The hiking gear and adventures thread...
Discussion
Matt.. said:
Yes it’s a hard start which makes me want to continue chasing a SOBO permit. I also applied for the Wonderland Trail lottery. At least the JMT isn’t as steep as some of the Alps hiking I’ve done! I’ll probably now blow a ridiculous amount of money lightening my pack but that’s all part of the fun.
Is it harder because of the Mt Whitney diversion? (Can you tell I've just had a Google?? 
) What's the water situation like in August, I spent some time in Yosemite (a while ago!) and it was bloody hot and dry.Im no expert on the JMT but does the Pacific Crest Trail not follow it / incorporate it to a large degree?
A great PCT app is Farout and you can buy the relevant section - which gives GPS routing, supply stops and perhaps more importantly live updates on trail conditions etc?
You may have considered it but if not? Reddit is a popular resource for planning - again - you may know - but if not?
A great PCT app is Farout and you can buy the relevant section - which gives GPS routing, supply stops and perhaps more importantly live updates on trail conditions etc?
You may have considered it but if not? Reddit is a popular resource for planning - again - you may know - but if not?
troc said:
Yeah, lightweight kit is (or can be) bonkers expensive. I have a big Agnes tent and a load of nemo sleeping kit which cost a fortune but is brilliant to use.
Looking at getting a lightweight hiking pack as all my packs are mountaineering-biased.
I hike every week so have a lot of kit already. I have an X-Mid 1p tent and lots of other gear. I’ll probably try an Atom Packs Mo 60 before getting a custom one. I have an Atom+ 40 as my hut hiking pack and it’s very good. Looking at getting a lightweight hiking pack as all my packs are mountaineering-biased.
I’m 40 this year so it’s a year to not worry too much about the money and have some fun.
troc said:
Yeah, lightweight kit is (or can be) bonkers expensive. I have a big Agnes tent and a load of nemo sleeping kit which cost a fortune but is brilliant to use.
Looking at getting a lightweight hiking pack as all my packs are mountaineering-biased.
I use these guys (happen to be local) but a great range of kit and usually competetive on price.Looking at getting a lightweight hiking pack as all my packs are mountaineering-biased.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
What a great opportunity though!
ben5575 said:
I use these guys (happen to be local) but a great range of kit and usually competetive on price.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
What a great opportunity though!
Yes that’s a good store for kit. I’m tall so finding gear that works is really difficult in this country. https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
What a great opportunity though!
My fully loaded pack weight will probably be 14.5-16kg. That’s 5-6 days food (in a bear can), water, camera and all other gear. Not light. It’s easier when there’s a refuge every 5km with a bed, toilet, shower, 3 course meal and beer!
ben5575 said:
I use these guys (happen to be local) but a great range of kit and usually competetive on price.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
I can spend hours on that site https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
I wish I didn't find out about lighterpack.com years ago. It's way too easy to get sucked into it and start gram chasing. I actually have a set of scales specifically to weigh my hiking and camping kit! http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ makes it even easier to chase the grams. It's best to avoid this!
Edited by Matt.. on Wednesday 13th March 12:14
I agree with the gram counting. I am guilty of getting down to the bare minimum.
One of my biggest purchases was a frameless pack - Gossamer Gear Kumo 36.
A REALLY good backpack but I can't stop returning to my Osprey Exos 48 which just carries better for multiday hikes.
Sometimes lighter isn't always better.
One of my biggest purchases was a frameless pack - Gossamer Gear Kumo 36.
A REALLY good backpack but I can't stop returning to my Osprey Exos 48 which just carries better for multiday hikes.
Sometimes lighter isn't always better.
As we're talking packs...
What I have:
Osprey Talon 24l (or similar) - framed and very much feels like a backpack as a result. Holds what I need for a 'big day'
Osprey Seral 7 - bum bag with bladder - not a pack, but too small to carry much beyond water and yorkie bars
Inov8 VentureLite 18 - vest pack - this is nearly what I need but not comfortable enough: https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/venturelite-18...
What I need:
A lightweight vest pack that I can fell run 10k+ with but I can also use as a day pack - no bounce, water, fleece, rain gear, pole carrying, basic kit. I tend to run down/between peaks - so I'm not a dedicated fell runner in short shorts, but I'm also not a dedicated day packer either.
The new Inov8 Racepac 20 seems to fit the bill, but before I go for it, are there any recommendations for other manufacturers? I'm not hands on familiar with Solomon etc.
What I have:
Osprey Talon 24l (or similar) - framed and very much feels like a backpack as a result. Holds what I need for a 'big day'
Osprey Seral 7 - bum bag with bladder - not a pack, but too small to carry much beyond water and yorkie bars
Inov8 VentureLite 18 - vest pack - this is nearly what I need but not comfortable enough: https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/venturelite-18...
What I need:
A lightweight vest pack that I can fell run 10k+ with but I can also use as a day pack - no bounce, water, fleece, rain gear, pole carrying, basic kit. I tend to run down/between peaks - so I'm not a dedicated fell runner in short shorts, but I'm also not a dedicated day packer either.
The new Inov8 Racepac 20 seems to fit the bill, but before I go for it, are there any recommendations for other manufacturers? I'm not hands on familiar with Solomon etc.
ben5575 said:
As we're talking packs...
The new Inov8 Racepac 20 seems to fit the bill, but before I go for it, are there any recommendations for other manufacturers? I'm not hands on familiar with Solomon etc.
I use a Salomon XA 15 as my day pack now. I hike with it and occasionally run down hills so perhaps not close to your use case. It works really well and I can fit a lot of stuff in it! I don't think they make them any more sadly but I do want the XA 25 version that they do make.The new Inov8 Racepac 20 seems to fit the bill, but before I go for it, are there any recommendations for other manufacturers? I'm not hands on familiar with Solomon etc.
I quite like the idea of the ultralight movement in theory as carting loads of heavy kit about that you're not going to use is never a good idea and a lighter pack is sometimes a better pack, but on the other hand, if you take it too far you can end up with lightweight stuff that might not be fit for purpose. Perhaps it’s not so bad in this country (Cairngorms in the winter etc. excepted) but it does worry me when you see people who head out in properly extreme environments on YouTube etc. with what is in effect a 2 season/summer tent.
Example: I was talking to an ultralight person a couple of years back in Darkest Devon. We were wild camping in an exposed spot on some cliffs and she'd had a miserable night in a trekking pole tent that looked best placed for a sunny afternoon for the kids to play in (IMO)... "but it only weighs 900 grams". Her sleeping bag was soaked, all her gear was wet through… not a nice experience on a multi-day hike.
She did look quite jealous of my 2.4 kilo tent (Hilleberg Nallo 2) as my reaction to the 'extreme' wind and rain was "WHAT wind and rain?"
It was the same with footwear: after a few miles of wet hiking using Trail Runners or similar, her feet looked like she’d spent a couple of hours in the bath. My leather combat boots with a goretex lining meant my feet were basically perfect (they might weigh a about kilo each, but they get the job done for me).
Point is: ultralight can be good, but get the right tool for the job.
All just my opinion of course. I’m 6ft 5 ish and weigh about 16.5 stone. Saving the odd gram here and there is not going to make much difference to me. XXL clothes and size 15 boots (plus a tent and sleeping bag I can actually fit in!) are always going to weight a lot more than the equivalent for a smaller person. As I've said, I do like the ultralight ethos, but you won't find me snapping a toothbrush in half to save weight!
Oh, and that ultralight kit woman? She had bloody great 2 camera tripods she was lugging around in a kind of chest rig to enable her to get good photos!
Each to their own.
Example: I was talking to an ultralight person a couple of years back in Darkest Devon. We were wild camping in an exposed spot on some cliffs and she'd had a miserable night in a trekking pole tent that looked best placed for a sunny afternoon for the kids to play in (IMO)... "but it only weighs 900 grams". Her sleeping bag was soaked, all her gear was wet through… not a nice experience on a multi-day hike.
She did look quite jealous of my 2.4 kilo tent (Hilleberg Nallo 2) as my reaction to the 'extreme' wind and rain was "WHAT wind and rain?"
It was the same with footwear: after a few miles of wet hiking using Trail Runners or similar, her feet looked like she’d spent a couple of hours in the bath. My leather combat boots with a goretex lining meant my feet were basically perfect (they might weigh a about kilo each, but they get the job done for me).
Point is: ultralight can be good, but get the right tool for the job.
All just my opinion of course. I’m 6ft 5 ish and weigh about 16.5 stone. Saving the odd gram here and there is not going to make much difference to me. XXL clothes and size 15 boots (plus a tent and sleeping bag I can actually fit in!) are always going to weight a lot more than the equivalent for a smaller person. As I've said, I do like the ultralight ethos, but you won't find me snapping a toothbrush in half to save weight!
Oh, and that ultralight kit woman? She had bloody great 2 camera tripods she was lugging around in a kind of chest rig to enable her to get good photos!
Each to their own.
I use some ultralight kit partially to allow me to carry a 1.5kg camera. I am not even close to dedicated enough for being truly ultralight and am risk averse so carry some kit just in case, and have luxuries. I'm definitely more in the lightweight category. I have a lighterpack.com account that I use to list my trip gear and it's really useful, if only for making it easier to cut back on what I'm taking. Sadly my current JMT list is coming out to 16kg with food and water so I'm far away from ultralight! https://lighterpack.com/r/rgz308
I am a trail runner convert though. I rarely ever use boots now. This is obviously very weather/terrain depedent but I use my trail runners for my weekly hiking in Wales, trips around the UK (Lakes, etc...) and all my Alps hiking and Norway/Sweden.
I am a trail runner convert though. I rarely ever use boots now. This is obviously very weather/terrain depedent but I use my trail runners for my weekly hiking in Wales, trips around the UK (Lakes, etc...) and all my Alps hiking and Norway/Sweden.
Edited by Matt.. on Wednesday 13th March 15:44
I'm exactly the same. The boy scout in me means I carry more than the bare minimum 'just in case' (hence the need for a larger vest pack) and as you say, there's a trade off/value calc between comfort and weight.
Matt.. said:
I use a Salomon XA 15 as my day pack now. I hike with it and occasionally run down hills so perhaps not close to your use case. It works really well and I can fit a lot of stuff in it! I don't think they make them any more sadly but I do want the XA 25 version that they do make.
Exactly what I was looking for, thanks! Turns out from watching some reviews on this pack that what I described I do above is called 'fastpacking' apparently. Who knew?Edited by ben5575 on Wednesday 13th March 17:30
I try not to take unnecessary stuff but my last trip out overnight involved splitting 30kg of coal between 3 of us so definitely not one who follows the ultralight ethos.
There was also a bottle of malt decanted into a plastic bottle which combined with the coal meant the cairngorm evenings were very pleasant indeed despite the weather outside!
There was also a bottle of malt decanted into a plastic bottle which combined with the coal meant the cairngorm evenings were very pleasant indeed despite the weather outside!
MonkeyBusiness said:
Single walk with stops along the way.
Everything on my back and crack on.
Some good suggestions. Thank you.
I live in Lakes. It’s a small place but is great for a few days all stitched together if you know what your doing. When I’m back after working away and can’t be faffed to think about a walk plan but the kids want a 2 -3 day trip we drop the car in town and take a cab, or more likely the bus, from Keswick to Ambleside (555) and then on Coniston (505) and walk back as fast or slow as we can be bothered. Infinite varieties of ways taking as long as you want. Usual caveats about being prepared for weather being able to read map as well as a gps etc.obv. Everything on my back and crack on.
Some good suggestions. Thank you.
A decent pretty direct route is to trot up coniston old man, harter fell, esk valley, sca fell, great gable, honister pass, dale head before coming back the quick way along to cat bells and home around the top of the lake ….or if the kids are with me and done in (they’re super fit but primary age) then it’s onto the boat launch if it’s running from Hawse End on Derwentwater back to keswick for an ice cream before driving home. (Tip if a nice day go the long way around the lake on the boat… 2 go around in opposing ways).
Can do this in a weekend for sure (around here some insane folk can run it in err 10 mins) but for mortals its plenty of up and down when carrying a bag. Very easy to add stuff along the way if youre fit… Just go out West towards Ennerdale where it’s quieter early on and/or Buttermere, Grasmoor and Grizedale Pike closer towards Keswick. We never stay anywhere except on the fell at night but there are a few places to stay to stitch such a walk together without too much bother if that’s your thing.
With the kids what I like about this is that if the weather turns proper nasty it’s easy enough to skip the tops and follow the route via the passes or worst case the road.
Edited by weeve on Wednesday 13th March 19:51
MonkeyBusiness said:
ben5575 said:
I use these guys (happen to be local) but a great range of kit and usually competetive on price.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
I can spend hours on that site https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
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