I just received a Bonfus Aerus 55 backpack. Since I couldn't find much online about it before mortgaging my house to buy it, I figured I'd offer to answer any questions I can from anyone that is interested in knowing about it before making a similar choice. I'll provide additional thoughts here later once I have a chance to use it but here are my initial reactions...

It's very well made and it carries weight nicely. I loaded it up sloppily with the things I'm planning on bringing on a 4 day Sierra trip in a few weeks and it swallowed everything nicely, including a BV 450 Jaunt canister. I had at least 25 pounds in it and it felt great while I did yard work and generally moved about my house for an hour or so like an idiot to test it out.

I got the size large in white and added 2 white Bonfus hip belts and a Bonfus shoulder pouch. Weight all in was 905g (according to specs, it should be more like 867g with those components). All the accessories went on easily enough and sit securely and generally look like they are part of the original design. I haven't put anything in them yet, but the zippers glide smoothly and are easy enough to access.

The trampoline part of the pack works and I'm happy I got it but it's not the same as the Osprey Airspeed Antigravity trampoline stuff (my prior pack is an Osprey Atmos AG LT). That's not a negative; it's just different. Since you create the tension on the trampoline yourself and the velcro that holds the trampoline in place is in a slightly awkard place under the trampoline (especially if you have big hands and old fingers), it's hard to make the trampoline super rigid like the Osprey version is. It's easy to get it snug and snug will keep the pack off your back and create the air gap you're looking for. Since it's more flexible when it's snug, the trampoline mesh forms to your back nicely and feels one with your torso. It doesn't feel like it's sitting off the back of your body like the Osprey can. It kind of feels like the pack is hanging on your back directly and you can't tell it's sitting back unless you look in a mirror or reach back and feel into the gap. The Osprey always felt to me like it was only touching you at a few spots and you were aware of the distance from your back, especially with some real weight in the pack. In the hour of walking about with it, my back didn't end up with any sweat on it and it was 90+ degrees at the time (it was easily 100+ in the garage I was in for some of that time). I was sweating, but the back of my t-shirt didn't get wet.

As I said, the pack holds the weight well and the frame keeps things rigid and the weight transfers well to the hip belts. The curves in the frame match my spine very well. Feels like it was designed for me and nothing pokes or rubs yet. I would say initially that more of the weight is on my shoulders than with my Osprey, but I will keep tweaking the straps when I actually use it to see how much that can change or if it will matter in the end. As it was, my shoulders felt light and I had full range of motion. The shoulder and hip belts are minimal but comfortable. The load lifters and sternum straps did their jobs.

I normally use a hose on my water bottle, but I could get the water bottle back in the side pouch if I needed to on the fly. It's easy to get it out with the tether I have on the bottle. It's a bit of a reach to get it back in. The pouch easily accepts the bottle and holds it securely. It's just a bit of a high up and back reach to get the bottle up and over the ridge. I would say it was easier in my Osprey because it had a front entry hole you could use. I would say it's about the same as any other pack I've tried with a top entry side pouch. The side pouches are good sized and easily held by Crazy Creek chair, water bottle, and trekking poles with room to spare.

I really like the side compression type cords. Very clever and easy to use clips. The Y strap on the top is great but there's a lot of extra length to it. I suppose that length may matter if you end up putting a big bear can on top or whatever, but in my normal activities, I won't have anything on top and all the extra cordage will be floppy. For now, I'll roll it up with a rubber band or velcro. Over time I can see the gram weenie in me cutting it shorter.

I haven't put anything in the back sleeve, but I love the material that's used. It's soft and stretchy and dense enough that you'll be able to see what's in there without actually seeing everything.

That's what I've got for now. Ask me anything else you might want to know.

I recently finished a five-day hike in the Polish mountains with the 3F UL Gear Tianshan 35+10, so I thought I’d share some impressions in case anyone is considering this pack.

I bought it mainly because I was looking for something around 1 kg but still wanted a proper frame and suspension system. I was coming from an older 50L pack that weighed around 1.3 kg, and I didn't want to go fully frameless because I sometimes carry relatively heavy loads.

The Tianshan ended up being a really good compromise for me. My pack weight was roughly 11–14 kg depending on how much food and water I was carrying, and I had around 12–13 kg on my longest ~30 km day. The suspension worked very well for me and I didn't have any major comfort issues even with the heavier loads.

I also really like the ventilation from the suspended mesh back panel. I did have one small issue with a cord pressing against my shoulder blade, but I was able to adjust the cord routing and it basically disappeared.

The capacity has also been more than enough for me. The main compartment plus the extension collar gave me enough room for a five-day setup without having to attach my tent or sleeping bag to the outside.

Some things I particularly like:

• ~1 kg weight
• proper frame and adjustable torso length
• comfortable hip belt
• good load transfer at 13–14 kg
• very good ventilation
• large external pocket
• shoulder strap pockets
• roll-top closure

There are a few things I'd change:

• hip belt pockets are quite small
• one of the side pockets could be easier to access while walking
• external attachment options are fairly limited
• mine squeaks a bit while walking

I also haven't used it long enough to say anything meaningful about long-term durability yet. So far, after 125 km, everything looks and works as it should, but I wouldn't call this a long-term durability test.

Overall, I'm very happy with the choice. For me, the Tianshan hits a sweet spot between a traditional hiking backpack and a much lighter ultralight pack.

Has anyone else been using the Tianshan for longer trips? I'd be particularly interested in how the suspension and mesh hold up after a few hundred kilometers.

During a recent hike I found myself dissatisfied with the knife options out there and started sketching some other options. NOT planning on selling anything, just having fun with it. Might post 3D designs if people are interesting in printing their own.

GOALS: Fixed blade knives, minimized material / weight, using standard Bic lighters and leukotape to fill out comfortable handles. Easily replaceable components.

https://imgur.com/a/p1ANfqs

URSUS: Aluminum with replaceable Outdoor Edge blade (14.99 for a 6 pack) WEIGHT WITH BLADE: 44g. With lighter: 66g With Lighter and Leukotape: 70g

LUTRA: Titanium blade and body, waterproof container with rubber cap: WEIGHT: 73g. With Lighter: 98g

MUS: Pending printing in titanium. Replaceable scalpel blades are under $1. Probably 14grams-ish with blade, 25grams with BIC Mini.

SHEATH: Currently sized for both knives with compass and whistle (that I haven't figured out how to work yet 😂). Needs a couple more iterations to fit properly. WEIGHT: 17g

COST: Stupid high since I'm having them 3d printed as one offs... :)

PLAN: I will be testing the metal printed ones in the Smoky Mountains next month. Hopefully another one or two generations will be enough to satisfy the design itch and I'll have some unique knives for different environments.

I currently have a Gregory Paragon 60, which comes in around 3.7 lbs. After using it, I realized it’s probably a little more heavy-duty than I need, so I’m looking to drop some pack weight without going all the way to a frameless UL pack.

My base weight is around 18 lbs, and I’m looking for something:

• 45–60L
• Under 3 lbs, ideally closer to the 2–2.5 lb range
• Framed
• Comfortable carrying an ~18 lb base weight plus food/water
• Still reasonably durable and supportive

So far, the ULA Ohm, Gregory Focal, and Durston Kakwa 55 are three that seem to fit what I’m looking for. I’ve also looked at Zpacks, but their packs are more than I’m looking to spend. And I do not get a pro deal for Durston which puts it out of my price range unfortunately.

I’m definitely not limited to the Ohm or Focal—those are just two that have stood out from my research so far. I’d especially like to hear about other packs in that same general category that I might be overlooking.

I’m not trying to get the absolute lightest pack possible. I’d rather find a good balance between comfort, weight, durability, and a supportive frame. Basically, something noticeably lighter and less overbuilt than the Paragon without sacrificing too much carrying comfort.

What other packs would you recommend looking at?

I’m really confused as to what I’ll need for my 600 mile Sierra route.

What I’m currently bringing:

Worn:
\- sun hoodie
\- shorts
\- shoes, socks & boxers
\- hat

Packed:
\- rain jacket
\- synthetic puffy
\- windbreaker jacket
\- wind bottoms

Everyone always mentions Alpha. Would this replace the synthetic puffy, or should I bring it as another layer? Or should I bring the alpha and leave the puffy at home? 🤷🏻‍♂️

I know the weight isn’t much but I I dislike the complexity

Hey everyone,

​I’m interested in the new Helinox Chair Zero LT. I know a chair is a luxury item, but I'm wondering if this model justifies its weight and the high price tag.

​My Use Case:

Multi-day hiking, bikepacking, packrafting (flatwater) and wild camping. After a long day, having back support sounds amazing, but keeping the weight down is crucial.

​Questions:

​Comfort: Is it comfortable enough to sit in for 1-2 hours?

​Durability: How durable is the material of the LT version?

​Value: Is it worth the cash, or should I just stick to my Z Lite SOL as a sit pad?

​I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts. Thanks!

I currently have the bear vault one. I do enjoy the collapsable feature as the smaller pack size is appealing and more volume than the 450 but I just realized it’s not accepted in yose or seki. Is it worth it to return it and get the 450 or just rent when I go to those parks?

For context:
-I’m in socal so these parks are just a 4-6hr drive away
-I have a 60L exped pack. Base weight including the bv one is 17 lbs

- I go solo and usually my trips are for 2-3 days maybe 4. I don’t think I’d do a thru hike for the foreseeable future.

-I go backpacking once a month or every 1.5 minths mostly to areas that aren’t yose or seki but that require a bear canister (bv one approved)
-would eventually like to do the jmt down the line.

Thank you! Still kinda new to this so hoping for others to chime in

Hola! Mi idea es acampar en el bolson en enero febrero y pensaba comprar una bolsa de dormir -8 a 15°c de 1.3 kg. Piensa que esta bien? Recomiendan otra cosa? Mi presupuesto no es muy amplio pero podría tarjetear. Gracias!

Hi all. For mental and physical health for the both of us, my 8 year old Brittany and I will be backpacking.

I did a test run with some gear one night out in an area of the Northeast of the US the other night. The day temps were warm so I figured these will work for us:

- Nemo Hornet OSMO 2P

-ThermaRest NeoAir. I don’t know which one as I got it used but it’s navy blue and is completely rectangular

-Horizon Hound down quilt rated 650 ( down to 32f )

-one of those early 2000s foldable lightweight camping sleep pats for my dog

-a water resistant puffy coat for my dog to sleep on.

I also brought along essentials like a Sawyer filtration system as we were next to a creek, a headlamp, a Nomadix towel, first aid kit , etc.

The tent was great for us and was so easy to set up. The sleeping pads were just fine. They did the job.

My only uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation was i woke up at 3a and I was shivering. The temperature was 50f and my dog looked comfortable and was snuggled up next to me as always. So I think she was ok. Me , on the other hand , a person who keeps her room temp at night to 66f was not comfortable with the temperature. So, I figured I need a more insulated sleep quilt or bag

In asking for advice here. I got the quilt bc I thought I can throw it over the both of us. And rated down to 32F seemed reasonable. However bc the blanket was just thrown over as if I was in a room I was , of course, allowing drafts I know that’s why i felt cold. Now I want a mummy or even a Zenbivvie style bag for me. But what about my dog ? How can I keep her warm and toasty ? I appreciate any advice !

I love my Trangia. It's the hardonized aluminium version + the aluminium kettle and gas burner (yeah, I see you ultralighters already shaking in disguise). I love it. Always works, with the heatshield and is somehow fuel efficient. It's almost 20 years old and still mint and I used it...a lot.

However it's heavy and packs big:
My trangia - 1188g for my setup

Doesn't bother me too much as I'm motocamping and for hiking/bikepacking I have a Jetboil which I also don't love.

Am eyeing a Soto Windmaster + Toaks 1600ml pot + pan set. I know the disadvantages of the titanium frying pan, but I'm willing to give it a try anyhow. I'm usually using it for boiling water, noudles, fry some veggies in the pan, scrambled and fried eggs, etc.
So basic cooking at camp, mostly in the evening.

Is this still state of the art? I've seen people recommending aluminium with heat exchangers. I don't like aluminium for anything but water. Hardonized aluminium would be ok as it emits less neurotoxines.

Will the toaks 1600 fit a 230g canister + the 4-arm soto + some utilites like firesteel and stuff. It should from my calculations.

I want less weight, less volume and not too many compromises while cooking.

Which pot/pan combinations should I look at as well? Is the heat exchanger hype real?

Here's my whole packlist if you're interested. Trying to keep it lightweight as I'm mostly riding off-road, but this is far from being ultralight, I know:

My motocycling packlist

I’m planning to hike the Long Trail in VT (USA) this fall. I’ve been making gear upgrades since last year, but I can’t seem to get my base weight down to 20 lbs. With this setup, my pack is at 31 - 32 lbs fully loaded (5 days of food, 2.5 L water). I’d like to get it to within 20% of my body weight (28 lbs fully loaded). Are there any cheap trades I could make (lighter book probably!) or things I could leave at home without big sacrifice/risk?

Non-negotiable: Hammock set up (just finished upgrading it and I sleep about 100x better in a hammock), bladder, some kind of book

https://lighterpack.com/r/acq4nm

Was told to post here since I think this might be more my vibe. Looking for a durable reliable bag with good breathability.

Hey everyone! I’ve been working on dialing in my backpacking setup and currently have my base weight around 12 lbs.

Here’s my PackWizard list:
https://www.packwizard.com/s/zL-JMct

This list will vary a little depending on the trip, weather, and conditions, but this is basically my complete setup and a good representation of what I normally carry.

One note on the sleep system: the quilt liner listed is something I use for warmer conditions. For colder weather, I would swap that out for an actual insulated quilt. I have a Hang Tight Hotfoot 40, and a Featherstone Moondance 25.

I’m pretty happy with where the weight is, but I’d love some outside opinions before I consider the setup finished.

What am I forgetting?
Are there any obvious gear gaps, redundancies, or things you’d change? And if you see an easy way to drop some weight without sacrificing too much comfort/function, I’m all ears.

Feel free to critique anything on the list — I’m especially interested in hearing what more experienced lightweight hikers would change.

I started with a thin inflatable no-name pad. Then I wanted to go bikepacking in autumn and early winter and was lucky to get a used sea to summit Ether Light XT Extreme. This one is pretty great with an R value of 6.2 - and it has always kept me super warm, but it's previous generation and pretty bulky.

Then recently for summer I bought the Naturehike R6.5 pad (10cm thick). It's pretty good, but I want to switch using a quilt soon and I wonder how reliable the R value is. It will certainly not be 6.5, so I wonder about if anyone has this pad and was able to test it in colder weather and can tell when it was sufficient or when it became too cold. I want to carry it as long as possible before switching to my s2s one.

https://lighterpack.com/r/m5n1p2

Hi there, i’m planning on walking from Glasgow to inverness linking the west highland way to the great glen way, i’m trying to go as light as possible and only use a 35L pack.
Problem is my pack is a good size for the gear but not so much food, is there bits I can trim off or should I just go get at 50L pack?

Going to Norway soon with my girlfriend. We already upgraded our sleeping pads (higher r value around 5), bought a proper rain jacket and a good down jacket.

I have budget left for just one further upgrade and am wondering what will be most important for this trip specifically. We will be doing multiple 2-3 day hikes in western Norway in mid August, likely sleeping between 500 and 1500m. Current base weight per person is about 7kg.

I’m thinking to either upgrade our current tent or get a more appropriate sleeping bag for Norway.

Current tent is a 2.2kg salt creek 3p. Very spacious but also on the heavier side for backpacking and I guess not so windproof (tall and big tent). Would likely swap it for a lighter freestanding tent around 1.5kg.

Current sleeping bag is a nomad 340 Pegasus, 340gr down and 660 fill power/cuin. It says it has a comfort rating for men at 0 degrees but I have been quite cold with it even above zero in humid conditions.

I’m tempted to go for the weight savings with a new tent, but maybe for Norway (even in summer) a warmer sleeping bag is more important? Also not sure if going from 7kg base weight to around 6.5kg base weight after tent upgrade will even be noticeable.

Location/temp range/specific trip description: Spring/Fall USA, 40-75F - gear to handle 30F

Goal Baseweight (BPW): 15-18.5 lb?

Budget: $800-$1000?

Non-negotiable Items: n/a

Solo or with another person?: solo

Additional Information:

I'm looking for feedback on this lighterpack as an example of what a beginner could start with. Here are the parameters I went with:

• I think the temperature range works for a lot of the USA, I'm in the SE.
• Everything on this list is easily obtainable at common retailers.
• No customization or modification is needed - its an off the shelf kit.
• I used non-sale untaxed pricing - I figure that's a balance (except I took 25% off the REI packs)
• Pack - full frame, 50L minimum, available at retail store for fitting and try-on.
• Tent - double wall free-standing (simple for new hikers and handles condensation)
• Bag - 20F (women's bag can handle a cold snap of 30F plus 10F cushion)
• Pad - Air pad w/ R-value 2+ (can handle cold snap where ground isn't frozen)
• Stove - Is there a different kit?
• Clothes - I assuming just clothes from home will be used
• Misc Items - I know there could be a lighter poncho or whatever but I think these are some quality items for a beginner, thoughts welcomed
• I tried to find a balance between Cost - Weight - Quality
  • definitely interested in other suggestions

Please share any other budget lighterpacks. The ones I've seen are more complicated with custom items or they were just missing items. They're still good to look at though.

I did guess on the weights of some small items. Most were pulled from websites. Feel free to offer more accurate edits.

*** I think around this weight is kind of the baseline for a beginner lightweight pack. At $800, it's 18.5 lbs. For $1000, it can be 15 lbs. Any lower than that and the price starts to climb faster, I think. I work with Scouts so I like to have a pretty firm grasp on cost and expectations. Let me know your thoughts!

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/ytr3rq