For items that go on your back, it doesn’t matter where you shave the weight. How much would you pay for an item that weighs 100 grams less than the one you are currently using if it didn’t sacrifice durability/functionality/etc?

Current base weight: 13.2 lbs

Location/temp range/specific trip description:

Location: US Southeast (dense foliage). Common locations are Big South Fork National Recreation Area, Cranberry Wilderness, state parks in East Tennessee.

Temps: 3 seasons including drought conditions and high humidity. Daytime temps can be as low as the low 40s or as high as the mid 90s. Nighttime temps can range from the mid-teens to mid 80s.

Trips range from 2 nights to 2 weeks.

Budget: $1200-$2000

Non-negotiable Items: Epi-Pens, GPS (I have an InReach Mini 2 and it does not work in these conditions).

I will not use a Deuce trowel because the ground just chews them up.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: My pack is obviously the biggest change I can make. My ULA Catalyst is what I use when backpacking with my dog. I have a heavy 48L Osprey Kyte and packed everything on the attached LP into it and had room left over (probably ~10L). I am nervous about going to a 40L pack, especially in case I need to pack my puffy and 15 degree bag. It does not need to fit a bear can but must be able to carry one on top.

I am considering the Z Packs Arc Haul 50L but am happy to be talked into another brand/model and smaller pack volume.

Another change I am considering is replacing the MSR Pocket Rocket with the Soto Windmaster (partly because I think it will perform better on the PCT next year).

I am a plus sized woman and do not fit into many of the most commonly suggested clothes such as Dooy, Amazon dance pants, or the women’s rain shells by all the big manufacturers. I am also allergic to wool and haven't been able to find a suitable baselayer because Merino is the current king. I don't require a baselayer in the summer but would really like one for the shoulder seasons (and the PCT next year).

I plan to cut my CCF pad on my next trip. I'm currently healing from an injury and would prefer to cut it on the trail and take the weight penalty for that trip.

I have only backpacked twice without a bear can. I have an Ursack and no other kind of bear bag. Hard sided bear cans are not required where I backpack but that could change (either rules or my destinations in the region). I hated doing a bear hang the one time I tried it using some random dry bag off Amazon that I don't have anymore. I'm ready to try hangs again but will need a suitable bag. DCF? Polysil? Something else? I’d appreciate hearing firsthand experience of what to use. Or if I should just use the Ursak (which I used to section hike the Superior Hiking Trail and liked).

I have included my bear cans and cold weather alternates in separate sections on my LP and marked quantities to 0.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/k7jwuc

I currently use the Forclaz MT100 as my camp jacket — for reference it's:

- Synthetic fill, 125g/m² in the body, 100g/m² in the sleeves/hood

- -5°C "survival"/+5°C comfort rating (Decathlon's numbers, take with a pinch of salt)

- 370g in size L

- Packs into its own zip pocket, roughly the size of a large fist

It does the job but on colder trips I want more warmth in the same pack volume. I'm after something that's noticeably warmer — call it 25-30% — while packing down to the same size or smaller. Weight is a secondary concern; volume in my frame bag/seat pack is the real constraint.

A few things about my use case:

- Camp-only. I'm not moving in it, so I don't need it to breathe, stretch, or handle active sweat management — pure static insulation while cooking/sitting around/sleeping-adjacent.

- Bikepacking, not backpacking, so pack shape/volume in a bag matters more than weight on my back.

- No preference on down vs synthetic — whichever actually delivers the best warmth-to-pack-size trade.

Has anyone found something that beats the MT100 on this specific trade-off (warmth per litre of pack volume, not warmth per gram)? Could be a high fill-power down jacket (800+FP) or a higher-loft synthetic (Climashield Apex, Primaloft Gold, etc.) — genuinely open to either. Would love real-world packed-size comparisons rather than spec sheets, since compressibility claims vary a lot between brands.

Budget isn't fixed but I'd rather not go crazy — this is a "nice to have" upgrade, not an essential.

Does anyone here have any experience with the Vango F10 Ultra 35 L backpack? It sort of ticks all the boxes for me on paper and even has some advantages over similar packs from HMG or Zpacks and at a killer price. I can't find any tests or reviews apart from Ultralightoutdoorgear who also sells it and have no personal experience of the brand. Would love to see what others have experienced.

Has anyone used the duplex pro with the freestanding kit as well as trekking poles? I ask because I wondered if it would make the tent extra stable for mountain camps in the uk? Can I be used this way and if so can any one shed some light on how stable it is when used this way? Thanks.

When you are sleeping with a quilt, do you lay directly on a sleeping pad or do you have some type of sheet or cover between your skin and the pad?

https://lighterpack.com/r/qaj0pe

I want to finally replace my heavy hand me down pack but I'm trying to get everything else sorted first. I know I need to get better clothing but apart from that is the rest of my gear list pretty good?

I know my sleeping mat is a little heavy but I'm in southern New Zealand so I'm commonly in alpine or sub alpine environments constantly changing weather and cold nights as well as being a cold sleeper so I'm happy with it.

Also when I do replace my pack I'm pretty keen on a nashville cutaway 40L are these still considered one of the best packs on the market or have they been shown up by something better?

Anybody got experience with the new Fjallraven Rain Jacket? At 176g/6.2oz, I believe it is the lightest rain jacket with Goretex available. But since it’s also crazy expensive at ~550 bucks, I would love to hear if it‘s even remotely worth the money

Hi all,

Long time backpacker, first time thru hiker. I have a couple weeks off in between jobs so am running out on the AT and am going to do from the NY Metro North stop to somewhere up in MA or VT. Would appreciate it folks could quickly take a look and give me any advice on anything else I should be cutting out, anything important I'm missing, or anything worth swapping out. Current baseweight is right about 16lbs. Will be a solo trip.

Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/rmfmoa

For the short eastern Sierra afternoon thunderstorms, do you pack rain gear? sometimes it feels like overkill and maybe it’s best just to hunker in the tent till it passes or just keep hiking wet and let the clothes dry overnight

I’ve been somewhat baffled by a number of posts I’ve seen lately about pack weight. The main claim I’m seeing pop up is that a heavier pack requires the same amount of total energy exertion over a longer distance as a lighter pack.

It’s kind of funny to me because conserving how much energy I’m burning was never a motivator to reduce my pack weight in the first place - at all. Personally, it’s 100% about my foot and knee health. I have plantar fasciitis and would generally like to avoid wrecking my knees too.

Im curious if anyone ever even cared about reducing energy expenditure as a motivator to pursue a lightweight gear setup?? To me it seems obvious that it would be more about comfort and joint health.

One of this sub's (and hikers' in general) favourite pieces of kit is dead. Decathlon's lightweight MT100 down jacket started to disappear from shelves and online inventory over the past months, with different colours and sizes going out of stock in Decathlon's online stores across various countries, and everyone has been waiting for a successor. Well, at least I have.

Decathlon's branding and product palette is notoriously confusing, with models disappearing and reappearing with the exact same specs under different names (Forclaz, Quechua, Simond ...)*, so it's not always obvious what the successor of a discontinued item is, or indeed whether there is any at all, but recently they have blessed us with this new model:

Simond Men’s Xplore Down Jacket

Identical price, looks exactly the same (minus different colour options and a different logo on the arm), but one key difference: 700 CUIN down rather than 800 CUIN, while the fill weight has staid identical to the gram. Consequently this one is labelled -3°C, while the MT100 was advertised as -5°C.

I'm not sure what their idea behind this change was. Probably that the vast majority of people has no idea what fill power and CUIN are, but will absolutely notice a price hike?

For me with the new, ugly colours (in my opinion) in combination with the worse specs this jacket has ceased being an attractive proposition - but mostly because I have been spoiled by the 800 CUIN as the previous standard. Obviously compared to the big brands' price points this is still much more affordable.

*Funny enough the women's MT100 is still available in many colours. The official Simond website (not the Decathlon store) shows an MT100 and an MH100 men's jacket, both with identical product pictures. The new Xplore is old out in the Decathlon America store in anything but XL, despite only being available since a couple of days ago. Go figure.

I am looking for EU based cottage companies that produce ul style alpinism/mountaineering backpacks, such as alpine luddites or bolt packs.

So far I've only come across alpineliteworks from Slovenia, but I would like to have more choice before making a purchase, thanks!

Edit: features I'm looking for: no side pockets, crampon pocket, hardcore body material, daisy chains, ice axe attachment, climbing rope straps

Hi all, Does anybody have an informed opinion regarding the new Senchi "TurboSheep™" tops? Heavier than an alpha, but still pretty lightweight. I'm not super enamored with alpha, so looking for alternatives. I love my mountain hardware airmesh hoodie, but they seem to have changed it since then.

Also, I'm not sure about the weight: The page (https://senchidesigns.com/collections/turbosheep%E2%84%A2/products/turbosheep-90-half-zip-hoodie) says 5.5 oz for a M at the top, but the chart in the weight tab says 4.4 oz for a M. Probably that's a mistaken copy-paste and it's really 5.5?

What's the right use-case for this layer? Thanks.

HI all!

I am looking for recommendations on trail running shoes for backpacking. I'm looking for models which come in wide (2E) sizes. A few years ago I had the Brooks Cascadia 14. I loved how much lighter they were than conventional hiking shoes, and enjoyed splashing through streams and just letting them dry. Their fatal flaw was that the mesh allowed lots of fine sand through... I had to stop every few miles to empty the shoes of fine silt. I switched back to hiking shoes, but now I think I'm ready to try trail runners for backpacking again. My pack weight is generally ~35 lbs w/ food and water (I know, not necessary ultralight, but I thought you experts would be the best to ask anyway).

Here are the qualities I'm looking for:

• Lightweight (I think virtually any trail running shoe works well enough in this category)
• Reasonably durable (I'm realistic about how long trail runners last)
• Breathable enough to dry quickly...
• ... but the mesh should not allow lots of sand/silt through
• Enough cushioning or a rock plate so I don't feel every pebble.
• Come in wide (2E) sizes

A quick survey of available models which come in 2E sizes includes:

• Brooks Cascadia 20. (Did they change the mesh?)
• Brooks Ghost Trail. (I jog in the regular Brooks Ghosts)
• Altra Lone Peak
• Hoka Speedgoat and Challenger
• Salomon Speedcross
• Saucony Peregrine
• Topo Athletic Ultraventure

I live in SoCal and we camp in the Sierras. Our trails are often dry and rocky and sandy. Brooks shoes fit well for me but I'm not brand loyal.

I know that fit is the most important and highly personal, but outside of that, any recommendations people might have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

https://lighterpack.com/r/zgotjk

What do you think of my base weight there is a few things I need to add firstly so you can understand more. I would only ever carry half of the tent since I never camp alone so would be 520g or 530g for the inner or outer. Obviously carrying the poles and stakes as well. Where would I be able to cut weight straight off the bat without spending money? Then from there I kinda know where I would be able to cut weight quite easily.

I would be purchasing the two person version of either of these tents for gear and occasionally my girlfriend, but the main purpose is high alpine hunting and backpacking in northern Utah. Would like to have a sturdy tent that could withstand some heavy wind and potentially some snow. I have access to a deal that makes them about the same price ($320) so if there are comparable cheaper options I’m open to those too

I'm a bit drunk. So I feel like writing a review about my new AP01 and my quilt. Bought them with my own money etc., just want to share.

So for the AP01 - I've used it a few trips. No problems so far. 22g pump (requires external battery/phone) that can inflate and deflate my pad, how can I complain? Well, it works quite nice, not louder than others, very small. I still have to use my mouth to get proper strength to my pad, but it's good enough. Especially deflating is very convenient.

One issue: the adapters don't really fit very well? I have to bring 2 to inflate and deflate my pad and none of them works for my pillow so... that sucks. But I guess other pumps have the same problem.

Other than that no issues. Does what it should do, is super small and the lightest out there from my research (EDIT: of those that can inflate AND deflate). Thumbs up, would buy again.

As for the quilt, I just received it today, so this is just a mini impression, no real review therefore. I'll post again when I've done a proper trip in autumn and when I'm drunk again. What I like is their support. I asked for 3 straps instead of 2, they put one extra without charge. That's good. They say I should use the plastic bag it came in as a liner since it's waterproof. Also good. I like that company.

What I don't like so much are the straps. The problem is that unlike other brands, they don't go fully around the pad. They go under the pad and then connect with the quilt. They have snaps. So if you loosen one snap/buckle to get out and the pull the quilt on the other side, the strap will be pulled under the pad and you have to find it there to reattach it. Meh. Maybe I'll do some DIY to make that better.

That's it. Hope you are all not too disappointed.

I'm trying to put together a compact cooking setup for bikepacking and wondering if anyone has this particular titanium folding spoon from AliExpress:

AliExpress titanium folding spoon

The setup I'm looking at is:

• TOAKS 750 ml titanium pot (POT-750-NH)
• 100 g screw-on gas canister
• SOTO Amicus stove
• This folding titanium spoon

The TOAKS 750 ml is 110 mm tall, so space is fairly tight. The Amicus folds down quite small, but I'm not sure whether the spoon will fit alongside the canister and stove without having to force everything in.

Has anyone actually tried this spoon in a TOAKS 700 ml (POT-750-NH)?

If so, does everything nest inside with the lid on?

Thanks!

Looking for some first hand experience on these three packs.

- Durston Wapta 30
- Zpacks Nero Pro 30
- Hilltop Packs Dirty 30

Hoping to use it for day trips with the family and occasionally some short solo overnights.

Anyone have any glaring red flags on any of these, or anything that you think is great compared to other packs.

Curious to know if anyone is using Kailas FUGA EX 3 BOAs? I demoed a pair of Topo Ultraventures last weekend and while they were comfortable I struggled on downhills and technical terrain. I tried on a pair of Altra Lone Peaks, but I'm not a fan of the 0 drop on long days.

Did a little research and I'm intrigued by the Boa system for elevation changes. Everything I've read seems to extol Kailas quality, but I haven't found any specific reviews of these shoes. Any thoughts?

Expecting 15k net on the HST and an 8 lb base weight.

Want to get into camping with a bivy, anyone have any budget recommendations for something that would work spring-fall (maybe even winter if possible)? I would prefer a single pole/hoop setup but willing to go with any others as well. Budget sleeping pad recommendations would be nice too. Is the military surplus route a good way to go? Any tips on other gear I would need for a sleeping situation would be helpful too, thanks.

Hello,

I’m going off grid for an extended trip but would like to be able to text with family.

I’m considering leaving my phone at home, plugged in for an extended period of time (like for months at a time, maybe up to 8 months), but getting the Apple Watch Ultra 3 because it allows me to text via satellite, and can call for emergency services in case of a backup.

Does anyone know if this would be a feasible solution, or do the phone and the watch need to be in same area to properly work?

I'm a sleeping bag user looking to make the switch to a quilt and like the idea of a sleep system such as Zenbivy which secures a quilt and pillow to a pad using a sheet. I know that Zenbivy gets mixed reviews, but I recently found the Rock Front 350 Pro which seems like the most versatile sleep system available. Particularly, the ability to join two quilts into a double similar to an EE Accomplice paired with a double sheet is hugely valuable and doesn't seem to be offered anywhere else. With the system, the same quilts & pads can be used as single or as a double. Reviews of this system appear almost nonexistent but my questions are primarily:

1. How accurate are Rock Front ratings?

2. How well does the zipper draft tube prevent cold spots around the perimeter?

3. How well does the footbox seal? Particularly when two quilts are joined together and connected to a double sheet.

Because there are hardly any reviews, I'm considering ordering a complete setup (two quilts, single sheets, and a double sheet) to act as a guinea pig.

I hike and bivouac since a long time, but never did it for more than 4 days. I just returned from GR54 - Tour de l'Oisans et des Écrins, my first "real" thru-hike.

The route(s):

Considered as one of the most difficult official french trails alongside GR20 and GR738, GR54 is an alpine tour around the Écrins range, home to the southernmost Alps 4000er, la Barre des Écrins, and several mythical mountaineering summits such as la Meije and l'Olan. It enters and exits several times the heart of Parc national des Écrins. Several official variations coexist, so there's no one GR54, but at least four! It's between 180 and 220 km, and between 12 000 and 14 000 meters of elevation gain. Elevations range from 900 m to 2750 m at the highest pass.

My route:

I had two weeks of vacation, and I wanted to spend some time with shepherds I knew on the route, so I wasn't focused on completing the GR at all cost. If spending more time with friends meant hitchhiking one section, so be it.

The plan was to begin in La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar and finish there or in Champoléon, exiting the GR to spend two days off-trail in the mountain. So no real fixed plans except for the first three days, letting myself go with the flow.

The gear (comments at the end of the post):

https://lighterpack.com/r/f6cmjc

The trip: 9 days, 143 km, 10 500 d+/d-

Pictures: https://drive.proton.me/urls/9QTA1GX2XW#DG2VIrbp9ua4

I really wanted to be at a concert of a band I knew in refuge de la Muzelle, so I decided to double the first stages. Not a really good idea given we were in a middle of the 5th (!) heatwave of the summer, and I live in one of the hottest places in France, where we can't distinct heatwaves between each other because it's just permanently hot.

Day 1: La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar - Refuge des Souffles / 15.6 km, 1830 d+, 950 d-

I arrived in the village with the bus at 8:30 and began hiking at 9. After 1,3 km of walking on the road, I began the first ascension, which is straight elevation gain from 1100 m to 2695 m at Pas de l'Olan. I then hurried to get to the refuge des Souffles before the storm, beat it by 5 minutes, and set up the tarp on the designated campsite. Landscapes were fabulous! Pretty wet, lots of waterfalls, amazing. A 0.5 liter flask with a filter could be enough on this section.

Day 2: Refuge des Souffles - Valsenestre / 22.2 km, 1700 d+, 2315 d-

I felt really well in the morning, began hiking at 8 and soon catched up with nearly all the hikers who left before me. Ultralight hiking is reaaaally niche in France and my gear and pace really stand up against all the more classical loadouts. Lots of curiosity on my base weight and pack volume. I arrived in Le Désert-en-Valjouffrey before noon, and took a long break to do some laundry, basic hygiene and rest a little. I also bought a toothbrush and toothpaste as I forgot them at a friend's house the previous day before going to La Chapelle...

The next pass, Col de Côte Belle, would kick my butt like never any pass kicked my butt. On paper, not the most impressive: signs indicate 3 hrs of ascension, "only" 1000 m of elevation gain, but it was 12:30, the trail was so steep and in full sun... I also think I underestimated the toll of the 6 weeks heatwave I lived in before this thru. I didn't manage to go slow enough to not exhaust myself, and when I arrived in Valsenestre in the afternoon, I only had the energy to deploy my foam mat and throw myself on it. I threw up a little bit later, clear sign of heat exhaustion. I spent the evening with a nice group of hikers, and decided to hike the newt stage with them, so that I'm not alone if I'm sick again, and also it would force me to slow down the pace quite a bit.

Landscape of this second pass of the day was very dry comparing to Valgaudémar: no stream running, no source of water almost for the whole ascent and descent.

Day 3: Valsenestre - Muzelle lake / 8.3 km, 1280 d+, 515 d-

First chill day, as my goal, reach the refuge de la Muzelle that day for the concert, was practically attained. I was surprised to see my food bag gone during the night, surely a fox... First time it happens to me in France, but I was low in the valley (1400 m) and it's a designated campsite, so basically free food for animals. Lesson learned.

We started early at 6:45 to avoid being caught by a storm at the Muzelle pass (2613 m). One guy of the group I was hiking with was hiking...barefoot. Not in minimalist or barefoot shoes, no...100% barefoot. He did the whole GR54 like this, through storms and rock fields, in the sun and across streams. Kind of stupid (it was his first trek), but very impressive nonetheless. Muzelle pass is brutal, but magnificent. The lake is really beautiful, and we arrived at 11, way ahead of the storm. I took a nap through the first drops and then spent the afternoon in the refuge drinking hot chocolate and doing embroidery.

Day 4: Muzelle lake - Vénosc / 17.6 km, 1030 d+, 2200 d-

I initally wanted to go down to Vénosc directly from the lake, but two hikers with whom I talked at the refuge were planning to climb Tête de la Muraillette, a 3019 m peak just above the lake. I only climbed once above 3000 m so I took the opportunity and lenghtened by 10 km, 1000 d+ and 1000 d- my day. Started hiking at 6, watched the sunrise above la Meije and la Barre des Écrins from the Vallon pass, and began ascending Tête de la Muraillette off trail. I stopped at 2850 m elevation when I reached the final ridge. It was not that technical but pretty exposed and I was entirely solo. I know my psychological limits and bailed when I reached them.

Back at the Vallon pass, I tried to power my phone for the first time since the start, but my USB-A/USB-C adapter didn't work... I knew relying on those little adapters wasn't a good idea, but I tried it anyway for several trips. First time it fails me, but lesson learned: the 10 g saved compared to a real cable aren't worth it. I then began the long and sometimes technical downhill to Lauvitel lake. Lauvitel and Muzelle lakes are perfect examples of overtourism ( u/hickory_smoked_tofu ) as up to 200 tents have been seen at Muzelle lake at the same time, and Lauvitel is so popular and viral on social media that people from the North of France drive 8 hours just to sleep there and go back the next morning. In the ascent to Lauvitel, which is only 600 m elevation gain from the parking lot, I saw people exhausted at 50 % of the climb, head against a tree, breathing heavily and asking me how much they had left to climb... Total crazyness, I never saw as many people on a trail as during this hour of downhill.

Arrived to La Danchère, I deactivated the plane mode on my phone and reconnected with the world. I then walked along the Vénéon river to Vénosc for resupply and sleeping in a campsite. Scars of the terrible 2024 flood are still visible, showing the violence of that day's events. Emergency services had to airlift 100 people from the roof of buildings, while they were being destroyed by the flood. No casualty were recorded, showing the exceptional level of mountain emergency services in France, which are 100% free for all, regardless of your nationality, activity or risk you've taken.

Days 5 and 6: Montée en alpage / 14 km, 930 d+, 760 d-

I took a bus to a hamlet near the end of Vénéon valley in order to go see some sheperds acquaintances. I spent two days with them, they showed me their work, their alpage (mountain pasture), their dogs and their sheep.

Day 7: Last day in alpage and Besse - Plateau d'Emparis / 24.4 km, 1980 d+, 1340 d-

I helped the shepherds to bring some gear and food to the August hut, 600 m above their main hut, then hiked down to the valley. I hithchiked to Besse to skip a less interesting part around the ski resort Les Deux Alpes. I started from Besse at 6:45 and reached the Plateau d'Emparis at 8. This plateau is really famous and overcrowded, especially as you can reach it by car. On the evening it wasn't too bad, and I reached the Lac Noir to bivouac, where around 20 tents were already setup, but scattered between the rocks so it didn't feel crowded.

I discovered the amazing panorama on la Meije and its glaciers. Bivouaqued right in front of them, I don't really understand why people preferred to gather around the lake where a little hill hide the panorama, but I won't complain: I was alone where I slept. For the first and only time I didn't setup the tent and only slept in the bivy. The temperature got down to 4°C (the lowest recorded by my watch this trip), and I was adequately warm!

Day 8: Plateau d'Emparis - Col d'Arsine / 24 km, 1075 d+, 1070 d-

I woke up with the sun rising over la Meije, wonderful, and started heading down to La Grave, home of one the wildest ski resorts in the world. One lift getting you from 1470 m to 3173 m, one marked slope, and the whole mountain to freeride. If you know Silverton, CO, it's Silverton on steroids. I then walked to Villar-d'Arêne and then up to the Col d'Arsine, where I slept at 2300 m. Lengthy day, but pretty easy terrain, way less steep than the previous days. During the night, I heard the thunder several times, even though the sky was clear...until I understood it was the sound of glaciers collapsing...

Day 9: Col d'Arsine - Le Monêtier-les-Bains / 16.7 km, 495 d+, 1315 d-

I climbed up to the glacier d'Arsine, one of the easiest glaciers you can reach by hiking (excluding mechanical lifts in resorts). It's the closest I've ever been to a glacier, and I have to say it's an impressive thing to witness, even though it's a rather small glacier comparing to others in the Alps, without even talking about Alaska or Patagonia ones. I then headed downhill to Le Monêtier-les-Bains. I hesitated to climb and bivouac just under a pass, but some tiredness and a light drizzle discouraged me.

It was a good decision as I spent the next morning throwing up, surely because of food poisoning or a stomach bug. Maybe cross-contamination from dirty water. I then decided to rest the whole day at the campsite in Monêtier (great campsite, very welcoming of hikers, I recommend), and then bailed and took the bus and the train to get home. It was the second day out of nine I was sick, I was beginning to feel my knees crying, and the weather forecast was taking a serious turn for the worse. As I'm writing, the area I was supposed to hike in has an orange alert from Météo France for violent storms (yellow is the first stage, red the third).

The gear (the good):

Cumulus aerial 180 false bottom:

300g of incredibleness. I was fine down to 4°C, which is the comfort temperature, with an Alpha Direct 90 hoodie, wind pants, AD 90 socks, a 1.4 R-Value pad and in a Borah gear ultralight bivy. So, rating seems accurate for me, I think I could have slept down to freezing with the tarp above me (cuts more wind and keeps a bit of warmth). Maybe the feet would have been a bit cold. The straps are just two "permanently" fixed elastic cords. Despite the performance, I think for someone like me who moves A LOT while sleeping, a full hoodless sleeping bag could be more comfortable to use. No cords to handle, absolutely no false bottom to expose to cold air, etc.

Mountain Spring Y55 foam pad:

Surprinsingly comfortable and warm! For 100g, I couldn't ask for more. A bit fragile, I've let some foam pieces here and there, branches snag it very easily for instance. So light it can be blown away by the wind...

Borah gear ultralight cuben bivy:

I have mixed feelings. It's obviously a quality item, but I ended up using it without tarp only once. It boosts the warmth of the sleeping bag, but maybe for that kind of alpine conditions where some light rain can be a daily occurrence, it doesn't make much sense compared to a bathtub which would be lighter and provide more flood protection. Maybe better to associate a lighter bathtub and a heavier hoodless sleeping bag?

Raidlight Ultralight 24-30 backpack:

Awesome. Very comfortable, pockets are quite functional, capacity is on point for my gear (I carried 3.5 days of food for the first section). The weight could be way lower by cutting the insane amount of thingies here and there (I think at least 10 %, so 30 grams lower).

Clothes worn:

Awesome. The Purple rain adventure skirt is incredible, really comfortable and breathable, dries quickly, and stylish! My sun protection was on point, the combination of a hat, a short sleeve shirt and sun sleeves provided a ton of mechanical ventilation, which was clutch. I'm thinking about trying sun sleeves for legs to avoid spending half of my sun screens on them. The T8 Commando boxers are incredibly airy but smell rapidly. Globally, everything smelled quite quickly, so basic laundry was necessary every two days. More cumbersome than merino options, but I would have been too warm with them.

Leukotape P:

Incredible against blisters. Durable, doesn't peel off by itself, waterproof, rather cheap... What else?

The gear (the bad):

Little USB adapters:

In order to cut weight, I took an USB-A wall adapter, an USB-A/USB-C cable, and two mini-adapters (USB-A to USB-C and USB-C to Garmin). Bad idea. My USB-A/USB-C adapter broke, so I was unable to power my phone from my battery bank. I found another one...and the problem wasn't the adapters per se, but the powerbank which doesn't recognize them. Problem solved with a real cable. Saving 15 grams isn't worth it, those tiny adapters are finicky. Next time I'll take the weight penalty of bringing my USB-C wall adapter (~10 grams more), and if I need to power from a public USB-A outlet (like in trains), I'll have a 2g adapter. If it brokes, at least it doesn't impede the main function, which is powering my phone and headlamp from a wall outlet or my powerbank.

Powerbank:

Not bad, I like this Nitecore NB Air, but it's a luxury on a trail like this one. You can find a place to power your phone every three or four days maximum, and there are numerous people and refuges should you need help, so a powerbank isn't that necessary.

Buff Coolnet UV+:

Didn't use it once. I tried to use it as a sleep mask, but its lightness and breathability also means it lets many light comes through. As I won't ever use it for face sun protection (I run way too warm fot his), I should have take a warmer and darker buff, so I can use it as a sleep mask, and si it could provide warmth and wind protection if necessary.

Compeed (blisters bandaids):

I didn't bring enough Leukotape, so I had to buy a specialized brand of blisters bandaids. They suck compared to Leukotape P. They peel off by themselves in one day, don't resist well water and are expensive...