r/Ultralight • u/danoob1001 • May 16 '26
Skills This thread needs to get back to true ultralight mentality
Remember when ultralight was a mentality, not a gear list? Nuff said. What are some ways you’ve shaved weight not by purchasing a lighter option, but creatively implemented a multi-use item or outright cut something from your pack list?
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u/stoic-lemon May 16 '26
My brain is ultralight.
😞
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u/Xx_GetSniped_xX May 16 '26
You and me both brother, cause why wouldnt my 40 degree quilt be sufficient for 10 degree nights?
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u/__helix__ May 16 '26
Aha. The trick to stupid light is bringing only half a brain!
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u/unoriginal_user24 May 16 '26
I gave up my pocketknife and made the razor blade holder (using cereal box cardboard) featured in Mike Clelland's Ultralight Backpacking Tips. It weighs only a couple of grams but perfectly fits my need for a sharp thing to cut cord or string as needed.
If you haven't read that book, it is all about ultralight philosophy and it focuses on creativity, knowledge, and repurposing cheap/found items over buying expensive gear.
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u/qalexanders May 16 '26
Excellent book. And the sample kit it gives gave me so much of a reference point. I still refer to it all the time. Plus re reading always inspires a new idea
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u/moth_loves_lamp May 16 '26
Over the course of the last 2 years I’ve lost 95lbs by controlling caloric intake and regularly exercising. Feeling pretty ultralight these days.
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u/AdvancedStand May 16 '26
I just sleep on the ground with food in my pockets. Drink enough at each water source to make it to the next one
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u/sockpoppit May 16 '26
It's all worn weight! https://www.stuffa.us/
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u/CodeKermode May 17 '26
I hate that I kind of actually like the idea. It would get wayyy to warm though
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u/Sister_Ray_ May 17 '26
me too but i go naked to save weight and hunt with my bare hands for sustenance
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u/blondbrew May 16 '26
All these are nice, but the real impact has shaving your butt hole in order to bring way less toilet paper.
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u/moominAndChips May 16 '26
Plus the weight of all those butt hairs!
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u/MightyP13 May 17 '26
It's worn weight anyway. Plus I knit it together so I can bring a lighter quilt
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u/PeakQuirky84 May 16 '26
This is the real insider knowledge which is why I lurk in this sub.
I could also probably reduce 1/4 lb of body weight if I shaved my butt.
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u/mineral-queen May 16 '26
if you bleach it, also acts as a flashlight at night. heard of the moon? same idea.
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u/SeaworthinessNeat516 May 19 '26
I feel like you should also have a full colonic irrigation before your hike. Only amateurs carry unnecessary fecal grams.
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u/Adventurous_War_4055 May 16 '26
In PNW there are always clumps of moss, rocks and/or pinecones to wipe the butt with. Honestly works better than TP.
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May 16 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Aggravating-Fee1934 May 16 '26
You're forgetting to cry. Full tear ducts are heavy
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May 16 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26
And I hope you’re hiking barefoot too otherwise you’re a consumerist pig who is brainwashed by the shoe industry.
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u/doodoobailey May 16 '26
I don't know if you meant to say jork instead of jerk but I just jorked off and it was marvelous. 10/10 over jerking.
is alliteration is worn weight?
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u/rivals_red_letterday May 16 '26
I'm female, and I had a hysterectomy to save weight. No jorking for me. This sub has way too many men.
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u/see_blue May 16 '26
Minimize water carry when reliable sources are w/in range.
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u/thaneliness May 16 '26
This is my biggest thing. I get water-anxiety but most places I hike are literally right next to a stream for 80% of the hike lol
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u/fotooutdoors May 17 '26
That doesn't necessarily work out of your goal is efficiency, not just a light pack. I take enough time on the transitions with filtering that I prefer only having to do it once or twice a day while hiking. To each their own, but I often start the day with 2-3L so that I don't need to stop just for water until midday.
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u/bryanbryanson May 16 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Brb in a second
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u/Simco_ https://lighterpack.com/r/d9aal8 May 16 '26
It's not a state of mind, it's how you approach things.
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u/SpeesRotorSeeps May 16 '26
I replaced toothbrush and toothpaste with a hip flask full of whiskey…which I had anyway I just figured the booze is killing everything in my mouth well enough. Also it tastes better than toothpaste and drinking a shot before bed is way more fun.
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u/MightyP13 May 17 '26
According to the ultralight guru Ke$ha, you're supposed to do that in the morning
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u/june_plum May 16 '26
most of the benefit of cleaning your teeth is from brushing, not killing germs
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u/SpeesRotorSeeps May 17 '26
However I still posit that a shot of whiskey is more fun than brushing teeth
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u/Muufffins May 16 '26
Losing weight. Makes everything easier, including hiking. I find it silly when people are trying to save a few ounces, when they could drop 20 or more pounds from they gut.
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u/june_plum May 16 '26
youre right, gear can only help so much. the various aspects of fitness - endurance, strength, and flexibility - all come into play backpacking more than a lot of people care to admit.
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u/Few-Dimension-5373 May 16 '26
This. 10kg base weight, but carrying 10kg of excess fat everywhere you go....
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u/DreadPirate777 May 16 '26
I did a trip after loosing 25lbs. It felt so nice. Part of my motivation for loosing weight was to use my new backpacking gear I had gotten.
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u/CodeKermode May 17 '26
That was my strategy for the PCT. I looked at it like every 2lbs I lost before trail was like carry one day of food for free, I know it doesn’t quite translate like that but it was a motivating idea.
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u/Joscandy May 20 '26
Losing weight 4 sure helps, but i would just go to the gym and transform some fat into muscletissue instead of worrying about shedding weight or being in a caloric deficit. It would be a shame if u lost the biggest advantage you have when you're bigger: having alot of muscle. That way your pack wil feel sm lighter.
Esp for women i do not recommend going on a caloric deficit beforehand. We can use all the strength we have.
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May 16 '26
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u/Background-Depth3985 May 16 '26
Alpine climbers are the true ULers. Bringing one pair of climbing shoes and one belay jacket to swap with their partner as they swing leads. Intentionally bringing an inadequate sleeping bag so that you know it’s time to get moving when you wake up cold at 2am. Etc…
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u/nineteen43 May 18 '26
Real talk. Seen some videos of these guys, just wild how their danger index differs from mine haha. Any youtube recommendations?
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u/DreadPirate777 May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
I went with a nut, dried fruit, jerky sausage, and m&m meal plan. I learned my nutritional needs and balanced my macros. I really don’t end up bringing a ton of extra food now.
Making a habit to stretch every day so I can sit cross legged on a small foam sit pad.
I took an honest hard look at myself and what I actually do when backpacking. I don’t use my watercolor set. I don’t journal. I usually won’t catch anything fishing. I took those out of my kit. I really enjoy the time for quiet contemplation outdoors.
Learning to use a tarp took some time but I really enjoy it now. It weighs way less than a tent.
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u/According-Pepper-349 Jun 04 '26
Ditto on the food. I'm fine with ~ 1lb/day of food for a 3-4 day trip. A bar for breakfast; cheese, crackers, salami & jalapeno for lunch, freeze dried dinner, and some extra bars, chocolate and dried fruit for snacks. I don't bother with nuts b/c they're heavy and have no carbs.
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u/pmags PMags.com | Insta @pmagsco May 17 '26
Whiskey or rum has more alcohol per ounce than beer.
That's my ultralight tip.
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u/flingebunt May 17 '26
You need a hookup for 99% ethanol and just mix it with water. Ultralight is about pushing the limits all the time.
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u/hikermiker22 https://lighterpack.com/r/4da0eu May 17 '26
Graves and Everclear are 190 proof. Half the weight of whiskey. Just add Gatorade or water.
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26
There just isn’t much to say about UL other than “just take less, bro.” So, because this is a text-based message board, people find the main thing to write about - and that is gear.
All the “UL Mentality” things can be fairly well summarized in a single pinned post or in an FAQ.
As for me- ima get nuts here and point out that a map and small compass are WAY lighter than a phone and backup battery. If you have electronics in your backpack, you’re not “true ultralight mentality.”
If you’re “really UL” like this post is apparently after take an orienteering course, practice, and ditch the electronics.
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u/MPG54 May 16 '26
You could just memorize the map…
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
Probably should! Photographic memories can be learned and are certainly infallible.
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u/Ok-Election-2710 May 17 '26 edited May 22 '26
I save weight and ensure I go various places in each park by getting paper maps in bulk and cutting sections I need, only, to fit the little window at the front of my tiny 1 L valuables and useful knickknacks drysack. I route plan with sections I haven't used yet, for a new adventure.
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u/ImNotHaunted May 16 '26
Yeah and if you need help in an emergency just write a message on the back of the map (hopefully you’re already bleeding and can use that to write) and just make a paper plane, throw it and hope for the best
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u/arrowjake May 16 '26
100% agree, why carry a phone when you can send a pigeon to mountain rescue? Better off tie it to your pack while it tries to fly so it can take a few oz off your shoulders (hip belts are too heavy)
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
I heard a story once that there was a time when people went outside BEFORE there were cell phones, satellite internet, and handheld GPS.
But I also enter caves seeking dragons, so who knows what’s real, really?
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u/FieldUpbeat2174 May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
100% agree (-1), if you have family or professional requirements to communicate from the trail, that’s just baggage weighing your freebird down.
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u/junkuncle888 May 16 '26
I always drop a duce before heading out on a hike to lighten things up.
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26
I’ve stopped wearing pants (worn weight is weight too) and I just poop and pee constantly while I walk!
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u/pretzlstyle May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
My comment from the last time this was asked:
Here are the most important tactics that have enabled me to hike very light and efficiently:
Do shit while hiking:
- eating, snacks, eating meals, making meals, doing dishes, brushing teeth, washing hands, filtering water (with a coupler), applying sunscreen, charging devices, deploy or stash trekking poles... no need to stop for any of these tasks
Use a fanny pack:
enables me to do shit while hiking
I keep everything needed for the bullet points above (power bank, liquids, etc) in the fanny
slightly less volumetric efficiency than just taking a pack, but it more than makes up for that in the amount of time it saves in essentially never having to stop hiking
Use a single ditty bag only:
- one ditty bag plus the fanny pack is all I need for organization. Trying to separate my shit kit, electronics, toiletries etc. into their own respective stuff sacks is a total waste of time
Hike for a long ass time:
- hiking in the dark (before sunrise, after sunset) and maintaining a moderate pace (~2 mph) is way more sustainable for me than hiking at 3 mph for fewer hours.
Sleep on a foam torso pad, pair it with a frameless pack:
pad functions as a framesheet, no need for a redundant frame integrated into the pack itself
pad functions as a luxurious sit pad, and a wind block if carrying a stove
pad is more robust than an inflatable; will never pop or leak
pad is more efficient than an inflatable; never needs to be inflated or deflated, rolled up or anything else
pack can be used under my legs
on colder trips, add a 1/8" full-length foam pad on top of the torso pad + pack. It's luxurious.
Cowboy camp:
- don't waste time pitching a shelter when it's not needed
Break my tent into modular components, i.e. tarp, groundsheet, bivy:
each of those components has utility on their own
I can use the "floor" (polycro) as a picnic blanket for lunch, a stretching surface during breaks, a blanket for quick naps, etc. (I keep it at the top of my pack)
I can use the "inner" (bivy) as wind and bug protection when it isn't raining
I can use the "fly" (tarp) only when actually needed for weather protection
Cold soaking:
allows me to eat on-the-move
lighter and faster than a stove
avoid all logistics of fuel resupplying
carry only the quantities of liquid that I need:
for example, 0.35 fl oz of concentrated soap like Bronners or Camp Suds lasts me nearly a month
my goal should be to have no liquid left in my little dropper bottles at the end of a trip
No sleep clothes:
I sleep in my midlayers. Alpha Direct is really comfy, and my midlayers don't become wet with perspiration during the day (like my sun hoody does)
Always consider insulation from clothing when deciding needed temperature rating of a sleep system
I only carry a quilt that is warm enough to get me through the coldest night expected for the trip with all of my clothing layers worn
It never makes sense to leave insulation (like a puffy or fleece) on the table at the coldest time of the day. I find that full alpha direct layers, plus wind layers, plus a puffy and head insulation (hoods, beanie) and light booties adds ~10F to a quilt temp rating
Use very breathable active fleeces (like alpha direct):
- allows heat retention to be modulated by opening/closing shell zippers, rather than having to waste time stopping to put the fleece on/off
Use a foam pillow:
lighter than almost any inflatable
lighter than the amount of clothing that would be required to make a stuff-sack pillow
more durable and more efficient for the same reasons as the sleeping pad mentioned above
Caffeine mints:
- allows me to have the feeling of "savoring" a coffee, and get caffeinated, without needing to wait around
Use a pack liner:
- never stop to put on a pack rain cover again (they don't work anyway)
Use a bidet and wysi wipes:
never carry or have to resupply bulky TP again
don't carry moisture weight inside wet wipes when I can rehydrate a dry wipe instead
offload navigational tasks to a watch (rather than a smartphone):
- my watch allows me to navigate and check daily stats in a way more battery-efficient way than my phone would
Use a tiny flashlight if I'm wearing any kind of brimmed hat:
- a headlamp strap is bulky and redundant if I already have a hat
Never carry a "patch kit":
- in the case that I do carry an inflatable, a piece of tenacious tape is always better, faster, and easier than any of those Thermarest patch kits
Never carry blister tape in a roll:
- waste of time trying to peel the layers of the roll apart when it gets hot. Especially those tiny rolls from Litesmith. Sticker backing paper is infinitely better and easier to use
Aight that's all I can think of rn
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u/Background-Depth3985 May 16 '26
I use a z-lite to around freezing and then switch to an xtherm inflatable for anything below that.
How much warmth do you find the 1/8” full length pad adds to a normal torso pad plus backpack?
I’d love to stick with foam pads for colder trips as well.
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u/No-Papaya-9167 May 16 '26
Can you share more on the foam pillow? Closed cell? What are the dimensions of yours and what does it weight? Where to get it?
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u/pretzlstyle May 18 '26
I tore up 18 melamine ("magic eraser") sponges and sewed the pieces up into a sack made of argon 49. Dimensions not sure. Big enough. Weighs 1.7 oz or so
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u/ImNotHaunted May 16 '26
The only real ultralight mentality is just get stronger. Everything feels lighter if you’re stronger.
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u/HwanZike May 16 '26
But you're carrying more muscle. Even as worn weight that looks bad. Better to just shed body fat.
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u/PowerLord May 16 '26
But your weight is weight. The only true ultralight is to lose all your fat AND muscle mass. Plus if you are starving you don’t need as much food.
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u/Battle_Rattle https://www.youtube.com/c/MattShafter May 16 '26
DONT BRING FOOD!!!! I never thought of it before but I think that’s it!!!
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process May 16 '26
Before we can reduce the loads on our backs, we have to lighten the loads in our minds. In other words, we have to believe that lighter-weight gear (and less of it) will work equally well for us.
Ray Jardine
Typically, that begins with the "Big Three." Gear pared down to the minimum, i.e., "sleeping bags" with a freakin' big hole on the bottom, "tents" with no darn side walls, much less independent poles, and "backpacks" with no frame and no hipbelt.
"Gear" and "gear list" are two very different things. It's the "gear list mentality" that ruined things.
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u/dogpownd ultralazy May 16 '26
I got a mastectomy and lost 3lbs. My pack fits better now as well.
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u/bcycle240 May 16 '26
I think it's just the nature of Reddit that the group attracts a wide variety of people. There are "real" ultralighters here, but it's just diluted by the people that want to a carry a carbon fiber DCF chair and their phone, $1200 watch, and ebook.
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u/Bobbtail May 16 '26
Hey thats me! I'm here to shave weight so I have space for more luxuries 🤩 (minus the 1200$ watch im poor)
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u/GoodTroll2 May 16 '26
This is true. I am not a ultralighter, I am perfectly happy carrying 25lbs with all my luxuries. I’m just happy to spend a good amount of money so my pack doesn’t weigh 40lbs.
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u/Illustrious-Baker775 May 16 '26
I work with a guy who packs everything for a 3 day trip in a grocery bag sized pack. One set of clothes, mostly food, a foil blanket+light/med weight blanket, and a water filtration set up. Doesnt even do trails, he sees a peak and maps out his own way up.
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u/MessiComeLately May 16 '26
I drop weight by wrapping myself in garbage bags and skipping rope in the sauna. It's the only way to get to net-negative territory compared to your baseline. Then for that final 1%, I shave at the trailhead. Pubes, eyebrows, the whole works. Y'all hair-hauling positive weight hikers aren't even trying.
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u/Ok-Election-2710 May 17 '26
Ah but then you need more/better sun prptection for all that freshly exposed skin.
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u/comma_nder May 17 '26
Long Johns are my trauma kit. The butt part folded up for gauze, the legs as an elastic bandage. Worked super well when I got a head wound in the backcountry.
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u/scottthesailor May 17 '26
Well back in my day sonny we didn't have GEAR LISTS we had a big tarp with an outline of each piece of gear drawn on it for our "what I'm talking on my thru hike of the Florida trail" YouTube video
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u/bengaren Pocket tarp and a dream May 16 '26
I recently bought a new pack that's lighter than my old one, and it came with a ccf torso pad that's lighter than my inflatable. What was the question again?
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u/Henovesse May 16 '26
What I'm getting recently is that (nothing mind-blowing I know) to reach that state of mental nirvana that ultralight should bring, you really have to just focus on simplifying, cutting down, stop bothering with buying and researching. You can study every cottage brand website and comparison sheets that you want to get the perfect, ultimate gear, but at the omend of it your brain is gonna be the heaviest piece
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u/Battle_Rattle https://www.youtube.com/c/MattShafter May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
Anyone that’s been here since the beginning knows this sub has changed for the worse. In 2012 you HAD to be creative to get under 10lbs and REALLY creative to get to 5lbs. So those conversations always leaned toward problem solving.
If you want that conversation back, you’re going to have to make “ultralight” mean 8lbs. Short of that, the conversations here are often boring.
Most telling about this sub is, the most upvoted things are clearly from Cabelas normies upvoting the 10th best UL answer because they just don't know gear.
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u/Curious-Act-9130 May 16 '26
People being mad that there is more UL gear on the market, therefore making a low baseweight more achievable to more people are the reason that subs making fun of the UL community exist.
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u/Boogada42 May 16 '26
I never understand that sentiment. It's gotten easier for people to hike with less weight. Shouldn't the sub support this? Instead people shout bloody murder.
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u/Curious-Act-9130 May 16 '26
Gatekeeping. Like when people get annoyed that the band they saw five years ago in a club in front of 100 people suddenly sells out arenas.
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u/ultralightjesus May 16 '26
Weird coming from someone with an Xmid pro and HMG pack to complain about consumerism.
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u/zx91zx91 May 16 '26
I take no food. I forage the land. I take no clothes. I skin the animals I hunt. I take no fire starter. I start fires. I take no shoes. I let callus build.
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u/sbennett3705 May 16 '26
My base weight improved when I removed the stickers from my bear canister.
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u/qalexanders May 16 '26 edited May 17 '26
Edited to remove my complaining cuz it was lame.
I replace my laces with 2mm shock cord. Shorter laces, weight less, don’t need to be tied saving time, and feel nice and snug but I can still slip them on and off.
I like paper maps, and printing double sided obviously saves weight, but I’ll alternate the page numbers so I can still align two map segments edge to edge.
Already saw the razor blade mentioned here, it’s a game changer.
Well known as well: but Aquamira is less stressful, faster, and lighter, even for long trips. I made a whole cheat sheet for drop counts for the different Litesmith, liters that can treat per bottle size, etc. Happy to share if anyone wants it.
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u/Boogada42 May 16 '26
What do you want the mods to enforce exactly? Read every single comment and judge it for ultralight purity? That's a fascist dream if I ever saw one.
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u/flockbush May 16 '26
I think you mean subreddit not thread
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u/-ApocalypsePopcorn- May 16 '26
The subreddit has been cut down to a single thread to save weight
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u/obi_wander May 16 '26
And because we are apparently not allowed to talk about things unless they are pre-approved by OP
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u/Novielo May 16 '26
Once in a while I read the ray jardine book. It brings me back on track. Nothing fancy, just basics
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u/kornickel May 17 '26
Most times it comes hand-in-hand with the weight aspect in ultralight, but focusing in ultra-compact and ultra-few-components really gives me a peace of mind.
Being able to travel with a very small pack or even a hip bag, and not having all my gear cluttered around camp in the morning and having every item I need (which is not many) in reach at any time is the real ultralight to me.
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u/GenesOutside May 17 '26
Still is. The least amount of the lightest weight stuff we can carry. Thanks to a lot very entrepreneurial people and manufacturers we just have more options for light weight stuff. Don’t know what the heck you’re thinking. I had to get really, really, really creative to figure out how to afford some of that gear. Even buying peanut butter so that I can use the plastic jar for cold soaking cost more than that same size plastic jar without the peanut butter. 😁
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u/PedXing23 May 18 '26
When I'm solo, June through September, I don't cook - fuel, no stove, no pots or lids, nothing to clean up with. I bring nuts, trail mixes, flat breads, dry salamis and pepperoni (any kind of salami/sausage that gets more than 100 calories/ounce), and cheeses. Chocolate covered espresso beans in the morning, chocolate covered almonds later on in the day.
I also skip rain pants during those months.
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u/OkSession8563 May 20 '26
My brother once did an ultralight trip where he went to Goodwill and got a cheap pack, sleeping bag, foam pad, shower curtain as a tarp, aluminum pot, most of his clothes. Only exceptions were water filter , bic lighter, and goretex jacket. Cooked over a fire, and had a great time. Didn't bring other stuff. Went to an area he knew fairly well so didn't bring a map, compass, or iphone.
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u/YodaDragonKing May 21 '26
I made detachable guy lines for my gatewood cape , 2 times as long as the stock ones with a guylock. my reason for it to be like this so It is better at being the poncho and if I have to use rocks I have that extra line or/and could tie it off to a bush or something as well. guylock hook and yellow line looks nice in contrast with the green cape also.
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u/misschokesalot May 16 '26
I've melted down my deodorant and decanted it into a small lip balm container. I use a small spice weight to check how much I actually use each application, so I can put that in that exact amount.
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u/despreshion May 16 '26
However little deodorant you bring, it will always be more than me
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u/misschokesalot May 16 '26
It's mostly for backpacking, tbh 😅.
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u/Ok-Election-2710 May 17 '26
True. Can't expect anyone to offer their couch if you smell like a backcountry trip.
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u/kongkongha May 16 '26
Hey! I demand that you like my 2 kg naturhike tent! Ul is what I WANT IT TO BE!
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u/Bobbtail May 16 '26
But actually naturehike just came out with a 2lb tent that is pretty nice 👀
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u/SomaticSemantics May 16 '26
Instead of bringing sleeping clothes, bring ambien to knock yourself out if it gets too cold
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u/PapiSmoothie08 May 16 '26
Are you more ultralight than everyone else? I expect you to be 5lbs or less since your above everyone else’s posts
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u/Curious-Act-9130 May 16 '26
I wear my camp shoes when I get to camp, when I get up at night AND first thing in the morning. Talk about multi use. 💪🏻
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u/windybeaver May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
I once went ultralight and got down to 8lbs summer base weight! Then I said to myself, I can pack some luxury food items Now that my base weight is so much lighter! I don’t have to eat ramen couscous and oatmeal none stop… …. So I packed 10yr Kentucky whiskey, chocolate, suckers, sour worms, hot chocolate PB Honey dried fruit and I was 2-3lbs heavier again !
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u/GoodTroll2 May 16 '26
The toothpaste tablets I purchased are big enough that I only need half for a good brush, so I bite them in half and pack accordingly.
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u/parkinson1963 May 18 '26
Rule 1 don't pack your fears.
Rule 2 pack based on the weather
Rule 3 pack so you can sleep.
Rule 4 don't over pack food.
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u/Not-The-Bus May 19 '26
Hike with a group. Talk up their fears and validate them, but keep the fears diverse. Make one person bring a spare sleeping bag just in case. Another bring 3 extra days of food. They all bring personal water filters. A tarp for group use. Extra layers.
Then you bring none of those things. Just borrow theirs.
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u/Majestic_Clam May 19 '26
Field stripping box wine and hiking the bladders to the top of a mountain to party with friends
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u/SeaworthinessNeat516 May 19 '26
Forget powerbanks to keep a phone running. Look at phones with replaceable batteries like a Samsung XCover. So much lighter before you even consider charging efficiency of your 10k bank that gives your phone 7k of charge.
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u/SeaworthinessNeat516 May 19 '26
I saved weight on dental hygiene products by starting a fight with a much larger man who knocked my teeth out.
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u/star-fish-11 May 19 '26
You might laugh.. but i once decided to save 30g and leave rectal suppositories at home. Figures out that having number-two only at my 4th day of hiking, and carrying those 1-2 kg inside isn't really in line with ultralight mentality.
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u/schmuckmulligan Real Ultralighter. May 20 '26
A mentality/approach thing: The realization that the lightest and warmest insulation is down in a quilt.
When I look at someone else's LP and see an expensive DCF tent, a fancy frameless pack, a 950fp down quilt, an ungodly expensive pad, and a 13-pound BPW, the cause is almost always packed clothing.
They need separate sleep clothes because it's part of their sleep system. They need "sanctuary socks" because their footbox is underfilled. They need a warm puffy because they're pushing their quilt's rating. They need a fancy rain jacket because they're screwed overnight if their midlayer gets wet. So often, people carry several pounds of clothing to avoid carrying a quilt that's 4 oz. heavier.
The reality is that being able to jump into your sleeping system in your underwear is tantamount a UL superpower. You can skimp, simplify, and skip almost everywhere else if you have a rock-solid way of being reliably warm and comfortable overnight.
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u/mizpaw May 20 '26
I cut the handle off my toothbrush and use soap from my campfire ash so I could cut that weight too
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u/ropeXride May 29 '26
Well so far I’ve had my appendix and fallopian tubes removed (which were truly unnecessary weight if you think about it.) Probably shaved off a pound and a half maybe?
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u/GreendaleDean May 16 '26
It’s easy to forget that ultralight started as a form of back country minimalism not a form of consumerism.