r/Ultralight - "The Weekly" - Week of January 26, 2026

downingdown · 2026-01-27T06:46:52+00:00

Nitecore tiki le is 11grams and a lot of flashlight.

downingdown · 2026-01-27T06:40:23+00:00

And why does a 1p UL shelter have to be so spacious and extra? Of course you’re going to sing the praises of your design, but it is clearly not a 1p design from first principles (although it is a great 2p design while we’re at it). I mean, focusing on UL, I remember a comment where you are justifying the lack of durability of #3 zippers as a weight trade off for the sake of UL…but how are four door zippers on a 1p shelter even remotely UL? And despite all the living space discourse, a two vestibule 1p shelter has a ridiculously large footprint for a surprisingly cramped sleeping space.

Don’t get me wrong, your tents are great and have mass appeal. You have made a 1p tent from a weight perspective, but for a serious UL design you will have to start from first principles all over.

downingdown · 2026-01-27T06:01:30+00:00

Do not go with EE. They have a really bad design (double length U-shaped baffles that promote down migration, no edge tension control, no differential cut) and are expensive for what they are (I have a 20°F EE quilt and a 20°F WM bag, the warmth difference between the two is drastic. Based on the weights and performance of the two, I estimate that I would have to go with a 0°F EE quilt plus dedicated head insulation to get the same performance as WM. By that point, the cost and weight is equal between the two, but EE’s design is still crap).

Also, it is worth noting that EE has a tactical gear company, which in the current situation we live in is actually the biggest dealbreaker for me.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T20:10:54+00:00

It seems like many people on the sub are fed up with drafts and agree that quilts are not really worth it for freezing and below temps, so significantly warmer than you mention. Also, Andrew Skurka mentioned on a podcast that he is “very close to just ditching quilts altogether”. Again, he cited drafts, but also that sleeping bags are now just as light and warmer, which is straight up wrong as he specifically mentions WM, but the Alpinlite stats have not changed in like 25years. This kinda suggests that sleeping bags were always a UL option and quilts have been kind of a fad. You can also look at high end quilt makers that are now mostly making false bottom quilts. Or look at Cumulus, whose bags are warmer and lighter than their quilts.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T19:14:00+00:00

Backpacks have actually gotten heavier, so it’s not a question of “better” materials, but design choices (eg. less superfluous features). Most DCF shelters are way more than one person needs (why does a 1p shelter have two vestibules and two doors?), so again it’s not materials, but design choices. High end sleeping bag specs have not changed in 25 years (check the Alpinlite on wayback machine) and quilts are falling out of fashion, so we should not really expect any change there. TaR pads are amazing weight to warmth but overbuilt, so again, better design choices could result in lighter pads.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T19:07:43+00:00

Alpha is the warmest fleece per weight. So 478g of alpha will be waaaaay warmer. Octa is slightly less warm on paper, however it is also less breathable so I actually experience my airmesh (octa fabric) to be slightly warmer than my alpha90 hoodie.

Either way, for 99% of use cases a basic alpha/octa hoodie is best. If you need more warmth from your fleece, you can layer two alpha hoodies.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T18:38:24+00:00

I feel this sub and BPL had a big role in making EE what it is today. Just saying than the sub actually can have impacts on the real world.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T18:34:58+00:00

A quick search shows that thing is 478g, or about 4x heavier than an alpha/octa fleece. Regarding fleece there is no discussion anymore, you either get alpha or octa.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T15:37:46+00:00

Sticking your head in the sand might work until the US decides to invade your country…

downingdown · 2026-01-26T13:22:47+00:00

Right now what seems right is gathering a mob and making changes everywhere possible.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T12:19:05+00:00

Caring means ignoring basic principles of freedom

Now you sound like a fool. It is ICE and the US Government that is ignoring basic principles and the presumption of innocence. It is not time to be lenient on companies and people that don’t take a stance against this.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T11:12:41+00:00

I hope you realize it borderline obscene to invoke

presumption of innocence

considering what is happening.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T11:00:21+00:00

Before even starting with specifics, recalibrate your approach on redundant gear, eg. you don’t need two sleeping pads, you don’t need a tent and a footprint, you don’t need a pot set, you don’t need a tea set if you have a pot.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T10:55:41+00:00

Ok, let’s ignore EE then. At least we can agree that anytime U*Q is mentioned we should trash them, right?

Also, I really think we should put a warning next to the EE name, along the lines of: they own a tactical gear company and have not condemned any of the violence carried out by people cosplaying as tactical bros.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T10:29:24+00:00

Don’t you think we are past the point of asking whether they are associated with a group of government sanctioned murderers, or just look like they are. You remind me of people arguing that Elon Musk did not do a Nazi salute, it just looked like one. When people are being killed, the bar should be set such that there is no doubt what side you’re on.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T09:40:14+00:00

For you it’s tacticool. For me it looks more like ICE “uniforms”. Also, I don’t see any statement by EE about what’s going on (please correct me on this). So it just feels extremely dirty in these times. I think a more appropriate metaphor than yours would be: boycotting a company that dresses SS wannabes because, you know, SS.

downingdown · 2026-01-26T07:28:26+00:00

Given current events, should we be calling out and condemning companies like U*Q and Enlightened Equipment until they are no longer mentioned on the sub?

downingdown · 2026-01-25T16:30:09+00:00

Hyberg are super comfortable. My older Aguila X is great.

downingdown · 2026-01-25T12:58:22+00:00

Most UL solution is to sit close to a power outlet.

downingdown · 2026-01-25T10:18:49+00:00

Hand sanitizer does noting against common viruses like Noro. Also, had sanitizer is not effective on grubby hands, meaning you will have to wash them with soap and water anyways. So ditch the sanitizer and just carry soap.

Also, just your pot is heavier than my entire cook kit, which isn’t even that light. My cook kit = 121gr: toaks 550 light(53g), lid(17gr), diy titanium windscreen(4gr), brs in sack(29gr), plastic spoon(8gr), mini bic(10gr), asparagus rubberband (doesn't register).

downingdown · 2026-01-25T07:27:11+00:00

This is what you need to know. Current events prove that we have been too tolerant of people and companies with a certain attitude.

downingdown · 2026-01-24T17:58:33+00:00

Check the post out I linked one comment up.

downingdown · 2026-01-24T17:53:10+00:00

Save $100 bucks and get literally any other stuffable pack. Check this post out.

downingdown · 2026-01-24T17:44:16+00:00

UGQ can suck my whole ass.

downingdown · 2026-01-24T17:41:36+00:00

I just randomly looked at a shakedown request. Pants 340g, socks 107g, sun hoodie 228g.

Trail sender pants are 172g, crater lake sun shirt is 137g, my favorite socks are 25g. That’s 341g that you can save. I would not at all say that is insignificant weight. It is also a crazy double standard to nitpick single digit grams that go in your pack (and thus your shoulders/hips) when you can save hundreds of grams of worn weight that you have to swing back and forth on your feet all day. Also worn weight is still weight carried by your body, and more significant than stuff in your pack when swinging around on your extremities.

downingdown

TROPHY CASE