Hello,

I've researched both and owned the DR Li for 6 years before regrettably selling. Now I'll be in a position to afford to buy again, but just curious if maybe the Rainbow Li is all I need?

I'm 6'3,220, use a long wide 25 inch pad and like to throw most of my stuff , sometimes the pack, inside the tent. It will be for solo use only.

Saving a few grams with the Rainbow Li isn't really a concern, just wondering how much smaller it packs down versus the DR Li and if you think it makes more sense because of my height and preference to keep stuff in the tent to get the DR Li?

Thanks everyone!

I have used my Nemo Dragonfly for about 6 seasons, and I think it has been used for 1503-170 days.

Last year I used a UV gear wash to clean the tent. I rinsed it a lot, and a long time. However, this year, I noticed the fabric appears to be 'sticking' when I unroll my tent. Also, most of the tape appears to be coming off the seals, especially on the base.

Is the sticking a sign of the polynylon degrading? Is there any pont in fixing my seams if most of the tape is coming off? Or is this a sign that I need to upgrade?

This was my first near-ultralight tent, so I am unsure what to expect.

Looking for advice on stove options in remote areas of Peru. I'm planning on trekking a month on the Qhapaq Ñan, and the trail stays almost exclusively above 3000m/10,000ft.

I normally go pocket rocket, but in this part of the country I understand threaded isobutane canisters are non-existent. Also at these elevations, canister pressure would go off a cliff.

Considerations:

1. I don't boil anything. All my "cooking" is heating up filtered water to warm soak. I've gone weeks on only a partial 8oz isobutane before, but that was at lower elevations.
2. Resupplies will be max 4-5 days apart, with the resupply points being small rural towns. Gasoline and probably high-proof alcohol should be available.
3. Temperatures will be low, especially overnight.

I've been looking at the whisperlite international, but it's heaving and bulky. Alcohol I've considered, but I'm not super experienced, and I'm worried about how well it'll perform in the cold at 3000-4000m.

Anyone have experiences in this department to share?

Hi everyone, I'm reaching out with a bit of a random query but hoping that someone might be able to help me. On a recent backpacking trip I somehow ended up losing my entire Y tent pole system for the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (2024 - yellow and grey). I don't know how I left behind the poles but alas it's happened.

I absolutely love this tent, it's my baby. I completed the PCT in 2025 with it so it has a lot of sentimental value as well as just being a great tent and I'd like to continue to use it. Other than not having poles there's no reason it couldn't last for years. Unfortunately BA doesn't make this tent anymore. I've reached out to them to see if they had spare poles but they don't. I've looked online and can't find just the poles, or a used one that's even remotely affordable.

I found a small company in the UK that's willing to replicate the poles. The only issue is that they need specs on the system, which without the poles is hard to get. They've asked for the following:

1. How long each pole is
   
2. Diameter of the poles
   
3. A diagram of how they fit together / pictures

Would anyone who has this tent be able to help with some of the information/photos I would need to get her up and going again? Otherwise some advise on where I could find this information would be great! Thank you so much!!

Hi all, I’m planning some UK thru hikes next year and looking to replace my trusty thermarest mat.

I’ll be walking between Spring - Autumn, but I’ll be in the mountains and I run very cold at night. Is the tensor extreme worth the extra weight for that juicy 8.5 R value, or is it overkill? Does anyone have personal experience with either?

Or if anyone can suggest another mat I’m open to any personal suggestions! There’s so much out there it’s overwhelming to choose.

All-Season:
R-value = 5.4
Weight = 445g

Extreme:
R-value = 8.5
Weight = 507g

If that extra 62g is the difference between feeling cold and having a great nights sleep it’s definitely worth it to me!

Hello everyone.

My gf came across an advert of the ThermoFlex Module sleeping system by Iceflame and it looks really good in paper. A sleeping system with 850FP of duck down, a rating for -10°C to -20°C (depending on how cold you sleep), weights less that 1500 grams and the price is less than 500 euros. It looks too good to be true and there are some minor inconsistencies in their site, regarding the comfort rating and the FP (900 is mentioned).

Has anyone tried this product or owns it or any of their other sleeping bags (such as FLAME SD1000 NXT)? Any thoughts on that or any alternatives at that price point?

Thanks in advance.

https://outdoorul.com/product/sleeping-bag-modular/

https://iceflamegear.com/product/ix-a-modular-sleeping-system/

So I like the idea of the Patagonia Retool snap air or the REI screenline. I’m in search of some super breathable layer that’s great for high energy activity. I’m a little concerned about durability, but I haven’t bought anything yet so don’t know how much these types of fleece shed. I read “adventure Alan”’s website and he recommends the REI Screenline.

Does anyone have any recs on other brands or similar materials? Like does amazon or Sierra trading post sell anything like this type of material in a hoody, but at 1/3rd the price, etc?

Also, can anyone weigh in on the relative merits of alpha direct type of material to wool? I guess the alpha would dry better. Not sure about smell, breathability etc.

Update:

Thanks for the Aliexpress Thermolite recommendation. However, someone else posted here they don’t dry fast. For about $30 I am tempted to order one, but as a 5’8” 181 lbs man, not sure if an XL would work and if the hood is too tight. Never actually ordered from Aliexpress before, so I am somewhat apprehensive.

I really want a super breathable warm layer.

I shoulda bought a polartec alpha fleece during summer but I forgot.

MH airmesh is highly praised but doesn't seem to be available here, so i'm open to alternatives, preferably decently priced.

besides i'm not sure what site to use (in terms of best price and that can be trusted)

Hey Ya'll,

https://lighterpack.com/r/qgf6o0

Tear it appart. I'd love to cut a few grams but I won't be going as stripped down as I do on short trips

Some parts are estimated weight (repair kit,fak) and I have rounded up on some pieces.

Anything with ??? In the description is subject to change as I don't own it yet or could find a better choice.

Specific advice requested:

Will the sea to summit Air and a GG 1/8 pad be sufficient when used in a bivy? I will be starting late March and the pair of pads add to only 1.6 R. I was thinking about binding a mylar sheet to the GG pad to help

I will be purchasing a 20ish degree down quilt but would love some advice on which. I prefer cottage industries.

Choosing rain gear for a thru has all parts of me fighting. I accept that if it's raining I am wet. I much prefer ponchos but the standard froggtogs is pretty heavy. I am thinking about getting dance pants or UL windpants so I have something to wear doing laundry and a bit of bonus insulation if need be. I find umbrella hiking so peaceful but might just be dead weight.

Am I missing anything? Is anything stupidlight?

Thanks! Ya'll are my favorite kind of nerds.

Im hoping to add a third pack to my collection. I currently have a kakwa40 and a Yamatomichi One. I really like how the Yamatomichi One carries but the max load is around 22lb or so. Kakwa 40 felt just a tad smaller than what i want, the BV450 felt tight in there - but doable. Issue is that i feel like its not as comfortable as id like to carry something around 30-35lb. My base weight is around 12lb, i have a trip coming up that i have to carry all my water 💦 thats why need something i can push to 30-35lb.

Yamatomichi is really good for a 1-2night trip with water source, but need a pack for longer trips and when i have to carry my own water.

I am hoping to find a third pack to add to my collection:
- 40-55L volume
- max load 35lb
- doesnt need to be waterproof
- framed
- can fit bv450
- pack weight sub 35 oz or so
- in stock and can be bought and shipped to US within the next two weeks

I know there are many packs on the market that fall in this category, please let me know if you have any recommendations that i should look up! Or just tell me to suck up with my kakwa40 :p

My son's are going with me after Christmas for one week in the Superstitions and AZ Trail passages 19-21. I need to buy them clothes. Planning on AD60 hoodie, sun hoodie, rain jacket, and puffer. I have a torrid puffer but now that I know the issues at EE, I wish to avoid them. I'm looking at the OR Super strand LT as a close equivalent to the torrid. Yes, it's more money and slightly heavier which I'm ok with. Is a down puffer such as Montbell an option? I know down has issues as an active layer but maybe not in Arizona? Other recommendations?

edut: TLDR, I need 2 puffers for my son's for a trip on the az trail this winter. what should I buy them that isn't EE torrid?

I've ordered a hydroblu Versa flow filter to replace my old be free. I've read conflicting reports of what bladders it is compatible with.
Does anyone know if it works with platypus bladders? I have a couple already and if I can avoid buying new bladders, that would be ideal

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice on our backpacking tent setup. We are based in British Columbia, Canada.

Our group consists of two adults and one ~7-year-old kid. We are debating between two options:

1. A single 3-person tent (3P)
2. Two smaller tents (e.g., 2P + 1P, or two 2P tents)

I'm currently leaning towards getting two smaller tents because of long-term versatility—having a smaller tent would be super handy whenever one of us goes on solo trips in the future.

However, I have some concerns regarding campsite logistics:

• For those familiar with backcountry sites in BC/PNW (especially designated wooden tent pads/platforms), is there typically enough footprint space to pitch two tents together on a single pad or within the same spot? Or does this often force you to split across different pads/sites?
• Given a 7-year-old's needs (comfort, staying warm, bedtime routines) vs. trail weight and pack volume, which route would you recommend?

Would love to hear your thoughts, personal experiences, or specific gear recommendations for family backpacking in this region.

Thanks in advance!

Hi All,

I'm considering putting in a custom order for a Prospector and know my size, but I was just wondering if anybody who has wide shoulders/back uses one and likes it, since I don't see a way to measure for that. For reference, I'm 5'10", 205 lbs (I was about 190 after hiking all of Cali on the PCT this year), and I need a large back panel and a 34"–36" waist belt.

I just don't want to order this and then find that the straps are way too close together for me.

Thanks for any insight. 🤙

tl;dr: after having used both for thousands of miles, I have to say that the Platy is just a much better filter. You can integrity test it, it flows way faster, the capped design allows the filter to sleep naked in your sleeping bag so it doesn't freeze or spread giardia water everywhere. I did a bunch of digging into the "Sawyer is 0.1 micron vs the Platy is 0.2 micron" claim as well, and I think the Sawyer marketing claim is pretty sus. Both filters probably perform about the same when it comes to removing things from water, but Sawyer may be behaving in a very opportunistic way for their marketing.

Full writeup with the charts, videos of me filtering mud in the Grand Canyon, import records, and science discussion is on my site.

--

I've been using a Platy QuickDraw for about 4,000 miles of hiking, and Several Squeezes (and a few Minis too) for around 12,000 miles of trails. My first QuickDraw broke after rolling off my outdoor gear shelf and onto the floor from a considerable height. It's that sort of incident that makes the integrity test valuable!

Comparing the Two

I ended up in a a Reddit thread about QuickDraw being 0.2 micron compared to the Sawyer being 0.1, which would imply the Sawyer is "superior at filtering," even if it's not a superior product. This led me down a rabbit hole, where I pulled a bunch of peer reviewed literature, field test information on the Sawyer, and US customs records to try and figure out who both companies are sourcing their filter membrane from. Most of this post came out of that digging.

Why I think the Platypus is a MUCH Better Product

The integrity test. This is a killer feature when it works!

Of note (a PSA): after one of my Platys broke, I ended up ordering what amounted to five new QuickDraws because they kept failing the integrity test: they passed bubbles aggressively when testing out of the box, and I assumed they were defective. After a few comments that pushed back on them all being defective, I ran 5+ gallons through one of them and the bubbles stopped. It turns out membrane wasn't sufficiently wetted for the as-written "integrity test procedure" to be valid. The manufacturer's instructions don't say to pre-wet a new filter using 20L of water, so the test looks like it fails and the filter is broken when you follow it as written using only 1-2L of water for pre-wetting.

The QuickDraw is lighter. For a used QuickDraw with the filter end cap, my scale shows 65 g. A similarly used Sawyer Squeeze I measure in at 94 grams.

Better flow and back flushing. The QuickDraw manufacturer claim is about 3 L/min, and in my experience it feels much faster than the Sawyer's claimed 1.7L/min. Additionally, the tapered design of the Platypus front cap means it has a good fit on a smart waterbottle for backflushing without needing an adapter. My old Platypus that I used to filter literal mud in the Grand Canyon was pushing past 1,500 miles when it rolled off my outdoor gear shelf to the floor and broke. The Squeezes we used to filter that same mud pot had to be tossed after our attempts to recover flow rate failed. I usually have swapped my Squeezes once they slow down considerably after around 1,000ish miles of use.

More fun to sleep with. The cap screws over the dirty end of the QuickDraw, and you close the flip cap on the clean end. That's all you need to not end up with leaks when you put it in your bag/quilt at night. For the Squeeze, you need to use a clean Smart Water bottle cap on the clean end, and then a durable enough ziplock bag that you trust not to open or tear, spilling giardia water all through your sleeping setup.

The Potentially Dubious Marketing Claims

Neither filter stops viruses (0.1 micron just is too large). When it comes to lab data for Giardia and Crypto, the difference between a 0.1 micron vs 0.2 micron filter just doesn't matter, as they both filter them out to non-detectable levels. The rating does matter for bacteria. However, after digging into the Sawyer data, I don't believe their filter has a meaningfully different pore size distribution from what is being used for the Platypus QuickDraw.

• Field data: A Honduras study of household using Sawyer filters over 23 months found performance "consistent with" a 0.28 micron membrane filter, as well as general catastrophic failure of the filters.
• Import records: Sawyer's 2016–2019 customs records show hollow fiber modules being imported from NOK in China. NOK's own product page rates their typical water filters at 0.2 micron.
• Patents: Sawyer's fiber traces back to a licensed Innova patent with a 0.02–0.4 micron pore range.

On the other hand, MSR and Platypus market their hollow fiber filters as being 0.2 micron, which sits in the middle of their own patent's 0.1–0.3 micron range. Cascade Design's doesn't manufacture the membrane in the U.S. From looking at their shipping data, it appears they import water filter membranes from two main Korean suppliers. One of these is Filcore, and their standard water filtration membranes that look to be similar size and spec to the QuickDraw are rated at 0.1 micron nominal. That makes MSR's marketing claim look conservative (which I suspect is to allow them supply chain flexibility).

Caveats: Without testing the filters side by side in a laboratory, it's impossible to say how their marketing claims compare to the actual performance. However, looking at the record of IP from the two companies, alongside their import records, and the manufacturing IP for the importers, I do not think there is enough data to say that the Sawyer removes more water contaminants than the QuickDraw.

--

AI Disclosure: I utilized generative AI to generate figures for my website based on the referenced journal articles, and to crawl and identify relevant patents and shipping records. I also used GenAI to do an initial landscape survey for relevant scientific literature. All cited results have been reviewed, and all writing and ideas are my own.

I'm looking to buy a cumulus panyam 450 and I've been wondering if it's worth it to upgrade the outer material or feet to pertex quantum pro. I plan to use it mosly in a tent but also in hammock and just outside on a pad in summer. I read PQP it's rated for 10k water column but I couldn't find anything about breathability and I've seen its a coating on pertex site but i've read its a membrane somewhere as well so I'm a little concerned about trapping breath moisture inside as well as if it's worth the 50€ or is regular quantum dwr enough. I'd appreciate all insight

So it’s starting to get cold here in the uk and my usual hiking attire for my legs consists of a pair of Patagonia shorts which just isnt going to cut it in these colder seasons. In previous years I’ve paired them with some passenger insulated tight leggings but to tell you the truth they’re just not comfortable. What are you guys wearing? I don’t like the typical hiking pants. I’d rather pair my shorts with an insulting layer that is fairly durable and isn’t going to get torn up on any scrambles I may be doing. Any suggestions?

Context: I'm looking to get purchasing recommendations for a gift with fairly specific requirements.

1. It needs to have UV protection, so UPF 20+.
2. It should be full zip, so you can leave the front hanging open for better cooling.
3. It's very breathable even when closed, like, almost as breathable as you can get for clothing. Further research has turned up that this might be me looking for a high CFM rating?
4. Long sleeved, needs to cover up to the wrists, preferably even with a thumb hole to cover more of the hand.
5. Durable enough to not worry about it starting to break down within the year, hopefully even longer.
6. Preferably it has pockets.
7. Preferably it has a hood built-in.

This is all for a picky friend who doesn't like bringing or wearing jackets or long sleeves due to the weight, and also because they sweat so much it's like they're showering when sitting at room temperature. But they've also started complaining about how their skin is starting to tan from trips because they don't wear jackets or long sleeves, and they also don't want to use sunscreen because of the consumable nature of it. They don't want an umbrella, or just wearing long sleeves either, so a full zip looks to be the main option. This seems like the right type of crazy that fits this subreddit, so I was hoping you all could help me with finding something that fits.

I've looked at several options, but had questions about them that stopped me from buying.

1. Outdoor Research Astroman Full Zip Sun Hoodie, it fits my requirements but there aren't many reviews on the website for it. The reviews that do exist complain about pilling with very little use, and I don't want to buy a $135 hoodie if it's going to start pilling in a month. Is this actually how durable it is, or did the reviewer get a bad one?

2. Uniqlo Pocketable UV Protection Parka, cheaper and fits the requirements, but it doesn't look breathable. Also, it's a Uniqlo item, so I wonder about its durability. Is this actually a good choice for backpacking or is it kinda just for people who want to walk around a city? Also, is it breathable? Reviews don't seem to agree on whether it is or not.

3. Uniqlo DRY-EX UV Protection Full-Zip Hoodie, basically same thoughts as the parka above, just including it so people know I did see it. Is cheaper than anything else and the look matches the price.

4. Arc'Teryx Ossa Stowhood Jacket, absurdly expensive, I'm aware of its reputation as basically a designer brand at this point. But is it actually good? In threads mentioning this, people do say that there're cheaper alternatives, but I can't find many that're specifically with UV protection, full zip, hood, and breathable. Also, this one's so thin that I wonder how durable it actually is if you started to rub against trees and rocks.

I am aware of the several contradictions in my requirements, I'm just hoping that there's a miracle answer I've skipped over. I know higher UPF generally means thicker, so it's going to be hotter and less breathable. Wanting durability but also something incredibly light and breathable is also two opposing forces. A hood adds some weight and also a bit of heat if it's hanging back. Yeah, it's a lot of stuff, but I really want to pick a good gift. I think even with the goal of ultralight, they would be happier with a higher pack weight if it still miraculously met all these other comfort requirements.

Hey folks, I’ve got some questions about winter shells for backpacking. I’m an experienced backpacker but never been out in a Sierra winter before and I’m starting to figure out what I need before doing a series of training courses this winter. They’ll answer gear questions from us at the training, but I want to keep an eye on Black Friday sales and so need some advice sooner.

I’ve read that there are temps where you actually put your down puffy OVER your shell, so the shell is providing a wind block over your base layers and fleece, but UNDER heavy weight down insulation. This is so counter intuitive to me because obviously I’ve always had it drilled in to me to keep your down dry under a shell. But from what I’m reading, once you get into more serious winter conditions, snow itself is “dry” and you don’t want to compress your down under a shell bc you want it to have max loft.

- at what point do you put down over a hard shell? Part of the reason I’m interested in doing this is bc at a certain point the size hardshell I would need to cover my down puffy without compressing it is its own issue.

- when people describe down going over the top of a hardshell, are they imagining an UL puffy like a La Sportiva lumina, or are they actually talking about expedition down parkas that have a more substantial face fabric than an UL puffy has?

- in winter are there times when you’ll carry both a wind layer and a hardshell? In 3 season sierras I only ever carry an UL rain shell (OR Helium, I also own an Aspire but don’t bring it bc weight) because I almost never need insulation while moving. But wondering whether snowshoeing in winter with an UL pack is precisely when I might want a wind layer?

- when moving in winter when it is snowing, do you find yourself putting your hardshell on and using pit zips to vent, or is a wind layer / soft shell with a DWR typically enough to keep you dry?

Longtime Aquamira drop user (like 15 years) changed to a BeFree filter a couple of years ago and on my Wind River Range trip this year it almost quit working. A few years ago it seemed like the BeFree and the Sawyer Squeeze were the two best options (the smaller Sawyers weren't worth it) is that still the case before I go out and get a new filter?

I tended to squeeze water into a large mouth bottle (Gatorade usually) and then drink from that. I choose the BeFree for the lower formfactor as a Smartwater bottle and Sawyer Squeeze is awfully tall and unwieldy. Typical usage is alpine lakes and streams out west (Sierra this summer) or springs back east.

EDIT: These comments got me searching in the right places and I ended up finding these from LightHeart gear. The 6.5L weighs 11g and is the perfect dimensions for a pillow - it looks like it will PERFECTLY fit the bladder from a Nemo Fillow Elite for 27 ounces extra when it’s warm enough to not bring my puffy.

Does anyone know of any super UL (mesh?) bags? I’m specifically looking for something to keep my little items from being loose in my pack, but one big enough I can stuff my puffy in for my pillow. I’m not sold on DCF for stuff sacks (abrasion, price).

I’ve found Exped has one for about ~20g that’s out of stock/discontinued, Dutch looks like they have one even lighter that would be perfect but the large size that would be good for a pillow is out of stock. 3FUL has a few light (non mesh) drysacks from 37-60g that look okay but I feel like I could get lighter with a mesh fabric since I don’t need it to be waterproof (will be in a pack liner). STS and Exped used to make similar weight dry sacks but they’re discontinued now I believe.

Looking for the Goldilocks Fastpack. What makers are offering quality running vest straps that fit a full size flask, 15-20l main compartment, waterproof fabric offering? I’ll be fastpacking and commuting on bike with this pack.

The Hyperlite Pemi 15 looked almost perfect until the reviews of the straps being non functional came out …

Currently waiting on Raide’s 15L drop. Would buy immediately if another option checked all boxes today.

Update: Having JJ at ExoticPax make a custom pack for me. Thanks for the recommendation, R/Ultralight!

Anyone compare the high output version (6500k 650 lumen) to the high CRI version (5000k 420 lumen)? Just curious if one was better than the other for visibility on the trail. It seems the warmer color temperature would be better for foggy conditions.

Hi there! I'm looking for some guidance on quilt temps. For some backstory I haven't backpacked in forever and want to get back into it. I went on a 1 night trip with friends in the NC mountains and we had temps of 42-32 overnight (this is just based on temps nearby from weather stations as I don't have a thermometer.) I slept in my 17 year old REI Zen 10° synthetic bag, on a 4.9 R value pad (Magellan Outdoors Large Mummy Sleeping Pad), with base layers and some merino wool socks. I was in a Naturehike Cloudup Pro 2 person tent. I woke up around 1 am too hot and sweating a bit but I was more comfortable near the early morning hours. Not sure if this makes me a warmer sleeper since realistically the REI zen is probably like a 20-30 degree rating nowadays but also I have no idea given it's hard to calculate.

This brings me to now. I'm looking to buy a Neve Gear Waratah as an upgrade as I really like the pad strap design and it seems like a good value quilt for the warmth/weight. I'm struggling to decide if I need to get the -2c or -6c option. I plan to use it as a 3 season quilt mostly between March-October, so I'm leaning more towards the -2c since they use comfort rating. I feel based on my experience I'm probably more of a neutral to warm sleeper and likely the -2c will be perfectly fine for my use cases but I wanted to just get some other opinions on the matter since I'm really not sure. Thank you in advance!

Edit: Thank you everyone for the info and advice, I really do appreciate it! I'm still not 100% sure which one to get but this has helped give me a better point to thinking it through more from.

Edit 2: I think I am gonna go with the -2C model since I'll mostly be backpacking in the mountains of North Carolina and the coldest I'll probably take it is maybe a bit under freezing if I go early March/late November.