After many life detours I've realized that courtesy of the ultralight approach, I can try to resume backpacking at least to some degree! 🙏🏽🙌🏽 Courtesy of this thread, I've dug around online for lightly used gear, to get myself a starter kit. I will be the happiest of happy if I spend money to upgrade because it's getting used!

REI flash 55 used ($100)

Exped ultra ($100)

Nemo Hornet 2p ($330)

Big Ag Fly Creek ($220 - bought on sale months ago, but not for backpacking)

I'm just under 7lbs with this setup! Already had a fire maple stove. Just need new socks and a water filter. (My old katydyn pump is not gonna be the answer! 🤣)

Yes it's a light 3 season setup, but it's a place to start while I build endurance and get used to packing again!

For the record, my original tent, which I still have, from the late 80s, is a one person Sierra Designs flashlight. Bought at an REI garage sale years ago. It was barely used. I think it weighs between 2-2.5 lbs and is still waterproof. It has sleeves for all the poles instead of clips. It is not free standing.

But it was ultralight before ultralight was a thing! 👍🏽

Really happy to have all the resources from this forum and online:

Thank you all so much!

Im UK based and I’m picking between these three Apex 67 g/m2 synthetic jackets.

- French Light Outdoor Down jacket in APEX® FERGAL (290g): link
- Enlightened Equipment Torrid or Torrid Pullover(248g): link
- Cumulus CLIMALITE FULL ZIP MEN'S (Apex insulation & Pertex shell 355g): link

Edit - Recommended by redditors:

- Ice Flame Drift Jacket (230g Apex EE Clone): here
- Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (300g and slightly less warm insulation type than Apex): here
- Arc'teryx Nuclei FL (discontinued but 320g and warmer than the majority of puffies on the list)
- Liteway Apex Jacket (250g apex 10d): here
- Yamatomichi Puff Smock (200g hoodless primaloft): here

I want a synthetic that I can use and abuse and not worry about getting wet. They’re all in theory very similar warmth ratings. I’m going to be hiking in the UK with camp lows of about 0c (and on occasion -5c) before I get in the tent, but will also use it for hiking things like the Spanish French alpines (GR10) & and hopefully a 500 mile Sierra section of the PCT later down the line. I’ll be bringing an alpha 90 hoodie and a synthetic sun hoody also.

They seem like the best options on the market but don’t know which one to pick. I ordered a Torrid Pullover in my normal size (large) and it was about 3 sizes too big so returned it. Since then I’ve seen all the negative comments about them.

The price is similar across the board. The EE is significantly lighter though and on paper seems like the best choice. Has anyone used these? What would people recommend to buy?

Anyone have a good rec for a solid sleeping pad compatible with an UL backpacking set up?

Got the Sea to Summit UL XR pad a few months ago and it already has a hole…

TLDR: do you use the gatewood cape as your only rain gear, how has that gone for you once you get to camp?

In the market for a lightweight solo setup and wondering about the gatewood cape. I know you can get lighter with a tarp/bivy set up but 1. I see myself truly valuing more of a tent structure than a bivy 2. Since the gatewood cape is rain gear you could technically have a weight savings there.

My question is using it as rain gear. Initially it seems like wow I can totally save weight! And then I realized that it seems fairly impractical to have your tent fly as your only rain gear since once you’re at camp you’ll need both.

So wondering if anyone uses the cape as their only rain gear/how everyone’s making it work. TIA!