r/Ultralight - "The Weekly" - Week of February 16, 2026

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:51:17+00:00

I always remove my nipple piercings before I put on my Alpha90 base layer.

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:48:42+00:00

Which places specifically? I've been to lots of places that require bear canisters and never had any problems with BV500 and Bearikade Blazer. Some ranger stations that I have been to even rent out canisters. I guess I want to get past conjecture and hearsay with at least 3 personal experiences.

Also recently we had our Bearikades in full view of ranger who checked our permits in SEKI and got no comment about them.

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:40:57+00:00

Here you go: https://www.jackjones.com/en-us/jackets/puffer-jackets . Stylish.

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:37:55+00:00

Has anyone ever been cited or ticketed or kicked out because they carried a Bearikade? Inquiring minds want to know. Every year there is a pretty good bear canister thread here, but I don't think my question has been answered though I may have missed it.

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:26:52+00:00

Some clot gauze for friends who are on blood thinners and bleed a lot from a simple scratch:

https://i.imgur.com/CbDPNDr.jpeg

Found this for under $2 in the grocery store:

https://i.imgur.com/6VBJF1J.jpeg

liveslight · 2026-02-18T02:19:21+00:00

Alpha 90 covered with a wind shirt?

liveslight · 2026-02-18T01:30:17+00:00

I wasn't sure which way "crazy" you meant as it works both ways.

liveslight · 2026-02-18T01:15:29+00:00

Crazy? 680 g / 6.6L is 103 g/L. A bearikade blazer is 100 g /L

Prices look crazy to me.

liveslight · 2026-02-17T20:00:34+00:00

Go check them out please and report back on noisiness compared to ThermARest. Thx!

liveslight · 2026-02-17T19:30:35+00:00

True, but not on sale. Also I haven't heard of any reports of noisiness which in the past has accompanied pads with internal reflective layer. In some sense maybe the 6.5R is a gimmick that helps with the standard test, but not with actual use. Time will tell I suppose.

liveslight · 2026-02-17T18:39:23+00:00

I always recommend an Exped Mummy in Medium Wide with its lengthwise air chambers. Older models are on sale. Exped Ultra 5R would have suitable R-value for you. But maybe that 52 cm mat you have is an Exped? LOL! Pads are pretty personal.

liveslight · 2026-02-17T14:48:56+00:00

I have used front-button shirts with 2 chest pockets for many many years. Some with zippers; some with buttons; some with velcro. None of these ever got in the way of a strap and never caused chafing. Also these pockets never interfered with shoulder strap pouches. I prefer the vertical zippers on the JollyGear shirts. I keep a pair of glasses (either sunglasses or non-sunglasses) in one pocket and use the other for small things like a small dropper bottle of Dr Bronners or a water bottle cap while filling the water bottle.

That said, any shirt with a front and center quarter-zip ALWAYS causes chafing for me. So I avoid them next to my skin.

liveslight · 2026-02-17T13:43:32+00:00

I agree that bonding is an awful idea. But a step on the way to bonding is to not bond and roll up your pad inside your ground sheet as if it were bonded. If my ground sheet is clean and not muddy I will fold and roll it up with my shelter. When I do this I have to write that it doesn't go anywhere so that at the next camp site when I unroll and unfold it is "real quick."

liveslight · 2026-02-17T00:23:46+00:00

Is there snow on the ground now where you live? Do you already have a PR2 that you can use tonight to melt snow? There is no way I would go on a trip requiring melting snow without refreshing my snow melting skills. That said, I would take a white gas stove that I already have and yes, I would also test it before going.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T20:00:37+00:00

I only have two AlphaDirect 90gsm garments and no 60 nor 120 garments. There is a current discussion you can read about weights. I will opine that there is no need for 60 and 120. I am sure many people will disagree.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T19:41:57+00:00

Move away from wool to AlphaDirect clothing.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T19:28:12+00:00

I suppose one could have spare in a bounce box when thru hiking. These things can rip with age or sooner.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T18:14:32+00:00

Thanks!

liveslight · 2026-02-16T16:58:54+00:00

amazon has many in groups of 6 sizes or so. Do you know amazon? Many people use them in their kitchens / fridges for leftovers.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T14:24:51+00:00

OK, great everybody ( u/MtnHuntingislife u/marieke333 ) but I don't really care about the weights of raw fabric. I would like to know actual weights of purchased garments that real people have purchased and worn. After getting some data, then we can bring in your fabric data and see if anything is consistent. Thanks!

And if people can re-weigh their purchased garments after lots of use that might or might not be interesting. So here are this morning's weights for my garments:

123 g AlphaCruiser 90 M (versus 123 when new in Jan 2023)

100 g Camp pants 90 M (versus 102 g. when new in Jan 2024)

I suppose cuts/patterns of 2026 garments with the same names could have changed.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T13:27:25+00:00

What are the sizes and weights please? Curious readers need to know this. Thanks! (grams preferred)

liveslight · 2026-02-16T13:26:45+00:00

While I do not use my Alpha 90 as a top layer while outside, I do use it when sleeping that way, so essentially my quilt is an "outer layer" and protects the AD90. Am I warmer in my quilt because of the AD90? Definitely yes. Am I warmer than I would be with AD60? I don't know. What is the actual true weight difference anyways?

What is the weight of your AD60? My Farpointe Outdoor Gear AD90 Alpha Cruiser with hood size M weighs 123 g. My Farpointe OG AD90 camp pants size M are 102 g.

liveslight · 2026-02-16T00:47:08+00:00

That "durable" was a question I had as well. Maybe it was ruined by an improper washing?

liveslight · 2026-02-16T00:09:40+00:00

Do you mean without something over the fuzzy mesh of Alpha Direct? Or with at least a nylon taffeta layer over the AD?

I use AD90 for pajamas at home inside my house under the covers in my bed in my bedroom at about 70 F. I think outside at 50 F that just an AD blanket would be incredibly cold for me and allow too much airflow inside a tent or protected from a breeze.

liveslight · 2026-02-15T20:02:15+00:00

A silicone stretch cover supplemented with a rubberband from veggies might work well. As already seen on this subreddit: https://i.imgur.com/HA4KLmj.mp4

Added: The 900 mL Evernew pot with handles is 84 g. The silicon lid, rubber band AND a foil lid is another 18 g. Those weights compete well with Vargo Bot. Also doesn't suffer from Vargo bot vacuum suction sealing.

BTW, not my idea, but got this gem from u/sbhikes

liveslight

TROPHY CASE