These philosophical questions are always too difficult for me. I content myself in knowing that I am NOT an ultralighter. Remember, not even the simple electron knows where it is and where it's going at the same time.

Because different places and different seasons demand different gear I don't think you can peg UL to a particular base weight. Someone who hikes in Arkansas in July can safely carry a lighter pack than someone who is going x-country in the Canadian Rockies in September.

I'd say you're an UltraLighter when you don't hesitate to invest a lot of time and effort (or a lot of money) to save yourself 2 ounces in base weight. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mattress,

Well, you're right about getting soaked from the inside while packing with raingear on. Long ago, after making that "discovery" I've just put my parka over my pack top W/ the hood over my head & the arms spiral wrapped around my lower shoulder straps. This keeps me drier than no parka.

It's the cold, heavy rains I'm talking about. The kind that literally wash away your core heat. For this I always carry a UL GTX parka, like my present GTX PacLite parka. If I know it's possible there will be cold,high winds, days of rain and/or snow I'll also bring my PacLite rain pants. As you say, it's all weather dependent.

But, as an example, I'm backpacking the Grand Canyon April 15 through 21. I'll bring my PacLite parka for a wind shell as well as possible rain. The rim can still get snow in mid-April.

Eric

As my friend sent me in a Facebook comment. "kid you're ultralight. 'im taking dehydrated water, a fork with 1 prong, and a rain jacket that reverses into a rain fly.'" My obsession with lightening the load has served as the butt of many jokes. And I love it!

Hear, hear!

Although in a earlier post to this exact thread I put forth certain weights as classifications to what is UL, LW, etc, etc, all those things have to be taken with a grain of salt depending on your location and time of year.

For instance, my 9 lbs. base weight got pushed up to as high as 12 lbs. (for when dealing with the Olympics) after I moved from Arkansas to Washington last year.

I consider myself ultralight - I'm able to be comfortable in the woods at night without carrying my mattress and box spring.

I'm only semi-joking - I'm down to 25-27 lbs, possibly 30 if I add some extra liters of water, and I can carry it fine. I may tweak a few things to lighten it a bit but I'm not willing to sacrifice warmth/dry clothes. I need to sleep and I freak a bit without extra food and pills to cover allergy, migraine and other minor conditions that might become major. I carry extra fuel because I'm a klutz and a noob. I still think I'm doing really well, especially when I think of my dad packing a cast iron griddle in his external frame way back when he took the family packing (I think I was 10 year old, maybe 12).

To make a long answer longer - ultralight (to me) is lighter than you can carry and still survive in (at least) semi-comfortable fashion.

I second what OregonMouse said about the sunglasses. Had cataract surgery when I was 37. Not fun at ALL. Now I have some expensive UV blocking glasses on a lanyard that doubles as a soft cover/lens cleaner.

Yeah I agree about the sunglasses. My comment was meant to be going without the case. I've since found a lighter case, so all is well. I get sunstroke at the drop of a hat (literally) so shades and a hat are pretty basic pieces of gear for me.