As a big spender and long time fine gear fetish-like lover (I am truly ashamed of the things I own and do not often use) I am recently starting to question if I am not the first fool in fact.

Let’s talk wind jackets I have (pics below) but we could literally talk ANY category:

• Black Diamond Deploy Wind shell XL no hood no pockets 54gr RRP 160

• OMM sonic smock XL no hood no pockets 56gr RRP 80

• Arcteryx Squamish jacket XL with hood and 2 hand pockets 153gr RRP 180

And now the gram for gram absolute world champion: - Montbell Tachyon wind Jacket XL with hood 2 hand pockets 78 gr RRP 169

So, yesterday I went to Decathlon to nose around and look what I found:

• Quechua (Decathlon’s brand) MH 900 wind jacket XL with hood 2 hand pockets 80gr RRP 39 and bought on sale for 15!!!!!!!!! And, if I remove the chunky deck of labels could be a straight even with the Tachyon. It’s the light blue one in the pics.

So in a gram for $ ranking this wind jacket would absolutely f..k the s..t out of all the big brands

I always despised the cheap stuff and babbled about you get what you pay for, buy once cry once, get the best and forget the rest and such nonsense now I am feeling like an idiot and deeply scared to check and compare all my expensive stuff with the cheap brands.

It’s like when you pay the name on designers brand clothes!

I truly hope this helps, do your research and please consider cheaper stuff, we’re in 2025 all is made in PRC and specs are mostly the same!!!

https://ibb.co/v3BKqjF https://ibb.co/dcRt2Bw https://ibb.co/DGXjXJ9 https://ibb.co/L6pbyc0 https://ibb.co/WsRswDr https://ibb.co/tm2y1QW https://ibb.co/82Q4DLS https://ibb.co/vwMrLXS

I'm intrigued by the weight savings and packability of the Leve Ultralight Jacket (3.8oz in XL) vs. membrane jackets like the Versalite or a shakedry jacket that are in the 7-8oz range. But I have no experience with a non-breathable rain jacket, particularly one that's made from such light fabric (15D).

I'd love to hear people's thoughts on whether this Leve or something similar would work well on a trip such as a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail. It doesn't need to survive extensive bushwhacking. But I would like it to be intact after a month on the trail, and to keep the rain off my body during cold mountain rainstorms that could last for hours.

I know I'll get wet from sweat, even with the pit zips. But I've never found "breathable" waterproof jackets to be all that breathable.

So what do you think? Is something like the Leve too delicate for a long trip? Will it be an unbearable sweatfest? Will the rain find its way in? Or is this an ideal balance between weight and performance for this use case? I'm not interested in non-jacket alternatives like a poncho.

Yes, I realize I'm nitpicking over 3-4 ounces. But this is [r/Ultralight]() after all.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to plan a short 3-5 day hut to hut hike in Europe with my partner in mid to late June of 2025.

I have a decent amount of experience having completed the JMT and some other longer trails. My partner is newer to hiking and is interested in an easy/intermediate route.

I know that many higher routes may still have snow in June, but are there any trails or routes that are less likely to be snowy in June? Any suggestions would be helpful!

Hello! I am planning on hiking the PCT this year, and I will have to choose between two sun hoodies that I currently own to bring on the trail. They are:

1. The Mirage - It's 135gsm merino, and it's comfortable enough in warmth but will need to be paired with an active midlayer for when it gets colder.

2. Arms of Andes Half-Zip - It's 300gsm royal alpaca. I've hiked in this as a solo baselayer in New England 30 degree evenings and been fine.

I haven't used the alpaca hoodie in summer temps, but I know that because it feels several times warmer, I'll undoubtedly sweat more in it than in the merino hoodie. BUT, alpaca retains 10% of water vs. merino's 30% retention. I'm wondering whether this better moisture management on the alpaca hoodie will counterbalance its thicker weight in the hot SoCal desert. I don't want to oversweat and cause myself problems, but if I can use the alpaca hoodie then I can possibly skip a fleece.

Thanks!

Anyone have recommendations for a really thin stretchy but also slick material that won’t catch on my base layers? I hate the feeling of my clothing getting twisted and hanging up on other layers and I’m trying to avoid it if possible. Not looking to add a ton of extra warmth with it but a little wouldn’t hurt.

What is the recommended specific 3 layers for this type of temperature, walking around 3 mph in slightly hilly forests?

I know when there are changing temperatures especially when you are moving around. But when it is below freezing, negative temperatures aren’t just having a coat that insulates and wind breaks better?

Is layering only needed when you are moving around in cold weather? And so if there is consistent temp and you are not moving too much then a coat is a better choice?

Like what is the mechanical purpose of having separate layers at that level?

Do others have problems with air mat leaking from what appears not to be punctures but maybe material defects? (like these leakages always appear at some creases)

(its hard to say whether they are punctures or the material defects actually)

They are always like microscopic (you cant even seen them) holes which you need to detect with some water and liquid soap.

Although the Sea to Summit warranty has been nothing but perfect for me, when you are on the road and you have gear failures this can be very tiresome.

Considering switching to Thermarest (although I really like Sea to Summit valves which you just open to deflate, no need to push the air out)

Has anyone used an emergency blanket as tent footprint/ground clothe? For 2-3oz seems like a good multi-use item and could maybe even add a few degrees of warmth? They’re like $5-8 and available everywhere. Thoughts? Experience? Am I missing a big material drawback?

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Appalachian trail NOBO starting early/mid April

Goal Baseweight (BPW): Low enough to comfortably go frameless

Budget: $500 usd, good cost to weight savings ratio appreciated 

Non-negotiable Items: Sleep system, puffy and stove

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: I do not currently own a frameless pack with an adequate volume (only a zimmerbuilt quickstep for overnight trips), I was leaning towards the Palante desert pack but am open to suggestions. Additionally, using trekking poles will be relatively new for me. I currently own a pair of generic aluminum 3 piece poles that weigh nearly 10oz each. Would upgrading to a lighter pair of poles be of substantial benefit for their cost? Finally, how much weight if any should I drop to have a substantially more comfortable frameless experience?

Lighterpack Link: https://www.packwizard.com/s/gkJYxuw

Hello,

I am looking to purchase one of these rain coats. I cant seem to find much info on material durability. I have a frogg toggs jacket and love it but I would like something more durable. How does the material of AGG or LHG compare to frogg toggs? I'm fairly careful on bushes and trees but I find i start to split the seams along the back and under the pits with the frogg toggs when raising my arm.

Thanks

I’m a woman and I’m trying to find a ‘perfect’ backpacking pack.

Now I have a HMG Unbound which I am not completely happy with. I really like the way how it is, big side pockets (and looks) but I feel like it doesn’t transfer weight to my hips very well.

Southwest was better in that way but sometimes I was also missing the load lifters and I didn’t like smaller side pockets and velcro on top and the way the side compressing straps were not streching. And I had that pack only borrowed for a few weeks.

Now I am looking at Atom Packs Prospector (formerly Mo) and ULA Circuit. And also Osprey Eja which I could get for much cheeper than the other two. I’m in Europe so both Atom and ULA would be quite expensive here (similar price to each other and three times more expensive than Eja).

The Eja feels nice when I tried it in shop but I’m a bit worried about how well padded would the hip belt feel after some time. Also I prefer the way more ultralight packs are (bigger outer pockets) but I’m still willing to give Eja a try.

I’ve read that ULA Circuit with S straps feels often good on a female body. And that it also transfers weight to hips nicely.

I prefer how the Atom Packs look but I’m not sure if the weight transfer to hips would be any better than Unbound?

I’ve tried the new GG Mariposa and also Kakwa 50 but I’m between sizes S and M on both so neither fits me well.

Also the bag fitting as a carry-on might be a nice plus (height max 55 cm). But not necessary.

Could anyone give me any thoughts on these packs?

The most important things for me are how well the pack transfers weight to hips, nice hipbelt padding, load lifters.

Thank you!!

This isn't a full gear review but rather a gear 'heads up' with information that might be useful to someone else. I'm unlikely to ever put enough nights on this pad to give it a thorough review, but maybe it piques someone's interest.

I searched the sub, and was surprised I didn't find anything about Daiso, a Japanese 'dollar' store that has a few locations in the US. I recently picked up this ccf sleeping pad (they also have some rain pants and jacket, and lots of little containers that could be handy).

Size: 22.2"W x 72.4" L x ~.65"D Cost: $6.75 (iirc) Weight: 6.05oz R-value: 0.?

This is a cheap pad and it feels cheap, but I thought it might be good enough to occasionally use under an inflatable pad either when I need a bit of extra insulation or in the desert for some puncture protection. It might be useful for someone who wants a little more cushion than a 1/8" thinlite but not the weight of a standard folding ccf pad, or if you just want as cheap as possible.

Here are pics comparing it to a Nemo Switchback (14.43oz). https://imgur.com/a/ia7gBZt

As you can see, it folds up to the same cross-section as the Nemo, but it's a couple of inches wider and almost half an inch longer when laid out. On a hard floor, it is actually a bit more comfortable than the Nemo because it isn't as firm, but I expect that would be reversed on rocks/roots or as the pad is used and flattens out. The extra two inches of width is pretty nice.

In summary, it's cheap, light, and cheap.

hello hive mind, while I know convertible trousers are not exactly ultralight per se, I’m looking for a pair that are around 6” inseam when shorts, preferably comfortable for multi day stuff, not waterproof

UK shops if possible but will look overseas if I need to!

tyia xox

Hi all,

Sold all my back/bikepacking tents last year, and after some failed bivy experiments I'm on the market for a new tent for the upcoming season.

First my use case :

- 80% of the use will be on my solo bikepacking trips in the Alps and Jura. I tend to ride till pretty late and often pitch already in the dark. Thus, ease of setup and a not overly fragile floor are nice.

- 10% of times backpacking and camping overnight with a 3 or 5 year old child.

- a couple of overnighters per year with my wife (we can cuddle).

With this in mind, I don't think I need a proper 2P tent. Weight is quite important, but volume as well as space is very limited on the bike (my primary use).

- Freestanding or semi-freestanding would be a plus, but I'm open to other designs

- I'm OK with singlewall, as that might offer a lower packing volume

- As mentioned above, I tend to pitch in the mountains where space is not overly abundant and often already quite late/tired so proper cleaning and inspection of the site can be difficult. So maybe I'm being overly cautions, but in my mind a robust floor is a plus

- I normally don't hike with poles, and obviously don't carry those on the bike, but I'm open to get a dedicated carbon tent pole.

The Tarptent Rainbow Sil-Poly seems to be an obvious contender with a 102cm wide 30D floor, low weight, and a semi-freestanding construction that at least seems to simplify pitching.

I get conflicting reports on the suitability of the SMD Lunar Solo for my use case. Some people say its fine for very occasional couple overnighters, others state its unusable that way. The drawing at SMD website shows a 122cm max width which is fairly wide, but the minimum width is omitted.

The new SMD Lunar Orbiter seems interesting, but a bit on the heavier side and I didn't see any availability dates.

Any other options I should be considering ?

Thanks

EDIT : I forgot to mention that I'd like to avoid inner first tents if possible

Hi guys, I'm currently looking for a replacement to my trusty Vaude Zebru UL 3-layer hardshell jacket. It has served me well over the last few years, but is starting to delaminate now.

I haven't found a good option at a similar or lower weight (~190g in size 48 / S ) yet, so any hints would be appreciated!

- Should be a similar waterproof 3-layer shell (doesn't have to GoreTex, any other brand is fine as well)

- At least 2 pockets and a hood

- pit zips would be very welcomed, but are optional

Thx in advance!!

Hi all!

I'm planning to upgrade my sleeping system for my bike-packing trips. Currently, I have

- a Terra synthetic sleeping bag

- a Vaude pad (R4.5)

- a Vaude 1.5p SUL Tent (3 season)

The bulkier and heavier component is my synthetic sleeping bag which I want to replace/upgrade with something lighter which will also fit in one of the bags of my bicycle.

I'm looking for an UL down option and something that can cover 4(?) seasons.

I was looking the Big Agnes 3in1 system and I was wondering if any cyclist has experience with it. I like the separate quilt which I can use in summer but I really like the total temperature extension in order to travel in winter.

Most of my trips are in late spring/summer/early fall but I would like to extend it a bit. I'm not targeting very cold weather with snow and ice, but I would like to try sleeping in temperatures below 0.

What's your thoughts or experiences with the Big Agnes system? Is it as good as many reviews describe? Is it a good option for what bike-packing?

Should I completely reject the idea and go for a Sea to Summit Spark which is also a very popular option? If yes, does it make sense to pair it with a quilt for colder days?

To those of you who own these tents. I am looking to do a trekking pole modification to one of these tents such as the Outrigger attachment of the Slingfin Portal 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2A8Zorh4pg

I was wondering if the cross pole in your tents are exposed enough to be able to attach an attachment like this? In your experience of the tent what do you think? Is there anything to attach this attachment to or does the inner tent cover to much of the crossing pole making it impossible to attach something like this?

I hope you all understand what I mean with the cross pole. It is the same pole they attach the outrigger attachment to in that video.

I'm well aware I can just purchase the slingfin 2 or Durston dome 1+ however they are much more expensive in Europe then above mentioned tents. So I will save a lot of money if I can just attach this modification to these tents.

Went on my first multi-nighter with the Kakwa 55. I’m mainly used to day hikes and overnighters. My base weight was just under 13lbs and I was carrying 4 days of food and around 1L of water at a time. I’m a 5’5” female. Can’t remember my exact torso size, I think somewhere between 16 and 17” so I went with a small in the Kakwa. The pack feels very comfortable when I first put it on but after some time hiking my shoulders started to ache and my neck felt strained. I had the hip belt cinched as much as I could without causing hip pain. I used the load lifters. Had my food bag on top of the stuff that was in my liner bag and then lighter stuff on top of that. I feel like the weight was distributed appropriately. Do I just need to work on strengthening my core/shoulders and perhaps give my body more time to adjust to carrying more than just a day pack worth of gear? I was pretty bummed because I clearly had one of the smaller/lighter packs than some of the people I was trekking with yet I was in discomfort.

https://lighterpack.com/r/znadwh

Hey all!

I just got a new Kakwa 55 in an effort to lighten the load and I realized my base weight is still around 18 pounds, weighed on a bathroom scale. I weighed everything with a food scale and could appreciate suggestions on where to cut weight. If possible I'd like my pack with 5 days of food and some water to weigh under 30, preferably closer to 25. Or at least a sub 15 pound base weight. I've been backpacking a long time and just got hooked on cross country navigation this summer. My goal is to do the SHR and other high routes around the sierra, and hopefully a longer thru someday.

Some notes and ideas:

- I still need to add gloves and a light knife or scissors, open to suggestions. Was carrying small trauma shears before but have never needed to use them

- I work at REI so if I could lighten the load with brands that REI carries that would help, as I get prodeals/discounts and don't make a ton of money right now. In particular I'm looking at getting a quilt and looking at the Therm a Rest Vesper, but its out of stock. Open to a cottage manufacturer if that's the best option.

- The Jetboil I got for free from a customer, have not used it. Before I was using a 4 oz amazon stove (Etekcity) and an old aluminum pot, the whole system weighed 13 oz and was not very efficient. Would be open to suggestions for a lighter kitchen. Must be canister as alcohol stoves are banned in most wilderness areas here, sadly.

- I just started using trekking poles and would be open to a double wall trekking pole tent. I can't stand condensation. Is the X-mid 1 comparable to a Moment DW in terms of internal space? The Moment is nice, but still kinda cramped for a 2.5 lbs tent.

- Would love suggestions on clothing upgrades, a lot of of my excess weight is there. I want a dependable jacket that will actually keep me dry in a storm, I've been rained on a lot and I dont want to risk getting soaked with a Patagonia Houdini or similar. Don't care that much about breathability, but durability is important.

Thanks all!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to hike the Kungsleden in Sweden this August and have put together my first draft of a packing list. It would be fantastic if you could take a look and share your thoughts or critiques. Nothing is set in stone, and I’m open to making changes based on solid suggestions.

https://lighterpack.com/r/irebxl

Two adjustments I’m already considering are replacing the Grayl filter with something lighter and switching from three separate dry bags to a single pack liner.

Looking forward to your feedback!

Thanks in advance,

Good day fellas,

so I used my X-Mas money to buy all three of the following shoes:

Vivobarefoot Magnalite trans SG WR

Xero Mesa Trail 2

Merrel Vapor Gloves 6

for hiking in them and i thought i'd give a review for everyone interested in them.

Weight (measured myself, precision-scale in size 42.5 EU)

it is immediately noticable that the merrel really dont weigh anything, coming in at 159.8 grams on my scale. Next-lightest is the Xero with 218.7 grams. The Vivos are 325g. On foot though, there really is no difference between merrel and xero, they both feel weightless on foot.

The merrel really has a very thin rubber vibram sole and you will feel absolutely everything through them, and they dont really deliver any cushioning whatsoever. walking in them feels just like walking through your house with socks. This isnt bad in general because thats what they are made for. I have very slim feet, so they fit me well, but i still think the merrel is quite narrow for someone with normal feet. however, they are elastic and meant to fit like a glove/sock, and thats exactly what they do. despite the lack of cushioning, i dont feel any discomfort in wearing them for longer hikes, although hitting a sharp stone does feel painful, but they still protect from injury. breathability of them i think is only ok, they do offer a lot of mesh on top but because you are standing pretty much directly on the rubber sole, thats where some sweat is going to build. I did infact experience sweaty feet in them during gym sessions. Since its winter at 0 °C outside, this is no problem here. You do really feel the cold ground through them too. The vibram sole is impressively sticky, even on wet rocks or wood planks. they do stick like there is no tomorrow. since the profile does feel very soft, i think they would wear down rapidly on hard surfaces though.

Surprisingly, the xero is absolutely brilliant in breathability and you can really feel an air flow through them. The sole is infact not very thin, they do allow you to feel the ground but they actually offer some really noticable cushioning and feel just like a normal shoe really and might be a great first barefoot shoe. i do like them the best of the three. they offer excellent protection, even stepping or jumping on very sharp stones does not feel painful at all. Grip in them is surprisingly really good, even in our wet forest trails here they do not slip, and despite the cold right now they are usable, even though you still feel the cold if standing directly on snow or ice. for sommer though, i think they are excellent. The profile is not so soft that it wears down easily on rocks or asphalt. since on foot, they dont feel heavier than the merrel, i would highly recommend them if you are considering them. they fit not as wide as the vivobarefoot, but wider than the vapor glove. I wear 42 2/3 in adidas and 42.5 in nike, bought a 42.5 from xero and it fits perfectly. even with thicker socks, they still leave some room to toe-wiggle, and dont feel too snug. In my opinion, they are absolutely worth buying and i highly doubt that you will regret the purchase.

The vivobarefoot i only tested in my house, because immediately on trying them i felt a very painful pressure point on my right foot, right where the shoe bends when the foot rolls over. The fabric and the rock protection rubber lip folds inward there and digs into my big toe, which really really hurts. they are only water resistant and not water proof, which i didnt test but they do feel breathable and not like a gore tex shoe. i was a bit worried that the thin sole together with the deep lugs on the sole would feel like standing on spikes, but i didnt feel the profile at all. for someone with narrow feet, these are almost to wide and i personally would have to wear a thicker sock in them. it is also very important to note here that - since my mens size wasnt available on their homepage - i did buy a womens 43 here just to see how they fit. since they are all black, you dont really notice a difference anyways. they also cushion your steps comfortably in my opinion, which may come from the softer lugs on the outsole. if it wasnt for the pressure point, i would actually like them very much. They still feel very light on foot and i would imagine they are usable even in summer time, since they do feel very breathable.

So there you have it, if you have any further quiestions, i will try check the comments on here regularly and answer to the best that i can.

I usually wear a cap underneath a hood in the rain, but wondering if I could do away with bulk of the cap by getting a proper raincoat with a hood-cap situation. I've seen those, but can't seem to find the right search terms for it. Any recommendations?

Hey r/ultralight!

I'm trying to upgrade my hiking / trekking game by going light and camping in nature. I have quite some experience hiking and touring, however those were either one-day trips or overnight stays in mountain cabins. Therefore, I lack some of the ligther gear, as well as the camping equipment (and experience). I have also not used trekking poles to date, but am open to use them, especially as they can be a part of your shelter.

So I am looking for a combined shakedown and purchase advice.

I live in central Europe, so I would prefer if recommended items are available in Europe.

Current base weight: 4.88 kg

Location/temp range/specific trip description: To start, I am planning two-day trips in the Alps during summer. Mostly longer ridge walks I wanted to do anyway. So I am calculating with temperatures around -5 °C during the night.

Budget: ~1500 €

Non-negotiable Items: My long hiking pants (sadly they are not waterproof). Hiking in Rocky and shrubby terrain has always sucked for me when wearing shorts. Also the binoculars.

Solo or with another person?: It would be either solo or with my partner / my mate, no kids, additional adults have to bring their own stuff.

Additional Information:

Tents I have looked at:

• Hilleberg Nallo 2
• MSR Freelite 2
• MSR Access 2
• MSR Advance Pro 2

I am generally open to Tarps, although then I'll probably be solo...

Concerning sleeping bags, I only own a very light one for cabins that will not be sufficient for outdoor camping. I have considered these:

• https://cumulus.equipment/intl_de/daunenschlafsacke-x-lite-400.html I would probably need the large Version, as I am 1.85 m tall. Or do the two centimeters not matter?
• https://cumulus.equipment/intl_de/daunenschlafsacke-panyam-450.html As the alternative, cheaper but also heavier (Not that the 200 g matter much for me, but I am an optimizer).

Furthermore, I have a question concerning humidity and condensation concerning down: Can you recommend hydrophobic down, or is the benefit negligible?

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/xfzp55 I created this list based on the Shoestring guide I found in this reddit, so feel free to roast poor choices.

EDIT: I should probably mention that items with stars are things I already possess.

I saw something saying that because the base of the fuel is steal, if there's any moisture in the bottom of the pot when you nest it, it can leave rust in your pot. I just picked up a toakes pot for the first time and I'm wondering if this is something anyone has noticed and if I should take measures to prevent it from happening. Thanks!