Some backpackers require specialized trail food. Others simply want to target a specific dietary preference. Learning how to make your own lightweight backpacking food is a valuable skill, and perhaps, easier than you think.
Traversing the Grand Canyon’s Rim is one of the hardest outdoor feats. Read how some friends turned this dream into a reality.
Introduction
On the afternoon of November 20th, 2015, after 57 days on the “trail,” Rich Rudow and Chris Atwood floated just below the Pearce Ferry Rapid completing the 700-mile traverse below the Grand Canyon Rim. This is a difficult task. More people have climbed Mt. Everest and completed the Triple Crown (AT, PCT, & CDT) than have completed this route.
But, I wondered, “Could I do it?” Would my 50-year-old body hold up to the rigors of a thru hike on some of the most difficult terrain on the planet for 57 continuous days? – Rich Rudow
The Grand Canyon Rim traverse route. Map made by Rich Rudow.
This route has been a lifelong goal for Rudow, who has been passionate about exploring and preserving the Grand Canyon’s allure for decades. When compared to other commonly accepted outdoor challenges, a traverse below the Grand Canyon Rim seems to trump them all including K2 (technically more difficult than Everest with worse weather) which has only 300+ successful climbs. Even the moon (which has been visited by 24 astronauts) can’t hold a candle (maybe a little hyperbole here) to the Grand Canyon Rim traverse which has only been completed by 12 people.
Why is the traverse of the Grand Canyon Rim so difficult?
So all this begs the question, why haven’t more people completed or even attempted this route? We talked to Rich on the phone a few weeks after his trip, and he emphasized that this traverse took one year of planning preceded by several years (maybe even decades) of preliminary planning, research, and exploration of the area. We mean it when we say that this route is no joke.
Low class 5 scrambles are standard when doing attempting this route. Photo by Rich Rudow.
Access to safe drinking water is limited
Flash floods are common
Route requires low class 5 scrambling
Route-finding is extremely challenging
Terrain is hostile as it chews through clothing, gear, and shoes
Weather is unpredictable
The temperature is hot but can quickly change
No towns or resupply for much of the 700 miles
Mostly off-trail
No guidebooks or beta
I did it—57 days and 20 pounds lighter. I thru hiked the Grandest cathedral on the planet. How? I wondered that myself. But, I’ve spent half my life preparing for this trip. – Rich Rudow
Climbing Vishnu Temple. Photo by Rich Rudow.
How did the trip go for the group?
After spending months crafting a day-by-day, detailed route, the crew started with six hikers at Lee’s Ferry. Only three were slated to finish the whole trip (Rudow, Atwood, and Dave Nally), but even some of those that were going part of the way found the heat too much to handle and left earlier than expected. Both Nally and Rudow suffered from Giardia during the trip, and Nally left on day 23 due to a respiratory illness.
Throughout the traverse friends brought them fresh food to lift their spirits, satellite notifications informed them of inclement weather, and eight caches filled with food, new approach shoes, trekking poles, maps, and sleeping bags propelled them forward.
In the end, Rudow and Atwood emerged victoriously, a lifelong obsession with this wild place momentary abated and a renewed sense of commitment to make sure this place lives on.
Rattlesnake Canyon in the early morning light. Photo by Rich Rudow.
Rich also wrote down his initial thoughts about the trip and posted some photos from the adventure on his Facebook page 9 days after he and Atwood completed the trip
Community review / giveaway results for the Enlightened Equipment Apex-insulation-filled booties.
An Introduction to Community Reviews (Beta)
This article is a Backpacking Light Community Review. A few notes about this article:
These are not official “editorial reviews,” in the same sense that we publish those under the categories of “Flash Reviews,” “SpotLite Reviews,” or “Performance Reviews.” These are short, informal reviews conducted by Backpacking Light Members who are not required to adhere to normal product review program standards.
The manufacturer/brand submitting products to the program sponsors the Community Review Program, and they pay a fee to participate in this program. We thus label this type of content as “Sponsored Content” to distinguish it from independent, objectively-developed, editorial content free of third-party influence or a need for us to otherwise meet obligations to another third party.
Our obligations to manufacturers/brands participating in this program are only to (a) promote the availability of a Giveaway/Community Review opportunity to our membership; (b) select the participants; (c) consolidate participant reviews; and (d) publish this content.
SPONSORED BY
Enlightened Equipment (EE) developed a prototype light-weight synthetic-filled bootie for this program. We issued a call for testers to receive the complimentary giveaways, and we selected them (primarily) on a first-come-first-served basis. Participants sent their contact information to the manufacturer, who shipped the product samples.
A condition of being a participant was that each participant would supply a short review (with a photo or two), by a deadline after a preliminary evaluation period.
What follows are the participants’ evaluations of the product.
EE Booties. Photo by Mike Gunderloy.
Barry Cuthbert
I was given a pair of 4 oz (113.4 g) Apex (15ºF – 30ºF) (-9.4ºC to -1.1ºC) booties in size small in black/black/sunrise, where the inner and outer material are black with sunrise trim. The booties appear very well-made. When my two kids (the actual testers) saw them there was an intense debate about who was going to wear them first.
In a New Zealand mountain hut. Photo by Barry Cuthbert.
The small size is equivalent to US men’s size 4 – 5.5 or US women’s size 5.5 – 7. The testers (my kids) have US size 6-7 feet; they said that the booties fit well even when they were wearing socks.
We tested the booties on an early spring weekend trip to a sub-alpine hut in the Tararua Ranges of New Zealand. My children tested the booties while moving around inside the hut and while sleeping. The testers considered “moving” to include running, jumping and climbing while playing various games on plywood flooring and wooden ladders. The booties held up well to the treatment by remaining in place without slipping and by incurring only very slight wear on the sole.
The inside air temperature of the hut fell to freezing (32ºF/ 0ºC) but the testers said they had very warm feet and they never complained of cold feet. This experience suggests that the upper limit of 30ºF (-1.1ºC) is reasonable for these “4 oz” (113.4g) booties. We weren’t able to confirm the lower limit of 15 F/ -9 C.
Wear on a sole after some abuse. Photo by Barry Cuthbert.
Each of my kids would definitely like to have their own pair of booties. I would like to see a slightly thicker fabric on the sole of the booties (at least for the kid’s sizes) so they are more robust for those times when a game of tag is impossible to resist.
Our thanks to Tim of Enlightened Equipment for providing the booties to review.
Greg Allen
One month ago I received a pair of Enlightened Equipment Sleeping Booties, size L (mens 8-9/womens 9.5-10.5), 2.1 Apex fill (30 – 45ºF)(-1.1 – 7.2ºC). On first look I was quite impressed; I’ve never had real sleeping booties, just thicker wool sleeping socks. The finish and craftsmanship were excellent. All seams, inside and out, were flawless. Tiny shock cord and mini cordlocks functioned perfectly. These weighed in at 1.6 oz. (44 g) on my scales and packed in a stuff sack about the size of a baseball. In practice they are stored while hiking in a small gear bag at the head end of my gathered-end hammock. When crawling into the hammock, I open the gear bag and beautiful fluffy booties are ready to go on my feet. I can feel immediate warmth when slipping them on. When we pack up or exit the hammock, we neatly stow them back in the apex gear bag. They never leave the hammock while on the trail.
Relaxing in a hammock. Photo by Greg Allen.
Due to a relatively warm fall in town and to an inability to get to higher elevations because of work, I’ve only had the chance to test these down to 45ºF (7.2ºC). Further testing will come later this fall and winter. As previously stated, I experienced immediate warmth when slipping the booties on. My feet were then tucked into a Revelation Overquilt (also an EE product). I was able to fall asleep quickly and did not notice any cold spots. Waking at night I had warm feet, but my exposed arm was a bit chilly. I heeded the website warnings and exchanged the booties for cold trail runners on a 2 am plant watering trip. Booties immediately warmed my feet upon reentering the hammock, but as always, that is a long cold two-minute outing. I might try slipping my untied runners over the booties next time I am out.
Moisture is rarely an issue with my sleep system here in Colorado, but I do imagine these will perform better than down booties when there’s a little foot sweating. Drying them during the day is less of a concern. I continue to be impressed that these are so light and packable. The compression and weight penalty for something as small as booties is negligible, even for a gram counter like me. The trade-off for better performance when wet and faster drying is worth it. Durability will have to be assessed at the end of a season or two, but so far it is good. I have been very impressed with durability of other EE gear I own, even very lightweight fabrics.
The booties are of excellent construction and design. The performance was better than expected, but I have yet to have them down to the lower limits of the rating. The size and weight are better than expected. As for durability, I do not yet have enough data. I would purchase these over a pair of more expensive down booties after this testing.
Ken Guan
The socks appear to be very warm. They are of beige interior, and royal blue exterior. The material is silky. We have not tried them on yet in the field as it is still warm, and we are caught up with other things. From my previous experience, I used a pair of down socks for myself, and I get hot at some point during the night. But, I would still prefer to sleep with the socks on. My left foot turns cold during the night. Maybe it is because blood circulation.
Booties at home. Photo by Ken Guan.
I got this for my mother or my wife. I will send more pictures once they try them on. They are definitely of great quality, and will last. I think they can even walk in them at home.
9-year old daughter of Mike Gunderloy
Booties elegantly modeled. Photo by Mike Gunderloy.
I tested the 4 oz. (113.4 g) Apex 15 to 30º F (-9.4 to -1.1ºC), size small, color coyote/forest/navy bootie. These booties were super comfortable. I would wear them almost all day if I could. I didn’t take them into freezing temperatures, but the night-time low on my test campout was in the mid-40s ºF (4.4ºC). I was sleeping in a hammock (and using an Enlightened Equipment underquilt), so it would be colder than it would be in a tent. But that didn’t matter. My feet were still warm.
I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and my boots were wet (these booties are made for sleeping only, not for wearing around camp), so I had to put my boots back on. My toes got super cold and I wanted them to get warmer. It only took about 5 minutes for my toes to warm up again when I put on the booties again. And, in the morning, I had forgotten I was wearing them, because I couldn’t even feel the booties – that’s how light they are.
Booties with an attitude. Photo by Mike Gunderloy.
A pair in size small only weighs 1.9 oz. (55 g). The construction is simple: sole and wraparound upper with a drawstring top to snug them around your foot. The Apex insulation is even and doesn’t have any tendency to shift around or bunch up. And if I could choose for you, I would say to buy them.
Kelly Kading
I tested the size XL; red and green; 3.2 oz (90.7 g); and 6 oz (170.1 g) Apex Booties. Enlightened Equipment created a hit with their Apex Booties. I was lucky enough to get a pair weighing 6 oz (170.1 g). I found the warmth to be slightly less warm than my down Western Mountaineering Flash Booties. I only experienced temperatures in the low 30s Fº(-1.1ºC) while testing (my feet were toasty), but I am confident they would be warm at least to the manufacturer’s specification of 15ºF (-9.4ºC).
Wet, cold feet during your break from snowshoeing? No problem for the EE Booties. Photo Kelly Kading.
Where the booties shine is their fabric. The fabric is wispy-thin while still retaining a good feel on the skin. My feet did get a little clammy while wearing the booties without socks, but it was hardly unbearable and well within the range of comfortable. This kind of experience is to be expected when wearing the booties at temperatures higher than the manufacturer specification. I was pleasantly surprised by their breathability and their water-resistance.
I was a little disappointed by the fit. I felt some slight constriction around my forefoot. I don’t necessarily have wide feet; I always find I have a “normal” width range when I measure them. But these booties do not fit me as well as some other brands.
Overall, I recommend these booties. When using booties in a humid environment, you can’t beat the mix of warmth, water-resistance, and light weight. The only area for possible improvement would be widening the forefoot area or making a wider bootie as a custom option.
Jennifer Mitol
Since it is still somewhat hot here in Central Texas, I haven’t been able to test the warmth of these synthetic booties as compared to my down pair from GooseFeet Gear. So without cold temps, I thought I would see how the synthetic booties dealt with moisture management compared to the down booties.
As a woman-of-a-certain-age, I frequently have a problem of, ahem, nighttime moisture management. I sweat a lot at night. I mean, a lot. So though I was unable to test the actual insulating properties of these guys, I was able to compare how wet feet worked in them.
Comparing down booties (left) with these EE Booties (right). Photo by Jennifer Mitol.
I have been using the Goosefeet Gear down booties for about 3 years now, and one of the big problems I have is getting into bed at night with kind of wet feet. Normally, I could put on some wool sleep socks and the moisture would go away. But with the down booties, I would just swim in sweaty feet for a while, or deal with cold toes while my feet dried enough before I put on the booties.
So to test, I came back from a run all nice and sweaty and put on the EE synthetic sock on one foot and the Goosefeet Gear down sock on the other. The down sock never felt comfortable, even in my air-conditioned apartment. The EE sock was a bit sticky for slightly less than 3 minutes (by my watch) before I noticed the moisture was no longer noticeable.
Warmth and comfort-wise, overall, I like the down socks slightly better, as they feel like puffy clouds on my feet and the EE synthetic socks feel like, well, socks. But if moisture is at all an issue, I would not hesitate to take the EE synthetic booties in their place. They would be far warmer than a pair of actual socks, and I was impressed at how fast the sweat from my feet ceased to be noticeable.
Pete Clarke
“Yeah! I’m excited! I get to check out some new booties!” When I told my girlfriend, she simply set down her book and glared at me. A long, evil glare.
For the record, these booties are the kind that go on your feet. The warm, snuggly kind. The kind that can replace “heavy” sleeping socks, and can squish down to the size of a baseball. I already own two Enlightened Equipment down quilts, and I think the balance between innovative design/brilliant technology/garage sale prices is exceptional. Now I own my first pair of synthetic insulated garments from them as well. How do they perform?
Comparing wool socks with EE Booties. Photo by Pete Clarke.
For starters, the APEX synthetic insulation rocks! Anybody out there who has second thoughts about this can rest assured – this stuff is impressive. The insulation is very warm, lightweight, and compressible. EE pairs it with an outer material which is smooth and silky, and a little bungee system to cinch the bootie tight around your ankle. Very simple. I used the 30ºF (-1.1ºC) version (the least insulation), which I find comparable to my heaviest wool socks. In fact, in order to figure out which is warmer, I spent several nights wearing an Enlightened Equipment bootie on one foot and a Wigwam woolly sock on the other. I found that they both performed the same! I also discovered that the wool socks weighed 3.5 oz (99.2 g) while the booties were only 2.1 oz (59.5 g). This is a little heavier than listed on Tim’s website [1.5 oz (42.5 g) in size L], but still quite a bit less than the sleeping socks I would normally carry. I will definitely bring the booties on my upcoming backpacking trips.
Are these 30 degree (-1.1ºC) booties worth the money? Now that I’ve had a chance to play with them, I would say no. If I was going to buy them, I would opt for the 15 ºF (-9.4ºC) or the 0ºF (-17.8ºC) versions. They are only a few dollars more, and quite a bit warmer. That would be the sweet spot for me!
Maxine Weyant
(Sent while on trail via mobile phone.)
I have used the booties every night for the last two weeks and am wearing them at this moment. In fact, they are bright red with a green lining. The color makes them easy to find in my pack.
Mine are I believe the warmest version, 0ºF (-17.8ºC). They didn’t arrive with any labelling on the packaging, but the weight corresponded to the weight on the website. Despite being the thickest version, they only manage to keep my feet warm when they are inside my down sleeping bag, and I still have to wear socks inside them. Just sitting around in my tent, my feet are quite cold and I can feel a cool breeze through them. So yes, they are quite literally, sleeping socks and that’s about it.
Booties in the tent. Photo by Maxine Weyant.
You can’t walk in them; the bottoms are too slick and the fabric too delicate to withstand abrasion. The manufacturer specified that they weren’t meant to be camp shoes, but I was hoping they’d keep my feet warm just sitting in my tent.
Granted, it’s been in the low to mid-30s (-1.1ºC). This particular bootie is made for even colder temps., however. I am a cold sleeper and usually wear a lot of clothes inside my 20ºF (-6.7ºC) bag, even if it’s 40ºF (4.4ºC) outside.
Roger Caffin
Sue and I have some BPL Cocoon synthetic jackets from when the BPL store existed. To be sure, they are not as warm as our full-on down jackets, but we have used them in the snow and have been “warm enough” inside our 2-layer winter tent. The great thing we have found about synthetic jackets is that they are extremely washable. Yes, we use Sports Wash of course, and they are no hassle at all for maintenance. Our idea for these EE synthetic booties was that they should be just as easily maintainable after trips.
In the past I have been using some fluffy white woollen socks I bought in Chamonix as bed socks; Sue has been wearing some other slightly heavier but similar socks. We don’t wear either of them in shoes, so they are still all soft and fluffy – and quite warm. But the socks weigh 3.2+ oz. (90.7 g) for the pair.
These 4 oz. (113.4 g) Apex Booties (the middle range) seemed to be a shade warmer than the socks for both of us, and they weigh only 2.0 oz. (58 g) for the pair. With my fluffy white socks I usually wore some very thin nylon liner socks inside as well, to keep them a bit clean. Those weighed at least .4 oz. (10 g) extra. Because these Booties are easily washable, I just dry my feet for a minute or two in the air, then I put them on. Usually, my feet don’t get too cold while they are drying off. I guess, with synthetic insulation, I could just put the booties on over my damp feet. So we are comparing 3.5 oz. (100 g) of socks with 2 oz. (58 g) of booties. Both Sue and I found that they were quite warm – in still air. We did not test them outside in the wind as we did not think they were meant for that: still air inside the tent on an air mat is where they belong.
Booties on the mat, bungee cord tightened. Photo by Roger Caffin.
I got the XLarge size, mens – 9.5/11.5, womens 11 – 13, as I take size 10 4E shoes. The booties seemed to fit about right over my feet. There is a loop of light bungee cord – hat elastic really, at the ankle with a tiny cord lock. We both found that was definitely a very good idea for keeping the booties on. Without the bungee cord the booties did tend to migrate off a bit when I was moving around. Also, having the bungee cord done up seemed to make them feel just a little bit warmer around the ankle region.
In short, both Sue and I loved them – but we only got one pair.
The Altra Lone Peak Neoshell: light, zero-drop, wide toebox, waterproof-breathable. An ultralight backpacker’s shoe for the fringe season?
Introduction
The Altra Lone Peak Neoshell (Gen 2.0) is a zero-drop, wide toe-box shoe designed to keep feet dry by preventing environmental moisture from permeating the shoe and by allowing breathability, thereby mitigating cold, wet feet. The obvious application in the context of our audience is for ultralight backpacking during the fringe seasons of fall and spring.
Consider the Altra Lone Peak Neoshell for ultralight backpacking in fringe seasons. Aggressive sole, zero-drop, wide toe-box, durable outer. Photo: Altra.
Features and Specifications
Weight: 11.9 oz (337 g)
Key Features:
Toebox: wide;
Cushioning: moderate;
Midsole: dual layer EVA;
Outsole: sticky rubber with aggressive tread lugs;
Insole: minimally supportive (no meaningful arch);
The author wearing Altra Lone Peak 2.0 NeoShell shoes with Northern Lites Snowshoes while hiking Mt. Ellis near Bozeman, MT. Photo: Stephanie Jordan
Performance Notes
My initial experience with the Altra Lone Peak 2.0 Neoshell shoes was taking a winter day hike in New World Gulch near Bozeman, MT, with the family and the dog. The daytime high was in the low twenties and snow flurries were persistent throughout the day. We strapped on our trail spikes and gaiters and proceeded about two miles to a viewpoint overlooking the south buttress of the Bridger Range. There were no stream crossings, and most of the hike was over a relatively good boot pack. The bootpack became lower in quality as we progressed to our turnaround point and temperatures cooled into the teens. Snowfall intensified on the return hike to the vehicles. My feet remained isolated from outside moisture, without sacrificing breathability. I had warm, dry feet. Granted, this isn’t a robust test of the shoe’s worthiness for extended backpacking, but in the context of this type of review (a SpotLite review, which provides a cursory overview of a product based on limited field use), it didn’t reveal any dramatic inconsistencies with manufacturer claims.
Update: Since I wrote the initial draft of this review, I’ve had the chance to hike several dozen miles in the Altra Lone Peak NeoShells, including several miles of overnight backpacking in winter (snowy) conditions, and my experience to date remains consistent with my initial performance notes.
Performance Highlights
The Altra Lone Peak 2.0 NeoShell shoes in combination with merino wool socks and gaiters have kept my feet warm and dry, even in subfreezing conditions while hiking over snow.
Because these are a low-top running shoe, optimum moisture sealing requires that these shoes be paired with a well-sealing gaiter (and a high gaiter at that, for snowy conditions) to prevent moisture from penetrating the shoe through its collar.
The shoes mate well with most snowshoe bindings that we’ve tried. Trail spikes (e.g., Kahtoola MicroSpikes) do not seat well on the front of the shoe due to the wide toebox. For most conditions, this isn’t a problem. For steep side-hilling, microspikes tend to slide off the toe of the shoe.
The author wearing his trail spikes while hiking in Altra Lone Peak 2.0 NeoShells on the Mt. Ellis Trail near Bozeman, MT. The shoes have deep, widely-spaced lugs for reasonable grip in soft snow and dirt. The lugs aren’t deep enough for reasonable traction in mud. Photo: Stephanie Jordan
Summary
Strengths:
The shoe fabric is waterproof and seems to breathe as well (or as bad?!) as any Gore-Tex fabric shoe.
The shoe sole provides good grip in loose snow, dense mud, and mixed conditions, extending its applicability to fringe seasons.
Heavily cushioned platform provides extra insulation during winter and allows for comfortable trekking while wearing a heavy pack.
Even when not using the Altra gaiters, one can use most gaiters with the product, as long as the gaiter seals well around the shoe’s relatively low ankle cut – test your gaiter fit.
The shoe is light – at less than 12 oz, it’s lighter than most waterproof-breathable trail shoes.
Limitations:
The laces that come with the shoe become loose in the cold and stretch significantly when wet. Replace them!
Without gaiters, waterproofing is less than adequate as a result of a poor seal between the tongue and the rest of the shoe. A gusseted tongue would be a valuable change.
Recommendations
I’ve been wearing Altra Lone Peak shoes for several years (since Gen 1) for all of my training, hiking and backpacking (including in the winter). So, I have to admit a little bias towards the NeoShell model, particularly as it gives me warmer, dryer feet during the eight months of the year I spend outside in Montana’s fringe and winter seasons!
If you spend lots of time outdoors snowshoeing or spiking in the winter, you will find that the Altra Lone Peak NeoShells, in combination with a pair of gaiters, keep feet warmer and dryer than non-waterproof models.
A low ankle collar and poor tongue seal render them prone to leakage at shallow stream crossings, or in deeper snow, especially without a very tight-sealing gaiter.
This Tarptent Stratospire 1 Review highlights one of the most livable and stormworthy lightweight solo tents available.
Editor’s Note 3/11/16: After publishing this review, we learned that the 5.1 oz vertical support poles we originally referenced are not recommended by TarpTent for strong winds or snow. Instead, they recommend vertical support poles that are 8.o oz and cost $32. These changes were made below.
The Tarptent Stratospire 1 is uniquely positioned as one of the most livable and stormworthy lightweight solo tents available.
Features & Specifications
Features
Dual entry, dual vestibules
Dual trekking pole support
Double wall design (inner tent & fly)
Silnylon fly + mesh or solid fabric inner tent
Design allows for dry interior when entering/exit during storms
Specifications
Sleeps: 1-2
Weight: 36oz / 1kg
Floor Width: 32 in
Floor Length: 86 in
Interior Height:48 in
Stakes Required: 6
Packed Size: 16 x 4 in
Cost: $309
My Take
I found the Tarptent Stratospire 1 to be a very comfortable solo shelter, with plenty of space inside and in both vestibules.
I liked being able to retract the fly doors entirely away from both vestibules for magnificent views of stars and alpenglow.
I’m not a trekking pole user – so the fact that it requires trekking poles makes its use a bit of a hassle for me, requiring the additional cost (minor, only $32) and weight (8.0 oz) of optional shock-corded aluminum poles.
I’m used to the simplicity of using single-pole pyramids for most of my backpacking, and while the Tarptent Stratospire 1 is not difficult to pitch with practice, there are still two poles, two strutted corners, and six stakeout points to adjust to get everything perfect.
The tent pitches extremely tight – owing to its use of structural elements and strong silnylon fabric: it should hold up well in storms.
Strengths
The Stratospire 1 is particularly unique for its livability and its stability.
Livability: dual side entry, dual vestibules, lots of usable interior space, plenty of headroom – sacrifices often made in other ultralight tents.
Stability: Carbon fiber struts, dual pole support, hexagonal design, strong silnylon fabric – all of these design features result in the ability to create a highly tensioned structure that distributes wind loading well.
Modular inner tent can be left at home to save weight, or swapped with a solid fabric inner tent for winter use.
Limitations
More complex (but not complicated…) to set up than simpler 1-pole structures (i.e., pyramids).
Silnylon fabric is less resistant to condensation than Cuben Fiber.
Complex design, inner tent, and structural elements contribute to a relatively heavy weight for a solo shelter.
The Tarptent Stratospire I has been nominated for a 2016 Backpacking Light Guide’s Gear Award, and is currently undergoing extensive field testing in extreme weather conditions in all four seasons. We are evaluating it for both its wind and snow loading, as well as use as a winter shelter with its solid fabric inner tent. A comprehensive review is planned for later this year.
Backpacking Light is currently sponsoring a research project with the Montana State University Department of Mechanical Engineering to evaluate the effect of shelter design on wind load distribution. The Stratospire 1 is one of the shelters being investigated in this study, and we are looking forward to seeing how it performs under high wind loads.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to thank Ryan Jordan for putting together the preview video shown above, highlighting the TarpTent Stratospire 1 features.
The author presents manageable solutions to improve performance of the Nigor Didis 2 Tunnel Tent using an MYOG / DIY approach that can be applied to any tent.
The Universal TrailPix, two trekking poles, and one additional pole make a tripod capable of holding a compact or small DSLR camera. The TrailPix consists of a triangular and mostly flat piece of aluminum with three holes in it for trekking poles. Thumbscrews secure the poles in place.
Introduction
The Universal TrailPix, two trekking poles, and one additional pole make a tripod capable of holding a compact or small DSLR camera. The TrailPix consists of a triangular and mostly flat piece of aluminum with three holes in it for trekking poles. Thumbscrews secure the poles in place. A lighter weight model is available without the thumbscrews.
The Universal TrailPix is a simple tool used to make a tripod from trekking poles. The three thumbscrews in the device that secure the poles are easily fixed within the tool, preventing them from accidentally coming out. Another thumbscrew mounts a camera or a ballhead on the tripod. Photo by Jeff Burns.
Features
Universal TrailPix:
Connects to trekking poles and cameras with minimal hardware
Works with most trekking poles
Can be attached to small cameras directly
Is typically used with a ballhead
Specifications
Universal TrailPix:
Weight: 2.4 oz (68g)
Camera Mounting Screw: ¼”-20
MSRP: $40
Performance of the Universal TrailPix Tripod
Recently I completed an eleven day backpacking trip at the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. I enjoyed the once in a lifetime experience with my son and some scout friends. I wanted the image quality from a DSLR camera. Since all the members of the crew used trekking poles, I was able to create a tripod using the TrailPix.
Before the trip, I ordered the TrailPix and searched for a ball head. The manufacturer of the Universal TrailPix sells two different ball heads, but both appeared undersized for a DSLR camera. I found the Really Right Stuff BH-25 to be an excellent fit, but also expensive. I opted for the Joby Ballhead X typically sold with the Joby Gorillapod but also available separately for just $43. It is very serviceable but is slightly too large to mount directly to the TrailPix. A spacer made from a section of curtain rod readily solved this problem. The Joby Ballhead X and a quick release plate for the camera weigh 9.26 oz (262 g). Assembled, the Universal TrailPix, Joby Ballhead X, spacer, and lanyard weigh 11.6 oz (330 g).
The Joby ballhead is a bit too large for the TrailPix, but a spacer allows the poles to attach. I replaced the thumbscrew that came with the TrailPix with a ¼”-20 bolt long enough to pass all the way through the spacer. Photo by Jeff Burns.
The TrailPix makes it possible to get shots that are almost impossible without a tripod. Group pictures are an obvious use. The Universal TrailPix also works well for sunrise and sunset shots. I even used it for astrophotography.
Performance Summary
Setup and use are quicker than field improvised solutions.
Hanging a weight from the center of the tripod improves stability. I used an MSR dromedary bag.
Three poles are necessary. I made an accessory pole from an old tent pole, but the manufacturer sells a ready-made pole.
Summary
Strengths
Combined with an appropriate ballhead and trekking poles, the TrailPix makes a workable substitute for a traditional tripod.
The Universal TrailPix is lightweight. The user can select a ballhead and thus, effect the total weight of the device.
Limitations
A traditional tripod is potentially more stable and faster to set up.
There is limited ability to adjust the height of the tripod.
Trekking poles aren’t always available. They may be holding up the tent when you need the tripod.
The thumbscrews make small marks on the trekking poles.
Recommendations
I am very pleased with the Universal TrailPix, and will continue to use it for hiking when bringing a regular tripod is not possible. I would opt for the BH-25 ballhead from Really Right Stuff instead of the Joby Ballhead X if I had no budgetary constraints. The Joby ballhead works well but is not the lightest option available. For use with a compact camera, I would choose one of the very small ballheads available directly from TrailPix.
Taking a tripod into the backcountry expands photographic options. The Universal TrailPix keeps the weight and bulk of carrying a tripod at a manageable level.
Many options are available for attaching a small camera to your trekking pole. Most are only suitable for small compact cameras and are more of a monopod arrangement. The TrailPix is unique in its ability to provide three legs and enough support to hold small to mid-size DSLR cameras.
Paul “Mags” Magnanti is an active Backpacking Light contributor, a writer for Trail Groove Magazine, and a blogger. Learn more about Mags in this interview!
An Introduction to Paul “Mags” Magnanti
Paul “Mags” Magnanti is an active Backpacking Light contributor, a writer for Trail Groove Magazine, and blogs at pmags.com. Despite humble beginnings with a heavy pack on his first backpacking trip in 1996, Paul Mags doesn’t look back. His passion for the outdoors has been infectious – lots of people read his blog posts and many others reference his “nickel’s worth” insight whether discussing gear or planning a trip on the BPL Forums. This interview will focus on his ongoing journey with his blog, his backpacking philosophy, and his contributions to lightweight backpacking. Thank you, Paul!
ERIC: First off, we’ll begin with some questions about your early life:
PAUL: First, thanks for interviewing me. After almost twenty years of having an online presence in the hiking community, I still find it odd that anyone would be interested in what I have to say.
I grew up in Coventry, RI. Coventry is a suburb of Providence. As with many parts of Rhode Island, it has a mishmash of newer developments from the immediate post-World War II years to the present, older pre-1900s and even some pre-1800s buildings and some pockets of abandoned farms that are now perhaps third-growth forest. I grew up in the more, built-up eastern side of the town.
ERIC: Growing up in Rhode Island on the East Coast, how much time did you spend in the outdoors? Were you active when you were young?
PAUL: My outdoors time was very limited growing up. As a family, we were more likely to spend a weekend or a holiday around our grandparents’ kitchen table or [to celebrate] a family event with one of my many cousins who lived nearby. The beach, not the woods, is where [I] would spend any outdoor time.
Despite getting a little lost, being out-of-shape and having way too much gear, I fell in love with backpacking on that first trip. The simplicity, the beauty, the simple joy of exploring a place on foot one step at a time. That summer I went on more trips in New Hampshire, including solo ones. I was hooked . . . Then I heard about this 2000 mile (3218.7 m) long trail that went from Georgia to Maine . . . When I met my first AT thru-hiker, the gears really started turning.
The following year, I hiked the Appalachian Trail.
My life has not been the same since.
ERIC: Tell us a little about that AT thru-hike. Was it your first such adventure? How long did it take? Was it self-supported or team-supported? How hard was it?
PAUL: My Long Trail hike in 1997 was my first long distance hike. “Only” 270 miles (434.5). It helped prepare me for to hike the longer Appalachian Trail the following year.
I hiked the Appalachian Trail as a traditional thru-hike. Meaning, I would hitch into town, resupply (sometimes with packages from home) and then head out again.
Now, I don’t know if I’d call the Appalachian Trail an adventure. It was more of a journey. It was physically hard at times (probably due to how inexperienced I was and the weight of my gear), and it was mentally challenging at times (hiking out in the cold and wet rain for example). However, even in 1998, there were good guidebooks. The trail is ridiculously well marked. And I was never far from a town. It was an enjoyable, wonderful and satisfying experience to walk this famed path. An adventure? Not so much. But, looking back, I did not want an adventure. I wanted to spend five months immersed in the Appalachians by walking. And the goal was achieved.
[Me] at the Pine Ellis B&B in Maine. A full head of hair, no gray in the beard, and sporting an ever fashionable scrub shirt. I was an orderly at a hospital before I did the Appalachian Trail.
ERIC: What led you to move to Boulder, CO? What do you like about the “People’s Republic of Boulder”? What do you dislike?
PAUL: While I was away on my AT thru-hike, a lot changed back home . . . On the day I returned from my thru-hike, I found out my parents had separated, the family home was sold, and I had two weeks to find a place for my belongings. And, for good measure, the elderly family dog had been put to sleep while I was gone. Welcome home! But, as my youngest brother told me, at least, I was used to living in a tent . . . So I would be OK.
So, that made for an interesting year. And, after spending five months away, going back to my old life in Rhode Island, what existed of it, was not satisfying. My buddy Tim, as only an old friend can do, gave me a verbal kick in the ass one day and said, “Quit your whining,” and do something.
So I did.
I knew Colorado had mountains. Did not know much else. But that’s all I needed to know. Packed up my belongings and did what many people had done before me: I went West to start a new life.
And somehow it all worked out.
Boulder, CO, and the surrounding areas have been good to me. [They have] allowed me to develop my day job career (IT), [have] easy access to many beautiful and wonderful places, and I’ve been able to delve into other outdoor activities such as backcountry skiing. The area is a wonderful mix of economic opportunities and outdoor availability.
Boulder, and the Denver metro area, in general, [are] getting crowded and expensive, however.
Over a million people have moved into the Front Range Urban Corridor since 2000. A once quiet trailhead is now crowded by 8 AM on a Saturday. Living here, I am part of the problem admittedly. But for a person who does not like crowds and congestion, it can be difficult. There is a reason I left the East Coast.
The lifestyle is changing, as well. Boulder is becoming a bit like Aspen-lite: Expensive, trendy and a corporate-like culture applied to the outdoors “Go big or go home!” A rather telling indicator is that the median price of a single-family home is now over $500,000 in Boulder.
The culture I grew up with that still affects my worldview, and the way I enjoy the outdoors, may not be as compatible with the newer version of Boulder.
But, I am a curmudgeon in training (give me a few years) . . . So take these thoughts with a large grain of salt.
[Photo taken] from an early spring hike on Bear Mountain in the Boulder Open Space. One of the reasons why I do like living in Boulder is the access to some wonderful areas for hiking. This 8461 ft. [2578.9 m] peak is accessed by a trail head minutes from my home.
ERIC: Now some questions about your blog:
PAUL: Sure.
ERIC: Tell us about your site, pmags.com, why did you decide to start a blog? What obstacles did you have to overcome? How big is your readership? About how often do you add a new post?
PAUL: I’ve been online since 1986. For the geeks out there, I started with a VICMODEM on a Commodore 64. I was active on local Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) and, later on, Usenet. Similar to our current BPL forums in many ways. But I was more likely to discuss Star Wars more so than the outdoors.
When I started backpacking in 1996, I would peruse the rec.backcountry Usenet group. Then I discovered the outdoor focused listservs (email mailing lists).
When I did the Appalachian Trail in 1998, I had an online journal on the older version of trailplace.com when it was run by Dan “Wingfoot” Bruce. I discovered I enjoyed writing. Online journals were enough of a novelty than that the local newspaper, the Providence Journal, did a story on me.
In 2002, Ryan at backcountry.net carved out some space for letting some users put up personal websites. I started putting up random thoughts, [and] photos and my journals from the trails I had done.
In 2006, I bought the PMags.com domain. PMags has been a variation of an email address I’ve had in one form or another since the early 1990s. Mags, of course, is an old family nickname. PMags is much easier to pronounce, remember, and type than “Magnanti”! [Because I had] been an IT professional since 1999, and [had used] online technology since 1986, there were no real technical challenges for putting up a website. Buy the domain, install the platform (basic HTML at first, then Joomla and now Wordpress), and off I went. Since I am writing, rather than multi-media, focused I just need a stable platform that does not require a lot of maintenance on my part.
The challenges are putting up content that I, personally, am interested in reading and sharing. What do I find interesting? What do I want to write about? What do I want to share?
I tend to get out 3-5 articles per week. One of those articles is typically related to a trip I did over the weekend.
Currently, I have about 30,000 unique page views per month and a little over 15,000 unique visitors. Not bad for a website based on a narrow niche and written by a working stiff.
ERIC: Armed with the knowledge (see what I did so far?) that pmags also means “polymer magazines” for guns and such, have you considered following any of the advice of a few visitors to your site that you should switch your site’s purpose from backpacking and start selling “pmags”?
PAUL: Probably would have been lucrative at one point!
Being semi-serious, I have had the domain and some form of that email address for years. It would be a pain to switch out at this point.
On the other hand, if MagPul Industries would like to buy me a home, I just may sell-out . . .
ERIC: Where do you get your inspiration for your articles and blog posts from? How do you pick a topic? Do you often have competing interests for topics where you want to write on a few subjects but you have to pick a few?
PAUL: To quote the Colin Fletcher, “I find the three truly great times for thinking thoughts are when I’m standing in the shower, sitting on the john, or walking. And the greatest of these, by far is walking.”
Other times, it just may be what is trending and [what] other people are talking about. If for example, if I see a lot of questions about using a smart device for a camera, I may talk about that.
I think my favorite topics, though, I guess could be called editorials. If I see a topic that is being discussed, such as Scott Jurek’s finish in Baxter State Park, I’ll write about that issue.
Ultimately, while the “How?” and the “What?” are an important part of the outdoors discussion, I enjoy discussing the “Why?” aspects more.
As for picking a topic, I tend to have a few ideas jotted down. The only real constraint is time. My day job can be very busy at times and can leave me feeling mentally tired by the end of the day. Sometimes picking up a keyboard and writing a well-thought out essay is not something I feel up for doing.
[Taken at] 13579 ft. [4138.8 m] on the summit of Chiefs Head Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The best way to get inspired to write about the outdoors is to spend time outdoors.
ERIC: Tell us about completing the Triple Crown of hiking. What was your experience like? Which of the three was harder? Which did you like the most? Do you have recommendations for doing them in a certain order? And why for each of these?
PAUL: As has been said before “You can do one trail, or you can do three. You can’t do two.” Once completing the Appalachian Trail, I knew it [was] just a matter of when, not if . . . I would do the Pacific Crest Trail. As much as I enjoyed the PCT, it was the Continental Divide Trail that called out to me. They are the mountains in my “backyard” after all. And the trail itself was more wild, remote, and untamed than the other two well-known trails.
Hard to pick which one I enjoyed the most. But the CDT is probably the only one I would do again because it is so remote, wild, and has so many options. I’d probably do the trail over two section hikes, however.
As for which trail to do first, it would be the Appalachian or the Pacific Crest Trail. They are two different environments with their own beauty and challenges. Which one calls out more? The deep woods and history of the Appalachian Trail or the wider open spaces and ecosystem diversity of the Pacific Crest? I’d say do one of these two trails first as the support, logistics, infrastructure and guides available make these trails easier for a person newer to longer treks.
I’d save the CDT for last. And, as mentioned, I’d hike this trail over two or three seasons now, and it is what I tell other people to consider. [It is] more likely to have a better set of weather windows and [you] do not have to make compromises in route choices. Hike the Colorado section at the peak of wildflower season, go through New Mexico in the Fall, [and] see Glacier National Park when the snows are melted out, etc.
[Taken] on the Continental Divide Trail in 2006. Hope Pass in the fall. The snow covered 14ers [4267.2 m] show how winter would soon arrive.
ERIC: You’ve written a number of Quick and Dirty Trail Guides for the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the Colorado Trail. How do you go about creating these guides? Are they based on your experiences hiking these trails? Do you solicit information from other sources?
PAUL: These guides were initially based on my experiences of hiking the trails. What information did I feel was crucial to hiking the trail? What information would have I wanted?
I also felt guides were needed for something short, sweet and to the point. A document to pick up, for the experienced backpacker, that gives the framework of how a long hike may be done on a famous trail without a lot of other information that can be overwhelming at first. At this point, I do my own research for the documents but always welcome feedback I can use in the documents, too.
ERIC: Recently you wrote a blog post called, “Breadcrumbs,” where you noted that your emphasis has changed from giving specific details about trips you have been on to being more vague about where you went. Why did you make that switch? What does this trend say about backpacking in general?
PAUL: I was an unknown victim of my own success. The catalyst for this change can almost be directly related to one article I wrote: “Some favorite backpacking loops.”
When I posted the article back in 2004, I don’t think as many people were searching for this type of information online. Books and magazines were still popular for non-technical reference material, more so than the still maturing online world. I wrote the article up mainly to email back the occasional request I’d get for this info. Easier to send a URL then to type up this info every time.
Fast forward to 2013 and I went on a trip in this area. I was noticing there were a lot more people in this area backpacking, as opposed to day hiking, versus previous years.
To sum up the story, my friends took it upon themselves to ask groups where they found out about this loop. Come to find out, it was from me! I ate a very large helping of crow that weekend . . .
It is a balance. It is good to make places known, but when the dots are connected for a trip, that route becomes popular. An example of this phenomenon are the various Wind River routes that have come about in recent years.
One of my favorite books poses this question, “How best to protect a place you love but without ruining the wildness of the place you loved in the first place?”
[At an] undisclosed location for a favorite after-work hike. I promised my friend I would not post the name, location, or directions on how to get to this place.
ERIC: Pick one of your most recent popular blog posts and one of your most popular all-time blog posts, link to them, and share some commentary on why they have been popular and why you decided to write on those topics. You can pick your favorites instead if the popular ones aren’t so great.
PAUL: I’ve already touched upon some of them, but I’ll pick one we have not discussed.
I’ve always liked my stove comparison article. I think this article sums up a few of my core beliefs when it comes to outdoor gear.
Mainly:
There is rarely a “best” of anything. Rather, I believe certain jobs require different tools. The gear I take on a very hot day in August with fire bans will be different from what I take to the Indian Peaks Wilderness in January.
While specific gear models come and go, the types of gear rarely change. A sub-3oz [88.7 mL] canister stove may have some variations between the different models, but overall they ain’t that different.
I think this article is popular because beginner backpackers tend to want to know what the BEST of a particular gear item may be. As a person gains experience, I think they realize that pursuing the BEST really is dependent on many factors. Of course, with all the “Best of 201x” gear guides out every year, I could be wrong . . .
As the well-known hiking trails become popular, the nature of the trails change themselves [to] more of a Camino-like social experience and less of a wild experience.
As I’ve always said, though, you have to enjoy the trail experience for what is it is, not what you expect it to be.
ERIC: Next some questions about your presence in the online backpacking scene outside of your blog:
PAUL: I’ve been online and discussing the outdoors since 1996, so I guess “presence” may be the right word!
ERIC: You are a regular contributor on BPL forums, why? What would you say to people who subscribe to BPL or read the articles but aren’t active on the forums? Is there a specific thread you find yourself on more than others? Do you have a favorite thread or a hidden gem that you’d like to share?
PAUL: My day job is IT. Though it can be busy, sometimes there are pauses in between. I sometimes need to wait for a test to finish, or for QA to sign off on something I’ve done, etc. So, I take the online equivalent of a smoke break: I peek into forums and post. Though, lately, most of the peeking into the forums tends to be in the evening. Or, at least, posting on the forums.
As for why I am active? I enjoy writing and sharing knowledge. I majored in history and, at one point, [with] the thought of being an educator. I think that aspect still shows at times.
The outdoors happens to be something I am a bit more interested in than say, discussing Star Wars, as when I was twelve or thirteen years old. (I save THAT discussion with some equally geeky friends over a beer!)
As for people lurking on the forums, not everyone is comfortable posting their thoughts in public. I do encourage those with questions to ask, however.
I do not know if there are certain threads I find myself interested in more than another. I do know that the more specific the gear discussion is (e.g. reviewing someone’s gear list or which sub-3 oz [88.7 mL] stove is the best), the less likely I am to post my nickel’s worth of thoughts.
A favorite hidden gem was this past year. We discussed stoves for car camping trips. What started out as gear discussion ended up being more philosophical: Ways to enjoy the outdoors that are different from lightweight backpacking. I’ve been to quite a few places that aren’t really backpacking destinations. And those trips are some of my favorites.
Hovenweep National Monument. A remote place on the Colorado and Utah border that has exquisite scenery and well-preserved Ancient Puebloan ruins. No backpacking is allowed, but I’d hate to miss this place.
ERIC: On the BPL Forums, many people reference your site when they are trip planning whether to create the route or plan logistics. How have you managed to curate so much content? Have you done all the routes you suggest?
PAUL: I try to get out as much as I can (which, is never enough!), and I enjoy writing. There may be a handful of ideas I’ve suggested that are more general . . . But overall my suggestions are trips I’ve specifically done and/or places I’ve explored. For better or worse, most of my free time is used for what outdoor trips I can take. And I tend to like trying different places or routes. After more than fifteen years of living in Colorado and exploring relatively close places, I guess I’ve built up a large trip catalog.
ERIC: You are a regular contributor to Trail Groove Magazine. Tell us a little about that. What is Trail Groove Magazine? How often do you write? What are your usual topics? Can you share one of your favorite submissions with us?
PAUL: TrailGroove Magazine is an online magazine published by Aaron Zagrodnick. The magazine is very heavy on both high-quality photography and outdoors writing. Unlike other outdoor magazines, the magazine does not focus on long trails or EPIC adventures, but rather the simple joys of being outside. Not to say TrailGroove will not feature a long trail or similar, but the focus is always on what it is like to be outside on those long trails, as opposed to the community and lifestyle around it.
I am a regular contributor and have written for every issue for roughly the past two years. A typical issue comes out about every six weeks. My regular contributions include a feature article, outdoors news and a trail recipe. I’ll also, about every other issue, contribute a review on a media such as the recent A Walk in the Woods movie.
A favorite submission of mine is also a recent one. I wrote an article on The High Plains. This ecosystem is often overlooked in favor of other ones. Over the past few years, I’ve really grown to love the isolation, wildness, and beauty of this, quintessentially, American place. The plains are still a bastion of wildness where an increasing amount of designated Wilderness Areas no longer feel as wild or remote.
Toadstool Geologic Park, Nebraska.
ERIC: Next some questions about your backpacking philosophy:
PAUL: Plan a trip. Grab the gear. And go!
ERIC: What is your favorite trip to go on – bikepacking, backpacking, mountaineering, skiing, etc.? Do you prefer winter, summer, or shoulder seasons?
PAUL: Hiking and backpacking are my first loves in the outdoors. Enjoy the simplicity, the physical challenge and, of course, the beauty I am able to see while on these walks.
My wife and I enjoy remote car camping together, as there are some areas that are very beautiful, remote and interesting where backpacking is not allowed (Chaco Canyon, for example), but would be a shame to miss simply because “[they’re] only camping.”
I also enjoy Nordic backcountry skiing. This type of skiing, to me, has less an emphasis on gear and is essentially hiking on skis. I love being out on a bright and clear Colorado winter day and then gliding along the fresh powder.
All the seasons have something wonderful to offer, but if I had to pick one season that I truly love above all else, it would the height of fall. The changing colors, the crisp air, and even the smells all add up to a season I cherish every year.
Photo of a friend breaking trail while on a ski tour in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
ERIC: What is your favorite or most memorable adventure?
PAUL: I don’t know how many true adventures I’ve been on. I have good maps, the area is researched ahead of time and even if there is a mishap (friend with an injury, for example), the acquired outdoor skill set can usually handle the situation that happens.
Now, over the years, I’ve been to many memorable places. One area that really resonates with me is northern New Mexico. This area has such a wonderful blend of different cultures, deep historic roots, fantastic food and, of course, some exquisite natural beauty. Northern New Mexico is one of my favorite places to backpack, hike or camp.
[Taken while] backpacking in the Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos, NM.
ERIC: Do you prefer long expeditions or shorter one or two-night trips?
PAUL: I like to be out as much as I can. Weekend length trips can be wonderful in their own way. But I do look forward to the longer trips when I can. I am not sure I want to go on four to six-month trips at this point in my life. Six to eight-week trips, I think, would be the sweet spot for me.
ERIC: What is your favorite piece of gear? Do you have brands you prefer over others?
PAUL: My absolute favorite piece of gear is a map. Maps show possibilities, fire the imagination and help plan any trips I want to do.
A more practical favorite is my simple 100 weight fleece pullover. Weighing [just] under 9 oz, it is a versatile layering piece I use in all four seasons and in many conditions.
I think my gear choices reflect more my practical nature more so than any brand loyalty. My gear kit has a mixture of cottage gear companies, thrift, surplus and discount stores, mid-brand favorite such as Coleman and even some higher end gear such as MSR. I like to use what works.
ERIC: You’ve created your own blog, you’re active on BPL and Trail Groove Magazine, you get outdoors often, and you’re a volunteer board member for the CDT coalition. Why are you so passionate about this stuff?
PAUL: Good question.
I simply love the outdoors. I am not a religious person, but I suppose my love for the outdoors fills a similar niche in my life. Rather than evangelize about the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I enjoy spreading the good news about the wild places.
ERIC: How often do you get outside these days? Do you have a routine you follow or do you just get out whenever you can? Do you try for one big trip per year, or how often do you get out on an expedition?
PAUL: As I like to say “I try to get outside as much as I can which is never enough!” I’ll try to take advantage of what time I have available. Sometimes even a few hours on a summer weekday is enough to reset the system and give me some needed outdoor time.
I try to make use of my precious vacation time in an intelligent manner. There are always family visits, an occasional medical reason to take a day off, etc. The wife and I agreed that a one week block of my precious vacation time can be solo and just for me. I find I can usually carve out about two weeks straight of outdoor time by making judicious use of, and combining, weekends, holidays and the five vacation days I take at once.
ERIC: How “light” do you like to go?
PAUL: All depends on the trip. Solo and prime three-season conditions? Under ten pounds. Going car camping somewhere on BLM land in Utah? I am not sure how much a Coleman two burner stove weighs . . .
ERIC: What challenges do you foresee the next generation of backpackers facing?
PAUL: A balance of preserving the outdoor places while still retaining the wild character of them. We’ll, hopefully, always have designated Wilderness Areas. But will the places truly be wild?
ERIC: What advice do you have for the BPL community?
PAUL: Get out there as much as you can and as often as you can with whatever gear you may have available. The title of the community is Backpacking Light, not Collecting Light Backpacking Gear.
[Taken] from a campsite view in the Wind River Range. I forget which exact pack, stove, shelter, or sleeping bag I took for this trip. Not sure it matters either.
ERIC: Can you share you social media and web links with us?
The introduction of Dyneema (a.k.a., Cuben Fiber) fabrics is one of the most exciting developments to hit the ultralight gear niche over the past several years. With the introduction of several new cottage manufacturers, the acquisition of Cubic Tech, and innovation in ultralight gear made with Cuben Fiber / Dyneema, there are exciting times ahead.
January 9, 2016: Some clarification has been made regarding the role of ZPacks vs. Hyperlite Mountain Gear as the “most popular” or “best known” or “largest buyers” of Cuben Fiber among US manufacturers. Also, we’ll be adding comments and observations based on brief interviews with cottage companies about the long-term outlook for Cuben Fiber in their product lines. We are still waiting on comments from some other people we interviewed for this story, and will incorporate them as they come in.
The introduction of Dyneema (a.k.a., Cuben Fiber) fabrics is one of the most exciting developments to hit the ultralight outdoor gear niche over the past several years. With the introduction of several new cottage manufacturers, the acquisition of Cubic Tech, and innovation in ultralight gear made with Cuben Fiber / Dyneema, there are exciting times ahead.
Watch ‘Ultralight’: A Short Documentary Film by the Dyneema Project
‘Ultralight’ is a short documentary film sponsored by the Dyneema Project, a public relations campaign of DSM Dyneema designed to increase awareness of and promote innovative design in gear and apparel made with Dyneema fabrics.
Watch it here:
DSM Dyneema purchased Cubic Tech in May 2015, the manufacturer of ‘Cuben Fiber’. Cuben Fiber is a family of nonwoven fabrics comprised of waterproof (and sometimes breathable) film faces (e.g., mylar) bonded to (or sandwiched between, or sandwiching inside) a crisscrossing layup of strengthening fibers (e.g., Dyneema/Spectra). The resulting fabrics are well-known for their high strength-to-weight ratios.
Silnylon vs. Cuben Fiber / Dyneema for Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Silicone-impregnated nylon (a.k.a. ‘silnylon’) has been the gold standard for many years for fabrics used in ultralight applications requiring waterproofing, such as tarps, tents, and rain ponchos. Most of the lightest silnylon fabrics suitable for outdoor gear weigh in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 osy (ounces per square yard). In contrast, Cuben Fiber fabrics used in similar applications weigh 0.5 to 0.8 osy, and depending on the construction quality and design engineering of the finished product, can result in a stronger piece of equipment.
Is Silnylon Dead? What about a Cuben Fiber / Dyneema Shires’ TarpTent?
Silnylon has been a staple in the ‘ultralight’ cottage industry for many years, and remains the primary fabric for shelters made by small companies such as TarpTent, Six Moon Designs, and Mountain Laurel Designs.
In previous communications with TarpTent, it doesn’t appear that its founder, Henry Shires, has an interest in replacing silnylon with Cuben Fiber anytime soon. “Unfortunately, Cuben Fiber and affordable can’t be put in the same sentence,” Henry told me in an email exchange this past July.
The cost of materials may certainly be one barrier for Shires, who prices TarpTents competitively ($250 to $350 for most two-person models), but manufacturing techniques present a barrier as well. TarpTent manufacturing is outsourced to domestic factories who may not have the manufacturing capabilities and skills required to construct the seams (which require precision taping) that join Cuben Fiber fabric panels. “The problem with Cuben Fiber is performance under stress and the need to seam tape everything,” said Shires. “Simple Cuben Fiber structures (like basic pyramids) are ok to hand seam-tape when the curvatures are gentle since they can be done flattened on the table but a nightmare when the curvatures are more extreme and can’t be done on a table.” Shires admitted that at this time, TarpTent has neither the interest nor time to do hand seam-taping for complex curvatures.
An initial response by the ultralight backpacker may be one of disappointment. I for one would love to have a Cuben Fiber TarpTent! However, I’m not sure I’d be willing to drop a thousand dollars or more on one. Shires has developed a successful, long-term, sustainable business model and in spite of its shortcomings when compared to Cuben Fiber, silnylon remains a proven material for lightweight shelters, especially when seam lines are complex curves. I don’t see Cuben Fiber being used in any of Shires’ curved-pole designs (e.g., Scarp or Moment) anytime soon, but I wonder how long Henry can resist the temptation to ignore the possibility of using Cuben Fiber in a less-complex shape. Personally, I could get very excited about a Cuben Fiber Stratosphire – one of the few TarpTent designs that could stand to benefit greatly in a Cuben Fiber version.
Cuben Fiber / Dyneema and the Cottage Ultralight Industry
Cuben Fiber isn’t ignored by the rest of the cottage industry. Six Moon Designs has been dabbling in Cuben Fiber for several years, but their manufacturing capability for working with Cuben Fiber is limited. When we last field-tested a Cuben Fiber version of the Skyscape shelter, inadequate cut-and-sew precision limited the shelter’s ability to be pitched taut for good storm resistance, and lack of sewn-seam taping in tie-out areas resulted in stitches ripping out when the shelter was subject to high winds.
Mountain Laurel Designs has successfully offered a mix of both silnylon and Cuben Fiber in their shelters (tarps and pyramids), both of which have garnered high acclaim from users. In our field testing of Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Fiber shelters, it’s clear that proprietor Ron Bell knows what he’s doing: they are impeccably cut, sewn and taped, and suggest that he’s paying close attention to designing for the fabric, rather than just slapping a new fabric on an existing design.
ZPacks and HyperLite Mountain Gear have built their entire business model on a foundation of Cuben Fiber. Interestingly, ZPacks is one of the few cottage companies manufacturing apparel made with breathable versions of Cuben Fiber. I’ve used ZPacks Challenger Raingear for several seasons now and find it to be as comfortable as anything I’ve tried from any other manufacturer. ZPacks apparel lacks the attention to fit detail that has made active users such as climbers gush over brands like Patagonia and Arc’Teryx. However, the backpacker will find the weight savings offered by raingear made with Cuben Fiber, that probably sits in the bottom of their pack on most summer days, well worth the sacrifice in precision fit.
ZPacks is likely the largest buyer of Cuben Fiber amongst US manufacturers, and the best-known manufacturer of CF gear and apparel within the backpacking community. Hyperlite Mountain Gear is better known in the outdoor industry at large (based on data from our internal surveys across various niches, especially outside of “ultralight backpacking” and “thru-hiking”). Its packs and shelters have been on the market for several years, with its designs refined and proven on some of the most outrageous expeditions in the world. Of all of the Cuben Fiber shelters on the market today, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid remains the only one I would trust in severe, blizzard-class winter weather above the tree line.
A Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 4 in the Wind River Range, July 2015.
How Will the DSM / Dyneema Buyout Impact Us as Consumers?
There’s plenty of speculation about how this buyout will impact consumers. You can read last years’ predictions and notes from our favorite ultralight prophet here, who put together an excellent piece that summarizes potential impacts on the cottage industry.
Here are the highlights of what we are hearing from cottage manufacturers so far:
Higher minimum orders – this, of course, may slow innovation at the garage level – where great ideas seem to originate.
Improved lead teams – the time between ordering fabric and receiving it is shortening, which is good for cash flow and inventory management. Whether or not this will have a meaningful impact on customers is unknown.
Higher prices – the already sky-high prices of Cuben Fiber fabrics has increased. For the low quantities ordered by smaller manufacturers, pricing has increased dramatically. The result may be an increasing disparity in pricing between products made by smaller vs. larger companies. Pricing for high volume orders has increased as well. You can probably guess how this has / will impact us as customers. ZPacks, who buys large volumes of Cuben Fiber, has instituted modest price increases this year. We’ll likely see the availability of Cuben Fiber products consolidate to fewer manufacturers, with minor price increases, as the industry shakes out its response to increased pricing. For the smaller manufacturers, we can probably expect very expensive pricing, or simply the discontinuation of their Cuben Fiber products from their lines.
Conclusion: Good Things Ahead for Ultralight Backpackers?
As the film suggests, I want to believe that exciting times are ahead for the outdoor industry in general, and for the cottage industry in particular, as a direct result of Cuben Fiber (now to be called “Dyneema”). Now that DSM Dyneema has their manufacturing, distribution, and marketing engine behind Cuben Fiber fabrics, I think the best is yet to come for apparel and gear for ultralight backpacking, hiking, and other forms of human-powered wilderness travel where weight is of great concern.
But higher prices and volume minimums can only serve to slow down innovation from the very seeds that created the innovation in the first place: passionate users building beautifully functional gear in their garage and turning their ideas into the companies we love.
Note: I have no financial, in-kind sponsorship, or any other affiliation with any of the companies listed in this article. I have purchased, and currently own and use, Cuben Fiber products from Mountain Laurel Designs, ZPacks, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, and Locus Gear.
This article summarizes our staff’s best backpacking gear of the year – the ultralight hiking, backpacking, and camping gear they pick as their favorites for their annual adventures.
Every year, we poll our staff to make the hard decision of picking their favorite ultralight gear of the year – the best backpacking gear that makes it into their packs over and again on their wilderness adventures.
What Makes for the Best Backpacking Gear?
What a loaded question! The short answer is that
The best gear is in the eyes of the beholder.
First of all, and this should be a no-brainer for this audience: it has to be light.
Specifically, it should have a high “performance-to-weight ratio”. A 3 oz piece of equipment may seem light, but if it’s a toothbrush, forget it. On the other hand, a 100 pound piece of equipment may seem heavy, but if it’s a rocketship that can take you to a New Zealand Trailhead, then it’s all of a sudden lookin’ pretty light, right?
The longer answer, and one that we often use as a litmus test (especially for our Staff Favorites series) is that the best ultralight backpacking gear is the gear we grab over and again, trip after trip.
The normal qualifiers, of course, must be disclosed:
What works for us may not work for you;
Hike your own hike;
Your mileage may vary.
As we assembled this year’s best/favorite gear picks and talked to others about their best/favorite gear, here are some of the (possibly emerging) trends we’ve been noticing:
There are now no less than four manufacturers of wood-stove-heated-shelter systems that are light enough for backpackers. On paper, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for an ultralight backpacker to carry four to six pounds worth of shelter and wood stove when they could carry a lightweight tent for less than two pounds. But we’ve yet to spend a night with anyone in an ultralight, fire-heated nylon shelter that has yet to exclaim: “OMG: This is awesome.”
Big, interchangeable lens cameras (i.e., DSLRs) continue to fall out of favor among the ultralight backpacking community. Large sensors and quality zoom optics packed into compact camera bodies with sealed (non-interchangeable) lenses have transformed ultralight photography for us, giving us magazine-publishable image quality in lightweight, cheap packages.
Some old standbys still work just fine. When somebody creates a well-engineered version of an otherwise boring product, we notice, whether it’s a titanium tent stake or line (i.e., rope, cord) that glides smoothly over branches for bear bag hanging.
As technology becomes increasingly reliable, new versions of old products are released, and costs go down. That means we’re going to continue to see tech make its way into our kits. This year, it’s water treatment, satellite tracking, and a camera – and in all three cases, mature variations of tech products that have been around for awhile. So while you may not be keen on Version One of some new tech gadget, give it some type and keep the idea in your back pocket.
In 2015, I discovered the joy of backpacking with a wood stove. On a recent trip to the Washington coast with its (typical) cold rain, having a wood stove to keep us warm and dry was a joy!
At just under 2 1/2 pounds, the Lite Outdoors wood stove may not be the lightest wood stove on the market, but it’s well within the range of what we care about here at BPL! At $250, it strikes a balance between weight and cost; plus, it’s voluminous – 18″ deep – which gives room for large pieces of wood. It has a damper and a real door with an adjustable vent that works extremely well. I love this stove, and I can’t wait to take it on more basecamp-style backpacks this winter!
The Epiphany Outdoor Gear V3 Pocket Bellows is an effective firestarting tool (and not all are). In a nutshell, it’s an extendable metal breathing tube used for directing air into the infant flame of an early-stage fire. Its length extends from 3.5 inches to 21 inches and it directs air with careful precision (even through the tiny vent of my wood stove).
Lawson’s UltraGlide Bear Line slides easily across the surface of branches when hanging a bear bag. Compared to my old cord, the friction is significantly reduced, making it far easier to hang heavy bags when using the PCT method. It’s available in both reflective and non-reflective versions. Check it out if you live in softwood (e.g., pine) country and/or have to hang bear bags in the rain, which further softens wood and increases the risk of cord cutting into the branches and getting stuck / damaging the tree.
I won’t give a technical review of the Canon G15 here: you can find lots of them (e.g., see DPReview). The G15 supports Canon’s reputation for an easy-to-use interface. It has more controls and ‘features’ than I use, but it gives me everything I loved about my old OM-2 SLR cameras, and at 352 g with battery and memory card, it is much lighter.
I will add three of my perspectives about cameras:
First, they are no use safely buried in your pack (where most dSLRs seem to live). Mine rides on the shoulder strap of my pack in a showerproof fast-access pouch (MYOG naturally). I can get it out one handed, turn it on and press the shutter while walking in seconds.
Second, unlike film cameras, taking a photo is FREE. There is no cost for film and developing. So I take lots of photos while walking.
Third, the Canon G15 has some decent glass out front, unlike so many phone cameras (which IMHO produce crappy images – and seem mainly designed to take selfies).
Editor’s Note: The G15 has been replaced by a new model, the G16, as of the time this article was published.
There’s an enormous range of tent stake types, materials, shapes, and weights on the market.
The photo above shows a (rather weird) collection of mine, including the ubiquitous Chinese Tent Stake (CTS) which is mostly copied from the small silver (Salewa) one in the middle (you get bags of them free with made-in-China tents).
But it doesn’t matter, as most of these are just excess weight in comparison with the small orange Ti wire stake at the bottom right-hand corner. That one weighs a whisker over 6 g, and was the very first titanium stake ever to have a powder-coated hi-vis orange coating. The manufacturer? Backpacking Light of course! But now we’re out of the gear making business and other manufacturers are filling in the gap, like Vargo Outdoors.
In all my years of camping, I don’t think I have ever had a Ti wire pull out. Now there have been times when I have plonked a large, heavy rock on top of a stake, but rocks don’t cost pack weight! Equally, there have been times when camping in sand when I haven’t bothered getting the wires out of my pack: instead, I have just used some large dead sticks, burie d as deadmen anchors. But once again, those sticks have zero pack weight.
What I do not like about all of the fancier modern extruded aluminum stakes, apart from their weight, is that most of them (especially the Chinese ones) have sharp (“unfinished”) corners at the top. They hurt my hands when I try to push them into hard soil. Couple that with the fact that they are harder to pull out compared to Ti wires. Ti wire stakes just work.
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti & Classic3 UV systems
SterPEN Adventurer Opti (top) and SterPEN Classic (bottom).
Weights (3-4+ oz) and cost ($100+) depend on model
I have used filters and gotten desperately ill from the viruses that passed through one filter (a long story I won’t bore you with here). I have used chemicals, and had to wait 4 hours for them to be effective (in cold weather), and I disliked the smell and taste anyhow. And yes, I have had Giardia.
Enter UV water treatment, as used by many municipal water treatment plants and the military, and which fully meets EPA requirements. No smell, no taste, no wait (well, 60 seconds), and lightweight. The one problem is that current implementations all use a Philips germicidal UV tube, which is a bit power hungry.
Some of the UV units on the market are a bit dangerous: they don’t protect your eyes. Some rely on embedded rechargeable batteries, which never last as long as they are meant to. But these two units are compact, light and reliable, and I use them. We have reviews of SteriPEN Opti and SteriPEN Classic.
Editor’s note: the excitement we have for this category makes us giddy. Most of the technologies that are around the corner in the UV pen category are very exciting! We have been embargoed from revealing too much info, but you should be able to glean some clues from the headlamp market…
Kevin Sawchuk
BPL 1100ml Titanium Pot + Trail Designs Mini Caldera Cone/Sidewinder
BPL 1100 ml Titanium Pot (right) and mini-caldera cone/sidewinder (left).
The pot is no longer available
$34.95 for the Mini-Caldera Cone system
3 oz (85 g) for BPL 1100 ml Pot – 1 oz to 2.8 oz (28 g to 78 g) for Trail Designs Mini-Caldera cone system, depending on configuration
Perfect for efficient Esbit or alcohol cooking in a variety of weather and wind conditions, the Trail Designs Mini-Caldera Cone packs away inside the pot for protection and packing efficiency. It also provides excellent wind resistance for fuel efficiency. Although it’s not optimized for wood, wood can be used (with the titanium version) in a pinch by elevating the cone on a couple of rocks to improve airflow underneath the cone.
I’m not a fan of technology in the backcountry, but the SPOT tracker keeps my family comfortable with my excursions and adds an additional level of safety for me.
It offers two custom programmable messages as well as separate “help” and “SOS” messages. The annual fee is $99/year, and a rebate makes the device cost zero! For an additional $50/year it will automatically send messages every 10 minutes (the “Spotcast” feature). Battery life is excellent, and the weight and form factor minimizes its interference with my minimalist style.
In my opinion, the ULA Circuit offers the best balance of weight, durability, and features for long trips (including difficult off-trail travel) than any pack on the market today.
The Dyneema ripstop fabric resists abrasion and puncturing sticks. The waistbelt pockets keep snacks handy so I can keep moving. The side water bottle pockets keep water accessible on the go. Although I’d love to have a floating lid to keep more small gear handy, keeping a small stuff sack on the top, inside the main pack bag, works nearly as well. Mine has more than 100 days of use and is still (with a few patches…) going strong!
The Seek Outside BT2 is not the lightest mid, nor the most spacious, but it stands out for its simplicity, aesthetics, ease of use, quality construction, and exceptional weather resistance. I’ve used quite a few mids over the years, and for solo and two-person use, this is simply my favorite.
I loathe gloves, but they’re often a necessary evil, and the Mont Blancs offer the most weather protection for the weight of any gloves I’ve used, with excellent dexterity to boot. Durability is merely average, but the price is reasonable, and for the last year I’ve worn nothing else unless the temps are truly frigid. Get a few pair, along with some big fleece mitts and waterproof overmitts, and you’re set for almost all circumstances.
Backpacking became more complex and fear-inducing in a way it hadn’t been for years this summer when Meredith and I welcomed our son into the world.
He’s proven to be an excellent hiking, biking, hunting, and skiing companion, and Patagonia’s fabulous line of infant clothing makes that a lot easier. Favorites include the Capilene onesies and pants, off which drool dries quickly, and the sadly discontinued (for the moment?) Synchilla Bunting, whose dual leg zips facilitate quick diaper changes that keep the kid warm.
Editor’s Note: Did you ever imagine Dave C saying the word “onesie” in the context of a product review?
Eric Vann
Buff
Using my Buff for both sun and wind protection while climbing Bonney Pass in the Wind River Range.
Since getting a Buff earlier this year, it has been an indispensable piece of my ultralight kit. I use mine for sun and wind protection and as an added layer of warmth. It also works well when it’s too hot – dipping the Buff in cool water and wearing it around my neck helps keep me cool.
Patagonia Houdini Windshirt
Standing on top of Bonney Pass in my Houdini Jacket. The wind shirt has just enough fabric to cut the wind while still being very light.
Before I owned a wind shirt, I used to think, “Please, a windshirt? Why would I need that?”
I am still not convinced that a wind shirt is needed; however, I do believe that the wind shirt fulfills a unique niche in backcountry travel as a movement layer. I have found that my wind shirt is useful for days when you are moving fast during cool or cold, and windy conditions. The wind shirt cuts wind (preventing evaporative heat loss) and offers excellent breathability (especially if you allow the DWR to wash out!). It is so light (4 oz) and compacts so well that I can stuff it into virtually any pocket or compartment so I always have it handy.
Oware 10×14 Flat Tarp
Flat tarps are my favorite group camping shelter. Here, the Oware 10×14 flat tarp set up in a meadow in the Bob Marshall Wilderness shimmers in the morning light and sleeps 5 (easily).
This summer, while spending several weeks in the “Bob” (Bob Marshall Wilderness), I used the Oware 10×14 tarp tents extensively. I was amazed at their adaptability and capacity. This tarp comfortably sleeps five plus gear, is very lightweight, and has 20 tie-out points that allow for a stormworthy pitch. It would not be my first choice for winter or shoulder season camping, or if you are expecting severe enough weather to warrant a full-perimeter shelter such as a pyramid. But for most three-season camping, it’s tough to find a better group shelter at this cost and weight than the Oware 10×14 flat tarp.
Ryan Jordan
HMG Dyneema Summit Pack
Ryan with a loaded Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema Summit Pack at Deer Lake in the Spanish Peaks Unit, Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Montana.
In my quest to minimize the amount of gear I own, and maximize the versatility of the gear I use, I’ve gravitated away from gram-counting in recent years and towards gear that will last a long time and/or can be easily repaired. The Dyneema Summit Pack from Hyperlite Mountain Gear fits this bill. I’ve used this pack more than any other this year: day hiking, biking, climbing, and on short overnight trips. It fits a sleeping bag, pad, bivy sack (or tarp), parka, raingear, stove, pot, and a few hundred cubic inches of food: perfect for my own style of SUL and simple overnight backpacking.
My favorite feature is its durability. I’m hoping this pack will be an heirloom that will be able to tell the stories of adventures that span decades of seasons, instead of the “trip or two” that so many ultralight backpacks seemed resigned to these days.
Helinox Ground Chair
Enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise from my Helinox Ground Chair, High Sierra, California.
“Camp Chair” and “Ultralight” are not usually found in the same sentence. But like a wood-stove-heated-tent that weighs less than five pounds, some chairs offer a performance-to-weight ratio (e.g., comfort level) that almost has to be experienced to be believed. The Helinox Ground Chair is one of those products.
This chair has revolutionized how I manage and cope with back pain from a nagging broken back suffered in 2005, and if I know I’m going to spend any meaningful amount of time in camp, it goes with me. With the Ground Chair, my creative writing (journaling and other forms) has soared in the backcountry, as well as the process of slowing down, enjoying a cup of coffee, and snuggling under a down quilt while the sun comes up. To that end, the Ground Chair has achieved nearly spiritual status amongst its utilitarian equipment brethren in my wilderness camps and has invoked jealous wrath from my campmates. My son likes to steal it when I sneak away to take a poop back in the trees.
Bluewater Titan 5.5 mm Accessory Cord
Eric Vann belaying climbers with Bluewater Titan and a Munter hitch; downclimbing the Gooseneck Couloir on Gannett Peak, the Wyoming High Point.
Hauling ten pounds of rope and hardware for incidental glacier crossings and the occasional top-rope belay or short rappel isn’t worth it to me.
I’d rather take a different route around the offending terrain, or maybe just take the risk and go ropeless. Which usually works out OK, but I’m no probability dummy either – I know that falls do happen, and could happen to me.
To that end, thin static cordage made with a Dyneema core has completely changed how I look at mountain and canyon travel. When the risk of a fall is low, and when the impact force on the rope is minimal (low angle, top-roping, etc.), I grab either a 25m or 50m hock of Bluewater Titan 5.5mm Dyneema. It has expanded my route options, and when I bring it, increases safety for myself and my companions. At 2.2 lb per 50m, it’s as ultralight as you can get for a cord that is reasonable for glacier travel and incidental belays. I used it this summer on a glacier trek and Gannett Summit climb in the Wind Rivers and on a Class 3 variation of a Sierra High Route section in California.
Ultralight Backpacking: Core Principles is a 13-minute video screencast presentation that provides a critical foundation for efficiently becoming a skilled ultralight backpacker. The core principles presented herein should be considered wherever you are in your journey on lightening up, and are as applicable to me even today, after decades of “working on my pack weight”, as they were to me more than 25 years ago when I started this journey.
Nicolas Jarossay is about to become the first person to attempt a transatlantic traverse by stand-up-paddle-board.
Human-powered, lightweight wilderness travel takes on many forms. How about paddling a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) across the Atlantic Ocean? A 38-year-old French Firefighter and paddler, Nicolas Jarossay, is poised to become the first person to attempt a solo stand-up-paddle (SUP) board traverse of the Atlantic Ocean. He plans to begin his trip at Carpe Verde on the northwest coast of Africa and end at the French island of Martinique almost 80 days later. Since he was a boy, Jarossay has dreamed of the ocean, and after beginning preparations, planning, and training in 2012 seems positioned to begin this adventure.
A 38-year-old French Firefighter and paddler, Nicolas Jarossay, is poised to become the first person to attempt a solo stand-up-paddle (SUP) board traverse of the Atlantic Ocean. He plans to begin his trip at Carpe Verde on the northwest coast of Africa and end at the French island of Martinique almost 80 days later. Since he was a boy, Jarossay has dreamed of the ocean, and after beginning preparations, planning, and training in 2012 seems positioned to begin this adventure.
Watch the trailer below to learn more about the expedition:
For the moment, I will just become the first person trying to cross the Atlantic on a SUP. But I hope to have a beautiful experience, a beautiful dream if the weather and ocean cooperate with me. – Nicolas Jarossay
Nicolas Jarossay SUP Transatlantic Route: Africa to Martinique.
Nicolas Jarossay’s Transatlantic Route. Map made with Hillmap.com.
2,485 miles
33 miles per day
60 – 75 days to complete
Jarossay wants to complete his trip by April to avoid the worst storms of the year. He plans on drinking 8 L of water and eating 6,000 calories per day and insists that staying hydrated and eating enough are keys to the success of the route.
The rule is simple: No water, no paddling. I am still trying to find another way to provide for my daily needs of water. – Nicolas Jarossay
Planning and Preparation
Jarossay commissioned a 20-foot-long, custom SUP board that features a “sleeping pod” and storage for over 200 lbs of food. Billed as the world’s first “liveable” SUP board, Jarossay and a two others have spent “about one year” coming up with the design for his unique paddle board. He took his craft out for a 5-day test run in August where he covered 110 miles and was followed by a support team. The test revealed that the boat was not self-righting due to the sleeping pod. This is a huge issue for a transatlantic traverse where storms and lack of energy in a flip could quickly compound an already challenging solo traverse. Since his test, Jarossay has been busy modifying his craft so that it is self-righting and hopes to have the craft ready in time for his departure.
Nicolas Jarossay practicing for his transatlantic expedition. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Jarossay.
Who else has considered the route?
Many were expecting legendary SUP boarder Bart De Zwart to attempt the trip. De Zwart admitted that he has been intrigued by the idea, but could not devote the time away from his family needed for planning and training not to mention the expedition itself. De Zwart did mention that he had concerns about Jarossay’s cabin saying, “It is troubling that my biggest concern about the design is still (Jarossay’s) problem today. You cannot have a cabin on a board which is not self-righting.” De Zwart also expressed concern of Jarossay’s plan to use a hand pump for drinking water thinking that Jarossay’s energies could be better spent elsewhere if he opted for an electric system. “It is a lot of work to make drinking water from salt water and you need your energy for paddling, making food, and navigating,” De Zwart said.
Others are expecting Chris Bertish, a SUP record holder from South Africa, to attempt a transatlantic crossing but his trip isn’t planned until November 2016. Bertish’s attempt will begin in Morocco and end in Miami so his attempt will be about 1,000 miles longer than Jarossay’s.
Stay tuned. 2016 should be an interesting year for the world of SUP. Read more about the expedition here.
Primus released a new blend of gas known as Winter Gas. Does this blend increase fuel efficiency? Is it worth the cost?
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Enlightened Equipment (EE) developed a prototype light-weight synthetic-filled bootie for this program. We issued a call for testers to receive the complimentary giveaways, and we selected them (primarily) on a first-come-first-served basis. Participants sent their contact information to the manufacturer, who shipped the product samples.
