Backpacking Light Magazine

Backpacking Light Magazine http://www.backpackinglight.com/ Latest news, views, and reviews about lightweight hiking and backpacking from BackpackingLight.com, the website of Backpacking Light Magazine. en Copyright 2001-2010 Beartooth Media, Inc. BackpackingLight Magazine http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bplcomlogonew.gif http://www.backpackinglight.com BackpackingLight Magazine (M) Crazy for Quilts â€“ How Quilts Became My Sleep System of Choice, PLUS A Review of My Favorite, the Stateless Society Custom Quilt http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/crazy_quilts_stateless_society_custom_quilt_review.html <blockquote>Take a walk through the backpacking addicted mind of Ray as he explains his journey to custom quilts, and read a review of his favorite model, a 14-ounce beauty made by fellow BPL-er Javan Dempsey.</blockquote> by Ray Estrella | 2012-02-07 Let me take a moment to explain the reasons and route I took to get to quilts for backpacking. I am a toss-and-turn side-sleeper. It is almost impossible for me to sleep on my back, as it is very uncomfortable and causes me to snore (which then wakes me up). Way back (early 80s), my favorite three-season bag was a Sierra Designs semi-rectangular bag that I used above 40 F / 4 C. I used a TNF Cat's Meow bag down to 30 F / -1 C, and at the time I did not backpack in temps lower than that. After my travel on the hilly Road of Life, I found myself in a great job situation and a state of lessened family responsibilities. So I jumped hard back into backpacking, extending it to winter and eventually mountaineering too. I made the move to 100% down for my sleeping bags and started discovering how to cut weight and volume with better gear (much to the delight of REI and its ilk). My only problem came in the sleeping department. The warmest bags were (and still are) mummy bags, which are made to be slept in on one's back. But many of the best and lightest bags (750 fill being top-end at the time) used variable fill schemes with less down on the back/bottom, as the pad provides much of the insulation there anyway. For side sleeping I could roll the bag with me and have a cold back, or turn inside the bag and suffocate in the hood. I went through a period of using Big Agnes integrated bags, as their larger cuts were very comfortable, and I really liked the idea of just doing away with the bottom fill of the bag to save weight. The hood was still pretty much useless for me, and much of a bag's rating comes from being able to seal the bag. Plus as I kept working towards the Light(weight Holy Grail, that is) the bigger styles were too heavy, and their higher quality fill bags were too tight for side sleeping, as they pulled tight against the shoulders and hip since they were locked to the pad. Back in 2003 I had purchased Mukluks for winter backpacking from Nunatak USA and saw Tom's line of Arc quilts. While they intrigued me, I just could not justify the price for something I may not even have liked, so they just stayed in the back of my mind. Then GoLite came out with the Ultra 20, which I found on sale, so I gave it a try. While the Ultra 20 did not perform up to its rating for me, the comfort of a true quilt blew me away. Eureka! (I must say that the latest quilts from GoLite are much better than the first generation. I bought both my children UltraLite 3s, as they like quilts too.) I bought my first custom quilt soon after, a mostly stock Arc Alpinist with an Epic footbox to prevent a wet foot. That worked so well, with such low weight and and low volume for the amount of warmth and comfort, that I took the plunge, selling every sleeping bag I owned (I lived in two states and had bags in both) with a rating warmer than 0 F / -18 C (sold one of them, too) to finance the purchase of two more quilts with a bit more customization. Once I got them, I haven't used a sleeping bag again outside of deep winter or testing commitments. You could say that I am hooked. I have now spent many nights below freezing with my quilts - even down to 0 F / -18 C, and I may get lower this winter. Once I get below freezing, I do like to use straps to keep the quilt wrapped around my body and to keep openings from bleeding off my precious heat. A high R-value pad is imperative, and I find a wider one helps a lot to keep the quilt in place with my bent-leg style. I also use a down balaclava with my cold weather quilts to keep my head as warm as the rest of me. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Why a Quilt?</li> <li> Retail vs. Custom</li> <li> Specifications</li> <li> Product Description</li> <li> Field Testing</li> <li> Observations</li> <li> Dare to Compare</li> <li> Conclusion</li> </ul> # WORDS: 2730 # PHOTOS: 5 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/crazy-quilts-stateless-society-custom-quilt-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/crazy_quilts_stateless_society_custom_quilt_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST (M) Backpacking and Hiking with an Umbrella http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/backpacking_and_hiking_with_an_umbrella.html <blockquote>Francis is an umbrella advocate, eschewing typical rainwear. Find out why he's backpacked over 12,500 miles with an umbrella... and decide if you should follow his lead.</blockquote> by Francis Tapon | 2012-02-07 When I'm backpacking, hikers often ask, "Why are you carrying an umbrella?" An umbrella seems out-of-place in the wilderness. It's for city folk, not for macho backpackers. However, hiking with an umbrella is not as foolish as it looks. I've used umbrellas on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. Umbrellas have also protected me during my treks across Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula jungle, Slovakia's Tatra Mountains, and Ukraine's tallest peak. In addition, they've served me well during my thru-hike across the Pyrenees and El Camino Santiago. I've used rain jackets, but in general, I find an umbrella superior. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Rain Protection</li> <li> Sun Protection</li> <li> Other Umbrella Uses </li> <li> Don't you need a jacket anyway?</li> <li> Do your arms get tired holding the umbrella? </li> <li> What about fixing the umbrella to your backpack so you don't have to hold it?</li> <li> What about umbrellas with reflective canopies?</li> <li> If umbrellas are so great, why don't people use them more often?</li> <li> Don't umbrellas break?</li> <li> How do you deal with powerful wind-driven rain? </li> <li> When shouldn't you use an umbrella? </li> <li> Should you ever have a rain jacket AND an umbrella?</li> <li> Conclusion</li> </ul> # WORDS: 3340 # PHOTOS: 12 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/backpacking-and-hiking-with-an-umbrella-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/backpacking_and_hiking_with_an_umbrella.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST (M) Storm Resistance of Ultralight Shelters: Part 1, Introduction http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/storm_resistance_ultralight_shelters_part_1_intro.html <blockquote>Evaluating the wind and snow loading of shelters for ultralight backpacking in inclement conditions.</blockquote> by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-31 This article introduces a new long term initiative at Backpacking Light: to analyze existing standards of design, manufacturing, and materials of ultralight shelters and relate these standards to observed performance in response to adverse environmental conditions. Shelters of interest to the ultralight backpacking community may be characterized by one or more of the following attributes: <ol> <li>The use of lightweight fabrics to save weight;</li> <li>The use of construction techniques that are less reinforced to save weight;</li> <li>The use of construction techniques that are less sophisticated due to the lack of availability of commercial equipment, the desire to minimize labor costs, or design and/or manufacturing inexperience.</li> <li>The use of minimal structure (e.g., pole supports) to save weight and increase simplicity.</li> </ol> The combination of these factors results in a product market that is challenging to analyze, because of the wide variability in materials, style, design, and manufacturing quality. In addition, because most of these products are sold direct via the websites of cottage manufacturers, the consumer doesn't have the ability to carefully inspect the products prior to purchase. Finally, as the trend towards ultralight backpacking continues to expand, users are either trying to extend their ultralight shelters into "shoulder seasons" and even winter, or they desire to add another ultralight shelter to their inventory to handle stormy conditions that may challenge a shelter's design. The two primary storm conditions we are interested in include snow loading and wind resistance. Thus, we embark on a new journey to investigate the storm resistance of ultralight shelters. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Modes of Failure</li> <li> Design Considerations</li> <li> Snow Loading</li> <li> Wind Loading</li> <li> Failure Limitation Hypothesis: It's All About the Fabric <ul compact> <li> Inadequate Staking</li> <li> Pole Breakage</li> <li> Seam Failure</li> <li> Fabric Panel Failure</li> </ul> <li> Designing for Fabric Panel Tension</li> <li> Testing Methodology</li> <li> Summary</li> </ul> # WORDS: 4290 # PHOTOS: 7 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/storm-resistance-ultralight-shelters-part-1-intro-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/storm_resistance_ultralight_shelters_part_1_intro.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Technology/Science, Theory & Math/index.html'>Science, Theory & Math</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Technology/index.html'>Technology</a> 31 Jan 2012 00:10:00 MST (M) Deep Freeze: A Cold, Hard Look at Winter Stoves http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/deep_freeze_cold_hard_look_at_winter_stoves.html <blockquote>Investigating the lightest-weight options on the market and assessing ease-of-use, reliability, fuel efficiency, and time to boil.</blockquote> by Brad Groves | 2012-01-31 Little problems during a winter trip can be a lot more serious than the same problems in summer. There's not as much room for error in winter, and it's not the time for marginal gear. If your body isn't producing (or your insulation isn't trapping) enough heat, you need a source of external heat. You also need that heat for melting snow or ice for water, cooking up some meals, as a general source of cheer... A winter stove needs to work in deep cold, and it needs to be dead reliable. The purpose of this report is to investigate the lightest-weight options on the market and assess ease-of-use, reliability, fuel efficiency, and time to boil, along with other factors. Although we all know winter as "the cold season," "cold" is relative. January in Los Angeles averages around 60 F, while over in Duluth it's averaging around 0 F. For our purposes, then, note that we conceptualized winter as having low temperatures ranging from -20 F to 20 F. We set out to objectively test the lightest stoves marketed or conceived as "winter stoves." Although primarily a state of the market report on ultralight white gas stoves, remote and upright canister stoves were tested alongside the white gas models. You might be surprised by some of the results! ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> The Methods to the Madness</li> <li> The Results <ul compact> <li> Primus Express Lander <li> Lighting Up</li> <li> Soto Muka <li> Lighting Up</li> <li> MSR SimmerLite <li> Lighting Up</li> <li> MSR WindPro <li> Lighting Up</li> <li> MSR Reactor <li> Lighting Up</li> </ul> <li> Conclusions</li> </ul> # WORDS: 6210 # PHOTOS: 10 # VIDEOS: 18 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/deep-freeze-cold-hard-look-at-winter-stoves-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/deep_freeze_cold_hard_look_at_winter_stoves.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/State of the Market Reports/index.html'>State of the Market Reports</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST (M) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mld_trailstar_review.html <blockquote>Simplicity and strength in an all-season shelter.</blockquote> by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-24 The 17-ounce (482-g) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar claims to be the "first shaped tarp with five low-angle sides and no doors that combines the performance of a traditional pyramid shelter with the open and multi-function pitching of a tarp" (manufacturer website on December 20, 2011). The primary purpose of this review is to push the TrailStar to its performance limits and find out under what scenarios this and other manufacturer claims start to break down. My first experience with the TrailStar came in the midst of the coldest weather Montana has seen thus far this winter season - a few days where mountain lows dipped below 0F (-18C) and nightly snowfall ranged from a few inches to more than six inches (~5 cm to over 15 cm) per night. I first camped with the TrailStar during this spell on Big Creek in the Gallatin National Forest, west of Emigrant, Montana, where temperatures were low (-1F to +1F / -18C to -17C) overnight lows), snowfall was minor (less than 6.0 in / 15 cm per night of low-density snow), and wind was nonexistent. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Part 1: Preview</li> <li> Summary of Initial Perceptions <ul compact> <li> Pitching</li> <li> Snow-Loading</li> <li> Usability</li> </ul> <li> First Impressions</li> <li> What's Next?</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1290 # PHOTOS: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/mld-trailstar-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mld_trailstar_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 24 Jan 2012 00:10:00 MST (M) Clikstand T-2 Alcohol Stove System Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/clikstand_t2_review.html <blockquote>Can 100% titanium justify the price tag?</blockquote> by David Chenault | 2012-01-24 Alcohol stoves have long been a standard of contemporary ultralight backpackers. Their virtues are well documented. They can be somewhat to extraordinarily lightweight, typically have no moving parts to break, clog, or otherwise misfire, fuel is cheap and easy to purchase, they are silent while operating, and so forth. Aside from cold temperatures, the case for the utility of alcohol stoves need not be made. What might need some justification is an alcohol stove system that costs $127.00 and doesn't even include a pot. Considering the popularity of alcohol stoves for ultralight backpackers was built upon the backs of tuna can stoves, which were in essence free, there better be a good reason for such a tony unit. In the case of the Clikstand T-2, there may be reasons to consider dropping that kind of coin on a stove with no moving parts. First, consider that this is the same design which, way back in 2005, was one of <a href="http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/clikstand_s1_alcohol_stove_review.html" target="_blank">the best stoves Will Rietveld tested</a>. The T-2 is virtually identical, with the virtues unchanged: excellent stability, easy to use, compact, and excellent wind protection. The T-2 however, goes to 11. It is, you guessed it, made 100% of titanium, and thus lighter and better in every way. The Clikstand T-2 stacks up with leading edge alcohol stove systems fairly well in boil time and weight, and boasts unrivaled versatility. The wide range of possible uses may not appeal to all users, however. The Clikstand is indeed a system, and must be evaluated as such. I tested what Clikstand calls their Sierra Titanium combo, which consists of an Evernew titanium alcohol burner, ti Clikstand pot stand, ti foil windscreen, and burner adapter. The ti burner is Evernew's lightweight version of the classic Trangia burner, a time-tested and powerful design. The Clikstand itself is the centerpiece of the system and consists of a triangular, four-piece stand which snaps together with authority. It cradles the burner an optimum distance from the pot, serves as a stable, broad based pot stand, provides a rest for the foil windscreen, and serves as the second layer of defense against the wind. The whole thing is quick and easy to assemble or disassemble and fits together well as a unit. Calling the windscreen "foil" is a bit of a misnomer, as the ti is quite sturdy. The windscreen has a few bends built into it that allow it to hook together at two different widths, to best suit different pots. It then rests on hooks built into the stand. The burner adapter is a pentagonal bit of wire intended to give the Evernew burner better purchase inside the stand. The burner is only just wide enough to sit inside the stand, though my sample was stable enough, and I never found the adapter necessary. The whole thing goes together emphatically and inspires confidence. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Comparison and Assessment</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1110 # PHOTOS: 2 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/clikstand-t2-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/clikstand_t2_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST (M) Nemo Obi Elite 1P Tent Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nemo_obi_elite1_review.html <blockquote>Nemo becomes a serious player in the ultralight tent category. The Obi Elite 1P is a cutting edge one-person double-wall tent that matches the weight and roominess of many single-wall tents.</blockquote> by Will Rietveld | 2012-01-17 The Obi Elite 1P is Nemo's lightest tent construction yet, and it sets a new standard for lightweight double-wall tents with 10 denier nylon fly and interior fabrics and weight-saving design. The minimum weight of this one-person double-wall tent is right at 2 pounds (0.91 kg) measured weight, which matches the weight of many poled single-wall tents (single-wall tents that utilize trekking poles for support are lighter). We have reviewed quite a few new ultralight tents in the past, only to find their weight reduction was accomplished by making the tent smaller; so does the new Nemo Obi Elite 1P really stand out or not? ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Specifications</li> <li> Design and Features</li> <li> Performance</li> <li> Comparisons</li> <li> Assessment</li> </ul> # WORDS: 2100 # PHOTOS: 11 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/nemo-obi-elite1-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/nemo_obi_elite1_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 17 Jan 2012 00:10:00 MST (M) Prospects for 2012: New and Noteworthy Gear http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2012_prospects_new_and_noteworthy_gear.html <blockquote>News from the cottage industry is conspicuously absent from Outdoor Retailer, where even modest booths can be more costly than a serious gear-buying habit. So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season! </blockquote> by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-17 As we enter a new year, we can't help but wonder when winter will release its grip, and we can once again replace our titanium crampons with zero drop shoes and leave the handwarmers at home as we begin the process of planning trips for the coming year. With that trip planning comes a twinge of excitement, perhaps, for what new gear will be released this year, starting with this coming week's announcements from the Outdoor Retailer Show. Unfortunately, missing from Outdoor Retailer (and rightfully so, considering the massive costs of renting a booth) is news from the cottage industry. So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Summary</li> </ul> # WORDS: 2600 # PHOTOS: 13 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/2012-prospects-new-and-noteworthy-gear-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2012_prospects_new_and_noteworthy_gear.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Trends/Trend Reports/index.html'>Trend Reports</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Trends/index.html'>Trends</a> 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST Ultralight Tip of the Week http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mike_clelland_weekly_tip.html <blockquote>Rotating feature with tips and illustrations from Mike Clelland!'s new book: Ultralight Backpackin' Tips</blockquote> by Mike Clelland! | 2012-01-13 ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> </ul> # WORDS: 240 # PHOTOS: 1 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/mike-clelland-weekly-tip-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mike_clelland_weekly_tip.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Techniques/Techniques & Best Practices/index.html'>Techniques & Best Practices</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Techniques/index.html'>Techniques</a> 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 MST (M) Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter / Expedition Pack Review http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hyperlite_mountain_gear_porter_pack_review.html <blockquote>Durable lightweight packs that can carry a larger volume (and higher weight) expedition kit.</blockquote> by Chris Wallace and Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-10 Some ultralight backpackers have developed an unquenchable fetish for packs that are measured in ounces, seemingly with no regard at all to what the pack has offered with respect to durability, comfort, or aesthetic design. Small manufacturers continue to feed this small market. The market for such packs may exist for several reasons. Perhaps some users are overly simplistic about their gear requirements, and they only desire to meet some arbitrary weight specification (e.g., "I know this guy..." - ahem). Perhaps some customers lack sufficient education and experience about lightweight backpacking and assume that lighter is always better. Others might be living out their narcissistic tendencies (c'mon, you know we all have them) on the internet by drawing attention to our gear lists and the latest and greatest gear that they own and you don't. Maybe some hikers just don't carry that much weight - ever - and thus never have an opportunity to tax their backpack. Regardless, a market for "SUL" gear remains, however small or large it is. What this really means is that there may be significant opportunity to design gear based on ultralight principles at a much higher standard of performance, for only a little bit of extra weight. We believe that the Porter and Expedition packs are targeting this objective. The new Porter and Expedition are the latest pack offerings from Hyperlite Mountain Gear. They are built using the same Cuben Fiber/Nylon hybrid material as the their other packs. Both models have been designed with additional padding in the shoulder straps and hipbelt, as well as stiffer aluminum stays compared to the smaller Windrider. The packs have also been built without external pockets on the body or hipbelt in favor of more modular daisy chains. This allows the user to attach their own pockets or lash on gear as necessary, and in order to maintain the pack body's high water resistance, the interior face of the daisy chains has been taped. The difference between the Porter and the Expedition is their respective volumes. The Porter swallows up 3400 cu in of gear while the Expedition adds a longer extension collar and more circumference in order to hold 4400 cu in. ARTICLE OUTLINE <ul compact> <li> Preface</li> <li> Introduction</li> <li> Specifications</li> <li> Description</li> <li> Performance</li> <li> Comparisons <ul compact> <li> Hyperlite Mountain Gear Packs</li> <li> Similar Packs</li> </ul> <li> Assessment <ul compact> <li> What's Good</li> <li> What's Not So Good</li> <li> Recommendations For Improvement</li> </ul> <li> Conclusion</li> <li> Rolling Review</li> </ul> # WORDS: 1440 # PHOTOS: 4 <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/thumb/hyperlite-mountain-gear-porter-pack-review-tn.jpg' align='right'> <img src='http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/bullet-arrow-red-small.gif'><a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hyperlite_mountain_gear_porter_pack_review.html'> Read this article at BackpackingLight.com</a>View All: <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/sf/Gear/Reviews/index.html'>Reviews</a> &gt; <a href='http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/s/Gear/index.html'>Gear</a> 10 Jan 2012 00:05:00 MST