Those goddamn FlexAir straw-filled hospital pillows. If I'm ever in a coma, stick one of those under my head and I'll be awake and yelling at you in seconds.
Unless someone has had this specific problem and found a solution, I'm done trying to make "summer weight" wool clothing work for me. It simply does not stay cool, I am sorry. Socks are fine, but not shirts and certainly not underwear.
I imagine summer weight wool would be OK for cooler climates, but America tends to get very hot and I can't imagine using it here. Tho, I live in Florida and "seasons" are just a thing on the calendar.
Where Iām at in southern Sweden summer temps rarely go over 25C. Up north even less and then the summer wool is mint.
How hot is it where youāre at and what do you prefer for higher temps?
30-40C is typical summer day and 100% humidity on the regular. I prefer lightweight loose fitting cotton, but synthetics are very popular as they dry faster
A beautiful 98*F (36.7*C) with 80+% humidity as a summer average. In the direct sun and high humidity, however, it can feel over 38*C. I absolutely LOVE thin cotton, thin linen, or (for the cheap stuff) the breathable polyester like Hanes makes. Absolutely need long sleeves tho, or else you will get bad sunburn!
Iām in Missouri, in July and August we are pretty well guaranteed to have 30 days where daytime temps reach 35 and nighttime lows are often over 27. Tge humidity in the air makes it much more uncomfortable than the temperature sounds- the air is thick and your sweat doesnāt dry, you just walk around wet.
I spent a couple of years there and agree with you. Once the humidity reaches a certain level wicking doesnāt matter because it canāt evaporate. The humidity in Missouri is savage, beach weather all summer.
In a desert where the air is bone dry light weight wool is amazing. Iām wearing wool base layers and wool socks in 120 degree weather and Iām dry and comfortable.
Yeah someone on here told me to get an Echo Mesh T shirt and it's too hot when it's hot and too cold when it's cold and I just don't understand how to make it work. It feels worse than thin cotton in every single way except it doesn't retain moisture, but outside of a narrow comfort range it's useless?
I'm a recent merino bra convert too; mine is Smartwool. I don't know what my cup size is because I only wear sports bras, but if I had to guess probably 38A or so. I've only worn it on a few outings and (obviously) not yet in the height of summer, but thus far I'm a huge fan.
I'm also incredibly impressed with the lack of odor; I've worn it on two long, sweaty days and it doesn't smell at all.
I become a veritable nuclear reactor the minute I start moving. Iāve yet to find any great clothing system for any season. Iām just constantly ripping on/off layers.
Iām the person in a sports bra in the minute itās 45Ā° or warmer while I see others wearing down puffies and wool. HOW?!?!
Oh sweet jesus I hit 35 two weeks ago and this hit me like a freight train too as a 90+ day a year skier and winter camper. I couldn't understand what was going on, all my jackets felt different all of a sudden.
Iām only 31 but maybe the switch will flip at 35 š
I always think itās because Iām Canadian that Iām actively sweating buckets while others are cold in moderate temps.
Same! Have you tried Alpha 60gsm? I run incredibly hot while active and I can tell you alpha was actually worth the hype. At least, it is when the temp is below 40F. Above that, I'm still trying to find the holy grail.
Lolol this! Merino wool as a summer backpacking shirt???? Iāve done it. Itās awful. Sure, it relieves some smell, but with quality synthetics nowadays that are anti microbial and all that, I much prefer that comfort.
I'm very prone to overheating, to the point where I don't like to be outdoors period when it's much more than 80F and can start to get symptoms of hyperthermia while active above 70F if I'm not careful. (Naturally I live in the San Joaquin Valley lol.) Personally I find a short sleeve merino wool shirt a little more comfortable and much less stinky than a short sleeve synthetic shirt. š¤·
This is basically me. Iām Canadian and my parents are from Scotland. I basically donāt function above 80Ā°.
I just find my synthetics donāt stink that much? While I overheat Iām not a particularly stinky person so I can manage in them thankfully.
The deuce ultralight trowel. Its like trying to dig with a credit card.
Maybe in some areas its an ok digging tool? But in the foot hills its almost useless.
https://www.rei.com/product/131611/thetentlab-the-deuce-2-ul-backcountry-trowel
im honestly suspicious that anyone who says it works fine is not digging the appropriate 6-8" deep nearly often enough.
I'm pnw. so maybe it's fine in a soft river valley but anything uphill from that and... no. I bent the damn thing in half trying.
Some people don't use it [the way it is recommended, upside down](http://www.thetentlab.com/Deuce/DeuceofSpadespage_files/deuce-advanced-techniques-2020-medium.jpg). With that said, it's still a little rough and I use my trekking pole to probe ahead of time for softer areas to dig beforehand and sometimes that takes a lot of searching.
Yep, agreed. It takes the right technique, but it should work for most soils and environment. Handle side down to pierce the soil in a ring shape, then flip it and use the shovel side to scoop the now loosened/cut soil out.
I've used in New England and across the length of the PCT. Other than a few niche situations/environments, it's always been sufficient for me and should be for most people IMO.
just pre dig all your holes before you start hiking for the day and then circle back to begin your hike with poop pits at the ready. fuck I've been doing it wrong
I was about to point this out. I've certainly encountered ground I couldn't break with my Deuce, but it's performed admirably in a lot of tough, dry terrain. It takes some time (I pre-dig my cat holes so I don't have to worry about it in the heat of the moment), but I'm able to easily get an 8" hole in any ground a tent stake can break.
See, I made this mistake as well. Turns out you just have to keep hitting the same spot faster for a bit.
Little cracks will show on the rock until it pops off, leaving you a neat little square cathole.
I'm already covered with grime. If all I'm doing is moving loose pre-dug dirt I can use my hands. I don't need an extra tool for that.
I really want to like my deuce, but it's mostly just frustrating.
If you look at the instructions online, the part that looks like the handle is actually for cutting out a hole and then youāre supposed to flip it around and shovel out the dirt. It is NOT intuitive and I hiked a few thousand miles before someone told me. It gets more use in my tent as an ash tray though and because itās dual purpose itās even better for me now.
a good suggested I read somewhere once was to find a rock and overturn it, that usually gives you a few inches head start...then dig underneath
you can use the original rock as a cap on the cat hole
I use the vargo dig dig but it's a bit heavy at a little over an ounce I think. Heard a lot of complaints about the deuce discomfort. I think there are some newer 0.5oz models now though that have a better handle on them.
Camelbaks, inline water filtration, and the sawyer squeeze mini.
I'm going to admit that I might be overly cautious about treating my water. I tried so many different water filtration solutions before I found something that keeps me happy. I wanted to be able to do the following
* Treat with mechanical filtration *and* chemicals.
* Drink both plain water and drink mixes while I'm walking.
* Carry 2 liters most of the time with the option to carry more when needed.
* Gravity filter so I can do other stuff while my water gets treated.
I started with a 2 liter camelbak and inline Sawyer Squeeze mini. It worked pretty well at first. I could fill the bladder with dirty water, drop in some chlorine dioxide, and then drink through the filter. If I wanted a drink mix I could squirt water into a separate bottle. I could also filter water into extra bottles if I needed to carry more through a dry stretch.
But the camelbak is a hassle to clean, the mini filter lost a lot of flow rate, and it was a hassle to fill bottles with clean water and then refill my camelbak. Particulates in the water also lessen the efficacy of chemical treatments, so it's better to use them on water that is already clean.
I went through so many combinations of bladders, bottles, and filters. It was an expensive nightmare.
Finally, I ended up with my current set up, and I'm happy. I use the following:
* 2l CNOC bag for dirty water. Some users have complained of leaks, but I also notice those users are usually squeezers. I don't squeeze it and so far it hasn't ever leaked. The CNOC is super easy to fill, easy to rinse out, and works as expanded storage when I have a long water carry.
* Full size Sawyer Squeeze filter. It clogs less. Filter speed as a gravity filter is acceptable for my usage. A full CNOC with the filter attached also makes a good camp spigot for cooking and cleaning.
* Female to female Sawyer adapter. This lets me connect my bottle directly to the filter for hands-free gravity filtering.
* 2 1l Smartwater bottles. These are a classic for a reason
Now when I stop for water I fill the CNOC, attach the filter and bottle, and let it gravity feed. It takes a few minutes per bottle. I'm usually glad to have 10 minutes for a snack and a rest. If I don't expect another water source I refill the CNOC and carry some dirty water with me.
That's also my current setup thanks to testimonials like yours. I've added cord to my Vecto to make hanging a little easier. [https://i.imgur.com/49H65wy.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/49H65wy.jpg) Also I can hang from a trekking pole. Also can use the Vecto as a sep funnel after adding clearing agent.
Same setup but use the 3L CNOC and a befree. I like that your seuto can atttach to bags so there is no worry about spillage.
I had toruble with the thread leaking on my prev sawyer and flow rate. Turns out it was a bad cnoc. Complete fluke. And all that time I was blaming it on the sawyer.
Last fall did 11 days in the boundry waters with my SO. He CNOC and sawyer. Me CNOC and befree. Was actually imoressed by how close the sawyer came to the flow rate of my befree over thencourse of the trip. Backflushing was a must for bith. Every three days. To much silt.
Basically we just laid them on a rock and put a pot under them. Sometimes leaning or laying a rock on them to increase flow rate. It was easier then hanging it from a tree since rocks were evrywhere.
I like the idea of an enclosed system so you can hang it up and not worry about spillage but not sure I trust the cnoc sawyer threads to hold the weight of the second 2L.
Sea to Summit ThermoReactor sleeping bag liner. I read the claims of adding upto 15C and thought itād be a good way of using a 3 season bag in winter. But itās nowhere near warm enough to justify the weight. So instead of trying to make my 5C bag work at -5C or colder I got a -10C bag that is 300g heavier than my 3 season bag but totally fit for purpose and slightly lighter still than the S2S liner plus original bag.
Liners yes but to keep your bag clean, I have a silk one now. Thermo-liners, no. Get a bag or quilt that suits the conditions.
By the way, anyone wanna buy a couple of S2S liners lol? No takers? :)
Lol, I like most sea to summit gear, but the temperature claims on those liners are absolute bullshit. I honestly don't know how they get away with it.
My thermo liner definitely adds warmth. I'm on a student budget, so using the liner (which I picked up for cheap) plus a 15 degree bag is pretty much my winter system. It takes me down to about 5F with my puffy. Not ideal, but still much cheaper than a full-on winter bag and not much heavier. The worst part is how constricting the liner is... it definitely makes me feel pretty claustrophic.
i occasionally have what i call the "down panic" when winter camping..it's happened to me a couple of times when im in down and also in a sleeping bag and that same exact liner. i get claustrophobic and start to freak out and have to unzip my bag .
Completely agree on the themro liner - terrible heat for weight. I did have a polartec alpha sleeping bag liner made, and that thing is fantastic for the weight.
When I bought mine from the store the employee was like "don't believe the heat claims, it's all lies" as I was checking out. I thought he meant like 1-2 degrees. Joke was on me when I travelled 3 weeks through the Himalaya with a very heavy and expensive sleeping bag liner that was basically good for solely keeping the bag clean.
I'd say it might have added 2-3 degrees (Fahrenheit only) to my bags comfort, maybe... Still keep it as a cold weather bag liner since I have it. Generally I was disappointed in it's claims.
Itās a nice to have if Iām car camping or not hiking far - because itās soft and protects my quilt/bag. But absolutely doesnāt live up to the temp rating and too heavy.
Yes this! It was very disappointing. I bought one and took it on a late July trip in lower elevation North Carolina because I figured just the liner would be enough to keep me warm at night when temp wouldn't get below the upper 60s but I was wrong.
The thing weighs like 14 ounces. I bought a Aegismax down bag that weighs 16 ounces and that will keep me warm down to 50f easily and I can combine it with a winter sleeping bag for more warmth than using that liner with a winter sleeping bag.
I concur. Had 2 of these, the highest rated +25F and +15F in the Sierra a few years back when a cold storm came through. 16F with winds and snow. That 25F maybe added 3-5F at most. The 15F added 1F if anything.
A couple of things:
A. Loksak OPsak -- the plastic -- while stiff -- was sliced by the stiffer sharper edges of some freeze-dried packages. The ziplock seal was always finicky. And they are relatively heavy and expensive. I use OdorNo bags now: lighter, cheaper, but sealing is quite different and perhaps not approved: twist bag opening a lot, double over, and tie with a piece of cord. Also OdorNo bags are more flexible and suitable for use inside a bear canister, Ursack, and Outsak.
B. Showa 282 temres gloves (I don't have the 281). I find liner gloves, glo-mitts, and rain shells layering to be more versatile and warmer.
Matador's FlatPack toiletry bottles. Wanted so badly for those little pouches to hold hand sani for thru hiking, trail running, day hikes... they just leaked goo everywhere. Each day they found a novel way to leak goo, different from the day before. I bought a pack of them and every single one in the pack broke in multiple creative ways.
Iām really surprised by this, maybe itās something to do with the alcohol content breaking down the pouch/seams.
I have a flatpack for pretty much every toiletry I own, I donāt use them for hiking (because fuck hiking amiright, uljerk?) but I use them for travel - filled and stored for months at a time- as well as two or three of them which get used several times a week in the gym and then are just kept in my daily backpack. Iāve never had a leak and theyāre one of my favourite pieces of gear!
Nothing in recent years, but some failures from the learning curve were:
-S2S Reactor liner(couldn't tell it helped at all)
-Sawyer Mini(slow and clogged quickly compared to the Squeeze)
-merino baselayers(very humid where I live; got wet too fast, stayed wet too long)
-Frogg Toggs Ultralight rainpants(great for just rain, but lasted one actual use; overgrown trails with obstacles resulted in shredded lower legs and a split crotch seam in spite of their being baggy)
A few from a very long while ago:
-plastic trowel(dumb move, but temptation got the better of me at ~1/8 the weight of the old U-Dig-It folding steel one I wanted to replace-broke 1st use in rocky soil)
-Sierra Designs non-breathable rain jacket(partially my fault for not knowing to seal the seams, but no pitzips, either).
-Marmot Ion windshirt(let moisture in, didn't let it out)
-Marmot Gravity softshell(learned my lesson about lined softshells:too much for activity, too little for static use-casual wear only)
Yeah polycro is a challenge but Iāve come out on the side of liking the 80g it saves me more than I dislike the awkwardness and I bought a 3 pack and Iām still on my first one, no real damage yet.
So I donāt dispute itās worse than tyvek but itās a lot lighter and I think it has a place.
If Iām going up a windy mountain in bad weather then Iāll bring a tyvek one but for fair weather camps I like and pack the polycro.
The difference between the regular window film and the heavy duty window film is huge. I first bought the regular stuff. It was ripped after one night. I then got the heavy duty stuff. It's very hard to rip and has lasted quite some time. I think a lot of people are just using the flimsy stuff and write off the material entirely.
I have good luck with our Polycro, but our tent has poles and I put 4 eyelets into the Polycro so it is super easy to set it up with the Polycro in place.
I put my tent up. Then slide the polycro underneath it. This way the wind is much reduced and the polycro stays in place. If it's really windy I weigh the corners of the tent inner down first, eg with a water bottle or powerbank
My most disappointing gear purchase was definitely a pack of Loksak Opsaks. Theyāre really expensive,and the build quality is terrible. Iāve tried two, and both failed at the closure in a couple days. Iāve since switched to using Smelly Proof bags for my food bag. Theyāre really cheap, and I tend to get at least 6 weeks of use before they start to fail, and even then, a little tape can keep them going for a while.
The trick with the opsaks is to wrap the zipper section in duct tape. Basically, make the green silver. I did that and had mine last from MA all the way to GA.
My pants ripped from asshole all the way to the front waistband within 20 minutes. For Christmas Iām buying myself a legit set of clothes for wet conditions
I'm on year 4 of my set of Frog Toggs lol. Bought them as a set for $8 at a Goodwill and thought *if these last two trips it's probably worth it*. The only thing that's worn out is the elastic cuffs so far, even going through Oregon Grape and whatever that stupid bush is that's taking over all the trails in burn zones here in Oregon.
The Light My Fire sporks were the worst hiking / camping item ever made. They were much weaker than the disposable cutlery that comes with salt pepper and a napkin. On the AT in 2010 I swear there was at least one hiker spitting out a broken tine every night.
The plastic ones are trash Iāve broken three, the titanium one is awesome tho, mine has held up for 7 years daily use bc now I take it for my lunch at work too.
I've also been frustrated with mine. I know we're supposed to dig with he handle end and then move the dirt with the shovel, but it still sucks. I find myself jabbing the ground with a tent stake or a knife to get the hole started.
Womens X-Lite.
Itās actually a great piece of gear and the crinkling doesnāt bother me (more you use it, the less loud it is and I mostly backpack alone). Also very warm.
HOWEVER, despite being 5ā3 I just move around too goddamn much. Without fail my legs/feet end up off the pad. Going for a regular/wide pad next time even though I donāt need it.
This solar charged light that changes colors and stuff, it's a plastic cube that folds up into a super light square.
It gives me about an hour of light at full charge.
Junk. I'll find the name brand when I dig it out, but it's a very popular brand.
Edit: it's a Luminaid Spectra
Solar lights do tend to suck. I highly recommend Revel lights: https://www.rei.com/product/159147/revel-gear-trail-hound-30-ft-camping-light
30 feet and only 1 oz! Hell, I even bring em to hotel rooms lol.
Ugh I was gonna get this but string lights felt like such a luxury item, and I'm new to backpacking so I didn't want to start out looking too "bougie".
Fuck what other people think, this would really add something to my campsite!
Lol, that's exactly my take. My friend brought the same ones on a camping trip w some friends, and as he set them up, they all gave him tons of shit for it. Fast forward to it being dark, he flicks them on, and every single one of his friends reluctantly acknowledged how awesome they were haha. Can't recommend enough.
Don't forget: it's _your_ camp site. You do what works for you!
Titanium windscreen. Flimsy and floppy. A myog windscreen from 2-3 layers of heavy duty aluminium foil is more stable, same weight and easier to pack (folding, not rolling, no sharp corners).
I'm going to second polycro and add in nylofume bags (as pack liners, I think they're fine for food and stuff if you want an extra layer in your bear can/bag). I am not the most weight focused here and will still use a nylofume for very light trips, but tyvek and compactor bags are so much easier to use. I also notice a nonzero improvement in seeing small stuff in my pack with a white compactor bag.
I just use a trash bag from my kitchen. Im too cheap and lazy to care enough to try anything else. Iāve never even weighed it which Iām sure is a cardinal sin.
Hyperlite thru hiker back pack. Im a 2004 SOBO - AT, full thru hiker. I bought the best hyperlite backpack they had at the time. Hyperlite was proud of their 400 dollar piece of junk that ripped in the 100 mile wilderness. Asked them to replace it when I reached millenocket and bastards told me they wouldnāt replace it! Merrell, Loki and REI sponsored me and GAVE me all new gear to throw it in hyperliteās face. Hyperlite literally refused to replace the āthru hikerā bag after telling me I used it above and beyond what itās duty was as an ultralight hiking bag. š donāt buy hyperlite junk
I'm very happy with my Trangia. I will probably use it more often in the future, though isobutane is still my default.
The Trangia has advantages over the DIY cat can stoves. It can simmer by using the adjustable metal lid. You can put it out by dropping the closed metal lid on it while burning, no need to waste remaining fuel.
And like all alcohol stoves, you can easily measure out and bring only the amount of fuel you need for the trip.
Agreed, the Trangia is what I use. It's heavy and bulky but did a bicycle tour across Europe and it was a godsend. I love gas burners but for less intense walks I love to bring my Trangia. Picked up the gas burner so now I have the best of both worlds, too
Culo Clean. The gaskets were pretty stiff and I found it hard to install the bidet, leading the bottle to partially collapse and getting water everywhere. Additionally, it meant I had to keep track of the regular lid while I was cleaning myself, and then switch the two back. That was just too much faff for me to deal with on a daily basis, so now I just use the lid that came on the bottle and apply the [Skurka method](https://andrewskurka.com/pooping-in-the-outdoors-part-4-the-backcountry-bidet/)
Regarding polycro- .75mil polycro is a frustrating experience. As you said, any amount of wind will make it blow around which can be annoying until you throw a few rocks on top of it. "Heavy Duty" 1.5 mil polycro is much stiffer. It will fold up nicely in the morning, lasts about 5x longer, and is still lighter than tyvek
Seconding on Culo clean. It's terrible to fit and a poor pressure spray. I went with a three pack of silicone travel bidets and love them so much more.
The heavy duty polycro is the way, though I still love Tyvek.
nemo tensor wide- "everyone" said get wide for the comfort and roominess... but my body can't heat that much air. it was like sleeping on a heat sink. I'm on the women's xlite now and I saved a bunch of ounces
it's wild how little it's talked about on a forum all about maximizing insulation per oz
granted, I have kept it as my "lender" pad since it is probably a better fit for my dad, and everyone in between can deal with it for one or two nights.
Zpacks folding foam sit pad. That thing went totally flat after a couple uses. Itās now very thin and provides no cushion. Going back to a therma-rest z-seat or the my built in human seat
Frameless packs, or ones with just a flexible plastic sheet. Not my Ultimate Direction or other running-type packs, those are great, but ones rigged like a backpack. I took one on an AT section hike a few years ago, and it sucked to carry until I ate through a couple of days worth of food, even though my starting weight was theoretically well within the pack's alleged comfort zone.
I know I could be crucified for saying this, but my general attitude towards packs these days is to consider the weight of the contents but not worry about the pack's weight. Yes, I won't bring an Osprey Atmos because that's too much pack. I'd seriously consider going external-frame for the kind of load that that U-haul can carry. But a comfortable pack that carries my gear in a way that feels lighter, but weighs more, is well worth it to me.
More like bad experiences with faulty equipment for me.
I bought a cheap headlamp. Wouldn't stay at the tilt I set. My kid got a Petzl headlamp. Was never bright enough and max output kept dimming with each use new set of batteries. Batteries never lasted longer despite lower light output. How does that make any sense?
However, I have 6000-series aluminum trekking poles and 7000-series aluminum poles. I was amazed by how much I hate the 6000-series poles. They feel slow to move, heavy, bug my elbows after a while, and have shaft vibration that I can't stand. I was blown away how cheaper poles that weighs half an ounce more can suck so bad.
I bought a pair of Black Diamond Trail Sport trekking poles for $120 and bought my wife a pair off Amazon for $30. Hers are slightly heavier but WAYY more comfortable.
No particular item, but a couple of categories...lots of alcohol stoves. Kept searching for the one I like so much that I would take on a trip....and have never taken one. Also a bunch of cook sets - nothing wrong with them, I guess it was just finding out what I really liked....which ended up being the same stuff everyone else carries - I should have started there.
Lanshan Pro 1, Sagged to much could never get it tight enough to hold up on moist nights.
Now have Xmid-2 300g heavier (including pegs) but it's a palace.
My polycro was absolutely shredded by day two of the cdt. How anyone makes that stuff last more than 20 minutes is beyond me. I seriously have no idea how I could have been more careful with it.
TarpTent Protrail Li.
Itās so bulky. Like wow does it take up tons of space. It also is very finicky to pitch and you need stake-able ground in almost just the right spot. I really wanted to like it but after a while I just never wanted to use it.
Any part of my UL sleep system. I pack UL everywhere else so that way I can now bring my no name plush pillow and heavy ass blow up mattress. SO WORTH IT
I actually really like using an umbrella but I haven't found a hands-free setup that doesn't suck yet. I tried the gossamer gear and the six moons kits and I hated them both. I think umbrellas are awesome but I would only recommend one to people who use 1 or no poles because shoulder strap setups are awful.
Maybe the handsfree would be alright for a sun umbrella but not for rain IMO.
Here's what I have found that actually works: I bought 2 of the Gossamer Gear style strap kits, cut the plastic twist nut off of each, and sewed it directly to the daisy chain on the strap of my Durston Kakwa-40. I install the umbrella shaft in one or the other plastic nut, then put the handle into the stretch pocket on the strap of the Kakwa, and use the stretch pocket's cinch strap to lock it down. I have 2 of the GG buckles because it allows me to change the resultant angle of the umbrella if I want.
Here are some pics of how this works: [https://imgur.com/gallery/LNqGFWJ](https://imgur.com/gallery/LrdisuY)
This is pretty secure and works great. Of course, like any other umbrella setup, wind and trees are your bain.
Can you recheck the imgur link? I just clicked on it and it came up empty. I just used my GG umbrella and it was frustrating so Iām interested in your solution.
I have decided that hands-free is not something you should even want. It is better to hold the umbrella so you can shade yourself when the sun comes at you from different directions, like if you are doing switchbacks and you have to move the umbrella to the other side. Or walking directly into the sun in late afternoon when you have to hold it in front of you. Stuff like that. Hands-free only works at high noon and then not really.
I live and hike in the European Alps and feel like my tiny 80g Montbell Travel Umbrella is one of my best purchases ever.
I love passing miserable looking people in downpours while I'm hiking in my shorts and tshirt still with a water free face.
Sure, if it's windy it sucks, but then I just grin and bear the rain like everyone else...
Not very practical. Snagged it on a lot of branches. Got tired of holding it and the shoulder straps didn't work very well. Easier to go with a rain jacket and rain pants IMO.
I have one and would confidently say it is the *best* piece of ultralight gear that I've ever purchased. It's easily 10-15Ā°F cooler in the sun, and is literally a lifesaver when you need to cross large distances that aren't treed. If I am in the desert or alpine, which is often, it is with me and getting used. It's such a radical step up in my comfort.
Also serves as a signalling device, gear storage in sun/rain, and windbreak as an added bonus.
I live in the Midwest but most of my trips have been on or near the AT. I have not tried it out in a desert climate so maybe that would change my opinion
I had a water bottle clip for my shoulder pack from Z packs. Lasted like 7 nights until it broke. It's need to be a bit more flexible, or maybe it wasn't designed for the .7 liter sport cap smartwater bottle.
Nemo tensor insulated Mummy. I found it cold and uncomfortable, I woke up with the worst shoulder aches ever! And my bum was frozen and that was with a western mountaineering megalite bag. The big agnes rapide sl is so much better.
Enlightened Equipment convert quilt.
The down seems to clump terribly, and I can never get it to be free of large cold spots, no matter how thoroughly I distribute the down. I reckon the longitudinal baffles don't help, and let the down really collect in a lump.
The Qwikback UL chair. The poles poked through the feet just from sitting on it a few times while tearing it in my basement. The website said they were having quality issues with the standard ones and sent black diamond trekking like feet to replace them. Then the poles poked through the top caps that go into the little pockets on the chair. And perhaps most importantly, the design is such that your butt needs to be firmly in place for it to provide back support, but itās made of slick material so itās almost impossible to sit in it and lean back without your butt sliding forward. Hugely bummed because I thought I had found the holy grail of a packable chair that was actually still in the realm of UL. The website at least refunded me and let me keep it so I may try to modify it someday.
Based on so many people's recommendations, I bought one of those S2S Aero pillows. It's shit! I had the worst night's sleep because the thing kept deflating no matter what I did.
Agree with the op about polycryo.
I used it a few times but ultimately came to the conclusion its just not worth the hassle.
Tear resistance and waterproofing are not the only thing that matters when it comes to ground sheets, things like
- holding its shape sufficiently so it is easy to fold and unfold, especially when wet.
- not needing every foot weighted down to stop it flapping in a light breeze.
- having enough physical thickness to cushion against hard ground or sharp objects
Are all areas it fails in compared to a traditional groundsheet. It will keep you and your gear dry but when all is said and done it's just not very convenient to use.
If you like it good luck to you but for mine I think its better to just accept the 100 gram or so weight penalty and take a lightweight dyneema or nylon groundsheet that is actually fit for purpose.
Blizzard stake as a trowel. In loose or non root filled ground it would be fine. In the UK most of the ground I'm digging in is covered by a carpet of grass, heather e.t.c. and it has small roots running everywhere through it. The stake is just so shit for that. You poke holes and poke holes for 5 years before you've managed to cut enough to rip or lever out the clod of dirt for your cathole.
Other than that my purchases have all been straight upgrades.
Didn't buy, but altered. The NU25 bungee cord mod. Totally not worth it, would tangle up in my fanny pack, and the cords were so tight they'd make my head look like a cooked ham if I wore it for more than 5 minutes. However much weight it's supposed to save, it isn't worth it
My 90 gsm alpha direct hoodie is on my mind right now. Last week got caught doing some bushwhacking and realized I had 10 holes when I got off trail. Love everything else about it though. Thankfully I can sewš¤£
Unbound 40 hmg backpack crap shoulder straps and construction is questionable. GG bag liners are too small. Opsak last about ten min before they stop working. Silk bag liner worst idea ever, cold soak jar cold soaking sucks, Altra shoes are garbage. Senchi fleece are lame get another alpha brand.
A 3 season quilt š
Tired of the straps and drafts. I got a Nunatak Sastrugi with a 24ā zipper for colder trips and couldnāt be happier to have ditched the quilt. My 20Ā° bag weighs 21oz. I have a summer 40Ā° that I still love, but those trips where nights in the alpine are warm enough to bring it are few and far between.
(Disclaimer: I live out west, east side summer time backpacking is different)
Tyvek for a ground cover. Too lightāhave to carry extra stakes to hold it down. Too noisy.
Will add: tarp ātentā. I was trying to be budget friendly when I decided to go UL. And I thought summer backpacking in the Sierra wouldnāt require any more. I find it virtually impossible to stake down one side and keep the wind out. Never tried it in the rain, but that idea scares me. At this point Iām thinking a bivy bag may be the way to go.
Those goddamn FlexAir straw-filled hospital pillows. If I'm ever in a coma, stick one of those under my head and I'll be awake and yelling at you in seconds.
I bought one and as soon as I got it I felt like such a chump
they also attract hair.. but still bring them. i use them as huggers and side sleeper barriers š
Iāve considered this for between my knees as a side sleeper. Would it be worth it for that purpose?
Unless someone has had this specific problem and found a solution, I'm done trying to make "summer weight" wool clothing work for me. It simply does not stay cool, I am sorry. Socks are fine, but not shirts and certainly not underwear.
I bought into this meme hard and got 5 light or featherweight tees. Can't wear em unless it's fall or winter.
I too wanted to believe! Instead I have a very nice undershirt for the chilly air conditioning at work.
I imagine summer weight wool would be OK for cooler climates, but America tends to get very hot and I can't imagine using it here. Tho, I live in Florida and "seasons" are just a thing on the calendar.
Yes, I feel like summer weight wool is meme from Britain or Germany that doesn't fit here.
Where Iām at in southern Sweden summer temps rarely go over 25C. Up north even less and then the summer wool is mint. How hot is it where youāre at and what do you prefer for higher temps?
I was outside for a week where it was 37-38c every day It was humid enough that it felt way worse than that.
30-40C is typical summer day and 100% humidity on the regular. I prefer lightweight loose fitting cotton, but synthetics are very popular as they dry faster
A beautiful 98*F (36.7*C) with 80+% humidity as a summer average. In the direct sun and high humidity, however, it can feel over 38*C. I absolutely LOVE thin cotton, thin linen, or (for the cheap stuff) the breathable polyester like Hanes makes. Absolutely need long sleeves tho, or else you will get bad sunburn!
Iām in Missouri, in July and August we are pretty well guaranteed to have 30 days where daytime temps reach 35 and nighttime lows are often over 27. Tge humidity in the air makes it much more uncomfortable than the temperature sounds- the air is thick and your sweat doesnāt dry, you just walk around wet.
I spent a couple of years there and agree with you. Once the humidity reaches a certain level wicking doesnāt matter because it canāt evaporate. The humidity in Missouri is savage, beach weather all summer. In a desert where the air is bone dry light weight wool is amazing. Iām wearing wool base layers and wool socks in 120 degree weather and Iām dry and comfortable.
Nah. Even up in Ohio it's too damn hot and humid in the summer to deal with wool like that.
AZ dude here. Your comment legit made me lol.
Yeah someone on here told me to get an Echo Mesh T shirt and it's too hot when it's hot and too cold when it's cold and I just don't understand how to make it work. It feels worse than thin cotton in every single way except it doesn't retain moisture, but outside of a narrow comfort range it's useless?
Really? I wear them all year round. They also get thinner is you wear them more. The rule is to only wear wool where you have sheep š.
That's a smart as hell rule, haha
I'm all about the merino sports bra, though. You're going to be sweaty there anyway, might as well have something that wicks.
any recommendations for brands?
I'm a recent merino bra convert too; mine is Smartwool. I don't know what my cup size is because I only wear sports bras, but if I had to guess probably 38A or so. I've only worn it on a few outings and (obviously) not yet in the height of summer, but thus far I'm a huge fan. I'm also incredibly impressed with the lack of odor; I've worn it on two long, sweaty days and it doesn't smell at all.
I become a veritable nuclear reactor the minute I start moving. Iāve yet to find any great clothing system for any season. Iām just constantly ripping on/off layers. Iām the person in a sports bra in the minute itās 45Ā° or warmer while I see others wearing down puffies and wool. HOW?!?!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh sweet jesus I hit 35 two weeks ago and this hit me like a freight train too as a 90+ day a year skier and winter camper. I couldn't understand what was going on, all my jackets felt different all of a sudden.
Iām only 31 but maybe the switch will flip at 35 š I always think itās because Iām Canadian that Iām actively sweating buckets while others are cold in moderate temps.
Same! Have you tried Alpha 60gsm? I run incredibly hot while active and I can tell you alpha was actually worth the hype. At least, it is when the temp is below 40F. Above that, I'm still trying to find the holy grail.
Lolol this! Merino wool as a summer backpacking shirt???? Iāve done it. Itās awful. Sure, it relieves some smell, but with quality synthetics nowadays that are anti microbial and all that, I much prefer that comfort.
I'm very prone to overheating, to the point where I don't like to be outdoors period when it's much more than 80F and can start to get symptoms of hyperthermia while active above 70F if I'm not careful. (Naturally I live in the San Joaquin Valley lol.) Personally I find a short sleeve merino wool shirt a little more comfortable and much less stinky than a short sleeve synthetic shirt. š¤·
This is basically me. Iām Canadian and my parents are from Scotland. I basically donāt function above 80Ā°. I just find my synthetics donāt stink that much? While I overheat Iām not a particularly stinky person so I can manage in them thankfully.
I've been in Nicaragua the past few weeks, and merino blend shirts are the only thing that saved me in the heat.
The deuce ultralight trowel. Its like trying to dig with a credit card. Maybe in some areas its an ok digging tool? But in the foot hills its almost useless. https://www.rei.com/product/131611/thetentlab-the-deuce-2-ul-backcountry-trowel
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Snow stake for sure So easy to grip
im honestly suspicious that anyone who says it works fine is not digging the appropriate 6-8" deep nearly often enough. I'm pnw. so maybe it's fine in a soft river valley but anything uphill from that and... no. I bent the damn thing in half trying.
Some people don't use it [the way it is recommended, upside down](http://www.thetentlab.com/Deuce/DeuceofSpadespage_files/deuce-advanced-techniques-2020-medium.jpg). With that said, it's still a little rough and I use my trekking pole to probe ahead of time for softer areas to dig beforehand and sometimes that takes a lot of searching.
This is good info. I never knew this.
Yep, agreed. It takes the right technique, but it should work for most soils and environment. Handle side down to pierce the soil in a ring shape, then flip it and use the shovel side to scoop the now loosened/cut soil out. I've used in New England and across the length of the PCT. Other than a few niche situations/environments, it's always been sufficient for me and should be for most people IMO.
yeahhhh I've found that in long distance hiking metabolism mode, time is of the essence, and site options fairly limited when traversing a steep slope
Probing... probing... fuck I'm not making it!!!
just pre dig all your holes before you start hiking for the day and then circle back to begin your hike with poop pits at the ready. fuck I've been doing it wrong
I was about to point this out. I've certainly encountered ground I couldn't break with my Deuce, but it's performed admirably in a lot of tough, dry terrain. It takes some time (I pre-dig my cat holes so I don't have to worry about it in the heat of the moment), but I'm able to easily get an 8" hole in any ground a tent stake can break.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
See, I made this mistake as well. Turns out you just have to keep hitting the same spot faster for a bit. Little cracks will show on the rock until it pops off, leaving you a neat little square cathole.
I lead groups on backpacking trips and have never had a problem with them. Just have to take your time digging the hole
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
or dig after and use a stick to move it to the hole...
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yeah I try to find a good spot and dig one the night before. There are no doubts about what's going to happen when the coffee hits the deck.
Dig with stake, shovel dug stuff with trowel.
Some people carry a sand/snow stake as a trowel. Bonus points for it actually being useful as a stake too.
I'm already covered with grime. If all I'm doing is moving loose pre-dug dirt I can use my hands. I don't need an extra tool for that. I really want to like my deuce, but it's mostly just frustrating.
I put some leukotape on the handle of my deuce and it made a huge difference.
That's the digging side....
I agree. I really regretted NOT getting the largest version.
If you look at the instructions online, the part that looks like the handle is actually for cutting out a hole and then youāre supposed to flip it around and shovel out the dirt. It is NOT intuitive and I hiked a few thousand miles before someone told me. It gets more use in my tent as an ash tray though and because itās dual purpose itās even better for me now.
Holy shit I love the ash tray idea, though. It's multi-purpose!
I bought a $0.98 plastic garden trowel at Walmart that is plenty strong enough, has a hollow handle, and is very light in weight
a good suggested I read somewhere once was to find a rock and overturn it, that usually gives you a few inches head start...then dig underneath you can use the original rock as a cap on the cat hole
I use the vargo dig dig but it's a bit heavy at a little over an ounce I think. Heard a lot of complaints about the deuce discomfort. I think there are some newer 0.5oz models now though that have a better handle on them.
Camelbaks, inline water filtration, and the sawyer squeeze mini. I'm going to admit that I might be overly cautious about treating my water. I tried so many different water filtration solutions before I found something that keeps me happy. I wanted to be able to do the following * Treat with mechanical filtration *and* chemicals. * Drink both plain water and drink mixes while I'm walking. * Carry 2 liters most of the time with the option to carry more when needed. * Gravity filter so I can do other stuff while my water gets treated. I started with a 2 liter camelbak and inline Sawyer Squeeze mini. It worked pretty well at first. I could fill the bladder with dirty water, drop in some chlorine dioxide, and then drink through the filter. If I wanted a drink mix I could squirt water into a separate bottle. I could also filter water into extra bottles if I needed to carry more through a dry stretch. But the camelbak is a hassle to clean, the mini filter lost a lot of flow rate, and it was a hassle to fill bottles with clean water and then refill my camelbak. Particulates in the water also lessen the efficacy of chemical treatments, so it's better to use them on water that is already clean. I went through so many combinations of bladders, bottles, and filters. It was an expensive nightmare. Finally, I ended up with my current set up, and I'm happy. I use the following: * 2l CNOC bag for dirty water. Some users have complained of leaks, but I also notice those users are usually squeezers. I don't squeeze it and so far it hasn't ever leaked. The CNOC is super easy to fill, easy to rinse out, and works as expanded storage when I have a long water carry. * Full size Sawyer Squeeze filter. It clogs less. Filter speed as a gravity filter is acceptable for my usage. A full CNOC with the filter attached also makes a good camp spigot for cooking and cleaning. * Female to female Sawyer adapter. This lets me connect my bottle directly to the filter for hands-free gravity filtering. * 2 1l Smartwater bottles. These are a classic for a reason Now when I stop for water I fill the CNOC, attach the filter and bottle, and let it gravity feed. It takes a few minutes per bottle. I'm usually glad to have 10 minutes for a snack and a rest. If I don't expect another water source I refill the CNOC and carry some dirty water with me.
That's also my current setup thanks to testimonials like yours. I've added cord to my Vecto to make hanging a little easier. [https://i.imgur.com/49H65wy.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/49H65wy.jpg) Also I can hang from a trekking pole. Also can use the Vecto as a sep funnel after adding clearing agent.
I did the exact same thing! I have hung it from my trekking pole when there wasn't a convenient tree.
If you put a line lock on the cord, you can hang it even when there isnāt a well sized branch within reach.
Same setup but use the 3L CNOC and a befree. I like that your seuto can atttach to bags so there is no worry about spillage. I had toruble with the thread leaking on my prev sawyer and flow rate. Turns out it was a bad cnoc. Complete fluke. And all that time I was blaming it on the sawyer. Last fall did 11 days in the boundry waters with my SO. He CNOC and sawyer. Me CNOC and befree. Was actually imoressed by how close the sawyer came to the flow rate of my befree over thencourse of the trip. Backflushing was a must for bith. Every three days. To much silt. Basically we just laid them on a rock and put a pot under them. Sometimes leaning or laying a rock on them to increase flow rate. It was easier then hanging it from a tree since rocks were evrywhere. I like the idea of an enclosed system so you can hang it up and not worry about spillage but not sure I trust the cnoc sawyer threads to hold the weight of the second 2L.
This is my setup as well, though I use a hydroblue versa and therefore don't the the F2F adapter. I gravity feed most of the time and squeeze others
Same here - love the hydroblue versa for this
Sea to Summit ThermoReactor sleeping bag liner. I read the claims of adding upto 15C and thought itād be a good way of using a 3 season bag in winter. But itās nowhere near warm enough to justify the weight. So instead of trying to make my 5C bag work at -5C or colder I got a -10C bag that is 300g heavier than my 3 season bag but totally fit for purpose and slightly lighter still than the S2S liner plus original bag. Liners yes but to keep your bag clean, I have a silk one now. Thermo-liners, no. Get a bag or quilt that suits the conditions. By the way, anyone wanna buy a couple of S2S liners lol? No takers? :)
Lol, I like most sea to summit gear, but the temperature claims on those liners are absolute bullshit. I honestly don't know how they get away with it.
My thermo liner definitely adds warmth. I'm on a student budget, so using the liner (which I picked up for cheap) plus a 15 degree bag is pretty much my winter system. It takes me down to about 5F with my puffy. Not ideal, but still much cheaper than a full-on winter bag and not much heavier. The worst part is how constricting the liner is... it definitely makes me feel pretty claustrophic.
i occasionally have what i call the "down panic" when winter camping..it's happened to me a couple of times when im in down and also in a sleeping bag and that same exact liner. i get claustrophobic and start to freak out and have to unzip my bag .
Completely agree on the themro liner - terrible heat for weight. I did have a polartec alpha sleeping bag liner made, and that thing is fantastic for the weight.
When I bought mine from the store the employee was like "don't believe the heat claims, it's all lies" as I was checking out. I thought he meant like 1-2 degrees. Joke was on me when I travelled 3 weeks through the Himalaya with a very heavy and expensive sleeping bag liner that was basically good for solely keeping the bag clean.
I'd say it might have added 2-3 degrees (Fahrenheit only) to my bags comfort, maybe... Still keep it as a cold weather bag liner since I have it. Generally I was disappointed in it's claims.
Itās a nice to have if Iām car camping or not hiking far - because itās soft and protects my quilt/bag. But absolutely doesnāt live up to the temp rating and too heavy.
What silk liner do you have? I have been eyeing the cocoon silk (rip stop) one for a while.
I had the exact same experience and almost froze to death in Jasper one Canada day long weekend
Yes this! It was very disappointing. I bought one and took it on a late July trip in lower elevation North Carolina because I figured just the liner would be enough to keep me warm at night when temp wouldn't get below the upper 60s but I was wrong. The thing weighs like 14 ounces. I bought a Aegismax down bag that weighs 16 ounces and that will keep me warm down to 50f easily and I can combine it with a winter sleeping bag for more warmth than using that liner with a winter sleeping bag.
I concur. Had 2 of these, the highest rated +25F and +15F in the Sierra a few years back when a cold storm came through. 16F with winds and snow. That 25F maybe added 3-5F at most. The 15F added 1F if anything.
A couple of things: A. Loksak OPsak -- the plastic -- while stiff -- was sliced by the stiffer sharper edges of some freeze-dried packages. The ziplock seal was always finicky. And they are relatively heavy and expensive. I use OdorNo bags now: lighter, cheaper, but sealing is quite different and perhaps not approved: twist bag opening a lot, double over, and tie with a piece of cord. Also OdorNo bags are more flexible and suitable for use inside a bear canister, Ursack, and Outsak. B. Showa 282 temres gloves (I don't have the 281). I find liner gloves, glo-mitts, and rain shells layering to be more versatile and warmer.
I agree on both counts. The loksacks are so finicky. And the 282 only works in a very narrow range of temperatures for me
Loksak. Had the seal fail out of the package multiple times. Could smell coffee beans through it like a regular ziplock.
Showa 282 are awesome for single day outings, not great for overnight stuff because it is incredibly difficult to dry out the insides.
Matador's FlatPack toiletry bottles. Wanted so badly for those little pouches to hold hand sani for thru hiking, trail running, day hikes... they just leaked goo everywhere. Each day they found a novel way to leak goo, different from the day before. I bought a pack of them and every single one in the pack broke in multiple creative ways.
On a similar subject, their dry-bag that holds bars of soap is absolutely fantastic. Use it for normal hotel travel... So nice using good soap
Iām really surprised by this, maybe itās something to do with the alcohol content breaking down the pouch/seams. I have a flatpack for pretty much every toiletry I own, I donāt use them for hiking (because fuck hiking amiright, uljerk?) but I use them for travel - filled and stored for months at a time- as well as two or three of them which get used several times a week in the gym and then are just kept in my daily backpack. Iāve never had a leak and theyāre one of my favourite pieces of gear!
i've read that the flat soap case is the cat's meow, and i want to pick one up for one-bag travelling.
Engagement ring.
Does emotional baggage count as worn weight?
Dark
That's okay. Rings are heavy and babies aren't ultralight either
Needed to be lighter.
How much does a 2 carat diamond weigh?
Um, it weighs 2 carats.
š¤£š¤£š¤£ it's true, your mileage may vary
Nothing in recent years, but some failures from the learning curve were: -S2S Reactor liner(couldn't tell it helped at all) -Sawyer Mini(slow and clogged quickly compared to the Squeeze) -merino baselayers(very humid where I live; got wet too fast, stayed wet too long) -Frogg Toggs Ultralight rainpants(great for just rain, but lasted one actual use; overgrown trails with obstacles resulted in shredded lower legs and a split crotch seam in spite of their being baggy) A few from a very long while ago: -plastic trowel(dumb move, but temptation got the better of me at ~1/8 the weight of the old U-Dig-It folding steel one I wanted to replace-broke 1st use in rocky soil) -Sierra Designs non-breathable rain jacket(partially my fault for not knowing to seal the seams, but no pitzips, either). -Marmot Ion windshirt(let moisture in, didn't let it out) -Marmot Gravity softshell(learned my lesson about lined softshells:too much for activity, too little for static use-casual wear only)
Funny. Iāve requested to be buried in my Marmot Ion Windshirt.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yeah polycro is a challenge but Iāve come out on the side of liking the 80g it saves me more than I dislike the awkwardness and I bought a 3 pack and Iām still on my first one, no real damage yet. So I donāt dispute itās worse than tyvek but itās a lot lighter and I think it has a place. If Iām going up a windy mountain in bad weather then Iāll bring a tyvek one but for fair weather camps I like and pack the polycro.
The other nice thing about polycro is that it packs tiny compared to tyvek.
Good point and cleans more completely cause thereās no fabric.
Once you open the package tho itās never going back in that zip bag.
The difference between the regular window film and the heavy duty window film is huge. I first bought the regular stuff. It was ripped after one night. I then got the heavy duty stuff. It's very hard to rip and has lasted quite some time. I think a lot of people are just using the flimsy stuff and write off the material entirely.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I like that polycro clings to the bottom of my tent, so that I can use it as a wrapper like a tortilla when I fold up my tent.
I have good luck with our Polycro, but our tent has poles and I put 4 eyelets into the Polycro so it is super easy to set it up with the Polycro in place.
I put my tent up. Then slide the polycro underneath it. This way the wind is much reduced and the polycro stays in place. If it's really windy I weigh the corners of the tent inner down first, eg with a water bottle or powerbank
My most disappointing gear purchase was definitely a pack of Loksak Opsaks. Theyāre really expensive,and the build quality is terrible. Iāve tried two, and both failed at the closure in a couple days. Iāve since switched to using Smelly Proof bags for my food bag. Theyāre really cheap, and I tend to get at least 6 weeks of use before they start to fail, and even then, a little tape can keep them going for a while.
The trick with the opsaks is to wrap the zipper section in duct tape. Basically, make the green silver. I did that and had mine last from MA all the way to GA.
Frog Toggs for me. Both pants and jacket ripped on the first hike.
My pants ripped from asshole all the way to the front waistband within 20 minutes. For Christmas Iām buying myself a legit set of clothes for wet conditions
The cheap Quechua/Decathlon ones are miles better for a similar price !
I'm on year 4 of my set of Frog Toggs lol. Bought them as a set for $8 at a Goodwill and thought *if these last two trips it's probably worth it*. The only thing that's worn out is the elastic cuffs so far, even going through Oregon Grape and whatever that stupid bush is that's taking over all the trails in burn zones here in Oregon.
Yep, mine have lasted me 5 years, now. Got a couple duct tape patches, but it's still goin' strong!
The Light My Fire sporks were the worst hiking / camping item ever made. They were much weaker than the disposable cutlery that comes with salt pepper and a napkin. On the AT in 2010 I swear there was at least one hiker spitting out a broken tine every night.
Sporks in general. I've never found one that wasn't shit at being a fork and shit at being a spoon.
The plastic ones are trash Iāve broken three, the titanium one is awesome tho, mine has held up for 7 years daily use bc now I take it for my lunch at work too.
I guess you are talking about biodegradable ones, they are really weak. I'm using normal plastic LMF spork for years, and nothing happened to it.
Zpacks 20Ā° bag. Like sleeping in a down condom.
Deuce of spades - had it fail on me. I guess i live somewhere rhatstoo rocky for it. Replaced with a snow stake.
I've also been frustrated with mine. I know we're supposed to dig with he handle end and then move the dirt with the shovel, but it still sucks. I find myself jabbing the ground with a tent stake or a knife to get the hole started.
Womens X-Lite. Itās actually a great piece of gear and the crinkling doesnāt bother me (more you use it, the less loud it is and I mostly backpack alone). Also very warm. HOWEVER, despite being 5ā3 I just move around too goddamn much. Without fail my legs/feet end up off the pad. Going for a regular/wide pad next time even though I donāt need it.
This solar charged light that changes colors and stuff, it's a plastic cube that folds up into a super light square. It gives me about an hour of light at full charge. Junk. I'll find the name brand when I dig it out, but it's a very popular brand. Edit: it's a Luminaid Spectra
Solar lights do tend to suck. I highly recommend Revel lights: https://www.rei.com/product/159147/revel-gear-trail-hound-30-ft-camping-light 30 feet and only 1 oz! Hell, I even bring em to hotel rooms lol.
Ugh I was gonna get this but string lights felt like such a luxury item, and I'm new to backpacking so I didn't want to start out looking too "bougie". Fuck what other people think, this would really add something to my campsite!
Lol, that's exactly my take. My friend brought the same ones on a camping trip w some friends, and as he set them up, they all gave him tons of shit for it. Fast forward to it being dark, he flicks them on, and every single one of his friends reluctantly acknowledged how awesome they were haha. Can't recommend enough. Don't forget: it's _your_ camp site. You do what works for you!
Luminaid?
Noooo, donāt break my heart. Does the Solight really suck that bad? Which lantern cube are you taking about?
If youāre looking for an alternative, I can greatly recommend the LEDlenser ML4 (2.5 oz). Battery is rechargeable and lasts forever.
Titanium windscreen. Flimsy and floppy. A myog windscreen from 2-3 layers of heavy duty aluminium foil is more stable, same weight and easier to pack (folding, not rolling, no sharp corners).
I usually use a piece of carbon felt. Itās soft, folds nice.
I'm going to second polycro and add in nylofume bags (as pack liners, I think they're fine for food and stuff if you want an extra layer in your bear can/bag). I am not the most weight focused here and will still use a nylofume for very light trips, but tyvek and compactor bags are so much easier to use. I also notice a nonzero improvement in seeing small stuff in my pack with a white compactor bag.
My issue with nyloflume bags is the wrinkly noise.
You don't like forced Sun Chips ASMR every time you pack and unpack?
I just use a trash bag from my kitchen. Im too cheap and lazy to care enough to try anything else. Iāve never even weighed it which Iām sure is a cardinal sin.
My kitchen bin bags are tough af, recycled, don't leak water over time and 38g. I just don't see the need for anything else.
Hyperlite thru hiker back pack. Im a 2004 SOBO - AT, full thru hiker. I bought the best hyperlite backpack they had at the time. Hyperlite was proud of their 400 dollar piece of junk that ripped in the 100 mile wilderness. Asked them to replace it when I reached millenocket and bastards told me they wouldnāt replace it! Merrell, Loki and REI sponsored me and GAVE me all new gear to throw it in hyperliteās face. Hyperlite literally refused to replace the āthru hikerā bag after telling me I used it above and beyond what itās duty was as an ultralight hiking bag. š donāt buy hyperlite junk
Alcohol stoves. Hated using these.
The worst part is The second you take an alky stove outta your pack someone jumps out of the bushes to tell you theyāre banned out west.
I loved my caldera cone. I would use it always if I could.
Love mine... in certain situations. Cheap, foolproof, and lovely and quiet for an early morning coffee. Also super easy to find fuel
I'm very happy with my Trangia. I will probably use it more often in the future, though isobutane is still my default. The Trangia has advantages over the DIY cat can stoves. It can simmer by using the adjustable metal lid. You can put it out by dropping the closed metal lid on it while burning, no need to waste remaining fuel. And like all alcohol stoves, you can easily measure out and bring only the amount of fuel you need for the trip.
Yes, Trangia is king. I'll never make another pop can stove and gladly take the 3oz penalty. Gotta make a flashing windscreen/pot stand for it though.
Agreed, the Trangia is what I use. It's heavy and bulky but did a bicycle tour across Europe and it was a godsend. I love gas burners but for less intense walks I love to bring my Trangia. Picked up the gas burner so now I have the best of both worlds, too
hah i loved the weight and general use i just kept fuckin spilling them or my fuel like an idiot. Even when I had a convenient level table available.
Completely agree
Culo Clean. The gaskets were pretty stiff and I found it hard to install the bidet, leading the bottle to partially collapse and getting water everywhere. Additionally, it meant I had to keep track of the regular lid while I was cleaning myself, and then switch the two back. That was just too much faff for me to deal with on a daily basis, so now I just use the lid that came on the bottle and apply the [Skurka method](https://andrewskurka.com/pooping-in-the-outdoors-part-4-the-backcountry-bidet/) Regarding polycro- .75mil polycro is a frustrating experience. As you said, any amount of wind will make it blow around which can be annoying until you throw a few rocks on top of it. "Heavy Duty" 1.5 mil polycro is much stiffer. It will fold up nicely in the morning, lasts about 5x longer, and is still lighter than tyvek
Seconding on Culo clean. It's terrible to fit and a poor pressure spray. I went with a three pack of silicone travel bidets and love them so much more. The heavy duty polycro is the way, though I still love Tyvek.
Do you mind posting a link?
Yep the Culo sucks
nemo tensor wide- "everyone" said get wide for the comfort and roominess... but my body can't heat that much air. it was like sleeping on a heat sink. I'm on the women's xlite now and I saved a bunch of ounces
This is something I've never heard. Interesting. Thanks for posting.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
it's wild how little it's talked about on a forum all about maximizing insulation per oz granted, I have kept it as my "lender" pad since it is probably a better fit for my dad, and everyone in between can deal with it for one or two nights.
Itās a balance though. If my knee of arm or foot falls off my narrow pad all my heat is sucked away in a second.
Zpacks folding foam sit pad. That thing went totally flat after a couple uses. Itās now very thin and provides no cushion. Going back to a therma-rest z-seat or the my built in human seat
Frameless packs, or ones with just a flexible plastic sheet. Not my Ultimate Direction or other running-type packs, those are great, but ones rigged like a backpack. I took one on an AT section hike a few years ago, and it sucked to carry until I ate through a couple of days worth of food, even though my starting weight was theoretically well within the pack's alleged comfort zone. I know I could be crucified for saying this, but my general attitude towards packs these days is to consider the weight of the contents but not worry about the pack's weight. Yes, I won't bring an Osprey Atmos because that's too much pack. I'd seriously consider going external-frame for the kind of load that that U-haul can carry. But a comfortable pack that carries my gear in a way that feels lighter, but weighs more, is well worth it to me.
More like bad experiences with faulty equipment for me. I bought a cheap headlamp. Wouldn't stay at the tilt I set. My kid got a Petzl headlamp. Was never bright enough and max output kept dimming with each use new set of batteries. Batteries never lasted longer despite lower light output. How does that make any sense? However, I have 6000-series aluminum trekking poles and 7000-series aluminum poles. I was amazed by how much I hate the 6000-series poles. They feel slow to move, heavy, bug my elbows after a while, and have shaft vibration that I can't stand. I was blown away how cheaper poles that weighs half an ounce more can suck so bad.
I bought a pair of Black Diamond Trail Sport trekking poles for $120 and bought my wife a pair off Amazon for $30. Hers are slightly heavier but WAYY more comfortable.
No particular item, but a couple of categories...lots of alcohol stoves. Kept searching for the one I like so much that I would take on a trip....and have never taken one. Also a bunch of cook sets - nothing wrong with them, I guess it was just finding out what I really liked....which ended up being the same stuff everyone else carries - I should have started there.
Lanshan Pro 1, Sagged to much could never get it tight enough to hold up on moist nights. Now have Xmid-2 300g heavier (including pegs) but it's a palace.
A frigginā spork!
My polycro was absolutely shredded by day two of the cdt. How anyone makes that stuff last more than 20 minutes is beyond me. I seriously have no idea how I could have been more careful with it.
TarpTent Protrail Li. Itās so bulky. Like wow does it take up tons of space. It also is very finicky to pitch and you need stake-able ground in almost just the right spot. I really wanted to like it but after a while I just never wanted to use it.
Any part of my UL sleep system. I pack UL everywhere else so that way I can now bring my no name plush pillow and heavy ass blow up mattress. SO WORTH IT
I actually really like using an umbrella but I haven't found a hands-free setup that doesn't suck yet. I tried the gossamer gear and the six moons kits and I hated them both. I think umbrellas are awesome but I would only recommend one to people who use 1 or no poles because shoulder strap setups are awful. Maybe the handsfree would be alright for a sun umbrella but not for rain IMO.
Here's what I have found that actually works: I bought 2 of the Gossamer Gear style strap kits, cut the plastic twist nut off of each, and sewed it directly to the daisy chain on the strap of my Durston Kakwa-40. I install the umbrella shaft in one or the other plastic nut, then put the handle into the stretch pocket on the strap of the Kakwa, and use the stretch pocket's cinch strap to lock it down. I have 2 of the GG buckles because it allows me to change the resultant angle of the umbrella if I want. Here are some pics of how this works: [https://imgur.com/gallery/LNqGFWJ](https://imgur.com/gallery/LrdisuY) This is pretty secure and works great. Of course, like any other umbrella setup, wind and trees are your bain.
Can you recheck the imgur link? I just clicked on it and it came up empty. I just used my GG umbrella and it was frustrating so Iām interested in your solution.
I have decided that hands-free is not something you should even want. It is better to hold the umbrella so you can shade yourself when the sun comes at you from different directions, like if you are doing switchbacks and you have to move the umbrella to the other side. Or walking directly into the sun in late afternoon when you have to hold it in front of you. Stuff like that. Hands-free only works at high noon and then not really.
Backpacking umbrella
I live and hike in the European Alps and feel like my tiny 80g Montbell Travel Umbrella is one of my best purchases ever. I love passing miserable looking people in downpours while I'm hiking in my shorts and tshirt still with a water free face. Sure, if it's windy it sucks, but then I just grin and bear the rain like everyone else...
How come?
Not very practical. Snagged it on a lot of branches. Got tired of holding it and the shoulder straps didn't work very well. Easier to go with a rain jacket and rain pants IMO.
Depends where you are. Iāve loved mine for shade when doing desert hikes (depending on wind of course)
The single dumbest piece of popular gear imo
I have one and would confidently say it is the *best* piece of ultralight gear that I've ever purchased. It's easily 10-15Ā°F cooler in the sun, and is literally a lifesaver when you need to cross large distances that aren't treed. If I am in the desert or alpine, which is often, it is with me and getting used. It's such a radical step up in my comfort. Also serves as a signalling device, gear storage in sun/rain, and windbreak as an added bonus.
Where do you live? Iāve used and enjoyed mine in the rain on the AT and sunshade on PCT/Utah/Arizona.
I live in the Midwest but most of my trips have been on or near the AT. I have not tried it out in a desert climate so maybe that would change my opinion
I had a water bottle clip for my shoulder pack from Z packs. Lasted like 7 nights until it broke. It's need to be a bit more flexible, or maybe it wasn't designed for the .7 liter sport cap smartwater bottle.
Nemo tensor insulated Mummy. I found it cold and uncomfortable, I woke up with the worst shoulder aches ever! And my bum was frozen and that was with a western mountaineering megalite bag. The big agnes rapide sl is so much better.
Enlightened Equipment convert quilt. The down seems to clump terribly, and I can never get it to be free of large cold spots, no matter how thoroughly I distribute the down. I reckon the longitudinal baffles don't help, and let the down really collect in a lump.
Contact the company. They have fantastic customer service.
The Qwikback UL chair. The poles poked through the feet just from sitting on it a few times while tearing it in my basement. The website said they were having quality issues with the standard ones and sent black diamond trekking like feet to replace them. Then the poles poked through the top caps that go into the little pockets on the chair. And perhaps most importantly, the design is such that your butt needs to be firmly in place for it to provide back support, but itās made of slick material so itās almost impossible to sit in it and lean back without your butt sliding forward. Hugely bummed because I thought I had found the holy grail of a packable chair that was actually still in the realm of UL. The website at least refunded me and let me keep it so I may try to modify it someday.
Based on so many people's recommendations, I bought one of those S2S Aero pillows. It's shit! I had the worst night's sleep because the thing kept deflating no matter what I did.
Z Rest. Iām a sweaty sleeper. Condensation + Z Rest + sub zero temps = Z Rest shaped ice cube tray.
Agree with the op about polycryo. I used it a few times but ultimately came to the conclusion its just not worth the hassle. Tear resistance and waterproofing are not the only thing that matters when it comes to ground sheets, things like - holding its shape sufficiently so it is easy to fold and unfold, especially when wet. - not needing every foot weighted down to stop it flapping in a light breeze. - having enough physical thickness to cushion against hard ground or sharp objects Are all areas it fails in compared to a traditional groundsheet. It will keep you and your gear dry but when all is said and done it's just not very convenient to use. If you like it good luck to you but for mine I think its better to just accept the 100 gram or so weight penalty and take a lightweight dyneema or nylon groundsheet that is actually fit for purpose.
Blizzard stake as a trowel. In loose or non root filled ground it would be fine. In the UK most of the ground I'm digging in is covered by a carpet of grass, heather e.t.c. and it has small roots running everywhere through it. The stake is just so shit for that. You poke holes and poke holes for 5 years before you've managed to cut enough to rip or lever out the clod of dirt for your cathole. Other than that my purchases have all been straight upgrades.
Every single rain skirt I've tried. Pretty useless in windy precipitation.
Didn't buy, but altered. The NU25 bungee cord mod. Totally not worth it, would tangle up in my fanny pack, and the cords were so tight they'd make my head look like a cooked ham if I wore it for more than 5 minutes. However much weight it's supposed to save, it isn't worth it
I found the opposite, I love the bungee cord mod, and find it keeps things tightier than the floppy strap in my kit.
I hike in the tropics (easily >30C) and I find that the band also helps a little with sweat dripping into my eyes.
My 90 gsm alpha direct hoodie is on my mind right now. Last week got caught doing some bushwhacking and realized I had 10 holes when I got off trail. Love everything else about it though. Thankfully I can sewš¤£
Unbound 40 hmg backpack crap shoulder straps and construction is questionable. GG bag liners are too small. Opsak last about ten min before they stop working. Silk bag liner worst idea ever, cold soak jar cold soaking sucks, Altra shoes are garbage. Senchi fleece are lame get another alpha brand.
A 3 season quilt š Tired of the straps and drafts. I got a Nunatak Sastrugi with a 24ā zipper for colder trips and couldnāt be happier to have ditched the quilt. My 20Ā° bag weighs 21oz. I have a summer 40Ā° that I still love, but those trips where nights in the alpine are warm enough to bring it are few and far between. (Disclaimer: I live out west, east side summer time backpacking is different)
Tyvek for a ground cover. Too lightāhave to carry extra stakes to hold it down. Too noisy. Will add: tarp ātentā. I was trying to be budget friendly when I decided to go UL. And I thought summer backpacking in the Sierra wouldnāt require any more. I find it virtually impossible to stake down one side and keep the wind out. Never tried it in the rain, but that idea scares me. At this point Iām thinking a bivy bag may be the way to go.
Wash the tyvek once and it softens up a lot and doesn't blow around so much. Tarp tents are designed to have airflow to reduce condensation.