I hear you about SUL – but only in terms of SUL being to lightweight backpacking as race cars are to daily street driving. i.e. SUL often isn't practical enough in the eyes of most backpackers.
That said, SUL backpackers, like race cars, lead the way technologically and in design. There's a real need for SUL folks to be out there on the trail testing and refining materials and designs for the more "weight challenged" of us. I do believe it was SULers who brought us Cuben "fabric", among other nice things.
Now… if SUL folks could just find a way to make food lighter (with less f^$&!ng sodium) THAT would be a great breakthrough. Dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are it, for now, the latter usually being lightest. And I guess pastas will never get any lighter.
