View Full Version : Pack and Tent
I'm thinking of upgrading my pack and/or tent, but I'm not sure of my options. I have a Jansport Big Bear 5000 which is really large, more than I need, but only weight 3lbs 14oz. Is there a pack, around 4000 cubic inches, that weights significantly less? I was looking at the golite's and the osprey atmos, but realized they would really shave off much weight.
As for tents, I've heard a lot of UL hikers don't carry them. IF you do, what is your preference? I've been using a Eureka Solitaire, but I hate the lack of headroom and the fact its not freestanding. Any thoughts? I was thinking of the Big Agness Seedhouse SL 1...
I'm thinking of upgrading my pack and/or tent, but I'm not sure of my options. I have a Jansport Big Bear 5000 which is really large, more than I need, but only weight 3lbs 14oz. Is there a pack, around 4000 cubic inches, that weights significantly less? I was looking at the golite's and the osprey atmos, but realized they would really shave off much weight.
As for tents, I've heard a lot of UL hikers don't carry them. IF you do, what is your preference? I've been using a Eureka Solitaire, but I hate the lack of headroom and the fact its not freestanding. Any thoughts? I was thinking of the Big Agness Seedhouse SL 1...
The ULA Circuit (http://ula-equipment.com/circuit.asp)is around 4,000ci and weighs around 2 pounds.
The Granite Gear Vapor Trail (http://www.campmor.com/granite-gear-vapor-trail-ultralight-internal-frame-pack.shtml?source=CI&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=84510)weighs around 2 pounds and is about 3600ci.
You should check out tarp tents. They're a lot lighter and do the same thing.
http://www.tarptent.com/
http://sixmoondesigns.com/
http://gossamergear.com/shelters/shelters/the-one.html
swjohnsey
01-29-2011, 20:29
I'm thinking of upgrading my pack and/or tent, but I'm not sure of my options. I have a Jansport Big Bear 5000 which is really large, more than I need, but only weight 3lbs 14oz. Is there a pack, around 4000 cubic inches, that weights significantly less? I was looking at the golite's and the osprey atmos, but realized they would really shave off much weight.
As for tents, I've heard a lot of UL hikers don't carry them. IF you do, what is your preference? I've been using a Eureka Solitaire, but I hate the lack of headroom and the fact its not freestanding. Any thoughts? I was thinking of the Big Agness Seedhouse SL 1...
On the tent, I went from a Eureka Backcountry I to Seedhouse SL1 and saved about a pound. It is (pretty much) freestanding. I really need a tent because I carry a light bag (40 degree) and don't like to stay 'round other folks because I leave early (before sunup) and hike late. I have been impressed by the SH SL1 (other than it is made in China). Actually weight is around 2' 12", good quality, pitches fast. You can pitch it without stakes and still have a pretty rainproof shelter.
The Other Tom
01-29-2011, 20:46
I use a tarptent rainbow and am happy with it. I've heard good things about Lightheart tents, but never used one
http://www.lightheartgear.com/LightHeart_Gear/Home.html
bigcranky
01-29-2011, 21:59
As for tents, I've heard a lot of UL hikers don't carry them.
Some hikers like a tarp rather than a tent, but all smart hikers carry a shelter of some sort. A traditional tent is but one option, you can choose anything from a cuben fibre poncho tarp (really light but requires expertise in use) to a double wall free standing tent (easy to use but heavy.)
Tarptents are a decent choice for many hikers. They are usually single wall silnylon, with full bug netting and a floor, but they weigh a lot less than traditional tents. They require some thought when choosing a campsite -- not as much as a tiny tarp, but more than a big bomber tent. It's a tradeoff, like anything else.
You might check out the Tarptent brand, and the Lightheart, and the Six Moons Designs. My personal choices are the Tarptent Moment for solo use, and the SMD Lunar Duo for hiking with my wife. Both are very roomy, provide great weather protection, and are reasonably light.
I'm thinking of upgrading my pack and/or tent, but I'm not sure of my options. I have a Jansport Big Bear 5000 which is really large, more than I need, but only weight 3lbs 14oz. Is there a pack, around 4000 cubic inches, that weights significantly less? I was looking at the golite's and the osprey atmos, but realized they would really shave off much weight.
As for tents, I've heard a lot of UL hikers don't carry them. IF you do, what is your preference? I've been using a Eureka Solitaire, but I hate the lack of headroom and the fact its not freestanding. Any thoughts? I was thinking of the Big Agness Seedhouse SL 1...
If you are going to lighten your load considerably, you might want to think about a frameless pack. I've been carrying one for over 5 years and even did the Hundred Mile Wilderness with it (35+ lbs. 9 days worth of food). Mine is a discontinued Golite, the Dawn. It is necessary to make sure that the pack fits well or it may hang off of your shoulders if too short for your torso or fold over if it is too long. My pack weighs 14 oz. empty. I've met quite a few thruhikers who were using the Golite Jam and they liked it.
As for a tent, I can't help too much because I usually use a hammock, but I've seen two tents lately which have a good design, and I did a test on one of them, the Lightheart Gear solo, posted here somewhere.
The other is the Tarptent Moment, similar to my four season Hilleberg Akto tent, which I use in extremely cold and windy weather. It isn't freestanding, but when it gets windy, not much is - they all need to be staked securely or they will blow down or away. The only good reason I can see for a freestanding tent is for calm weather tent platform use. Even then, there are usually enough trees or even the boards on the platform that you can tie a line from your stake loops to.
I would look for minimum number of stakes necessary for setup before I looked for freestanding, because weight is more important to me than ease of use.
Here's a picture of me with gear for 2 days, 1 night in the summer: http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/3/7/5/0/dscf1440_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=25280&c=searchresults&searchid=35297)
I have no idea how much weight I was carrying :).
Six Moon Designs StarLite and some of the packs from ULA would give you 4000ci and be lighter than your current pack. The Granite Gear Vapor trail mention earlier is technically has 3600ci, but that's with the ridiculously large extension collar pretty much full... I think the VT is best use with 3200ci or less. The Gossamer Gear Mariposa would give you around 3600ci. But remember, volume and weight are just two pieces of the equation, with the most important being carry comfort. I have found all these packs work well up to around 30lbs... over that and I would want a pack with a more substantial frame system. Others have happily used these packs with more, but I would rather not.
as to shelters, there are lots of choices. Brands mention: Tarptent.com, Lightheart Gear, and Six Moon Designs all make good shelters. I have been using the minimalist Zpacks Hexamid which weights 8oz (12oz including stakes and ground cloth) and packs into something smaller than a nalgene bottle. I have some notes about ultralight shelters (http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/shelter.html#Ultralight) you might find useful.
--Mark
Thanks for the info. I see a lot of great options.
The GG miraposa is 3600 with the pockets and weighs 24oz.
A few of the ULA packs.
If you are heading towards UL and can keep the bulk down and your total pack weight under 30# you could probably get by with less volume.
As far as tents, the solitare is a terrible tent.
Just a tube and its not that light but it is long.
The poles will break so the first thing you have to do is buy new tent poles.
Mine broke the 3rd time I set it up.
The spitfire is a much better tent and not that much heavier and cheap.
The tarptent tents are lighter but single wall...High quality
Subsil
Moment
Rainbow 1
Etc
daddytwosticks
01-30-2011, 16:00
Tinker, those are some really baggy panty hose you're wearing there bub! :) :)
From Tinker :
I have no idea how much weight I was carrying
From the look of your pack and the way you are standing...not much
And yes, that net bottom, where from ?
Franco
garlic08
01-30-2011, 17:06
I'm like many of the posters on this forum and use a frameless pack. I've been using Gossamer Gear packs lately, but have been looking at Zpacks too. I use the Tarptent Contrail and it's been a great shelter for me. The frameless pack requires quite a commitment to UL hiking. For my pack, Gossamer Gear says your base weight must be less than 10 pounds. Here's me and my friend Pickle on Katahdin after a really fun thru hike--this is everything we carried for the hike plus food and water for another day:
From Tinker :
I have no idea how much weight I was carrying
From the look of your pack and the way you are standing...not much
And yes, that net bottom, where from ?
Franco
Campmor. Keeps the bugs away. Worth their weight in gold (and looks)! :D
Thanks for that Tinker.
No good for me on the trails here (I would shred them) but could be nice at camp.
Franco
sixguns01
02-01-2011, 16:53
Try the Gossamer Gear "The One" single walled tent. Weighs 16-20oz.
For the pack- Gossamer Gear Packs and the Golite Pinnacle. Less than two pounds for a comfy large capacity pack.
I would say check out the packs at ULA. I think they strike a great balance between lightweight and carrying capacity. Both the Curcuit and Ohm are jack-of-all-trades type of packs. As far as tents, you may consider tarps. I just sold a tent I recently bought to buy a tarp. Once you try lightweight, you just can't stop. Not better or worse than traditional packing, just different. Good luck!