Light weight hiking/back packing

[pnorvell]

Tent wise, you might look at the Tarptent. Personally I have my eye on the Double Rainbow, which is a bit bigger tent. Relatively comfortable for 2 + dog. It's a one pole free standing tent if you use your ski (or trekking) poles for stretchers. You can also stake the 4 corners, but it's not free standing without the 2 poles. It's 40 ounces completely set-up with a floor, combo mesh/fly, etc. It can be split into two halves, so each person must pack ~1.25 lbs. From what I've seen it does pretty well with wind, so can be pressed into year round service if you want. I like the Megamid when group skiing in the winter, but having a floor would make it good for spring snow and summer rain, too (I hate wet down). They also have a floorless version, which weighs about 34 oz.

Amazing idea! I've rigged using my trekking poles for awhile, but now this?!! That's true ingenuity!

Peter

[Mr. Leary]

The problem with much of this ultralight gear is that it is very expensive. I have found that a good resource is your local military surplus store. I have found two items in particular that have become staples of my pack. The military Gore-Tex jacket, which can usually be found for around $100, and performs as well if not better than market jackets. The other is the ECWS sleep system bivy bag. While the sleeping bags that come with this system are crap, the outer bag works very well in all weather conditions, is light, and packs small.

A technique that has worked for me is to make a list of everything that you pack in your bag. Go backpacking a few times and cross out the items on the list that you did not use.

There are several other tips, some of which have been mentioned before in this thread (sorry to hijack!)

- Bring one and only one pot... light and verstile.
- Don't carry stupid amounts of water. Have a small reserve, but a little research can save a lot of weight (water is probably the single heaviest element of your pack)
- Backpackers meals.... go for the high calorie ones
- Tent stakes can be replaced with sticks and rocks
- Spices and cooking gear including soap (scribble)
- More than one change of clothes (scribble)
- toothbrush and paste (substitute brush ups)
- extra fuel for stove (scribble)(i never even bring a full can backpacking! if you run out, use the fire)
- dogs can carry thier own food, stuff and some of yours (nothing essential, trust me!)
- multi-tool (substitute for small, sharp swiss army knife)
- foam pads, no inflatables
- adjust first aid kit to conditions (i.e. dont bring insect sting relief when camping in winter)

Thats all I can think of right now... sorry to be such a late comer to this thread!

[sojourn 2]

I'm considering purchasing a Marmot Alpinist 2p for backpacking use in Yosemite and the Smokey Mountains in TN. Is anyone out there who can convince me otherwise?

I'm looking for a mountaineering tent that can handle:
a lot of wind, something safe and sturdy
Smokey's unforeseen weather at or below 6500 feet in winter
Smokey's humidity, rain, and 62" a year snowfall

I'm in the process of planning my Yosemite trip now, but I really want something I can grow into. (use in higher elevations) Backpacking Magazine rated this tent "2008 Best Mountain Ultralight." Packed weight is 5lb. 8oz.
I would love a large vestibule, but weight and wind strengh override. This tent seems super easy to pitch and I think the colors are wonderful from the inside. One review said that on an Alaskan trip theirs withstood 70 or 90 mph (?) winds, a grizzly nuzzling at it for an hour getting bear drool on it, and a 75 lb. limb falling on it from 30' up and when they removed the branch it sprung right back up.

I found recommendation for a Hilleberg Soulo, but I'm wondering if it is noisy in high winds based on a You tube video I watched and that bright, bright red I'm not crazy about.

[RogerH]

We have two Marmot tents and lots of Marmot gear. I think you will be happy with their performance and quality!

[sojourn 2]

[FONT="Tahoma"]Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you love your tents. This gives me more confidence to move forward with the purchase.

The guy at REI said a single wall tent is not a good idea for the Smokey's, but weight is a huge issue because I would like my pack total to not exceed 25 lbs. Every review I have seen says condensation was not an issue with this tent (Marmot Alpinist 2P) and that they ventilate well. I think it depends a lot on what you are using the tent for.

A side note on the Hilleburg Soulo: The You tube video I watched was not of the Soulo, but other Hilleburg tents and it was the video called "Hilleburg tents in snow and wind" (or something like that) The Soulo came highly recommended by some guys in a forum setting on Backpacker Magazine.com who pack in at high altitudes. Pricey at $550[/FONT].

[RogerH]

I haven't looked into tents lately, but my Marmots "Nutshell" for backpacking, and "Swallow" for other camping, (and I think a lot of other brands are starting to do this...) allow me to leave the tent at home and only take the fly and snap it into the ground footprint as a very light set up. It does leave a gap along the bottom but gives you the option. In Colorado it is very dry compared to the humidity in Tennessee, so a single wall is excellent here (mine are double wall= has a fly). I have been in every conceivable condition in tents and Marmot, along with Mountain Hardware/SierraD./TNF, etc... all do pretty well. Bibler makes fine single wall tents as well.

Marmot is my current favorite! Enjoy!

[SEREvince]

Back from the dead, I thought it would be cool to have an update after living with this gear and doing a few week+ trips.

Titanium spork = YES, Still Awesome

Integral Designs 8x10 Siltarp 14 oz! I have a mozzy net for when the bugs are real bad. Still haven't used it

Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pad. Super comfy/packs small. Awesome! Light and comfy, got used hard in the desert and thought for sure it would be punctured by the ever present thorns. Nope it's still going strong.

My cook kit is Titanium and those Orikaso fold flat dishes. I never used the Orikaso and my Evernew Ti kit has been replaced with the small Snowpeak mug.

My stove is a MSR Dragonfly, although I am tempted by the Jetboil for the bling factor. Holly boat anchor, Batman! I've got a little pocket stove that takes standard isobutane. I've used it in sub freezing temps with no prob. This year, I'm ditching it for a alcohol stove.

My other purifiers are the Katadyn Hiker and the MSR Miox. Have not come out of the locker

I use the simple platypus bottles to lug the H2O. They are bombproof! and fold up tiny once they are empty. Still use occasionally, but my go to choice is Kleen kanteen bottles+ camelbak bladder.

I have several sleeping bags depending on conditions. I don't associate winter camping with being lightweight so my other options range from a fleece liner/ g-tex bivy to a North Face Cats Meow. I just don't see myself dropping another $250-300 to save a lb with a new bag. Primary bag for my trips has been a Big Agnes bag, can't recall the name, but it's the one sleeve on the bottom for the pad. It's rated to 40F, and I've used it a little below that and was snug. I did use the NF Cat's Meow on one hardcore winter trip (snowcaves) and was still great.

I am thinking of going with the Gregory G Pack. Went with a Granite Gear Vapor Meridian, it's been awesome, but after hiking with folks using Osprey packs I am going to get an Osprey. I ended up adding a front pouch to my pack, but it was less than ideal. Any pack from now on will have pouches up front. Just way too handy for snacks, camera etc.

As far as foot wear, I've decided there is no one perfect solution. Last year on a a 7 day trip through the Alps we all wore different choices and depending on conditions, one of us was really happy with our choice.

For this years Alps trip I am wearing my Asolo hikers. Last year the snow, scree and climbing really made me wish for more protection and a stiffer sole, even if I didn't need the support. I've worn my Asolos for a TON of miles in everything from snowshoing trips, to long desert marches and they have rocked!

I am ditching my $$$ ultra light weight Gortex top/bottoms, pack cover and sil-nylon tarp all in favor of a sil-nylon or cuben poncho. probably the cuben. I never wear the gortex bottoms or my tarp, I always bring them just in case. I use the pack cover a ton, and the jacket occasionally. The poncho will cover all the above for a ridiculously small weight.

I'm adding some light weight gators.

Last year on our Alta Via 1 trip I was at 29lbs, with water. This year I'm going for 25lbs.

Some of that weight is a helmet, harness, and via ferrate kit. Can't ditch that. But we don't have to carry all of our food. Main meals are all eaten at the rifugios. So it balances out.

I've added these companies to my search for light weight gear.

Mountain Laurel Designs
Zpacks

[bunni]

Thanks for the update! An interesting read.

I don't think you'll regret going to an alcohol stove. I made the switch from an MSR XGK that was simply overkill for my requirements.

My brunton spork ($9 REI), white box alcohol stove and wind shield ($20 whiteboxstoves.com) fit inside my gsi anodized aluminum kettle ($19 REI) and I pack those in the zipper bag that my old stainless steel mess kit came in (looks like it was good for something after all!). I still carry fuel in an MSR bottle (old habits are hard to break) because I haven't found a reliable plastic fuel bottle.

[john101477]

Mind you it has been 3 years since i did any packing and never really outfitted like you guys describe here. My pack is a Dana Bridger, tent is a cabelas XPG ultralight, sleeping bag is a north face dolomite, and stove is a jet boil. besides that I carry water in a camelback and usually a few spares and standard camp utensils that lock together. besides all that I usually have a camera, binoculars, a pistol and knife. 1 extra set of cloths and the air mattress food is usually mountain house or pre-made and sealed for travel. on our last trip we weighed in at 45lbs. per pack between 4 men and the 2 women split up 25lbs. each. I know kinda ridiculous when you guys are talking about 25lb. packs.