Great idea

[Onestepmore]

I think subgroups under Equipment would be good. Then when someone posts 'I want to get a tent, what should I buy?' there would be a section they could at least start to look in. I know there is the search engine already, but this would make it easier when you're researching something. We'd need an 'oods and sodds bin' though for all the miscellaneous stuff that isn't neatly categorised.
I think 'ultralight section' should just be reserved for those striving to be under the specificied weights
There will be crossover of course

[Picaro]

Have to check, but I might just get into the 9.1kg category....of course 12kg in my Aarn feels like 9 in a regular pack so do I get special dispensation?

I like the idea of a Hammock section. Its a fairly new and evolving aspect of bushwalking, and I think theres plenty to discuss.
( I can feel a thread split coming on.......)...to the tune of a brew ad.

[Onestepmore]

I've never actually weighed my pack until AFTER it's got all the food and water in it.
Then I wished I hadn't.......

And PS - hard to assess when you carry food for the kids too, and some of their clothes.
I guess the LW definitions are really only for solo walkers
Or are there rules, eg if youre walking with your spouse, do you halve the tent and shared cookgear weight? First aid kit, TP etc is only carried by one person generally
I'm just wondering how I can compare weights

[stry]

I've never actually weighed my pack until AFTER it's got all the food and water in it.
Then I wished I hadn't.......

And PS - hard to assess when you carry food for the kids too, and some of their clothes.
I guess the LW definitions are really only for solo walkers
Or are there rules, eg if youre walking with your spouse, do you halve the tent and shared cookgear weight? First aid kit, TP etc is only carried by one person generally
I'm just wondering how I can compare weights

I can recommend a set of those Snogum pack scales if you are dealing with the family/children thing. Just check all the loaded packs and shuffle a few bits around until you get the result you want.

Better than my old system with young children, which was I take the tent and two sleeping bags. Other stuff sort of 50/50. Oh - and the child sitting on top of my pack as well - why do they only need a ride going up hill

[Strider]

Looks like I'm not quite there - 9.7kg base weight.

[Joomy]

I'm glad there's now a dedicated forum where ULers will presumably be safe from UL-bashers, but I hope this doesn't mean that A) this will just result in a bunch of gear-weight one-upmanship, or that B) "UL" talk will be banned from other forums.

Not that I have a problem with posting gear weights, but I like to see the reasoning and detail behind it. I mean what does X.X base weight mean unless you talk about where and when and for how long you are going?

[wildwalks]

Hi Joomy
The idea was to have space where like minded people can talk and others can learn and discuss. No reason UL can't be discussed in other places - but if the core topic is UL then in makes sense to host the topic here.
Agree would like to avoid the one-upmanship (or downmanship in this case).
I will be interesting to see how the sub-forum plays out - but hopefully it is will be good way to help us all loose a bit of weight and better enjoy our time out on the track.

Matt

[sim1oz]

I guess the LW definitions are really only for solo walkers
Or are there rules, eg if youre walking with your spouse, do you halve the tent and shared cookgear weight? First aid kit, TP etc is only carried by one person generally
I'm just wondering how I can compare weights

My hubby and I split our gear and I think that is why we find it so easy to be LW. He takes then tent, I take the cook gear, split the other shared gear evenly, etc. We each carry our own clothes, scroggin and water. I haven't measured for a while but when we did the OLT last year our base weights were around 7 and 5kg respectively so definitely LW and closing in on UL. We had enough gear to stay comfortable, happy and well fed though five days of rain and snow, though we did choose to skip the tent and stay in the huts at night. A wet tent would have weighed things down a bit more. We had our first rain/frost free camping night in a year last month. What a joy it was to pack up our tent!

If you are looking at base weights as a spreadsheet exercise then you can either split the shared gear or you can work it out exactly by measuring each item's weight and assigning it to an individual. We took our 7yo and 9yo for an overnighter recently and I couldn't believe how light my pack was even though I was carrying my gear plus sleeping bag and food for one of the children. It was fantastic!!! It did help that it was only one night so really equivalent to two nights of food for me.

[Joomy]

Hi Joomy
The idea was to have space where like minded people can talk and others can learn and discuss. No reason UL can't be discussed in other places - but if the core topic is UL then in makes sense to host the topic here.
Agree would like to avoid the one-upmanship (or downmanship in this case).
I will be interesting to see how the sub-forum plays out - but hopefully it is will be good way to help us all loose a bit of weight and better enjoy our time out on the track.

Matt

Exactly what I was hoping for then! I have a feeling I will spend a decent amount of time here as UL is of increasing interest to me. I love the problem-solving aspect of trying to shed weight while not compromising on safety and comfort.