Personal Outdoor Gear Overview
In terms of UL (ultralight), my priority is comfort first—being as ultralight as possible while maintaining comfort, rather than blindly pursuing ultralight at the expense of comfort. Here are some commonly asked questions:
1. About backpacks: The Granite Gear Blaze is a fairly popular pack lately. At 1.3kg, it’s one of the lightest in its 60L class. Some people love to talk about suspension systems, going on and on about them. But I’ll just say this—if you’re aiming for full-on UL, the suspension system is pretty much negligible. Though Granite Gear’s isn’t bad. The second thing I want to mention about the Blaze is its expandability. When empty, it really looks like a 30L pack. Its cylindrical shape expands outward as you pack, layer by layer, until you loosen all the compression straps. Fully packed, it becomes a big cylinder. Also, its expandability is impressive—if you fully use the top section, it can easily hold 80L, maybe more. With that kind of capacity, you probably won’t need external attachments. I don’t recommend them anyway, as they affect your center of gravity and make it harder to navigate through tight spaces. One thing to note: this pack isn’t waterproof and doesn’t come with a rain cover. To protect your investment, it’s best to get a separate rain cover. Try to keep it covered when you’re out—it protects your pack and keeps a low profile, which is the ultimate flex.
2. About sleeping mats: The Thermarest NeoAir All Season has an R-value of 4.9 and is 6.3cm thick, making it very comfortable. Two mats together make a sofa bed. People often ask about noise. The new mat does make some noise when inflated due to the plastic air chambers rubbing against each other. But after a couple of uses, the noise disappears completely. You’ll sleep soundly with no disturbances. A clever design feature is that the included stuff sack can actually be used to inflate the mat—a game-changer, especially at high altitudes where even breathing can be tough. Also, if you stuff your base layers or fleece into the sack, you’ve got a decent pillow. With two mats, consider Thermarest’s down connector pad to link them into a perfect large bed, boosting insulation for a cozy, thick down mattress. Thermarest released an updated version this year with rounded corners and a tapered design (larger at one end), making it lighter with a higher R-value. But gear is also about cost-performance—getting the newer model cheap can be tricky.
3. About sleeping bags: For spring, summer, and autumn trips, go for down sleeping bags—they’re lightweight and warm. I haven’t tried the 900+ fill power ones from Mouse House, which are supposedly even lighter and warmer. For me, living in areas above freezing year-round, that might not be necessary. But Black Ice sleeping bags are great. If you often travel with a partner, two 400g down sleeping bags are a solid choice. You can zip them side by side into a big quilt, raising the temperature by about five degrees when cuddling. For solo cold-weather trips, bring both—zipped together, they’re like an 800g bag, still very warm. That’s enough for normal three-season use (the mat adds plenty of warmth too). For northern spring/fall, a 700g bag might be better.
4. About tents: The MSR Hubba Hubba 2 needs little introduction. Just two points: First, its floor is thinner than you’d expect—get a footprint. Second, its poles are sturdier than you’d think—no need to worry about strength or wind resistance. Also, the Hubba 2 poles have emergency repair sleeves. (Answering a past forum question.) Many say there are lighter two-person tents, and they’re right. But how many are fully freestanding, super spacious, and still this light? True freestanding, 4.5 square meters of space, and UL weight—that’s the Hubba 2’s magic.
5. About stoves: Fire Maple will release a new stove soon, lighter than the 116T (around 41g, though I forget exactly). Model name TBA, it’s an integrated canister stove with a more compact folded size. UL enthusiasts might want to wait.
6. About cookware: I use the Snow Peak Titanium Multi Compact Cookset 010. It comes in 010 and 020 sizes, mainly differing in volume. The 020 is larger (both are 150mm in diameter, but the 020 is 150mm tall vs. the 010’s 100mm). For regular two-person trips, I recommend the 020 for its extra space—just 50g heavier. Ignore this if you’re just sharing instant noodles, not cooking rice.
7. About headlamps: The Sanray S3 dual-light headlamp (with batteries) is bright, but four AA batteries on your head feel heavy. You don’t need max brightness—a lighter option works fine. I bought this ages ago and never upgraded. A newer model would likely shave dozens of grams.
8. About water bladders: My CamelBak bladder has lasted ages—it’s rugged. Rumor says the U.S. Marines use them (unconfirmed), but it’s definitely solid in practice. One issue: my model’s bite valve lacks a dust cover, leading to leaks if accidentally pressed. Sand at the beach also clogs it. A dust cap is essential.
9. About the Casio PRG-130T-7V. This watch tracks altitude, temperature, air pressure, weather, moon phase, tides, compass, and multiple time zones—pretty versatile. The titanium band scratches easily; don’t expect it to stay pristine. Switch to a rubber band for snow trips. On altitude/pressure: those are dynamic values, so take them with a grain of salt. Barometric altitude isn’t super precise, but it helps gauge relative height changes during hikes.
That’s all for now. Feel free to ask about my gear—I’ll do my best to answer. One last UL note: comfort should always come first. Ultralight is only meaningful when built on a foundation of comfort. (Original author: loveyadong)
Also, whether you’re into UL or not, know the weight of every piece of gear. Packing with heavier items at the bottom (inside and outside) makes it easier. Prices listed are just for new hikers’ reference—no other agenda. Share your favorite UL gear for discussion.
Many replies say my gear isn’t UL enough. Everyone defines UL differently. As I’ve said, comfort is the prerequisite. UL only matters when comfort is secured. (Original author: loveyadong)