That's just normal backpacking behavior I think?😊 I pack heavier stuff planning on eating it on the first day or two and I def am not ultralight by a long shot. It just makes sense. Kind of like preloading with water before leaving camp vs carrying that extra half a liter
I find the fewer items I carry the less I need to manage. It's like decluttering your house. Fewer items, less weight, less mental and physical load can make for a more enjoyable adventure. But we all need to carry what we feel comfortable and safe with. In my first backpacking trip ever I carried "7 Sources Of Light". I had backups for my backups. As I gained experience and confidence I've been able to reduce everything. Not to mention, just getting ready for a trip is so much easier and there's less to forget. Great job pushing your comfort zone!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and perspective, Kevin! Travelling with less, in every sense, definitely has its perks, but like so many things, getting to that lighter place can be a journey!
There's a huge disparity between bringing 7 torches with you and trying to get your base weight under 10 lbs... Realizing you don't need 7 torches isn't an entry into ultralight backpacking lol.
I stay as light as possible cause I am 70 and need to take as much weight off my knees as possible. I would suggest a front strap bottle holder. I can’t reach bottles behind me either. I am a long distance hiker and have had reservoirs leak before. Also I add electrolytes to water and would not want that in my reservoir. I enjoy your videos. I love taking new people out. You remind me to be a little more light hearted about hiking. When doing long trails its easy to get into the mile mindset and forget to enjoy.
I do a 14 to 15 pound base weight with the same pack , adding a double wall tent, wide regular sleeping pad and comfy pillow. I feel like it's the perfect balance and weight.
So glad you did this, I always recommend to people you don’t have to be ‘ultralight’ to still switch to some lighter gear and not carry so much weight - to feel comfortable on long hikes, no other reason needed ❤. If you have back issues, switching to lighter is going to change your life!
@roberttrinies7698 the only one I can think of above that is the dcf big agnes tent. Otherwise even the zpacks duplex is less than that. And there's plenty of budget ones like lanshan tents and gossamer gear tents. Not everything UL is crazy expensive
Euh, she juste took the p... out of us, everything is sponsors, no?! If not by them , then by us via utube... Si who's judgemental here? She can be Lucky to have no future backaches . That's what I wish for all backpackers. Hit the camino as light as possible. It will give you grace
In my experience and desire to become a thru hiker/ultra light backpacker I’ve never looked at being sub any weight. Instead after every hike with traditional gear I’ve asked myself 2 things: -did I touch/use this item on this hike? If the answer is no, I don’t take it next time (with a couple exceptions) if the answer is yes I ask the next question: -can I be as comfortable on trail with a lighter version of this item? So my gear ends up an amalgamation of traditional and UL gear. It’s not the pursuit off a certain weight but a desire for my gear to work well and kinda synergize with me and my needs
Backpacking has two parts; walking and camping. It’s a trade off. If the walking is great due to UL, then the camping kind of sucks, and vice versa. A lot of it depends on how many miles you do in a day. 8 miles with 6 or 7 hours around camp before bed with an ultralight setup kinda sucks on the camping end. On the other hand, a 30 mile day with a 30 pound total weight load sucks on the walking end. That’s why I have two setups. An UL setup for putting in the miles trips, and an Osprey Aether for back country camping and fishing trips. I think I find the backcountry fishing trips more enjoyable. 5 to 10 miles of hiking, with 2 or 3 days of fishing by myself with all the comforts of home. 2 man trekking pole tent, 4 inch thick 25 inch wide Thermarest pad, extra battery bank to watch movies and read ebooks, tiny lantern with extra batteries, and a camp chair. It all still comes in at about 20 pounds, and I’m talking about full comfort boogie camping. On the other hand, my miles and miles setup is so minimalist that I carry it in a cheap 30 liter foldable daypack that weighs 11 ounces, and my summer base weight is about 7 pounds.
I'd recommend a clip-on bottle holder for your backpack strap, in the front. There are some on the market, or you could make one from nylon webbing or something; duck tape, even. To balance the weight, put the water bottle on the front on one side and snacks of the same weight on the other side. Or maybe bear spray on the other side; whatever works for your specific hike. Great video!
i see ultralight backpacking as a way to cover more ground faster. you don't need stuff to do at camp because you're only there to eat and sleep, the rest of the day you're on the move, and keeping warm. If i was doing 7 or 8 miles i'd be taking everything for comfort, the weight doesn't matter much. if i'm going lightweight, i'm aiming to do 20-30 miles a day depending on terrain.
Ah, that’s an excellent point. You’ve shed some light for me (and it tells me that, at least for now, I will not be ultralighting - even if I adopt *some* ultralight products.)
I agree about the water bottles! There's a guy called "One bottle hydration" who makes adapters and hoses for water bottles. To be completely honest, I'm not saving a lot of weight once I add the hose and bring 2 1L bottles. It's about the same weight per L of capacity as a 3L CamelBak. Still lighter cause it's 2L, usually. But it does have some advantages. The bottles are way easier to work with around camp and drink from in your tent at night when compared to a bladder. Way easier to pour and such. And a lot of UL backpacks aren't really hydration compatible and it makes them usable. It is more fiddly to fill than the bladder though and it needs to be switched when you finish a bottle I use a cnoc vecto filter bag and a 4 foot length of silicone tube and a Sawyer squeeze to gravity filter into my bottles or bladder (depending on what backpack I bring).
My kit is pretty similar! Z-packs makes a nice shoulder pouch that pairs well with the HMG backpack, which I use for my a smaller easy-reach water bottle. I either use a vitamin water bottle or a tiny Nalgene. The wider mouth is nice for mixing in drink powders. I refill that from the larger smart water bottles in the back. I used a quilt for years and was always cold. I recently switched to a Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag. I also have never used a tarp because I hate bugs! I opted for the Big Agnes Fly Creek instead. I know it's redundant to carry the poles, but it works for me. Cat food can alcohol stove saves me enough weight for an inflatable Sea to Summit pillow :)
I stopped using bladders yeeeeears ago. Hard to tell how much water you have left (and conversely, how much you’ve taken in for sufficient hydration). Placing two water bottles on the front straps is the ticket. On long stretches you can do two in the front and two in the pack pockets. Balances the pack beautifully. Btw, I’ve gone from regular to UL and then all the way down to SUL (sub 5lbs…NOT comfy but it was fun putting thought into the process). Now I’m back to about 13-15lbs base. You can still have all the creature comforts at the near-UL range.
Congrats on moving the comfort zone! I am at a base wright of 12.5 & I don''t use a quilt- I love my bag. The most useful UL habit I've picked up is backcountry bidet. I am on a mission to remove TP from a backpack entirely. It's cleaner, lighter, easier and way less gross.
I'm not an ultralight backpacker, but I'm also not a thru hiker covering hundreds or thousands of miles. It is cool learning how to travel lighter regardless of the miles travelled. ✌️
I use a piece of clear tubing that fits into a sport cap (flip top) water bottle. Works like a straw. I got it in plumbing section at the hardware store and cut it to length. Works great.
The flexible setup options for the tarp tent are pretty cool. Definitely a serious adjustment from a standard tent, but the options are certainly interesting for the drier seasons.
My brother and I thru hiked the 96 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail in February. My base weight was 21. Not bad right. Well, the last camp sight we had was 1 mile from a trail head we would pass driving out. So we stashed everything we didn't need for that last day in our compactor bags and hid them in the brush. Wow!!! We hiked so much faster and I was so much more comfortable. We did 26.6 miles that day, (after a wrong turn that added 6 mile. 😬). But that day 100% convinced me it was time to cut my pack weigh down. I don't think I'll ever be UL. But, my new base weight is 13 pounds. So huge difference in comfort while hiking. Thanks for your video. It was really fun to watch and see your experience.
If you're cold at night, consider a bivy bag. They say it adds about 10 degrees to your bags rating. Never seen proof of that, but it does make me warmer.
This is great, because its the backpacking trip I'm taking in July (my second ever) and I adore Miranda, and I'm overthinking ultralight products vs regular backpacking weight lol. I'm planning to be around 25lbs total weight, and part of that is getting to use my lightweight hammock and light down quilt, so actually seeing the land is helpful.
I agree with your concluding comments, although I am still not a fan of "lightweight" backpacking, at least not to the degree of a "purist"-"militant" one. Even so I see the benefit of carrying less weight and I guess I would begin with two items: backpack and sleeping bag BUT only if these items are at least as comfortable and functional as what I have used until now. I will give it a try, for sure.
You can hook up a hose with a smartwater bottle so it acts like a 1L bladder if you wanted. Better are packs that store the water bottle more accessibly (a lot of people use a shoulder-strap holder). Options for everyone! 🙂
Bin the bidet thing, just hook your sawyer mini to your waterbottle and use that to sluice/rinse. Paper napkinettes to dry and they go in a ziplock either to burn or drop in a trailbin later.
I absolutely adore the video by JupiterHikes, "When Two Ultralight Backpackers Meet". UL and conventional backpackers alike can get a laugh out of it. Justin Outdoors feels the same way you do about water bottles. Every review he does of his ultralight (and otherwise) packs include his commentary on whether the water bottles are easy to grab.
Love your videos Miranda!! I've learned a ton, too! I just don't throw myself in a hiker "box" I just say I'm me with a pack! Try to go as lite as I can afford, take as little as I need and pray it's under 20! I guess I'm in the under 20 crowd! Happy trails Miranda!!!😊😅
I'm at 12 pounds base. With fuel, long wide pad and a rei chair....osprey exos too. Sleep and tent will get you down low enough and still have a traditional pack. I won't go with ul packs for the discomfort. The tarp weights more then some dcf tents.....but you gotta pay.
Try loosening your straps so that your pack tilts back, you can now grab your water bottle take a drink, replace it in the side pocket re-tighten the straps and off you go, easy! I do it all the time.
Brilliant video, so refeshing! Just what is it about 'gnarley outdoor types' who feel, 'it's there way or no way'? Keep making the great video's Miranda!! 👍
Enjoyed the video. It makes a point: kit must fit you, not you fit the kit. Perhaps minimalism has to be a little at a time. I'd still be bringing an extra mat (4 sections of a z-lite type to sit comfortably, or under sleeping pad to protect and up warmth), an extra cup (S2S X-mug) and a full toothbrush. On short walks a chair and even shockingly a coffee grinder :D All those ounces, but the non-flat rear and fresh coffee might well make up for it. Might come a little late tip, but might help someone. On the C shelter, at a cost of an extra guy line and a short peg, 5g+13g (or a makeshift peg or something to tie the guy to), use one to pull the centre of the tarp out and create some space inside. ATB.
An awesome, light weight, game for camping/hiking/backpacking is Zombie Dice. It's super simple, very fun, and is essentially a bag of special 6-sided dice.
Been a tarp guy a long time, 45 years. Thing about a tarp, compared to a tent, choice of site is more important. With a tarp you must protect yourself with the terrain, trees and bushes. With a tent, almost any flat space is adequate.
not sure if it would be helpful for the ultralight experiment, but I like having a water bottle on a sling. it's quite a bit more convenient if you can get used to the bounce on your hip.
I think the primary problem is that you're limited to only gear that REI sells, and REI still doesn't outfit for ultralight. They have some things that qualify, but they're just not great in comparison to what's available in the broader market.
One Bottle Hydration makes a tube system with a bite valve that converts any water bottle into a reservoir. 2.8 ounces well spent if you have T-Rex arms like me.
Excellent video, I really feel like I'm in a similar place as your starting point. I have backpacked a lot in a lot of different situations, but never ultralight. And while I really enjoyed the video, I think I still have a strong aversion to the ultralight mindset. Obviously lightweighting is at the heart of backpacking gear selection. But to go full engineering nerd for a second, I think ultralighting takes a complex and interesting optimization problem and just drastically overtunes for one parameter while sacrificimg everything else. That feels like the least nuanced, least interesting answer. For me, backpacking is a careful balance of safety, camp comfort, sleep comfort, hiking comfort, and enjoyment. I think ultralighting radically sacrifices 3 of those goals, and arguably sacrifices 4 of them, to maximize one of them. That said, I obviously don't understand ultralighting, so perhaps some ultralighters could explain the thought process.
I'm somewhat of an ultralighter. I think the part that you're missing is that there are people that actually require much less to satisfy those 5 axes that you listed. It's like how some people are happier living a minimalist lifestyle. I don't think I'm sacrificing anything by: using a water bottle instead of a water bladder, using a down jacket as my pillow, using a minimalist backpack that is actually much more comfortable and simple to use than a traditional one, not bringing stuff sacks, etc. But everyone is different, and if these ARE sacrifices to you then of course you have experiment with that balance.
I only use a 35 liter pack but I don't consider myself an ultralight backpacker. I found that being more concerned with item size than weight allows me to maintain my desired level of comfort while keeping a small package. Doing this will more often than not end in a lighter pack overall.
nice an funny video… i also cant unterstand the sence of function before komfort😂 but, he i cant find in your list the cap on your head. which one is it? i like😁
To each their own I guess. I gladly schlep a few extra pounds for creature comforts like a coffee grinder and Platypus bottles w/wine. Greetings from Germany 👍
Miranda: I know this is really late but I have heard that if you put the bottom part of your sleeping bag into your pack while sleeping it will help keep you warmer...not that I have tried it.
I took the tube from another hydration pack, poked a hole in the smart water bottle cap and shoved the tube through with an O-ring. Not perfect because I collapse the bottle some but so much easier without the hydration pack!
I know MyLifeOutside uses a waterbottle to camel pouch-drink tube? You use the waterbottle in the bottle pocket, but you still have the drinking straw!! I wanna try it and thought id share incase not many peeps have heard of it.
I wasn't ultralight until a back injury and my refusal to stop backpacking. Went from always having 38+ lbs to a 10lb base weight. It's a necessity for me. And No I'm not better than anyone else outhere. Just be comfortable.
I broke my back 3 years ago. I was going to try back packing in October. Rented a tent and back back from REI. My son laughed at joe much stuff I thought I would bring. The pack ended up weighing 34 pounds. I put it on and almost fell over backwards. Didn’t happen. Gonna try again and getting my stuff together. Still need to work up to weight and a actual solo night. I car camp and I’m spoiled.
Switch out the canister stove for an alcohol stove. I freaking LOVE alcohol stoves. Not as fast not as noisy but a lot less weight I designed a stove from the bottom of two aluminum cans 53 mm in diameter and weighs 6.9 grams alcohol stoves are great for stealth camping when you don't want to attract too much attention
Quick question! I’m going on my first backpacking trip this summer (I’m 16) and I’m debating whether or not to get a bear canister. I don’t have a ton of space (I have a 60L pack but I’m also carrying a 2 person tent by myself) and they’re kind of expensive so I was just considering getting reusable scent proof bags. I’m backpacking in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness on Lake Michigan and there’s a lot of wildlife but not many bears. Should I just buy the bear canister or go with the scent proof bags?
Hey Alexandra! Congratulations on your first backpacking trip this summer. It's sure to be memorable. So, if a bear canister is not specifically required but you still need to protect your food from bears and other wildlife, then a bear bag is a good choice. If bears aren't a concern at all, odor proof bags are fine. We've got more thoughts here: bit.ly/3kSAwFd
Hello! PM is correct. Miranda's total weight was 9.8 pounds (3:36). Base weight is how much your loaded pack weighs, minus “consumables,” such as food, water and fuel. See more here: bit.ly/3WnmA5U
Check out this adaption for your smart water bottle …that will help you leave it in your pack , but be able to drink on the move. Hydration System for 28mm for SmartWater Bottle adaptor by One Bottle Hydration
My buddy and I use the 10 lb thing as a goal but have never actually gotten there. Although I do have a pretty darn light pack at around 12 lbs base. Every year I try to find something that is lighter than what I have but I will never compromise my comfort for the pride of saying I am an ultralighter. I'd say I am a "light weighter".
If water is unreachable, pack is riding too high and torso-length is probably too short; because HMG's side water-pockets are otherwise best-in-class. Unfortunately, HMG's packs overall are not. (try LiteAF and select a longer torso-length). Another solution is to carry water on shoulder-strap(s). Shoulder-strap water-bottle carry has the added benefit of balancing some pack-weight forward, thus lessening the tendency to hunch forward while hiking.
you can tell her HMG pack was sized accordingly, so it wasn't a function of the pack riding high or wrong torso to pack size. so, instead of just adding some weight with a bladder, you add some weight with a shoulder strap carrier that doesn't carry much. weight on shoulder strap isn't going to balance you out from hunching forward, if anything lots of weight forward of you is going to increase your hunch forward.
@@hanwagu9967 - Natural instinct is to move center-of-mass toward one's center-of-gravity. If all the mass is behind, then leaning-forward is the natural response. If instead, you wanted to argue a valid point, you could've noted that any weight on the forward shoulder-strap is weight that has to be carried by the shoulder (vs the more optimal waist/hips). Unfortunately, you made an incorrect point instead. Also, pack is clearly riding-high and is not fitted properly. That's strike-two. You're 0-2, care to finish striking-out?
I understand the positives of ultra light but idk i think taking stuff out that i see the need for safety, support, mental stability isnt worth it. Id rather have 12 lbs and not be a cool ultra light hiker than being at 10 lbs and not have what is needed.
„I’m going ultra light“, same person „I’m bringing a sit pad, Swiss Army knife and soap“ me as an ultra lighter „bro my tooth brush doesn’t even have a handle“
"I wonder if I should eat my heaviest meal on the fist night" may be the most UL thing I've ever heard. Welcome to the Light Side.
That's just normal backpacking behavior I think?😊 I pack heavier stuff planning on eating it on the first day or two and I def am not ultralight by a long shot. It just makes sense. Kind of like preloading with water before leaving camp vs carrying that extra half a liter
I find the fewer items I carry the less I need to manage. It's like decluttering your house. Fewer items, less weight, less mental and physical load can make for a more enjoyable adventure. But we all need to carry what we feel comfortable and safe with. In my first backpacking trip ever I carried "7 Sources Of Light". I had backups for my backups. As I gained experience and confidence I've been able to reduce everything. Not to mention, just getting ready for a trip is so much easier and there's less to forget. Great job pushing your comfort zone!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and perspective, Kevin! Travelling with less, in every sense, definitely has its perks, but like so many things, getting to that lighter place can be a journey!
There's a huge disparity between bringing 7 torches with you and trying to get your base weight under 10 lbs... Realizing you don't need 7 torches isn't an entry into ultralight backpacking lol.
Haha, indeed. But it's a start and you gotta start somewhere and that's where my journey began. 😉
@@owjbehdobw4711 It could be for some. Let us not gate keep.
I stay as light as possible cause I am 70 and need to take as much weight off my knees as possible. I would suggest a front strap bottle holder. I can’t reach bottles behind me either. I am a long distance hiker and have had reservoirs leak before. Also I add electrolytes to water and would not want that in my reservoir. I enjoy your videos. I love taking new people out. You remind me to be a little more light hearted about hiking. When doing long trails its easy to get into the mile mindset and forget to enjoy.
❤
I do a 14 to 15 pound base weight with the same pack , adding a double wall tent, wide regular sleeping pad and comfy pillow. I feel like it's the perfect balance and weight.
“Blah blah, Ultralight, blah blah, I’m better than you, blah blah blah”
I NEED you to know how much I loved that comment 😂😭
“Kids watch the show”. As a Mom of a Scout I really appreciate you thinking about this! Now I know I can safely let my kiddo watch the show with me!
So glad you did this, I always recommend to people you don’t have to be ‘ultralight’ to still switch to some lighter gear and not carry so much weight - to feel comfortable on long hikes, no other reason needed ❤. If you have back issues, switching to lighter is going to change your life!
REI. The place where you spend $900 on 10lbs of gear.
Ultralight tents cost that much and more.
@roberttrinies7698 the only one I can think of above that is the dcf big agnes tent. Otherwise even the zpacks duplex is less than that. And there's plenty of budget ones like lanshan tents and gossamer gear tents. Not everything UL is crazy expensive
$900? You got away cheap!
@@davidhallet9269 Especially if you're buying mediocre equipment from the severely overpriced REI store. I'd never spend a dime in there.
Euh, she juste took the p... out of us, everything is sponsors, no?! If not by them , then by us via utube...
Si who's judgemental here? She can be Lucky to have no future backaches . That's what I wish for all backpackers. Hit the camino as light as possible. It will give you grace
In my experience and desire to become a thru hiker/ultra light backpacker I’ve never looked at being sub any weight. Instead after every hike with traditional gear I’ve asked myself 2 things:
-did I touch/use this item on this hike? If the answer is no, I don’t take it next time (with a couple exceptions) if the answer is yes I ask the next question:
-can I be as comfortable on trail with a lighter version of this item?
So my gear ends up an amalgamation of traditional and UL gear. It’s not the pursuit off a certain weight but a desire for my gear to work well and kinda synergize with me and my needs
These are very thoughtful questions. Thanks for sharing, Garrett!
Freaking nailed it!
Backpacking has two parts; walking and camping. It’s a trade off. If the walking is great due to UL, then the camping kind of sucks, and vice versa. A lot of it depends on how many miles you do in a day. 8 miles with 6 or 7 hours around camp before bed with an ultralight setup kinda sucks on the camping end. On the other hand, a 30 mile day with a 30 pound total weight load sucks on the walking end. That’s why I have two setups. An UL setup for putting in the miles trips, and an Osprey Aether for back country camping and fishing trips. I think I find the backcountry fishing trips more enjoyable. 5 to 10 miles of hiking, with 2 or 3 days of fishing by myself with all the comforts of home. 2 man trekking pole tent, 4 inch thick 25 inch wide Thermarest pad, extra battery bank to watch movies and read ebooks, tiny lantern with extra batteries, and a camp chair. It all still comes in at about 20 pounds, and I’m talking about full comfort boogie camping. On the other hand, my miles and miles setup is so minimalist that I carry it in a cheap 30 liter foldable daypack that weighs 11 ounces, and my summer base weight is about 7 pounds.
Walking and camping and determining your comfort trade offs, describes backpacking in a nutshell!
... Amen ... I should have read the comments before adding one ..
I'd recommend a clip-on bottle holder for your backpack strap, in the front. There are some on the market, or you could make one from nylon webbing or something; duck tape, even. To balance the weight, put the water bottle on the front on one side and snacks of the same weight on the other side. Or maybe bear spray on the other side; whatever works for your specific hike. Great video!
Thanks for the kudos, and the suggestion, Julia!
Two zip ties, a small carabiner and 8" of shock cord is a great solution...several vids out there. It's like 1$ of materials.
@@chiznowtch But wouldn't that have put it over the 10lb limit?😅
haha, setting up the tarp with the opening into the wind....funny stuff. Awesome vid
You know your close when you're smelling each other's pits 🤣🤣🤣
You guys are the best. ♡
i see ultralight backpacking as a way to cover more ground faster. you don't need stuff to do at camp because you're only there to eat and sleep, the rest of the day you're on the move, and keeping warm. If i was doing 7 or 8 miles i'd be taking everything for comfort, the weight doesn't matter much. if i'm going lightweight, i'm aiming to do 20-30 miles a day depending on terrain.
Ah, that’s an excellent point. You’ve shed some light for me (and it tells me that, at least for now, I will not be ultralighting - even if I adopt *some* ultralight products.)
Right, if you are doing less than 10 miles a day, you are more in camp than on trail. Nothing wrong with that, of course
I agree about the water bottles! There's a guy called "One bottle hydration" who makes adapters and hoses for water bottles. To be completely honest, I'm not saving a lot of weight once I add the hose and bring 2 1L bottles. It's about the same weight per L of capacity as a 3L CamelBak. Still lighter cause it's 2L, usually.
But it does have some advantages. The bottles are way easier to work with around camp and drink from in your tent at night when compared to a bladder. Way easier to pour and such. And a lot of UL backpacks aren't really hydration compatible and it makes them usable. It is more fiddly to fill than the bladder though and it needs to be switched when you finish a bottle
I use a cnoc vecto filter bag and a 4 foot length of silicone tube and a Sawyer squeeze to gravity filter into my bottles or bladder (depending on what backpack I bring).
Miranda: I’ve already done 15 miles today, and I’m still feeling great! I think we’ll go another 5 or so miles
Crew: 👁️👄👁️🎥
😆
Much less, its seems more lighthiking than lightweightpacking, no?
My kit is pretty similar! Z-packs makes a nice shoulder pouch that pairs well with the HMG backpack, which I use for my a smaller easy-reach water bottle. I either use a vitamin water bottle or a tiny Nalgene. The wider mouth is nice for mixing in drink powders. I refill that from the larger smart water bottles in the back. I used a quilt for years and was always cold. I recently switched to a Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag. I also have never used a tarp because I hate bugs! I opted for the Big Agnes Fly Creek instead. I know it's redundant to carry the poles, but it works for me. Cat food can alcohol stove saves me enough weight for an inflatable Sea to Summit pillow :)
Recommend using a bivy as shelter (such as OR helium bivy)! Always used one when ultra-light or generally lighter base weight.
I have an OR alpine bivy I want to use... do u just pring a small poncho tarp for exit,entering in the rain?
Depends on the temperature, surely? In summer an open tarp seems like a better bet.
I stopped using bladders yeeeeears ago. Hard to tell how much water you have left (and conversely, how much you’ve taken in for sufficient hydration). Placing two water bottles on the front straps is the ticket. On long stretches you can do two in the front and two in the pack pockets. Balances the pack beautifully.
Btw, I’ve gone from regular to UL and then all the way down to SUL (sub 5lbs…NOT comfy but it was fun putting thought into the process). Now I’m back to about 13-15lbs base. You can still have all the creature comforts at the near-UL range.
Same. I used to do a 20-lb. baseweight, then down to a 9-lb. baseweight, now I’m back to 11-12-lbs. which I’ve found has been perfect.
Congrats on moving the comfort zone! I am at a base wright of 12.5 & I don''t use a quilt- I love my bag. The most useful UL habit I've picked up is backcountry bidet. I am on a mission to remove TP from a backpack entirely. It's cleaner, lighter, easier and way less gross.
What is backcountry bidet?
@@leleprtk a bidet you can use in the backcountry. Mine screws onto my water bottle.
I like being somewhere in between regular and ultralight backpacking. I have many ultralight items, but a traditional pack and it works well for me.
lightweight backpacking is the term you're looking for. Typically 10-20lbs
I'm not an ultralight backpacker, but I'm also not a thru hiker covering hundreds or thousands of miles. It is cool learning how to travel lighter regardless of the miles travelled. ✌️
Agreed Robert! There are always tips and tricks to learn.
I use a piece of clear tubing that fits into a sport cap (flip top) water bottle. Works like a straw. I got it in plumbing section at the hardware store and cut it to length. Works great.
It is absolutely the spirit of ultralight to figure out how to fit a sit pad and camp shoes into a sub 10 lb base weight. I love it.
The flexible setup options for the tarp tent are pretty cool. Definitely a serious adjustment from a standard tent, but the options are certainly interesting for the drier seasons.
My brother and I thru hiked the 96 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail in February. My base weight was 21. Not bad right. Well, the last camp sight we had was 1 mile from a trail head we would pass driving out. So we stashed everything we didn't need for that last day in our compactor bags and hid them in the brush. Wow!!! We hiked so much faster and I was so much more comfortable. We did 26.6 miles that day, (after a wrong turn that added 6 mile. 😬). But that day 100% convinced me it was time to cut my pack weigh down. I don't think I'll ever be UL. But, my new base weight is 13 pounds. So huge difference in comfort while hiking. Thanks for your video. It was really fun to watch and see your experience.
.. probably lucky it was there when you arrived .. risky but hey ,, it's only 1 more mile ...
If you're cold at night, consider a bivy bag. They say it adds about 10 degrees to your bags rating. Never seen proof of that, but it does make me warmer.
This is great, because its the backpacking trip I'm taking in July (my second ever) and I adore Miranda, and I'm overthinking ultralight products vs regular backpacking weight lol. I'm planning to be around 25lbs total weight, and part of that is getting to use my lightweight hammock and light down quilt, so actually seeing the land is helpful.
You're in Arizona! I was wondering why those trees look familiar! It's my home state! I hope you enjoyed your backpacking trip here! 🙂
Full length pad, pillow and a front shoulder bag for a smaller water bottle. Also do an ultra light single wall tent. You will love life
Might help with warmth by clipping the quilt to the cords on top of the sleeping pad rather than wrapping it completely around it.
This.
Yeah, she's got it set up all wrong.
For anyone with the same water issue I recommend getting a should strap pouch. Game changer.
I agree with your concluding comments, although I am still not a fan of "lightweight" backpacking, at least not to the degree of a "purist"-"militant" one. Even so I see the benefit of carrying less weight and I guess I would begin with two items: backpack and sleeping bag BUT only if these items are at least as comfortable and functional as what I have used until now. I will give it a try, for sure.
There are sleeves that can go on the pack straps and you can use those to hold your water bottle.
You can hook up a hose with a smartwater bottle so it acts like a 1L bladder if you wanted. Better are packs that store the water bottle more accessibly (a lot of people use a shoulder-strap holder). Options for everyone! 🙂
Bin the bidet thing, just hook your sawyer mini to your waterbottle and use that to sluice/rinse.
Paper napkinettes to dry and they go in a ziplock either to burn or drop in a trailbin later.
I absolutely adore the video by JupiterHikes, "When Two Ultralight Backpackers Meet". UL and conventional backpackers alike can get a laugh out of it. Justin Outdoors feels the same way you do about water bottles. Every review he does of his ultralight (and otherwise) packs include his commentary on whether the water bottles are easy to grab.
Love your videos Miranda!! I've learned a ton, too! I just don't throw myself in a hiker "box" I just say I'm me with a pack! Try to go as lite as I can afford, take as little as I need and pray it's under 20! I guess I'm in the under 20 crowd! Happy trails Miranda!!!😊😅
I'm convinced you have the COOLEST job 😍
I'm at 12 pounds base. With fuel, long wide pad and a rei chair....osprey exos too. Sleep and tent will get you down low enough and still have a traditional pack. I won't go with ul packs for the discomfort. The tarp weights more then some dcf tents.....but you gotta pay.
Try loosening your straps so that your pack tilts back, you can now grab your water bottle take a drink, replace it in the side pocket re-tighten the straps and off you go, easy! I do it all the time.
Brilliant video, so refeshing! Just what is it about 'gnarley outdoor types' who feel, 'it's there way or no way'? Keep making the great video's Miranda!! 👍
Enjoyed the video. It makes a point: kit must fit you, not you fit the kit. Perhaps minimalism has to be a little at a time. I'd still be bringing an extra mat (4 sections of a z-lite type to sit comfortably, or under sleeping pad to protect and up warmth), an extra cup (S2S X-mug) and a full toothbrush. On short walks a chair and even shockingly a coffee grinder :D All those ounces, but the non-flat rear and fresh coffee might well make up for it.
Might come a little late tip, but might help someone. On the C shelter, at a cost of an extra guy line and a short peg, 5g+13g (or a makeshift peg or something to tie the guy to), use one to pull the centre of the tarp out and create some space inside. ATB.
"Fudge the meanies" should be on a shirt or sticker lol
An awesome, light weight, game for camping/hiking/backpacking is Zombie Dice. It's super simple, very fun, and is essentially a bag of special 6-sided dice.
Been a tarp guy a long time, 45 years. Thing about a tarp, compared to a tent, choice of site is more important. With a tarp you must protect yourself with the terrain, trees and bushes. With a tent, almost any flat space is adequate.
The simple solution to your waterbottle problem is a pack strap carrier for them. Many people sell these.
not sure if it would be helpful for the ultralight experiment, but I like having a water bottle on a sling. it's quite a bit more convenient if you can get used to the bounce on your hip.
I think the primary problem is that you're limited to only gear that REI sells, and REI still doesn't outfit for ultralight. They have some things that qualify, but they're just not great in comparison to what's available in the broader market.
One Bottle Hydration makes a tube system with a bite valve that converts any water bottle into a reservoir. 2.8 ounces well spent if you have T-Rex arms like me.
Excellent video, I really feel like I'm in a similar place as your starting point. I have backpacked a lot in a lot of different situations, but never ultralight. And while I really enjoyed the video, I think I still have a strong aversion to the ultralight mindset.
Obviously lightweighting is at the heart of backpacking gear selection. But to go full engineering nerd for a second, I think ultralighting takes a complex and interesting optimization problem and just drastically overtunes for one parameter while sacrificimg everything else. That feels like the least nuanced, least interesting answer. For me, backpacking is a careful balance of safety, camp comfort, sleep comfort, hiking comfort, and enjoyment. I think ultralighting radically sacrifices 3 of those goals, and arguably sacrifices 4 of them, to maximize one of them. That said, I obviously don't understand ultralighting, so perhaps some ultralighters could explain the thought process.
You nailed it.
Well said!
I'm somewhat of an ultralighter. I think the part that you're missing is that there are people that actually require much less to satisfy those 5 axes that you listed. It's like how some people are happier living a minimalist lifestyle. I don't think I'm sacrificing anything by: using a water bottle instead of a water bladder, using a down jacket as my pillow, using a minimalist backpack that is actually much more comfortable and simple to use than a traditional one, not bringing stuff sacks, etc. But everyone is different, and if these ARE sacrifices to you then of course you have experiment with that balance.
I only use a 35 liter pack but I don't consider myself an ultralight backpacker. I found that being more concerned with item size than weight allows me to maintain my desired level of comfort while keeping a small package. Doing this will more often than not end in a lighter pack overall.
Haha we just did this trail last week and had the same reaction to that washed out road. 😅
Miranda seems to feel exactly as I do about water bottles and most backpacks' inability to provide easy access to them >_>
,, There are pouches made for hip belts and shoulder straps ,, don't have to use the pack pockets ..
@@rockytopwrangler2069 Not all of us walk for recreation though 😅
Try a mylar blanket with your sleeping kit. Try a 6 inch piece of paracord around your water bottle neck.
I find the correct weight to carry is the weight you feel comfortable with, you should not get too booged down with numbers
nice an funny video… i also cant unterstand the sence of function before komfort😂 but, he i cant find in your list the cap on your head. which one is it? i like😁
To each their own I guess. I gladly schlep a few extra pounds for creature comforts like a coffee grinder and Platypus bottles w/wine. Greetings from Germany 👍
Are you wearing the Run Rabbit SPF hoodie? If so, I have it too and did R2R in October with it. Love it
Miranda: I know this is really late but I have heard that if you put the bottom part of your sleeping bag into your pack while sleeping it will help keep you warmer...not that I have tried it.
I took the tube from another hydration pack, poked a hole in the smart water bottle cap and shoved the tube through with an O-ring. Not perfect because I collapse the bottle some but so much easier without the hydration pack!
There are hydration tubes that connect to smartwater bottles; best of both!
You should do a review of camp games.
I just realised that tarp is not for me. Tent enclosed and safer feeling. Warmer too
Miranda: Please don't include this in the video.
Abby: Ok
Also Abby: 😈
I know MyLifeOutside uses a waterbottle to camel pouch-drink tube? You use the waterbottle in the bottle pocket, but you still have the drinking straw!! I wanna try it and thought id share incase not many peeps have heard of it.
Is that pack loud, crunchy? are all UL packs? dyneema? vs others? quieter?
I wasn't ultralight until a back injury and my refusal to stop backpacking. Went from always having 38+ lbs to a 10lb base weight. It's a necessity for me. And No I'm not better than anyone else outhere. Just be comfortable.
I broke my back 3 years ago. I was going to try back packing in October. Rented a tent and back back from REI. My son laughed at joe much stuff I thought I would bring. The pack ended up weighing 34 pounds. I put it on and almost fell over backwards. Didn’t happen. Gonna try again and getting my stuff together. Still
need to work up to weight and a actual solo night. I car camp and I’m spoiled.
Thank You. So what does your backpack weigh with food and water? I put at least 1 bottle up front.
Switch out the canister stove for an alcohol stove. I freaking LOVE alcohol stoves. Not as fast not as noisy but a lot less weight I designed a stove from the bottom of two aluminum cans 53 mm in diameter and weighs 6.9 grams alcohol stoves are great for stealth camping when you don't want to attract too much attention
Have you checked out one bottle adapter for the smart bottle. Best of both worlds.
What hot sauce do you use 😂 Thanks! Love your videos. ❤❤
you should try an ultralight tent from durston or zpacks
I hiked the pct with a hydration bladder. Hydration bladder squad for life
Make a diy resevoir - hole in bottle cap, rubber tube over shoulder.
Quick question! I’m going on my first backpacking trip this summer (I’m 16) and I’m debating whether or not to get a bear canister. I don’t have a ton of space (I have a 60L pack but I’m also carrying a 2 person tent by myself) and they’re kind of expensive so I was just considering getting reusable scent proof bags. I’m backpacking in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness on Lake Michigan and there’s a lot of wildlife but not many bears. Should I just buy the bear canister or go with the scent proof bags?
Hey Alexandra! Congratulations on your first backpacking trip this summer. It's sure to be memorable. So, if a bear canister is not specifically required but you still need to protect your food from bears and other wildlife, then a bear bag is a good choice. If bears aren't a concern at all, odor proof bags are fine. We've got more thoughts here: bit.ly/3kSAwFd
Take one opposite arm out. The reach for bottle will be easy!😮
As someone who has a connective tissue disorder, the only way I’ll be able to backpack is by going ultralight.
try tying a cord to the bottle to pull it out over your shoulder . see if it helps
Curious what your total pack weight is ? I’m a newbie and trying to get a better understanding of base weight vs total
i believe she said 9.8lbs
@@HeyItsPM ..thanks, i could not remember if that was her base weight or total pack weight.
Hello! PM is correct. Miranda's total weight was 9.8 pounds (3:36). Base weight is how much your loaded pack weighs, minus “consumables,” such as food, water and fuel. See more here: bit.ly/3WnmA5U
@@rei thank you! That is crazy low weight. Currently my base weight is 12 and around 17 total! I’ve got work to do!
You're welcome! As you continue to explore UL backpacking you'll learn what works for you (and your kit) and what doesn't.
What’s that hat you’re wearing with the elastic band?
Can you demonstrate the use of these things?
Check out this adaption for your smart water bottle …that will help you leave it in your pack , but be able to drink on the move. Hydration System for 28mm for SmartWater Bottle adaptor by One Bottle Hydration
thanks your sharing
I do UL to be able to average 20 miles a day 3 day trips seems to be the sweet spot for me
and yes I Use water Container with a hose
My buddy and I use the 10 lb thing as a goal but have never actually gotten there. Although I do have a pretty darn light pack at around 12 lbs base. Every year I try to find something that is lighter than what I have but I will never compromise my comfort for the pride of saying I am an ultralighter. I'd say I am a "light weighter".
That's OK! It sounds like you have a balanced approach that works for you!
@@rei yep! And that is all that matters! Have fun out there!
Zpacks shoulder strap bottle holder will fix your smart water bottle issues.
REI thats my slang tonge being the name of your channel .pretty catchy
What is the brand of the hat you are wearing!?
Ultralighters are the cyclists of the hiking community
If water is unreachable, pack is riding too high and torso-length is probably too short; because HMG's side water-pockets are otherwise best-in-class. Unfortunately, HMG's packs overall are not. (try LiteAF and select a longer torso-length). Another solution is to carry water on shoulder-strap(s). Shoulder-strap water-bottle carry has the added benefit of balancing some pack-weight forward, thus lessening the tendency to hunch forward while hiking.
you can tell her HMG pack was sized accordingly, so it wasn't a function of the pack riding high or wrong torso to pack size. so, instead of just adding some weight with a bladder, you add some weight with a shoulder strap carrier that doesn't carry much. weight on shoulder strap isn't going to balance you out from hunching forward, if anything lots of weight forward of you is going to increase your hunch forward.
@@hanwagu9967 - Natural instinct is to move center-of-mass toward one's center-of-gravity. If all the mass is behind, then leaning-forward is the natural response. If instead, you wanted to argue a valid point, you could've noted that any weight on the forward shoulder-strap is weight that has to be carried by the shoulder (vs the more optimal waist/hips). Unfortunately, you made an incorrect point instead. Also, pack is clearly riding-high and is not fitted properly. That's strike-two. You're 0-2, care to finish striking-out?
REI couldn’t hook you up with a regular UL tent?
What type of sleep system do you used for ultra light?
In this video thermarest xlite pad, quarterdome sl2 tarp, looks like she used a magma 30 for her quilt.
Shouldn’t ultralight be a different number depending on your size? Like a % of body weight or something?
What ball cap is she wearing? Looks light and breathable... I want one!
maybe you already found out, but it's a parapack p-cap :)
You need a shoulder water bottle holder.
The Daily mileage you said is like 2 hours of walking. I’m confused
So do trekking poles not count as base weight?
It's considered worn weight.
I understand the positives of ultra light but idk i think taking stuff out that i see the need for safety, support, mental stability isnt worth it. Id rather have 12 lbs and not be a cool ultra light hiker than being at 10 lbs and not have what is needed.
„I’m going ultra light“, same person „I’m bringing a sit pad, Swiss Army knife and soap“ me as an ultra lighter „bro my tooth brush doesn’t even have a handle“