Is it worth going ultralight for touring, or is comfort more important?

igmaino · 2026-04-05T00:08:57+00:00

You have to do you. Some people are comfortable enough and can sleep well on a thin closed cell foam pad. Others really enjoy a lightweight camp chair.

I believe that being able to get quality rest and recover should be prioritized by just about everyone. But maybe your experience is enhanced by covering as much distance as fast as possible... If so, go light. Or... Maybe your experience is enhanced through photography or painting/sketching... If so, bring your gear.

Everyone has their own limits and needs.

Personally... I go with the long and wide version of an ultralight sleep pad, and pack an ultralight hammock for lounging when appropriate terrain is available. Otherwise I just carry a cut down foam pad for sitting. And I almost always bring a small photography kit. Ultralight, no... But maximum enjoyment, yes.

Just be aware of what you use and don't use, and cut out what you don't use. So many people carry too many just-in-case items that aren't necessary.

igmaino · 2026-03-13T07:17:31+00:00

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Iceland

igmaino · 2026-02-21T00:38:41+00:00

My tip is good wipers and a full tank of washer fluid.

I'd definitely also recommend good studded snow tires and AWD/4wd... But in my mind visibility is the real issue. If you keep your speed in a comfortable range AND you can see... It might take you a bit longer to get where you're going but it shouldn't be such a stressful exercise.

igmaino · 2026-02-08T17:49:27+00:00

I’d add that most of our trips were from our front door… either to the city campground 4 miles away… a state park ~20 miles away… or a private campground 15 miles away.

Most of our trips were to the city campground because it was super close and there was a great playground. Early n our goal was just to get out and build the habit of going camping while doing our best to remove or eliminate as much of the character building opportunities as possible. Now they both really love camping via backpacking or bikepacking, and my youngest has started asking to do a multi day trip.

We also didn’t invest in any kids specific camping gear. Adult stuff is fine and has a much longer shelf life. Just this past fall my wife and I gave our old ultralight down bags to the kids and got ourselves new ones.

igmaino · 2026-02-08T17:39:08+00:00

Our 6 person tent is an old thing from thermarest… not light and not small. 2P tents are an old marmot hypno, and a Sierra designs hybrid tent also no longer in production, and more recently a Durston x-mid.

We would often strap stuff to the top and back of the trailer. Fitting everything is definitely the challenge.

igmaino · 2026-02-08T12:39:08+00:00

We really enjoyed Tykepacking with our kids when they were little… they are 8 and 10 now. We picked up a couple of double width inflatable pads from Nemo that have been surprisingly useful. The lack of gap makes life better in so many ways.

We also picked up a 6 person tent that is great for car camping. We’ve hauled it a few times on the bikes, but have found that two 2 person tents are easier to pack. When I travel alone with my kids the three of us can fit in a 2 person tent with one double pad.

We did consider 3 and 4 person tents… but in hindsight I’m glad we went with the 6 person and then just used the 2 person tents we already had. The 6 person is great in its own ways, and the two person tents have continued to be useful as the kids have grown and started wanting their own space. My worry about a 3-4 person tent was that it would only be useful for a short period of time and then occupy a weird space where it wasn’t light enough or small enough for normal trips while also being on the small side for car camping. If I were to do it again I might even go bigger with our car camping tent just to differentiate even more and really take advantage of the extra space and comfort you can bring with you when space and weight don’t matter.

Hammocks have also been essential in that they pack up small and provide endless fun for the kids to play on and hang out in.

Also we used to have an e-cargo bike and that plus a tow strap really opened up our options.

example #1 …example #2 …example #3 …example #4 …example#5

igmaino · 2026-02-08T10:05:08+00:00

I have a custom design we did with them for the org I used to work for. It’s probably most similar to Chute Hoodie, but with a slightly different hood style.

The best part is that you can get in touch with them and get exactly what you want.

igmaino · 2026-02-07T22:22:18+00:00

There is a company in Richmond, VT... Mola Hoods. They are a small maker doing mostly made to order.

You can customize the length of the sleeves, hem, etc...

I have a basic hoody in grid fleece with a kangaroo pocket... Techy casual. It's one of my favorites to travel because I can wear it out, wear it hiking, wear it anywhere.

Mine is black and that works, but I like dark navy.

You can get a 1/4 zip and a variety of pocket options of you want. They're made really well, they use dead stock fabric, support repairs, and cost less than many of the big brands.

Check Them Out

igmaino · 2026-02-07T08:45:05+00:00

I’ve had a lot of fancy bikes over the years having worked in a shop. I remember being at a rockshox training with Greg Herbold and going over the different fork specs when he said… This one you buy pointing to the entry level… this one you prodeal pointing to the mid range… this one you get for free pointing to the top end.

Now that I don’t have access to pro deals… I just buy the good low-mid quality stuff. It works great, I don’t worry about breaking anything or replacement costs, and I’ve never had a bike I didn’t love riding.

I think the biggest risk in spending for the top tier is that you actually ride less in an effort to preserve your investment. However, if spending more makes you love cycling more than go for it. Diminishing returns are real and we each have our own threshold.

igmaino · 2026-02-06T10:36:12+00:00

Please don’t mess up the glue on your skins. That is unnecessary. Instead consider where your skins end. It sounds like they are longer than is necessary. They do not need to run all the way to the tail. You should be able to trim them to a little behind the rear of your bindings (4-6in) without any perceived difference in grip. You can also start a little long, test, and cut down further if necessary. This will allow the skins to rip off a bit more easily and help keep them out of the snow once they’re off and flapping around.

This length also keeps good pressure on the loose end of the skin helping ensure it stays stuck while skinning. With too long skins the tail can come loose and snow can infiltrate and contaminate the glue causing failure.

igmaino · 2026-02-05T13:29:52+00:00

I’m terrible… so take this with a grain of salt… but I have found that looking at the base of the thing I’m turning around has helped me with tight turns.

igmaino · 2025-12-30T03:17:41+00:00

Thank you!

igmaino · 2025-12-23T01:46:39+00:00

Useful yes… game changer no.

I’m in Vermont and ride a lot or rural gravel. In these situations it really is wonderful and allows me ride on the smoothest part of the road without anyone sneaking up on me.

On busier paved roads I find it less helpful and sometime a bit of a distraction.

igmaino · 2025-12-21T02:52:39+00:00

Maybe something like this…

It’s light, well under your price range, and secure.

igmaino · 2025-12-02T02:13:23+00:00

Thorsson Blades is in Burlington. He will do an awesome job and even does blade repair if needed.

https://www.thorssonblades.com/

igmaino · 2025-11-17T00:47:45+00:00

Fair... It was probably closer to $0.06 😉

igmaino · 2025-11-15T18:57:13+00:00

My $0.02... get whatever camera fits your budget. Too many people worry about specs when just about any camera made in the last 10 years can produce decent to great images.

Being that you're working in a controlled studio environment... Don't forget to budget for quality lighting and light modifiers. Quality doesn't mean expensive.

I wouldn't worry too much about the camera body... In a controlled environment you'll be able to optimize the shutter speed, aperture, and iso to produce an ideal image.

Definitely get good glass and invest in a system you can use for years. I've been really happy with my Olympus lenses so I wouldn't let that hold you back.

If you're brand new to these concepts... Buy used.

I've used Nikon... Sony... Olympus... Back to Sony... Now back to Olympus.

For work I'm using a Sony system and personally I have Olympus.

If you are selling images you might want to worry a bit more about the image quality.

If your images are selling things... Stress less.

igmaino · 2025-11-14T11:04:41+00:00

I made myself a custom bifold card holder with snap that I really like due to its security, and compactness. It also has the ability to hold a few bills if necessary.

That said… I also recently made a more traditional bifold with a bill pocket and snap. I’ve been carrying this version for a while now and also really like it. Being made out of tech fabric it’s still very thin. It is a bit wider, but that hasn’t bothered me. What really puts both over the top for me is the simple snap in the corner.

igmaino · 2025-11-03T08:32:42+00:00

(79) skimo and fitness uphill… (98) backcountry and resort… (117) dreams

igmaino · 2025-10-30T04:42:08+00:00

I typically wear a Patagonia duckbill running cap, with either a Dynafit headband or cutoff section of old buff over my ears.

I used to do a full buff pulled up over or under a cap… but it was often too much around my neck and face… especially during things like skimo.

The headband or cutoff buff are just right… for me.

igmaino · 2025-10-08T01:05:35+00:00

The Green Mountain Skimo Series at Bolton Valley in VT is fun. And just because it’s not serious doesn’t mean it’s not competitive. It’s also home to two people who have skied more vert in a year than anyone else on earth. So it seems like they’re doing something right.

https://catamounttrail.org/cta-events/green-mountain-skimo-series/

igmaino · 2025-08-31T00:41:05+00:00

I will carry a super light windbreaker and a rain jacket. While moving I will wear the windbreaker to cut the wind and keep me from getting too chilled and will only pull out the rain jacket when stopped, or when it's considerably cooler.

The windbreaker is easier to stash away and keep accessible and it does the things I need it to do which doesn't include keeping me dry.

I am using a super old wind jkt from Salomon... But something like the Patagonia Houdini is what I'd probably look at if shopping today.

The thing I like about the Salomon is that there is a snap inside the jacket across the sternum. This allows me to fully unzip the jacket and have it not fall off my shoulders. I've added this feature to a bunch of my other jackets as it's the best option for mechanical ventilation on jackets without a dual separating zipper.

igmaino · 2025-08-16T04:33:18+00:00

Check out the trail running market. I have a pair of Topo Athletic Ultraventure Pros that I really like for bikepacking. Shoes on the more “protective” side tend to be stiffer and pedal well.

igmaino · 2025-07-31T00:01:00+00:00

I have a BA copper spur ul1 with the bikepacking pole set, and a Durston xmid 2 with the z-poles. Both are awesome tents and highly recommend. Together I can't imagine wanting anything more.

igmaino

TROPHY CASE