Thanks for sharing. Good video. The concept of going with only a 1 liter bottle sounded ultralight cool to me. Then I went into a camp with a half mile trek to water and miles to the next water. So I made two trips for water and a promise to carry a 2 liter Platy or now, Evernew Bladder.
Lots of interesting info here. Glad to see ya and can tell you're still excited about hiking. Three Eagles in Franklin rules! Looking forward to more video. Take care.
Thanks Loner. Coincidental that you replied when you did. I recently marathoned your thru videos. You are a classic and I really enjoy how you stay engaged with the online AT community.
Hey Tom, great video. I compress my circuit by taking the two side straps and wrapping them around my pack and fastening them together (since one is a female and one is a male end) so that I can compress the middle of my pack like how you were wanting to do. I then take the two ends of the roll top and fasten them together and use the extra strap at the top middle to compress down the top. Hope this helps! -Chris
Thanks for sharing Tom. I've contemplated going with the Soloplex instead of my hammock set up. I would save just under a pound if I did. I too count ounces but I'm not sure if I want to spend $500.00 to shave those ounces. Right now I'm at 10.63 base with winter gear. I've got until February to fine tune.
That's a tough one. I will say that about day 3, I was already thinking about how to reduce more weight. That's where going back to the Altaplex came in. All in all, between the changes, I ended up about 10oz lighter than starting, so right about 12 pounds. I never once felt the weight on my back which was nice.
Hey tom, I enjoy geeking out on all of your gear videos, keep up the good work. I saw your pre-hike set up videos (both of them haha), and your big sky dream sleeper caught my eye. I'm in the market for a pillow, and that one is on my list. Did you use it on your hike? How is the quality and durability? And do you have any qualms? Sorry for all the questions! -happy trails
Thanks for geeking out. I enjoy it as well. Yes, I still continue to use the Big Sky pillow and love it. I haven't had any issues and it appears and works like brand new with over 200 nights of use.
As far as air loss in blow up bedding pads, some times in colder climates you have to put some more air in them about 10 minutes laster because your breath is warm and so the air you filled it with is warm and as it cools the air air condenses and it may give you the illusion that your pad lost air. this is normally not the case, so after filling in cooler weather, wait 10 15 minutes and added air if needed and that should hold up all night.
Thanks for the great gear reviews. I noticed you own a Katabatic Helios, but started with the Elemental Horizons.... then moved to what looked like a Exos.... then finished with a ULA Circuit. Just wondering how it all worked out. I'm always on a quest to find a perfect pack too. :)
Thanks for watching! I was fortunate enough to use different packs (I have enough to outfit a small army). The EH pack suffered a malfunction which caused me to change packs. Had I stuck with my Altaplex shelter in the beginning, I would've started with the Katabatic pack. In the end, I believe the Circuit was the best choice. As much as I love the Katabatic pack, the Circuits outside mesh pocket and lashing cord won me over for a long distance hike. Stay tuned- I have been testing get another brand new pack that may trump anything I have previously tried.
Looking good! I saw the change from the Helios to the Kalais. But what happened to the Kalais? Also interested in the thoughts of how the SMD Fusion 50 compares. Edit- never mind. Was looking through the comments but didn't see it mentioned. Now I saw you did address it a while back. Cheers
The SMD Fusion holds a special place in my heart I loved everything about it but the wide hip belt. It hindered my stride when climbing and scrambling (due to a long term leg problem). They have since produced a lightweight belt which is narrower and I have considered going back. The actual sack itself was designed very nicely.
That makes sense. I find the belts on the ULA packs et al already a bit wide personally. I now go without hip belt - but my total pack weight is mostly below 7Kg. Above that I for sure would love a pack with a hip belt. Thanks for the update.
Steve Pike I have 2 combos that I use. For absolute ultralight trips of less than 2 days, in which I am only boiling water, I like the Toaks 650 pot with the MiniBullDesigns Elite alcohol stove and windscreen (there is a shot of it in action in one of my earlier trip videos of Rausch Gap). I also like my SnowPeak Litemax canister stove paired with an Evernew 700 pasta pot (for ramen and Mac N Cheese meals).
Chris Cheng quickness and simplicity. In the mornings I found myself losing time with the esbit set-up. I really wanted to boil water for my coffee and get going. On a standard weekend hike, I was never really on a time schedule and always built in time to futz around. On mu thru, I found myself more routine oriented and the few ounces more for a stove were worth it.
Tilted G Farms this was actually a huge gaffe on my part. I wanted to re-order a larger width of the same quilt so I sold the current quilt to pay for the upgrade. In the the time that I sold it and went to order it, the wait times for Loco Libre were too long and I wouldn't have it by the time I was on the trail. The nice thing about Jacks R Better is they always have quilts in stock. It turned out I was/am very happy with the quilt despite it being 6 ounces heavier for the same temp rating.
Thanks for watching! I'm very finicky about my packs. The littlest nitpick and I'll be looking for a new pack. Lol. I just didn't want to take the gamble with a Zpacks pack and the money associated with it. Also, I have heard from those with tall and wide torsos, the frame-sheet against the back can feel weird between the scapulae. That is only hear say, but having had experience with ULA, Elemental Horizon, Katabatic Gear, etc I didn't see the need to take the gamble on an untested pack. Lastly, my pack weights ranged from 15lb to 25lb depending on the leg. I wanted a pack that could handle those various weights.
Thanks Tom , Love your gear videos. One of my favorite things is to see others gear, From one gear head to another !
Thanks! I admit to being a total gear head. It's part of the backpacking experience for me.
Thanks for sharing. Good video. The concept of going with only a 1 liter bottle sounded ultralight cool to me. Then I went into a camp with a half mile trek to water and miles to the next water. So I made two trips for water and a promise to carry a 2 liter Platy or now, Evernew Bladder.
Lots of interesting info here. Glad to see ya and can tell you're still excited about hiking. Three Eagles in Franklin rules! Looking forward to more video. Take care.
Thanks Loner. Coincidental that you replied when you did. I recently marathoned your thru videos. You are a classic and I really enjoy how you stay engaged with the online AT community.
You sold me on every piece of gear! I hope you're in advertising lol. Very impressed.
Thank you for the kind words! I'll be taking almost everything again this spring.
Excellent, Tom! Thanks!
Hey Tom, great video. I compress my circuit by taking the two side straps and wrapping them around my pack and fastening them together (since one is a female and one is a male end) so that I can compress the middle of my pack like how you were wanting to do. I then take the two ends of the roll top and fasten them together and use the extra strap at the top middle to compress down the top. Hope this helps!
-Chris
Great hack! I'm going to try it out. Sorry for the late reply.
No problem, hope it helps you out!
great video. thx
Thanks for sharing Tom. I've contemplated going with the Soloplex instead of my hammock set up. I would save just under a pound if I did. I too count ounces but I'm not sure if I want to spend $500.00 to shave those ounces. Right now I'm at 10.63 base with winter gear. I've got until February to fine tune.
That's a tough one. I will say that about day 3, I was already thinking about how to reduce more weight. That's where going back to the Altaplex came in. All in all, between the changes, I ended up about 10oz lighter than starting, so right about 12 pounds. I never once felt the weight on my back which was nice.
Hey tom,
I enjoy geeking out on all of your gear videos, keep up the good work. I saw your pre-hike set up videos (both of them haha), and your big sky dream sleeper caught my eye. I'm in the market for a pillow, and that one is on my list. Did you use it on your hike? How is the quality and durability? And do you have any qualms? Sorry for all the questions!
-happy trails
Thanks for geeking out. I enjoy it as well. Yes, I still continue to use the Big Sky pillow and love it. I haven't had any issues and it appears and works like brand new with over 200 nights of use.
As far as air loss in blow up bedding pads, some times in colder climates you have to put some more air in them about 10 minutes laster because your breath is warm and so the air you filled it with is warm and as it cools the air air condenses and it may give you the illusion that your pad lost air. this is normally not the case, so after filling in cooler weather, wait 10 15 minutes and added air if needed and that should hold up all night.
Thanks for the great gear reviews. I noticed you own a Katabatic Helios, but started with the Elemental Horizons.... then moved to what looked like a Exos.... then finished with a ULA Circuit. Just wondering how it all worked out. I'm always on a quest to find a perfect pack too. :)
Thanks for watching! I was fortunate enough to use different packs (I have enough to outfit a small army). The EH pack suffered a malfunction which caused me to change packs. Had I stuck with my Altaplex shelter in the beginning, I would've started with the Katabatic pack. In the end, I believe the Circuit was the best choice. As much as I love the Katabatic pack, the Circuits outside mesh pocket and lashing cord won me over for a long distance hike. Stay tuned- I have been testing get another brand new pack that may trump anything I have previously tried.
Looking good!
I saw the change from the Helios to the Kalais. But what happened to the Kalais?
Also interested in the thoughts of how the SMD Fusion 50 compares.
Edit- never mind. Was looking through the comments but didn't see it mentioned. Now I saw you did address it a while back. Cheers
The SMD Fusion holds a special place in my heart I loved everything about it but the wide hip belt. It hindered my stride when climbing and scrambling (due to a long term leg problem). They have since produced a lightweight belt which is narrower and I have considered going back. The actual sack itself was designed very nicely.
That makes sense. I find the belts on the ULA packs et al already a bit wide personally.
I now go without hip belt - but my total pack weight is mostly below 7Kg. Above that I for sure would love a pack with a hip belt. Thanks for the update.
Great videos! What cook pot and stove are you suggesting is your fav for weekend outtings?
Steve Pike I have 2 combos that I use. For absolute ultralight trips of less than 2 days, in which I am only boiling water, I like the Toaks 650 pot with the MiniBullDesigns Elite alcohol stove and windscreen (there is a shot of it in action in one of my earlier trip videos of Rausch Gap). I also like my SnowPeak Litemax canister stove paired with an Evernew 700 pasta pot (for ramen and Mac N Cheese meals).
Tks for the video. like the idea of the zip lock bags. Think it is worth trying. My question is what poncho did you use?
I used the Sea To Summit UL Poncho/Tarp made from ultra silnylon.
Could you please do a review comparing Katabatic, ULA and any other backpack that you may like to throw in?
You bet! I'm in the middle of testing a new pack, so once I get some more miles on it, I'll review it with the Katabatic and ULA Circuit.
Hi Tom. Congrats on the thru! What made you switch out your esbit/ alcohol setup to your Soto Windmaster?
Chris Cheng quickness and simplicity. In the mornings I found myself losing time with the esbit set-up. I really wanted to boil water for my coffee and get going. On a standard weekend hike, I was never really on a time schedule and always built in time to futz around. On mu thru, I found myself more routine oriented and the few ounces more for a stove were worth it.
Hi Tom what was the brand of the Fork Spoon combo? I couldn't make it out.
Hi Tim. It's the Human Gear Go Bites Duo
What happened to the Loco Libre quilt? Why didn't it make the cut?
Tilted G Farms this was actually a huge gaffe on my part. I wanted to re-order a larger width of the same quilt so I sold the current quilt to pay for the upgrade. In the the time that I sold it and went to order it, the wait times for Loco Libre were too long and I wouldn't have it by the time I was on the trail. The nice thing about Jacks R Better is they always have quilts in stock. It turned out I was/am very happy with the quilt despite it being 6 ounces heavier for the same temp rating.
Hi Tom. maybe you can help me. i am undecided between purchasing the ula or the zpacks pack. what was your reason for not choosing the zpacks pack?
Thanks for watching! I'm very finicky about my packs. The littlest nitpick and I'll be looking for a new pack. Lol. I just didn't want to take the gamble with a Zpacks pack and the money associated with it. Also, I have heard from those with tall and wide torsos, the frame-sheet against the back can feel weird between the scapulae. That is only hear say, but having had experience with ULA, Elemental Horizon, Katabatic Gear, etc I didn't see the need to take the gamble on an untested pack. Lastly, my pack weights ranged from 15lb to 25lb depending on the leg. I wanted a pack that could handle those various weights.
Any idea if you can still purchase the Waldies? I can't find them online and it appears they were bought out by crocs? Lame.
Try Mountain Crossings Outfitters. They had a whole wall of them when I passed through in May.
You said "crocs" about 10 times and the type you are "pimping" only once. Just saying.
The official count was Waldies-2, Crocs-5. Just saying.