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Although, you can save some space and pounds with a bivy or tarp, neither one can offer the protection and comfort of a tent.  Certain climates/environments demand that protection.  Also, if you don’t like things crawling on you in your sleep and don’t like to be caught in a storm with nowhere to go, a tent is the only way to go. 

Finding the Right Balance

While weight is important function is more important; if a tent doesn’t do what it is supposed to you might as well pitch it into the river and save some real weight.  For my money, the most important aspect of any tent is its ability to hold up to the weather and keep me dry and comfortable.  After all, this is really why we pack a tent in the first place.  I’ve read a lot of reviews about ultra light tents that allow water to leak all over. What the hell good is that?  Great I’ve shaved 2 lbs. off of my overall weight but have spent the entire trip getting abused by the weather.  Oh, and I gained back those two pounds after the first storm when all of my gear became waterlogged.  Useless.

Another aspect of function is actually being able to fit into your tent and having the comfort level that you desire.  Personally, I find the only way to get a real feel for tent fit is to actually pitch it and give it a try.  Square footage and measurements can be difficult to properly visualize and, although reviews are helpful, everyone varies as far as their own size and comfort level.  You’d be well advised to figure out who you’re going to be backpacking with and find a tent with enough space.  Ultralight tents save pounds by limiting materials (space), so if you’re going on a weeklong trek with your college rugby buddy you might want to consider a 3 man tent, or separate tents (on the other hand if you’re looking to seal the deal with that cutie from class a tight fit might just help you out). 

A good camping retailer should allow you to test the tent in the store so that you can size it up properly.  If your local retailer doesn’t have what you’re looking for or you prefer to shop online, be sure to use an online vendor with a liberal return policy, this way you can try the tent out and return it if it doesn’t fit your needs.  REI, LL Bean and Backcountry.com are a few retailers with excellent return policies. 

Obviously weight is your bottom line here, it is ultra light after all.  Size is also important, as you want to minimize the size and weight of your backpack itself—smaller tent, smaller backpack.    Pay close attention to the packed weight and size, as this indicates what you’ll actually be carrying on your back.  If you’re travelling solo, you can find 1 man tents for under 3lbs. Two man tents will be slightly heavier, but you can generally find a good selection of tents coming in around the 31/2-4 lbs. range.  Size varies greatly depending upon tent, but I’d recommend looking to keep it under 20” in length and as short as possible (a foot or foot and a half would be ideal).  Be sure to measure against the backpack you’re thinking about using to see how it will fit/how much room you’ll have for the rest of your gear.      

Smaller Considerations

Although function and weight are the most important factors in choosing an ultra light tent there are a couple of other things that might be important to you.  Ease of set up—could mean the difference from getting a tent pitched just as the first drops of rain hit your dome and getting drenched while cursing every individual piece of your tent.  Seam sealing –this is a pet peeve for me; if I’m paying hundreds of dollars for a tent I expect it to be ready to hit the trail out of the box, especially when it comes to something as important as sealed seams.  I don’t want to have to rely on my own unproven sealing skills to make sure that water isn’t seeping in.  Seems like common sense, but apparently not—some expensive, top end tents are not factory sealed.  If you don’t mind sealing, no big deal, but if you’ve never done it and don’t especially want to learn—put your money into a factory sealed tent.  Ventilation—many an ultra light tent seals up like a vacuum, providing little fresh air or ventilation.  If you want to breathe the mountain air or check out the stars overhead choose a tent with some mesh. 

The struggle between weight and function is one that rages on.  The key for the first time ultra lighter is finding a tent that holds up to the conditions that he ventures into and is light and compact enough for his hiking needs.  Spend some time reading our reviews to see what tent might best meet your individual needs.    

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by Carol Crooker | –

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by Ken Knight | –
Carbon fiber trekking poles are becoming quite common. We have reviewed an astonishing variety in the past year from large and small companies. Fixed length, 2-segment, and 3-segment poles with all manner of grips, straps, and locking systems have been examined. One thing many of the poles have in common though is their fairly high price. A notable exception can be found with the Alpkit Carbonlite Trekking Pole Review written by Doug Johnson last fall. Alpkit has since refined the pole, making several changes which I believe have made a value-leading trekking pole better yet.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• What’s Good
• What’s Not So Good
• Specifications: Year/Model, Style, Shaft Material, Tips, Grips, Grip Size, Weight, Pole Length, Baskets Included? - Yes, Basket Type, MSRP
• Performance
• What’s Unique
• Recommendations for Improvement

# WORDS: 1300
# PHOTOS: 6
# TABLES: 1

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Removable carbon fiber stays make it one of the lightest and most versatile internal frame backpacks on the market.

by Will Rietveld | –

Backpacking Light reviewed the original Gossamer Gear Mariposa backpack in 2004. We were delighted with its light weight and load-carrying capacity, but noted that it needed a few refinements. The Mariposa has since been tweaked to near perfection. The new Mariposa Plus is essentially identical except it has a removable wraparound hipbelt and uses more durable fabrics. Therefore, my review of the Mariposa Plus, contained herein, pertains to both packs.

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It IS possible to climb Denali using lightweight techniques! Agnes and Matt discuss their gear and provide detailed gearlists.

by Agnes Stowe with Matt Hage | –

For most people climbing Denali (aka Mt. McKinley) is no easy task. A vertical rise of 18,000 feet makes it bigger than Everest. It is no wonder that Denali means “the high one” in the Athabascan language. With backbreaking loads of 100 pounds (45 kilograms) or more the haul to the summit is grueling for even the fittest climber, but as Matt and I proved on this trip, it’s not so miserable with a lighter load.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• The Gear
• The Regrets
• Conclusion
• Gear Lists
  • Matt’s Gear List
  • Agnes’ Gear List
  • Weight Summary of Matt’s Gear
  • Weight Summary of Agnes’ Gear

# WORDS: 2310
# PHOTOS: 1
# TABLES: 4

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by Don Wilson | –

Indigenous Designs Terra Sport line of performance sweaters uses all natural fabrics blended from alpaca, wool and wood fibers.
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Hiking 10,000 miles last year and completing the triple crown of backpacking in the previous three years has Justin ready for new adventures, this time in a different mode of human-powered transportation.

by Carol Crooker | –



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The Outdoor Indsutry Embraces The Green Movement

by Craig Mortensen |

W-hile it might be difficult to pick one color to describe the theme of the Outdoor Retailer 2007 Summer Market, it would probably be some shade of green. Or perhaps bamboo, corn yellow, or coconut brown. While the exact color might be debatable, one thing is for sure: it would definitely be an earth tone.

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These poles use a mix of aluminum and carbon shafts with unique FlickLock adjustments and are solid performers for four season use.

by Matt Eckhart | 2007-07-25

The Black Diamond Enduro CF poles are three section adjustable poles with FlickLocks that allow users to adjust poles quickly and provide slip-free stability. A

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• What’s Good
• What’s Not So Good
• Specifications: Year/Model, Style, Shaft Material, Tips, Grips, Grip Size, Weight, Pole Length, Basket Type, MSRP
• Performance
• What’s Unique
• Recommendations for Improvement

# WORDS: 1150
# PHOTOS: 5
# TABLES: 1

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