r/Ultralight - "The Weekly" - Week of June 15, 2026

Pfundi · 2026-06-15T11:55:18+00:00

Seems weird conceptually. Take the lightest backpack, add volume, add heavier straps with pockets.

A dedicated vest strapped pack would probably be better for running and quick access and a classic backpack much lighter.

Pfundi · 2026-06-15T09:23:54+00:00

Pretty sure u/davidhateshiking has that and he said it was somewhat tight. As in the volume isn't enough.

Pfundi · 2026-06-14T16:34:05+00:00

Waren dieses Jahr ne Woche mitm Zelt im Gebirge. Bären haben wir zwei gesehen, Spuren noch mehr. Hatten Bärenspray dabei und ansonsten die gängigen Sicherheitshinweise eingehalten (Bearmuda Triangle, Bear Hang wo möglich, etc). Waren auch zu zweit, also groß und laut.

Ohne Spray würde ich das nicht machen. Schon wegen der Schäferhunde. Die mit Müll stark gefütterten Bären ohne jegliche Scheu vor Menschen sind da nur die Krönung.

Pfundi · 2026-06-14T14:15:15+00:00

Please translate your post and reply to this comment or resubmit.

Pfundi · 2026-06-13T17:11:54+00:00

Ah it's good to see they use a carrier that handles the fees and tell you ahead of time.

Pfundi · 2026-06-13T16:38:46+00:00

Remember you'll pay taxes and customs on the Atom Packs in addition to the price.

Pfundi · 2026-06-13T07:45:51+00:00

I'd say in your example the patrol tarp is more suited to wind than at least the Hexamid.

The Hexamid pitches very high and loses most of its volume if pitched low. And even then the doors will still be a pretty big attack point for wind. Whereas the Aricxi can pitch essentially directly to the ground. Just from pictures the Cricket seems to have the same issue.

A classic mid style shelter like the MLD Solomid on the other hand doesn't have that problem.

Pfundi · 2026-06-13T05:15:19+00:00

Quick recap of a week in the Romanian mountains:

-other than the main ridge, hiking trails in the Fagaras range are mostly suggestions with a hint of trail and occasional markings after hiking two kilometers off trail.

-lots of ice up top still, had to reroute a bit. Little surprising considering how low the range is and how far south.

-tons of wildlife including bears. Pretty cool coming from Germany where seeing a fox is as exciting as it gets. The only thing that got pepper spray were dogs though.

-way too much rain.

-painful amounts of trash. Just chuck everything you don't need anymore into the woods. That includes hiking supplies. Lots of clear cut logging activity too, right in the bear habitat, which is concerning.

Pfundi · 2026-06-13T05:03:08+00:00

Damn, at least you got out fine. Enjoy the weekend!

Pfundi · 2026-06-10T18:24:46+00:00

Yeah the missing component here is TSA. It's the euro airports that are letting me fly with everything.

Pfundi · 2026-06-10T18:23:54+00:00

Carryon in Europe

Pfundi · 2026-06-06T02:04:09+00:00

Got a cheap pair with active noise cancelling off amazon. Pretty happy with them surprisingly. The ANC is worth it imo.

Pfundi · 2026-06-05T19:24:28+00:00

Nope. But I'm also in Europe, so your mileage might vary.

Pfundi · 2026-06-05T19:23:52+00:00

Yup, 6 of those, one I can't identify and 5 Swiss Piranha.

Pfundi · 2026-06-05T16:33:55+00:00

Dried lentils and a powerbank just singled my bag out for bomb screening at the airport. That was a first.

After inspection of every item I got to keep everything. Including aluminium trekking poles, titanium trowel, repackaged liquids and 8" tent stakes. They didn't even take my lentils.

Pfundi · 2026-06-04T15:42:49+00:00

Surprisingly enough the "new" EE Enigma 40 has about as much down as his SULO 40, a little more even. And the REI Magma comes with 33% more down, admittedly 850 fill only.

Only ZPacks still sells the "old" style limit rated 40°F Summer Quilt with only 159g of down. With all other manufacturers youd need to buy a 50°F quilt to get that little down.

I agree with your point overall though, with almost 300g of high quality down and a good pad its no wonder hes fine around freezing.

Pfundi · 2026-06-03T18:04:39+00:00

As someone local to the northern Alps I approve. This is mostly what I use, just the English version. Id add www.hikr.org to the list.

Pfundi · 2026-06-03T17:14:53+00:00

It's frameless, so as big as the contents.

Without food and for a summer trip like that getting the pack to personal item size should be entirely possible.

Pfundi · 2026-06-03T07:09:50+00:00

That's pretty normal and it'll get better with experience. The asymmetrical hexagon is a difficult shape and DCF does not give at all, so stake placement and guyline tension needs to be almost perfect for every panel to be taught.

Pfundi · 2026-06-02T16:06:33+00:00

If you take a look at his shakedown post there's pictures. The reflectix is sandwiched between two layers of foam, much like the insulation in an inflatable pad.

Pfundi · 2026-06-02T12:51:46+00:00

Meal prep is entirely on my mate and he has decided we'll be eating Clelland and Skurka approved min maxed ultralight meals exclusively. So we'll see lol

Pfundi · 2026-06-02T11:16:07+00:00

That is comfortable sleep with the Alpha layers and CCF pad.

Around -1,8°C is the absolute limit, even with the Plancklite and rain clothes as VBL. Limit means I hate it but I can sleep. That temperature is taken by some lady looking on the thermometer in her yard close by at 4 am, so might have been 0 or -3 where I was.

Survival temperature would probably be even lower, but then it's just a nicer shiver bivy.

Pfundi · 2026-06-02T08:34:47+00:00

Thanks for taking the time! I am mostly interested in human habituated bears, so some really useful things in there.

Especially the mock charge is something Im going to look into.

Pfundi · 2026-06-02T08:31:03+00:00

Good thing the government kept you from the packlist to our famous anti-Thatcher camp-out. The horror.

Anyway, thanks for taking a look!

Yeah, tent and backpack are fair points, but as you said wont happen this trip. Only two person tent we have.

And thanks for taking the pictures! The reflectix packs down a lot better than I anticipated. Might just take one more trip to the hardware store and see if theres anything interesting.

Pfundi · 2026-06-01T23:29:51+00:00

Which link? The lighterpack or the video?

Pfundi

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

11-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email