Name the multiple uses for your SUL gear!!

[The Doctor]

So alot of people have switched to SUL and I have been trying to do the same. So what items do you SUL'ers use and how do they function for multiple uses? Any help w/ my gear would be great.

Gear I use:
-2qty. Tyvek 5'X10' for ground sheet and tarp
-1 liter nalgene
-Coke Can stove w/ necessary Ethanol
-Lightweight cook pot(barely holds 2 cups)
-2 liter camel back for extra water
-Headlamp
-50' lightweight string
-Biodegradable Wet Wipes
-First Aid Kit (only w/ necessities)
-Minimal Clothes for weather
-A book for pleasure
-Food(lunch meats for 1st few days, dried noodles and packaged meats, some fruits/vegetables)
-Small Knife
-Toothbush, Small Bottle Toothpaste
-Bandana
-Sleeping Bag (Big One, I know I need to reduce weight on this one)
-3 Water proof stuff sacks(lightweight)
-Foldable Foam Sleeping pad(barely covers shoulders and hips)
-SD rain jacket
-Stuff sack and straps to hold sleeping bag to pack
-External frame pack(pleae don't rag me to hard on this one but I love my Kelty trekker).

Any Ideas?

[Lone Wolf]

Sul?......

[ScottP]

enjoy hiking with that setup

[ScottP]

Super Ultra Light

[Jim Adams]

nothing wrong with the external...comfortable and light.

geek

[A-Train]

Super ultralite?

I'm no expert on ultra light gear. My base weight was hovering around 15 lbs on the PCT this summer.

Ditch the Nalgene, get a Gatorade bottle. You could lose many pounds by switching to a lightweight sil nylon internal frame pack.
Ditch the knife, rip cheese with your fingers. You don't really need cord to hang food (others may disagree), frogg toggs rain coat, etc.

[Demortor]

Nothin wrong with a Kelty Trekker. I use one myself!

[The Doctor]

enjoy hiking with that setup

Yeah I do, but I would still prefer more comfort w/ less weight

[River Runner]

So alot of people have switched to SUL and I have been trying to do the same. So what items do you SUL'ers use and how do they function for multiple uses? Any help w/ my gear would be great.

Gear I use:
-2qty. Tyvek 5'X10' for ground sheet and tarp
-1 liter nalgene
-Coke Can stove w/ necessary Ethanol
-Lightweight cook pot(barely holds 2 cups)
-2 liter camel back for extra water
-Headlamp
-50' lightweight string
-Biodegradable Wet Wipes
-First Aid Kit (only w/ necessities)
-Minimal Clothes for weather
-A book for pleasure
-Food(lunch meats for 1st few days, dried noodles and packaged meats, some fruits/vegetables)
-Small Knife
-Toothbush, Small Bottle Toothpaste
-Bandana
-Sleeping Bag (Big One, I know I need to reduce weight on this one)
-3 Water proof stuff sacks(lightweight)
-Foldable Foam Sleeping pad(barely covers shoulders and hips)
-SD rain jacket
-Stuff sack and straps to hold sleeping bag to pack
-External frame pack(pleae don't rag me to hard on this one but I love my Kelty trekker).

Any Ideas?

You aren't even close to SUL with that list. SUL is 5 lb or less base weight. Go check out backpackinglight.com. Nalgenes, camelbacks, and books don't make the list.

[Ghost93]

.
Ditch the knife, rip cheese with your fingers.

Why ditch a small knife. It's the most multi-use item you can carry. Sure Ill grant you that a 7" bowie isn't nessary, but a folding knife say in the 3.5-2.5 inch range is more than woth its weight in gold. JMO I guess, but I'll always carry a blade of some sort no matter what. YMMV.

[The Doctor]

In regards to my new list of items to bring on the next hike:
(1) 5'X10' Tyvek to function as Bivy/Groundtarp/Tarp
(1) 2 liter hydration bladder
(1) 1.5 lbs down 32* sleeping bag
(1) Lightweight Headlamp (for night hiking)
(1) Soda Can Stove w/ 4oz. fuel (for 2 nights out)
(1) Folded 1/4 roll toilet paper
(1) lightweight 2cup pot for cooking
(1) lightweight bendable aluminum spoon
(1) 3oz. waterproof stuffsack turned into a backpack to hold gear

estimated base weight (w/o food or water): ~6lbs

Is this enough gear to survive comfortably in the warmer georgia nights of spring/summer?

Any suggestions to add or remove?

[scavenger]

Is this enough gear to survive comfortably in the warmer georgia nights of spring/summer?

Any suggestions to add or remove?

That really depends on what part of Georgia youre in, as in what elevation. And ditch that toilet paper, you can save like 10 grams!

[The Doctor]

That really depends on what part of Georgia youre in, as in what elevation. And ditch that toilet paper, you can save like 10 grams!

Sorry but the TP is an integral part of day

[hopefulhiker]

mapdana used for map,data, head band, pot holder, dish rag, hat, water strainer, towel, and place mat.

Sgt Rock's Coffee cup.. food rehydrator, dipper, cup, food storage.

small foam pad, padding for electronics, seat pad, food prep pad, pillow, used in between bony knees to sleep with

luxury lite pack cylinder, back pack and strung up as food bag, pillow or foot rest..

leki poles, tent poles.

clothes bag used as pillow

platypus/ pillow.

pack cylinders used as insulation sleep padding.

[River Runner]

In regards to my new list of items to bring on the next hike:
(1) 5'X10' Tyvek to function as Bivy/Groundtarp/Tarp
(1) 2 liter hydration bladder
(1) 1.5 lbs down 32* sleeping bag
(1) Lightweight Headlamp (for night hiking)
(1) Soda Can Stove w/ 4oz. fuel (for 2 nights out)
(1) Folded 1/4 roll toilet paper
(1) lightweight 2cup pot for cooking
(1) lightweight bendable aluminum spoon
(1) 3oz. waterproof stuffsack turned into a backpack to hold gear

estimated base weight (w/o food or water): ~6lbs

Is this enough gear to survive comfortably in the warmer georgia nights of spring/summer?

Any suggestions to add or remove?

I'd say you need a sleeping pad to be comfortable. I'm not sure how the 5 x 10 Tyvek is working for a tarp, ground cloth, and bivy all at once, but other than that unless it is a cold snap, I'd say it's looking good.

Most in the SUL category go with something like a Photon or other small light instead of a headlamp and are using recycled gatoraide (or similar) for water bottles instead of having the weight of a hose/bite valve though.

But if you are happy with the gear that's all that's really important. Being 5 lb or 6 lb isn't all that much of a difference.

[The Doctor]

I'd say you need a sleeping pad to be comfortable. I'm not sure how the 5 x 10 Tyvek is working for a tarp, ground cloth, and bivy all at once, but other than that unless it is a cold snap, I'd say it's looking good.

Most in the SUL category go with something like a Photon or other small light instead of a headlamp and are using recycled gatoraide (or similar) for water bottles instead of having the weight of a hose/bite valve though.

But if you are happy with the gear that's all that's really important. Being 5 lb or 6 lb isn't all that much of a difference.

The Tyvek 5'X10' will be used as a groundcloth(oversized). If it starts raining I can fold the extra 3.5' of tyvek up over my legs and then fold the tyvek over my body to form a ghetto bivy(this will remove the need for a tarp all together.

[River Runner]

The Tyvek 5'X10' will be used as a groundcloth(oversized). If it starts raining I can fold the extra 3.5' of tyvek up over my legs and then fold the tyvek over my body to form a ghetto bivy(this will remove the need for a tarp all together.

Then I'd say you probably need a tarp too. Just in case the weather is cold and rainy. I know I wouldn't want to rely on folding 5' of Tyvek over to keep me dry.

[River Runner]

Then I'd say you probably need a tarp too. Just in case the weather is cold and rainy. I know I wouldn't want to rely on folding 5' of Tyvek over to keep me dry.

Oh, and some sort of raingear too. A poncho tarp might work, but a little iffy when significant rain is expected.

[Dogwood]

Sounds like U are planning on getting wet and/or cold and/or uncomfortable with the ghetto bivy set-up U mention. U might want to consider a SUL waterproof bivy by itself(as low as 7-8 oz.) in place of a 5'x10' 5 oz.(may even be a bit heavier depending on exact size and type of Tyvek) piece of Tyvek. U don't say exactly where in GA Mnts. you'll be hiking. In some places, like along the AT, U can hike from shelter to shelter and totally forego bringing a shelter. Another, and customary way to tarp is to utilize a Solo sized SUL tarp(some as low as 4 oz) and a smaller piece(say 24"x 72") piece of Tyvek as a groundcloth. Yet another viable SUL shelter option is a poncho/tarp(if U do this U can Ditch the SD rain jacket). Ditch the $8 3oz. Nalgene , go with a plastic Gatorade or soda bottle. A Platypus water bladder is more compressible, lighter, and less expensive than a camel back, and it can easily be converted to a hydration system. Leave the wet wipes and TP at home. Be like a bear. Their will be lots of leaves on trees in the GA Mnts in late spring/summer. Small knife is fine just beware of heavy(5oz. or more) knives and multi tools. I never did find it nesessary for a hiking knife to have a corkscrew, collapsable scissors, 3 different sizes and types of screwdivers, a pair of pliers, plus a host of other McGyver like gadgets U rarely or never use. U don't say how long or how far U are going hiking. The 3 oz stuff sack converted into a backpack may get uncomfortable and not be very durable, but it may work for U for a short duration. The place for the biggest wt. reduction is in your choice of backpacks. Too many SUL alternatives to list here, but for some solid options consult the backpack comparison forum/chart at this site. If you're on a tight budget check gear forums for people selling good used gear cheaply or willing to swap gear. Totally personal choice, but most SUL'ers would not take a book because most don't want the added wt. and they tend to hike long hours so there is a lot less time to read than U might initially think. Might consider lite wt. sleeping pad. Does it really matter what your wt. is if U wake up with your body feeling like U have been mugged by Mike Tyson? Happy Hiking!

[The Doctor]

Sounds like U are planning on getting wet and/or cold and/or uncomfortable with the ghetto bivy set-up U mention. U might want to consider a SUL waterproof bivy by itself(as low as 7-8 oz.) in place of a 5'x10' 5 oz.(may even be a bit heavier depending on exact size and type of Tyvek) piece of Tyvek. U don't say exactly where in GA Mnts. you'll be hiking. In some places, like along the AT, U can hike from shelter to shelter and totally forego bringing a shelter. Another, and customary way to tarp is to utilize a Solo sized SUL tarp(some as low as 4 oz) and a smaller piece(say 24"x 72") piece of Tyvek as a groundcloth. Yet another viable SUL shelter option is a poncho/tarp(if U do this U can Ditch the SD rain jacket). Ditch the $8 3oz. Nalgene , go with a plastic Gatorade or soda bottle. A Platypus water bladder is more compressible, lighter, and less expensive than a camel back, and it can easily be converted to a hydration system. Leave the wet wipes and TP at home. Be like a bear. Their will be lots of leaves on trees in the GA Mnts in late spring/summer. Small knife is fine just beware of heavy(5oz. or more) knives and multi tools. I never did find it nesessary for a hiking knife to have a corkscrew, collapsable scissors, 3 different sizes and types of screwdivers, a pair of pliers, plus a host of other McGyver like gadgets U rarely or never use. U don't say how long or how far U are going hiking. The 3 oz stuff sack converted into a backpack may get uncomfortable and not be very durable, but it may work for U for a short duration. The place for the biggest wt. reduction is in your choice of backpacks. Too many SUL alternatives to list here, but for some solid options consult the backpack comparison forum/chart at this site. If you're on a tight budget check gear forums for people selling good used gear cheaply or willing to swap gear. Totally personal choice, but most SUL'ers would not take a book because most don't want the added wt. and they tend to hike long hours so there is a lot less time to read than U might initially think. Might consider lite wt. sleeping pad. Does it really matter what your wt. is if U wake up with your body feeling like U have been mugged by Mike Tyson? Happy Hiking!

Sorry, Ishould have been ore specific. I want to do go from
Maine to Ga with this setup. Ideally I will leave in Early August from Baxter and land home in Ga by late December. I wil try to wear the majority of my clothes and maybe carry and xtra pair of underpants, bandana and socks. I plan to resupply every 3rd day (due to small pack size). The 3oz. dry bag converted to a backpack will probably be slightly uncomfortable, but may plan is to disassemble an old school backpack and use the shoulder straps from that to make up the straps on the SUL pack. <--Has to be more comfortable than a 40lbs kelty trekker. Either way, I will probably ditch the heavy headlamp and shoot for a silnylon tarp with a smaller tyvek groundcloth(or SUL bivy). I will probably bring my cut down thermarest as well. Any thoughts on a better tent systems?