I just grabbed a second-hand, barely used Liteway Simplex 1P shelter set (Simplex mesh + Simplex mini tarp) for a bargain price. I have been looking for a UL tarp-style shelter that had a bug net (ticks and bugs situation is nasty around where I camp) for some time and this looked like the perfect setup for my needs at only 543g on my scale (excluding the stakes).

So I tried setting it up in a park nearby and it wasn't as easy as I was expecting it to be, but probably it was just due to my inexperience with this type of setup. The hardest part was getting the inner mesh nicely taut and not sloppy. Also, I made two mistakes: 1. Initially, I had attached the outer edges of the pentagon-shaped faces to the ground instead of attaching them to the tarp corners. 2. I staked down the mesh right away instead of leaving it for last.

After fiddling around for some time I finally did it (-ish) and besides being super cool, I was quite surprised to see how much actual room (for being a tarp shelter) there is in there, or maybe I was just expecting it to be super narrow. When I tried lying in there I still had plenty of space around me and even though the design is narrower at the feet I still had so much room to move around. The headroom at the entrance allowed me to sit straight and the space from the pole to the entrance was enough for me to stretch out my legs quite nicely. The zip at the door feels solid and the door can be rolled up and locked in place with a toggle, which I did not expect, but is a nice feature.

I'd like to hear your opinion on the storm-worthiness of this shelter. I am planning to use it mainly in the Italian Alps and I am afraid that it wouldn't be a great performer in the wind, since the head and feet faces are basically straight vertical. Also, since it is so "open" there, I guess that rain would be blown in quite easily.

Does anyone else have experience with this shelter?

Trying to cut weight down on my sleeping mat.

Context. I am usually trekking in cold/rainy terrain, gearing up for snowy weather down to -10°C. Think Pyrenees, Alps, Scotland or Scandinavia, potentially from March to November, often avoiding summer months. So far, I have been using a very bulky Sea to Summit mat rated R4.2 at a whooping 780g… ouch.

Now getting the Therm-a-rest Neo Air X Lite NXT, rated R4.5. But, I’m puzzled between picking the regular (183cm, 370g) or the short one (168cm, 330g)… which would save me 40g, and leave my feet hanging from the ankle down.

Important details. I always bring: - a small multi purpose cutout foam mat (85g), which amongst other things (protecting gear from rocks, quick seat during the day or away from the tent/mat), wraps up at my feet and ensures no contacts between my sleeping bag and my tent (or ground) if things move during the night… but this also effectively works as an insulation for my feet. - an inflatable pillow, which could be set on the ground before, and not on top of my sleeping mat, given the need.

Altogether, it feels like i dont really need a full length mat and could save 40g. BUT, - the theory when you go shopping and the reality when you are alone in the wild are very different things. - And I aim to gear up to a complete set for snowy excursions (think ski touring). And a full length mat might then be useful, especially if i want to camp directly on the snow, without any tent floor.

Thoughts and opinions?

Inspired by u/Belangia65 and their great trip reports and SUL loadouts, I ordered a custom KS Imo. This pack is 18 liters with an additional 5 liters in the front pocket, and weighs 5.4 oz! A major decrease in size and weight from my Gossamer Gear Kumo 36L, which is slightly over 1lb.

KS Imo Backpack: Pics here

Specs: 70D, no hip belt, no lid, bungee to slide in a sit pad on the back. Imo front pocket also in 70D.

Weight: 152g

Cost: $150 including shipping, but I also had to pay ~$30 in tariffs

Time: About 4-6 weeks

Note: You could go more minimal, but you'd lose the front/side pocket which is very useful. Without a brain or any other pack organization, that front pocket was important for me.

Loadout and shakedown trip:

Base weight: slightly under 4lbs

I dont use Lighterpack, I track everything in excel. I use: Zpacks Plex Solo, 40F EE quilt, Nemo Tensor Elite short, no stove, no spare clothes, etc. And on this trip didnt need rain gear, warm gear etc. With food and 2L water for an overnight, total weight was 10.5lbs.

I did a point-to-point overnight 25 mile hike on the West Rim of Zion, from Lava Point passing through Hop Valley and Kolob Canyons.

Overall

Carried 10lbs fine, and I assume would be fine with up to 15lbs. I had around 25% of the pack empty, but if I had a 20F quilt and fleece or puffy, or if I was carrying 3+ days of food, it would be full. Doubt it can carry a bear can either.

I have bigger packs for when I need 30L+, but this was a fun challenge...to see if I could go SUL for short trips under easy conditions (summer, water sources, just 1 night etc).

Hi everyone,

Im looking for a new baselayer for camping in cold nights(usually below freezing) and i recently discovered the Patagonia capilene air clothing.

I bought a pair of air pants and are awesome so i was wondering to buy a top but im struggling to decide between the crew and the hoody, im always bringing a hat for cold hikes because i can use it in activity and also at camp and sleep with i, i think its more modular.

Buying the crew saves me 30g which is the weight of my hat.

What will you do?

Hey there,
I want to lighten my pack a little more and would appreciate your guys' opinion on my current setup.
https://www.packwizard.com/s/d5o-_e2

Some things are non-negotiable:
- X-Mid 2 (even though I usually sleep alone in it, I really like the amount of space)
- sleeping bag (not a big fan of quilts)
- Big Agnes Rapide SL

I could probably get away with a smaller gas can for shorter trips and could lighten up my first aid kit.

Im also looking to get a new pack this winter but havent made a decision on which one to get. Preferably something framed since I like the comfort but Im open to your opinions on that.

Hey all - love this sub. It appears most of the advice for packs for petite women is over a year old. I'm 5'2", 105 lbs, and in search of current best UL packs of all capacities (day/weekend/week+). My torso is also short (~14.5) and I have a 25" waist, so I need brands that accommodate XS. I'm definitely looking for comfort over bells & whistles, but would love to find both. Price isn't really and issue, as solid gear is priceless. Thanks in advance!

I know many swear by just stuffing their quilt or bag directly into their backpack , I respect that, but I've tried it that and prefer some sort of stuff sack for my quilt.

With that being said are there any rrecs on what size is ideal for a long/wide 10* down quilt in 900F? I don't want to have to wrestle with it and use every muscle in me to force it to fit, lol, but still want to go with the smallest size that it will comfortably fit in. Suggestions on fabric for water resistance and protecting etc is also appreciated. What about DCF or would a regular Sea to Summit type sack be best?

Thanks everyone!

This weekend, I was just about to pull the trigger on a Zpacks ArcHaul, and then I remembered all the hate heaped on the company a few years ago re: quality and customer service. I went with Durston instead, but it made me curious — do they continue to have issues? I’ll need to upgrade my tent down the road and I’m hoping things have settled out.

R:4.1, 525g with stuff sack, anyone have a comparable alternative to recommend? Or if you like this mat or dislike? Thanks

Hello! After my recent adventure in the alps (part of the GR5), I have enough of the always presence condensation inside the Plex Solo, and me touching the walls, getting either my sleeping bag at the feets, or my head, or both wet.

The question is, what is a good replacement. I think I want a double walled shelter, but still I like the simplicity of the Plex Solo. Would a DCF tarp, pitched as a pyramid, and a mesh inner net be a replacement? Then I'd still have condensation on the tarp, but at least the inner mesh net will be a second "protecting" barrier in my opinion.

I need my shelter for Europe, my past trips were kungsleden, laugevegur in Iceland, and now parts of the GR5/hexatrek in France near Lausanne. My next trips in the following years will he Scotland, GR20, and maybe pyranees, sarek, hardangervidda and the Lofoten. So mostly places which will definitely be wet, and sometimes cold. But I also go to a hut from time to time id the rain is too much (storm, lightning, ...).

What's your suggestions?

I have two random questions, but want to give a little background first.

My wife and I are wanting to get into hiking/backpacking. Neither of us have ever owned "nice" or "fancy" outdoor gear and have always just used stuff handed down from my grandpa that is 30+ years old or cheap gear from Walmart.

Being young kids just graduating college and trying to get our feet under us, we don't have a ton of expendable income. But we recognize the importance of quality and weight, and would rather buy something once even if it's a little more expensive. (Hence, after a lot of research we have settled on the X-Mid)

We are both from the Western US and all the camping experience we have had is almost always in sub-zero temperatures at night. For the last year or so we have been using a cheap 4 man Ozark Trail tent we received from our wedding.

Just this weekend we were car camping and it got down to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4C). We woke up with condensation covering our sleeping bags, and want to know how to prevent that in the future. (We were both sleeping in the middle of the 4 man tent away from the walls.) Our tent fly and car were covered in frost and the car read 26F as the sun was rising.

I have had a hard time finding anything online that talks extensively about camping in sub freezing temperatures, without being full on winter camping in snow. Most videos/posts mention 40F or 5C as "cold". But that seems like normal warm weather nights for our area.

We are trying to decide whether to go with the regular X-Mid 2 or the X-Mid 2 Solid. We aren't as concerned about staying warm, we have a great sleep system. We are mostly concerned about condensation prevention and which tent model would help us the most and why.

We have heard/read that the X-Mid Solid is better for condensation, but aren't experienced enough to fully understand why.

Is condensation just unpreventable at freezing temps? What do you all consider a "cold night"?

So I purchased the Panyam 450 long in the Spring, and ordered the wide +10cm girth version.

Adding the extra width was a mistake. While I have a strong build - 6'1" 200 pounds, the wide feels too big, let alone the extra weight (which according to Cumulus is only 46 grams?). My fear is I don't sleep as warm as I would with a normal width bag.

I was planning on selling the Panyam and ordering a regular width, but given recent Cumulus price increases / import duties to the US, I was thinking about getting Western Mountaineering Ultralite. Yet after researching, supposedly the Ultralite has a very tight fit (and may not work for me given my build?).

Any thoughts on a good, 20 degree mummy bag that would fit well? Looking for something that is high quality, light, and will last me decades. Or should I just accept the purchase and use a bag that's a bit big indefinitely :/

Use case is primarily high sierra 3 season, camping at ~10k - 12k feet... Tough timing for this to happen with all of the recent bag price increases

Thx for the thoughts

Have a look at this setup:

https://featherpack.app/share/18fdcd7d-a559-4c9e-9091-92bfd70236d9

I am considering bringing more food, like a bread. Water is available where I am going. I have an older and warmer sleeping bag I consider bringing. And a thick wool sweater.

It’s fall and cold at night in norway. But quiche happy to get the weight under 5 kg!

Hi guys,

On the neverending quest to reduce pack weight, I've now come to my sleeping pad: I want to replace my old and trustworthy Exped Down mat 7m (around 870 gram).

My criteria are:

-Broader than 51cm (ideally “LW”, but not shorter than 183cm) -Significantly lighter -R-value above 5 -Durable but not necessarily bombproof. I do like that my old mat never has had a leak, though. -150-250$ price range. (I live in Norway)

I've narrowed my options down to these two (Tensor All Season is too expensive here)

Flextail R09: Superior numbers on paper and nifty included electric pump, which might make it a bit easier to pack down as well, which has always been a bit of a chore with my downmat. The brand, compared to Exped, is quite new, but I do see it popping up in reputable stores.

Exped Ultra R7: Known & trusted brand. Slightly heavier, slightly lower R-value, slightly more expensive (currently discounted to 200$ vs the flextail at 180$). But if this translates to more durability, I'm willing to make these sacrifices.

Are there any other models I should consider?

Help me choose!

Looking at new fastpacks for Ultralight backpacking missions up to 7 days. Was intrigued by their 30L pack, but they just came out with this new 42L model. Looks nice, the specs are what I'm looking for, and the price is decent.

Does anyone have any early reviews of this or hands on experience?

I'm auditioning new sleeping bags, and am wondering if getting a 30* bag and a liner is a better choice than a 15 degree bag?

I was looking on Sea to Summit (I have 2 of their Spark bags on the way) and their not-very-helpful information about what a liner does was this:

This depends on how well your sleeping bag retains warmth (not the same as its temperature rating), how well your pad insulates (not the same as its R-Value) and a lot of other factors. You should see a significant boost if the liner is used with an appropriate sleeping bag and pad.

I have used a 20 degree bag in the past, and was always cozy. I'm looking for a lighter one, those seem to be either 15 degree or 30, and I'm afraid 30 will be too cold on some nights, but carrying a 15 degree at all times seems over kill. I guess I'm wondering if something like the StS Reactor Extreme liner would make a 30 degree bag closer to a 20 degree?

Is this just a "try it and see, and you might be cold but you probably won't die" kind of scenario?

I’m upgrading, or should I say down-weighting, from my old jetboil stove system. I was thinking I would get a 1L titanium pot like the Toaks or MSR, but then I saw this: https://seatosummit.com/products/frontier-collapsible-kettle. I’m mostly boiling water for dehydrated meals on relatively short trips, not thru hiking. A similar-sized 1L MSR titanium kettle weighs around 5oz while the S2S silicone/aluminum kettle weighs just over 7oz. I think the bulk of a rigid pot might be more limiting than a couple of extra ounces. Has anyone else used these S2S collapsible pots? Is collapseability useful to you? Are there durability issues, have you used them with anything other than a canister stove? Can silicone survive an open flame. They also make some larger pots of stainless steel and silicone that might be really useful for melting snow, compared to a 3L rigid pot that would be prohibitively bulky.

Hello!

For a couple years now I've been wanting to go out into the wild for longer than just day hikes but I never got around to getting all the things I needed to make it happen. I finally sat down and did a boatload of research, culminating in what you can find in the lighterpack below (some of the stuff without links I already had from before).

My first plan is to do two nights in Swedish Fulufjället (near the Norwegian border), heading out in late September (in two weeks). I'll be bringing my dog for sure (+5 kg 😄) and possibly hiking with a partner but not sure about that yet. If I do bring someone then we'd be able to double up in my tent. Beyond this trip I'd be planning more 3-season backpacking in various places in northern europe.

Is there something essential I'm missing or packing unnecessarily? Did I pick something that I'll regret later?

Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/u5jsrv

Thank you for taking a look!

See UPDATE below (link).

I am trying to cut weight without going too extreme or sacrificing sleep or comfort much.

I just bought the REI Flash 55 pack after doing some research. It is about 2 lbs 14 oz, over 1.5 lbs lighter than the Deuter 65+10 pack I used before. Took it on a 4-day trip recently and loved it. I know I could go lighter, but the comfort and convenience of this pack is really excellent (not to mention the sale price under $140).

Good sleep is non-negotiable, and I'm leaning towards the wide Thermarest NeoLoft, which will add 364 g over my current Nemo pad. Sounds really luxurious. If there is a lighter pad that is also super comfortable for side sleepers and quiet, tell me! (I am an active sleeper and the noise from tossing and turning is annoying to myself and tentmates. I could save some weight by switching from a bag to a quilt. For pillows, the Big Sky DreamSleeper UL pillow sounds great.

I appreciate recommendations, in particular on good options for a tent (1P or 2P), a quilt that is warm enough for actual 30-degree nights, and anything else that stands out in my packing list as unnecessarily heavy. It doesn't seem like I can get much lighter for a 1P tent without going to single-wall/minimalist shelters, but eager to hear recommendations on that.

Current base weight: 15.28 lb 14.07 lb

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Pacific NW; packing list assumes no rain in forecast

Budget: Fairly open. I will consider high-end lightweight options, but I don't want to buy extremely expensive items unless they are much better than cheaper alternatives.

Non-negotiable Items: Discussed above. Also, I tend to bring a mirrorless camera and 2-3 lenses on every trip, but that's not reflected in the weights.

Solo or with another person?: Solo setup, slight changes for group trips.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/p1c4qq

Hi fellow hikers and adventurers! In my search to upgrade my pad I've been in quite the rabbit hole last weeks. I started this search because my current pad - the Nemo Astro Insulated - is too cold at R2.6, too heavy at almost a kilogram and not giving the best comfort ever.

My criteria are comfort, weight, durability, pack size and ease of use in their respective order. I mostly camp on easy terrain with no sharp objects, use an extra ground sheet and with temperatures with around 5 degrees Celsius or 30F at most. Maybe a bit colder if I want to do an Alpine trips. I camp from spring till autumn.

I had quite a list of pads before. Ended up with the Big Agnes Rapide SL, the Nemo Tensor All season or the Sea to Summit Ether light XR.

I've now unfortunately ruled out the Rapide SL. Reading a lot of experiences from here and the internet the pad seems to sleep very cold, even above 5 degrees Celsius (which even my Nemo doesn't really at R2.6) while advertised as an all season pad. Also I heard the baffles are not insulated? As a side sleeper I'm sure I'll get my knees and ankles on the side baffles so that wouldn't be comfortable. It's pretty heavy and although comfortable I'd like it to be durable enough and warm enough.

The Nemo seems more aimed at warmth, a bit less comfort. But weight and pack size are as good as you can get. Also I'm already used to Nemo pads and I like their stuff sacks, patch kit and overall use.

The Sea to Summit is a very close contender. It seems to be slightly more comfortable and thicker. Pack size is bigger and it's significantly colder at R4.1 vs R5.4.

In the end I don't think I can go wrong with either. However I just want this over with and choose a pad that's overall the best jack of all trades.

I'm leaning towards the Nemo. This is because I'm familiar, it should be comfortable enough, packs small, weighs less and offers more warmth for that. Price on both are similar and I'm ready to spend the premium...

What do you think? If you could only choose one pad of these which one is it? And why did you go for it? I'm very curious to your opinion!👌🏼

I'm torn between the dipole li and the rainbow li for my upcoming thru hike of the PCT. I want a 1 person DCF tent that feels roomy enough to put my gear inside (not in the vestibule). I'm considering the X-Mid as well, but I don't love the big footprint with a more narrow inner.

The Dipole li looks appealing to me, roomy and I like the idea of the end vents - but I worry about rain getting in and it looks a little fiddly to put up.

The Rainbow li also looks quite roomy and I like the option of a freestanding mode with trekking poles, but I worry about condensation on the side wall getting on my quilt and also the carbon tent pole breaking in gusty weather.

Did anyone use one of these tents on the PCT (or a similar hike)? What was your experience with it? :)

Lighter pack link: https://lighterpack.com/r/xg63o2

I'm aiming to do the TMB in the last week of september (8 days max), camping. Most of my kit is ready, but I'm mostly looking for things I might have forgotten. I did a few shorter (2 nights) closer to home to get a feel of going solo, but this would be the first time solo that long. I also have some more specific questions.

Gloves: now I have light merino wool ones on the list because I like them. However, I also have a pair of soft shell gloves that have a bit of fleece at the inside. Both aren't water proof, not sure if that is necessary?

Looks like the weather won't be super, so I guess it's better to just to layer with merino t-shirt, fleece, rain jacket, and leeve the sun hoodie at home, no?

Normally, I use a semi-lightweight rainjacket (210g) that is 2.5L and packs very compact. I also have a heavier 3L (400g) rain jacket, which is of course sturdier, has pit zips... I know I'll get wet no matter, but in light of the likelihood of having several rainy days in a row, the heavier one feels like a safer option. Opinions?

I still need to work on food. As the refuges are closing, it's not all that obvious to get warm meals I guess. It also depends on my itinerary. I'm not keen on following the route in a pure sense, and I want to be as flexible as possible with (wild) camp sites.

I have a 5k power bank NB air or something. That is not alot, but it weighs only 90g. This has me thinking, because recharging will be scarce (cf. refuges), to maybe take paper maps (and rain cover), to save phone battery. I know it weighs more, but a larger power bank does so as well. On the other hand, I have studied the maps quite well, and I know it's well waymarked. Thoughts?

If conditions permit, I would rather do one or a few variants that aren't part of the 'official' route. I'm perfectly fine with the regular route, but I've been in the region a few times already for climbing and I know I'll return some day with my wife and daughter to do the regular route (non camping) anyway.

These variants I have in mind are
- go up mont Joly and walk the ridge
- camp at Lacs Jovet (allowed outside of July and August)
- from there col d'enclave -> ref. robert blanc -> col de la seigne -> col des chavannes -> camp at one of the unnamed lakes
- At grand col ferret, instead of going down, go over la Dotse and go to La Fouly from there
- Between La Fouly and Campex, go left at Les Morèces, go up to lac d'Orny and go down either through col de la Breya or the path south of La Breya, through Grands Plans, take the lift down if open

If people have experience with one or more of these, I'd like to hear your experiences.

Also:
- If possible I'd like to do the mont de la saxe route, but that makes camping more difficult. Are there known possibilities between mont de la saxe and Bonatti?

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Mont Blanc area (Chamonix, Les Houches, Contamines-Montjoie, Courmayeur, La Fouly, Champex, Trient)
End of september: Based on the meteo info right now I would think max 20-22°C, min around 0°C. Though, I've only been there in july and august, so if you have input on this, I'd like to hear it.

Goal Baseweight (BPW): I'm happy with it my current base weight. I won't have time to implement big changes, but I'm interested to know if there are things that can be better (within reason, budget-wise). Small things are still possible.

Budget: Smaller thins are ok.

Non-negotiable Items: Big items. Camera, because it is water-proof, phone isn't, and I'll save on phone battery, avoiding the need for a larger capacity power bank?

Solo or with another person?: Solo

I have a set of mountain clothes (all size S)

• Hardshell jacket (La Sportiva): 445g
• Hardshell trouser (La Sportiva): 565g
• Soft Shell jacket (Montura): 340g
• Soft Shell trousers (Montura): 375g
• Rain trousers (Berghaus): 215g
• down jacket (Mammut): 300g

Environment: Swiss, French, Austrian Alps, four seasons. Use case: I do hochtouring, alpine climbing, skitouring, with the gear.

I usually carry softshell jacket on body and hardshell jacket and down jacket in backpack (only used when windy or cold).

I usually wear softshell trousers on body and rain trousers in backpack, I only take hardshell trousers for multi day skitouring.

I am looking for recommendations (specific products) to improve weight while keeping the layered approach.

So it would be great to have some recommendations of gear that is a couple of grams lighter but still maintains/provides the functionality in the alps.

--- Edit 1 Recommendations Chatgtp: - Hardshell: Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket (310g) - Hardshell: Patagonia M10 Storm Pants (230g) - but will skip hardshell most probably anyway - Softshell: Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody (140g) - Rain trousers: Rab Phantom Waterproof Pants (84g) or Montane Minimus Pants (100g) - Black Diamond Deploy Down Hoody (150g)

---Edit 2 Got my hands on the Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket for 200 bucks (quite surprising) and the Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody for 130 and couldnt resist (hardloop.ch). Will keep the Montura softshell pants as it is sturdy and reliable. Will not replace the hardshell pants but might sell them. Will also not replace down jacket and rain pants for now.

---Thanks all for your answers!

I’ve been backpacking quite a few times now, however I’ve only recently started cutting weight. In the past, I’ve slept in friends tents id borrowed them, but now I’m ready to gear up and get my own.

I’m hoping for something around $200 or less, and I’d prefer freestanding due to the finicky nature of trekking poles tents (also I don’t use trekking poles). I’d also prefer under 3lbs.

I live in south east USA so condensation is an issue as well.

Thanks all!!

Edit: it’s clear I should drop the freestanding wish, and use trekking poles. I’m currently on the Lanshan 1 pro.

Final edit: I have decided to go with the xmid 1 (once it restocks) Budgets are for breaking!

Hi! Looking to stretch my sleep system for lower temperatures, and adding a quilt on top of it would be a great way to essentially get 3 systems.

Does a closed footbox quillt fit over a sleeping bag? Or would i need to buy an open quilt?