Questions / Help need for cutting weight

Water

You can use a bandana or coffee filter to filter out floaties in the water, but if the water is green or brown or "slimy", then this type of low-tech filtering won't do much of anything. You can train yourself into believing that the gross-looking water is fine to drink since your A.M. should theoretically kill 'everything'. But if you can't, then you will need a real filter. If weight is of paramount concern… in-line filters (e.g. Seychelle – 3.5 oz) are lighter than pumps (11 oz. and up).

Wind / Rain Jacket

The SD Isotopes have indeed improved — but only from barely breathable to so-so breathable. On Whitney ascend, it can be cold when hiking in the shade and with the winds blowing. But wearing the mediocre Isotope, I think you will be constantly zipping and unzipping the jacket.

A much better choice in terms of same UL weight but much better breathability is the Driducks.

I did Whitney last August wearing the Driducks and it worked really well.

I used to use the ProLite 3. I now use 2 pads, a Gossamer Gear Torso and a Ridgerest that is cut down. Total weight 9.5 oz. I carry my frameless pack with the GG folded up inside the pack against my back and the Ridgerest unrolled inside the pack with my gear packed inside the cylinder. The Ridgerest is cut down so that with my gear stuffed inside the cylinder, the top & bottom of the Ridgerest just touch & don't overlap. It makes for a very solid virtual frame.

For three season use I switched to a GG NightLight Torso which is also the "frame" for my Conduit. Not as comfortable as my winter BA Insulated Air Core, but I've slept fine on rocky ground and shelter floors. To put this into perspective, I'm 67 and suffer from significant upper arm and shoulder arthritis, so the CC route can't be all that bad. Unless you're fanatical about comfort, it saves a lot of weight.

I'll take a shot-

Water: sometimes its about technique, not equipment. The scoop method works pretty well if you've got water that's less than desirable. Scoop with your cookpot, shallow strokes to avoid raising sediment and post-filter with bandana or coffee filter as you pour into your bottle or bladder. I've seen folks make a "screen cap" for their bottles too, taking a spare cap and cutting a circle out of the top, in which they secure a screen element. You can also try a gravity filter. ULA Equipment makes a good one, the H2O Amigo Pro: http://www.ula-equipment.com/amigo.htm

Sleeping pad: I use the GG Nighlight Torso, though I often carry a POE Max Compact inflatable as well. I can manage almost no padding when I sleep and do ok. This is going to be an area where you'll just have to experiment and see if it works for you. The Nighlight is definitely less comfortable than the Prolite 3…its considerably shorter as well.

Insulation layer: The Paty jacket is probably overkill for Sierra summers. Try Paty's Micropuff vest, their down sweater vest, or Montbell's Thermawrap or down vest. Lots of info about those here. Carrying a good windshirt will go a long way towards extending your comfort levels in milder temps.

Rain gear: I second the suggestion for DriDucks/Micropore suits. Its what I use. But for the (comparatively) drier Sierras during warmer months, you can get away with just using a windshirt for raingear. If you're still concerned about heavy t-storms, bring an emergency poncho.

Thanks for the insight so far! Keep them coming …

Henry, when you're sleeping on the two pads, how do you keep them together so they don't slip all over the place?

They don't tend to slip.

Most closed cell foam pads are not at all slippery – even on silnylon. Some almost seem sticky. Much different than the comparatively slippery Prolite.

I carry a micropuff vest for summer, and it's still overkill below 12k feet.