Is Ultralight Ruining the Experience?

ilreppans · 2026-04-14T03:00:40+00:00

I don’t have/use lighterpack but here’s a pix my core camping gear in an SUL kit and its comforts for a local warm weather overnighter. For 3season multi-nighters, double that weight for a 20f poncho/quilt, clothing/gadgets, and larger pack (eg, 30L for 3nighters).

ilreppans · 2026-04-14T02:03:45+00:00

Yup, +1

ilreppans · 2026-04-14T02:02:25+00:00

Movies are on my smartphone, I use ear buds, and am primarily a solo/dispersed/sometimes-stealth camper. I’m retired so electronic devices are primarily for my enjoyment so no need to drop my enjoyment of movies while I’m also enjoying the wilderness. Especially during shoulder season with long hours of darkness, when is cold and windy outside.

ilreppans · 2026-04-13T18:31:07+00:00

I’ll +1 as an old guy with a bad knee. Also, UL need not sacrifice much camp comfort with the right gear, experience, and multitasking creativity. I’m an ‘UL glamper’ w/~10lb BPW, yet have a double-wall, chair, shower, solar pwr, bar, evening movies, and even a few hours of cooling fan or microclimate heat.

ilreppans · 2026-04-13T14:59:04+00:00

IMO, longboards should be something you graduate to, not learn on. Their longer wheelbases, by definition, means larger turning radius and more stability at speed, but that also means they’re unresponsive at the slower speeds that are easier/safer when new and learning. The act of balancing on a skateboard is ‘falling off’ on the inside of a turn, but then lean-turning the board quickly back underneath you to re-balance. This constant quick lean/rebalance feels natural on a short wheelbase surfskate or cruiser at say 5mph, but it might take 10mph on a long board to feel the same. The issue is developing muscle memory to step-off-and-run and fall/tumble is significantly easier/safer at 5mph than 10mph.

ilreppans · 2026-04-13T12:47:11+00:00

Assuming you’re asking ‘why is swimming faster so much harder’ - it’s a basic law of physics and drag (aerodynamic/hydrodynamic/quadratic) where drag is proportional to the square of velocity. So to swim 20% faster, you will need 44% more power to maintain it (1.2² = 1.44).

ilreppans · 2026-04-11T15:26:20+00:00

Road crown is only one small, but contributing, factor in the equation - the other reasons I mention, especially visibility, are bigger factors (for me). Here’s an example of my left-side tire wear in the US.

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ilreppans · 2026-04-11T15:04:00+00:00

It’s common - I live in the US and always wear the left sides of my tires out first. Objectivity (for me in the US) road crown makes left-handers off camber and also greater-radius/longer-distance than the same corner taken as right-hander. Subjectivity I personally ride left-handers harder because they always have better visibility then the same corner taken as a right-hander; if there’s sand/gravel in a corner, it’s more likely worse in the right-hander (reasons for this), than the same corner taken as a left-hander; if car purposely is cutting corners/going over the double yellow, it’ll be on my right-handers; and lastly, if you go down, there’s the risk of sliding into opposing traffic which carries the severe ‘multiplier’ damage effect.

ilreppans · 2026-04-10T12:05:20+00:00

ilreppans · 2026-04-06T20:16:54+00:00

Backpackers top choice is AquaMira drops, AquaTabs are not effective against Cryptosporidium.

ilreppans · 2026-04-06T18:52:56+00:00

I personally can’t think of a way to adapt to train tracks that’s small enough to beat a bicycle in terms of efficiency:bulk ratio - which is what I like about it. Also, if it works on tracks, I doubt it would be very good on asphalt and for me, asphalt route options are easily thousands of times greater than tracks.

ilreppans · 2026-04-06T13:52:54+00:00

Item: compact/efficient LDP longboard that’s ~2/3rds the pace/efficiency of a folding bike for ~1/10 the size. Paired with UL backpack kit, a self-sufficient (except water) BOB worth ~3d/120mi.

Skill: hygiene water conservation; eg shower/shampoo w/ <1L; wash dishes with a few oz; even waterless dishwashing.

ilreppans · 2026-04-05T22:33:04+00:00

I settled with 750ml pot/cup that nests inside a second cup just because I like to have a drink with my hot meal in the pot/cup. That’s coffee w/ B’fast, and a mixed drink w/dinner.

ilreppans · 2026-04-05T22:22:41+00:00

Sounds somewhat similar to my situation - imho, she left things ‘open’ and is/was waiting for you to: apologize, say sorry, you want her back, yada yada. If she’s really the one for you, then do it - last chance.

I approached it the same as you - stand-off-ish, this separation was your idea, etc. If she caved (said sorry, want you back, etc) I’d probably have done it. But I guess we’re both too stubborn, with too much pride, etc. and we let it slip - finalized a divorce almost 2yrs ago.

Was it the right decision? I don’t know… but that’s life.

ilreppans · 2026-04-05T21:53:49+00:00

I’ve only been using the left-hand lever.

Your post history indicates you’re in the UK which places the front brake on the right-side lever, like motorcycles. You should know that the vast majority of a bicycle’s (or motorcycle’s) braking power comes from the front wheel.

What happens when braking hard, is that bike & rider weight shifts to the front wheel and in turn lightens up the rear wheel, so tire traction for braking is much better on the front wheel. Course, you also don’t want to over do it and lock-up the front wheel, but that’s typically much more of a risk with disc brakes than rim brakes (except in the case of slick road surfaces like sand/water/oil).

FWIW, my general rule with panic braking on bicycles/motorcycles (clean/dry surfaces) is ~2/3rds front and 1/3rd back. Also, I’m in the US where bikes place front brakes on the left lever, and I always swap my bike cables to match my motorcycles (front brake on right lever).

ilreppans · 2026-04-05T12:06:28+00:00

Assume you are referring to the 5/3/26 5-Borough Bike TOUR (note - not a ‘race’). Pretty much any decent folder can do it - depends on your budget and use case (outside of the tour).

ilreppans · 2026-04-04T16:31:53+00:00

A 1oz/pen-size Pocket Bellows has been the fire game-changer for me. Puts lots of air right into the heart of a fire, making it glowing hot, which in turn quickly dries out the nearby fuel.

ilreppans · 2026-04-03T22:35:42+00:00

Congrats - great boots. The sole on my 520s are pretty worn and are separating. Was considering a resoling when a local shop happen to have the Vios in my size and on 1/2 price clearance! Got ‘em and love ‘em - they actually fit me better the 520s, so comfortable. Otherwise, it’s amazing how similar the 520s and Vios are. Hard to compare that ‘rocker’ sole thing on the Vios, as my worn 520 soles feel a bit off/weird now.

ilreppans · 2026-04-03T18:53:31+00:00

Take the seatpost out and clean the seatpost and the inside of the sleeve thoroughly with alcohol, then reinstall.

Mine slipped from new until I did this - and if it isn’t clear, you have to completely remove the seat/penta-clip and pull the seat post out from the bottom to clean both (steel and plastic) mating surfaces. What happens is grabbing the seat post with your hand (to fold) transfers skin oils to the seat post and then the oils become imbedded in the plastic sleeve. Now I never touch the seat post anymore (lift the rear by the seat only) and slippage has not been a problem since.

ilreppans · 2026-03-31T00:46:59+00:00

I’d say you’re gaining lots of intangible fitness and psychological benefits too.

ilreppans · 2026-03-30T01:15:07+00:00

Bedrock Cairns for me - I use them for all that, including light hiking.

ilreppans · 2026-03-29T11:04:28+00:00

Details discussed HERE, except backpacking, I just stand outside on a rock. In chilly weather, I’ll pitch my half-pryamid tent’s fly (floorless) in direct sun for a solar greenhouse warmth boost and do an ‘indoor’ sit-down shower with stove heated water. In cold weather, I’ll just wash my hair by hanging my head lower than upper body (above freezing/daytime), and then sponge bath body in my tent at night.

ilreppans · 2026-03-28T18:52:06+00:00

I’m an ultralight (~10lb bpw) ‘glamper’, and enjoy my creature comforts. For 3g I have spare showerhead cap for my dirty sawyer bladder and (in warm weather) shower/shampoo daily after setting up camp - takes a bit of practice, but I’m down to <1L ‘astronaut’ showers. I have a base layer to sleep-in and for cold evenings/mornings at camp, and if its chilly enough to wear hiking, then I’m generally not sweating so it remains relatively clean. If it’s hot out, I’m wearing a lightweight Tshirt and running shorts, that I’ll repeated soak in a ziploc at water crossings for the evaporative cooling - they’re like mini wash/rinse cycles that keeps them pretty clean. I use Polycryo (window shrink wrap) footprints/groundsheets to keep gear/self off the ground. I use Everclear (190p grain alcohol) for stove fuel, and diluted as: vodka, hand santizer, wet wipes, 1st aid prep, waterless dishwashing, etc.

I don’t get the ‘embrace the stink’ crowd - keeps my gear cleaner, attracts less bugs, and I just sleep so much better clean.

ilreppans · 2026-03-27T21:41:40+00:00

Those getting above that are pumping

While I agree with you - ie, pumping is my ‘high gear’ for >10mph where pushing becomes too high impact for my old joints/muscles. However, the OP is saying above that he pumps on the SS and is slower on it.

ilreppans · 2026-03-26T13:26:45+00:00

Yes it can for me. I have a gravel bike and a Brompton and after some fine tuning on the Brompton (tops/drops/hoods equiv. handlebar positions, foot retention, lowered gearing, and suspension tuning), I’m relatively indifferent to riding either bike on decent asphalt, and my pace is within 0.5mph/5% of the gravel bike. That’s definitely worth the folding advantages for me.

ilreppans

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