Re: Ultralight Backpacking

Although a recent thread addressed rain gear, I think this general category will produce many responses, so starting another thread.

I have found Gossamer gear (google it) to be a clever approach for the slow weak older packers or the strong "marathon" packer that both want light packs. It has gotten me back into backpacking after years away. I hate feeling like a mule.

Currently use a Gossamer gear frameless pack, try to avoid taking anything that needs to be cooked and little to no tent. The Gossamer gear has an interesting solution to backpack straps-- uses socks to pad the shoulder straps, for instance.

I have no financial interest in Gossamer gear.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

Gossamer Gear is also a good domestic retail outlet for the closed-cell foam sleeping pads equivalent to what many of us knew as Ensolite pads. Gossamer calls it their ThinLight Pad. Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) up in Canada also carries these pads (Evazote is the trade name for the material carried by both GG and MEC.)

Tents: just bought a MSR Hubba HP tent this year for solo backpacking, 2.5 lbs. total weight. (Also going back lighter as I get older - tired of carrying 5 lb. tents for solo jaunts.) Set it up in the house, but haven't used it yet; there are also multi-person versions.

szalkowski wrote:

> Gossamer Gear is also a good domestic retail outlet for the
> closed-cell foam sleeping pads equivalent to what many of us
> knew as Ensolite pads. Gossamer calls it their ThinLight Pad.
> Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) up in Canada also carries these
> pads (Evazote is the trade name for the material carried by
> both GG and MEC.)
>
>
For some of the Gossamer packs, the sleeping pad (Z-type) is used as a "frame" for the backpack.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

You can pretty much get innundated with information on gear.

backpackinglight.com

My pack of choice is currently Granite Gear - Nimbus Meridian.
3 1/2 pounds I believe. 3+ season pack.
If I'm bringing the trail boat though it's the tried and true Gregory Shasta.

There is sooooo much stuff out there .... if you have the means your
solo tent should be < 4 pounds.
Been using the GoLite Shangri-La 1 as emergency shelter when no
bugs around (prefer sleeping sans tent). Other times where
weather and bugs more unprectable an older Eureka solo tent modified.
(similar to their backcountry tent)

For headlamp I love the Photon Freedom LED Light. but I've almost
lost it a couple times already b/c it's so small.

I wouldn't doubt you could cut 5 pounds off of your tent/pack/sleeping bag
with new gear. But that's not chump change.

One set of clothes (the ones you got on). Lightweight long underwear
to sleep in. Fleece pants and fleece jacket. Windbreaker.
1 extra undies, 1 extra pair of socks.

WEIGH EVERYTHING

SHORT sleeping pads. (48in.) I use only the short Thermrest Prolite4 if
temp not gonna be below freezing.
(dang thermarest goes and makes this Neo thing now! poopheads!)

Although I seem to be continuously attempting to cut my packweight down
probably the item I refuse to leave home without is this baby:



Nothing finer than watching some Hell's Kitchen in the old "tent".


At close to 1lb it's worth it's weight.

With this guy backpacking when the sun goes down at 5pm is no
longer an issue. Right now "TV time" starts around 7:30pm.

bill-e-g wrote:

> Although I seem to be continuously attempting to cut my
> packweight down
> probably the item I refuse to leave home without is this baby:
>


Cute.



(Aside to Dale: I haven't forgotten about emailing you those Copper Creek Trail photos. Been busy tending to a brother in Phoenix that is recovering from an auto accident.)



Post Edited (04-10-09 11:55)

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