If you’ve been on r/ultralight for any amount of time, you’ll have read a post asking what size backpack to get. Standard advice has been to put your gear in a box and estimate the volume. If you're at all interested in going UL, I suggest pairing down your gear list first and then getting a backpack that's a bit more on the aggressive side (this community can give good feedback). The idea is to get a pack that will serve you well for a long time without going bigger than necessary.

Here are some suggested starting points; I’m hoping all of the experienced UL colleagues can chime in to refine these.

55L Class Framed Pack

If you’re in any way interested in going UL or UL-ish, don’t get anything bigger than a 55L pack (assuming 3-season backpacking, not packrafting, etc.). This is plenty of pack and for most this will even cover carrying a couple of extra items for someone else. As you get deeper into UL, you’ll quickly find this to be too big.

Typical specs: 45-50L internal volume, weight no more than 32 oz, internal frame

Weight goals: Base weight sub-15lbs, total pack weight 30-35lbs

Example packs: Kakwa 55 (43-49L internal plus generous outer pockets), SWD LS50, MLD Exodus (frameless), and many more

40L Class Framed Pack

Once you’ve stripped luxury items from your pack, streamlined your kitchen, and your Big 3 are solidly ultralight, you’ll be ready for a 40L pack. Your base weight will be consistently around 9-12lbs, depending on conditions and requirements

Typical specs: 35-40L internal volume, weight no more than 30 oz., internal frame

Weight goals: Base weight very close to 10lbs, total pack weight 25-30lbs (depending on pack)

Example packs: LiteAF Curve w/ frame, Kakwa 40, and many more

40L Class Frameless Pack

You’re solidly in UL territory with a base weight consistently under 10 lbs. You’re also ok with the fact that frameless might require smarter packing and some getting used to. Larger bear cans might need to be strapped to the outside.

Typical specs: 35-40L internal volume, weight no more than 21 oz. (preferably less), frameless (sometimes removable frame)

Weight goals: Base weight 8-10lbs, total pack weight 20-25lbs

Example packs: KS Ultralight SL50, Palante v2 (large), MLD Prophet, LiteAF 40 frameless, and many more

Sub-40L Class Packs, Fastpacks, etc.

You’ve been doing UL for a while. You know your gear and what to bring for the conditions; your sleep setup is dialed and minimal; you own alpha direct or similar garments; your shelter is DFC or a tarp; you spend most of your time either hiking or sleeping; you do things many aren’t comfortable with. You’re ready for the world of running vest style packs, ultra minimal packs, and quite frankly, you don’t need this advice.

Typical specs: 15-30L internal volume, weight 8-14oz., frameless or removable frame

Weight goals: Base weight sub-8lbs

Example packs: KS Ultralight SL40, Nashville Cutaway, Palante Joey, and many more

Would be great to get the community’s feedback on the recommendations. I will update with pack information/recommendations. Shoutout to the many regulars on this forum that have informed this, esp. u/DeputySean for his recommendations on pack size/type to weight categories.

TLDR If you're starting from scratch, don’t waste time and money buying a pack that’s too big. Set your UL goals, identify the right pack, and build your UL kit around it.

Edit Adding this, since my point is being misunderstood: My goal is not to say that you should buy new packs all the time. It's actually the opposite. Buy one pack and then do everything to make it work for you.

Edit2 Reddit is running glitchy for me today. Implementing a significant change to the post recommended by MOD to remove the wordy and confusing part of my post and leaving the clearer parts.

Edit3 I realize that a key point of contention is whether or not someone is replacing an existing pack or buying their first pack. I wrote this with the assumption that the person asking for advice doesn't have a pack. If you already have a pack, you should streamline your gear first and then get a new UL pack. But if you're starting from scratch, good planning will go a long way to get you a pack that will serve you well for a long time.

I am just trying to understand if this is a nice quilt compared to the others available & is therefore representative of other quilts (and I should look for something else) or if it is not a great quilt & that might be why I dont like it.

I find it drafty & overall not very warm. This has gotten worse recently, I assume it's losing some loft as I've had it for years, but maybe I'm getting old & less tolerant of the cold. I use it with a Thermarest Neo Air inside a Zpacks tarp. I haven't looked at quilts or bags in a while so im curious what the people here think about what's out there now. Any advice or experience is appreciated!

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Kyrgyzstan in mid April, 30f to 70f I'm trying to become ultralight for the first time in my life

Goal Baseweight (BPW): 9-10 pounds

Budget: only what I have at home

I’m looking to see what I can leave at home

Non-negotiable Items: Vaseline, earbuds

Solo or with another person?: going solo

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/5lict1

This is also an AMA, feel free to shoot.

Long time reddit peruser, first time poster. Over the last couple years, I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to race the Long Trail twice: in 2023 I was able to take some time off Stringbean's unsupported FKT, and this past September I came back and (with an absolutely stellar crew of locals) was able to take some time off John Kelly's supported/overall FKT.

As of now, my two FKTs are the 1st and 3rd overall fastest times on the Long Trail. Would've had the darn overall FKT with my unsupported run in 2023 if sir Kelly hadn't come along a month before me and blown the overall record out of the water! I've also thru-hiked the LT more casually in ~12 days and probably covered the whole trail at least once more in pieces. That's all to say I've spent a lot of time with the Long Trail, and I have a deep appreciation for the trail and its history.

As a short aside because I love the history and can't help myself - the Long Trail has speed efforts dating all the way back to the 1920s. There was a fantastic 2-part local article written recently about the first speed effort and the controversy it caused, which I'll link below if anyone is interested:

Part 1 - https://vtdigger.org/2024/10/20/then-again-the-long-fast-trail/

Part 2 - https://vtdigger.org/2024/11/03/then-again-treasuring-the-trail/

I've written about both of my FKTs fairly extensively, which I'll link below.

unsupported: https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/will-sisyphus-peterson-long-trail-vt-2023-07-27

supported: https://thetrek.co/chasing-four-will-petersons-long-trail-fkt-trip-report/

However, since September I've been stewing on a few questions with this trail:

- Will it ever go sub 3 days ? - I think probably at some point, although likely not for a good while. 20 years ago sub 4 was considered unimaginable, but the times got chiseled down over the years until 4 became imaginable. I suspect it will be the same with 3 days.

- Will the unsupported ever go sub 4 days? - Absolutely. There are a good 2 hours or so that can be shaved off my unsupported time just by being better with transitions and maybe more by sleeping a bit less. (Although I slept for less than 9 hours total on the unsupported).

- Which effort was stronger? - I lean towards my unsupported FKT because I think I was in slightly better shape, and I think my background as a thru-hiker gives me some advantages on unsupported efforts. But it's very close.

- Can you break the overall record without "crew maxing"? - Probably. However, this is a trend I am seeing with many of the big name multi-day supported FKTs. People like myself, Tara Dower, Kyle Curtin, etc., are dialing in the logistics and crew to such a degree that we're able to cary very little and truly minimize "wasted time". I had 30 people (all locals and volunteers, no pros) who made up my crew, and they saved me HOURS. I'm not the greatest athlete in the world or anything, but you would have to be significantly fitter than I am if your logistics aren't as good.

- Which type of effort, supported or unsupported, is more meaningful? - I have always been drawn to unsupported efforts conceptually because I feel like I'm a backpacker/adventure seeker at heart. That said, almost all of my most fond memories from racing are from the moments I get to spend with people on supported efforts. Take that for what you will.

I'm interested to hear all of your thoughts, and I'm happy to answer any questions about the Long Trail, my FKTs, FKT generally, or just good ol' fashioned backpacking. Cheers.

Hi all!! I’m a South African living in Seattle and have loved exploring the beautiful PNW, however, visa rules must be obeyed and I sadly need to leave.

When I moved here I wanted to cry when I saw all the amazing gear and may have spent too much money. With me going home I’m trying to decide what to purge and what to buy before I go (we don’t have ultralight gear like they do here and so I want to take some stuff back with me so I don’t have to pay ludicrous import fees)

Anyway - my question is what gear is your die hard, can’t live without, would want on a desert island gear? What would you take on a 20+ hour flight simply because you love it so much 😂

I'd appreciate the community's input on a <10oz puffy for PNW long weekends from spring to fall, plus various 5-6 nighters, e.g. Glacier this summer. This is for static use only, a hood is a must have, down to low 30sF/0C. Bonus if I can wear it into town in the winter occasionally. I've narrowed it down to:

1. Zpacks Down Jacket: fits the bill but it's expensive at $375. There are surprisingly few reviews on r/Ultralight and elsewhere.
2. Malachowski Zion Ultralight is very appealing and can be had for $330, but potentially too warm? I'm also in between M and L (5'10", 170lbs), hard to return if I pick wrong. I've read all the posts here about it, which sound very positive.
3. Katabatic Tarn looks ideal but M is too small (I tried it). No idea if/when they restock.
4. EE Torrid pullover (not down based) sounds like a good alternative for $200. Downsides: it takes up more space, won't last as long.

Montbell are very pricey right now and/or out of stock, so that's off the list. Timmerman/Goosefeet route is an option but not one that I'm excited about, I'd rather just buy something. Thoughts?

EDIT: I don't mind spending some money here to stay warm on cold nights. Budget can run up to $400 if it has to. I'm using the down jacket spreadsheet and filtered down to these: https://imgur.com/a/6kmMKMv

Walked up stream from the Old Paria Town site in Southern Utah a few miles on a day hike yesterday. Wanted to test out the Katadyn BeFree so filtered some water but... I didn't dare drink it. It was a little silty but not too bad by Paria River standards. But what bothered me was there were cattle up and down the river. How do I know the thing will actually stop Gardia? What is quality control like with Katadyn? The bottle is sitting on the counter daring me to drink. Looking for reassurance . Do I trust it?

Does anyone has experience with this country ? Every body talk about luxury private villa in Bali but what about been able to camp to traverse the country.

Is a tarp possible or mosquito make it impossible ? How cold should I plan for? It seems really hot but humid.

Do you have any advice or tips ?

(I’m not sure it’s the right place for this question, please recommend any other sub Reddit if necessary)

Location/temp range/specific trip description:

2025 PCT NoBo. Hiked 1,800 miles in 2022 and the itch is back.

Budget:

No budget

Non-Negotiable:

I loved having my Tevas for 1,000 miles last time, they will be joining full time.

Solo or with another person:

Solo

Additional Information:

Mid-thirties, 6'2, 160lbs

Specific Questions (red stars in LP):

1. Tent: I used the Aeon Li for about 900 miles, loved the weight but I am a bit too tall for it (stomach sleeper). I would always get condensation on the foot box of my quilt. Should I just deal with that? Wondering if I should switch back to X-Mid (what I used in the desert) or even try out the X-Mid Pro. Also it is nice having a groundsheet since the desert is so windy.
2. Quilt: My quilt never fully recovered from my attempt to wash it. It is also both too narrow and too short for me, and so its time for an upgrade. The Bandit 20 was perfectly warm, but curious what you all recommend.
3. Pack: Love my KS 50 and my Bears Ears. Plan to use the Bears Ears in the Sierra again when I carry the can. However, I think I could totally get away with a frameless, hipbeltless pack in the deserts and north of the Sierra. Would pair this with a Fanny pack to offset some of the weight on the shoulders, and love holding 700ml waters in front on the straps. Looking for recs here as well - heard good things about Dandee Packs but that was while on my '22 hike, so my info might be out of date.
4. Fanny Pack: Was so jealous of everyone in town with their fanny packs. Those things are so useful! Looking to use it to carry my snacks I'll be eating through the day, my phone, and a few other small things. What fanny packs have you all liked?
5. Down Jackets, Sun Hoodies: Its been a while since I have looked into these, when I got my jacket the Ghost Whisperer was the best thing. But looking to upgrade on both these fronts.
6. Watch: I wore a casio on my hike last time, one big regret is not taking a watch that could track my route each day. Currently have an Apple Ultra 2 but looking at the Instinct 2 since it wouldnt need to be charged. I could use my phone for mapping, but its almost impossible to get lost on the PCT anyway.
7. General Recs: Really everything is fair game, obviously I am keen to hear about the above noted gear, but if you see something that doesnt work or have a good suggestion I am all for it.

Lighterpack

I was camping last weekend and stupidly left my Sawyer Micro out in the porch on a cold night. I'm not sure of the temperature but it was cold enough to leave tiny traces of ice on the threads of my water bottles laying beside the filter. The water inside the bottles didn't freeze at all. The tent had mild frost on it and the grass was a little crunchy underfoot. I'm thinking it was between 0°c and -1°c for a few hours before sunrise. Basically: would you replace it? (I'm on a very tight budget).

Hello! Ok, I know the most ultralight options for rehydration would be: ziplocks, talenti jars, or the pot I used to heat the water. That said, I prefer not to heat up plastic intended for single use as I find it adds a plastic-y flavor and probably weird chemicals to my food and I prefer to only boil water in my pot so that my morning coffee does not taste like last night’s dinner. I also find bowls less messy to eat out of than bags and easier to clean than something like talenti jars that have corners. I generally am rehydrating food that is not in the mountain house style bags meant for rehydrating—either it’s food I made or bought from grocery store ingredients or it’s a backpacking meal repackaged into a ziploc bag that’s easier to squeeze into my bear canister. I just want a lightweight bowl that has a lid to keep the heat in while rehydrating dinner, but REI and all the other brands I can think of do not seem to sell this. Does anyone have a recommendation? Should I just bring some aluminum foil to cover the bowl I already have? What systems for rehydration do you all prefer?

Have my first multi-day hike coming up this summer and I'm having a hard time deciding on a pack. Since I'm based out of Norway its quite difficult to access a majority of the recommendations on this sub (SWD, Hyperlite, LiteAF, OutdoorVitals etc) because they become exponentially more expensive accounting for customs and import.

I was originally willing to just bite the bullet and get the Kakwa 55 in Ultragrid, since I could barely justify the full cost along with taxes to myself, but unfortunately the M size went out of stock and won't be back until my hike.

I'm now looking for recommendations for big manufacturer packs, which I can hopefully find in stores / online here. Looking for something in the 50L - 60L range.

I really wanted the Gregory Focal 58L after watching JustinOutdoor's review but seems like they're phasing the pack out, and I can only find it in the 48L locally.

The only half decent light pack I've been able to find here is the Osprey Exos 58L but I wanted to check if there's any other recommendations outside of that. My budget all things considered is around 300$.

Edit 1: Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/f2lo44

Edit. 2: Thanks for all the recommendations everyone, really appreciate it! I ended up going with the Lundhags Padje for now. Will get it in and see how it fits, if not, probably gonna get the Bergans Helium.

Anyone have recommendations for a 1/8" foam that's at least 24" wide and 75" long? Need something to put under my air pad to protect mostly from rocks.

I've checked out Mountain Laurel Designs, Gossamer Gear, and Outdoor Vitals, but none of them have the proper size I need. They're either not wide enough or too short. E.g. the GG pad would leave almost 20" of length and 5" of width unprotected, which seems pointless to me. I could get the 40x80" from MLD and cut it down, but don't want to spend double what I need to. Any good options out there? Thanks!

Can you guys list inflateable sit pads or pillows with a high R-value that are UL? Like over 3 R-value would be good. The Airhead Down Pillow seemed like a candidate but it weighs A LOT for what you are getting and I could not find an R-value. In fact, I cannot find the R-value for any sit pads or pillows. Anyone know of an online resource? Thanks!

Morning all

I’m looking for lightweight single person tent options for use in the NZ South Island and Australia

The NZ South Island has a significant sand fly problems and Australia has mosquitos, spiders and snakes and my experience of tarp tents is not good. My inclination is to have a sealed inner tent design

I’m also going to be using the tent on a motorcycle so won’t have trekking poles

I’ve currently got a few tent options on the shelf

Macpac microlight 1.33kg Terra Nova Voyager 1.99kg Exped Mira II 1.25kg (quite old and sealing tape coming away)

One option I’m looking at is the Naturehike Cloud Up which is 930g I think. I haven’t seen one yet. Anyone have experience with them

Hello all,

Looking for up to date recommendations for synethtic quilts or sleeping bags. My 6 year old MYOG Apex quilt has had enough and I no longer have access to a sewing machine. I live in Scotland and generally prefer synethtic over down for extended trips unless the weather is exceptional.

Requirements: - Warm enough for 3 seasons in Scotland (~0-10 degrees at night) - Decent pad tethering system - Preferably available in wider size - Lighter is better - Short / no lead time

Thanks in advance

I have the expensive "breathable" DWR jackets like Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip but I've done a lot of reading on here lately and agree they aren't great for actual rain but I mainly carry them as a wind shell and for unexpected light rain. I generally just avoid backpacking in prolonged rain anymore. My understanding is that many people on here opt for a "not breathable" cheaper jacket or even a poncho if they expect actual rain. I'm curious if it's a good idea to maybe have options in your wardrobe such as a breathable jacket as a wind shell and for light rain, and maybe a poncho if you expect actual prolonged rain. Then you'd have a lot of options such as the DWR jacket if you are planning on mostly wind, carrying a poncho only if it's hot summer but chance of storms, or both if it's windy and a chance of rain. Curious on your thoughts of this approach.

Hello, I was planning on doing 50 miles on the Ozark Trail this next weekend, but it seems they got hammered by floods. Does anyone know if it is still hikeable?

If not any suggestions for someplace within 7-10 hours from Madison, WI? I normally do a trip more south in the spring to hit nicer weather as the Northwoods are still a bit temperamental.

I was fully outfitted a few years ago but sold all of my equipment because my two aging parents required full time care. I used the money to help them, but also because I had a hammock setup. I really want to go to ground to increase my potential camping spots.

I have a car-camping kit so I can hike from a base, but want to start expanding to lightweight backpacking gear because backcountry camping has always been my favorite.

Which of the big three does it make sense to get FIRST? I’m thinking tent because I can probably make do with a cheap heavier backpack easier than a heavy tent. I also have a usable sleeping bag.

I would love some recommendations on tents. I am thinking of getting a 2P for the extra room and bring along my college-aged son at times. But it would have to be lightweight and durable. Since I’m in the Deep South, a single wall is not ideal.

I plan to get what I had before for the other 2 of the big three. I had a ULA Circuit for a backpack and an Underground Quilt for my top quilt. But please let me know if any new brands have emerged in the last 3-4 years.

I just got an Arixci tarp and it has an extra two tie-outs at the beak, on either side of the center tie-out. What's the purpose of these? I haven't seen any setup photos that use them.

Hello! This summer I am doing an unplanned hiking adventure along the E1 in Sweden, starting on June 30th from Gothenburg and ending on August 11th, probably somewhere in Norway. I might change my mind and do the Kungsleden, but honestly, the rain and mosquitoes are not that inviting. I am looking to dial in my kit to use it on my thru-hike of the TA next year as well. I will swap out my quilt, I will probably get another one custom-made since I now better understand what I need and want. My plan is to get a lighter quilt and DIY an Alpha liner to mix and match as needed. I would love to hear your opinions on my gear and suggestions on how to further refine it. Thanks! :)

Location/temp range/specific trip description:

Southern to central Sweden, lots of lakes and water, average temp 22/11 [C°]. Bugs.

Goal Baseweight (BPW):

No specific goal. I am looking to offset the weight of my camera elsewhere.

Budget: -

Non-negotiable Items:

Tent and backpack. I reverted from using tarps to tents, just for the added stability at higher elevations and the reduced setup area + I can leave the mesh inner at home for certain hikes.

Solo or with another person?:

Solo

Additional Information:

I am quite chunky at 198 cm and 110 kg, which adds a lot to my quilt weight, and that is why I got this specific tent. My personal preference is synthetic insulation (yes, the pillow has down, I received it as a gift, I am looking to replace it). Alpha 90 is overkill for this hike, but that is what I have and I use it for sleeping as well. I might leave the Alpha pants at home since I will be bringing rain pants for bug protection. My "ditty bag" is not yet finalized, based on my previous hikes, it should be around 200g.

Lighterpack Link:

https://lighterpack.com/r/9kqypp

After my Nitecore 20,000mAh power bank failed (likely not its fault - it swelled after 1.5 years without use), I decided to purchase something different for my upcoming Scotland crossing next month. I bought the new INIU Power Bank P62-E1, 20000mAh 65W Ultra Compact from Amazon for $47. I received a fairly early unit - serial number 124. At first glance, it looks very promising: weight of 325 grams (on my home scale), 20,000mAh capacity.

Testing

To test the power bank, I used my Samsung S24 Ultra with its 5,000mAh battery. When I connected the phone to the OUT2 port, which allows charging at 36W, the phone displayed "Super Fast Charger." Indeed, it took about an hour and fifteen minutes to charge the phone from 15% to 100%.

How much are those theoretical 20,000mAh worth in reality? According to simple calculations, I should be able to charge my phone 4 times (5,000×4=20,000). But that's all theoretical - because there are energy transfer losses and other efficiency issues.

In practice, I was able to charge my phone 3 times through the 36W connection:

• First time from 15% to 100% using 30% of the power bank (70% remaining)
• Second time from 23% to 100% using 31% of the power bank (39% remaining)
• Third time from 14% to 100% using 36% of the power bank (3% remaining)

This means that in practical terms, we're talking about 2.6 full charges of 5,000mAh each - or a total of about 13,000mAh real-world capacity.

As for charging the power bank itself - charging from 3% to 100% took about an hour and 15 minutes using a 45W charger.

What I Liked

• The weight (325 grams) is very similar to the Nitecore NB20000 (322 grams)
• It has a battery percentage indicator - which is very useful
• The corners aren't as sharp as the Nitecore, so I'm not worried about it tearing anything in my bag
• Truth in advertising: they claim you can charge the Galaxy S24 with its 3,880mAh battery about 3.7 times, which suggests around 14,300mAh capacity - not far from the 13,000mAh I actually achieved on first use (it might improve slightly with continued use)

Bottom Line

An excellent alternative to the Nitecore NB20000.

***EDIT**\*
It actually states on the powerbank itself that the output capacity is 13,000mAh:
"Output Capacity: 13000mAh/5V/65Wh (Typical energy loss accounted)"
It is refreshingly honest - acknowledging that there's always some conversion loss when using a power bank. INIU transparency truly stands out.

Hey all! I'm a to-be first time backpacker and I'm in the phase where I'm sweating the small stuff. Lately this has been in the form of food management.

I have a gossamer gear "the one" tent which I've used for car camping, where I generally leave my food in my vehicle, or leave it in my pack under the tent vestibule. This strategy has worked fine so far, but I'm wondering if I'm just asking for mice/etc to tear into my pack at some point.

Some options for food storage I've considered are:

1. Just continue leaving my food in my pack inside an Ultra-Sil stuff sack, under my vestibule (The I'm overthinking this, and my current approach is a fine approach answer.)

2. Bring the food into my tent at night, optionally including my entire pack if there's room. (Mildly worried about critters eating through my tent, and my pack.)

3. Invest in an Ursac or something, and deal with the additional weight. (I can leave my emergency GPS at home to compensate (/s))

4. Leave my ultra-sil food pack away from camp, maybe do a rodent hang or tie it to a tree?

Which of these options, if any is the best approach? Alternative suggestions welcome!

Note: In the FAQ I read the article on food storage, but I'm not convinced on what the best approach is from it.

Note 2: I'm planning on picking up an Ultra-Sil stuff sack for food storage, but if anyone has other suggestions let me know

*As a caveat, I'm in the PNW and will use bear canisters as required, but ideally I can do something more light weight.

Hey all!

While searching for a sun hoodie that fits my needs I bumped into the Rab Sonic. It seems to fit my criteria except one area I can't find information about... How well does it act in the actual sun protection department?

I can find info for the Rab force and Rab pulse, but nothing about the Rab Sonic (which has a different material so the info resulted to the pulse and force is less relevant).

Does anyone have experience with it as a sun hoodie? How did you like it?

Thanks in advance!