35 new this week, from hikers and from around the web.
Hiked the Foothills Trail with the Kakwa 55 at a 12–13 lb base weight and it hurt their upper back relentlessly, possibly a sizing problem. Switched to a frameless LiteAF 35 that was far more comfortable on several long trails.
“I don’t know if I bought it small or too big or whatever but it just hurt my upper back relentlessly”
Owns both the Kakwa and the Wapta and has switched to the Wapta for 3–4 day mountain trips in Norway at a 5.5 kg base weight and up to 9 kg total. Much prefers it to the Kakwa at those loads and thinks it is one of the frameless packs that carries the most weight comfortably, keeping the Kakwa for trips with kids and winter.
“My last 3-4 day trips in the mountains here in Norway I have gone over to the Wapta. Base weight is around 5,5 kg”
Sleeps badly cowboy camping and prefers a small enclosed shelter with room to sit up. Hiked most of the Arizona Trail section in question with an X-Mid Pro 1 and never had much trouble finding a spot to pitch it.
“I like the feeling of having a little home I can tuck into and get some privacy. So I'd bring the xmid with it's own inner so you have some space to sit up.”
Bought a Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra instead of going frameless: its frame is just thin carbon rods and the pack is lighter than many frameless packs.
Once their base weight reached 8 lb, found the Kakwa 40 uncomfortable and too large, oddly more comfortable with heavier loads, and moved to a frameless Pa'lante V2 they love.
“I went frameless when my base weight got down to 8 lb and I found my Kakwa 40 to be uncomfortable and too large for my needs. I weirdly found the pack more comfortable when loaded with more weight”
Spent three weeks on the Arizona Trail last November in cold, wet, windy weather with significant snow on the Sky Islands, using the Zpacks Pocket Tarp. Occasionally wished for something more enclosed but was fine overall.
“I was out on the AZT for three weeks last November and I got some pretty bad weather. It was cold, wet, windy, rainy and on the sky islands I experienced significant snowfall. I had the ZPacks Pocket Tarp”
Used the older XLite for years until it developed an untraceable leak, and Therm-a-Rest replaced it with the NXT under warranty. The thicker NXT gave them serious back pain, so they switched to a Sea to Summit pad they find more comfortable.
“Therm-a-rest replaced it with the new NXT (great customer service). But, there's something about the NXT that just doesn't agree with me. Gave me serious back pain. I think I like a thinner pad.”
Used their UltraLite on a three-day Mt Baker trip camping on snow in temperatures down to 20°F and had no issues with being cold.
Loves their MegaLite but considers it, like their other WM bags, comfort rated: comfortable to around freezing and starting to feel the cold below that.
Uses the SummerLite for spring and fall high-desert trips and an AlpinLite for summer alpine trips. Was borderline too cold in the SummerLite on a windy canyon rim near Escalante in early March in a tarp tent, so would not take it for winter desert trips.
“TBH, I have been borderline too cold in the SummerLite on an early March trip to Escalante/Glen Canyon on a windy canyon rim. I was also in a tarp tent, so didn't have ideal wind protection.”
Recommends Katabatic over Enlightened Equipment for a wide 20°F quilt and says their own Flex 22 has been awesome.
Owns an AstraLite and finds it great and really warm for its one-pound weight. The strap system is fine but nothing special, and the sizing is confusing: at 5'10" they just fit the 5'8" size. Later adds it was good around 28°F on an XLite with a fleece, as a colder-than-average sleeper.
“I've got an Astralite. It's great. Really warm for the weight (one pound flat!). Strap system is good, nothing special I guess. Their sizing is a little confusing”
Took the NEMO Tensor All-Season to Big Bend with friends; it seemed fine at home, but after the first night every friend in the nearby tents complained it was as loud as a bag of Doritos all night.
“After the first night sleeping in a group with our tents fairly close by to others I had all my buddies complain that my sleeping pad was so loud and sounded like a bag of doritos the entire night.”
Has pushed their NanoLite to about 30°F and found its 38°F rating spot on: that is exactly where they started getting cold in base layers.
Used the Palisade on the AT in 2016, where it was more than needed, and still picks it over their WM AstraLite for trips without freezing temperatures. Finds it snugs better with a better balance of feel, durability and breathability in the fabrics, and doesn't bother with the straps.
“For most trips where I don’t expect freezing temps I pick the palisade. It snugs better, and the fabrics seem a little better. Right balance of feel/durability/breathability. I don’t use the straps for either.”
Has spent a few shivery nights in their Alsek near its lower limit. Says the Katabatic closes well but still leaves a cold spot at the footbox, and learned that the warmest possible sleeping pad makes the biggest difference.
“Also something down to block the footbox hole is helpful. The Katabatic close well but you still get a cold spot down there when pushing the lower boundaries.”
Bought the X-Dome so as not to rely on stakes and really loves it so far; expected to miss two vestibules but the shape works well with all their gear inside. Chose aluminium poles for rough handling, and picked it over the Scarp for more space, no stakes needed and a lower price.
“I thought I would preffer the two vestibules over the strange shape but actually it works out pretty well and I like having all my stuff just with me.”
Kept rolling off the regular mummy XTherm NXT, which is under 50 cm wide around the hips, and switched to the wide version; blames the vertical air channels when a side sleeper's hip goes past the edge. Has no such problem on a similarly sized NEMO Tensor Elite.
“The regular mummy shaped one Xtherm NXT is less than 50 cm around the area where you hip typically will be. I was rolling off the side of mine.”
Has used a Tarptent Notch since 2017 and has rarely needed the heavier Scarp since; it is the go-to for solo trips longer than a weekend. Finds it great in wind, with a small footprint and very fast setup, keeping the Scarp only for midwinter trips that need more room.
“In 2017 I got a Tarptent Notch and I've rarely needed to use the Scarp since. The Notch covers most trips. It's great in the wind and has a small footprint and is very fast to setup.”
Has used the Lanshan 1 and several Durston tents in Scottish conditions and prefers the X-Mid 1 for multi-day walks. Likes the extra room over the Lanshan and the double wall despite the weight, packs the inner separately when the fly is wet, and finds it simple once the rectangle is pitched accurately.
“I prefer the Xmid 1 for multi day walks. I prefer the extra room over the Lanshan and I also prefer double skin tents even if there’s a weight penalty. At under 1kg it’s light enough for me.”
Runs a Durston fan community and says so; carries a bear can in the Kakwa 55 on most trips and finds it so comfortable they sometimes forget it is there. Has not loaded it past 32–33 lb, but says it does great at those weights.
“I can say that it’s quite comfortable carrying a bear can in the Kakwa 55 - I bring one on most trips and sometimes even keep it in the pack for day hikes unless I’m really cruising for speed.”
Really wants to love the Wapta with their dialled-in kit, but both times they took it out they had terrible pain in their trapezius muscles by the second day.
Has used the 70 L Arc Haul for three years without ever hearing the frame squeak, and says it carries like a dream.
Calls the Kakwa 40 their favourite pack so far, but once the load approaches 28–30 lb they can't stand it for more than 5–6 miles, so they advise heavier packers to get a stiffer, more padded pack first.
“My Kakwa 40 is my favorite pack I’ve had. Big fan. But as soon as I start approaching 28-30lbs I can’t stand it for more than 5-6 miles.”