New Gear - Cutting Weight

“We'll just need to have name tags sewn onto our packs, GearGeek #1 & GearGeek #2

Jimmy San, do you already have the GG Whisper. They lowered the price at Gossamer Gear, now $60.00 without a hipbelt.

I thought about getting the MLD Revelation pack, but though the price of $95.00 was a bit much, plus, its an 8 week wait.

Also, Ryan Jordan's testimonial on the Whisper pack, sold me on it too.

For some reason, the GG Whisper pack still sells for $94.00 over at backpackinglight.com?”

“I'm kinda diggin' the Six Moons Starlite. 3000ci 25oz.”

““I'm kinda diggin' the Six Moons Starlite. 3000ci 25oz.”



Too heavy must go lighter now, must go lighter. but...but...I'm givin her all I got, captain!!”

“yep, and I believe this guy will make it...due mainly to using Cuben Fiber for his gear....check THIS out!

http://ultraliteskunkworks.blogspot.com/

keep scrolling down and don't forget the links on the left...each new page seems to have differing links but that means more and more UL Gear...
last edited: 7/04/07 12:03:47 AM”

“GG Whisper pack = 3.8 oz
MLD Grace Solo Spinntex tarp = 6.4 oz
BMW Cocoon 180 quilt = 20.0 oz
GG Nightlite pad = 8.0 oz

Total = 38.2 oz or 2.39 lbs

Add a Ti.Goat Epic bivy with bug hood = 9.2oz

Total = 47.4 oz or 2.96 lbs”

“Golite Trek--2lbs
to
Osprey Ariel pack--3lbs 14ozs

My left arm did not go numb and my back did not hurt after my first bag night is several years!”

“Sub 5 lb weight for an AT thruhike
“yep, and I believe this guy will make it...due mainly to using Cuben Fiber for his gear....check THIS out!

http://ultraliteskunkworks.blogspot.com/

keep scrolling down and don't forget the links on the left...each new page seems to have differing links but that means more and more UL Gear...



Wow, that guy's got his act together with making his own super light-weight gear?”

“I added weight!!! And I'm glad!!!!
“Golite Trek--2lbs
to
Osprey Ariel pack--3lbs 14ozs

My left arm did not go numb and my back did not hurt after my first bag night is several years!”



I've never had that kind of physical problem carrying a light-weight pack?

But, my current light-weight pack is 20oz and I haven't or wouldn't carry more than 22 lbs with it either?

With the new 3.8 oz pack that I ordered, I don't intend to carry more than 12-14 lbs with it. With this light of a load, I don't think anything will be going numb?

This pack is only intended for 1-2 night trips at the most as well?”

“yes, i have the gg whisper. it's a great pack but it for sure requires delicate handling. be sure to use the haul loop when moving it around and watch where you put it down. most ppl that would use this pack are uber careful with their gear anway, so it's not a big deal.

i paid 60 for it. the hip belt is a waste for me but if you were running i can see it helping with the stability of the pack.”

“All this upgrading going on, you guys must have some gear you need to get rid of. I got me some poles on the way, now I need a new pack. Anything is an improvement over the massive external frame I have. Anyone interested in selling off a pack that has become too heavy?”

“Meangreen, you just missed me selling a 2lb ULA Circuit pack.

Keep you eyes on backpackinglight.com gear-swap forums.

I'm still thinking on selling the TT Contrail, but its already promised to someone when and if I sell it.

I'm waiting on a MLD 6.4oz solo tarp, and I want to make sure that I'm happy with using a tarp, before I dump the Contrail shelter?”

“I'm still thinking on selling the TT Contrail, but its already promised to someone when and if I sell it.

I'm waiting on a MLD 6.4oz solo tarp, and I want to make sure that I'm happy with using a tarp, before I dump the Contrail shelter?”
ncthiker
3:05:56 PM
7/04/07

are you the same one that keeps posting gear for sale then keeps cancelling it on WB?”

“I've seen Jimmy San do the whole tarp thing, and I just don't know about that... So many variables when you start throwing in the inevitable 35 deg rain with 15mph winds that could lead to one very miserable night at best.”

“I had had back problems for years finally found out 3 years ago that I had 5 herniated discs (the magic of an CT scan). It wasn't the pack, I loved my Trek. I have to have all my pack weight on my hips and limit the amount that is on my shoulders. The Osprey has made all the difference.”

“With that cuben tarp, bivy and bag, plus enough balloons one could construct a hang glider for all the down hill trails.”

“are you the same one that keeps posting gear for sale then keeps cancelling it on WB?”
Ewker
4:21:59 PM
7/04/07
ignore this user


Yep thats me and I only did it once, with 2 items, so I don't know where your getting the "keeps canceling" bit?”

“from your post”

“90'x52'...full cover rainfly tent with 2- 9sq vest,freestanding,40' ht...and only 2lb.4oz packed with tent poles,stakes,guy lines.”

“the tarp thing is for sure not for everybody. it takes practice but once i figured it out things went very well. one thing leads to another, however, and if i don't expect rain then i don't even bother with the tarp. i much prefer sleeping without the tarp. this is great, especially in places like the grand canyon... this last march out of a week on the trail i only slept under my tarp one night... no bivy, just a silnylon ground cloth. on the nct last year i cut firewood for the night and slept next to the campfire... it was a cold and breezy night but i set up a log the length of my body so the wind would be blocked and positioned myself near the fire. it was one of the best nights sleep i ever had on the trail... would have been better if i didn't have to feed the fire every few hours... but very restful.

one thing i will say... if you are a person that simply MUST be bone-dry at all times than a tarp is probably not for you. in situations where it isn't going to rain the point is mute (you'll stay just as dry in a tarp as a tent with no rain). when it rains you are more prone to getting wet in a tarp, although in my experience it's mostly dampness from spray. i don't mind this at all and have learned to deal with it.

photo of my sleeping setup in the grand canyon on the one night it "rained" on us:



it's well worth giving this a shot and "cowboy camping" doesn't cost anything to try on a hike where the weather is mild and rain is not expected.”

“I saw that tarp in the Grand Canyon”

“JS, nice setup. I haven't ever tarped before. If I ever use a tarp it would probably be in the winter when bugs are gone”

“JS, you ever use a bug bivy with your tarp.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm/EQ3050
or
http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm?PRODUCTS__ProductID=ADV1000”

“This is the MLD bug bivy that I ordered. 5.2 oz

If the bugs end up, NOT being a problem, then you can just lay on top of the bivy instead.

The bivy clips up to the loops that MLD puts on the undersides of their tarps


http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/images/bugbiviend.jpg
last edited: 7/05/07 9:24:26 AM”

“it's well worth giving this a shot and "cowboy camping" doesn't cost anything to try on a hike where the weather is mild and rain is not expected.”
Jimmy san
4:56:58 AM
7/05/07


What about rattlesnake's and scorpion's?”

“i have never used a bug bivy. i have a "bubble" made of noseeum mesh. it goes around my torso and ties closed. there is a loop that i use to tie above my head. i run a small piece of cord (fishing line) between the trekking poles on the inside of the tarp as a attach point for the headnet.

i have an epic bivy bag that i would use in very cold weather. it has mesh bug netting that can be removed, but i never use it since the conditions where i would use the bivy (very cold weather) don't involve bugs.

noseeum mesh is "breathable" but not THAT breathable meaning that in hot weather sleeping inside an enclosed space made from the stuff is just as stifling as sleeping in a tent, in my opinion. it kills breezes and does a suprisingly good job trapping heat.

as would be expected it does a rather poor job of keeping off rain because when the rain hits it the droplets seem to "fragment" resulting in a fine spray of water.

for bug protection i generally just use deet and forget it. i am not afeared of chiggers, skeeters, and other creepy crawlies. 3m ultrathon is the bomb when it comes to bug protection... the stuff REALLY works. it's greasy and smells bad but the same could be said of me after a few days on the trail. haha!”

“anyone ever use these on your tarps? No need to tie and knots and it holds
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=48179193&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&&ext_cat=undefined&ext_cat=undefined

”

“I've always just tied a tautline in any of my guidelines. It's fast and easy to adjust. I usually tie them once and leave them tied. I'd lose those things sure as the Lord made little green apples.”

“Those clips would be nice for securing a canoe to a vehicle. Front and rear tie-offs.”

“Knots do the same thing, but lighter and a lot easier to keep track of.”

“i have not used this, ewker. i do use tensioners for my tarp (sold at BPL) but they are plastic and very light. also, i know how to tie knots and knots weigh nothing over the weight of the line. I use a boline (sp?) for the connection to the tarp body, an overhand know at the tensioner, and a tensioner for the line itself. I used to use a taught-line hitch for the tensioner but with the thin slippery line I found they didn't work as well as the plastic tensioners. If i have to use a stick for a tarp pole (rather than a trekking pole, which I am more often leaving at home than bring with me these days) I use a clove hitch which seems to work well.

taught line hitch is a great knot but all knots are more or less effective depending on the kind of rope/cordage in use. in my case the spectra line i use for my tarp is ultralight but only certain knots work well with it as a result. the boline, clove hitch, and overhand knot work pretty well. the taught-line hitch (which uses a kink in the line to keep it from slipping) does not. in general, however, my experience with this know (boy scounts, etc) is excellent and for most situations it's a good knot to know how to tie.

other key knots are the square knot, figure eight, double boline (and how to properly finish it), munter hitch, prusik in addition to the clove hutch, half hitch, truckers hitch, taught line hitch, boline, etc. a great deal more are handy (esp for creating climbing anchors) but these are the core that people should know how to tie and they are fun to learn.

sorry if i butchered the spelling on some of those! :)”

“I admit my knot tieing sucks...lol

good site for animated knots is here
http://animatedknots.com/”

“GG vapor trail, hope I can get all my sh** into it”

“Believe it or not, I have a GG Whisper myself. I might give it its first run at Randall's New River trip.”

“I recently ordered a Sqaul 2 from Tarptent, but have not received it yet. It is two pounds, two man. Maybe with it I can keep up with my son's scout troop.”

““Believe it or not, I have a GG Whisper myself. I might give it its first run at Randall's New River trip.”
ChinMusic

Give us a report on the Whisper, after you've used it.

I should have mine, in a few days.

Heres' a link www.francistapon.com

He and his Girlfriend did the PCT and she used the Whisper for the entire trip, fell apart 2 weeks shy of the finish though.

Not bad for a 3.8 oz pack

I wasn't going to buy one, because of durability issues, but after seeing this link, and getting Ryan Jordans endorsement, plus the price drop too. ($60.00 w/o hipelt)

I figured why not give the pack a whirl?

R.J., said he's got 1,500 miles on his Whisper, it would take me more than 10 years to put that kind of mileage on mine?
last edited: 7/05/07 2:06:56 PM”

“Oldog,

For a weekend hike you'll have no problem. For a week long hike you'll have to get a lot more creative with your packing.”

“it's not how many miles are on the pack... it's in the treatment of the pack by the owner. ryan jordan is an elite ultralight hiker that is used to taking care of very fragile gear. 1500 miles for ryan jordan might be 50 miles to another hiker.

i'll tell you this, i don't think it will hold up to a lot of bushwhacking.

still, i love mine and think you guys will be pleased. pick it up only by the haul loop. the construction is ingenous and all the stitches that gets stressed are reinforced and made of our durable fabric. the seams that are silnylon are not nearly as strong.”

“J.S,

Did you read my post, one PCT thru-hiker used a GG Whisper, for the entire hike, thats more miles and abuse than you and I combined, will put on this pack. Its a good testament for the pack, is what, I'm saying

Yeah, I know that light-weight gear is fragile and needs special care, thats kind of obvious.
So, I know too, that this pack is not intended for bushwhacking. Which, I don't do much of, anyway?
last edited: 7/05/07 10:03:02 PM”

“Mike, Did you read his book???”

“““Mike, Did you read his book???”
graska

Who's book, Jimmy San, Ryan Jordan, or Francis Tapon?
last edited: 7/05/07 11:13:34 PM”

“you will understand when you get the pack in the mail.”

“yea ,Rusted Moon told me to bring it back if I can't get everything into it, I was planning on taking it to California for the PCT hike, so I am concerned, I'll try it tonight”

“you'll do it oldog. i used to use this pack (still have it but never use it). it's a good backpack... very comfortable... esp considering it's weight. my one suggestion is this: it has a HUGE extension collar that almost adds 1/3 to the volume of the pack (my guess). try like the devil NOT to use it as it really throws the pack out of balance... or if you use it put really light stuff up there like jackets, etc. like i said, try not to use it but you'll see what i mean when you get the pack.

also, the side pockets are nearly worthless. be aware that there is a little hole in the corner of each side pocket so don't put little things in them as they will fall out the corner of the pocket. i presume this was put there for drainage. the pockets are, in my opinion, almost too small for most water bottles so you may want to use the hydration pocket.

the compression system is excellent for this pack.”

“Jimmy San, I meant to ask you how you carry your water in your Whisper pack. (Platty's?)

The only thing I wish this pack did have, would be a sternum strap set-up, then you'd have a place to bungie cord, your 16 or 20oz Gator-aid bottles too?
But then of course they would have had to use a heavier material for the shoulder straps.
last edited: 7/06/07 2:44:45 PM”

“platy water bottle stashed in the exterior pocket. it's impossible to reach while hiking so you have to stop and take off the pack to drink. minor nusance that could be resolved with a drinking tube and a clip but at this point it's not a big deal.

i don't miss the sternum strap. the packs straps seem to stay in place (given load restrictions) uphill or downhill. i put my sleeping socks in the shoulder pads for padding (replacing the foam inserts) and i think a pair of spare socks in the belt loop.

the pack is NOT waterproof... not even close... remember this. if you are carrying 14 lbs and everything gets wet then the pack will weight a lot more (i never weighed it when it got wet)... so caution is called for here.”

“What about when you have to strap two other packs to the back of your own then hike 4 miles? LOL! I found my picture of that from mammoth cave a couple nights ago. LMAO!”

“Thanks Jim, I guess, a pack liner is a must then, for keeping your gear dry.

Also, I've thought about using the lower compression loops and rig some small silnylon stuff sacks that could hold 2 water bottles, one on each side of the pack.”

“i just use a silnylon pack cover. if my gear gets wet it's no big deal. sleeping bag goes in a turkey roasting bag if i think it will rain a lot.

i am trying to picture the lower compression loops. i guess you can do this but i think they are sewn into the silnylon. the needle holes don't take stress well... if you are going to load those consider brusing them like you were going to seam seal them... i am told it adds strength to the joints... don't do the entire pack, just the stress points. a liter of water weights what? 2lbs i think. so two of these is 4 lbs... 1/3 of the maximum pack weight. i just carry about 1 liter to 16 oz (2 cups) depending on the conditions.”

“Yep, I plan to silnet all the major bar-tacks, seams etc....

I do this on all my packs, My ULA's, GG Mariposa,etc....

Grant at GG said webbing could be added to the shoulder straps for a sternum strap, but you would need to put a heavier nylon backer material behind the webbing then sew through it all.

Cindy at High Country Sewing does some of their prototype work as well as alterations and customized packs.

She made my Mariposa, from 70d rip-stop, before they even came out with the Mariposa plus, which is made with a heavier nylon.

I will probably just use the pack as it is, other then applying the Silnet.”

“I understand no ul-sul on here from the gear...But cuben fiber is the answer to many that wish to.”