Introduction to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking

IntroductionIntroduction toto LightweightLightweight andand UltralightUltralight BackpackingBackpacking

PhilipPhilip WernerWerner [email protected]@sectionhiker.com AgendaAgenda

 HowHow toto LightenLighten UpUp YourYour BackpackBackpack  GearGear DemonstrationsDemonstrations  LightweightLightweight ShelterShelter DisplayDisplay

 AMCAMC BostonBoston membermember andand leaderleader  MediumMedium distancedistance sectionsection hikerhiker – TheThe LongLong TrailTrail inin VermontVermont – 750750 milesmiles ofof thethe AppalachianAppalachian TrailTrail – ScotlandScotland CrossCross CountryCountry  TrailTrail maintainermaintainer inin thethe WhiteWhite MountainsMountains  LightweightLightweight backpackingbackpacking evangelistevangelist forfor GossamerGossamer GearGear  OutdoorOutdoor bloggerblogger atat SectionHiker.comSectionHiker.com

 LightweightLightweight backpackingbackpacking isis aboutabout comfortcomfort andand choiceschoices  EverybodyEverybody hashas aa differentdifferent comfortcomfort levellevel  ManyMany differentdifferent optionsoptions availableavailable forfor reducingreducing geargear weightweight  WeightWeight savedsaved cancan allowallow anan additionaladditional comfortcomfort oror luxuryluxury itemitem  FunFun toto figurefigure outout whatwhat worksworks bestbest forfor youyou  AskAsk questionsquestions andand startstart experimentingexperimenting

40-50 lbs: Traditional (25% of body weight, max)

10-25 lbs: Lightweight Backpacker • More comfortable • Less injury prone • Hike faster • See more • More free time

10 lbs or less: Ultralight Backpacker (UL)

5 lbs or less: Super Ultralight Backpacker (SUL)

Shelter Clothing Food Sleeping Bag Sleeping Pad Water Backpack Water Filter Stove Pots and Mugs Stuff Sacks First Aid Kit Luxury Items

Easy Harder Very Hard

1.1. WeighWeigh everythingeverything 2.2. ReduceReduce BigBig ThreeThree toto 99 lbslbs oror lessless 3.3. EliminateEliminate non-essentialsnon-essentials 4.4. UseUse multi-functionmulti-function geargear – HikingHiking polespoles asas tenttent polespoles – SleepingSleeping padpad asas backpackbackpack frameframe sheetsheet 5.5. IncreaseIncrease geargear compactnesscompactness

*Does not include worn clothing, food, water or fuel

 InnerInner bugbug screenscreen andand outerouter rainrain flyfly – AdvantagesAdvantages  Keeps internal condensation away from Big Agnes SUL1 – 1P 3 lbs gear – DisadvantagesDisadvantages  Heavy  Bulky  Slow setup in rain

 InnerInner bugbug screenscreen andand outerouter rainrain flyfly – AdvantagesAdvantages  Keeps internal condensation away from gear  Great for forest, rocky ground Hennessy Hammock  Better air flow Expedition Asym – 1 lb 15 oz – DisadvantagesDisadvantages  Requires trees  Still heavy, can’t share  Bulky  Difficult to insulate your back in colder temps Warbonnet Blackbird

 Single wall with screened openings – Advantages  Lightweight MSR Skinny One – 1P  Fast setup in rain 3 lbs 9 oz  Limited selection – Disadvantages  Poor ventilation and internal condensation

Black Diamond Firstlight – 2P 2 lbs 12 oz Copyright 2011, SectionHiker.com BigBig Three:Three: ShelterShelter OptionsOptions Double Wall Tent Hammock Single Wall Tent Tarp Tent Tarp  Single wall with screened openings – Advantages  Lightweight  Excellent ventilation Tarptent Contrail 1P  No condensation 1lb 8 oz  Compact  Fast setup in rain  Use hiking poles for setup – Disadvantages  May experience rain- rebound in heavy rain Tarptent Squall2 -2P

 Single wall without a floor – Advantages  Lightweight  Excellent ventilation Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Tarp (Silnylon) 1P 8.5 oz  No condensation  Compact  Fast setup in rain  Use hiking poles – Disadvantages  May experience rain- rebound in heavy rain Gossamer Gear CubicTwinn 2P

 FactorsFactors affectingaffecting warmthwarmth andand weightweight – Type of fill  Synthetic (Primaloft, Polarguard Delta, etc)  Down – Fill power  600 fill power  850+ fill power – Sleeping bag design  Mummy  Rectangular  Stretch hugging  Quilt-style or quilt – Zipper  Full length  ½ or ¾ length

20 Degree (F) 40 Degree (F)

Synthetic Mummy Kelty Light Year XP Montbell UL #5 Super 3 lbs 5 oz Spiral Burrow 1 lb 14 oz

600 Down Mummy Mountain Hardware Plute Kelty Light Year 40 3 lbs 13 oz 2 lbs

800+ Down Mummy Western Mountaineering Montbell UL #5 Super Ultralite 1 lb 13 oz Spiral Hugger - 1 lb

875 Down Quilt Nunatak Arc Alpinist Nunatak Arc Edge Quilt - 1 lb 4 oz Quilt - 11 oz

 FactorsFactors affectingaffecting weightweight – Capacity – Frame or frameless – Heavy or lighter weight fabric and stitching – Hip belt – Padding – Pockets – Straps  TheThe lighterlighter andand moremore compressiblecompressible youryour gear…gear… – Less capacity required – Less structure (frame) – Less padding – Less need for heavy duty fabric and stitching

External FrameInternal Frame Frameless

 External Aluminum Frame – Advantages  High weight capacity  Attachment points Kelty Trekker 4 lbs 14 oz  Good back ventilation  Heavy duty fabric  Less expensive – Disadvantages  Heavy

External FrameInternal Frame Frameless

 Hidden frame and stays – Advantages  Closer fit, good for scrambling and off-trail Osprey Exos 58  More comfortable than 2 lbs 8 oz external frame packs  Larger internal storage – Disadvantages  Less back ventilation  Fewer external

External Frame Internal Frame Frameless

 Back of pack touches your back – Advantages  Very lightweight  More comfortable than an Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus internal frame pack 1 lb 6 oz  Close fit, good on-trail and off-trail – Disadvantages  Less back ventilation  Less weight capacity  Less content capacity Zpacks Blast 32 Copyright 2011, SectionHiker.com 10.7 oz Philip’sPhilip’s BigBig ThreeThree Tarp  2 Person Tarp for plenty of space, even in bad weather.  Stuffs small so I can use a smaller backpack  Often sleep in shelters on the AT, Mountain Laurel Designs so it doesn’t pay to carry a heavier Grace Duo Tarp 2P – 9.5 oz shelter

850 Fill, Down Sleeping Bag  850 fill, 20 degree down sleeping bag because I hike in mountain areas with cold weather Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20  High fill power down stuffs small, 850 Fill Down – 1 lb 13 oz enables use of a smaller backpack

Frameless backpack  Lower volume, 2800 cubic inches  No rain cover, internal plastic bag  External pockets so I don’t have to open my pack in the rain

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 1 lb 7 oz

 CanCan II trytry youryour backpackbackpack on?on?  DoDo youyou preferprefer anan internalinternal frameframe oror framelessframeless pack?pack?  WhatWhat kindkind ofof sheltershelter dodo youyou use?use?  DoDo youyou preferprefer sleepingsleeping bagsbags oror quilts?quilts?  WhatWhat kindkind ofof bootsboots oror shoesshoes dodo youyou wear?wear?  WhatWhat clothesclothes dodo youyou bringbring onon trips?trips?  HowHow dodo youyou filter/purifyfilter/purify youryour water?water?  WhatWhat kindkind ofof stovestove andand fuelfuel dodo youyou use?use?  DoDo youyou packpack anyany luxuryluxury oror comfortcomfort items?items?

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