Noob to Lightweight needs help!

NM

Given the range of poisonous insects in Australia I would absolutely go for an enclosed shelter. A Tarptent sounds like your best bet.

Or a tarp with inner net…

Six moon designs, Mountain Laurel Designs, Zpacks.

There are lots of different shapes of tarps nowadays, a lot of which offer great rain protection, even when coming in sideways.

I think you mean a Mountain Magic 55. I use and love a Marathon Magic 33 up to four days solo. I also have a Tarptent Sublite that worked very well in the heat of south Texas. If you need to keep insects etc out then I feel a single wall tent is the best weight wise. No options to delete a bivy or net though. At 20-24 ounces not to bad and a small package. Freezing at night is about my limit temp wise to go out.

check out bearpawwd.com

he makes different types of tarps, tarp tents for a very good price…

Hi guys, well my first purchase has just occurred. An Osprey Aether 50 for only $100! Pretty cheap due to it being last year's model. The weight is 1.87kg or 4lb 2oz.

Now the tent.

I have a bit more money to play with now so I will probably get a Hubba Hubba tent and also a tarp with mossie nest. I am still concerned about condensation on the tarp tent but haven't ruled it out yet.

Pack = 1.87kg
Sbag = 0.90kg
Smat = 0.65kg
Stove = 0.42kg [Jetboil with coffee plunger]

So far = 3.84kg

With a tent at 1.50kg base weight = 5.34kg [11lb 12oz] + food & clothes.

Will probably get rid of Jetboil on long trips and also look at what I can do about the s/bag.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Matti,

Some of that gear looks kinda heavy. The majority here on BPL are in the US, and needs/gear availability down under may differ. But we several Aussies were with a wealth of knowledge. One, Roger Caffin, has a Website that might be helpful too. Should be easy to find with a Google search.

Thanks Nick, yeah it is only a starting point. The only thing that I am going to hang onto is the pack, everything else will be passed onto my 19yo son. He is a superfit MMA, so weight is not an issue for him. He like the pain, silly boy I was like that at that age!

Sleeping bag I think I can get down to 550gms no drama and sleeping mat will be tougher.

The jetboil will go and a nice titanium gas stove will replace it.

The tent is still me only real bug bear, but hopefully 1 to 1.5kg will do it.

Hi Matti,

Since discovering UL equipment my >2kg Hubba Hubba has languished in the garage. Tarptent Double Rainbow is a very similar configutation if you need to sleep two, way cheaper and about a kg lighter! Has a clip in liner to form a second skin. It's breezy enough in the summer, but snug enough for winter use (up here anyway). For solo use I love my Gossamer Gear "The One" – very light, roomy, airy. Tarptent have a couple of great options for solo use too – check out their Moment. I guess it comes down to how many you're trying to accomodate – Gossamer Gear Squall Classic sleeps two OK and is still light enough to carry for solo trips.

Check out some GoLite packs for easily accessible lightweight options (sourced from the US though, not Oz unless you have very deep pockets!). We both carried a Pinnacle (around 0.7kg) on the Overland Track last year, and they halndled our Tassie gear and 7 days' food really well.

Happy gear hunting!

KK

Thanks KK,

Yeah I like the idea of a super light weight shelter and maybe a heavier 2man when my son comes along.

But I am really tempted by a tarp and mossie nest and a tarptent for 2.

So tarptents, how do they go with condensation in Queensland?

Hi Matti,

Condensation seems to be unavoidable in a high humidity climate – the worst condensation I've experienced was in mild wet weather in SEQ – heaps of condensation on the inside of the Hubba Hubba fly. But then the tent was closed up due to the rain and there are no peak vents (Tarptents are better ventilated than this). Haven't had the same problem with tarptents, but possibly have not been in identical weather conditions. They are very well ventilated – aren't they Franco? (Franco is a fellow Melburnian with a penchant for Tarptents!)

Am sending you a PM re net tent/tarps.

Cheers,

KK

Hi all,

Just an update I got myself a Tarptent Contrail so weight is coming down!

Tent Tarptent contrail with pole 700g.

An also a titanium stove!

More to follow!

Hi all, just a bit of feedback.

The Tarptent seems pretty good so far, no major condensation and suits my love of sleeping in small places.

My son decided on a black wolf bivy and always gets wet if he has to close the flap. He has resorted to throwing up a small tarp over the bivy and leaving the bag open with just flywire closed. This works well but it is another piece of gear my 12year old will forget to pack!

Well another hike coming up and we are going to take along a tarp and try and set camp with just that. So we are testing out these ideas on small local hikes before we tackle some bigger ones next year.

Tarp tents tend to cover most all sides, like a dome or tipi. At least some of them do. A tarp tent is like a regular tent, except it is single walled and uses a trekking pole and guy lines instead of a full pole frame.
Tarp tents are fine unless you expect high winds.