My pack for the overnight trip in the Cairngorms described in the last post weighed 11.4kg . Without food and camera gear, which included a tripod, the base weight was around 8kg. Everything fitted easily into a 50 litre pack with room to spare so I thought my load compact and light. Until Colin Ibbotson stepped off the train in Aviemore with what appeared to be a medium sized stuffsack that is. I’d met Colin at the end of the TGO Challenge a couple of times. After this year’s Challenge he said he’d be interested in showing me his modified tarp, which he reckoned was just as stable as a lightweight tent, so we’d arranged this overnight trip. Since the Challenge Colin had designed and made his own ultralight pack, which he’d brought along for a first outing. That was the “stuffsack” he was carrying. It weighed 93 grams empty and was around 25-30 litres in capacity. Less than 100 grams. For a pack. My waterproof pack liner weighs more than that. Colin showed me the ingenious design, which transferred the weight to a simple frame and the shoulder straps so the actual bag could be made from thin silnylon as it was not under stress. This also meant that different sized bags could be used with the same harness system. With food his total pack weight for the trip was 3kg. The base weight was 2kg. My pack weighed almost four times as much and suddenly looked massive. Did the weight make much difference on the walk? 11kg is quite a light load for me and I only noticed the weight when climbing steeply. Then I certainly found it hard work keeping up with Colin (but then he does have much longer legs and is over two decades younger so maybe it wasn’t just the pack weight). The day over the summits to Loch Einich was sunny with just a light breeze so no warm or waterproof clothing was needed. During the evening the wind increased and there was a slight coolness in the air. My thin windproof top was welcome. With that over my merino wool base layer I was warm. Colin however, much to my surprise, donned a hooded down vest in which I would definitely have overheated. It turned out he runs cold, which makes his ultralight load even more impressive.
For shelter I’d brought a 1.6kg semi-geodesic tent I was testing. Colin had his 550 gram tarp, a Mountain Laurel Grace modified with side guylines and extra pegging points, and a light bivi bag. The night was stormy, as described in the last post, and the noise of the wind and rain buffeting the tent woke me several times. Colin’s tarp seemed quieter and shook less in the wind. It was certainly more than capable of coping with the storm. His modifications had turned a tarp more suited to calmer weather into one adequate for the Scottish climate. Unfortunately as far as I am aware there are no tarps on the market that will provide the same performance without modification.
Colin used most of this equipment other than the pack (he had one weighing twice as much at 210 grams) on the TGO Challenge this year and found it fine. This provoked some controversy, which continued after the Challenge as lengthy debates on Andy Howell’s and Peewiglet’s blogs. Now whilst Colin’s superlight, minimalist gear won’t be for everyone (including me, I suspect, though this trip did encourage me to think about going a bit lighter) there is no question that it works and is suitable for Scottish conditions.
If you want to know more about Colin’s ultralight gear he has some web pages hosted by Andy Howell here.
Photo info: Colin’s tarp pitched beside Loch Einich at dusk, as the wind was starting to pick up. Canon EOS 450D, Tamron 11-18mm @11mm, 1/100@f5.6, ISO 400, raw file converted to JPEG in Photoshop Elements 7.
Great stuff! Colin's new backpack sounds brilliant. He's a very inventive bloke. I was already very impressed by his tarp, which always looks to me like a praying mantis :) And 3kg for the trip? Just amazing!
ReplyDeleteColin has pointed out that the pack is 93 grams and the tarp 550 grams (he had a fitted groundsheet with it on the TGoO Challenge, which brought the weight up to 635 Grams). I've corrected the post.
ReplyDeleteGreat Stuff Chris, I've been looking at Tarps (more accurately Tarptents) for summer use. The thing I can't get past though is that once you add a groundsheet/bivvybag it's geting close to the weight of a Laser Photon/Comp so is there some other advantage?
ReplyDeleteGenuinely interested, not trying to start a Tarp v's Tent argument.
Does that mean you are going to try going ultralightweight Chris??? :)
ReplyDeleteI am not at Colin's level for going SUL having found a nice balance between comfort and streamline.
Oh and I do like Colin's modified tarp although it is a little on the heavy side for me personally :-)
I like tarps because of the contact you still have with the outdoors - you're not sealed off from it as in a tent (which is also why I prefer a tent in midge season - I don't want contact with that aspect of nature!). I also like being able to pitch tarps in different ways depending on conditions. A tarp/groundsheet at the same weight as the Photon would provide much more room. I've mostly used tarps that can be pitched down to the ground and not bothered with bivi bags.
ReplyDeleteTarptents covers a range of designs (and of course a brand name) - some are basically just flysheets, others are single-skin tents. I reckon they're much closer to tents than tarps.
yes,
ReplyDeletemidgie season is a tester for tarps to be sure but there are simple ways around the issue
Re the whole tarp experience, for me there is no finer thing than waking up in the morning with the sun and breeze on your face.
Of course winter brings its own problems but I am hoping to do a lightweight winter tarp at least once this year
It was the Tarptent Contrail I'd been looking at, close to a single skin tent really. The nidge aspect is the thing that bothers me, I'd be looking at using a Tarp(tent)in summer which unfortunately when the midges are at their worst. That said the Contrail can be pretty open if circumstances (and midges) permit. I suppose the obvious answer would be to make my own using the plans on Henry Shires (Tarptent) website to see if it would work for me.
ReplyDeleteI am genuinely impressed by people who make their own gear - especially at such absurdly light weights. It's amazing stuff.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I find much of the debate about lightweight backpacking a little bit dull. A fair bit of going lighter really depends upon how how much you are prepared to shell out for new products as they come on the market. I am sure I could shave a kilo off my pack if I opted to spend £1,000 to replace the Laser Comp with a Photon, change pack, sleeping bag etc.
But this approach is very different and really inspiring.
That tarp isn’t the lightest but in a storm like on Saturday I was glad of its bulk! Also note that the weight is the trail weight and includes bivvy bag, pegs, guys etc so it’s still usefully lighter than a Photon and probably a more stable option in a storm. I do use lighter tarps in guaranteed good weather but at other times I prefer its reliability.
ReplyDelete"11kg is quite a light load for me and I only noticed the weight when climbing steeply"
ReplyDeleteWithout wishing to denigrate the lightweight fraternity, I would guess that many regular backpackers would echo this comment, and not really be stressed by anything under 15kg or so.
We have certainly come across a number of TGO Challengers in their 70's who move very well with such loads.
Remember that most of us wait until our old gear wears out before upgrading it with the assistance of Chris's reviews.
Carrying 10 to 15 kilos is not exactly difficult or stressful!
Colin's fanaticism has to be wondered at, though!
Martin, the question of how the weight affects what you can do is an interesting one. There are many Challengers who say they take low level routes and don't climb Munros because of the weight of their packs. I met a couple on Braeriach a few weeks ago looking longingly at Cairn Toul, which they didn't have time to climb. They said they'd considered an overnight trip but their packs were too heavy. They were astonished that I was backpacking due to the smallness of my pack. For people like this going lighter would clearly be a benefit.
ReplyDeleteI think though that this means dropping from 15-25kg loads to 10-15kg loads rather than going superultralight. I have an interesting book called Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail by Roland Mueser in which the author surveys AT hikers. The AT has many steep climbs so it is an arduous hike. Mueser found that the cutoff point for the difference pack weight makes was 30lbs (13.6kg). Hikers with packs weighing less than that averaged 14.5 miles per day, those carrying more averaged 17 miles per day.
At the end of the day, it what people are comfortable with that's important. I personally couldnt face strapping a rucksack bigger than say 50L and 6-8kg onto my back as a maximum these days but then I have gotten used to being lightweight.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, quick question for Chris, unless I missed it elsewhere, what tent were you testing on the trip?
Dave, it was a Terra Nova Superlite Voyager.
ReplyDeleteahhhhhh....
ReplyDeletecan I ask how you got on with it or is it hush-hush for an article/review in TGO?
Oh, it performed fine. It'll appear in the September TGO in a review of two person tents.
ReplyDeleteI have soft spot for the Voyager as I used one of the original ones on my Continental Divide walk in 1985! That one weighed about 2.5kg. The Superlite weighs 1.6k.
On Pack weights: I think the cut-off weight at which an individual feels comfortable varies greatly from individual to individual.I don't like fixed cut off points for that reason. It has to do with a lot of factors, physiology and fitness as well as backpacking style and ambition. In my case I am not happy with loads of 15kg and strive to keep the weight of my pack below 12kg preferably 10kg. For me, there is a world of difference between 15 and 12kg. A difference measurable in terms of enjoyment and comfort as well as achievment. High level routes have my preference and that plays a big role in where I draw my line.
ReplyDeleteOn Tarps: I have an MLD grace tarp also. Unmodified in my case. It has 12 tie outs plus 2 shock- corded risers on each of the two panels. I find it to be a pretty bombproof shelter as is as long as its used with suitable poles. Chris/Colin I would be interested to hear what modifications have been made to make it
"UK proof" and what it is you think makes the MLD in its raw state unsuitable?
Dave, I agree the cut-off point depends on the individual. And on the terrain. Mueser's 30lb cutoff was based on the actual experience of AT hikers rather than any theory.
ReplyDeleteI've always preferred high level routes in Scotland, because that's where the wildest land is. If necessary I'll carry 20+kg but below 15 is my preference (all up weight including food). Sometimes on long hikes abroad I carry 10 days food, which means a heavy starting load. On the Arizona Trail I carried three gallons of water at times. It all depends on where you want to go and what you want to do.
I'll let Colin comment on the Grace tarp, if he wants to. I've never seen an original, only Colin's modified, but the lack of side guys would concern me, given my experience with other tarps. Colin added two on each side.
Dave I'm away in the Lakes for a week so will answer your question when I return (using mobile to do this).
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments about weight, Chris, but I think there's also a pschological element. Faced with a week or more between provisioning, in high mountains, with the most basic of shops to buy supplies, it's difficult to comply with the weight limits some of your correspondents seem to have set themselves. Those (like yourself) that have experienced the virtues of such routes will recognise that the heavy weight can be regarded as a minor inconvenience that diminishes as the days pass.
ReplyDeleteMartin: The limit I set myself is based on hard won personal experience. For some, heavier weights may ammount only to a minor inconvenience. For others the negatives may weigh far heavier. I don't think either of us can speak for anyone else on this subject. Neither do I think can one talk about generic weight limits. The weight limit I set myself means that the week long routes you talk of are beyond me. That's something I have to accept. I now plan routes of 4-5 days unsupported and never have more than 12kg on my back, and can be confident I can cover whatever technical ground I encounter saftely. My motivation for lightening my load further is simple. Each kg I can loose from my baseweight equates to an extra day unsupported travel. As I work to lighten my load more, and more spectacular, routes open up to me.
ReplyDeleteThat Superlite Voyager sounds pretty fantastic. I loved my Voyager more than any tent I've ever had, and at 1.6kg I'd even think about carrying it in place of my Laser Competition (shock, horror! *g*), the loveliness and comfort of it quite possibly making up for the additional weight. Very much looking forward to reading the review.
ReplyDeleteI have a soft spot for the Voyager too - having carried one the length of the Continental Divide back in 1985!
ReplyDeleteDo you think the 'inner first' approach to putting it up (i.e. the Voyager) is a significant disadvantage? I confess I've grown used to tents where inner and outer are linked together. Still, though... I'm tempted. I could sell my ME Dragonfly on Ebay. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI don't think inner first is a disadvanatge. You just have to adapt to how you pitch the tent in the rain. The Voyager pitches fast so it would have to be a torrential downpour for the inner to get wet.
ReplyDeleteWow, 3kg for an overnighter, that's quite impressive. I hope to get my base weight down to 5kg this summer/ autumn, and after that will consider MYOG. Are there any photos of Colin's MYOG backpack, or maybe even a tutorial?
ReplyDeleteHi Hendrik, there are no photos or info on Colin's pack yet as it's still a design in progress. I expect there will be eventually.
ReplyDelete