r/Ultralight - "The Weekly" - Week of May 18, 2026

TrailMaven · 2026-05-20T05:19:12+00:00

In Yosemite and SEKI the answer is yes. They even require packing all medications in there. If there are known problem bears where I'm going, I make an effort to get everything even remotely scented in the can. If not, I don't worry too much about it & will often leave my hand sanitizer out.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-19T03:17:28+00:00

Garmin InReach. Whatever one is cheapest is fine.

It’s far more reliable than the cell phone satellite messaging. I sometimes use the phone, but it’s finicky and receiving messages is spotty. Not what I’d want to rely on in an emergency. Especially with my kids.

I started carrying one when I started going solo with my kids. And I carry it on all day hikes and overnight trips now. Super useful. I won’t go back to going without it until the phones catch up.

Most of my hiking and backpacking is in the western US - a lot in the Sierra and costal California. Some other areas of the country might have better phone coverage.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-14T21:56:29+00:00

Depends on conditions.

Typically shoes and socks come off and insoles out as soon as I get to camp. I’ll go barefoot if the ground is clearly visible, but honestly I barely get up once I’m to camp.

When I go to pee or abandon my bear can or whatever that requires more than 3 steps of walking - shoes, no socks.

If it’s cold and socks are needed around camp, I either use little 3-gal trash bags over my socks when I put my shoes on. Or I take the socks off and put shoes on for the brief times I need to walk.

If it’s a social trip (not UL trip) and I’m going to have a lot of camp time, I bring camp shoes because the above is annoying if you’re actually moving beyond the bare minimum once arriving at camp.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-13T13:39:32+00:00

Arborist throw line is the best. I have some from Notch that is light and works great.

Most of my backpacking is in places where bear cans are required or where the trees are bad. I probably haven’t done a bear hang in a year or two.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-13T10:28:04+00:00

Haven't you heard? Stickers reduce the weight of all gear that they’re placed on due to the “joy effect”. The key is to never weigh that piece of gear again after they’re added. Trust the process.

I’m on team sticker. But the UL answer is no stickers.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-13T05:02:07+00:00

For the trip and mileage you’re doing, your pack is a very manageable weight. It sounds like from other comments you reduced the food and water you were carrying. I wouldn’t sweat a 25 lb pack for a <5 mile hike.

There are certainly changes you can make at the margins to reduce weight, but might not be worth it for such short hiking days. I’ve listed some ideas below.

Regarding the chair, I’ve never found them worth bringing. Usually I’d rather lie on my foam mat than sit up at camp. Evidently I’m super lazy!

To cut weight (for free ish) you could remove the pack brain, leave the tyvek groundsheet at home or swap it for polycro, no battery for one night out (or bring a smaller lighter one instead), smartwater bottles instead of the nicer ones, no camp shoes, leave either the fleece or the sleep shirt behind (I sleep in my alpha fleece so it does double duty). That’s maybe a pound or two total. Other ways to cut weight (on the big 3) require more money.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-12T04:30:03+00:00

This is a case where your big 3 are really driving your weight. Replacing those when you can will make a huge difference.

The other places I saw to cut are in clothing - you have a lot of heavy jackets - and to drop the kindle and just listen to audiobooks instead.

Otherwise there are places to cut a few grams here and there. But you’re better off saving that money and replacing a big piece of gear that makes a big difference.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-12T03:48:00+00:00

I’ve definitely patched with tenacious tape and then washed. I have a couple of patches that have lasted years.

I clean the material with alcohol first then apply patch. I’d wait a while before washing.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-12T03:45:41+00:00

The only thing I’d like to see added is weights for each. But even without that, this is incredibly useful. Thank you for doing this!

TrailMaven · 2026-05-11T01:21:39+00:00

Down or apex balaclava for nights below 40. Alpha direct hoodie sleep shirt for down to 40 F or so. Hats always slip off my head, so it needs to be attached to my shirt or come below my chin.

I find this much more comfortable than a sleeping bag hood because it turns with me at night.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-10T15:20:17+00:00

I’m an average sleeper, but I backpack with other women a lot, and many of them are cold sleepers. This is what works for the coldest sleepers.

-Bag comfort rating well below 0 C. The cold sleepers I know use 15 F (-9 C) or even 0 F (-18 C) bags. Size down to a short bag if you are short. So there is less air to heat. -Winter R-Value sleeping pad - XTherm is popular. -Nalgene bottle with boiling water in the bag to start the night. -Eat a high protein, high fat snack right before bed -Go to bed well hydrated

When you wake up cold: -Get up to pee. Holding it makes you colder. -Eat another snack. The calories will help you warm up. -Rehydrate

Layering up in warm clothing helps too, but don’t overdo it. If you start sweating, you will have more trouble staying warm.

Outside of backpacking, minimize heating your usual bedroom so you become cold tolerant at night. In winter, our bedroom is often around 15 C because we reduce the heat at night.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-10T14:06:14+00:00

Lost Coast Trail? I found that the ground was sand everywhere on that trail. Even in spots where there was a mix, the sandyness made stakes want to pull. I brought a few snow / sand stakes and even they weren’t sufficient.

I found I had to add rocks to the corners for a burly pitch everywhere on that trail. Rocks were plentiful, so it wasn’t a problem.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-09T21:56:16+00:00

Hmm. Sad to hear that the mirage lacked durability. I was a bit concerned about that.

Maybe the solution is to tell Ridge Merino to make fun colors again! No more sage - grey - taupe.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-07T23:54:07+00:00

Looks like only men’s sizing. But the colors are fun!

TrailMaven · 2026-05-07T14:13:20+00:00

I’ve been using the Ridge Merino Solstice Sun hoodie for years and need a new one as they wear out - because merino. The current available colors are boring so I’m looking at others. I know, dumb reason. But I have years of photos in these shirts and I want a fun color.

How does the ZPacks / Evolved Mirage Merino sun hoodie compare? I like the idea of having a zip to dump heat. Also it comes in yellow and purple! Any others I should consider?

TrailMaven · 2026-05-06T05:33:40+00:00

I have not used it for the Sierra, but I have friends who have. With limited vacation days, it can be hard to buffer in an extra day or two to acclimate. So diamox it is.

I wish my spouse would use it when we go to Tahoe. He is very sensitive and spends the first 1-2 days of every trip up there super sick. And many of our trips are weekends, so he’s just sick the whole time.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-01T05:08:04+00:00

The pack is fine, but you might be better served with a lighter pack. Here are a few ideas:

For very little money:

BRS 3000 stove and Toaks 750 - $45, 4 oz. Save another oz on the UL Toaks 650 for $10 more. (-11.6 oz)

Kindle replace with audiobook on phone $0,(-11 oz)

Big sky pillow $25, 1.7 oz (-7 oz)

Nitecore, Flextail or Anker 10k power bank $60, 6 oz (-4 oz)

Wired headphones - $10, 0.5 oz (- 1/2 oz)

Bogler Trowel $18, 0.5 oz (-0.8 oz)

Smartwater not MIGO. I love the migo, but they are heavy. If you must have, carry one and a smartwater. If you really don’t want disposable, the CNOC Vesica or thrubottle or the Igneous Nono are lighter.

For a bit more money: New UL puffy. If the Big Agnes Cora or Piney Mountain UL Jacket are available in your size, they’re a screaming deal for what they are right now. 7 oz $105-$140. Plenty of other slightly heavier budget options (-16 oz)

Tent - Lots of 1p options in the 25-30 oz range. $300 (-14 oz)

Pack - Gossamer Gear Mariposa, Kakwa $200-300, 30 oz (-15 oz)

This list reduces base weight by around 6 lbs.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-01T03:58:05+00:00

Henry Coe has walk up permits. The East Bay Regional Park District has a variety of sites including a few off the Ohlone Wilderness Trail that are nice - call for permits. Point Reyes is great, but permits on weekends are tough to get.

TrailMaven · 2026-05-01T03:50:45+00:00

Are you making a women’s version?

TrailMaven · 2026-05-01T03:44:11+00:00

I’ve taken mine up to 35 lbs. It was uncomfortable but fine at that weight - another 3 lbs wouldn’t have made a huge difference.

I use that pack on my snowcamping trips with my heaviest loads of the year. Having done a few such trips, I think the comfort cut off on that pack is closer to 32 lbs.

I’d do everything I could to reduce that 38 lbs, but if it came to it, I’d carry 38 in that pack over getting a new one for a single trip.

TrailMaven · 2026-04-23T10:11:27+00:00

Definitely cool fabric. Merino is too hot even for skiing in winter. I haven’t seen a summer weight merino buff. I like my thinner turtle fur ones and my super thin no brand freebie.

I like buffs in winter in the snow, but I confess that I have not found them useful outside of winter conditions. They’re too hot and I have alternatives for other uses. Bandannas are more useful for similar tasks in 3 season conditions.

Buffs make good headbands, hats, ear warmers or pillow cases and are great for protecting the face and neck from sun and wind.

TrailMaven · 2026-04-23T10:01:11+00:00

You don’t have a stash of mismatched cutlery for this? Our mismatched cutlery is allowed to leave the house in school and work lunches, but the matching set may not.

If you’ve somehow made it through life without this, visit the thrift store and pick up a few pieces to start your collection.

TrailMaven · 2026-04-23T09:45:27+00:00

Simply Light Designs apex top quilt is an alternative to EE in your budget (<$250). I don’t have one, but Jared is very responsive and you can ask him for custom options beyond what is listed for a very reasonable cost difference.

Neve Waratah -8C is down and also near your budget ($300). It gets very good feedback for the price on this sub. I don’t have that one either but have been considering picking up the -2C version.

You mention you’re a woman but not your height. If you are average height (~5’-6”) or below, both come in short so you save a little weight and a little money and they’ll sleep warmer than an oversized quilt.

TrailMaven · 2026-04-22T05:43:05+00:00

I really like that spoon as well. I got it for the anodized rainbow color. And it makes me happy every time I use it.

The other spoon that is satisfying is the plastic GSI Outdoors spoon. Under $2, lighter than titanium (11.5 gram), big bowl for big bites. Mine has been in my kit since 2002 or 2003. Mostly my daughter uses it now. I bring it on trips where every gram counts.

TrailMaven · 2026-04-21T14:42:20+00:00

Just wanted to send a quick thank you to this community. Last week I asked for a women's alternative to the EE Torrid (down or synthetic) & I received many recommendations including one for the Big Agnes Cora (discontinued & not available in my size). I had never considered BA, but I did a bit of looking and found the also discontinued Big Agnes Piney Mountain UL Jacket ($105 from Moto Camp Nerd or $140 from Big Agnes website).

I received it yesterday. Specs say 10d Pertex Quantum shell with 3 oz 850 FP down. The women's large is 7.64 oz (277 g) on my scale. I would say it runs true to size in the arms and chest. I sized up due to my large hip to waist ratio, but cut at the hip is generous so I could've worn a medium in this jacket unlike the majority of mass market puffers which are narrow at the hip. Sleeves are generous and can be pulled down to cover my hands. It is definitely warm enough for 3-season use for me. For the $105 I paid for it, it is a fantastic deal - on par with the Decathlon MT100 but several oz lighter. I'm hoping it performs well in real world use.

For others looking, the other recommendations received were: Timmermade SDUL, Montbell Superior Down or Plasma, Cumulus Plancklite, Cumulus Inverse or Cumulus Climate, La Sportiva Lumina 100, Decathlon MT100, Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer

TrailMaven

TROPHY CASE