I Tried ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING!!

I said I would NEVER do it, but I caved - I WENT ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING! Ultralight backpacking is backpacking with a base weight under 10 pounds, allowing you to hike further and faster. That means 10 pounds or less for all the gear you carry, outside of consumables like food, water, fuel, and the clothes you are wearing while you hike! Here's the thing - I have long been a skeptic of ultralight backpacking. I don't get the obsessive ounce counting, and I'll take a heavier pack in the 20 pound base weight range in order to enjoy more comforts on trail every time. But is it possible my skepticism about ultralight backpacking has been misplaced? Do the benefits of an ultra light backpacking kit outweigh the losses in comfort? Is the ounce counting obsession worth it? Am I about to become a snobby ultralight backpacker?! Watch to find out! In this video I'll show you my new ultralight backpacking kit, and my trip in Arizona's gorgeous Coconino National Forest! My first (and last?) time ultralight backpacking... Enjoy!
*This video was originally published on May 29, 2022 on REI’s Miranda in the Wild KZbin channel, which is now an independent channel you can find at / @mirandagoesoutside
Intro: 00:00
My ultralight backpacking gear loadout: 00:56
My ultralight backpacking trip: 3:41
The ultralight backpacking kit I use in this video:
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest Pack: www.rei.com/product/151847/hy...
REI Quarter Dome SL Tarp: www.rei.com/product/147861/re...
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove: www.rei.com/product/114890/ms...
Snow Peak Titanium Mug: www.rei.com/product/708071/sn...
Ursack Bear Sack: www.rei.com/product/109165/ur...
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Spork: www.rei.com/product/899045/se...
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter: www.rei.com/product/103050/sa...
REI Magma Trail Quilt: www.rei.com/product/148793/re...
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad: www.rei.com/product/172126/th...
Big Agnes TwisterCane Sit Pad: www.rei.com/product/187903/bi...
Swiss Army Classic Knife: www.rei.com/product/403028/sw...
First Aid Kit: www.rei.com/product/800721/ad...
BioLite HeadLamp 330: www.rei.com/product/143321/bi...
Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack: www.rei.com/product/882613/os...
Garmin inReach Mini: www.rei.com/product/140110/ga...
Backpacking apparel I use in this video -
Bra: www.rei.com/product/157131/be...
Hiking Shoes: www.rei.com/product/166582/al...
Rain Jacket: www.rei.com/product/127502/bl...
Insulated Jacket: www.rei.com/product/873098/mo...
Shorts (Jelly Shorts!): www.rei.com/product/185823/th...
Pants: www.rei.com/product/198720/at...
Camp Shoes: www.rei.com/product/131755/te...
Link to my lighterpack: lighterpack.com/r/z77di2
Miranda in the Wild is an REI Co-op Studios production!
Producer: Rainer Golden
Producer: Miranda Webster
Videographer: Abby Hagan
Editor: Abby Hagan
Technical Advisor: Joe Saksa
Like, Subscribe, Comment, and tune in weekly for more Miranda in the Wild!
#backpacking #ultralight #hiking #naturelovers #adventure #wanderlust #rei #mirandainthewild

[@rickclanton9507]

"I wonder if I should eat my heaviest meal on the fist night" may be the most UL thing I've ever heard. Welcome to the Light Side.

[@rebeccamueller8790]

That's just normal backpacking behavior I think?😊 I pack heavier stuff planning on eating it on the first day or two and I def am not ultralight by a long shot. It just makes sense. Kind of like preloading with water before leaving camp vs carrying that extra half a liter

[@KevinRStrauss]

I find the fewer items I carry the less I need to manage. It's like decluttering your house. Fewer items, less weight, less mental and physical load can make for a more enjoyable adventure. But we all need to carry what we feel comfortable and safe with. In my first backpacking trip ever I carried "7 Sources Of Light". I had backups for my backups. As I gained experience and confidence I've been able to reduce everything. Not to mention, just getting ready for a trip is so much easier and there's less to forget. Great job pushing your comfort zone!

[@rei]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and perspective, Kevin! Travelling with less, in every sense, definitely has its perks, but like so many things, getting to that lighter place can be a journey!

[@owjbehdobw4711]

There's a huge disparity between bringing 7 torches with you and trying to get your base weight under 10 lbs... Realizing you don't need 7 torches isn't an entry into ultralight backpacking lol.

[@KevinRStrauss]

Haha, indeed. But it's a start and you gotta start somewhere and that's where my journey began. 😉

[@bunkertons]

​@@owjbehdobw4711 It could be for some. Let us not gate keep.

[@Clay7Mac]

I do a 14 to 15 pound base weight with the same pack , adding a double wall tent, wide regular sleeping pad and comfy pillow. I feel like it's the perfect balance and weight.

[@Bdamazyn]

REI. The place where you spend $900 on 10lbs of gear.

[@roberttrinies7698]

Ultralight tents cost that much and more.

[@michael83479]

​@roberttrinies7698 the only one I can think of above that is the dcf big agnes tent. Otherwise even the zpacks duplex is less than that. And there's plenty of budget ones like lanshan tents and gossamer gear tents. Not everything UL is crazy expensive

[@davidhallet9269]

$900? You got away cheap!

[@Swearengen1980]

@@davidhallet9269 Especially if you're buying mediocre equipment from the severely overpriced REI store. I'd never spend a dime in there.

[@BE-bs8oe]

Euh, she juste took the p... out of us, everything is sponsors, no?! If not by them , then by us via utube... Si who's judgemental here? She can be Lucky to have no future backaches . That's what I wish for all backpackers. Hit the camino as light as possible. It will give you grace

[@lorim2000]

So glad you did this, I always recommend to people you don’t have to be ‘ultralight’ to still switch to some lighter gear and not carry so much weight - to feel comfortable on long hikes, no other reason needed ❤. If you have back issues, switching to lighter is going to change your life!

[@windeaglemartin1800]

I stay as light as possible cause I am 70 and need to take as much weight off my knees as possible. I would suggest a front strap bottle holder. I can’t reach bottles behind me either. I am a long distance hiker and have had reservoirs leak before. Also I add electrolytes to water and would not want that in my reservoir. I enjoy your videos. I love taking new people out. You remind me to be a little more light hearted about hiking. When doing long trails its easy to get into the mile mindset and forget to enjoy.

[@bevbarnard4282]

❤

[@melissalynn5949]

Miranda: I’ve already done 15 miles today, and I’m still feeling great! I think we’ll go another 5 or so miles Crew: 👁️👄👁️🎥

[@rei]

😆

[@BE-bs8oe]

Much less, its seems more lighthiking than lightweightpacking, no?

[@bfg1836]

Backpacking has two parts; walking and camping. It’s a trade off. If the walking is great due to UL, then the camping kind of sucks, and vice versa. A lot of it depends on how many miles you do in a day. 8 miles with 6 or 7 hours around camp before bed with an ultralight setup kinda sucks on the camping end. On the other hand, a 30 mile day with a 30 pound total weight load sucks on the walking end. That’s why I have two setups. An UL setup for putting in the miles trips, and an Osprey Aether for back country camping and fishing trips. I think I find the backcountry fishing trips more enjoyable. 5 to 10 miles of hiking, with 2 or 3 days of fishing by myself with all the comforts of home. 2 man trekking pole tent, 4 inch thick 25 inch wide Thermarest pad, extra battery bank to watch movies and read ebooks, tiny lantern with extra batteries, and a camp chair. It all still comes in at about 20 pounds, and I’m talking about full comfort boogie camping. On the other hand, my miles and miles setup is so minimalist that I carry it in a cheap 30 liter foldable daypack that weighs 11 ounces, and my summer base weight is about 7 pounds.

[@rei]

Walking and camping and determining your comfort trade offs, describes backpacking in a nutshell!

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

... Amen ... I should have read the comments before adding one ..

[@garrettbailey8980]

In my experience and desire to become a thru hiker/ultra light backpacker I’ve never looked at being sub any weight. Instead after every hike with traditional gear I’ve asked myself 2 things: -did I touch/use this item on this hike? If the answer is no, I don’t take it next time (with a couple exceptions) if the answer is yes I ask the next question: -can I be as comfortable on trail with a lighter version of this item? So my gear ends up an amalgamation of traditional and UL gear. It’s not the pursuit off a certain weight but a desire for my gear to work well and kinda synergize with me and my needs

[@rei]

These are very thoughtful questions. Thanks for sharing, Garrett!

[@bunkertons]

Freaking nailed it!

[@lspthrattan]

I'd recommend a clip-on bottle holder for your backpack strap, in the front. There are some on the market, or you could make one from nylon webbing or something; duck tape, even. To balance the weight, put the water bottle on the front on one side and snacks of the same weight on the other side. Or maybe bear spray on the other side; whatever works for your specific hike. Great video!

[@rei]

Thanks for the kudos, and the suggestion, Julia!

[@chiznowtch]

Two zip ties, a small carabiner and 8" of shock cord is a great solution...several vids out there. It's like 1$ of materials.

[@pennycarlson1943]

@@chiznowtch But wouldn't that have put it over the 10lb limit?😅

[@Jarrych83]

The flexible setup options for the tarp tent are pretty cool. Definitely a serious adjustment from a standard tent, but the options are certainly interesting for the drier seasons.

[@dee-here-now]

My kit is pretty similar! Z-packs makes a nice shoulder pouch that pairs well with the HMG backpack, which I use for my a smaller easy-reach water bottle. I either use a vitamin water bottle or a tiny Nalgene. The wider mouth is nice for mixing in drink powders. I refill that from the larger smart water bottles in the back. I used a quilt for years and was always cold. I recently switched to a Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag. I also have never used a tarp because I hate bugs! I opted for the Big Agnes Fly Creek instead. I know it's redundant to carry the poles, but it works for me. Cat food can alcohol stove saves me enough weight for an inflatable Sea to Summit pillow :)

[@commentsonthetube14]

I agree about the water bottles! There's a guy called "One bottle hydration" who makes adapters and hoses for water bottles. To be completely honest, I'm not saving a lot of weight once I add the hose and bring 2 1L bottles. It's about the same weight per L of capacity as a 3L CamelBak. Still lighter cause it's 2L, usually. But it does have some advantages. The bottles are way easier to work with around camp and drink from in your tent at night when compared to a bladder. Way easier to pour and such. And a lot of UL backpacks aren't really hydration compatible and it makes them usable. It is more fiddly to fill than the bladder though and it needs to be switched when you finish a bottle I use a cnoc vecto filter bag and a 4 foot length of silicone tube and a Sawyer squeeze to gravity filter into my bottles or bladder (depending on what backpack I bring).

[@kristisartori8476]

This is great, because its the backpacking trip I'm taking in July (my second ever) and I adore Miranda, and I'm overthinking ultralight products vs regular backpacking weight lol. I'm planning to be around 25lbs total weight, and part of that is getting to use my lightweight hammock and light down quilt, so actually seeing the land is helpful.

[@emarcano3211]

I stopped using bladders yeeeeears ago. Hard to tell how much water you have left (and conversely, how much you’ve taken in for sufficient hydration). Placing two water bottles on the front straps is the ticket. On long stretches you can do two in the front and two in the pack pockets. Balances the pack beautifully. Btw, I’ve gone from regular to UL and then all the way down to SUL (sub 5lbs…NOT comfy but it was fun putting thought into the process). Now I’m back to about 13-15lbs base. You can still have all the creature comforts at the near-UL range.

[@SophisticatedDogCat]

Same. I used to do a 20-lb. baseweight, then down to a 9-lb. baseweight, now I’m back to 11-12-lbs. which I’ve found has been perfect.

[@LynnStAubin-od5qe]

I use a piece of clear tubing that fits into a sport cap (flip top) water bottle. Works like a straw. I got it in plumbing section at the hardware store and cut it to length. Works great.

[@gabbette999]

Congrats on moving the comfort zone! I am at a base wright of 12.5 & I don''t use a quilt- I love my bag. The most useful UL habit I've picked up is backcountry bidet. I am on a mission to remove TP from a backpack entirely. It's cleaner, lighter, easier and way less gross.

[@leleprtk]

What is backcountry bidet?

[@EthanDurant]

@@leleprtk a bidet you can use in the backcountry. Mine screws onto my water bottle.

[@armanger6254]

if you are going to do ultralight BP and hammocking, you should watch some of Sean Emery (Shug)'s hammock camping videos! Been doing it for decades.

[@tiannagangloff4457]

You know your close when you're smelling each other's pits 🤣🤣🤣 You guys are the best. ♡

[@evbouret]

haha, setting up the tarp with the opening into the wind....funny stuff. Awesome vid

[@jamiecotter3041]

Recommend using a bivy as shelter (such as OR helium bivy)! Always used one when ultra-light or generally lighter base weight.

[@nicknickerson4674]

I have an OR alpine bivy I want to use... do u just pring a small poncho tarp for exit,entering in the rain?

[@JasperJanssen]

Depends on the temperature, surely? In summer an open tarp seems like a better bet.

[@11jwiese]

There are sleeves that can go on the pack straps and you can use those to hold your water bottle.

[@countrygirl63baker64]

Love your videos Miranda!! I've learned a ton, too! I just don't throw myself in a hiker "box" I just say I'm me with a pack! Try to go as lite as I can afford, take as little as I need and pray it's under 20! I guess I'm in the under 20 crowd! Happy trails Miranda!!!😊😅

[@jules1sd]

Might help with warmth by clipping the quilt to the cords on top of the sleeping pad rather than wrapping it completely around it.

[@jhobbz45]

This.

[@Lucario9d]

I like being somewhere in between regular and ultralight backpacking. I have many ultralight items, but a traditional pack and it works well for me.

[@noodlesthe1st]

lightweight backpacking is the term you're looking for. Typically 10-20lbs

[@iBChaLuPAking]

“Blah blah, Ultralight, blah blah, I’m better than you, blah blah blah” I NEED you to know how much I loved that comment 😂😭

[@85parrot]

i see ultralight backpacking as a way to cover more ground faster. you don't need stuff to do at camp because you're only there to eat and sleep, the rest of the day you're on the move, and keeping warm. If i was doing 7 or 8 miles i'd be taking everything for comfort, the weight doesn't matter much. if i'm going lightweight, i'm aiming to do 20-30 miles a day depending on terrain.

[@JasperJanssen]

Ah, that’s an excellent point. You’ve shed some light for me (and it tells me that, at least for now, I will not be ultralighting - even if I adopt *some* ultralight products.)

[@stigcc]

Right, if you are doing less than 10 miles a day, you are more in camp than on trail. Nothing wrong with that, of course

[@valerielinares2068]

You're in Arizona! I was wondering why those trees look familiar! It's my home state! I hope you enjoyed your backpacking trip here! 🙂

[@GoAheadandHike]

My brother and I thru hiked the 96 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail in February. My base weight was 21. Not bad right. Well, the last camp sight we had was 1 mile from a trail head we would pass driving out. So we stashed everything we didn't need for that last day in our compactor bags and hid them in the brush. Wow!!! We hiked so much faster and I was so much more comfortable. We did 26.6 miles that day, (after a wrong turn that added 6 mile. 😬). But that day 100% convinced me it was time to cut my pack weigh down. I don't think I'll ever be UL. But, my new base weight is 13 pounds. So huge difference in comfort while hiking. Thanks for your video. It was really fun to watch and see your experience.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. probably lucky it was there when you arrived .. risky but hey ,, it's only 1 more mile ...

[@Tser]

I absolutely adore the video by JupiterHikes, "When Two Ultralight Backpackers Meet". UL and conventional backpackers alike can get a laugh out of it. Justin Outdoors feels the same way you do about water bottles. Every review he does of his ultralight (and otherwise) packs include his commentary on whether the water bottles are easy to grab.

[@hunterbergen]

I'm convinced you have the COOLEST job 😍

[@legionnair23]

Full length pad, pillow and a front shoulder bag for a smaller water bottle. Also do an ultra light single wall tent. You will love life

[@OldNavajoTricks]

Bin the bidet thing, just hook your sawyer mini to your waterbottle and use that to sluice/rinse. Paper napkinettes to dry and they go in a ziplock either to burn or drop in a trailbin later.

[@bobbafett1971]

I'm at 12 pounds base. With fuel, long wide pad and a rei chair....osprey exos too. Sleep and tent will get you down low enough and still have a traditional pack. I won't go with ul packs for the discomfort. The tarp weights more then some dcf tents.....but you gotta pay.

[@jameshiggins-thomas9617]

You can hook up a hose with a smartwater bottle so it acts like a 1L bladder if you wanted. Better are packs that store the water bottle more accessibly (a lot of people use a shoulder-strap holder). Options for everyone! 🙂

[@wayneaune8430]

Thank You. So what does your backpack weigh with food and water? I put at least 1 bottle up front.

[@dongladstone2029]

Brilliant video, so refeshing! Just what is it about 'gnarley outdoor types' who feel, 'it's there way or no way'? Keep making the great video's Miranda!! 👍

[@christopheratkins9791]

not sure if it would be helpful for the ultralight experiment, but I like having a water bottle on a sling. it's quite a bit more convenient if you can get used to the bounce on your hip.

[@puma1304]

I agree with your concluding comments, although I am still not a fan of "lightweight" backpacking, at least not to the degree of a "purist"-"militant" one. Even so I see the benefit of carrying less weight and I guess I would begin with two items: backpack and sleeping bag BUT only if these items are at least as comfortable and functional as what I have used until now. I will give it a try, for sure.

[@kevinbing730]

For anyone with the same water issue I recommend getting a should strap pouch. Game changer.

[@roberttrinies7698]

I'm not an ultralight backpacker, but I'm also not a thru hiker covering hundreds or thousands of miles. It is cool learning how to travel lighter regardless of the miles travelled. ✌️

[@rei]

Agreed Robert! There are always tips and tricks to learn.

[@ambissing]

Are you wearing the Run Rabbit SPF hoodie? If so, I have it too and did R2R in October with it. Love it

[@HikeCalifornia]

One Bottle Hydration makes a tube system with a bite valve that converts any water bottle into a reservoir. 2.8 ounces well spent if you have T-Rex arms like me.

[@HouseOfZay]

"Fudge the meanies" should be on a shirt or sticker lol

[@ipedros7]

Enjoyed the video. It makes a point: kit must fit you, not you fit the kit. Perhaps minimalism has to be a little at a time. I'd still be bringing an extra mat (4 sections of a z-lite type to sit comfortably, or under sleeping pad to protect and up warmth), an extra cup (S2S X-mug) and a full toothbrush. On short walks a chair and even shockingly a coffee grinder :D All those ounces, but the non-flat rear and fresh coffee might well make up for it. Might come a little late tip, but might help someone. On the C shelter, at a cost of an extra guy line and a short peg, 5g+13g (or a makeshift peg or something to tie the guy to), use one to pull the centre of the tarp out and create some space inside. ATB.

[@tryagainjenn]

Haha we just did this trail last week and had the same reaction to that washed out road. 😅

[@tryagainjenn]

I took the tube from another hydration pack, poked a hole in the smart water bottle cap and shoved the tube through with an O-ring. Not perfect because I collapse the bottle some but so much easier without the hydration pack!

[@dc2090]

Is that pack loud, crunchy? are all UL packs? dyneema? vs others? quieter?

[@teddykennedy7053]

Try a mylar blanket with your sleeping kit. Try a 6 inch piece of paracord around your water bottle neck.

[@dirtycommtroop]

I only use a 35 liter pack but I don't consider myself an ultralight backpacker. I found that being more concerned with item size than weight allows me to maintain my desired level of comfort while keeping a small package. Doing this will more often than not end in a lighter pack overall.

[@MatoNupai]

Switch out the canister stove for an alcohol stove. I freaking LOVE alcohol stoves. Not as fast not as noisy but a lot less weight I designed a stove from the bottom of two aluminum cans 53 mm in diameter and weighs 6.9 grams alcohol stoves are great for stealth camping when you don't want to attract too much attention

[@henrypierce8010]

You should do a review of camp games.

[@philandminiphil]

Try loosening your straps so that your pack tilts back, you can now grab your water bottle take a drink, replace it in the side pocket re-tighten the straps and off you go, easy! I do it all the time.

[@sharondempsey9329]

Check out this adaption for your smart water bottle …that will help you leave it in your pack , but be able to drink on the move. Hydration System for 28mm for SmartWater Bottle adaptor by One Bottle Hydration

[@alexandraosborn7861]

Quick question! I’m going on my first backpacking trip this summer (I’m 16) and I’m debating whether or not to get a bear canister. I don’t have a ton of space (I have a 60L pack but I’m also carrying a 2 person tent by myself) and they’re kind of expensive so I was just considering getting reusable scent proof bags. I’m backpacking in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness on Lake Michigan and there’s a lot of wildlife but not many bears. Should I just buy the bear canister or go with the scent proof bags?

[@rei]

Hey Alexandra! Congratulations on your first backpacking trip this summer. It's sure to be memorable. So, if a bear canister is not specifically required but you still need to protect your food from bears and other wildlife, then a bear bag is a good choice. If bears aren't a concern at all, odor proof bags are fine. We've got more thoughts here: bit.ly/3kSAwFd

[@pyronymph-868]

There are hydration tubes that connect to smartwater bottles; best of both!

[@maddog8004]

I do UL to be able to average 20 miles a day 3 day trips seems to be the sweet spot for me and yes I Use water Container with a hose

[@SapientPearwood]

Excellent video, I really feel like I'm in a similar place as your starting point. I have backpacked a lot in a lot of different situations, but never ultralight. And while I really enjoyed the video, I think I still have a strong aversion to the ultralight mindset. Obviously lightweighting is at the heart of backpacking gear selection. But to go full engineering nerd for a second, I think ultralighting takes a complex and interesting optimization problem and just drastically overtunes for one parameter while sacrificimg everything else. That feels like the least nuanced, least interesting answer. For me, backpacking is a careful balance of safety, camp comfort, sleep comfort, hiking comfort, and enjoyment. I think ultralighting radically sacrifices 3 of those goals, and arguably sacrifices 4 of them, to maximize one of them. That said, I obviously don't understand ultralighting, so perhaps some ultralighters could explain the thought process.

[@Kirbysbelt]

You nailed it.

[@bunkertons]

Well said!

[@theLilyyFlower]

I'm somewhat of an ultralighter. I think the part that you're missing is that there are people that actually require much less to satisfy those 5 axes that you listed. It's like how some people are happier living a minimalist lifestyle. I don't think I'm sacrificing anything by: using a water bottle instead of a water bladder, using a down jacket as my pillow, using a minimalist backpack that is actually much more comfortable and simple to use than a traditional one, not bringing stuff sacks, etc. But everyone is different, and if these ARE sacrifices to you then of course you have experiment with that balance.

[@bennyoman8448]

nice an funny video… i also cant unterstand the sence of function before komfort😂 but, he i cant find in your list the cap on your head. which one is it? i like😁

[@NirvanicSunshine]

I think the primary problem is that you're limited to only gear that REI sells, and REI still doesn't outfit for ultralight. They have some things that qualify, but they're just not great in comparison to what's available in the broader market.

[@bass_squatch2780]

Have you checked out one bottle adapter for the smart bottle. Best of both worlds.

[@wildwolf8983]

Looking for a battery bank recommendation to charge my iPhone 14 max during hiking

[@dylanmenzies3973]

Make a diy resevoir - hole in bottle cap, rubber tube over shoulder.

[@Chris9446]

you should try an ultralight tent from durston or zpacks

[@micazim]

thanks your sharing

[@barba-blue]

REI thats my slang tonge being the name of your channel .pretty catchy

[@cyndijohnson5473]

Did you have an ultralight backpack? What did it weigh?

[@sasuke1243]

I know MyLifeOutside uses a waterbottle to camel pouch-drink tube? You use the waterbottle in the bottle pocket, but you still have the drinking straw!! I wanna try it and thought id share incase not many peeps have heard of it.

[@papajeff5486]

Been a tarp guy a long time, 45 years. Thing about a tarp, compared to a tent, choice of site is more important. With a tarp you must protect yourself with the terrain, trees and bushes. With a tent, almost any flat space is adequate.

[@KYLEFUCKINGMILLER]

1/4 poly hose and a drill bit from hardware stoee and you will have a 0.5 oz drinking tube for your smart water bottle!

[@toadevergreen2561]

I hiked the pct with a hydration bladder. Hydration bladder squad for life

[@austinnestle4038]

The Daily mileage you said is like 2 hours of walking. I’m confused

[@Katinwater]

What hot sauce do you use 😂 Thanks! Love your videos. ❤❤

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

Why do you put your sleeping pad inside your quilt? If you put it underneath you would have quilt under you, above the sleep pad.

[@rayhill8283]

Take one opposite arm out. The reach for bottle will be easy!😮

[@TakeAHikeToday]

Curious what your total pack weight is ? I’m a newbie and trying to get a better understanding of base weight vs total

[@HeyItsPM]

i believe she said 9.8lbs

[@TakeAHikeToday]

@@HeyItsPM ..thanks, i could not remember if that was her base weight or total pack weight.

[@rei]

Hello! PM is correct. Miranda's total weight was 9.8 pounds (3:36). Base weight is how much your loaded pack weighs, minus “consumables,” such as food, water and fuel. See more here: bit.ly/3WnmA5U

[@TakeAHikeToday]

@@rei thank you! That is crazy low weight. Currently my base weight is 12 and around 17 total! I’ve got work to do!

[@rei]

You're welcome! As you continue to explore UL backpacking you'll learn what works for you (and your kit) and what doesn't.

[@thomashorkavi5617]

What’s that hat you’re wearing with the elastic band?

[@georgeenglish9265]

REI couldn’t hook you up with a regular UL tent?

[@XA1985]

What type of sleep system do you used for ultra light?

[@ittotaq]

In this video thermarest xlite pad, quarterdome sl2 tarp, looks like she used a magma 30 for her quilt.

[@Zaxxon95]

What is the brand of the hat you are wearing!?

[@butter2099]

Not at all a backpacker tho it's been fun watching this. Why those water bottles specifically? I love my Vapur bottle for travel since it also rolls up. Haven't had it tear yet and only replaced when i left water in it for too long and the cap got moldy.

[@scottplumer3668]

Smart Water bottles attach to the Sawyer Squeeze water filter.

[@stevethirdcitymo6527]

Zpacks shoulder strap bottle holder will fix your smart water bottle issues.

[@jacobwyn]

What ball cap is she wearing? Looks light and breathable... I want one!

[@RoaldMunoz]

maybe you already found out, but it's a parapack p-cap :)

[@AngeloBracht]

What was the full weight of the pack including consumables?

[@rei]

Miranda's loaded backpack was 9.8 pounds. She discusses her thoughts about that weight here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4m8ioGpmrKVoqM

[@marcushillerstrom25]

Shouldn’t ultralight be a different number depending on your size? Like a % of body weight or something?

[@3nertia]

Miranda seems to feel exactly as I do about water bottles and most backpacks' inability to provide easy access to them >_>

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

,, There are pouches made for hip belts and shoulder straps ,, don't have to use the pack pockets ..

[@3nertia]

@@rockytopwrangler2069 Not all of us walk for recreation though 😅

[@District.24]

LOL. Welcome to ultralight backpacking.

[@happilysmpl]

I just realised that tarp is not for me. Tent enclosed and safer feeling. Warmer too

[@noodlesthe1st]

So do trekking poles not count as base weight?

[@BonaFideWildLife]

It's considered worn weight.

[@HikeRx]

You need a shoulder water bottle holder.

[@johnspaans1132]

I find the correct weight to carry is the weight you feel comfortable with, you should not get too booged down with numbers

[@simonwinwood]

❤

[@owenfrieden3706]

This is the most REI video of all time

[@bass_squatch2780]

I wasn't ultralight until a back injury and my refusal to stop backpacking. Went from always having 38+ lbs to a 10lb base weight. It's a necessity for me. And No I'm not better than anyone else outhere. Just be comfortable.

[@denisedevaughn544]

I broke my back 3 years ago. I was going to try back packing in October. Rented a tent and back back from REI. My son laughed at joe much stuff I thought I would bring. The pack ended up weighing 34 pounds. I put it on and almost fell over backwards. Didn’t happen. Gonna try again and getting my stuff together. Still need to work up to weight and a actual solo night. I car camp and I’m spoiled.

[@babyblueluvu347]

Anyone else notice that the whistle on her strap is upside down?

[@maplehouseknives]

To each their own I guess. I gladly schlep a few extra pounds for creature comforts like a coffee grinder and Platypus bottles w/wine. Greetings from Germany 👍

[@alanm9695]

Miranda: I know this is really late but I have heard that if you put the bottom part of your sleeping bag into your pack while sleeping it will help keep you warmer...not that I have tried it.

[@johnsmith-jk9ol]

Open end of tarp should have faced away from wind direction and not into it

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. also , set up tarp/camp in the protection of trees instead of out in the clearings ..

[@titaniumfitness4629]

I drink way more with my water bladder than any plastic bottle. I'm still working on that. Cause water is so freaking heavy

[@Casual_BackPacking]

try different UL gear also , UL doesnt have to be missurable