Comments on: 4 Reasons Why “Ultralight” is Here to Stay

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:51:38 +0000

The term Ultralight and Lightweight has helped me tremendously,

Experience and skills are one of the cheapest ways to lighten up.

Sometimes I hear folks saying they want to drop 2 pounds on their pack when they need to drop 20 pounds on their body, this was true for me.

Some folks talk about their weights but forgot to include the 4 pound DLSR, the 6 oz Smartphone, or their hiking poles.

I have researched this to death and spent a lot of money, I am at the point where the weight I will save now, will come from experience and much less from purchases. It has been a fun ride, but you eventually have to get off. I'm very close to that now.

I weigh myself with all my clothing and backpack worn as I head out the door, this gives me a true weight.
It does help to weigh every single item do determine it's merit, but at the end of the day what matters is when you step on that scale with all your gear.

The quest to lighten up has motivated me to loose 27 pounds of body fat and almost 25 pounds in pack weight,

I agree with you on the labels and based on labels, if you had a pack 2 ounces over 10lbs, you would be Lightweight, drop 2 ounces and you are ultralight. hmmm!

Great Post, thank you

By: Dave Collins

Dave Collins — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:49:53 +0000

In reply to Rudy B.

Thanks Rudy! I fully agree.

By: Rudy B

Rudy B — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 02:02:01 +0000

Ultralight is here to stay. While it will probably never become "mainstream", UL will continue to become more popular as more UL products become available and as more UL products reach the shelves of the large sporting goods stores like REI, EMS, etc. But what it really needs is for more people to speak publicly about Ultralight backpacking and its benefits. This is why sites like yours are so important.

By: Dave Collins

Dave Collins — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 05:47:47 +0000

In reply to Marshall.

Oh it's real alright. And it's amazing.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 04:11:54 +0000

I can't believe Naked and Afraid is a real show, and I can't believe I had never heard of it until now.

By: Dave Collins

Dave Collins — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 23:19:34 +0000

In reply to Ian.

I feel you Ian. Being elitist about having a lightweight pack is just about as dumb as it gets. Light gear doesn't make a skilled backpacker, that's a good point. I do think that gear will continue to get lighter and I think that's a good thing. Improvements to backpacking equipment will mean that we can have increased comfort without carrying as much weight. But there will always be tradeoffs between cost, weight, comfort, and durability. That's where a lot of the skill and personal preference comes in.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:50:49 +0000

As one who is just getting into backpacking in general, this is the sentence from your piece that sums it up for me: It’s really more important to have a lightweight focus, know your options, and bring the gear that best fits your style.

It's been interesting to see some of the elitist views about UL or Lightweight backpacking that I run into, just on the internet. I don't realistically see myself ever getting below 10 pounds, but I don't see myself getting into a pissing match with someone over weight either. I guess the phrase "Hike Your Own Hike" could be augmented to "Carry Your Own Weight" in that sense.

Obviously, gear will keep getting lighter (and more expensive?) as technology improves. I like the concept of Lightweight. The labels Ultra-lightweight and below starts to feel more like a competition to me.

By: Dave Collins

Dave Collins — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:46:32 +0000

In reply to Martin Rye.

That's a great comment Martin and I fully agree. The most important factor to having successful backpacking trips is having the right skills and choosing the proper gear to fit the conditions. Whatever anyone wants to call that is fine by me. I also agree that UL is often about money these days. That's one of the main reasons that I see the term sticking around and continuing to grow in popularity. It's a good seller. But, just like you said, backpacking light doesn't have to be expensive. Choosing what not to bring is half the battle.

Call it whatever you want, it's all backpacking to me. My goal will always be to help inspire people get out there to have their own backcountry adventures.

By: Martin Rye

Martin Rye — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:05:34 +0000

Going so called UL is about bucks these days. Buy it. Years back the concept of the Ray-Way took some skill, thinking, and critical appraisal of how it will work, but now its not hard to go light. The issue for me is the elitist view often put forward around UL. The lack of engaging with those who still take lots of kit and the way it alienates so often people from taking less and still packing fears and worries about the outdoors.
I shared a rant on this way back http://www.summitandvalley.com/2012/10/we-are-all-backpackers-in-end.html – the arguments back on other blogs seemed ludicrous, claiming using a compass was UL and some other poor arguments for me. Some writers do put a good case for UL, but ultimately labels don’t help. What matters is the right skill, right kit for the intend trip. Environmental consideration and taking kit for that. Not hitting a base weight as the goal. Light as you need for the intended trip. With skill as the focus before kit focus.

Also going light can cost nothing – take less kit (get fitter and leaner). But in the end its backpacking. Focus on that engaging message Dave that reached so many, not chasing a defined base weight to call it UL.

Learn what not to bring next time and the truth we won’t take to much harm with less kit, a healthy skill base and big sense of adventure is a better message than UL.