Thanks to reader Normand for this suggestion: People often ask when I am going to start making versions of my DIY tents for sale, and the answer remains, ‘How long is a piece of string?’ It is hard to get into a completely new enterprise post-70. If there is someone out there who wants to …
The Gerber Folding Machete. What a brilliant idea! Length 15.1 in -38 cm (unfolded – about half that folded) Weight 18 oz around 500 grams. You can chop, split or shave with it, and it fits comfortably and safely in your pack (or on your hip via the included pouch) US$139 (Feb 2021). It is …
Della and I are just back from a four day backpacking exploration of one of our greatest alpine wildernesses, the Mt Darling Snowy Bluff Wilderness created in 1983. This is a trackless mountain vastness suitable only for the most experienced outdoor adventurers. We return ‘bowed but unbroken Forbidden Wilderness: (Well they might as well be) …
I have been (very belatedly) making Della a pair of these using the ‘pattern’ I made my own with some years ago. That post says they weighed 19 grams but that was including the closed cell foam inserts. 13 without! That was in US Size 9. Della’s in US Women’s Size 6 weigh just 10 …
So you have made your ultralight toothbrush spoon but are still lugging around all that heavy toothpaste or painfully drying it. You should know that tooth powder is a thing (and has been for a long time). You can even buy your favourite brand (Colgate). Some studies even show that it is better for cleaning …
– alternative title: ‘It’s All in the Bag’ – ultralight stuff sacks, ziplocks or ditty bags for hiking. This is not just about weight saving but also about spoilage and organisation. However there are significant weight savings too. For example the ubiquitous (Glad) Ziplock bag is really quite heavy. Try weighing a standard sandwich bag …
Many of you perhaps wonder what might be the ‘dream’ present for your ultralight hiker/hunter beloved. Maybe if I told you about my beloved’s choice (for me) for the last two-three ‘spoiling’ occasions it might give you some inspiration? For example for Xmas she bought me this beautiful little pack rifle which I have been …
Sometimes you just need a really, really ultralight peg, perhaps one which weighs only 1 gram! These guys will not have the same ‘purchase’ as a heavier, thicker diameter or longer peg bu they are super ultralight: only one or two grams each. They might suit for pegging down the edge of your ultralight titanium …
As they say ‘from little acorns grow’. Yet there are those who debunk some of my modest efforts to reduce minor aspects of my pack weight (such as my recent ‘Toothbrush Spoon‘ post -which saves at least 10 grams), or my DIY Ten Gram Pillow which probably saves you at least an ounce (or 30 …
I am putting together an overnight/weekend kit which is as ultralight as I can get it, anyway under 2 kg. I will probably carry it in my 193 Gram Pack. It will definitely include this cook set. The pot is the Evernew EBT278R 55 gram 570 ml pot. You can find it on Amazon for …
