Need some help finding light or ultralight gear

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Here's what I need:


1 = light/small 40 degree sleeping bag. I am almost always way too hot inside a sleeping bag...even when it's near freezing outside...so, light/small works great for me.

2 = light/small/easy to set up/ready-for-rain 1-man tent (but not a bivy). Best if I can get the footprint for it too.

3 = light/compressible (or thin) sleeping pad. I rarely use one...but have a 12 day trip coming up soon (philmont!) and might decide to get one

4 = light rain suit (not poncho, though...needs to be pants and zip-up jacket with hood)

5 = light, waterproof compression sack (doesn't have to be super-strong...just waterproof (at least resistant).

6 = pack cover for 5000 cuin pack

7 = light/strong ski poles

8 = lightweight game/entertainment (non-electronic)

9 = lightweight hat (I burn super-easy/quickly...can't always rely on sunscreen). I've seen a few full brim hats that have mesh around the top, yet block the sun from the top well...just wondering what else is out there...baseball cap is out....I'll come home a true redneck. :D






Things I've got figured out already:

1 - pants/shorts (zip-off)
2 - shoes/boots
3 - knife :D
4 - pack - mchale custom sarc
5 - camera - canon g9
6 - water (nalgenes)
7 - first aid kit




Cost is a factor, but not an obstacle. (make sense?)

Manufacturer and model name/number would be great...pics even better...but I'll take any suggestion you guys might have!

Dan
 
Here r 2 of the items u asked about.

Big Agnes Air Core Mummy Pad - Regular BLACK/RED REGULAR X 20X72X2.5 $49.95
REI Travel Sack +55 Sleeping Bag CLAY ONE SIZE $59.00

Now when will u finish my knife :D
 
Hey Daniel sounds like me when it comes to being a hot sleeper. I think you should try quilts. They save weight big time and are easier to get in and out of a bivy or hammock. I have been Super Ultra Light backpacking for years and I have been able to keep my pack weight under 5 pounds of gear (base weight) in all kinds of horrible weather. There seems to be some people around here that wait for the words Ultra light or lightweight backpacking so they can get off the couch long enough to come around and bash. It works for me and if you really want to get into gear email or PM me.

Here is my gear list.

Gossamer Gear pack-4 oz.
Gossamer Gear torso pad 4 oz.
Mountain Laural superlight bivy-6 oz.
Integral Designs Poncho Tarp-8 oz.
Platty 2L. Hose-3.5 oz.
Press to pure water filter-5 oz.
Ditty bag with firestarter-first aid tent stakes and guy lines-6 oz.
Mountain Hardware fleece-8 oz.
Nylon dress socks 1 pr.-1 oz.
Polyprop. gloves-1 oz.
Golite Wind Breaker-3 oz.
Bear the Dog Fleece Beenie (my brand not for sale yet)-1 oz.
Bear the Dog Quilt 40*-11 oz.
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You might also consider an overbag, designed to fit over a regular sleeping bag to add to its rating. You can use them on their own in warmer weather and they often have a bit better water resistance than regular sleeping bags. Plus it can be paired with another cold weather bag if you want to winter camp.

Many folks have posted about the hammocks which seem ideal on non-level terrain and would be a great 1 man tent.

Ultralight pad - I have a set of ultralight thermarests I bought about 10 years ago. Full length. They have served me well and are much lighter then regular thermo-rests, although not as light as the blue-foam.

Rain gear - I prefer a traditional suit myself. There is lots of gortex knockoffs. I have a suite from Columbia - omnitex or something like that. It is very lightweight. However, I do find that I get cold in the downpours with it because of its lightness, when it soaks it matts to your body and then the evaporation off the surface cools you down. In a downpour I prefer to have my heavy, real gortex.

Good luck. Bear - I'm getting off the couch now and going after you! I do have a bit of bivy-phobia myself, but I like the rest of your gear.
 
Could you be more specific about what activity you plan to do? (long hike? car camping with short excursions?...).

What sort of weather do you expect?

What is your weight "target"?

How much do you intend to spend?
 
Sleeping Pad - Big Agnes or Pro-lite 3
Sleeping Bag - Marmot or Western Mountaineering
Tent - Black Diamond First Light
Rain Gear - Marmot Pre-Cip
 
As Dantzk8 mentioned, have a look at tarptent.com. I use a Contrail 1, which is the lightest tent i have seen with comparable room. It is roomy enough to fit one person and gear, and tall enough to sit up in. It does well in the rain, but I would advise ordering a few extra tent pegs with it to peg the sides down in heavy storms or wind (mine only came with four pegs). The price is pretty good as well.

Cheers
Andrew
 
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I have never used any of their stuff,but have heard good things about GoLite. I know you already have a pack,but you may want to look at Kelty's spectra cloth bags
 
Love your quilts bear, I really hate sleeping bags. I like the freedom of quilts and blankets so much better.
 
Tent?

Golite Shangri La 1 Tarp 1 lb 5 oz
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___27119


with the added "nest" which is a floor and netting. 1lb 8 oz
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear...medium=CSE&CS_010=27120&utm_source=GoogleBase

Or Big Agnes Seedhouse 1 2lbs 13 oz total
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___24950

Trail pad? No question Big Agnes inflatable air core pad
24 oz but worth it!
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___27340

Sleeping bag Lafuma Warm N Light 600 l lb 5oz

http://gearx.com/product_info.php?products_id=677?ref=base
 
tknife said:
Love your quilts bear, I really hate sleeping bags. I like the freedom of quilts and blankets so much better.
Click to expand...

Me too. I am wide thru the shoulders and sleeping bags are always too narrow there for me to move around. I normally use a mummy like a quilt.
 
bearthedog said:
Platty 2L. Hose-3.5 oz.

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Cool bladder! They don't make them any more. I bought two and during ice climbing season one of them started leaking. To be fair I have to say I dropped it full and it landed right where the bladder meets the screw on attachment. I had a small pore that teared appart as soon as I pull ligtly on it. Thank God their lifetime guarantee works great.

I have one (but don't know which one since the old style is not made any more) waiting for me to pick it up in the outdoor store I bought it.

Daniel Koster said:
...
3 = light/compressible (or thin) sleeping pad. I rarely use one...but have a 12 day trip coming up soon (philmont!) and might decide to get one
...
Click to expand...

For me the sleeping pad is one of the most importans parts of gear... they provide you with insulation from the cold ground. No matter how heavy of a sleeping bag you carry... without one you will have a cold back.

If you want to go light... then forget about the self inflatting ones (like ThermaRest). Get a RidgeRest and you should be ok. If you want to go extra light... then cut it to fit your torso and use the backpack to insulate your legs from the ground.

Mikel
 
Here are a couple of websites where you can find some useful info as well as some gear:

http://www.backpacking.net/
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/index.html

Also, I have had good luck using a USGI poncho liner for a light weight sleeping bag. I've used it as a blanket, folded it in half and used the ties to hold it closed and I have one poncho liner that has been sewn folded in half.

As for rain gear, some companies such as LL Bean, REI, Cabelas, and EMS make their own gear that is cheaper than some of the name brand companies such as The North Face, Patagonia, etc. The only one that I have used is the Cabelas goretex paclite. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done and is inexpensive, especially if you get it on sale.
 
Seahawk beat me to it. I second Seahawks suggestions for backpacking.net and backpackinglight.com. Backpackinglight.com sells ultralight gear and has forums that have a huge amount of invaluable info. Backpacking.net has forums and gear reviews that are beyond belief. These two resources are all you really need to do research for any ultralight gear you're looking for.

As far as sleeping bags go, take a look at Western Mountaineering (their Summerlite is my next purchase) and Feathered Friends. They're top tier sleeping bag makers and you'll pay the price for them, but they'll last forever. If they're too pricey, check out the Lafuma down bags. A lot of bag for the money. Quilts are great, but pricey and usually they're custom made so there's often a long wait. I, too, like the JacksRBetter quilts.

Tarptents are amazing and I highly recommend them. If they're too pricey or the wait is too long, take a hard long look at REI's Quarter Dome tents. I've been very impressed with older models and the newer models are lighter and roomier.

If you're okay without a sleeping pad, check out Gossamer Gear's ThinLight pads. Ultra thin and compact but provide great insulation, extending the range of your sleeping bag (keeping in mind that the ratings are with a sleeping pad, not without). If you're used to a cushy Thermarest or other self-inflater, you'll hate the ThinLight as it doesn't provide much comfort, just insulation. They do make the NightLight, which is thicker. I used the Thermarest Z-Lite for years and liked it. It' cheap and light.

I've used microporous polypropylene rainsuits with great success, for biking, climbing and backpacking. They're 100% waterproof and (according to a study done a few years ago) are the most breatheable of the Waterproof materials. They are amazingly lightweight and really inexpensive. The trade off is that they are much less durable, so you have to take care of them (tricky for climbing and bushwacking, but easily doable for everything else) and they're kinda bulky. Several companies make them: DriDucks, Frogg Toggs and Rainshield O2. Backpackinglight.com sells the entire DriDucks suit for $15-20.

As far as hats go, I like the Columbia broad brimmed hat with the mesh all around. Tilley's are always touted, but I have too many other toys to buy without spending that much on a hat. If you like baseball caps, you can add a cape to it (they're sold by Campmor, REI, etc.) or you can make your own by just tucking a bandanna in the back of your cap.

Hope this helps.
 
Bearthedog, I didn't know you're a SUL backpacker. I'm just an UL backpacker, but I'm working on it. I spent years as a mountain guide, SAR and Scoutmaster, so extra equipment for safety is always looming in the back of my head and finding it's way into my pack.

Great layout! I've never seen the Pres2Pure before. How does it work and how do you like it? Also, how do your like your MLD bivy? Is it breatheable enough? I've been eyeballing their poncho tarps, as I like the design of they're hood.
 
1 = light/small 40 degree sleeping bag.

I like down, so as has been said before I'd go with WM or FF but they are expensive. I think the FF Rock Wren is a very cool option, but the Vireo might work for you.

2 = light/small/easy to set up/ready-for-rain 1-man tent

Since it looks like you'll be using hiking poles, something from Tarptent or Six Moons Designs.

3 = light/compressible (or thin) sleeping pad.

I agree with Mikal, the pad is important. On a 12 day trip you might come to decide that as well :D. I find that an inflatable is more comfortable than a closed cell. The Big Agnes Clearview series is pretty light.

4 = light rain suit

Marmot PreCip

7 = light/strong ski poles

How much do you want to spend? Sierra Trading has several different poles on closeout. Titanium Goat makes the lightest that I know of but of course they don't come cheap. Life-Link is another option.

8 = lightweight game/entertainment (non-electronic)

A travel chess set? A deck of cards?

9 = lightweight hat

I like boonie hats and they are inexpensive. Here's one with mesh like you mentioned on sale.

Just a reminder, you're going to be at a higher altitude than normal so the sun will be more intense. Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and it would probably be wise to pack along a lightweight long sleeve shirt.
 
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