I've seen the UL thing practiced more on dayhikes verses Backpacking here in Washington state PNW. As in alot of Golite frameless Packs.

Which brings up an observation last month coming out of Necklace Valley we saw two older Lesbian Backpackers (hurray for them) who were wearing Golite's biggest internal frame (light weight) Packs and they were struggling with getting 'em on. Apparently the best I could figure was either A. they bought their Packs at REI and the sale rep didn't show them how to properly put their Pack on or B. they bought their Packs via mail order and well................... Their method was to sit down on the ground and slide into the shoulder harness and then precariously stand up while bent over, gosh it looked aweful.

I wanted to trot over and show them but I was busy getting my gear back inside my Pack.

Of course the proper way to put a fully loaded Backpack on is the put the Pack on your thigh when your knee is bent, put one arm through the shoulder harness, then other and so on. Your leg takes all the weight, but only temporarly. Friggin' REI employees.

Oh well, speaking of REI they are carrying more lighter weight Packs these days besides just their own and I've seen more and more people being fitted with Nimbus, Gregory and TNF Packs in the 3,800+ cube volume range.

I myself did that 4-day trip with a 3,750" Pack and believe I can now do maybe 6-days in my Zero Sarc changing out my Hubba for my Sil Tarp 2 + my single pole Bivy and/or maybe splurging for the 5' x 8' Sil Tarp with bivy for reduced Pack space = more food and fuel.

On that trip, my buddy and his GF both had 6-ft long Montbell inflatable pads WITH the inflatable pillows that clip on. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I teased him to no end about his 2.3-oz. pillow. They were sleeping in his Thunderdome Montbell 4-Lb freestanding Tent. I wondered why his GF needed a six foot pad when she is only 5-ft, 3-inches? Humm........... Seems a 150 pad would have saved a little more weight. She also had a paper back book of the Lewis & Clark journey which was full size 10" x 14" x 3" thick holy cow! BUT here total Pack weight with food, fuel water and necessities was still only 34-Lbs so go figure that one.

They also had the 5-ft x 8-ft Sil Tarp (which I recommended they get for a cook shelter) and that thing was a chore to setup due to it's tiny size. For the three of us it was a squeeze sitting under it we deployed one stove each just under the side edges but otherwise almost in the rain while 80% of out bodies were under cover except for our rain panted legs. What made the day was my traditional Evazote pad 50" x 20" x 1/2" thick which I used exclusively as my sleep pad came in handy for the three of us to sit on insulated from the cold wet ground under the Tarp with no worries about punctures from all the rocks.

My Evazote Pad was quite nice and comfortable to lay on propped up against a log we dragged down from the slopes while we tended our satelite bon fire and ate dinner. Something I could never have entrusted to any inflatable pad. But in hindsight I wished for my MaxLite 3/4 inflatable Pad and a short 20" x 20" chunk of 3/8" Evazote sit-pad.

I embrace light weight clothing, WP/B shell gear and lighter weight stoves, Packs and shelters in my gear choices but still emphasize comfort in camp because I've never been a fast hiker and never will be a fast hiker period.

I can walk all day, just not fast. For me it's all about just being OUT in wilderness, enjoying the sights sounds and my thoughts and nature............................ not speeding through it to the next campsite.

Instead of criticizing other Backpackers on the trail for what they decide to carry and/or for not living up to your personal gear standards you need to just thank yourself for the simple reality they are outside in the wilderness Backpacking!