Transition from Traditional to Ultralight

To the OP: there is so much great new gear out there, and it can sure be a bit overwhelming when trying to research what is "best." Lightening your load is a transition that will happen over time as you decide on gear, find deals, etc. You can also make yourself crazy chasing grams and ounces! My pack weight for a weekend summer trip in the Colorado mountains has dropped over the years from 40 lbs to 30 and currently is around 23 lbs. This includes fishing rods, my camera, and a book. With the exception of my tent (a ZPacks Solplex), every other item was purchased at REI or through mainstream vendors. I don't have the lightest possible piece of gear for any single item, but it is a heckuva lot lighter than when I started out, and it didn't break the bank. Note that the evolution happened over time as I replaced individual items. Actually, the pack was one of the last things I replaced; no point having a super light pack if the rest of the gear doesn't fit! I will add that I deny myself no luxuries – am too old for that! – but have found makeshift ways to bring along the things that make a few nights in the outdoors a true pleasure. There are many ways to lighten your load, and making yourself aware of the possibilities is the first step. It's fun, too, eh?

I think your sleeping bag purchase was a good investment, so don't worry about the decision. Shelter is a good candidate for buying used. One benefit from being part of a gear-addicts forum is that everyone is constantly selling off barely-used gear. Might as well take advantage of it. I picked up my Contrail and Squall (Tarptents, both) used here and can't think of any reason why a new one would have been better for more than twice the price. Agree with the cheap canister stove. They really do just work. Buy the pack last. I have a ULA Circuit; love it.

I too favour a pack first approach. Keep your existing pack. As you lighten up, you will find 3500ci (57L) to be HUGE. For the occasional longer journey, it still works, though. I am guessing you have an older Gregory or Kelty that is even larger than that. For the rare expedition trip of three or four weeks, you need it. I have been out for three weeks UL. Because, base weight does not count food, water or fuel. So, you WILL need multiple packs for summer and winter. You will need packs for 2 night trips and two week trips. You will need packs for 80F and for 0F trips. I lost track but I have at least 15. Hiking/backpacking is a sport. What does it involve? Walking, sleeping and eating. Maybe some photography, fishing, hunting, etc. But basically, you need different packs for each sport you engage in. Different volume packs and different purposes. If you plan on hauling out a 150 pounds of meat, this will be a different pack than one you use for straight up hiking to see what is there. Good shoes, sleeping bag with pad & a dry roof over your head, and, a way to cook meals. For a couple nights, you can go with just minimal gear. For 4-5 nights you need more. For a week, more yet. After two weeks, you need to resupply, usually. Though, I have gone for three weeks and a few days before needing a resupply. So, the point is, you have to decide how long your average trip will be between resupply points. If you hike with a partner or significant other, this will influence your decision. If you have to carry group gear for a family of five, you NEED a big pack. This is different than going solo. You want different packs. Anyway, I can get by with a small 1700ci (27L) pack for a weekend. I need a 2200ci pack for a couple weeks. If I am doing anything besides hike, I need a 3000ci pack for a week, and a 3500ci pack for serious other stuff (photo work for example.) With my wife and me, I find I can get by with about 2200ci and her pack at 1700ci for a weekend. Decide how long you will be out, then decide what you will be doing. Then a pack will suggest itself. An easy first purchase once you know what you are doing. Filling it can be intimidating, though. Get one size smaller than you would like, if you are going lighter. You will be forced to get lighter with smaller, usually lighter gear.

I'm doing the same thing – slowly replacing my old gear with lighter gear as time and budget allows. Currently I have my base weight down to around 18-20lbs which is a great leap from the 30-40 lbs I was lugging around before. As an example I've recently replaced my old Deuter Aircontact 55+10 with an Exped Lightning 60, shaving around 3.5 lbs just replacing the pack alone. I've mostly been a car camper as of late going on trips with the Land Rover club, with the occasional short backpacking trip thrown in here and there for good measure. My main motivation for paring down weight is that my son has recently bridged from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. With the increase in backpacking trips I'll be going on with the troop I'm shaving my personal gear load down to lighten what I carry. I will inevitably end up carrying some of the troop gear for one reason or another as an ASM so starting out light makes it easier. It also gives me the opportunity to lead by example with the Scouts by showing them how choosing lighter gear to start off with makes backpacking more enjoyable. Some of the youngest scouts in our troop are hardly pushing 100lbs wet so keeping their total pack weight under 20% of their body weight is a challenge.

>> Some of the youngest scouts in our troop are hardly pushing 100lbs wet so keeping their total pack weight under 20% of their body weight is a challenge. My son started backpacking with me when he was 9yo and barely 80lb. I made it a point to outfit him with UL gear for exactly the reason you point out. I'm a 5'2" woman, and carrying a 50lb pack to off-load his pack wasn't an option. When we're on the trail and run into other hikers, they usually look at us, then our packs, then look behind us expecting to see the sherpa-dad. They they usually ask, either with concern or skepticism, how long we're going to be out for. We've had some ask us straight out, "do you have a tent?"

Thanks for sharing this phase of your journey. The transition aspect of LW backpacking is always interesting to me. I first became concerned about weight in 2008. My daughter was 2 years old and we had begun taking short trips with her but I had to carry her gear plus my gear and I already toted a lot of my wife's gear. I am big guy, I played football at the collegiate level so activity as a larger man (compared to average backpacker) always came natural to me. Like most I found myself buying and selling gear. Trying stuff and not liking it, etc…It dawned on me in late 2010 I could loose 25 lbs of weight easier than I could shed 25 lbs of gear. Best decision I ever made. For solo trips I often wish I had a Cuben Duomid, but the price seems high for the few times I get out on my own. I have an old Shangri-la 3 which we use with the nest as a family. The area to set up is bigger than a duomid, but the weight isn't much different than a sil duo. So I put off the sil duo in favor of a few extra solo ounces with a bivy sack. I love my Katabatic quilt. Best investment I ever made. I recently upgraded both my daughter and my wife to Nunatak clearance quilts which saved some coin. I have tried hammocks but the increase in weight and for me the increase in complexity to pitching the shangri-la doesn't balance. I am also a side sleeper. I have a large Neo, but don't find it especially comfortable either. I have thought about other pad options but hate to spend the coin. What I learned? I love to fish and most of what I do is about getting closer to mountain trout. So big miles are possible for me, but I really just love to be in the wilderness fishing or with my family. I don't need extreme low weights to accomplish this goal. I also learned you can be obsessed with a few ounces but the cost verses ounces issue can get out of control. I really value the simplistic aspect of LW backpacking as much as the weight savings. In a perfect world I would probably prefer a sill cat tarp and a bivy sack. The only reason I don't own one is because I read reviews about sagging issues. I wish I had a cuben cat tarp, but the price seems high for the weight savings. I know some gear heads really enjoy the testing of gear and for them buying and checking out gear is a huge piece of the puzzle. I went through brief phase like that in 2008-2009. My goals for the coming year are pretty simple. 1) I want to get out more even if for only one night. 2)I would like to do a better job of documenting trips. I have dropped the ball on that the last few years. I love looking back at videos and pics from my daughters early trips.

I purchased a light pack prior to upgrading some of my other gear. But, I purchased it from gear swap for $60. If I manage to replace my other heavy other gear this pack will still be useful. It handles the weight i have now for when I am hiking vrs "camping". My other backpack is for "camping" trip(s) where I still have to carry everything in a backpack, or when I'm the Sherpa on family trips. It is huge and I didn't need to bring all that much when hiking for a few days by myself, so I got the lighter and smaller pack. Even though it "only" saved me 2 lbs, I just could not go with that huge pack half full when on hiking trips by myself. But, my other equipment is not outrageously heavy, just heavier than it needs to be. I saved A LOT of weight by just leaving out things I didn't really need. That saved more weight than all the savings I could make by changing all of the gear I did take. :^) And loosing 30 lbs of body weight really did feel like loosing 30 lbs of pack weight. ;^)

In case this is helpful for anyone else, I took Jennifer’s list of packs and have the link, price, and weight of each. Gossamer Gear

• Mariposa, $245, 27.5 ounces (S), 29.1 ounces (M), 29.6 ounces (L)
• Gorilla, $235, 24.7 ounces (S), 26 ounces (M), 28 ounces (L)

ULA Equipment

• Circuit, $225, 41 ounces
• Ohm, $200, 32.5 ounces

Mountain Laurel Designs

• Exodus, $195, 17 ounces

Zpacks

• Arc Blast, $315, 20.8 ounces (45L), 21 ounces (52L), 21.2 ounces (60L)
• Arc Haul, $295, 24 ounces

Katabatic Gear

• Helios, $320, 28.6 ounces (S), 30 ounces (M), 32 ounces (L)
• Artemis, $295, 36.8 ounces (S), 38.5 ounces (M), 40.4 ounces (L)

^ Html, most of the time ;)

Your base weight is lots higher than your gear listed. I suspect you have way too many clothes, and accessories. For spring/fall backpacking for 3-4 days — everything should fit in a 50 liter pack :) Replace the water filter with Aqua-Mira water purification drops. When filling your water bottles, cover the opening with a bandanna to keep leaf-bits out.

Okay, James, you've convinced me. After long telling newbies to get their pack last (after they lightened and reduced the volume of their other gear), I see your points. Especially since it is what I myself do. I have a variety of packs. There is no one perfect pack for the weekend trip and the 10-day trip. So why not get a pack for your most common trip, say, a 3-day weekend trip? 1) you always use it for weekend trips, 2) if you go more UL, you can use it on longer trips 3) hopefully it will inspire you to reduce the unused stuff that results in mission creep. And, yeah, we all have big heavy packs around and we all drag those out for family trips where we are carrying the kids' gear, hunting trips, sometimes as travel packs, and, in a pinch, they could haul the weight and volume of a longer trip with more food along. And for the OP, his pack is the biggest wight savings to be had.

Link (annapurna) made this really superb list for those transitioning to UL. Should be a sticky or something since it is such a frequent topic.

The SMD Fusion packs at half price are the bargain of the Century. I own a 50, paid full price when it came out. Weighs about 2.5 lbs. The Fusion's rigid belt is melded to the spine of the pack, and that provides one solid RIGID structure. Transfers weight to the hips like a load hauler is supposed to. Great Pack! And the SMD Lunar Solo is a really good tent. Weighs 24 oz. Provides lots of space and a large entryway. A real value at $215. I now use a ZPacks Hexamid, but they're double the price and not as large. And the entryway is much higher on the Lunar Solo…it's 10 oz heavier though. Footprint can almost seem a little too large at times.. You already have a Zpacks bag so there's 3 of the Big 4. Then just buy a Neo-Air Pad and you're Ultralight!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a caldera keg stove http://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/caldera-keg-f-stove-system It's all you need if you're traveling solo and cooking simple, and weighs only something like 6 oz. plus fuel, or 2-3 oz. if you leave home the plastic containers. Cheap, too! Just my 2¢…

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a caldera keg stove Keg no, but other cone systems have been mentioned. Love mine.

@Ryan Tucker: Have you seen Craig W's old post on Shangri-La as a mid? I just got a used shangrila and started playing with Craig's setup. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18598&skip_to_post=169199 (edit: changed subject for more specificity)

I had saw that thread. I have never tried it, but in truth I haven't really had an issue with finding a decent spot to set it up. I don't do huge miles where I am searching for camping spots late in the day so I typically can find a decent spot. When it is chilly I will often bring (shhh!!!) my waders and boots (gasp!) for fishing and it is nice to have the extra space in the tent to let them dry out overnight.

Hi Bob, That really is a good list. Thanks for linking to it. That is the list I referenced the most while I was trying to learn more about ultralight backpacking. (Before asking for help.) As I mentioned in my original post, most primers, these included, focus on high-level or abstract concepts, not details. Anyone can show me an example pack that weighs less than 5 pounds (what my pack weighs) and note that I can save a few pounds, and that is a great example (especially when it’s a specific pack), but an example is not a recommendation. When it comes to actually buying a pack, I struggle to evaluate the options. I’m researching packs, and my current favorite is the Artemis, but I am swayed by good design. There seems to be a clear trade-off between weight and support. Perhaps this is a good balance? It’s not as light as most of the popular choices on this forum, but it’s less than half the weight of my current pack, and it’s smaller, too. The few people on this forum who own it seem to love it, which is a big plus. That’s just an example, but for anyone thinking about writing a primer in the future, maybe focus less on convincing and more on helping the convinced. Just a humble suggestion from someone on this side of the fence.

For a “transition” UL pack, you might want to check out the REI Flash 45 pack. It’s only 2 lbs 2-4oz depending on size, very affordable (especially with the current deal of an additional 20% off on outlet), and if you end up upgrading to smaller/lighter gear you won’t be out $300 on a high end UL pack that is now too big.

Yeah, I love mine. It works great for trips where I can either use my BV450 or leave the bear canister home. I find it super comfy and about the right size for most of my trips.

That is a great pack to try out first. I got the GG Vapor Trail (on gear swap) which is a little larger but I used it for a winter trip with a bear can. And you can't beat the sale price. :^) This probably won't be the last pack you purchase, but you will likely use it even if you end up with ultralight gear.

for anyone thinking about writing a primer in the future, maybe focus less on convincing and more on helping the convinced. Just a humble suggestion fr Good point, Chris, but the problem that arises there is that you get so many varying viewpoints about packs, shelter, sleeping, cooking and clothing systems that it is still a bewildering exercise. Perhaps a more methodical approach would be to look closely at BPL gear lists of people who backpack where/when you do, read enough to see if they know what they're talking about when they suggest something, and then bias your preferences accordingly. No matter what you do, you're not going to get it perfect the first time. As a relatively recent (coming up on 2 years) UL convert myself, I didn't make a whole bunch of expensive mistakes, and some of my original, significant UL expenditures — Zpacks Arc Blast, Duplex and MLD Duomid shelter, EE Prodigy, Enigma and (just arrived in the mail today!) Revelation — have been fabulous choices that I don't regret one bit… money VERY well spent. I'm something of a stovie, and my choices there have changed (Esbit 3-season, Canister 4th season) and water treatment (gravity filter gone in favor of AM pre-mix), and my clothing has evolved quite a bit. But that's why we have such an active Gear Swap… folks trying different stuff to get that personal tweak.

Bob, I'd love to read an article from you on stoves. :-) That's on my list of upgrades to make, although as a first step, I plan to just buy the canister stove multiple people recommended. Simple, cheap, and at least a step in the right direction. If my pack gets light enough, I might end up needing to buy new boots, too! My old Scarpas saved me from more than a few twisted ankles in Indian Peaks, but I suspect that was a combination of the rocky terrain and the weight of my pack (not to mention my tired legs). With a lighter pack, I might be able to get away with trail shoes or something.

>>an article from you on stoves This was my project last winter to make a Jetboil operate well in very cold weather. It works superbly with JB Minimo and other upright canister stoves with an open burner and pot support structures. You can read the first couple of pages and the (current) last page and be up to date with it. I am making some minor tweaks for the upcoming winter season, but it’ll remain essentially identical.

Fwiw, I went this route. A ULA ohm was my first real lightweight purchase. Worked cause I was able to borrow other items for some trips as I was getting back to backpacking. I liked the discipline the limited volume imposed.