Not nearly STUPID enough! Sub 1oz Pack?

[Aaron Sorensen]

In my years of SUL myog and many stupid light trips, I have come to a conclusion.
I am not nearly stupid enough yet.

My job for now only allows overnight trips without taking unnecessary time off.
So all of my trips are set up for 2-3 days and way too much comfort.
So what to do?

Well for starters, pairing down all gear for mild weather instead of the normal 30*.
This means massive reduction cuts to all gear item (that I've already been working on).

I'm now happy with sub 11 ounce sleeping quilt and have just about everything else at a minimum except the backpack.

I have made a 10 ounce weekend pack and am not happy with it.
It will work with under 10 pounds but with that, I can get much much lighter.
Along with the volume, the weight needs to be at a minimal too.

So how to make a sub 1oz pack?

It's in the making right now.
More to come…

[Ken Thompson]

I look forward to you being more stupid. Better you than me, lol
I revel in your discomfort.

[Anonymous]

"I revel in your discomfort."

Anybody know offhand how much a hair shirt weighs?

[Ken Thompson]

Top to bottom is less than 3 ounces per Coupe from GoLite. Hairy dude, thin on top.

[Justin Baker]

Roll up your gear in your tarp or ground sheet, run some cord through as shoulder straps.

[Anonymous]

"Top to bottom is less than 3 ounces per Coupe from GoLite. Hairy dude, thin on top."

Problem solved. We have just created a new classification XSUL. I figure a scrawny little dude like yours truly, also thin on top, could squeeze in under 2 oz. Let's see ya match that Alan Dixon! ;0))

[todd]

Looking forward to it Aaron!

Bring it.

[Andy F]

there's gotta be a cuben helium bladder in there somewhere!

[Ken Thompson]

I swear my full body fur suit helps with the clingy clothes. Rock what you got.

Aaron, you had to expect some comments as these with a thread title like that.

[Aaron Sorensen]

Ah Ken,

Remember, this is the SUL page so it's supposed to be fitting here.
That said, the pack is done and no Cuben.

I'll get some photos up tomorrow.

0.7 ounces

[Adam Kilpatrick]

Looking forward to it Aaron!

[James Marco]

Can't wait to see it!

[Steven Evans]

I have an older zpacks blast that weighs ~7 oz. And have often thought it is overkill for my SUL trips. Your 0.7oz pack is 10X lghter than my Blast so I am definitely interested in this!

[Adrian Swanson]

My guess is mesh?

That, or everything is tied up with spectra cord.

[Link .]

one ounce pack thread from 2009 with photos and instructions

[J-L]

Most people have hipbelt pockets that weigh more

[Barry Cuthbert]

A plastic supermarket bag?

[Kattt]

"A plastic supermarket bag ?"

:)

Once you cut weight down that much, there is probably little need for an actual backpack. A medium sized stuff sack with two cords should do the job , especially since comfort is not an issue.
More power to you Aaron. Be safe.

[Dale Wambaugh]

Make a string style pack using Cuben cloth and Spectra cord, grosgrain ribbon etc. A Cuben haversack/messenger bag has crossed my mind—just one strap and a bottle could be carried on the strap.

Water gets to be the heavy item. I've though about a really minimal stuff sack backpack and using a hydration fanny pack to carry a couple water bottles. The concept fails as the total weigh is as great or greater than a traditional backpack.

[Aaron Sorensen]

I'm just changing a few things to make it fit better.
I don't want to put pictures up of something that doesn't work at the time.

The modifications may add 1 or 2 tenths of an ounce but should still be under 0.9 ounces.
I also ran out of some supplies and it's starting to be pieced together.
So it's may or may not be a prototype?

[Nathan Meyerson]

What about carrying your kit in a cuben haversack, and making a simple 1" grosgrain strap for water bladders with hoops like the platy plus? Then you don't need to worry about the weight of water stressing the fragile seams of you 1 oz pack

[Adam Kilpatrick]

I think the haversack option is a good one. Sea to Summit ultrasil one is 48grams, could be made lighter with lighter material.

I noticed that S2S are now making mesh stuff sacks out of their 15D nano mesh. They look well made, and have a draw cord top.
20L=17grams
15L=14grams.

I think Aarons gear for 2-3 day trips will likely fit in 15L no worries. With a 15L pack, its going to streamline behind your torso that much better than a 20L pack, so the lighter weight mesh wouldn't be much of an issue, its unlikely to ever catch on anything on a trail.

Then, some mesh straps. The straps could be a heavier material, eg regular no-seeum, wouldn't weigh much, possibly still get under his 0.9oz mark.

I really like the way that strap adjustment is done on Mark's "old" once ounce pack-very light cord going through a tiny loop of grossgrain and coming back on itself with a prussik…so simple, and ingenious! Must weigh under a gram each side for that.

In the right conditions and location, water weight could be very minimal, eg, a half litre bottle, hand carried, or attached "adventure racing style" to shoulder straps.

I bought a nano S2S headnet today. Seems like it would be strong enough to handle an XUL load plus maybe five pounds of food. Be pushing it much beyond that, at least long term. For a second I thought that their nano head net and one of their nano stuff sacks is probably the same item, but then I noticed in their catalogue that the stuff sucks have a better drawcord tube, probably made from ultrasil. Shoulder straps could be attached to that, though when fully cinched the straps would have to depart from the same location. I really think for such an XUL pack, its probably better to have the entry on the bottom, Matt Kirk style, as this places less restrictions on how far apart you place the top of your shoulder straps-they can be nicely set, with your ccf pad as a back panel.

[Aaron Sorensen]

Adam,

I can fit 5-7 days in a 15L pack.
The one I'm making is more like 8 liters.

I'm switching to a strap system to one that crosses my chest in an "X".
Each strap (5/8" grosgrain) will go from the outside top corner of the pack to the opposite bottom.
It will be more comfortable this way and hold the the gear in the pack without having any cords.

I had to switch to the "X" to keep the pack from sagging and riding too low.
It's difficult to keep things in place with very little.
I should/ might have it done today and will put up the pictures when I do.

[Aaron Sorensen]

All done.

Did some cut and trimming for a 0.65 ounce backpack.

Well, what did you expect for that weight?

Made using .67 Argon and 7/8" grosgrain.
Yes, it is sewn on to the shirt.
No, the shirt is not included in the weight of the pack as it will be worn.

Get to camp, take everything out and keep the shirt on.
You can not even tell the difference once it's empty.
I would guess it is about 8 liters of usable space.

Inside is my XUL kit

10.9 oz Quilt
Montbell EX-Lite Jacket
Bivy
Cuben Tarp
1/8" 24×40 inch pad
Cook Kit
Sit pad/ pillow (not pictured) left it pack when I took the picture
500ml soft bottle
3 pounds of food

Missing a few things but the rest may come out to 3 or so ounces.

Yes, it's STUPID, but it is also a usable and very comfortable XUL 0.65 ounce pack!!!

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[Valerie E]

I think it shows very creative thinking (definitely "out of the box"). Sure, it's not for everyone, but since you can make it work, more power to you! :^)

[Author]

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