Topic

What is happening in the SUL world?


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums General Forums SuperUltraLight (SUL) Backpacking Discussion What is happening in the SUL world?

Viewing 25 posts - 76 through 100 (of 101 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #3649985
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    HERESY!
    You are not drinking the Kool-Aid!
    :)

    Cheers

    #3650292
    Sam Haraldson
    BPL Member

    @sharalds

    Locale: Gallatin Range

    Everybody knows Kool-Aid weighs far too much, Roger.

    #3650330
    MJ H
    BPL Member

    @mjh

    Kool-Aid Days is coming up, or about to be canceled. See America this summer. Details here.

    #3651027
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    The SUL “movement” has benefited from cottage industries, no doubt. What I’m seeing now is that a few of those “cottage” industries are quite a bit beyond that stage and entering a larger production level while still maintaining their innovation. Trail Designs Caldera Cone stove variations are one of these, Tarptent is another.

    On the subject or Dyneema in SUL and UL gear we now see ripstop patterned Dyneema woven in nylon or polyester pack cloth and full on Dyneema sailcloth (its original use) in packs and tents. Spectra or Kevlar threads are also found in tent cords for UL strength.

    Beginning with a Western Mountaineering 3 season down mummy 8 years ago, then two successive REI FLASH series UL backpacks to now an Osprey EXOS 58 pack, then a Thermarest Prolite to an REI FLASH insulated (R 3.7) 15 oz. mattress, from a TT Moment DW solo tent to a 2020 Gen. 2 Notch Li solo tent. So I have gradually lightened my load without giving up comfort.

    I learned years ago that “camp shoes’ are nice but I’m too poor to hire a llama to carry them, a camp chair, raw vegetables and fruits, a dining fly for rainy days and my favorite IPA.

    Like Dan Durston said, “simplify”. As a former EMT/ski patroller I know what IS and IS NOT necessary in a first aid kit so mine is small because I have first aid  skills. Yet I do know a rescue beacon is necessary so I carry a Gen.3 SPOT beacon – and B/C my wife insists upon it.:o)

    So no, I’m not SUL but edging toward it – and still learning what things I can get along without. (But TP ain’t one of them!)

     

    #3651049
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    The SUL “movement” has benefited from cottage industries, no doubt. What I’m seeing now is that a few of those “cottage” industries are quite a bit beyond that stage and entering a larger production level while still maintaining their innovation. Trail Designs Caldera Cone stove variations are one of these, Tarptent is another.

    One of the biggest factors has been newer lightweight materials, such as DCF and Titanium. I don’t agree there has been a lot of innovation. Most of the gear are just refinements or adaptations of things designed from earlier times.

    Given that, some items I use are really well done evolution of the art. A few that come to mind, and I use, are the Caldera Cone, the MLD TrailStar, and some of Henry Shires’ tents. Dan McHale has done some incredible design work, but his packs aren’t considered “SUL” by most here.

    #3651629
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    The only effort there was…..innovation if you will, is attempting to get more creature comforts, at low weights.  Most of this is focused on advances in materials.

     

    Real SUL…exists….and theres people out there doing it….and not just overnight in good weather.

     

    Im not one…i likes my creature comforts.  But I can tell you many things in my pack are unnecessary ……even at 7.5 lb base wt.

     

    I ve read and interacted with a guy online with many thousands of miles hiked who has a base weight under 3 lb  for thru hikes.   Take a s2s 2.5 oz pack, tarp, quilt, groundsheet, water bottle…thin pad..small fak..what else do you really need? Really need?….?  At 25+ mpd, dont need much food .

     

     

    #3651631
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    >> At 25+ mpd, dont need much food .
    Rubbish!
    The harder you go, the more fuel you need.
    oh well, if you are seriously over-weight and live off your fat for a few days, you might be OK. Not good for your health though.

    Now try doing that in bad weather. It’s fine in the Sierra summer in the forests, but if you are traveling, as that guy obviously was not, in high mountains in doubtful weather . . .

    Nah, day dreams. And you may be risking the lives of the SAR.

    Cheers

    #3651643
    Adam Kilpatrick
    BPL Member

    @oysters

    Locale: South Australia

    At 25mpd+ on US thru-hike trails, you don’t need to carry much food, as you go through supply towns so quickly. You don’t have to jam in a weeks worth of food if you cover the distance in half the time.

    #3651644
    Jeff McWilliams
    BPL Member

    @jjmcwill

    Locale: Midwest

    Agree with Roger here.  There comes a point where you’re jeopardizing safety in pursuit of, what?   Some sort of badge of honor?   Don’t put yourself or would be rescuers at risk just so that you can brag about your base weight.  Doing so gives the ultralight community a bad name and causes it to lose credibility, and I see that happening on other social media platforms.  There are folks with a real disdain for the ultralight mindset because they strongly feel it leads to poor decision making and putting people at risk.

     

     

    #3651645
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    HYOH

    #3651647
    Monte Masterson
    BPL Member

    @septimius

    Locale: Southern Indiana

    If you are doing FKT or adventure racing, then sleeping out on a 1/8 inch piece of foam in a bivy with no tarp is fine. Otherwise moderation is best.

    #3651648
    Jeff McWilliams
    BPL Member

    @jjmcwill

    Locale: Midwest

    I dislike people who use “HYOH” to promote risk inducing behavior or other poor decision making practices, particularly when those behaviors are passed around social media to be copied by others who don’t know any better.

    It’s like if a hiker decided to disregard LNT principles and took a huge dump right on the trail.

    “Hey, Bob, why did you leave a steaming pile of poop and TP right on the trail? ”

    “Hike your own hike, mate!”

    Or how about the advice that you shouldn’t go kayaking on open water on a sunny day wearing nothing but shorts and a T-shirt when the water is still 45 degrees. Paddle your own paddle, right?  This stuff happens on the Great Lakes on warm & sunny spring days all the time.  We hear about it on the news when the coast guard has to rescue these people after they capsize, begin succumbing to hyperthermia, and need to be rescued.

    Stop using “HYOH” as a rallying cry for acting however you please and promoting that behavior to others.

    #3651650
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    “At 25mpd+ on US thru-hike trails, you don’t need to carry much food, as you go through supply towns so quickly. You don’t have to jam in a weeks worth of food if you cover the distance in half the time.”

     

    Exactly

     

    Nobodys promoting anything

    Dont need Nannys telling people they are putting others at risk either

     

    Guy im referring to has hiked more than 20,000 miles.  Hes perfectly comfortable with SUL….real SUL.   Doesnt spend life on internet discussing it.

     

    My point….its out there…..it really needs ni further innovation. Neither does ul, anyone can buy a ul full kit that gives nothing up today

     

    #3651653
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    OK Jeff

    #3651654
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    “My point….its out there…..it really needs ni further innovation. Neither does ul, anyone can buy a ul full kit that gives nothing up today”

    Not even hard to do.

    #3651656
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    “Not even hard to do.”

     

    Yep

    Hence, precipitous drop in posts and traffic here vs. say…2011….

     

    Mainstream was able to go UL with wallet

    Cottage mfgs built gear for them.

    Increasing wt and features to satisfy them

     

     

     

    #3651766
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    I agree entirely with HYOH.
    But I object to the idea of promoting XSUL to novices who have zero walking experience. That is not couth.

    Cheers

    #3651788
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    But I object to the idea of promoting XSUL to novices who have zero walking experience.

    The trails and backcountry have gotten too crowded over the past 5+ decades. This “XSUL” might be a good way to cull the herd.

    ;-)

    #3651790
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    ^^ Snicker!

    #3651798
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    “… cul the herd.” Hee, hee

    Nick you are such a naughty boy.

    #3651799
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    I dont remember anyone promoting xsul to novices.

     

    I think the guy i was referring too hiked a trail with a small childs  tiny “hello kitty” toy backpack once…unless im mixing people up…and that could happen

     

     

    #3651800
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    “I dislike people who use “HYOH” to promote risk inducing behavior or other poor decision making practices, particularly when those behaviors are passed around social media to be copied by others who don’t know any better.”

    Links please

    #3651814
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    If you are doing FKT or adventure racing, then sleeping out on a 1/8 inch piece of foam in a bivy with no tarp is fine. Otherwise moderation is best.

     

    I dabble in adventure races and no damn way would I sleep on a 1/8″ of foam :)

    #3651817
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    ^^ Been there, done that (air mat leaked).
    Can’t say I actually slept though.

    Cheers

    #3651822
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    I’d wager money there’s a correlation between high pack weight and rescues if you could parse out the numbers. I’ve personally seen probably half a dozen people succumb to heatstroke in the Grand Canyon in the name of “being prepared and safe” with massive packs. The SUL crowd is such a minority I doubt it’s statistically significant.

Viewing 25 posts - 76 through 100 (of 101 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Get the Newsletter

Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light!

Gear Research & Discovery Tools


Loading...