What do you guys want to see from alter ego gear? we have 3 sizes frameless packs, a framed one coming, a cuben sul pack coming, tyvec 1443 rain gear, cuben bear bags, cuben dry bags, possibly a down anorak. what would you guys like to see? my goal for alter ego is to gear it more towards sul and xul as there doesn't seem to be a company specializing in sul and xul and gear that's not really out there that's what im passionate about. so thats what AEG is about

Nice to see you focusing on SUL/XUL. I agree we need more attention focused here. SUL is like the race cars of the automotive world....the good new ideas from SUL filter down to the UL crew.

Ideas? One idea would be to add some pictures to your website so we can see what all these great products look like.

What the SUL scene really needs is:

1) More shelter options in the sub 1 lbs catagory (not just tarps, more stuff like the hexamid but different)
2) A sleeping bag/quilt that incorporates a reflective layer (like the NeoAir or New Balance Fugu jacket) to add warmth so you need less down. A hybrid down/reflective bag could be a huge break through.
3) A nice hat (ie. fleece) with a small light headlamp sewn on.

" 3) A nice hat (ie. fleece) with a small light headlamp sewn on. "

Will that go through the washing machine?

--B.G.--

Hmm....I guess it would need to unless it was somehow removable. It would be fine if they disconnected. It would just be nice to have my headlamp connect to my beanie so I could leave the headlamp strap at home. To give credit where due, this is Mike C!'s idea.

Edited by dandydan on 10/21/2011 00:20:13 MDT.

I think the one area sul packs are somewhat lacking is the absence of a frame- 3-4 trips generally aren't a problem, but as you get into longer trips (or trips in very arid areas where water loads increase) the weight starts to add up

carbon fiber, delrin, hdpe sheets w/ channels, I'm sure there are more- all might make suitable frames- removable of course for those shorter trips :)

I would like to see more well-integrated systems of gear. Put together a set of stuff that is designed from the outset to work well together, to make it simple for people newly interested in UL/SUL to get started.

I think for many people, the most overwhelming part of the UL experience is the learning curve needed to pull a pack together, and the dozens of pieces of specialized gear it seems like you need to get from lots of different vendors, all cottage, all with the extra costs, shipping fees, etc, that go with that. Even if some of that means that you source (or get shipping/shopping agreements with) from other cottage gear manufacturers. I'd love a one-stop shopping to get a checklist of recommended gear that I know will work well together. I think the REI-crowd proves that there are a lot of people who have money to spend on hiking/camping and would spend that money going UL/SUL if it were easier to get started.

Also, a super-poncho-tarp would be high on my list. None of the existing poncho tarps I know of are larger than ~5'x9', which is pretty intimidating for a new tarp camper -- If you could develop a poncho tarp that intelligently folded/snapped the extra fabric, but spread out to be ~8'x10', you'd have a tarp that even a beginner could use in the field, and would ease the transition to SUL gear. It doesn't even have to be a rectangle. There's a video somewhere on youtube of the Equinox guy setting up an 8x10 tarp with four stakes and a single trekking pole, but it involves essentially wasting the corners. It might be possible to look at non-rectangular tarp formats that would work better as a poncho, but would also allow large protected areas for beginning tarp campers.

Another option would be to develop two poncho tarps that snap/zip/velcro together so that two people hiking together could easily use a pair of poncho tarps to create one larger shelter. Two 5x9 poncho tarps that suddenly became a 10x9 tarp would solve the problem with a lot of elegance and save a lot of weight, while still providing maximum protection.

I'd also like to see cheap ground cloths with bathtub-style edges. Sure, it's easy to do this yourself as a modification, but should also be really easy to do for people... 1" of bathtub around a groundsheet would make it far less likely for water to run or pool into your sleeping area, especially with the larger tarp above.



I want ultra-cheap SUL packs. All of us have reusable grocery bags we paid $0.99 for or got for free. Ikea sells giant blue bags for $0.69 that are lightweight and strong. Both of these types of bags are designed for repeat hauling of fairly heavy loads of groceries (certainly loads comparable/exceeding what we put in SUL packs), and these bags weigh only a few ounces. I can't see why someone hasn't created a reusable SUL pack using similar materials. Make it super simple, similar to the Zpacks Zero packs -- one large main body and shoulder straps. I can't see any reason why these couldn't be mass produced and sold for $5. Sure, they wont last for years of abuse, but for hikers that are just starting to go UL, this gets them there for $100 less than the cheapest other alternatives. If they like it, they can always spend more later, and get the same thing made out of cuben.

Sure, it's not going to last for years, but it would give people an easy inroad into ultralite hiking, and I'd bet the $5 version that is just a big pocket with shoulder straps could be sold to supermarkets and other stores, especially in urban settings.

Sell a $20 deluxe version that has all additional features: Simple side pockets, a large mesh pocket on the back for drying gear or for overflow gear. Wide straps with light foam in them and a very simple waist belt and sternum strap... A lot of true SULs who are careful with their gear would get one of these and use it for a long time.

There is no reason simple packs need to be $100+. Nothing exists in the $5 backpack category, and I just don't understand why, when grocery bags for less than a dollar have basically the same function and materials -- just need a little different configuration.

Anyway, lots more ideas, but those are at the top of my wish list.

always insightful... thanks for "adding" to the convo BG...lulz

> I want ultra-cheap SUL packs. All of us have reusable grocery bags we paid $0.99 for or got for free. Ikea sells giant blue bags for $0.69 that are lightweight and strong. Both of these types of bags are designed for repeat hauling of fairly heavy loads of groceries (certainly loads comparable/exceeding what we put in SUL packs), and these bags weigh only a few ounces. I can't see why someone hasn't created a reusable SUL pack using similar materials.

What a great idea!!! My IKEA bags will carry ANYTHING!

I may try this this weekend... Thanks!

Its slightly heavy for SUL but I would really like to see a fairly tough sub 1 lb. pack with a frame of some kind that could handle up to 30 pounds of gear. Something kind of like a MLD burn but with a frame.
This kind of pack would be great for thru-hikers who want to go light but they need the ability to occasionally carry lots of food or water. What I would have in mind woud be tall narrow pack with a U shaped frame of either aluminium or carbon fiber that attaches directly to the hipbelt.
I think a pack like this would be really cool but the market for it might be slow to develop and it might always be a niche pack since most SULs don't need a frame and other people may be okay with a few more ounces. For that reason I would be careful about investing too much time and money into the idea becuase it might not work or it might not sell well enough to justify your effort. On the other hand SUL pack with a frame and rugged enough for a through hike (i.e. not made of .33 oz cuban) could really put you on the map.

I tried to read all the replies so far, and I'm fairly new, but- any interest in a UL tarptent? I've seen myog examples (mini contrail-esque) at sub-1lb (Mr. Shortt!) and was wondering if there was anything out there for people who don't want 3 pieces (tarp/bivy/groundsheet) but want a real shelter. Not to mention everything is made for short people, all i want is a 90" floor! :P

Luke- I've seen quite a few threads where folks were inquiring about just such a pack, myself included- so yes probably a niche pack, but that niche might be broader than one thinks :)

Mike

I've wondered about a SUL pack "board", made of laminated carbon fiber or Kevlar with multiple slots for torso adjustment and others to attach Cuben bags. That would allow using different bag sizes and strapping on odd shaped equipment like tripods, CCF foam pads, BEAR CANS, etc. The old external frame packs were handy that way with a bag shorter than the frame and room for those odd bits.

The board could be very light, and make use of hollow tubes or channels to stiffen it. For 30-ish pound loads, it wouldn't need to be armor plating.

not SUL, but there are a couple of pack makers that have come up w/ some neat carbon pack frames for big game hunting

That is close to what I had in mind. Of course there is nothing new about pack boards, but using SUL principles, with straps and padding aimed at lither loads, the weight would come down fast.

I found a blog on that pack at http://kuiu.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/icon-carbon-fiber-frame/ . The bare frame is 13oz and think it could be much lighter than that if aimed at UL/SUL loads. It needs tubes or channels to stiffen it rather than the thick panel. It *is* pretty :)

Anyway, to stay on the thread, I would like to see a modular system based on a pack frame like this.

> That is close to what I had in mind. Of course there is nothing new about pack boards, but using SUL principles, with straps and padding aimed at lither loads, the weight would come down fast.

I found a blog on that pack at http://kuiu.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/icon-carbon-fiber-frame/ . The bare frame is 13oz and think it could be much lighter than that if aimed at UL/SUL loads. It needs tubes or channels to stiffen it rather than the thick panel. It *is* pretty :)

Anyway, to stay on the thread, I would like to see a modular system based on a pack frame like this.<

I would buy this in a New York Minute...

yeah- it definitely could be lightened, it's designed to handle loads of 70+ lbs (boned meat)- so dialing it back to loads of 30-ish lbs should yield significant weight savings :)

"2) A sleeping bag/quilt that incorporates a reflective layer (like the NeoAir or New Balance Fugu jacket) to add warmth so you need less down. A hybrid down/reflective bag could be a huge break through"

Do you think this would actually make that much of a difference? I am curious how much the reflective layer would make up for the loss of down. Augment it? Maybe slightly, I really wonder how much of a difference it makes. I know we are talking SUL here, but I never think to myself while I am in my bag, "You know, this entire experience would be so much nicer if I just had less down."

Less weight on backpack, sure. Slightly less shelter. No problem. But insulation seems to be the one thing I would want, only if the cost of heating yourself up via food to offset insulation loss is tremendous. Of course, I might be missing something here.

Dirk

Edited by dirk9827 on 10/22/2011 11:53:24 MDT.

I would love to produce a sul moduler carbon pack frame but unfortunately I don't have the r&d capabilities to do that I am however working on a 14-16 ounceish framed 35 liter pack

that'll do :)

"I am however working on a 14-16 ounceish framed 35 liter pack"

I hope you post here when it's ready.