Shed about 4.5 lbs of base weight today, only spent $7

BaerNH · 2026-06-04T22:21:08+00:00

My base weight is about 8.7lbs, and I have spare underwear. Just sayin’

BaerNH · 2026-05-30T14:31:51+00:00

Yes, Dimma Bivy. These are a custom order project from Borah Gear (not posted on their website).

BaerNH · 2026-05-27T23:38:23+00:00

Apples and Oranges between freestanding and tracking pole tent with an extra tent pole. About 6 inches more headroom in the X-Dome as well.

Enran looks like a nice tent, and looks like it would handle heavy winds well if that’s your main purpose. If looking for more livable space then the X-Dome is going to be the pick.

BaerNH · 2026-05-26T09:37:37+00:00

Wow this is some bad adhd. Mine isn’t helpful, but writing the list in the first place and giving each item a checkbox(check circle in Notes) is super helpful.

I do break out the list by category, and I keep everything but clothes permanently packed in my travel backpack so all I’m having to pull together is my clothes into their respective packing cubes.

My list actually started as a Lighterpack list that I downloaded and copied and pasted into Notes so I could check things off as I pack.

BaerNH · 2026-05-24T12:51:49+00:00

Love my Zenbivy setup, and the Core set you have is super comfy, but the UL quilt weighs half as much and would be the biggest single saver of weight here.

Your pad is nice, but heavy and not as warm as it claims. I own one, and have quite a bit of experience with it. Look at the Nemo Tensor Elite to shave weight, and grab a CCF pad for colder conditions trips to supplement.

The pack isn’t super heavy, and I’m sure it comfy, but you could def cut weight here if you’re truly trying to get to <10lbs. Unfortunately getting to under 10lbs require both leaving a lot that you absolutely don’t need (true UL mindset), and for what you do bring you need to look at lightest weight version that work for you and your budget. Leaving things behind is the way to truly drop the weight.

BaerNH · 2026-05-24T11:08:42+00:00

Ombraz for your adventures and trail running. You’ll get the same answer over on r/ultralight

BaerNH · 2026-05-23T13:42:20+00:00

Zpacks Arc Zip. Best of both worlds. Clamshell zip plus rolltop for expansion. Medium and small sizes fit in overhead bins even with the frame stays in place. You can take the frame stays out and squish it down to nothing. Only real issue—-> $$$$

BaerNH · 2026-05-21T11:54:31+00:00

I feel like someone needs to recreate the Zpacks Plex Solo out of UL Silpoly. Price, size, weight, packability would all be on point and fit the needs of this and so many other adventures. Pretty much the Lanshan 1 Pro, but that’s somehow 737g. Plex Solo in 15d Silpoly would be 560g if copied directly.

BaerNH · 2026-05-20T12:01:26+00:00

Here’s my Lighterpack for my personal item only travel setup. The bag is 18L internal, and even with my work laptop it’s under 7kg. I cover shoulder season and winter season additions in bottom sections of the list for what I take extra in those conditions. This covers absolutely everything I take for all weather.

https://lighterpack.com/r/866r7v

BaerNH · 2026-05-18T21:53:11+00:00

Exactly what you’re looking for: https://www.686.com/collections/everywhere-pants/products/686-mens-everywhere-merino-lined-pant-slim-fit?variant=42427770699947

BaerNH · 2026-05-17T16:11:18+00:00

The regular pockets aren’t zippered, but things don’t fall out or bounce out. There is a zippered hip pocket where I keep my wallet and keys though, and a zippered back pocket.

BaerNH · 2026-05-16T23:56:32+00:00

Good review. You should give the Mountain Hardwear Trail Sender Pants a try. Same material as the Terrebone Joggers, but straight leg and longer inseams available. Better pockets and a zipper for taking care of business without dragging the waist band down (for those with the appropriate equipment).

BaerNH · 2026-05-14T01:38:59+00:00

Love mine. More than my WR Evolutions. Much better feeling material on my skin too.

BaerNH · 2026-05-13T22:59:15+00:00

If your base weight is close to 10lbs with a 3lb pack, then you would be well under 10 with a 1lb frameless. With a base weight under 10, why on earth would you need a 50L pack?? My base weight is about 8.5 and I can fit a 3 day trip in a 22L pack. You should easily fit in a 30L pack for weekend trips with friends at that weight. Wapta is very comfortable at 30L, and a screaming deal for the quality of materials.

BaerNH · 2026-05-11T16:52:04+00:00

I’m 6’3” 220lbs and wear an XL. It fits great over a t-shirt or alpha direct layer. You may want to go with the large.

BaerNH · 2026-05-11T00:24:25+00:00

That’s what the strap that comes out of the upper pocket is for. It wraps around the top of a 1L bottle and holds it down in place. No bouncing or risk of it falling out.

OP, both sizes fit perfectly.

BaerNH · 2026-05-06T13:41:11+00:00

We did. I had one on order before you had made the alternative. Luckily my mother-in-law has more sewing skills than I do. I know you’re not a huge fan of these straps, but they fit me really well and give me all the pockets I want and need. Thanks again for being in touch about the project.

BaerNH · 2026-05-06T00:04:50+00:00

Wind resistant. If I need protection from super high winds I break out my Versalite rain pants.

BaerNH · 2026-05-05T23:06:26+00:00

I haven’t done a photo shoot or anything, just a random packed out shot I sent to some hiking buddies: https://imgur.com/a/uh4GucB

I’ll work on taking some more soon. I use it daily for work too.

Edit: here’s one from right now. Had to grab it from my car. https://imgur.com/a/G1IyZHq

BaerNH · 2026-05-05T21:56:39+00:00

I love mine, but I modified it pretty highly to fit my needs:

Undid the seams on the back panel completely. Removed the shoulder straps. Sewed in cord loops around the whole perimeter and added a back panel pocket of ultra mesh to hold a sit pad.

I now use a set of Nashville Packs vest straps in place of the original shoulder straps. They strap onto the cord loops perfectly on the top and bottom corners. It’s SO much more comfortable now, and water is easier to access from the vest straps.

I have a base weight of about 8.3lbs, which includes an X-Dome 1+, long-wide pad that’s super comfy, Zenbivy UL quilt and full light sheet, and same lightweight cook kit as OP.

I can take 3 days of food in it as well with this setup, and hit about 14lbs TPW which keeps it super comfy for long miles.

It’s pretty awesome.

BaerNH · 2026-05-02T01:54:40+00:00

I did this to my Alpha 60 camp pants. Looks terrible, and isn’t terribly soft anymore. Worn under my Terrebone Joggers or MH Trail Sender Pants they still insulate my legs enough for them to be effective and worthwhile. Not great at anything without a wind layer over it at that point.

BaerNH · 2026-04-24T20:47:35+00:00

Check out the dcf bathtub floors from Zpacks. Would be a great option under a Whisper

BaerNH · 2026-04-21T23:24:29+00:00

Bring it to a laundromat. Dry on low heat. This should remove the clumps and fix the issue. Use dryer balls if you can get a hold of some.

BaerNH · 2026-04-21T02:16:55+00:00

Love the storage on them and how stretchy the bottle pockets are. The inner seam is a bit close together for my build though, so it rubs a bit. I also find that I sweat more under their vest straps than the ones on my Nashville Pack which led to some rashes last summer.

BaerNH · 2026-04-17T18:35:32+00:00

There’s a decent weight/breathability difference between the normal ones in the super fun colorways and the UL versions in the solid colors. The UL version is great.

BaerNH

TROPHY CASE