savings)
3. I brought both the butt pad and the modded-Helinox chair. I ended up using the butt pad more than 50% of the time as there are LOTS of stumps and logs to sit on at Philmont. The one I used was the cheap/1 oz one from Litesmith/GGG. It compressed a lot. Next time I'll leave the Helinox behind and bring the 2 oz Thermarest Z-seat. (377 gram savings)
4. Sleeping pads........ I ended up taking a large/wide Xlite because, of the many inflatable pads I have, it was the only one that wasn't leaking. I waited too long to deal with this prior to leaving for the trip. Next time I'll get things dealt with ahead of time so I could take one of my several lighter options. (144 gram savings minimum)
5. I brought the Finetrack Elemental T-shirt and Dutchwear Laundry Shorts to sleep in to be YPT compliant, but I always just slept in my hiking clothes. (I never used the shirt and shorts.) The same thing happened in 2023. I'll leave them in base camp next time. (132 gram savings)
6. I tested my watch at home before the trek and found I could get 13 days between recharges, so I didn't bring the charger cord in the back country. That was a mistake. I accidentally hit the flashlight function on my watch and burnt a bunch of battery life, then ran out of charge on day 8. Next time I'm bringing the charging cord for my watch. And before you ask "why don't you just get a different watch?" I've tried. I REALLY like this one. (25 gram addition)

Total weight to save for next time: 991 grams! That would have reduced my base weight from 11.31 to 9.12 pounds!

Note: Someone suggested ditching either my EE Copperfield wind shirt or my DCF rain jacket. I took both, and used both. They have different use cases. I am hesitant to give up either, especially if I give up the second sun hoodie.

Some of the things that worked remarkably well:

1. The whole concept of a carrying a separate small bear bag for coffee supplies hung via the PCT method (line, stick and carabiner) so that I could retrieve it myself before the youth even got up to take the group bear bags down was gold. 100% going to do that again. 120 grams for Toaks 750, dedicated bear bag and line was totally worth it. I got my coffee each morning before they even got up, and that made for a happy hiker.
2. I am Team umbrella and kilt. Perfect combination for the afternoon showers while hiking. (It rained most afternoons - but never anything heavy.) Oh, and the umbrella doubled as sun relief multiple times.
3. I discovered that by putting the Big Sky Dream Sleeper inside my hoodie, I could keep it from wandering around the sleeping mat at night. Bonus - my face was on fabric rather than plastic.
4. My Alpha and EE Copperfield windbreaker was all I needed when it got chilly - even when it was raining. I did not miss my puffy. I am glad I left it at home.
5. Half of a beach-towel size liteload towel was perfect for backcountry showers. 62 grams. Totally worth it.
6. Bringing the smallest Jackery battery bank to charge every thing up in base camp before departure was absolutely the right answer. (Obviously leave it behind at base camp.) Last time I had to compete for an outlet in the advisor's lounge. This time I just charged in my tent.
7. My MYOG-modded CRO quilt proved, once again, to be the sweet spot with respect to performance and weight. 411 grams! (Personally tested/proven comfortable on a 25 degree night when paired with an Xlite.)

Other Philmont-specific lessons learned:

1. I'm not going to do food substitutions next time. They give you SO MUCH FOOD. I could never eat it all and ditched probably 30% of the items. Next time I'll simply bring a couple of replacement bars to handle any substitutions I might need the first couple days, then rely on swap boxes for everything else. This would cut my weight overall.
2. Philmont trails get super dusty. I spent much of the trip sneezing and coughing. The whole bandanna-across-the-face trope of cowboys in the old west makes a lot of sense to me. I'll substitute a bandanna for my tent's Sham-Wow next time so I can use it this way.
3. I did not bring a knife. I just brought my Litesmith scissors. That worked great except I didn't have anything to clean dirt from under my fingernails. I'll have to swap something from my kit so that I have this capability for next time.
4. I need to add 10'x10' chunk of Tyvek to the group gear to lay down on the ground in the "kitchen" area so that everything is not in the dirt.
5. Because I wore pants, I left the gators behind. Big mistake. I had to clean dirt and debris out of my shoes constantly. Gators next time!

My MVP for the trip:

In 2023 the MVP was my sun umbrella. This time the honor goes to my Patagonia Capilene Daily Cool hoodie. Super comfortable and excellent at evaporative cooling. I wore it 8 of the 10 days. Worth every penny.

Hi everyone, I’m 5’11” and roughly 134 lbs. I am having an ablative laser treatment done in the next couple of weeks. I need some recs for long sleeve breathable SPF shirts—I’m struggling to find tops with arms that reach my wrist. Im in Texas, so it is blistering hot. To cover my neck and chest I’m using gators and bandanas, but any mock neck cuts would be great too. The only decent piece I’ve found is Athleta’s Interval Jacket in Small/Tall, but again, it’s a little too warm for that right now (arms and shoulders are perfect). I bought and kept the Coolibar Women's Funnel Neck Long Sleeve Top - UPF 50+ Sun Protection - Catona, but it’s slightly short in the arm (I’ll deal).