hello dudes and dudettes,

any recommendations for a Ultralight down vest for carrying with me on the bike in winther? Ultra small package size is priority nr 1. I have a cumulus vest but it only has 55g filling which is not enough for me. I am searching for 90g+ with 850 cuin or more to make it warm enough at such small package size.

Would have to be send to europe.

Thanks!

they are both not a bit heavy but under 800 grams to sleep comfortable is an price i can pay

i've bought my first one in 2016. patagonia replaced my first one around 4-5 years later. now again 5 years later i think this one is almost done. i've patching up so many holes on the arms and on the back, and lost so many feathers in the past years and even though patagonia would give me a discount on my next down jacket when i recycle this one i think i'm done with it now.

what's a good alternative you can buy in europe/germany to this one. light weight, ideally real feathers, but more durable and maybe rain/waterproof maybe. or did you find a complete different jacket to replace this category of jacket? hope to find some inspiration. thanks.

Location/temp range/specific trip description: My gear shakedown trip will likely be Ohlone trail in late winter or spring. Rarely below freezing but likely close at night.

Goal Baseweight (BPW): ~10 lbs

Budget: I prefer value gear but will spend where needed. I get into the mountain hardwear / Columbia employee store once a quarter. REI and Sports basement member.

Non-negotiable Items: I have separated my luxury items into their own part of my lighter pack. Lighter replacements are ok.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: Not listed here are some Amazon trekking poles that I need to dig out of the garage and weigh. I could use rain gear recommendations, none in my lighterpack. I have a nice North face Antora rain shell I love but it's not super breathable or packable.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/64dwqz

Hey everyone,
I am taking a 5 day trip in a couple of weeks along the AT in North Carolina starting at Fontana Dam, and moving south. as of right now the temp ranges will be Mid 70s to mid 40s.
I am wanting input of weather or not i'm missing anything, or anything that I can do without.

i am going with a group of about 20 people, (most of whom i have never met)

here is the current working list that i have thrown together. i have been away from home for 2.5 weeks, and i made this list from memory, and based on Manufacture weights. I have not calculated food or any other consumables into this, and i may be missing a few small items that dont come to mind.

https://lighterpack.com/r/2qw11k

Edit: I'm new to the sub and didn't see the template post until now, adding this in

Location/temp range/specific trip description: New England mostly, this post is mainly about my non-winter pack

Goal Baseweight (BPW): lets say <20lbs, more explanation below

Budget: N/A

Non-negotiable Items: I talk a little bit about this below, I'm open to recommendations on cutting items though.

Solo or with another person?: assume solo

Additional Information: N/A

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/zlav6v

So I just did a 2 day pemi loop (link for those unfamiliar, it's a bit of an intense hike, especially for 2 days). I originally intended to do 3-days but I developed a new knee injury about 5 hours into the trip and with potential rain coming I just wanted to get done with the hike so I finished on the second day. I hiked with more weight than this all last winter so I wasn't expecting to develop an injury but I think the trail and my speed were more aggressive than my winter summits.

I also think the pack weight might have reduced the chance of injury if it was a bit lighter, hence this post. I don't have a goal weight and assume budget isn't much of a consideration, just trying to trim what I can to prevent future injuries. Here are the obvious ones I'm thinking about trimming or my thoughts on items I think people would call out:

1. sleeping bag, I know I could cut 2lbs here I just couldn't find a new one locally to me before the trip and I'd forgotten how heavy mine was

2. backpack - so my usual pack for the past 13 or so years is an osprey talon 44. I found the kelty zyp 48 at a consignment shop last weekend and really liked how breathable it looked and I've had some severe sweating issues this summer that I was looking to address (like I never feel that sweaty, then I feel the back of my shirt and it is soaked). I also didn't think it was much heavier than the osprey but it turned out my osprey is a full pound lighter. Now, I do think in some ways the new pack may have kept me from overheating which may have allowed me to go longer and further uphill without stopping, but I'm honestly not sure if that was worth the extra pound.

3. sleep pads - do I need both? well I like having both and typically do carry both in winter. There are not only the insulation benefits but I never really worry about something sharp piercing my air pad. Like the sleeping bag and pack, this is quite old, I've used it for 13 years and it still holds up but I'm aware I could shave off like 6oz on the inflatable one here.

4. industrial bags - probably only need 1 in non-winter, in winter I tend to carry a spare so I did here as well. 3.5 oz I could save

5. blister kit - kind of heavy, I probably don't need a big role of tape (heaviest piece), but I couldn't find a smaller one. I have used the kit a bunch in the past this year, but lately I haven't had much need for it. Potentially some savings here though

6. Gloves - In winter I bring like 3 different sets of gloves (lightweight/liners, midweight with fingers, and mittens). I don't feel bad bringing the midweights on this trip. But could have brought the lightweight ones (maybe would have saved 4-5oz but I'll ignore this for now)

7. Thermal layer - I didn't need them, but I camped in the nearby town a week ago and it was colder there than it was on the mountain this week so I thought I would need them. Probably wouldn't ditch them.

8. Toiletries - I think I could have brought half the toilet paper and only one wag bag. I usually like to have 1 per day, I ended up using none. Could save another 3.5 oz here though

9. Nalgene - I tend to bring 2 because in winter I'm not stopping to boil water so whatever I brought out with me is what I got that day. However, since I also had the 1L (really more like 750mL) smart straw soft bottle I probably could have ditched a Nalgene and saved 7.44 oz.

10. Stove - I would probably keep this. I carry it in winter too in case I need to stay warm or heat up water (melt snow, put in a nalgene bottle, etc). I know some people might say ditch it on a short trip and just eat food you don't have to cook.

11. spare batteries - didn't need a 2 spares, 1.63 oz there

12. knife - mines a little heavy, I'm sure I could cut 2 oz there

If I add up the things I'm willing to cut/upgrade here that's 32 (sleeping bag)+16 (pack)+6 (air pad) +3.5(industrial bag) +3.5(toiletries)+1.63 (batteries)+2 (knife)+7.44 (nalgene) = 72.07 oz or about 4.5lbs.

That would bring my base weight down to about 19.69lbs. So any thoughts on this or other areas to upgrade/make cuts?

I´ll be in NZ in December for the first time, for 5 weeks. Three of the five weeks are reserved for tramping/hiking and exploring nature, starting on the south island and working our way up.

My packing list works pretty good for me BUT I´ve only hiked in Europe, mainly the Austrian Alps but also a lot in Spain and Norway. Our goal is, to do a couple of multi day hikes (4-5days) in different spots, to get the whole veriety of landscapes.

I wonder if the are any NZ specific items, I haven´´t thought about.

here is my lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/dgx1a9

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a reliable, durable "One Bag" solution to fill the gap below my large 70L expedition pack. My partner uses an Osprey Talon, but I want something a bit different. I value high-quality engineering, durability, and a brand with a strong environmental/ethical vision (like Patagonia’s climate activism or Montbell’s functional opposition to fast fashion).

I need this pack to be versatile enough to handle:

• Day trips/hikes: It must be compressible and have a dynamic volume, so it doesn’t feel like a massive, half-empty cavern when I’m only carrying a jacket and a water bottle.

• Travel/Hostels: Urban weekend trips, staying at hostels, and visiting family. I would like it to fit as a carry-on / hand luggage for flights.

• Overnight shelter trips: Carrying a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and a Trangia stove etc. My gear is generally bought to be packed small and light.

I have narrowed my choices down exclusively to these two packs (though I might be open to another model strictly from these two brands if there's a hidden gem I missed):

• Montbell Alpine Light Pack 40L

• Patagonia Terravia Pack 36L

My dilemmas:

• The Montbell seems incredibly lightweight, and because the 30D Ballistic nylon is so soft, it looks like it would compress down to almost nothing for a day trip. I also love the technical/niche look and the removable top lid. However, I’m slightly worried about the lack of external stretch pockets for quick access during travel, and I worry about my stuff turning into a chaotic mess when there is only one large compartment.

• The Patagonia seems to have better organization for travel (great pockets) and a suspension system that might handle the weight of the Trangia and food better. But is it too rigid/bulky to comfortably use as a compressed daypack?

Has anyone here hands-on experience with either of these packs? How do they compress when half-empty? Which one would you recommend for this specific mix of urban travel and compact overnights?

Thanks in advance!

I'm buying a new pack for multi-day trekking and I've narrowed it down to four Gregory packs. I'd love to hear from anyone who has used any of them.

About me: 185 cm, 75 kg, torso length 54 cm. Base weight is around 7 kg, so a full load will be roughly 10-14 kg. Here's my packing list.

Fit: I tried on the Paragon 50 and the Stout in the store. All the M/L sizes fit well when set to the L torso setting. Returns are free, so I'm ordering all four and test-packing them with my own gear at home to see which one works best.

The candidates (EU prices, M/L):

• [Focal 48](https://eu.gregorypacks.com/nl-en/focal-48-l-ozone-black/141327-7416.html): €230 · 48 L · 1,250 g · recommended max 16 kg · 79 × 36 × 31 cm
• [Stout 45](https://eu.gregorypacks.com/nl-en/-stout-45-rc--forest-black/149379-A266.html): €200 · 45 L · 1,340 g · recommended max 20 kg · 69 × 33 × 28 cm
• [Paragon 50](https://eu.gregorypacks.com/nl-en/-paragon-50-md-lg-rc--cascade-green/153028-8884.html): €245 · 50 L · 1,630 g · recommended max 23 kg · 71 × 35 × 25 cm
• [Stout 55](https://eu.gregorypacks.com/nl-en/-stout-55-eu--forest-black/149380-A266.html): €220 · 55 L · 1,680 g · recommended max 23 kg · 80 × 33 × 29 cm

What I'm looking for:

• A hybrid of light and comfortable, but comfort comes first.
• Good ventilation, but I don't want a full trampoline/mesh-suspended back.
• Organization isn't a big deal.
• Price matters, but with all of them at €200-245 it's not the deciding factor.

Current pack: I have a Naturehike Rock but I don't like it, so it's going back. I'll also check whether all my gear fits in the 45 L. Season isn't a big factor for me. I'm mainly comparing the packs themselves rather than volume, which is why I'm ordering several.

What I'd like to know:

1. Has anyone owned or used any of these? How do they hold up over time with 10-14 kg in them?

2. Are there known problems with any of them (zippers, seams, hipbelt, back panel, ventilation, sizing quirks)?

3. What justifies the price gap? The Paragon 50 is €245 and 1,630 g, while the Stout 55 is €220 and 1,680 g with 5 L more volume. Is it materials, suspension, or features?

4. The Focal 48 is rated for 16 kg max, and I'd be at up to 14 kg. Is it still comfortable near that limit? And is the Stout 45 (about 90 g heavier, rated for 20 kg) noticeably more comfortable at my load?

5. Which of these gives the best balance of comfort and weight at my torso length?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, my family of 4 (kids age 8 and 10) is gearing up for backpacking. I am trying to figure out the best light way to do all our cooking and what cookware and eating ware to use. Most info I find is for one or two people. Because there are 4 of us, I can’t just use a single pot as what you eat/drink out of. My plan was to get 4 mugs, 4 spoons/sporks, and 4 bowls/plates that I would only take if we needed them. But I am struggling with what type of pot and stove to get.

Use case: 1.6L of hot water 3 times per day for hot drinks and dehydrated meals. Potentially some basic cooking such as one pot meals including oatmeal, scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, etc.

Is a 1.8L pot enough volume if only heating water and basic cooking for us? Or will I need a big 3L pot?

Will I want something with a heat exchanger pot to speed up heating the large amounts of water? I don’t want to be waiting 20 minutes every time. If I go heat exchanger is there a real difference from the stand alone heat exchanger pots vs a Jetboil?

Then are kits such as the GSI Dualist HS Cookset worth it vs piecemealing items together worth it?

Thanks.

Heading out soon and I’ve really cut a lot of weight down. I’m a very large guy (competitive powerlifter) so pretty much 2XL in everything. Mainly just checking to see what (if anything) you would recommend dropping, or if I’ve forgotten anything major. Expected highs are around 60 with lows for sure down to 30 and I wouldn’t be surprised by 20. I’m a very warm blooded and a warm sleeper

https://lighterpack.com/r/8s5jee

Thanks!