r/Ultralight

r/Ultralight - "The Weekly" - Week of June 08, 2026

2026-06-08T04:02:30+00:00

Have something you want to discuss but don't think it warrants a whole post? Please use this thread to discuss recent purchases or quick questions for the community at large. Shakedowns and lengthy/involved questions likely warrant their own post.

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Garmin inReach "suspend" plans include SOS

2026-06-09T17:39:48+00:00

With the release of the InReach Mini 3 - which appears to have no meaningful upgrades over the old model - I caved and bought a Mini 2, since they were pretty cheap, despite needing a subscription. Well, great news: it looks like the "Suspended" plan now includes the ability to use SOS.

This is not an actual review - just an FYI because it was news to me when I was setting the thing up.

I think that after a year, you'll either have to pay the activation fee ($40) or have a paid subscription ($8/month) for a month so that you can suspend again.

I bought it on the assumption that I'd just switch to a paid plan for trips, and then switch back. Now, I'll probably _never_ use the paid plan, and just keep it in SOS-only mode. But honestly that depends on what the family wants.

Anyway, initial layout for this looks to be $298 ($250 purchase price + $40 activation + $8 monthly fee, immediately suspended). TCO appears to be purchase price plus whatever paid plan you use during trips or $8/year, whichever is less.

That's quite a bit cheaper than buying a PLB. I note that I never really considered non-Garmin subscription GPS devices - for me it was either an InReach of some sort or a real PLB.

submitted by /u/0xf5f
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Spark Pro -1C vs Ascent -1C – same temp rating but the fill math doesn’t add up?

2026-06-10T00:12:08+00:00

Hey all, hoping someone who owns both can sanity check me.

I’m deciding between the Sea to Summit Spark Pro -1C and the Ascent -1C for a 7-day trip in Trollheimen in July, possibly Jotunheimen in early september too.

What’s bugging me: both are rated -1C limit / ~3-4C comfort, but the Pro has 310g of 950cuin fill and the Ascent has 300g of 750cuin. That’s like 25% less loft in the Ascent for basically the same rating. The Ascent is also cut way roomier, so if anything it should need more down, not less. Is the Ascent rating just optimistic. Anyone slept in both around 0°C who can compare?

Second thing: STS specs say the Ascent is only 160g heavier and 0.2L bigger compressed. The weight I believe, but 0.2L seems low for 750 vs 955cuin down plus 20D vs 10D fabric. Anyone measured the real packed size difference? 0.5L I’d shrug off, 1.5L+ would change my mind.

Any real world experience appreciated, the spec sheets have stopped being useful. At (according to spec sheet) 160g and 0.2L difference the roughly 100€ extra for the pro doesn’t make sense unless the ~25% more insulation adds real world warmth.

submitted by /u/MrJuanDuck
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Big Agnes is Selling Alpha Direct Now?

2026-06-10T03:49:07+00:00

I was scrolling through Instagram and came across an Alpha Direct sleeping bag liner from Big Agnes: https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/accessories/products/liner-alpha-direct

Not sure if this was known news, but I was surprised to see it from a big brand.

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First try at ultralight - thoughts or suggestions for small person?

2026-06-10T02:43:15+00:00

Hi folks!

I've been looking to develop a functional setup for thru hiking and ultralight feels somewhat necessary given my size ( 4'11, 85lbs).

Here's my setup, any thoughts? https://lighterpack.com/r/izk18h

I'm on a bit of a limited budget, especially for the larger items but I'd love feedback to work towards in the future!

Notes:

- XS Circut isn't the lightest bag, but I went with it because they were able to customize it to my height and size

- Sleep System/Puffer: I'm definitely spending a lot of my weight on warmth. I live in a northern region and do multi-day hike/camp in below zero temperatures. I also run very cold, see lack of body fat. (It's in progress, I'd love to get to a point where I can carry some extra warmth on my body instead of in my bag.) Anyways, with limited funds I erred on the side of chilly, but it sure shows.

-Ereader is luxury item for sure, and bunny doubles as pillow and travel companion.

submitted by /u/smkels
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MLD Cricket in the Rockies?

2026-06-09T18:08:00+00:00

Looking for a new shelter that I can use on summer trips in the Rockies — specifically the San Juans — and the MLD Cricket has caught my eye as an attractive option. No zippers or other hardware as failure points, nice visibility, good price point, modular, and with MLD quality.

My only concern is about its potential stormworthiness, since I know SW CO can get some nasty weather in monsoon season — I wouldn’t be worried if I was hiking in the Sierras most of the time. Wondering if anyone has experience with how the “beak” side of the shelter does when pitched low during a storm. Not opposed to shelling out for a Solomid if the consensus is that the full enclosure is worth it in nasty conditions.

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Flame's Creed Lanshan Tent Confusion - are these two tents the same quality?

2026-06-09T17:07:45+00:00

I am looking to buy a budget ultralight tent for some hiking in europe. I've found the two options below. I'm a bit confused because the 2Pro seems more affordable than the 1Pro. Is the 2Pro still a safe choice?

(161$cad) Flame's Creed Lanshan 2 Pro Link

(212$cad) Flame's Creed Lanshan 1Pro Link

Any advice would be appreciated!

Note: I am looking for a tent with full mesh options due to ticks in the area.

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Sun Shirts with UPF Sleeves and a Mesh body

2026-06-09T23:03:28+00:00

Anyone know of a sun shirt with protective sleeves but a breathable body? (I’ll be wearing a work t-shirt over it)

I know of the Montbell ZEO-LINE Cool Mesh but they’re out of my size

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Patagonia 3 season UL kit

2026-06-09T16:09:07+00:00

This is for temperatures usually ranging from freezing and a bit below at night (20F) to 80F / 25C during the day. Solo.

I'm trying to find places where I can do some good value weight savings but I'm out of ideas. I have this kit pretty dialed in but it's still quite large in terms of volume which means I find the 50L pack suitable when you add food for 3-4 days. I wonder if going frameless and replacing the ground sheet with a thinpad + frameless pack would save me around 500g?

Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/skx3xk

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Will the Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket work for Iceland's Laugavegur Trail?

2026-06-09T15:53:06+00:00

We are hiking Laugavegur and Foimmvörðuháls trails in late August / early September 2026. We are staying overnight in the huts. 6 days total. The mileage per day isn't bad.

Will the Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket & pants work for Iceland Laugavegur and Foimmvörðuháls Trails? Do people ever have issues with the Vertice gear wetting out after long rains?

I am wondering what other people experienced with this gear. I really like the light weight and this gear has worked well for me for shorter rains but if I'm going to be in a wet, cold, windy environment I might take some different rain gear.

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Weird LASH hygiene question

2026-06-09T14:08:16+00:00

Sorry didn't want to use a descriptive title because this is a gross one. I just need re-assurance.

I just started 29 trays of Invisalign. I'm 46. I have adult braces and I am so embarrassed.

I am doing about a 350 mile trip in 2 weeks. I will have to bring a second set of trays with me. But has anyone here ever brought their aligners on trail with them?

I use hand sanitizer for the most part on trail because doing a full hot water and soap hand wash every day is not possible obviously. I clean my hands off the best I can with my filtered water or in bodies of water without soap so I am not contaminating anything and then sanitize them. Now I gotta stick my hands in my mouth and take these damn things out every time I eat. I also have rubber bands I gotta wear so I have to shove those in after I put my aligners in. I am dreading it.

I have a little case for them to set them in at snack time. And I bought some of the stuff to soak/clean them like dentures at dinner time. I am thinking I could bring a collapsible Sea to Summit cup for that, it's like 3 ounces but I gotta do what I gotta do. I could try a small stand up Ziploc to save weight? But do they have to be submerged, not just agitated a little bit like washing underwear? Lol

I also found these waterless tooth brush things on Amazon that have a dab of paste, a small brush, and a pick and floss on the other end. But I have to bring like 30 of them because I essentially have to brush every time I camel up with a lot of Gatorade or Nuun tabs because everything, no matter how dissolved, settles on the little tabs they glued to my teeth to hold the braces. Is there any electrolyte powder anyone with aligners use that feels less awful than Gatorade or Nuun tabs?

I have to clean my teeth and the aligners constantly. I know I have been over brushing my teeth the last month but I can't help it. Believe it or not, before this, I wasn't even some kind of OCD tooth brushing person. I just the normal morning, evening and after lunch at work if I actually ate food.

I put together this whole trip like a month before I started this adult braces journey. Now I am panicking about the absolute gross-ness of dealing with this on trail. Can someone please tell me this isn't gonna be nearly as awful as I think it's gonna be? Please tell me it's just gonna fold in to the regular LASH gross-ness we all revel in. Please.

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Feedback on shedding some weight from big 4 with minimal spending

2026-06-09T14:07:21+00:00

https://lighterpack.com/r/3ztueh

Located in Australia, looking to hike all 4 seasons! Budget is max $500.

Not super detailed but most things in there. What are some cheap options to shed some weight? Some expensive options are....

-> Sleeping bag replace with Neve Warratah -8 ($480, save 600g)

-> Pack replace with Naturehike 60L ($160, save 1.14kg) but less supportive?

-> Tent replace with Durston X-Mid 2 ($430, save 1.11kg) but need to carry trekking poles (so add 660g for my trekology poles)

What are my other options / cheap options?

(Check comment for more details about conditions)

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What pack are you using right now and what is it's fatal flaw?

2026-06-10T00:31:43+00:00

I am pulling together data on current pack setups to help me identify which features actually deliver and where the design flaws are for my next pack. Spec sheets only provide so much information; I want to aggregate real-world pros and cons.

To keep the thread structured and the data easy to parse, feel free to copy the ollowing format:

Pack: [Make, Model, Capacity] Base Weight: [lbs or kg] Pros: [Specifics on what works well: materials, load transfer, pocket layout] Cons / Required Redesign: [Specific design flaws, durability issues, or missing features] Context: [Why that specific flaw is an issue for your use case]

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Advice Needed

2026-06-09T21:43:27+00:00

I'm new to the ultralight world and need advice. I currently have a 40L Black Diamond backpack (passed down from family). Could I get away with using this pack for thru hikes or longer backpacking (carry tent etc) for 3-7 days?

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Nitecore NB10000 gen4 opinions needed.

2026-06-09T16:34:40+00:00

Hey, so while looking around for a lightweight slim battery bank to keep easy access to in my bag for everyday (I am not a hiker but since this battery bank is targeted at you guys, i figured i would get your opinions). I am leaning towards the nb10000 gen 4, but i wanted to get peoples opinion on its relability and durablity as i have heard people having issues with previous generations dying or not working properly ?

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BD distance wind shell jacket vs MH Kor Airshell hoody for just wind protection and breathability in rain, while thruhiking in northern europe

2026-06-09T10:31:10+00:00

Hi guys, im building my new layering system for long distance hiking in northern europe (e.g kungsleden, iceland north-south trail, scotland, norway) from late spring to early atumn.

I'm wondering wich of those two will perform better in those conditions without rain and wich one will be more brethable when i have to use it under a poncho with rain and wind.

This setup is not ment for very technical terrain or bushwacking. I tend to run hot while hiking and very cold while sitting at camp.

The List goes:

Base: merino wool longsleeve from decathlon

Midlayer: Alpha direct fleece 60 or 90 with full zip- I didn't really decided yet, so i can also use your help in that matter.

Rain protection: long sleeved poncho with belt. For less windy conditions: Rockfront Rain Ghost poncho tarp Rain ghost poncho and for more windy conditions: 3F UL GEAR hiking poncho with full zip

Windshell: BD distance wind shell jacket Distance Wind Shell 72g (2,54oz), Fabric: 15D Light Weight Nylon Rip Stop with DWR

or MH Kor Airshell hoody Kor AirShell™ Hoody 140g (4.94oz), fabric: Pertex® Quantum Air™ 20D Stretch Ripstop- no water resistance.

Additional layer for camping: decathlon down jacket -5°C Simond MT100 Hooded Down Puffer

Thank you for your help! Cheers

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Sleeping pad during summer - higher R value worse?

2026-06-08T19:58:11+00:00

Got an Exped Ultra 6.5R that I'll be testing soon in the PNW, avg temps at night for the weekend I'm out are low 60s. I sleep warm as hell, am I screwed? Been seeing differing opinions on whether or not higher R value makes you considerably toastier in the summer

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Lanshan 1 SilNylon vs SilPoly: Which one should I choose? 🏕️

2026-06-09T03:40:31+00:00

Hi everyone! 😊

I'm considering buying my first trekking tent, and I'm leaning towards the Lanshan 1, but I'm undecided between the SilNylon and SilPoly versions.

Since this would be my first experience with a trekking tent, I'd love to hear from those who have used either version or have experience with these materials.

In your opinion, what are the main pros and cons of each? Which one would you recommend today, and why?

Thanks in advance to everyone willing to share their experience! 😊

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Hawaii Long Trail Shakedown and Pre-Trip Write

2026-06-08T08:38:45+00:00

Currently, I am 3 weeks out from starting solo on the Hawaii Long Trail. It's my route of stitched together trails on the Big Island, starting in Miloli'i, going around South Point, over Mauna Loa, then over and down Mauna Kea.

I ended up making this route after my trip to the Wind Rivers this summer was cancelled. I had originally planned to have around a $2000 budget to pull that trip off. However, after changes in my school schedule caused a large delay on me being able to get a job, and caused me to be able to work fewer hours once I did get my job, as well as having to pay for almost every electronic I own being broken in an earthquake, I had $200 rather then $2000. So, for that reason, I cancelled my Wind Rivers trip and began working on creating a route here in the islands to hike. And hey, maybe it'll be better.

Conditions

30F (Summit) - 95F (Coast)

30mph max wind (Deserts & Summits)

Low chances of rain

The Route

https://caltopo.com/m/EF0RS6N

Route map post HIKT split

The route is fairly simple, since it involves almost no off trail navigation. It begins in Miloli'i, a small fishing village in South Kona, and totally definitely coincidentally, where I live. I didn't choose it purely for proximity though, it does also happen to be the southernmost developed coastal town. (developed being a very loose definition here, Miloli'i has no stores and is only accessible by a one lane road) From Miloli'i, the trail follows the HIKT south. The HIKT is a much larger trail system ringing the island, but still rarely used and hard to find details on. It follows the coast, down to south point, then back up north along the islands east coast. My route, splits with the HIKT at Hilina Pali in Volcanoes NP, around 90 miles after Miloli'i. From Hilina Pali, I take the ancient Ainapo trail to Mauna Loa's summit. The route was one of two commonly used climbing routes to the summit, until the other was covered by lava in 2022 and never remapped. The next area is the only sketchy part of the route. The Mauna Loa weather observatory sits on the opposite flank from the Ainapo trail, making a perfect area for going up and over the mountain. However, the trail from the summit to the observatory was also covered in the 2022 eruption. Despite this, it is only 4 miles of terrain, and as someone who has grown up here and understands my way through lava fields, I feel confident in being the one to remap it. From the weather observatory, the route follows the observatory road, which is partially covered in lava but still open to hikers. About halfway down, the route switches to an old mule trail which is usable all the way down to saddle road, the valley floor between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. From there the Mauna Kea climb begins, following dirt access roads to the summit. Once at the summit, it follows another set of access roads down and to the end if the route.

My Gear

https://lighterpack.com/r/62rgjq

And here's the exciting and fun part everyone was waiting for, my gear for this trip.

Pack System:

North Face Terra 65
Trash Bag

Obviously, the Terra is not ideal. It's bigger then I need, and 3 times heavier then I'd like it to be. However, I got it on clearance for $100 when I started backpacking, and still don't have the budget for a KS Omega. The trash bags makes a good water liner.

Sleep System:

REI Trailbreak 30
Oware 1/2" CCF

For a total price of $24, I'd say this is quite the sleep system. Even though I'd love to have a flashy sub 20oz, 20 degree loco libre quilt, and a proven yamatomichi UL+ pad, I have this. The sleeping bag is free from my brothers school clearing out old camping equipment, it's comfort rated to 30 and isn't filled with lice, so it should do the job. The pad is complete randomness. The manufacturer says absolute BS for it's specs, and different reddit reviews have wildly different statements. But for $24, it's a gamble I've taken. Hopefully its 8ish ounces and an R value of at least 2.

Shelter System:

Borah Gear Solo Tarp 9'
Tarptent Carbon PolyPole
Naturehike Stakes
Polycro

This is a system I'm actually proud of. Of my tiny $200 upgrade budget, it's also where I spent the bulk of it. I've been excited to try out tarp camping, and this trip is perfect for it. The Ka'u desert is incredibly windswept, so I can get some practice time with high wind pitches where it doesn't really matter before moving to above treeline Mauna Loa, where my life could depend on my shelter holding. If I can't get it down, I can swap to my Naturehike Cloud-Up 1 in a resupply. As for my specific tarp choice, I hate that SilNylon soaks so much, and DCF may as well be a carved gold ingot, so SilPoly was obvious. I travel alone and don't spend any time in my shelter other than sleeping so I figured a solo would work fine. Im also 5' 10", so no need to push to a 10' length. And of course, no one can touch the quality/$ of Borah. The pole is neccesarry since i'll be in treeless desserts and above treeline. I originally planned on a Durston Z-Flick, but the poly pole is 0.4oz heavier and half the price. I have the Naturehike stakes from my old tent. Polycro I'm just going to cut from an Ace Hardware kit.

Everything else in my kit is just pretty basic ultralight accessories, so I don't see any real need to go over them.

Hawaii Long Trail is a placeholder name, I'll give it something real once I finish. But, that's pretty much everything I have to say. If there's any holes in my route or gear please let me know. Also open for any random questions, I don't have any people in my life who do hiking, so this is as close as I get to a conversation about that. And thank you for reading my wall of text.

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Feedback on my setup for a 4 day AT trip in NJ

2026-06-09T03:00:41+00:00

Looking for some feedback on my setup for a 4 day trip through NJ on the AT. I haven't included my food yet as im still building my menus out. I separated the weight of my water system, from true water weight.

https://lighterpack.com/r/x5z8hu

submitted by /u/sigfan86
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Women’s pants for hot sun 🥵

2026-06-08T03:34:16+00:00

While normally a shorts kid, I’m heading into the Sierra this summer and mulling over bringing a pair of long pants for the sun. I’ve read the DeuptySean treatise and several other posts, but many of the recommended pants are no longer made and advice for women’s pants is…scarce.

Things I’m looking for: breathable, semi-soft waist, color that is not black/khaki/olive/pink, at least one secure pocket, standard pant (not a jogger or convertible), baggy fit for ventilation EDIT: less than 10 oz / 300 g

Things I’ve tried and are not right: prana (too heavy, weird pockets/waist, dynama(sweaty/pill, otherwise on point except for pockets), dance pants (useful as part of a different system, don’t love all day every day, no pockets), gamma (love for winter, not for summer), ferrosi (probably the closest but the fit is weird and so are the front pockets), terrebone (no secure pocket, joggers)

Suggestions? Am I seeking something that did not exist? Did I miss a spreadsheet somewhere? Thanks 😊

EDIT: made a spreadsheet - did not include pants that weighted more than 10 oz/300 g or manufacturer did not list a weight.

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I'm planning on getting a Snow Peak titanium spork- does anyone know where I can get a cover or something for the head of the utensil, or does that kind of defeat the point?

2026-06-09T06:09:57+00:00

Pretty simple question, summed it up in the title

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Newer Kylmit Pad legit R value?

2026-06-08T19:35:52+00:00

I’ve got one of their old insulated models from circa 2018. Come to find out the actual r value is less than 2. I sleep well on their design but often get cold while on a pad like xtherm, I’d be warm

Now their stuff looks to be ASTM tested. Are their new r values trustworthy?

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Bivy Recommendations

2026-06-08T14:21:01+00:00

Looking for purchase advice on a bivy sack or similar shelter setup.

I’m an experienced backpacker and really only hike on the east coast. I currently use a Featherstone Backbone 1p and I do love it but I want to explore something even more minimalist than the traditional tent but still practical for trail use.

Priorities:
- Good weather protection (rain and wind)
- Low weight and packed size
- Enough room that the ceiling of the shelter isn’t sitting on my face all night
- Decent condensation management
- Durable enough for frequent use

I’m open to:
- Traditional bivy sacks
- Hooped bivies
- Tarp + bivy combinations
- Ultralight 1-person shelters
Budget: Trying to stay under 300

Typical conditions: 3-season use in the Northeast, sometimes above treeline, sometimes in forests.

submitted by /u/IsopodLast6280
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Affordable, breathable mid layer

2026-06-08T09:15:07+00:00

Looking for an affordable, breathable mid-layer for high-output hiking (EU)

I run very hot and do a lot of steep, high-output hiking, so breathability is my top priority in a mid-layer.

My main fleece is the Decathlon Quechua MH100. It's way too warm when I'm moving and basically only useful when static. The problem is that at that point I'd rather just reach for my Decathlon down jacket, since the two are close enough in weight and pack size that the MH100 loses its niche entirely.

On the other end, I have a very cheap grid fleece I grabbed on sale at Aldi. It's exactly what I want in terms of breathability, but I'm pretty sure it's a women's crop and it fits me awkwardly.

Right now when active I layer a merino t-shirt under a merino long sleeve, which isn't quite warm enough. The MH100 is too warm. I need something in between.

I just came across the Decathlon MH500 fleece. It's heavier and denser than the MH100 (230 g/m² vs 200 g/m²), yet it's rated for 10-13°C compared to the MH100's 7-10°C, meaning it's supposedly less warm despite the higher weight. That goes against my logic. Looking at it though, it does appear to be a grid fleece, which might explain the breathability rating. Has anyone used both and can compare them?

Something in the spirit of the Patagonia R1 Air. A high-output, breathable fleece at an affordable price point. Preferably available in the EU. Open to non-fleece mid-layers too if something fits the brief.

Any recommendations welcome.

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