UL Backpacking: A Thread for the Gram Counters

sixstringsteve said:
Wow, 19 oz! That's impressive. It looks like a UL version of the Crown VC that @Tess uses, which weighs in around 30-32 oz. After using her pack, I learned that I definitely need some sort of frame in my pack, even if it's just a couple aluminum stays to keep it straight. That weight (and price) is quite impressive though. The mesh outer pockets are my favorite I've ever seen on a pack. They can stretch like crazy if needed, but they always spring back and don't end up loose. I wish my pack had those stretchy pockets on it.
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Yea, pretty neat. I wonder if adding some kind of stay is possible?
 
Also, I just got the REI Quarter Dome 1 and set it up. Pretty neat so far, and I have head room even with my 3" pad. I just weight it with 6 stakes and it came in at 39.10 oz. Not too bad for the price I think. Plus, I hope this will help me transition into a more UL shelter.
 
I have slept in it a few night and its seems pretty good. My feet do touch the end but not bad. I do want to make the transition to a more UL shelter and I think this is a decent step, could be wrong, but I figure for the price it holds its own with some of the solo tart tent models and is less expensive.
 
I have a few tents and unless I have to, I go with a hammock. Cant beat the ease of setup, comfort and you dont have to worry about the ground getting wet and drying off the tent. Clark Jungle Hammocks are a tad heavy but, its as good as a tent in 3 seasons.

Losing weight on your boots is pretty nice, I love my Keen Targhee 2. Did Dead Horse last year, and between rain and crossing the stream a few times, my boots resisted getting wet and when they did, dried fast. Very comfy, Light, no blisters and also do very well in the desert. Not the most durable but unless you work in the backcountry, its a great choice.

Also, for as much as you guys take pics. I would ditch the heavy DSLRs and pick up something like the sony nex line. Way lighter, and you can still use any lense with a cheap adapter. Manual focus is slower but landscapes are pretty easy.

Next on the list is a nice quilt and a lighter handgun.
 
I have an enlightened equipment quilt and so far I'm liking it. I need some more nights in it before I determine if I prefer the WM or my EE, but so far I've been happy.
 
Ill have to check it out, WM makes nice stuff. I love my Nemo Stratus Loft but its heavy, time to lighten the load.
 
try this: geargrams.com. Pretty decent to keep track of things.
Don't get to carried away. My base three (3800 ci pack, pad, 15deg bag, tent/stakes/footprint weighs in at 8.6lbs, without even trying or spending big $. Add cup, stove, 4oz fuel for .9lbs more.
 
I like this thread a lot. I recently picked up a scale and started weighing things. I have also started to pay close attention to foods with high calorie/gram ratios. I try to focus on foods with 4-8 cal. per gram (pecans, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate). If I do bring something with added weight I am now forced to justify the choice and the total pack weight. I'm currently looking at using my foam pad as the internal frame for my pack after watching the video on this thread. I plan to keep my nalgeene bottles as they go well with my pre filter and steripen (love it BTW). I also plan to keep using a tent as I can break it up with another person especially during mid-late summer due to t-storms and bugs. The down jacket I picked up at wal-mart for @ $30 is now in my pack all the time. I wear it every morning while fixing breakfast.

IMO cost can be a factor if name brand gear is used. However, watching for sales, buying second hand gear, and not caring what label is on your jacket cuts most of the cost. My 12 oz North Face bag was $29 and cost much less than my SAMs Club special Swiss Gear bag.
 
a digital scale is the gateway drug to UL. I haven't cut the tags off my clothes yet, so there's still hope for me.
 
some of the best calories/weight foods I've found are:

- olive oil (see Mike Clelland's spiced olive oil recipe)
- samurai peanuts @Winco
- fritos
- pringles
- nuts and nut butters (I'm partial to the nut butter packets found at harmon's)

I read a thread where a guy said he put a stick of butter in his jar of peanut butter. He just mixed it in and said it tasted fine. @Laura and Stan told me about "speed balls" where cyclists will make a ball of butter and roll it in sugar and down it before a big ride. They also eat danishes before trips. Those make me sick though.
 
Ultralight Joe's Moose Goo

NOTE: If you pass this around to your friends, I have but one request - please refer to it as "Ultralight Joe's Moose Goo". Since I run this site anonymously, it's not an ego thing. I just get a kick out of hearing it mentioned on the trail, let's me know I'm contributing to my fellow trekkers. A simple pleasure, perhaps, but I take what I can get. :) Thanks!

Basic Recipe:
  • 2 parts honey
  • 2 parts corn flour (NOT corn meal! I plan to try sweet rice flour soon.)
  • 1 part peanut butter (preservative-laden)
  • Mix thoroughly, will take some time.
  • Pack into Coghlan's Squeeze Tube (REI, Campmor, etc), or in cold weather wrap in wax paper.
Single Squeeze Tube Proportions (2-3 lunches w/ large tortillas):
  • 8 tbsp honey
  • 8 tbsp corn flour
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter
Per tube:
  • 1320 calories
  • 172g carbs (70 simple, 102 complex)
  • 24g protein
  • 38g fat (That's a high proportion of fat, but what the heck...)
BEWARE! Below 40F, Ultralight Joe's Moose Goo becomes impossible to squeeze out! I open the tube from the back and spoon it out when that happens. For snow camping I pack it in wax paper instead, eat it like a candy bar, or pre-pack it into tortillas.
 
sixstringsteve said:
a digital scale is the gateway drug to UL. I haven't cut the tags off my clothes yet, so there's still hope for me.
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Haha ...... have you drilled your toothbrush?
 
maybe...




I cut the handle off, it's only about 3" long. I drilled about 15 holes in my titanium spoon and it didn't even shave a single gram (not to mention it ruined my drill bit).
 
After seeing this video a while back, I gave up my quest to achieve the lightest pack ever.


In all seriousness though, it's a good challenge to simplify your gear and get the weight down as much as possible without compromising safety.

By the way, IntenseAngler there on Youtube also has a 4 part series where he breaks down that "super ultralight" kit of his in depth. Pretty fascinating, especially when he is still able to include a fishing pole with it. For those who have an account with Google/Youtube, and enjoy DIY & Ultralight projects and reviews of gear that is also budget-friendly, I recommend subscribing to his channel and viewing many of his past videos.

In the mean time, I've currently got a set of gear for mid-summer trips that checks in at under 20 lbs and am in progress of working my way down to 15 and hopefully 10 some time after that.
 
sixstringsteve said:
I cut the handle off, it's only about 3" long...
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I use a Colgate Wisp for a toothbrush. Sometimes, I don't even bother with toothpaste. I just use it to loosen up the plaque and then give my mouth a good rinse of water. Haven't yet weighed it against a standard toothbrush with its handle cut off or drilled out...but I'd be keen to see how it compares.
 
And finally, speaking of toothbrushes and toothpaste above, here's a link to a great how-to for making super small single use containers for things like toothpaste, ointment, and just about anything else you can think of. I've adopted this method myself for ointment and hydrocortizone in my first-aid kit.
 
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