Back Packing Info

I recently bought a Vargo Triad Titanium alcohol stove. This video compares it to my homemade Super Cat. I was very surprised that the Super Cat won the test hands down. Proof that you don’t always need to spend a ton of money to get good gear.

How to choose the right ultralight Montbell sleeping bag for your needs. Compare these popular models side by side to see which features you like best. Chapter 71 in a series of more than 80 videos. www.hikelight.com

An in-depth review of the gear and equipment that makes up my system for Super Ultra Light Backpacking trips. In this 4 part video series, we take a comprehensive look at one style of lightweight backing which can reduce your overall base pack weight to less than 5 pounds. This style of hiking is technically referred to as “SUL” or “Super Ultra Lightweight Backpacking”. After much time spent in the field hiking with packs weighing upward of 50lbs, the past few years have found me leaning toward a slightly more “minimalist” approach in regard to my backpacking style. This path first brought me to pack weights of about 20 pounds… ultimately arriving where I am now with a full feature pack weighing less than 5lbs. Don’t get me wrong, I like gear as much as the next person. In fact, a variety of gear is not only necessary for certain outdoor pursuits, but mandatory in many instances. With that said, I have taken a serious look at what I actually “need” for certain activities, and have been adopting a “less is more” mindset. This has been a person challenge as well as a way for me to experience the outdoors in a new way… sometimes it’s good to change things up a bit. Still, safety and comfort remain paramount. I am not advocating going into the wilderness under-equipped or unprepared. Significant experience in the field is essentially mandatory to find a balance of what is “luxury” and what is necessity. Even with this knowledge and experience, these types of gear systems …

This video showcases the “lighter side” of backpacking by featuring a trip using my new, less than 5lb pack system. This style of hiking is technically referred to as “Super Ultra Lightweight Backpacking”. After much time spent in the field hiking with packs weighing upward of 50lbs, the past few years have found me leaning toward a slightly more “minimalist” approach in regard to my backpacking style. This path first brought me to pack weights of about 20 pounds… ultimately arriving where I am now with a full feature pack weighing less than 5lbs. Don’t get me wrong, I like gear as much as the next person. In fact, a variety of gear is not only necessary for certain outdoor pursuits, but mandatory in many instances. With that said, I have taken a serious look at what I actually “need” for certain activities, and have been adopting a “less is more” mindset. This has been more of a person challenge as much as anything. Safety and comfort remain paramount. I am not advocating going into the wilderness under-equipped or unprepared. Significant experience in the field is essentially mandatory to find a balance of what is luxury and what is necessity. Even with this knowledge and experience, these types of gear systems are limited to specific conditions and circumstances. Of course, all of this is only my own opinion and personal experience. I remain open-minded and welcome any insight, experience, and advice that you may have to offer. There is a comprehensive gear review …

A comprehensive review of my gear and equipment for Super Ultralight Backpacking. *Further description pending…