Here is a video review of the Katadyn BeFree filter that I’ve been using for the past year and which I highly recommend as the best choice for ultralight backpackers that like to strap their water to their shoulder strap. I compare it to the very popular Sawyer Mini that I used to use for several years. The second video shows how much easier it is to fill the BeFree bag compared to the Sawyer bag.
Month: April 2017
How much did I spend on my gear?
I don’t find much use in articles about how to buy a full set of ultralight gear for $X. The goal of presenting budget gear lists is not to instruct readers to buy a list of prescribed items like a recipe, but rather to inspire them about what types of gear they need or don’t need and what cheaper options may be out there than the often top-of-the-line gear presented. To complement my gear video, I’ve gone through my current gear list, estimated how much I spent on each item, and given some brief comments about why it’s there. I’ve excluded from the total $ spent those items that I use normally when I’m not backpacking and would have needed to buy any way. So the grand total I’ve spent is $647. The small items do add up, but this amount was spent over the span of about 4 years as I learned the skills to be more ultralight. As always, I appreciate any questions, comments, suggestions, criticisms. Thanks for reading.
| Item | Comments | Cost |
| Fleece cap | You don’t need to buy anything special – just use your winter hat. I already owned a pretty light one that I use all winter. | $0 |
| Terramar Thermawool CS 4.0 long-sleeve shirt | Love this baselayer. I bought it for backpacking at TJ Max on sale for under $20, but I wear it regularly except in summer, so I’m not counting it. | $0 |
| Down Sweater | You don’t need to buy a premium jacket like a Ghost Whisperer, LUL Puffy, or Nano Puff. I got mine at Primark for $35, it weights just a couple oz more than than the lightest sleeved down jacket, and I wear it as my normal jacket all winter, so I’m not counting it. | $0 |
| Salomon XT Wings gloves | I bought these special for backpacking. My hands undoubtedly get wet on the trail, and my normal winter liner gloves soak up water, so for summer use I wanted something primarily that would block wind and rain and wouldn’t absorb water. | $30 |
| Synthetic long underwear | This is more personal taste – find a pair that are comfortable, don’t spend a lot. I wear thermals every day in winter, so I already had a few to choose from for backpacking. | $0 |
| Socks | I usually hike in the summer without socks. When I do wear them, I use simple synthetic office socks – cheap (~$10 for 3 pairs), don’t get holes, dry really fast. I have some hiking socks – too thick – and I’ve tried $15 thin smartwool socks from REI – don’t last. | $0 |
| Sleeping Quilt | I sewed my own summer quilt with materials from Ripstop by the Roll using 1 layer of 2.5 oz Apex. The most similar quilt available would be the 50 deg Revelation Apex (only 2.1 oz Apex) at $165 or the 48 deg Spirit Quilt (not sure on the insulation thickness used) at $215. | $70 |
| Gatewood Cape | I have always used ponchos for hiking but found them a bit of a pain to pitch as shelter, so switching to the greater coverage both in cape-mode and tent-mode has been amazing. I bought it used for $110; new $135 | $110 |
| MSR mini groundhog stakes | Titanium stakes are light, but these are a bit more secure in sand and no concern if I have to pound them down. | $17 |
| Klymit Inertia X Wave | Nice and wide, no official R value but sufficient to 40 deg for me. I got it on sale for $40; new $75 | $40 |
| Klymit Motion 35L | Pretty good pack – front-loaders are so nice compared to roll-tops. Never understood the point of a roll-top if the fabric isn’t waterproof. Air beam is used as part of my sleep system. Although 35L is really more volume than I need, and I’d prefer more pockets up front. I got it on sale for $45; new $70 | $45 |
| SOL Emergency Bivy | Testing this out as both a dry bag for my quilt/clothing and back-up emergency bivy if weather gets really bad. | $12 |
| Evernew Water Bottle | I use the 900mL version for extra water on dry stretches. It stays empty on some trips. | $13 |
| Katadyn BeFree | I love the soft flask and the ease of use of this filter. | $40 |
| Mini Bic Lighter | Emergency use – I don’t cook | $2 |
| Sea to Summit Head Net | $10 | |
| Swiss Army Classic | A razor blade in sleeve would be lighter, but I actually use the scissors and tweezers a lot more than the knife. | $17 |
| Mini compass | I have a nicer Suunto compass, but as I never use it, I now just take a little one I found free in a first aid kit. | $0 |
| Metal can – free | Why buy a titanium mug, when you can just reuse a plain aluminum can that weight nearly the same? And if the bottom gets covered in carbon, just recycle it and get a new one. I don’t cook, so this is used as a container for my emergeny stuff and I can use it to make tea on a wood fire if I really need to. | $0 |
| Petzl e-light | Love this light – so small and the pull-cable is much more comfortable than standard head straps. | $24 |
| BD Revolt | I removed the head strap and connect this to my waist belt when I night hike. Rechargeable is really nice, since when I do use it, it’s on for many hours full power. Got it on sale for $30. | $30 |
| Soap leaves | I prefer these over a squirt tube of soap. | $5 |
| First aid and Repair kits | Basically free, odds and ends from the house,I did spend $10 for nylon patch tape which has come in use. | $10 |
| OP Sacks | I just bought the cheaper versions, rather than the official LOKSAK ones. Who knows if they really work? | $7 |
| ZPacks Cuben wallet | I was inspired from backpacking to get this, but it’s my normal wallet, so I’m not counting the $10 | $0 |
| Lethmik Sport cap | $15 but again I use this everyday. | $0 |
| Synthetic t-shirt | Use whatever you have. I like ones designed for cycling with thinner mesh on the upper back. | $0 |
| Running shorts | Use whatever you have. I wear ones with a liner and no pockets, and don’t wear underwear. | $0 |
| EMS Windshirt | This is a great piece of kit – I don’t think EMS makes it anymore, but as far as I can tell it’s as good and only an ounce more than ones that cost over $100 like Houdini. | $50 |
| Sierra Designs Microlight Pants 2 | A great cheap set of wind pants – I prefer stretch bottom cuffs, rather than zippers. | $35 |
| Shoes | I wear my Trail Glove 3’s every day, so I’m not counting the $110 they cost me. The one item on here that needs to be replaced every 2 years or so. | $0 |
| Poles | Personal taste – for your first set, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than about $50 to make sure you like using them. I splurged on my 2nd set and got Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles on sale for $80. I love how they fold small and set up much easier than my old turn-locking ones. | $80 |
| TOTAL | $647 | |
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