How do you guys get to SUL? Do you end up just buying really expensive light equipment or do you just end up cutting something out of your gear list all together? What sort of things would you consider essential to your list that you can't go without? What would be a list of items needed to survive a multi day trip or even better a thru hike going SUL?

In midwest summer conditions and short trips, easy and inexpensive:
If at low altitude/balmy locale, nix sleeping bag.
If out of bug season, nix bug shelter/repellent.
If forecast favorable, nix shelter/rain gear.
In many cases, nix cook kit.
If plenty of water on route, nix treatment and carrying capacity.

Price for weight loss generally goes up as challenges increase and one cannot afford to skimp on certain "essentials." It is quite simple to go SUL on a midwest summer overnight with a just a pad, bivy, pack, dinner, breakfast, and water and clothing worn plus sundries. Elevation, seasons, length of trip, bear regulations, and other considerations increase the cost of SUL substantially, as to "afford" proper rain gear or shelter one might have to switch to cuben, or to cope with colder conditions one must bring more insulation. With my current gear and budget I could not hope to be happy (survivable vs. happy, note difference) on a weeklong SUL trip at 10K' with lows in the 20s (F); I would need to upgrade several major gear pieces to lighter and more expensive options.

I'll let the mountain folks, and those who have put more expensive gear and fabrics into the equation, speak from here.

SUL= mulipule use items and reducing the amount of items you have. If i'm not expecting rain or crazy thunderstorms no shell or shell pants, i just take a good dwr'd windshirt. lightest smallest tarp is under $175 and under 4oz. a zub 9oz 20liter pack is good. using your skills to select a warmer campsite is free for weight on the scale.

and i live in the northern rockies were sub 30F is possible everyday of the summer and happens quite often. as does snow and thundershowers

Edited by rcowman on 08/21/2011 23:08:10 MDT.

Start searching the forums for SUL gear lists. I learned a lot there.

This write up was the most accessible sub 5 gear list I have seen:
My first sub 5 trip!

Thru hike gear lists and references:

http://www.zpacks.com/about/pct_gear.shtml

http://www.zpacks.com/about/cdt_gear.shtml

Warner Springs Monty
http://www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/resources/mentors.asp
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=296588&back=1
http://gossamergear.com/wp/tribal/trail-ambassadors/warner-spring-monty
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6548967/Gear-List-2305-%28Warner-Springs%29-Monty-Tam-metam01earthlink
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lw_testimony_fun_goes_up.html
Krudmeister did the PCT in 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6KLYZ4-9U
http://krudmeister.blogspot.com/

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/profile.html?u=brian79

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=94570

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=39663

Edited by annapurna on 08/24/2011 23:25:27 MDT.

There are several SUL lists here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/user_gear_list_index.html

Here are a few samplings:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=1435

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/superultralight_grand_gulch_utah.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/superultralight_backpacking_hiking_sane.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/super_ultralight_cascades_sub_4_backpacking.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=13836

Can't find one of my favorites though

TonyMan

Awesome, thanks for the links. I have a lot of reading and research to do now :) I'm sure more questions will be coming once I read all of these when I get home from work.