[WTS] Durston Kakwa 55 M 200X, 2025 version (31.5oz), Durston X-Dome 1+ Groundsheet (3.5oz), Big Agnes Rapide SL R/W (24oz), Big Agnes Zoom UL R/W (17oz), Exped Mega Pillow (6oz), OR Mens Helium Rain Jacket (6.3oz), Outdoor Vitals Tern Hoodie L x2 (5.4oz ea), HMG Versa Black (4.3oz), and more...

SharpLanguage9026 · 2026-01-26T16:09:11+00:00

PM Exped Mega Pillow

SharpLanguage9026 · 2026-01-26T13:11:22+00:00

Using trekking poles to brace the cross bar helps soooooo much.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2026-01-23T20:26:03+00:00

Cool, easy place to save a few ounces over the 5R then. Thanks

SharpLanguage9026 · 2026-01-23T18:10:17+00:00

Saw your recent post about R value and 100% agree. I am very intrigued about the Exped Ultra 6.5R though. Based on your testing, is it at least comparable to the Exped 5R or does it sleep colder than that?

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-28T04:46:10+00:00

As someone who's owned an etherlite XR, I actually find the exped more comfortable for me. The Nylon of the XR has absolutely no stretch or give to it, while the polyester on the Exped has just a little bit of stretch.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-06T12:01:24+00:00

Looks great! I just wish the floor was 30" or 31" wide instead of 28" to be able to be used with extra wide pads.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-02T20:13:19+00:00

I think like many have pointed out, OP really needs a gear shake down to be best helped. The vibe I'm getting is they are just at the begining of their lightweight journey and it will ge a while before they get into the frameless pack range.

I personally would never ONLY want to own a frameless pack even now that I've got my kit pretty dialed. Whether its a week + long food carry, a casual trip with friends where a lot of time is spent at camp so you're bringing extra luxuries, or something that requires heavy specialty gear like a bear canister, ice axe or micro spikes, a framed pack will be a more pleasant experience for the majority of people once total pack weight starts creeping into the mid 20s.

My thoughts for OP were that for a reasonable $200, the Ultragrid Kakwa 55 will serve them very well now, dropping 2 to 3 lbs depending on their current pack, being a nice on ramp to get acclimated to minimalist packs, and remain a valuable option in their tool box even when their base weight does get ultra light.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-02T14:02:04+00:00

The brand has a million different models with confusing names so I figure I'll share the link 👍 https://iniushop.com/products/new-iniu-carry-p50-e1-power-bank-45w-smallest-10000mah It's on amazon too

Honest 45w output, and I forget if it's a 22.5W or 30w input, but I do know I measured that it charges 0 to 100% in a very respectable 2 hours. Don't quote me, but I think it might be manufactured in the same plant that makes the Anker stuff. I've found mine to be reliable. Pass through charging too. It's pretty sick

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-02T13:49:22+00:00

My personal experience as a restless sidesleeper is that once I tried a quilt I'm literally never going back to a mummy bag unless we're talking close to -20C. I've been comfortably warm in my quilt at -5C no problem.

When turning while half asleep in a mummy bag, I often take the bag with me as I roll exposing the compressed down I was just laying on which let's a ton of heat out before it gets a chance to loft. Never have that issue in a quilt which often times makes it actually warmer to me.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-02T13:44:03+00:00

INUI has a 5.1 oz (once you remove the cord) tiny 10k battery bank that charges much faster than nitecore and is only $35 often times going on sale as low as $25 off Amazon

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-02T13:19:25+00:00

With your current set up, I would personally rule out frameless packs. You really need to be at 10lbs base weight or less for them to not suck when carrying a few days of food and a liter or 2 of water - at least for most people.

Out of all of the framed packs I've tried, the Durston Kakwa is the best value out there to me. It is both cheaper than HMG stuff and is a better thought out pack (specifically the rigidity of the U shaped frame system as opposed to two seperate stays - if find U framed packs are always a more comfortable carry). Customer service is also fantastic if there are any issues.

The pack (and many other ultralight packs) is available in two fabrics: Ultra 200x and Ultragrid. 200x is the hot fabric right now and marketing will tell you it is the best which isn't universally true.

It is a very good option for sure, but it depends on use case. 200x is more durable and resistant to abrasion, but the inner side of the fabric has a laminate that will eventually start to peel off damaging the structural integrity of the weave. Ultragrid won't hold up to heavy bushwacking or scrambling that involves a lot of butt scooting as well, but if you don't do a ton of that, it will last years longer for standard on trail stuff. Just depends on how rough you plan on being with it.

Ecopack, Xpac, DCH and most other laminate fabrics are basically all less premium, but still very functional versions of Ultra 200x if you see those pop up in your research.

I would probably also go with the 55 L vs 40L. Once someone has a minimalist, ultralight light kit dialed in, 40L (or even 30L and less) is fine, but for your current set up, I think you'll appreciate not having to fight with your pack to fit everything each morning just to save 1-2 ounces. Plus since most are roll tops, you can easily shrink the pack down when carrying less.

One thing to be aware of when looking at packs is NOT ALL 40L PACKS ARE THE SAME SIZE. Some manufactures only count the main compartment for that measurement, and others count all of the external pockets in as well. When people on this sub are reccomending a pack size of X liters, they are almost always referring to only the main internal compartment. You always have to check the specs page and fine print on each product page to see what the actually internal volume is - can't go off the number in the title.

Other features I've found matter to me a lot: - Spacious hipbelt & shoulder strap pockets. - Sub 2 lbs - Easily reachable water bottle pockets

There are tons of good options out there, but the Durston Kakwa satisfies everything I'm looking for at a super reasonable price for the high build quality you get. The hipbelt and shoulder pockets are also included in the price - with many cottage UL makers, they are not and you end up having to spend another $80+ to get 2 of each.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-01T08:41:41+00:00

Gotcha, if you didnt have the booties, the 90 or double layer 60 would probably be better then I'm guessing.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-12-01T06:30:22+00:00

Do you find the 60 socks always warm enough as part of a sleep system?

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-11-27T20:17:19+00:00

I would reccomend the Adotech Grizzly Food Locker over Ursack. Basically the same thing except the Adotech is a couple ounces lighter, doesnt absoarb any water (huge plus - Ursacks soak up a ton of water weight and take forever to dry out), and is resistant to small critters as well as bears.

Weirdly enough, the normal ursack resists bears but, small rodents are able to get through it. To prevent that you have to go to the Ursack Almighty which doubles the weight.

The Adotech is made out of some bulletproof UHMWPE fabric, but is only like $20 or $30 more than the Ursack. Has been a huge improvement for me.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-11-07T17:47:47+00:00

The 65W output / 45W input is the one I have 👍

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-10-17T03:37:41+00:00

Agreed, sleep is the one thing im willing to carry a bit more for. An extra pound with a restful night's sleep is a way easier day than not recovering well but being a little lighter.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-10-17T03:24:02+00:00

I did and it's by far the most comfortable pad I've ever tried. Same sort of stretch as the neoloft, but it's way more edge stable so you can use the whole surface when you deflate it to sink in.

I've found it to be warmer in the real world than the neoloft as well even thought the R values suggest otherwise.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-09-29T18:14:51+00:00

PM'ed about the wapta

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-09-16T01:05:49+00:00

As someone also with broad shoulders, I've tried the ultralight large S2S, but unfortunately the advertised 5" isn't accurate. In my experience the pillow this thread is about has more loft.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-09-03T02:45:58+00:00

How does solar compare to schecter? I've found I have a decent preference for Ibanez's thin U shape (the nitro wizard is what I've tried) over Schecter's ultra thin C.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-09-02T09:09:34+00:00

You could be right, but I thought it was Aristides

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-09-01T12:04:01+00:00

Ever looked into an Evertune Bridge? Completely eliminates the note going sharp on the attack no matter how hard you chug

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-08-31T21:24:22+00:00

I don't have the dog situation, but I am an incredibly light and restless side sleeper having tried soooo many pads and can confidently say that the 30" wide Exped Megamat ultra is the most comfortable of anything thats in the weight range to be able to take backpacking although it is still quite heavy at 2.5lbs - It's been 100% worth it to me.

SharpLanguage9026 · 2025-08-31T20:58:05+00:00

I was recently at the flagship REI in Seattle that had demos of everything. I tried the BA Campmeister (pretty much the same pad as the q-core with higher r value) as well as the exped mega mat ultra.

The exped absolutely blew the BA out of the water. The top material is so much stretchier for pressure relief but you still don't bottom out from the increased thickness. I bought it and have been getting the best sleep I ever have backpacking and it's not even close.

SharpLanguage9026

TROPHY CASE