super light stowable day/summit pack

I've used both of these and like them both:

www.rei.com/product/136763/sea-to-summit-ultra-sil-travel-day-pack

www.rei.com/product/185562/rei-co-op-flash-18-pack

Cool. That's the one I was thinking about. Glad to know it's served others well.

Not me.

I was reading this thread last night while trying desperately to go to sleep after a very long day and little rest the night before. I hate that, but I get it more often these days as I age: "too tired to sleep". I suppose I'll ultimately reach a point near 80 when sleep will no longer be a possibility.

The thread stirred a memory of my own crazed search for an ultra light pack some time ago. Yes, I somewhere have an early copy of the S2S Ultra-Sil, the old EMS daypack ("size of yer fist rolled up"), something from MEC (or someone else) back when I was "into" all that (now extinct) Integral Designs "shelter as artwork" stuff - as well as about half a dozen of the old GoLite Ions from eons ago (chuckle) that some online shop was trying to "clearance out" for $15 apiece. I always meant to do the "mod" to add side pockets, but never got a "round tuit". I had big ideas not that long ago, but you get old and can't sleep. (@.@)

Back somewhere in the mists of time, near the end of the decade before last (before all the combined disasters and near-disasters of the last decade), when I was still actively pursuing "gear", I was in some local cottage merchant's shop looking at tents right around the time Terra Nova was coming out with their cuben "ultra" tents (circa 2009? 2010?), and ran across a guy who had a Terra Nova Ultra 20 he didn't think would sell for over $100. So, he "threw it in" with my purchase of a tent to rid himself of the thing - I think I gave him 30 or 35 bucks for it as a "tip". It was in a tiny envelope I may have never bothered to open after looking at his "display model".

I know it's back there in the "gear room" somewhere. Ah, the joys of the "collector".

ETA: I also have a "prototype" jacket issued at gear shows by Merrell that you "self-stuffed" with insulation like leaves or whatever, that's still in the cello bag they were passing it out in. They never produced and sold it, but you can see it here and there online: the Merrell Gatherer. Whee!

I've used a Marmot Kompressor for quite awhile. It's held up well for it's lightness.

For some years I have been using an Outdoor Research Dry Bag/Summit sack. In Griz land, I used it as a dry bag/compression sack/day hike summit pack for my sleep kit. Tent, sleep bag, pad, and sleep clothes set all went into this sack. When setting up camp, I would drop on the tent site, and then move the rest of the pack to the food and kitchen/social area. The pack easily clips onto the main pack too.



Veering off a bit, I like to put my cannisters inside my packs. My two main packs tend to be larger volume. The Osprey Aether Pro 70 I really love is designed to clip on an Osprey Daylight or Daylight 1600 day pack. On teh trail, It has my tent and light extras. From camp, it is the summit pack for side excursions. The Daylight 1600 is also my walking pack.

I have a nylon bag with paracord straps that I got free at a trade show. I leave it in my suitcase so when I'm on travel I can just throw a few things (water, snacks) in and go out with my hands empty.