If I Went Ultralight Backpacking Here's The Gear I'd Bring
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- In this video I talk about the gear I would bring if I went ultralight backpacking. This lightweight gear and ultralight gear is already in my gear closet. I just choose to bring more and/or different items in order to be more comfortable on the trail for my weekend warrior style backpacking.
Lighter Link: lighterpack.com/r/6qad03
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THE GEAR:
QUILT Outdoors Quilts www.hammockgear.com
BACKPACK Zpacks Arc Blast zpacks.com/products/arc-blast...
SLEEP PAD Thermarest Neoair Xlite amzn.to/2Qiipf3
TENT MSR Mesh House 3 amzn.to/2LFhDV2
TARP MSR 100 Wing amzn.to/30blCBn
COOK POT Toaks 550ml amzn.to/308FB3H
STOVE BSR amzn.to/34VSOvG
DOWN JACKET Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket amzn.to/2Nfbmyk
WATER FILTER Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter amzn.to/2NhadGD
MED KIT Adventure Medical Kit 5 amzn.to/2X5Nlh4amzn.t...
RAIN JACKET Outdoor Research Helium 2 amzn.to/2H1jEam
SIT PAD Dutchware dutchwaregear.com/product/fol...
DITTY BAG Hilltop Gear www.hilltoppacks.com
BATTERY BANK Anker Powercore Mini amzn.to/34W4gr3
TOOTHBRUSH Zpacks zpacks.com/products/ultraligh...
KNIFE Swiss Army Classic SD amzn.to/2VkhVqw
HEADLAMP Nitecore NU25 amzn.to/34XPcJy
MY WATCH Casio G-Shock amzn.to/2NFm9UXMY SUNGLASSES www.viloeyewear.com/
MY HAT amzn.to/2W3lvWz
MY CAMERA GEAR:
MAIN CAMERA Canon EOS R amzn.to/2UJ6IQi
MAIN LENS Sigma 24mm-70mm F2.8 Art Lens amzn.to/2sysGVC
ND FILTER amzn.to/2DR26wM
TRAIL LENS amzn.to/2XWeOCf
GIMBAL amzn.to/2Lm38VK
TRAIL MIC Rode Video Micro Mic amzn.to/2FGD9Gj
TALKING HEAD MIC Boya Lavalier Mic amzn.to/2CrjsPt
TRIPOD Joby Gorilla Pod 3k amzn.to/2DOaf55
CAMERA CLIP FOR BACKPACK Capture Clip amzn.to/2VjlihB - Zábava
My philosophy with UL backpacking. Get as light as possible so you can bring the best luxury items possible. IE chair, bigger sleeping mat etc =]
Jay Kraemer exactly. Try to lighten everything else so I can still bring comforts.
👆🏻100%
I’m the same. But I’ve never done a long thru hike. I’ve done 100 miles. I can carry 20lbs for 25 miles a day...for 4-6 days.
I don’t think I could do that for 180 days though.
Yeah, true confession time: I started getting lighter essential stuff so I could carry the unnecessary crap I wanted to take with me. At one point, I lugged my mandolin up the mountainside to my favourite camping spot - couldn't've done _that_ without lightening the rest of the stuff (my photos from that camp show noticeably more lightweight synthetics and a smaller, lighter tent than pics of previous camps...)
Mine is "Never be Cold" and "Sleep Well at Night"
Nice set up. I guess I am a ultra light backpacker now. I have gone down the Zpack rabbit hole and love it. I am well into my 60s and doing more miles than when I was in my 30s. I did 35 miles in the Whites a month ago. 19 in one day. I am no longer carrying a 40 plus pound pack. I really don't understand why people that hike often want to carry a bunch of crap on their back. Because I am older and have my share of worn parts going light is not really an option. I used to hike with my friends and now I am pretty much solo as they have all given it up. I think because of bad knees and backs. UL gear enables me to continue doing what I love. How you abuse your body now will effect your feature. Ditch the chair lol.
Your backyard plant with the orange flower is called a Jewelweed. The seed pods get to a point where they explode when touched. I loved playing with them as a kid. I've heard people call them 'touch me nots', but as kids we always called them 'those plants that explode/pop/burst when you touch them'.
They're good for treating poison ivy as well
I made an error on the weight of the OR Helium ii rain jacket. It’s about 6.5 oz, not 8 oz. That’s what I get for not paying attention in math class!!
Dan, Dan, Dan... at 8.2ish lbs, you could add the one pound Helinox chair and STILL be under 10 lbs. And, therfore, still ultra light.
Yes! I actually said that for the video but I felt it was getting too long.
I support this comment! 👊
This is exactly my approach. I've gotten everything else light enough that the chair comes along every time. 😀
@S DJ if you can carry that much as your base weight, you are a stronger man than I.
@S DJ how about you do it your way, and I'll do it my way. And we'll just leave it at that.
Touch-me-nots are amazing plants! The flowers can be rubbed on bug bites or poison ivy and it stops the itching immediately!
Great ultralight loadout, Dan! Even at 72 I just cannot get into ultralight as it just doesn't seem comfortable to me. I'm old school (62 years of experience) and I carry enough gear for comfort and most importantly to me, safety. In the military my backpacks weighed 60 to 70 pounds and that's without the firearms, ammo and a million metal clips and fasteners, pouches and gas mask. As an IDMT/Paramedic my pack included a trauma kit. My packs also included a large Thermos of coffee and a Thermos container of hot food. When you're stuck in a fox hole for several hours it was great to have a hot cuppa and a warm dinner. On my off duty adventures, believe me it was a relief and a pleasure to carry 40 to 50 pounds which included food and water. Back then Helinox did not exist so I carried a hunter's folding stool. I loved to fish on my trips so I carried a two piece rod and a Mitchell 308 reel (heavy) plus a small tackle box in the backpack. I do try nowadays to limit my weights (legs and lungs ain't what they used to be) with day hike packs averaging 18, overnighters to two nights 35 (late fall and winter). BTW Dan I've been given a kitchen pass for October so I look forward to meeting you and all of the other campers in Yankee Springs.
Awesome!! Please come introduce yourself to me when you get there!!
Tons of Jewel Weed (commonly called “Touch Me Not”) grows all over the property here. Makes for a relaxing afternoon watching the Hummingbirds trying to annihilate each other fighting over it. Those selfish little buzz-beans show no mercy toward one another when it comes to their sugar fix.
That's awesome! I've seen lots of humming birds on them. Thanks for letting me know that!
They're great for bees/butterflies too. We have a lot of it here as well.
yep, wetland specialist here, definitely Impatiens capensis. Good to know that if you rip open the stem the juice can be used for stinging nettles!
I’m the same way around Reece’s Cups
Nice use of B-Roll! Enjoyed seeing your perspective on this. I use and like the women's pad...
Great video Dan! I’m kind of a novice at this backpacking thing. I live in Iowa, so I don’t have much opportunity to do a lot of backpacking locally. I love to go to Colorado. This past summer I took my 10 year old son out to start the CT. We are going to tackle it a few segments at a time. My pack weighed about 35lbs without water! It was a large challenge to say the least. Every time I go out I try to drop more weight. Your video was great to show me some UL options to replace some of my “heavy” equipment. Keep up the great videos!
Great Video! Great gear loadout .... Always fun to see these vids!
I see you are sending out older videos, and I love it!
Thanks Dan the Hilltop Packs food bag was very interesting and I see that have a flat bottom option. Have a great day.
Wow! That’s one mighty big deck you have!
Well done Dan, for not taking 50% of your carried weight in assorted electrical equipment, like a lot of so-called ultralighters I've seen.
Love my chair too! I have a Helinox Ground Chair, but it’s the same weight as the Zero. I don’t leave home without it.
The one thing I miss is a set of thermals. This may sound weird for an ultra light setup, but you can wear it while you sleap and get an even lighter sleeping bag / quilt. My sleeping bag (cumulus x-lite 200) weighs about 350grams and with the thermals and a proper mat keeps me warm till freezing point. It's also nice to have a set of pajamas as it were because all those really light materials are not very pleasant to sleep against. I have the marino wool baselayer-lite from wool power (and some more of their sets for winter) and haven't been on an extended hike without it since I bought it.
So it offers me better sleep but I also think it's a bit irresponsible not to have some dry backup set of clothing you don't hike in. You can fall, get your stuff wet, get cold and die. Obviously that never happened to me :) but it very well could have. It's been mandatory on any organised hikes I've been on.
Oh, about first aid kits. I noticed ultralighters showing their kit don't put any disinfectant in theirs, just some pills and band aids. Thoughts? It allways seemed the most important part to me.
Oh I love Touch-Me-Nots! We have them where I live. If you touch the bigger seed pods the right way, they explode.
The woman's pad is the same weight (12oz) as the regular, but is a little shorter and has a higher R value. Did I miss the cord to hang your food bag or would you just sleep with it in your shelter? Technically, you should include the weight of an empty fuel canister in your base weight. No trowel? So tent stake or hiking pole? No pillow? If you use your jacket as your pillow, you will need a warm hat for colder temps unless your quilt is long and can go over your head. Anti-gravity Gear has a very lightweight inflatable pillow. Not much more than a plastic bag with white cotton like material laminated to it. Oh wait, your food bag is your pillow! The ditty bag is cool, but is it lighter than a quart ziploc bag? I'd also bring a buff. And personally, I'd count the extra "worn" layers (fleece, long sleeve) as base weight. Though you could probably leave both at home during the warmer months.
Hello Dan, this was a great gear loadout. It looks like you are well prepared for whatever Mother Nature might throw at you. Thank you for sharing. All the best best to you and your family. 🤗
Thanks as always, Ronald!
Great video. Base weight is pretty much my weight, but totally different gear lol. Like what you are carrying,well thought out. 👍. And base weight determines your trail weight. Can’t really change your starting point once you hit the trail.
I love it. Great job Dan!
Thank you for the very informative video. Here are a couple of items that I have found that have helped me lighten my load. I use a Bandit 20* top quilt from UGQ that weighs 16 ounces. I use Archtek toothpaste tablets (I take exactly 2 per day) and store them in a micro plastic specimen bag. I picked up some Dutchware WSYI wipes that are about the size of a nickel and weigh 0.07 ounces a piece. You put a few drops of water on them to make them into wet wipes and are extremely durable; it only takes one for me to bathe with each night (I can rinse them out multiple times with bathing). I carry one 1L and one 700 mL Smart Water bottles (the 700 mL bottle has the Sports flip top lid) but I usually leave the 1L empty unless I am going through a long stretch where there isn't a reliable water source.
Thank you for doing this video. I've never been an ultralight backpacker but I was injured in the Army and if I want to backpack again, I have to consider lightening the load considerably. My back and hips can't take too much weight after my injury, I'm lucky to be walking at all, let alone hiking. Looking forward to getting back out there.
Army backpacking, as well as “humping” in the Marine Corps. My husband will never backpack/cruise or camp (in the field) because of his military experiences. Light is the way to go, to enjoy the experience. I pack my Element for ALL possible scenarios, Sometimes I do all in one trip. Start with camping.
Did not see: Buff/Bandana/Packtowel, cordage/carabiner for hanging foodbag, phone charger plug itself.
Great video, as always, Dan, showing how you must make judgments and maybe sacrifice comfort for weight for UL.
Ultralight gears are like fancy.
Great video!
As a glasses wearer , I'm nearly blind without them, a spare pair of glasses is a MUST have for me. I like what you've put together and I e just bought the Nitcore NU 25 call weeks ago with both shock cord headband and the reg head band.
Excellent vid, Dan! Love the new logo!
Thanks Brian!
Awsome thanks Dan! Jim
A little trick with this setup. use the poles for the tent and a ridge line for the tarp.
Great job DB
I guess I need to weigh my stuff. My JMT with food,eight days, 2 liter of water in a bear canister was 23lbs. I thought that was good for my trail weight.
great video Dan!
How do u feel about driverless ultralight. I personally like hot food for dinner but many ultralighters. Will bring a container and cold soak their dinner
Keep in mind that the jewel weed you have growing there is powerful plant medicine. Very good to have a patch close by.
Hey Dan,
With a small capacity battery how you recharge? Any idea of a UL solar panel? Thx!
Screw base weight...it’s all about trail weight!
Wakis85 Outdoors, I Completely agree ! 👍
That's why I buy ultralight gear, so I can carry something else. Cutting out 5 lbs in "base weight" let's me have 5 pounds of more food, luxury items or toys to play with on the trail. In the end, I still have the same trail weight, because that is what I have to carry.
Trail Weight is Base Weight plus Consumables.
Consumables vary... water in desert regions, more food if your resupply is more distant, heavier food package weight if your shop is less well stocked, etc.
@builderbob26 hey mate I take luxuries with me, e.g. a camp stool. But if that luxury is in your pack then it's part of your BASE WEIGHT. Base Weight is not just "the big three" it's every non-consumable you carry.
Totally agree
Another great video! Thank You!
Thank YOU for watching!!
Love your channel Dan, just subbed.
That table though 🥰
HAHA!!! I spent about an hour on amazon last night (because I have that kind of time) looking for some kind of dang stuff sack to use as a "food bag" when all I had to do is watch this video lol. Thanks for advice and entertainment man!
I've just had three full hip replacements, (yes, I know, I've only got two hips but the first one bust into pieces inside after five weeks. Result, I fell over and it hurt somewhat: total dislocation). So I'm getting back to walking again, slowly. I'm a tad ginger wondering if it will happen again. Weight to me now has become crucial, so it will remain to be seen what I can comfortably carry. Walking poles are a must, but they do prop up my Stratospire 1. I can't do hills yet, but I'm planning a wild camp next year. Looks like I may have to go without some of my extras eg drone,
Great video man. Lots of good information and great Videography
Thank you! And thanks so much for watching!
Dan Becker you’re very welcome man. Just listened to your interview on Backpacking & Blisters. Good to hear you’re a fellow follower of Christ.
Yessir!! Been my whole life.
Dan I love watching your video, you seem so down to earth you do a great job. Hope to meet you on the trail sometime. Hike On!!!
Thanks so much Chris!! I really appreciate the encouragement. I’d love to meet subscribers on the trail!!
Let me know if you are coming south for any adventures I would love to hang out and have some fun. I live in South Western corner of Indiana close to Evansville
I've got some experience with the Ghost Whisperer in the wet. The shell will shed a drizzle - that won't touch the down at all - for about an hour. After that, or in heavier rain, the down will start to get wet, but it won't lose its loft nearly as badly as untreated down. I'd say it will lose about 10 degrees of comfort once it's wet, unless it gets totally waterlogged, but even then it does provide a little warmth (more than soaked untreated down). Basically my rule of thumb - light clouds and drizzle, I won't cover it. Longer drizzle or any real rain, I'll go for my Helium II to cover the GW, but I won't be stressed about rushing to get it on the way I would with untreated down.
Lots of great gear Dan. I have the Hammock Gear Burrow 10 degree. Love Hammock Gear Products. That’s awesome your at 8lb base weight!! Impressive bro. Shock cord on the headlamp is so much better. Love the video Dan. Really cool 👍
Thanks Jason! I enjoy my other hammock your products. This particular one just didn’t suit my needs.
Those Dyneema bags look great!
www.HilltopPacks.com
No trowel for the Poop Kit? By the way, we either call it the "Pookit" or the "deuce bag". Which do you prefer?
Excellent video and love the nice list with hyperlinks! I really cannot see you thru hiking? So the chair should be in your pack. Also I know you said that you would not take any camera gear but what would all of that camera gear weigh if you did?
Thanks Jason! I keep the chair strapped to the bottom of my pack so I have easy access to it if I want to take a break with it. I carry a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera and a tripod. Together they weigh almost 4 pounds!
My first trip I had an Osprey Kestrel 38 liter and had the inside stuffed and junk strapped on the outside. I think the total weight was 35 pounds and I was proud of it.
Be proud! Hike your own hike!!
my atmos i think has 35-40 lbs of gear in it. sigh
I use a Kestrel 38 and have a 14-lb. baseweight sucka.
Very cool. Once I find myself stressing about 1 or 2 ounces I realize I need to add a few more ounces of muscle to my own frame 🤣
Great video Dan. My base weight is around 14 lbs and that works perfect for me! I bring my Helinox chair, big knife & newly purchased hatchet and am ready to go. Guess I will never be ultralight!
I'm from Oregon, and have my CHL, and carry a firearm on many of my hikes- so yeah,
I'll never be UL either.
@@nicksam5518 I carry a g26 and still keep it under 10lbs. Thinking about picking up a g29 though.
Two motorcycle accidents and a careless pass keep my knees and back thanking me when I go UL
I carry a beretta m9 with 3 mags , what’s UL backpacking ? Lol
@@FrankO-ek1ec I bring at 1978 Smith & Wesson. 38 Policemen's Special on trail. I do a Colt Lawmen's Special III .357 Magnum in Grizzly Country. It's good to be prepared!
@@KevinFryAdventures nice ! Yes it is .
Impatiens Capensis is orange jewelweed which is also called Touch Me Not (due to explosive seeds)
Thank you!!
Sweet Ditty bag!
wish I had seen this video prior to buying all my gear. Took a hiking trip this summer and didnt realize how much my gear weight added up, was hauling 50lbs all together. A lighter pack alone would've help alot
How much weight might a pack lose with a weather balloon filled with helium attached, if the trail was known to not have obstacles, and wind gusts not an issue? What if shaped permanently filled gas bladders fit around the pack?
How about training a flock of crows to take the load via harnesses, that way wind won't be an issue
Nice setup!!!
I'm looking into ultralight gear not so much because I want to be an ultralight backpacker per se, but because I want to backpack with my soon-to-be 6-year old, so I need to be able to carry everything myself and leave with with a small daypack. I also want to try some overnight bikepacking on my own. So, that being said, when it comes to a shelter I'm almost more concerned with a small pack SIZE than weight. Anyone have recommendations for a SMALL packed 2-person tent? (not interested in tarps or hammock systems. Full bug and rain protection required).
Great question! I guess it depends on how much money you want to spend? I use the big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. It works out great for me and one kid. But it is a $400 tent. Other people have recommended the Lanshan 2 person. It’s definitely less expensive but requires trekking polls to set up.
Thx for adding grams!!
Great video.
Sure thing! Thank YOU for watching!!!
Great post! I would love to know your base weight for your standard weekend gear.
About 12-13 pounds. Here’s my standard gear czcams.com/video/5ZdOKPY0FYw/video.html
I didn't notice a whistle. You and your kids should all have whistles. Necklace style would be best for the kids (so they're easy to wear when playing around camp), yours could be attached to your backpack.
Here's my theory on ultra-light:
Every backpacker should make a serious effort to lighten their load as much as possible - especially the summertime load. I'm sure your first-aid kit and knife were very different before you did the ultralight thing. After a person's system has been scrutinized and everything has been optimized, then you can feel free to add your folding camp chair, your six-pack of beer, your cast iron dutch oven...whatever makes you feel happy at camp. I think it's important to go 'stupid light' in order to really appreciate the weight of the important comfort items. Before I started making an -ultra--light attempt, I used to carry three or four flashlights, an extra knife, extra extras, and more. Mostly just crap that I thought I *might* need if something happened. No zombies ever started chasing me, no big feet ever stalked me, and no cougars ever flirted with me (so the spare candle and box of wine were useless!).
Everyone should make an effort to go camping with less than 10 pounds in the summer, even of it's only once. There are great lessons to be learned by doing so.
no....some people can carry 15lbs or more just fine...Others don't want to spend another thousand bucks on their kit. people used to hike with 3x that weight..ultralight is not a necessity, it's a luxury. I'm at 14lbs, down from 30+ lbs simply by taking less crap. you don't have to buy all this fancy stuff to have a reasonable pack weight and, enjoy the trail.
I carry solid full and a little lite folding stove. I find it to be lighter than the propane fuel stove combo.
I never take a footprint backpacking, has yet to be a problem. A frames are definitely a bit finicky to pitch. Part of why I like the half Pyramid pitch so much. It's extremely simple to setup.
My gear isn't quite as high end as yours minus my sleep system but one thing I'll be trying in the near future is a Bivy tarp combo. This will let me have an 8.3oz shelter option for trips where I'm trying to go light. Something like a 5.7 lbs base weight is what I was looking at for my next trip if I ever get to use it. It's definitely not what I'd opt to do every trip, but trying different things and pushing limits is part of the fun for me.
Bivy + tarp combination = greatest sleep, BUT it’s an pain in the butt to set up.
Rope and caribneerer for hanging your bear bag. Trekking poles for the tent. Trowel for digging. Other than that I think you covered everything. Great video!
Trowel is not necessary. Nice light luxury, to be sure. No need for carabiner. Again, nice. Some areas here out west you need bear bag/box by law.
Yes, that’s what I was thinking. Why would you not bring a trowel?
@@mikeroy6713 - What unique use is a trowel? I just recently bought one (why not, half ounce) but its main use so far was scooping sand to level out my stove (keeps hands clean). Could have used something else in my kit, but I had the trowel...
@ Coach Hannah -The morning ritual, Cat Hole digging.
@@mikeroy6713 - A stick or my boot heel. Been doing this since the 70s. Know a couple bear bag hanging techniques that have never been thwarted with known Yosemite bears inspecting the campsites nightly (and surveys of exiting packers nearly 90% "food stolen by bears" back in the day; much better behaved lately with bear canisters required).
I once has a dream of the most super light poop kit ever. It was glorious.
I like just one set of gear. I focus on comfort not weight. Sometimes weight is the focus of my comfort but once I'm comfortable it goes by the wayside. But either way, I use the same gear no matter what. Only thing I really change at this point is my TQ and tarp. The whole weight obsession has almost turned me off of backpacking videos all together. I dont want ounces counted on paper, I want to see people using it.
Nice break down. I usually don't pay attention to base weight but I do like to see my total weight with food and water. Those bags are nice if he is offering the logo print as an option when buying I can see him getting a bunch of business.
Thanks! And yes he’ll print pretty much anything you want
The orange flowers are Jewel Weed. It’s used to treat poison ivy and often grows near poison ivy.
Challenge!!!!!!! try and put together a ultralight setup for winter!!!! night temp range 20-30 degrees with highs up to mid 40's... love to see what you would do... dam i'm going to have start making youtube videos agains to show you what i would do... still trucking though your vids...thanks Dan
Could have brought the chair with that base weight lol
I’m careful with my carry weight but I refuse to sacrifice comfort for a slightly lower weight.
Great video as always :)
A slightly lower weight adds to your hiking comfort though...which I feel is more important.
what kind of animal have on your arm at 6.10?
My base weight is 16.8 lbs. That's my shelter (hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, pillow, cordage, toiletries, headlamp chair) and my cook bag which includes: biolite stove, gsi bugaboo 4 person cookset, platypus 4L gravity filter with charcoal element, gsi deluxe kitchen set for 4, pruning shears, hurricane matches, flint striker
So 16.8 sounds heavy, but we go in groups and I carry the kitchen while others carry food etc. The biolite is "heavy" but dual purpose as it charges electronics
I like your backyard table!
Thank you! My wife will love to know you said that :-) she’s the one that picked it out!
@@DanBecker It's not home made? I was going to ask how you made that. Tell her it looks fantastic and I want one too. Tell me more about it, please.
Thanks Dan I'm going to have to check out your bug spray option, sounds awesome.
Thanks! My usual base weight is about 12-13. Here’s the insect repellent amzn.to/34VqGsv
@@DanBecker thank you.
@@DanBecker
Thanks, I watched another video that recommended its use. Unfortunately the link they provided was broken and Google thought I wanted to purchase Off Bug Spray.
That's a good setup Dan. You really can't go with less - unless you're reckless. Headed out on my next adventure in the morning with a whopping 30 pounds...because I'm not suffering!
Wow!! Have a blast!!
Nice UL Gear! Someday you will most likely go ultralight again for a long trip. I have gone ultralight for some trips, but most of the time I'll add a few luxury items.
I'm sure your right, Bob! When we going hiking???
@@DanBecker We will have to make this happen. If the weather is decent next weekend I'll most likely be going somewhere with my wife. October is beautiful in the U.P. and the leaves are starting to turn color now.
Nice loadout. A thru-hiker friend stayed with us the last couple of days (AT, PCT CDT, Annapurna Circuit, 9 Camino trails so far, Israeli National Trail, etc., etc...). Her CDT bag weighed about 12 pounds this morning, including an extra pair of new Salomon shoes she bought here (no sales tax in Oregon 😀), so your weight is about even with hers. I'm too cheap to get much below 12 on my base weight.
Respect. The $$$ to get below 10 pounds feels gimmicky to me. I did 40-45 pounds in the late 90s and never gave it a second thought.( i was in my early twenties though)
@@nicksam5518 Yeah, I carried a hand axe and a pressed steel frying pan in my canvas pack back in the 60s-70s, but I avoid that these days to stay lighter, go longer, feel better the next day.
@S DJ Thanks for the information. Please tell me what in my comment specifically makes this comparison ridiculous so I avoid this error in the future.
great video! Got a tip for you guys if you have a short spork and don't want to get your fingers icky digging down into a dehydrated meal bag.... just tear down the bag as you go, like a bag of chips, make the bag fit your spork. unless you like leftovers and want to keep the meal bag it's original size. ✌️🤟
Brilliant!!!!
i guess i just don't get it. I used a 15$ long Titanium spork. It just seems like a no mess, no fuss solution to me.
Got back from an overnighter on Mount Lemmon T,AZ. Marshal Gultch TH to Wilderness of Rocks junction with mt lemmon trail. 5'3", 63, pack 51 lbs. today I am stiff and sore. Carried to much food but I need to get better than this. In 2 years I want to hike the AZT. Today I dread hiking to the bathroom 10 feet away.😅
What would you take if temps were down around 30 for a quilt? Or sleeping bag
Any 20°F name-brand item will work. I use a Kelty 23°F sleeping bag and spent a couple nights in sub-freezing temperatures and was perfectly cozy. Used it alongside a bivy, though.
Dan, for identifying the flowers or any other plants, animals, insects, or anything else check out the iNaturlist app. It gives you some likely IDs when you take a picture and allows for peer reviews. Great video! Not crazy about ultra light, but fun to see some of the little mods!
Thanks Adam! That sounds like it would be a great app to have out on the trail as well!
@@DanBecker those flowers are good for treating poison ivy, hopefully a helpful, but unneeded tip
I’m of the opinion that you should be as light as possible but still be comfortable for you. Personally I need a couple of pillows to be comfortable. And my tent isn’t ultralight. It’s a three person tent and 6lbs including the rainfly. If I’m hiking with another person, which I assume I would, we could divy up the weight. I love my tent. But I’ve been learning a lot from your posts. In fact you made me feel better about my Patagonia camp stool. I have a z seat too cuz sometime a log or rock is a good option and the z seat doubles as a pillow for my knees cuz I’m a side sleeper. Keep up the good work and thanks for all the informative content
I'm trying to lower my weight but am not and will not prioritize weight over comfort but their has to be a happy medium. My trail weight needs to be less than 30 lbs even in a 7 day food carry with 5 liters (11 lbs h20) of water. I'm planning on doing the pct next year and I know that weight matters. I would opt to take a long titanium or aluminum spoon or spork. Getting my hands in there is still a really good chance of cross contamination. I have been looking at EE quilts as well as Outdoor Vitals quilts. I've spoken with a few PCT'ers by where I live and an outfitter on a PCT town. A lot of complaints about quilts on cold nights. I'll take the weight penalty on that one. Anyway cool video.
30-11=19
19-10.5=8.5
You need a bear canister and cold-weather clothes/sleep system on PCT, right?
Interested to see that load-out!
8.5 base weight is what you are aiming for then. And if you are prioritizing comfort, then expect your base weight to be around 13lbs (at least) to be honest. Also most people, even thru hikers, don't know how to use a quilt properly (mainly not utilizing the straps). Also with EE quilts, you need to buy an extra set of straps and use 2 loop straps to prevent drafts even when you toss and turn. Katabatic Gear has patent on using 2 loop straps that's why EE can't sell them as an option. But also a lot of thru hikers who count all the ounces before the hike and go UL tend to add some ounces later on because it doesn't really matter. Comfort and enjoyment matters more.
@@funnybeingme Hood info. Today we did devil's post pile, rainbow falls and lower falls in the Sierra. I met a couple of Sobos. Moose has a hmg 2400, yes 2400. Plexamid and a catatonic sleep I think a quilt. Jim jam, another hiker was not ultralight and they've hiked together since the beginning. It truly is what you are comfortable with.
@@danielcluley870 You're absolutely correct. I can tell you that my big 3 BA flycreek (3 lbs), REI magma 20 (2 lbs), Exos 48 older style (2.8lbs) and the Nemo tensor insulated regular (1lb) come to 8.8 lbs. I carry that with my other gear it goes over 10 lbs. The 5 liter water carry which I've done once took it to 32 lbs. I don't remember exactly what gear it was. I do remember thinking "dang this is heavy". The point that I'm trying to make is that the comfort part which for the most part is the pad and the sleeping bag. I could go with a lighter tent and backpack if I wanted to but right now it's not needed. that would be okay. I won't sacrifice the sleeping bag or the pad. I don't like the x-light it's to noisy and not comfortable for me. I don't like a quilt because I'm a cold sleeper. EE recently finished upgrading the amount of down they put on their quilt because of too many complaints about being cold. Thank you for your reply on my comment. It is right on target. But it can be done just tweeking things a little. My normal 4 day carry is between 24 and 30 lbs. I rarely take that much water. I always carry a filter.
@@funnybeingme I agree. Yes 13 lbs is pretty much where I'm at. The "D2" part on my name is for diabetic type 2. I can lower my food weight considerably with low carb and high fat food and still have enough energy but still at 60 it's not getting any easier. I'm still trying to figure it out and not break the bank.
Judging from your ultralight gear a persons location is a large contributing factor. Especially with clothing, cooking and sleeping. Here in Florida I can get by with light weight synthetic clothing and light weight hammocks for most of the year. Such as a Mosquito Hammock and straps paired with a rain fly form Warbonnet. For cooking a titanium Cup and a titanium wood burning stove ( firebox nano ). Sometimes even a open cooking fire or enclosed trench fire. The smaller capacity Zpacks Nano Backpack is the normal pack. Cooler weather then the larger Zpacks Arc Blast and a top quilt, self inflating mattress ( used year round and 3/4 inflated ) with a heavier double bottom hammock and warmer clothing for camp. My 16 oz Helinox chair is usually the luxury item.
Woohoo New video. 😁
I have a question your watch Cassio G-Shock GWN 1000 has the features you mentioned with it do they seem accurate ? Would you buy again or another model ?
Absolutely. It’s a great watch. I’ve compared it with other altimeters, barometers, and compasses. For the most part it’s pretty accurate I would say. There have been times that it’s been slightly off on the altimeter but the barometer and compass have been very accurate. I’ve compared its readings with weather channels and other weather apps.
Thanks I have to take a look at one I like the idea of those features and the barometer would be awesome knowing if it's falling or rising. As a Professional Pilot and a full time weather watcher I see the value in it, I have just not wanted to carry a Kestrel Weather Meter.
Hey interesting my friend! for the long hike the ZPack toothbrush is not suitable for my gums! Merci 🙏
I kind of get a kick out of a 5'1" Ultra Light gear weight is the same as me @ 6'4" when all the weight shift in proportion to height (Clothes, Quilt, Hammock length, pack ).
I have the same issue. All my clothing and sleeping stuff is much heavier. I can never hit under 19 oz on a quilt.
Just my tent and sleeping sistem exceeds the ultralight cap xD
Im about to do my fist section hike in nj. I know im going to take way too much crap.
Hilltop Packs!
Jewel weed.. its great for birds and poison ivy if you ever get it. It usually grows near the edge of the woods. My parents house had it growning at there place.. it can get out hand and take over your yard if you have alot of shade. Great backpack .. umm where is the chair? Lol gotta have that ultralight chair man! and you’d still be under 10lbs lol
Though, like Dan, I'm not so concerned about weight that I wouldn't bring my zero chair for a weekender. On longer trips, I can still keep the weight around 10-11lbs. , with chair , and take either a pair of wind pants or x-tra shorts and a change of underwear as well. I can't stand sitting around camp in wet clothes. If the sun comes out I hang the wet ones and they're ready for tomorrow. If not I can sit in my tent without getting everything else wet. Also, this is a summer pack. To average things out I would count the fleece or capilene as part of my base. Phone only. No camera.
I was thinking the plants were jewel weed in your previous video. Your backyard must be really wet/damp, it only likes to grow in wet conditions. Love your new logo, but from a fellow Wisconsinite, trying to figure out where the mountains come in.
If you want to get really hard core, you could attach a bunch of helium balloons to your pack. You should be able to get down to a zero pack weight. It wouldn't be practical, but it would be hilarious. You could yell out, "Zero Pack Weight!" every time you pass another hiker on the trail. :)
Maybe a bandana or a small towel/cloth.
What about the Sawyer "mini". I like mine, it's a little slow, but I got one for $1 new!!!
Yep that one has been good for me as well. But definitely slow. That’s why I switched back to the squeeze
Great video. How can I order the food bag with your logo on it??
www.hilltoppacks.com/#/ is where I got it. You can have anything printed
Dan Becker thank you
I know the plant as Jewelweed, but it is also called Spotted touch-me-not the seeds are spring loaded and "explode" but the plant is good for easing poison Ivy rashes
Good to know!
Your back yard table is sick as Fuc&
10lb base weight? My planned hammock setup - including tarp, underquilt and suspension system - is likely to come in at about the 3.96kg - *8.7lb* - mark. That leaves only 1.3lb (not quite 600g) for pack, sleeping bag, cooking system and the myriad other things I'm likely to need/want.
Screw UL, man!
BTDubs, Dan, props for putting the metric weights as well as Imperial. I hate watching US channels that only cite things in pounds and ounces as though the whole bloody world is familiar with them.
You loaned out your Xlite to your brother in law? Man, *that's* trust! I'd've loaned out the $40 "cheapie" and kept the Xlite safe and close...