the philosopherfifi
I used to be a pretty dedicated ultralight backpacker, but I no longer strive to reach a base weight under 10 pounds. Nowadays I treat it as a philosophy, seeking to balance comfort, speed and safety as much as I can without sacrificing too much. That said, the beginning of summer in northern Pennsylvania seems pretty wet and unpredictable, so I’ll go a little heavier than I’d prefer.
The pack
After trying a few options, I’ll go with my Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35-my custom Frankenpack. It was a difficult decision, but now that the weather seems to have turned “wet” instead of “snow and ice,” I have decided it is the right one. It’s small at 35 liters, but it’s almost completely waterproof, bombproof and has plenty of external storage and a top strap to carry everything I need externally. If necessary, it is light and stable enough to be able to run with it. I customized it by swapping out its hip belt for one from the HMG Unbound 40 and replacing the left shoulder pocket with an HMG phone pocket. I also carry a Z Therma-rest seat to keep my shorts clean on breaks.
the refuge
I’m a big fan of trekking pole tents, especially my trusty old ZPacks Plex Solo. It’s gotten a little tight though, so I’ll be packing my Durston X-MID Pro 2 and some MSR Groundhog Mini stakes. Since it’s a trekking pole tent, I’ll try my new Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Corks. These are highly rated so I expect them to be an improvement over my normal Fizan aluminum poles.
The sleep system
There’s a lot of weight I could lose here, but nothing ruins my vacation faster than a bad night’s sleep. I’ll be using my new favorite pad, the mummy version of the Exped Ultra 6.5R. I’m not sure if it actually meets or exceeds that R-value, but it’s warm enough for the climate and I sleep incredibly well in it, so it’s coming. As a backup, I have a Gossamer Gear 1/8 inch foam pad, mainly to protect my pad in the shelters and keep it from sliding around inside my tent. For my bag I will take my 38 degree quilt from Western Mountaineering. Lastly, a Sea to Summit ultralight pillow and my illuminated sleeping teammates.
packaged clothes
There is a lot of guesswork here. My normal gear is very ultralight, but with the weather forecast between 40 and 70 degrees and cold rain all the time, I changed my setup a bit. I’ll be packing my Vertice ZPacks rain pants and my Helium UL shell shell from Outdoor Research to take on the rain and do. For my hands, I’ll take a pair of Showa Temres fishing gloves and a pair of Decathlon lined gloves if it’s cold enough, and a spare pair of socks. If I get cold while traveling, I have my trusty Montbell Tachyon 2.0 wind protector, which I can pair with a 90gsm Burgeon Alpha Fleece. If it’s VERY cold, I have my Senchi Mori leggings. and an old North Face hat I found at a thrift store. For my puffer, I’ll be packing my new Katabatic Gear Tarn down jacket, replacing my previous version of the same model.
(Full disclosure, I received a pro discount from Katabatic Gear for the down jacket.)
Worn clothes
From the feet up, I’ll be wearing a pair of Topo Terraventure 3 trail shoes paired with Injinji liners under a pair of Darn Tough socks. The shoes are pretty old, but I think they have enough juice for one last ride. As always, I’ll be carrying a pair of Patagonia Baggies, which I can pair with my waterproof pants if I really need more warmth. On my torso I will wear a FineTrack Elemental Undershirt. These “elementary layers” are totally worth it in humid environments: you don’t feel the sweat at all and they also add another layer of protection against insects. On top of that, I’ll be wearing a Town Shirt Sun Hoody, paired with a Buff for additional bug protection. On my head I will wear a cap, probably the black one from The Trek.
(Full disclosure: I received a pro discount from Town ShirtCo. Fuller disclosure: I didn’t actually get a discount on The Trek Ballcap, I bought it before I started blogging.)
Songbooks!
Using three, all of them small and tiny. One is my IFAK (individual first aid kit) which contains the usual hiker medications: ibuprofen, Benadryl, a bunch of leucotape, some personal medications, a tick wrench, and some Neosporin. For this trip I’m adding a few packets of Deet bug repellent wipes. Also, my bathroom kit with a Bogler trowel, some wet wipes and a handful of Pact Outdoors compressed bath wipes and half a roll of real TP (for close-in situations). My actual bag fits a pair of earplugs (absolutely vital), a charging cable for my phone, two Nitecore NB10k batteries, a Flextail Zero pump, my Nitecore NU27 headlamp, a travel toothbrush, and some toothpaste. Not pictured is my Spyderco Native knife (I was carrying it when I took the photo).
Ffood and water
I just don’t have the patience for counting calories and preparing meals. I’m thinking about packing 4 dehydrated backpacking meals of various brands and models for my dinners. My cooking system includes my BRS stove and a Toaks 750ml pot. I’m a snacker, so most of my food will consist of a variety of Snickers, energy chews, crackers, Lil Jaeger beef jerky sticks, honey sting chocolate squares, and whatever else looks good right before I go out. Everything that has a smell goes inside the OPsack and the URsack; This system has never failed me.
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