My main problem with the UL mindset is that it’s all about weight reduction that you’ll likely never notice in the field. For example, if I pack my Osprey Kestrel 38 for a 3-day May-Sept outing, total weight for everything but water is 22lb. (I live where there’s a lot of water so I bring a 1l BeFree and drink at each water source until late summer. At the last one before my campsite I also fill my 2 empty 1l bottles, for an extra 5lb pack weight.) I have pretty light gear - WM EverLite, SMD Deschutes, and NEMO Tensor to name a few, but I don’t use flimsy raingear like Helium because I bushwhack through dense forest a lot and I always bring a down jacket and merino baselayers because it’s not uncommon for temps to drop into the 30s F in summer. Now, let’s say I buy an HMG Southwest 2400, which weighs 28oz in white. My Kestrel is a lot heavier at 68oz, but 99.5% of people will NEVER notice the 2.5lb weight savings on their back. Dan Becker played a prank on another backpacking RU-vidr and put an extra liter or 2 of water in his pack, the guy carried it all day without noticing the extra weight. A 2.5lb total pack weight reduction isn’t going to let you go farther, reduce the chance of injury, or be less tired at the end of the day. Now, I have gone with a lighter pack than my Kestrel - a Granite Gear Crown2 38 - but the 2 main reasons are that my 15F bag (Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy 15) fits in its cavernous main compartment but didn’t in the Kestrel, and the GG lid is removable while the Osprey isn’t. The price was lower than anything else so I bought it. I would have went with another “heavy” pack otherwise. Price is another reason, I’m not one to tell anyone how to spend their money but spending $400 for a 33oz 55l HMG when you can go to Backcountry right now and spend $100 for a GG Crown2 60 that comes in at 36oz and 55l without the brain is just foolish. Think of what else you could have done with that $300! Unless you just want to be able to say “look at me, I have a $400 backpack that I have to be careful with when setting it down on rocks.”
Nice video! I’ve definitely been lightening my gear over the years but I don’t know if I’ll ever go ultralight. The cost as well as lack of durability is definitely a turn off. If I was going to do a few weeks on a thru-hike I would probably reconsider. I’ve actually been able to lighten my gear quite a bit recently and do it in a budget friendly way. Picked up a Mountainsmith Scream 55 (older version) for $95 including tax and shipping that’s in the 2lb range , got a Teton sports 20 degree sleeping bag for $55 that’s in the 2 LB range, and grabbed a Kazoo 1-person backpacking tent off of Amazon for under $90 including tax and shipping that’s in the 3lb range. Always look for deal and keep an eye out for good deal!
Thanks Nat! And yeah even if you don't go ultralight but get your pack a little lighter it can make a big difference. Sounds like you found some pretty amazing deals! It's always a great feeling when you get a good piece of gear at a great price.
Great video liked and subscribed. Yeah I have gone lighter ie 12lbs but refuse to sacrifice my pole tent (MSR Freelite 2) and large SS Aeros pillow. Your right though by cutting down weight on your back so I've been able to go from hiking boots to trail runners which has halved the weight on my feet !!!
Thanks George! Happy to have you! Happy to hear you were able to make the switch to trail runners, I personally think it's a big advantage to going a little lighter.
As a person who grew up lugging a framed pack w/military surplus gear...as a kid - I don't really see the point. Gear in total these days is much lighter than anything I carried as a 10 year old. Likewise, I'm oldish (60) and I need to sleep....well. Also, I am more of a hiker than a backpacker. In an effort to get my kids motivated to get outdoors early on, we did (& still do) a lot of 'basecamp hiking', waterfall chasing etc. to get and keep them interested. Unlike Dad, they are both hammock campers and are now (nearly) 18 & 21 and will both be going to college near Asheville next year. So plenty of options to enjoy the outdoors. And, both of their colleges offer courses in outdoor 'stuff', one even has some majors that are quite outdoor specific. To each their own, but the dialing in is a real (& $$$) process.
Yeah the improvements in materials and gear is really amazing. My first backpacking trip I used a framed pack and a bunch of my dad's old mountaineering gear and that pack was heavy! (55lbs with water). It was a good learning experience for sure and like you said dialing in what works for you is such a big deal. It's awesome that you take your kids out! I personally need to sleep on the ground but it's cool they've found their thing :-)
@@chaseadventures Yeah - hammocks are for naps, I am NOT a back sleeper. They both started being carried on my back so I guess I started them young....lol & yes your math is right, I didn't have my daughter until right before my 40th B-day...by design.
Ultralight backpacking conversations should never have the words "beginner" in them. In order for someone to safely backpack with less than 10lbs (+ food, water & fuel), they have to be exceedingly experienced in order to replace gear with skills. Also, ultralighting is a fair weather sport. One really can't camp out in cold conditions with under 10lbs. Once the temps hit subfreezing, it's going to take a lot more than just a quilt to remain alive. There's no such a thing as an ultralight 20 degree quilt or bag. They're 20 degrees rated IF you have a tent that won't allow wind to pour through and rob you of your body heat through conduction. Sub-20lbs is a very reasonable and doable weight for anyone even with limited funds and they can be comfortable and well equipped and more importantly, safe. Ultralighting makes you MORE tired because of the lack of support in your pack. Your body becomes the frame as the weight is then focused on points of contact instead of distributed through a robust harness system and you get hotspots. You become far more fatigued sooner too. More comfort is what equals more miles, not less comfort. The person that can't pack with 20lbs shouldn't be out on the trail. Fun fact: The OVERWHELMING majority of bodies recovered by SAR are of backpackers who didn't bring ENOUGH gear. Marinate on that.
definetely agree the UL backpacking is not a beginners "sport" it demands experience in using your gear and sellecting the right gear for the types of conditions you will face - i disagree the UL is just a fair weather sport - depends a lot on the person of course and how warm/cold they sleep - but you can easily get quilt that handle 20 degrees well and tents as well that handle the wind (mid/bivy combo in those situations is often a good choice) - i very much disagree that UL packs should make you more tired, this is not my experience from 20 years of having used frameless packs, your argument actually defeats itself - putting all the weight on certain point as you do with a heavier framed pack in stead of having a light load distributed over your shoulder, neck and upper back area as you have with a frameless - much less tired (is packing below 20is lb overall - the overwhelming majority of bodies recovered didnt bring the right gear - its not about their pack weight - its about what they bring in their pack - and as you yourself argue that UL is an experience sport - much less chance of an UL hiker not bringing the right stuff than inexperienced hikers overpacking and not bringing the right stuff
@outsiderswalks5460 agree, but l do 20° in the woods sleeping on the ground in my hunting gear with no sleep system or tent. So that's fair weather for woodsmen. 😁
@outsiderswalks5460 For me (and l could be wrong here), anything over 10lbs isn't ultralight. 11+ lbs is "lightweight" which l think is the sweetspot for 90% of hikers and thru-hikers (as opposed to backpackers). And comfort is a relative thing, I'm sure we can agree on that, right? But objectively speaking, more structure equals better weight distribution and put less concentrated pressure on the body to compensate. Which weight would you feel more? 20lbs total in a pack with a well engineered harness system or 20lbs in an ultralight pack with no frame? I have a Mystery Ranch Bridger 65 with a phenomenal harness and 30lbs in it "feels" like 20lbs in my light pack (ULA).
@@YankeeWoodcraft 20lb was not baseweight - UL limit of 10lb only refers to base weight not consumables :) - more structure with higher weight equals you don’t carry everything on your shoulders/upper body - with lower weights you carry better (because moves better with your body and closer to your gravity center ) personally I prefer carrying 20lb in a frameless- so nothing objective about that ;) as you stated, comfort is subjective-
