So, What’s an UL Weight? SUL?

[Zachary Crane]

I'm just curious as to what everyone sees as an ultralight base weight. We can extend that a little further to bring in peoples thoughts on Super Ultralight base weights.

Bring on the opinions!

(Sorry if this has been discussed before. This subject is nearly impossible to search the forums for)

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

Yeah it's been discussed a lot. There are varying opinions but generally it's:

<5 lbs – SUL
<10 lbs – UL
<20 lbs – Lightweight
>20 lbs – Traditional

[Zachary Crane]

Thanks Dan.

Sorry to bring it up, since it's been discussed before. Very interesting though!

[Travis Leanna]

Some peg Ultralight at <12, and lightweight in the low 20's. There's no hard rule about it, as Dan said.

[Jim MacDiarmid]

You left out XUL(sub 3lb base weight)

[Jay Wilkerson]

I have a base weight around 9 LBS but I am 6'3 235. Is there a ratio depending on you height and weight. The Skerkas and Jordans of the BPL community are tiny compared to to me-they have very lightweight packs but I almost way 100 LBS more then them. Maybe I am SUL because of my weight and height.. Are there any math peolpe that can make a equation are a ratio based on Dans numbers and body weight and size?

Just curious….

[Juston Taul]

You left out XUL(sub 3lb base weight)

Ha! :D I give up.

[Matt Lutz]

XUL is sub-5 lb full skin out weight i.e. everything you are carrying and wearing.

[Robert Blean]

This whole topic was pretty well explored in a thread called Backpacking Weight Ranks

One idea for XUL was <5 lbs FSO (SUL is < 5 lbs base weight).

Jay,
Just for you — that thread had a tongue-in-cheek notion invented by Dean Fellabaum called PWI (Pack Weight Index).

— MV

[Jay Wilkerson]

Thanks Robert, I will check it out.

[Dean F.]

WAS it tongue-in-cheek??? :o)

And, Jay, if you are looking for a metric to define how hard it is for you to carry a pack of a given weight compared to an "average" 5'10" hiker, then you want PWIn or EPW. (But I think EPW is a better metric. See the last page of that thread.)

BUT if you just want an idea of how much harder it is for you to lighten your pack because some of your gear must be bigger, then you want HAPWE.

I have defined HAPWE and EPW as the "standard" metrics, and have abandoned the archaic PWI and PMI.

Again, Ryan, be sure to get it all correct in your next edition, and spell my name correctly. :o)

[Robert Blean]

> WAS it tongue-in-cheek??? :o)

Beats me … only the author knows, and I doubt he is telling.

But there were clues … let everyone read and decide for themselves …

— MV

[Ken Thompson]

Jay I think you're super. I too am 6'3" 220lbs 9 pound base as well. That is SUL as far as I'm concerned. We are bigger if anyone wants to disagree ;-)

[Juston Taul]

nm

[Jay Wilkerson]

Thanks Dean, That's a whole lot of info- I get it-I think!!! I JUST NEED TO LOOSE SAY 10 LBS ON THE HOOF!

-Jay

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