It is hard to believe that we are halfway through 2020, a unique year to say the least! We continue to spend time in our beloved backcountry and now that the high elevation passes have thawed out, we are connecting even more trails for long distance adventures.
Heck we even had one staff member connect 6 mountain passes above 12,000ft in a single day! When you are racking up the miles, you tend to notice and care about the weight of your gear a bit more.
In this month’s Gear Report we’ll be highlighting our favorite ultralight tent, packs, and sleeping bags of 2020.
MSR - Freelite 2
Ultralight Backpacking Tent
As day-hikes turn into overnight trips and then multi-day backpacking affairs, a high quality and lightweight tent is a must.
The Freelite 2 is the lightest semi-freestanding tent MSR makes, coming in at 2 lbs and 8oz. Even more impressive is the 29sq feet of livable floor space inside. While many ‘2 person’ tents require a head-to-toe human burrito configuration, the Freelite 2 allows for both occupants to comfortably sleep shoulder to shoulder.
A 2 Person / Single Pole Assembly Tent - simple and stress free!
The tent of choice for Head Gear Testers Bob and Ruth Wade!
Another huge perk is the simplicity in setting up this tent. Gone are the days of ending relationships over setting up camp. The Freelite 2 uses a single assembly pole with two hubs for the tent body and rainfly. Break down is equally simple and the entire tent packs away into a convenient 18” x 6" bag.
Granite Gear - Crown2 60 Osprey - Exos / Eja 48
Ultralight Backpacks
Your backpack is an easy place to start when counting grams and trying to lighten your overall kit. Granite Gear and Osprey offer great ultralight backpacks that shed weight, but still provide the comfort and essential features.
Both coming in well under 3lbs, the Granite Gear - Crown2 60 and the Osprey - Exos / Eja 48 are two ultralight backpacks with different focuses.
The Granite Gear - Crown2 60
Perfect for the Colorado high country.
The Granite Gear - Crown2 60 places an emphasis on customization and weight reduction. The top lid, adjustable hip belt, and back frame sheet can all be removed to drop the pack to a featherlight 1.4lbs! Doing so will come with a slight comfort penalty, but it’s a nice option to have for weight conscious users seeking versatility.
Although simple in appearance, the compression molded polypropelene frame sheet has some serious tech inside.
Full sized hip pockets on an ultralight backpack are a rare, but welcomed sight.
Large side dump pockets with compression straps hold all your favorite trail snacks and hydration.
The Osprey - Exos and Eja (women’s specific version) 48 approach the ultralight pack category with a focus on comfort and convenience. A favorite with long distance and thru-hikers, this pack has earned it’s reputation on iconic trails such as the Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trail.
The Osprey Exos - 48
At the heart of the pack’s design is the Airspeed Suspension frame. A 4mm lightwire alloy frame is combined with a 3D-tensioned breathable mesh back panel to create a suspension design that is soft to the touch, but supportive when loaded. Best of all, the mesh and airspace allow for incredible ventilation along the user’s back.
Other details like a large front stretch mesh pocket, dual access side pockets, and even a quick access trekking pole attachment mean your most used gear is always available.
The Airspeed Suspension design offers a unique and pleasant feel.
Hikers in variable terrain will love the ability to stow and deploy their trekking poles with out taking off the pack.
Sea to Summit - Spark and Flame
Ultralight Sleeping Bags
As we’ve seen with our tent and pack selection, ultralight doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable. The same is true of sleeping bags and the Sea to Summit - Spark / Flame (women’s specific) is a great example of that.
The Spark / Flame series of bags use Ultra-Dry Down 850+, a premium quality goose down that has been given a hydrophobic treatment to help repel water and dry faster than non-treated down.
This high quality down also means serious weight-to-warmth ratios. The full mummy shaped Spark 28F degree bag in a size regular comes in at a wild 1lb 1.3oz! It will also compress down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle.
The 850 fill goose down lofts beautifully!
High quality down will pack down to incredibly small sizes.
We hope these recommendations help lighten your backpacking load. What are some of your favourite pieces of ultralight gear? We’d love to hear!
As always - we invite you to get a hands on look at these and all our gear recommendations in the store.
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