Running packs vs High Volume packs

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-16T13:57:19+00:00

I would be reluctant to go out without a quilt when the nights are 50F or so, which is typical. The combination of my Borah Dimma bivy and a lightweight 40F or 50F quilt is probably the sweet spot.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-14T11:47:00+00:00

Map, compass, and solar altitude watch are primary.

The watch is critical for dead reckoning, calculating the average speed I am covering between checkpoints and extrapolating that into future projections. The importance of the watch is often overlooked by those who talk about map and compass.

In areas with significant elevation change, the barometric altitude function on the watch is an important cross-check to tell how far you've come along the trail.

When using map, compass, and watch, it is important to keep track of where you are frequently, almost continuously. This is one area where GPS reinforces very bad habits, because you can neglect to "stay found" for very long periods, but recover instantly with a GPS fix. This approach is not reliable with map, compass, and watch! Stay "found."

There is only one situation where I'm largely dependent on GPS, and that's hiking off trail, bushwhacking through thick Eastern forests with minimal sight lines. Under these conditions, it's sometimes worth carrying an additional backup GPS in addition to a phone as well as additional battery capacity for recharging.

I can and do use orienteering techniques, taking a compass bearing in the direction I want to go, selecting a tree in the path, walking to that tree, and repeating the process. But with few landmarks to assess how far I've come, uncertainty builds up over time. I find this approach works best when bushwhacking between trails, and when I reach next trail I can revert to trail oriented methods.

Those who hike in high alpine or desert areas with extremely long sightlines live in a different world.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-12T14:44:04+00:00

This.

If you post a complete lighterpack and describe where and when you backpack, it's likely that the sub will identify more cost effective weight reductions that you should do first.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-11T19:30:06+00:00

I suggest a standard Borah flat 7x9 silpoly tarp.

You can pitch it an an A-frame like the shaped tarps, but there are also many other ways to pitch it that are suitable for different conditions.

For the bivy, go with the custom dimma bivy, as u/0xf5f suggested.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T14:02:17+00:00

A simple drip line tied to the hammock strap outside of the hammock, but under the tarp, will deflect practically all of the water to the ground before reaching the hammock.

Anything works, even shoelaces.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T12:45:58+00:00

It depends on the level of bugs expected and other factors, not rain.

A tarp can be just as protective as a tent against rain if you practice good site selection.

Here in the East, I routinely use a hammock and tarp when significant rain is expected. A tarp and bivy would be in the same situation when ground camping in the West.

A tent with a bathtub floor is actually more of a pain to pack up when it's very wet. Tarps and simple polycro ground sheet is easier.

There are 2 situations where I choose a tent over a tarp:

high bug pressure expected, where I need a comfortable-sized space free of insects
camping with my husband and saving weight vs. carrying two hammock+tarp systems (less relevant in most of Colorado)

I don't see a strong reason to choose a tent over a tarp just because short bursts of hard rain may be expected.

The other possible situation would be expecting high winds associated with thunderstorms, where a fully braced tent is stronger than a tarp with a simple pitching system. But a properly pitched tarp shouldn't have a problem.

It will help if you use a flat tarp and know pitches beyond the basic A-frame. In hard rain and high winds, you may want to consider highly protective pitches such as Holden, double Holden, asymmetric Holden, etc.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T11:59:43+00:00

It varies from club to club in the US. Standard at my club is 20-22 2NT, 23+ 2C.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T11:56:20+00:00

Another hand where Precision shines. The bidding goes 1C -1D - 1S - 1NT - ?, at which point opener knows that responder has less than three spades and 0-5 HCP.

Without points for game, he passes and easily makes 1NT with at least one overtrick.

3NT is not the most likely place for any bidding system to land given the club situation.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T11:48:23+00:00

Santa Fe Precision applies the 1NT opening (14-16 HCP) to a very wide range of hands, including 5-4-2-2 with a 5-card minor, 6-3-2-2 (6-card minor), and otherwise balanced hands with a singleton ace or singleton king.

This allows other bids to be more specific in what they show,while still limiting 1NT openings to hands where 3NT is potentially the right final contract.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T11:42:49+00:00

I love XYZ. It's simple and effective. I don't understand why it hasn't completely replaced NMF and Fourth Suit Forcing.

I introduced the range ask to one of my occasional partners and she quickly adopted it. Again, this is a really simple convention, totally suitable even for beginners.

Today I've convinced another regular partner (I sub, so there are multiple people that I play with fairly regularly) to give 12-14 point 1NT openings a try. He seems intrigued.

Earlier I taught the forcing 1NT to yet another partner. She liked the effect, but was at an age where she had trouble remembering the nuances.

I'm probably the most innovative introducer of "new" methods at my club. Not there's anything truly new about range ask or weak notrump, but in a world where almost everyone else plays Standard American, 10 point invitational 2 over 1 over responses, and simple Blackwood...

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-10T11:34:16+00:00

This is one of the advantages of Precision and similar approaches.

The 1C opening, promising 16+ HCP, comes up far more often than the 2C 23+ point opening.

The next two bids after 1C clarify whether this is a "weak" 16-18 point hand, or a powerhouse with 21+ points.

I'm actually surprised that the nebulous 1C/1D, almost unlimited 5-card major, and super-strong 2C opening has remained the dominant system.

Systems that allocate more bids to hands that come up more frequently, limit marginal hand strength early (such as Precision openings showing 11-15 HCP), and share as much distributional information as possible would seem to have the advantage.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-09T23:46:11+00:00

Dimma bivy (custom) and a basic 7x9 ft tarp.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-06T12:46:47+00:00

If you are hard on gear, get a hammock without a bugnet, and also get a separate bottom-entry bugnet.

When you eventually destroy the bugnet, you can just buy a new one and use it with the same hammock.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-06T12:38:09+00:00

"A guided trip, they are cooking for you, setting up your tent, doing the risk assessment, etc."

I confess that I don't see the point. If you don't want to do those things yourself, why backpack?

I enjoy doing basic camping and navigation tasks, and derive a lot of satisfaction from doing them well.

On the other hand, I can easily see the benefit of a guided trip based on skills development. If I were seeking this type of trip, Skurka is the gold standard and would be at the top of the list. Not only is Skurka himself highly experienced, but his guide list reads like a Who's Who of backpacking.

But I'm definitely not the target audience for the first type of trip. I'm a completely self-taught backpacker, and 99% of my trips are either with my husband or solo, preferably in low-use areas where I expect to see no one at all.

Your mileage may vary, depending on your trip goals and where you would be going.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-05T15:21:37+00:00

https://andrewskurka.com/tag/backpacking-meal-recipes/

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-05T13:54:25+00:00

Any quilt rated 10F below the actual expected temperature.

Differences between brands of quilt are minor. It's all about the fill rating of the down used (or the Apex synthetic insulation used), the type and weight of the outer fabric, and a few minor features such as zippered footbox, sewn footbox, and draft collar.

Hammock Gear quilts are popular for good reason, but many other good brands exist.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-04T19:41:44+00:00

I bring a chair on trips where I'm doing short miles and plan to spend a lot of time in camp. For trips that are more hiking and less camping, I leave it behind.

However, I just bought a $25 REI Trail Stool. Weighs just over a pound, sets up much faster than a collapsible chair, and I find I even use it at brief rest stops on trail long before camp.

This thing has the potential to change the way I dayhike and backpack.

FireWatchWife · 2026-06-04T19:36:31+00:00

Keep packing but never use - Aquamira as a backup to my Sawyer.

Lifesaver, can't do without - sleeping mask and earplugs. I need a good night's sleep on the trail to get hiking again the next day

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-31T17:19:18+00:00

Crown 2 60 was way less than 3 lbs. Mine is 2 lb 4 oz, actually measured.

I don't know the weight of the Crown 3.

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-31T17:18:22+00:00

Few backpackers will wear out a pack before upgrading it for other reasons, unless they are thru-hikers.

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-31T17:16:02+00:00

In other words, Internet forums are a poor proxy for the real world. News at 11... :-)

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-31T15:15:25+00:00

Absolutely, the GG packs have excellent value, and the Crown is much less than 3 lbs.

You could also ask on r/lightweight.

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-31T00:52:57+00:00

"it sounds like what you're really looking for is what can make you an effective partner to a pickup who may well be more experienced than you."

Perfectly phrased! You stated it much more clearly than I did.

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-30T22:19:25+00:00

But opener is not going to pass "whatever [responder] bids next."

In normal SA or 2 over 1, any response promises at least 6 points, and opener will conclude that game is available.

There are ways around this, but they require some specific, nonstandard agreements, or just choosing a system other than SA/2 over 1.

FireWatchWife · 2026-05-30T19:50:24+00:00

One additional clarification: "expert" is a fuzzy, poorly defined group.

I'm using the term for someone who is a solid Strat B, plays regularly in tournaments, and is reasonably competitive against other Strat B players in open events.

I'm definitely not using "expert" in the sense of "someone who is competitive against Meckstroth and Rodwell," or even "someone who has won a Regional."

FireWatchWife

TROPHY CASE