It is July, summer is in full swing and there is a lot going on in the lightweight and UL community. The weather is perfect here in Finland, long, sunny and hot days - I hope to go out on a trip soon.
It is Sunday noon, so before you go and watch the above movie make yourself a cup of tea, some sandwiches and take some cookies along as you will not want to interrupt the one hour movie. It is about
how to build a birch bark canoe, the old way. No spoken words mean you just can enjoy looking and taking in the sounds. Fantastic.
Talking trip reports, Gustav found the time to write his view on our Vålådalen trip, and he has some fantastic photos in his
trip report and also is able to name all the streams and mountains!
Wondering what it feels like to walk on the Pacific Crest Trail? Check out Keith's
thoughts on Gomez Meadow or why he feels guilty to be walking.
So what is the perspective of someone from the UK (or Scotland!) to go hiking in the Nordics? That is what Jörgen asked
Chris Townsend, who walked the Scandinavian spine twenty years ago. Go have a read of this great article.
Caro & Tomie were preparing for the Fjällräven Classic with
a walk on the Jurasteig, and their superb photos show that one doesn't always need to travel far to enjoy nice scenery.
James shows us the lush green hills and the blue sea around
Beinn na Croise on the Isle of Mull and reminds us to eat fish and chips only there where you're save from seagulls!
Michelle shares with us her trip on the
Dog Mountain Trail on Mount Seymour, and the photos look like they could come right out of Tolkien book - Magic!
Gear, one thing that sent ripples through the German UL community was
LAUFBURSCHE's XUL packing list with a Full Skin Out - Base Weight of 2268g. What is really fantastic about this list is that the majority of items are MYOG and thus LAUFBURSCHE knows pretty well where the limits of this list are. Great, inspiring stuff!
Shed Dweller shares his
thoughts on the gear he used on his recent (S)UL trip to the Lakes, so if you wonder if it is possible to go so light and still be safe and comfortable, please have a look.
Thomas shares his
initial impressions on the Ti Caldera Keg-H with us, and for everyone who fancies cooking with a beer can and a woodfire this is required reading.
If you prefer titanium pots for cooking with a wood fire on the other hand, have a look at
Joe's first look at the Bushcooker LT1 (and also at the accompanying
Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot review!), which is something to consider if you want to go (S)UL.
Nibe, who walks in the Dutch mountains (!) shares his
thoughts on his gear from his last trip, and it is interesting for all those who are lightening up and trying lightweight gear one step at the time.
Showing that 24h trips and lightweight/ UL gear are not exclusive to backpackers, we here see that
Sub 24hour Overnighters with lightweight gear are also common in the cycling community.
And in case you haven't yet read my
Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn review and video, please go and have a look if you're in the market for a tarp!
If you forget your pot on a trip in the future but don't want to go without your cup of tea or a hot meal, check out Nick's
how to boil water in a birch bark container, learn the skills and in future you can go without your titanium pot hiking, saving another 100 g.
Japan has a very active UL scene, and some very worthy note-worthy Shops:
Locus Gear,
Moonlight Gear and the
ulgear weekend store. While Locus Gear is a cottage manufacturer and a shop, the last two are dedicated UL shops. I really like the layout of Moonlight Gear, it is beautiful! ulgear weekend store on the other hand is a a shop and blog, and the owner always makes very interesting posts with lots of photos - often from cottage gear! So if you're located in Japan and need some new UL toys, support these shops!
The
view into LAUFBURSCHE's workshop which Benjamin gave us already wetted the appetite of the up coming launch of the company. Bets are being made how many hours it will take that the company will be sold out of its initial stock after opening - if you want to take part, leave a comment here with your guess ;)
And by now you know that I love Japan. It was thus with gusto that I read Hamilton's latest article, Which asks "
Do You Need Permission to Enjoy Nature?" and is a absolute fantastic piece, which showcases how different our (backpacking) cultures are. For everyone who is hiking in Japan or by the tiniest bit interested in the country a must read.
It is July, summer is in full swing and there is a lot going on in the lightweight and UL community. The weather is perfect here in Finland, long, sunny and hot days - I hope to go out on a trip soon.
It is Sunday noon, so before you go and watch the above movie make yourself a cup of tea, some sandwiches and take some cookies along as you will not want to interrupt the one hour movie. It is about
how to build a birch bark canoe, the old way. No spoken words mean you just can enjoy looking and taking in the sounds. Fantastic.
Talking trip reports, Gustav found the time to write his view on our Vålådalen trip, and he has some fantastic photos in his
trip report and also is able to name all the streams and mountains!
Wondering what it feels like to walk on the Pacific Crest Trail? Check out Keith's
thoughts on Gomez Meadow or why he feels guilty to be walking.
So what is the perspective of someone from the UK (or Scotland!) to go hiking in the Nordics? That is what Jörgen asked
Chris Townsend, who walked the Scandinavian spine twenty years ago. Go have a read of this great article.
Caro & Tomie were preparing for the Fjällräven Classic with
a walk on the Jurasteig, and their superb photos show that one doesn't always need to travel far to enjoy nice scenery.
James shows us the lush green hills and the blue sea around
Beinn na Croise on the Isle of Mull and reminds us to eat fish and chips only there where you're save from seagulls!
Michelle shares with us her trip on the
Dog Mountain Trail on Mount Seymour, and the photos look like they could come right out of Tolkien book - Magic!
Gear, one thing that sent ripples through the German UL community was
LAUFBURSCHE's XUL packing list with a Full Skin Out - Base Weight of 2268g. What is really fantastic about this list is that the majority of items are MYOG and thus LAUFBURSCHE knows pretty well where the limits of this list are. Great, inspiring stuff!
Shed Dweller shares his
thoughts on the gear he used on his recent (S)UL trip to the Lakes, so if you wonder if it is possible to go so light and still be safe and comfortable, please have a look.
Thomas shares his
initial impressions on the Ti Caldera Keg-H with us, and for everyone who fancies cooking with a beer can and a woodfire this is required reading.
If you prefer titanium pots for cooking with a wood fire on the other hand, have a look at
Joe's first look at the Bushcooker LT1 (and also at the accompanying
Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot review!), which is something to consider if you want to go (S)UL.
Nibe, who walks in the Dutch mountains (!) shares his
thoughts on his gear from his last trip, and it is interesting for all those who are lightening up and trying lightweight gear one step at the time.
Showing that 24h trips and lightweight/ UL gear are not exclusive to backpackers, we here see that
Sub 24hour Overnighters with lightweight gear are also common in the cycling community.
And in case you haven't yet read my
Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn review and video, please go and have a look if you're in the market for a tarp!
If you forget your pot on a trip in the future but don't want to go without your cup of tea or a hot meal, check out Nick's
how to boil water in a birch bark container, learn the skills and in future you can go without your titanium pot hiking, saving another 100 g.
Japan has a very active UL scene, and some very worthy note-worthy Shops:
Locus Gear,
Moonlight Gear and the
ulgear weekend store. While Locus Gear is a cottage manufacturer and a shop, the last two are dedicated UL shops. I really like the layout of Moonlight Gear, it is beautiful! ulgear weekend store on the other hand is a a shop and blog, and the owner always makes very interesting posts with lots of photos - often from cottage gear! So if you're located in Japan and need some new UL toys, support these shops!
The
view into LAUFBURSCHE's workshop which Benjamin gave us already wetted the appetite of the up coming launch of the company. Bets are being made how many hours it will take that the company will be sold out of its initial stock after opening - if you want to take part, leave a comment here with your guess ;)
And by now you know that I love Japan. It was thus with gusto that I read Hamilton's latest article, Which asks "
Do You Need Permission to Enjoy Nature?" and is a absolute fantastic piece, which showcases how different our (backpacking) cultures are. For everyone who is hiking in Japan or by the tiniest bit interested in the country a must read.
The Week In Review
I guess LABU is already sold out for the next few months since it's so hard to get any info on the HuckePack from Mateusz :P
ReplyDeleteLaufbursche's kit list is pretty amazing although I had to think some to remember the translation :-)
ReplyDeleteThe cooking system is seriously light but I wonder what he's using as a pot (MYOG Rexam 500ml) It looks like a drinks can, maybe shortened?
The fuel container I wonder is it one of the small foil type pouches that kids drinks come in, the type with a screw-on cap? I ask as I tried to use something similar but it started to leak :-(
Richard, you're spot on. It is a 1l beer can which is shortened (that or it is a 500 ml can, not sure). The fuel container is a pouch as you thought, I reckon those only are good for a couple of trips because they will start to leak. Have a look at his 2 Person cookset which is sub 100 g and shows the pouch.
ReplyDeletePrzem, LAUFBURSCHE will only be sold out once he gets the company started - it takes him AGES to do so :D
Yes that's similar to the pouch I tried to use. The cookset is similar to my own in some ways, different in others. I may make a Pepsi stove to see how it performs as it's lighter than the one I use.
ReplyDeleteAs for Japanese hiking shops, you might try http://hikersdepot.jp/ as well. I heard the owner used to run/work for a medium-size Japanese chain called OD-Box (which has a standard, if a bit spotty selection of UL gear). I haven't been to their physical shop yet, but am hoping to make it this week.
ReplyDeleteDon't mock our mountains it is one of the many things we beat Denmark with!
ReplyDeleteBack from the Lapland (mostly rainy, a bit cold, some fog, some snow and one totally soaked camera...) and once again nice to catch up the last weeks happenings from here!
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm really interested in UL I have to say I doubt a bit if UL kit would be comfortable enough for my style of hiking - not to speak about the Laufbursche (or any other) XUL style! And then again competition kit is lighter but totally different. Maybe my sweet spot is somewhere near UL but not quite there... or then I just need more time.
Nibe - HUP HOLLAND HUP! Nederland kampioen! I don't mock the Dutch mountains, but think it is a nice joke =)
ReplyDeleteLightening up, kiitos! I reckon everyone has his own style of hiking, and what he feels comfortable with. For some that means SUL, and for some that means 30 kg. To each his own.
Ja ik hoop dat we de Leeuw niet in zijn hempie laten staan.
ReplyDeleteBut what if the final was between The Netherlands and Germany.Which team would you choose?
Nibe, Nederland all the way. Always have supported the Dutch team, and always will.
ReplyDelete