When we retire in a couple years, we'll get a raise and have lots more time off, so we are looking forward to that. With age, however, comes a certain loss of strength and stamina, no matter how hard everybody tries to win that battle. (Age, as you know, is undefeated.)
We have been traveling heavy for years, and are fine with that. Soon, though, we will transition to UL which will hopefully keep us in the game longer. We'll need a new (roomy) tent, new (quiet) pads, new (UL) bags, and a new (stable) UL canoe, among other things.
Recommendations? Budget=middle of the road.

lundojam: "When we retire in a couple years, we'll get a raise and have lots more time off, so we are looking forward to that. With age, however, comes a certain loss of strength and stamina, no matter how hard everybody tries to win that battle. (Age, as you know, is undefeated.)
We have been traveling heavy for years, and are fine with that. Soon, though, we will transition to UL which will hopefully keep us in the game longer. We'll need a new (roomy) tent, new (quiet) pads, new (UL) bags, and a new (stable) UL canoe, among other things.
Recommendations? Budget=middle of the road. "

For a roomy but light and high quality tent I can’t speak highly enough of the Big Agnes Copper Spur line. I have a 1P for solo trips and a 3P and love them both. As of today, REI has them 40% off which makes them an incredible value. I think the sale ends today though, but last I checked they still have the 1, 2, and 3P models available.

shouldertripper: "

lundojam: "When we retire in a couple years, we'll get a raise and have lots more time off, so we are looking forward to that. With age, however, comes a certain loss of strength and stamina, no matter how hard everybody tries to win that battle. (Age, as you know, is undefeated.)
We have been traveling heavy for years, and are fine with that. Soon, though, we will transition to UL which will hopefully keep us in the game longer. We'll need a new (roomy) tent, new (quiet) pads, new (UL) bags, and a new (stable) UL canoe, among other things.
Recommendations? Budget=middle of the road. "

For a roomy but light and high quality tent I can’t speak highly enough of the Big Agnes Copper Spur line. I have a 1P for solo trips and a 3P and love them both. As of today, REI has them 40% off which makes them an incredible value. I think the sale ends today though, but last I checked they still have the 1, 2, and 3P models available. "

A Copper Spur UL3 is an important part of our UL effort. We also went with a Kevlar canoe (Northstar Northwind 17), Optimus Vega canister stove, Snow Peak titanium pot set, Platypus 4-liter GravityWorks filter, etc. We're still single-walking portages at 73, and hope to continue that for a couple more years.

TZ

You can save weight and pack space by swapping out your sleeping bags for down quilts. Lots of great cottage vendor options.

Not adding much, but agreeing with previous posters. The BA copper Spur line is light and roomy

High quality down bags or quilts can take 1-2# off your sleeping bag.

Both of these choices will reduce bulk…resist the temptation to add more gear :)

Sleeping pads? I like EXPED or NEMO,

Cook pot? Lightweight aluminum or titanium. Depends on how ya cook.

Canoe…Starlight Northstar Northwind 17 40#

T

If you can score the Copper Spur3 XL the extra length is well worth it. If you want space the CopperSpur 4HV is stunning and huge.
Northwind 17 or Wenonah Escape for light, quick hulls. ZRE! Quilts are lighter and with, a well insulated pad, seem to be a better way to sleep than a bag in all but the coldest of trips.

Savage River Deep Creek 16’ canoe weighs 30 to 35 pound depending on layup. No first hand experience, but testimonials appear solid.

Banksiana: "ZRE!"

Wow, how did I forget carbon paddles in my previous response?? Money VERY well spent. Usually our shoulders are in need of a big dose of Vitamin I after our first day's paddle, but our Wenonah Black Light paddles remedied that. NOt only are the paddles much lighter than those we replaced, but we now carry less ibuprofen!

We also cut a couple pounds off gear weight by replacing old ThermaRest sleeping pads with REI Helix pads (nicely insulated, thick when inflated, but very low packed volume), converting to down bags, and replacing our SealLine 115 liter Boundary Bag (volume no longer needed) with a Sea to Summit 50 liter Big River dry bag.

TZ

Thanks to you all. Keep 'em coming!

Another big fan of the BA Copper Spur line of tents.

Really like my Big Agnes Cooper Spur UL 2 for solo tripping. Lightweight (3.2 lbs.) and well made. Expensive but well worth the investment.

I would probably buy a Carbon Fiber Canoe Paddle. Top of the line is a Zaveral ZRE Paddle Surge. Thinking around 8 oz. Unbelievably lightweight fit … perfect for retired folks. But real pricey.

It’s best to accumulate quality ultralight equipment over time. You can spend a small fortune.

I will chime in with the others. BA Copper Spur UL is an awesome light tent. Carbon fiber paddles are the way to go. Light sleeping bags or quilts will lighten the load. Titanium cookware and perhaps bringing only the pots, bowls, cups that you actually need for everything you do. Multifunctional gear is a good help toward lightening the load. Exped and Nemo make great sleeping pads. Exped's customer service is outstanding as is Nemo's. Food and drink choices can help in reducing weight too. Blessings as you keep on going through the changes!

I've noticed a few things: a lot of people who retire and take up ultralight backpacking end up limited by a bad knee. I noticed that my close personal friend, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, does a lot of negative resistance rubber band training. Turns out, this supposedly helps with blood flow to the joints to keep them healthy. He played a long time. I've never seen my father in law - very healthy - eat more than half a sandwich. I guess what I'm saying is, it's not just the gear, you have to take very good care of your body as you age, if you want to keep doing the same things. Easier said than done, don't I know :( I've noticed that Will Steger weighs a lot less than I do.

NotLight: "I've noticed a few things: a lot of people who retire and take up ultralight backpacking end up limited by a bad knee. I noticed that my close personal friend, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, does a lot of negative resistance rubber band training. Turns out, this supposedly helps with blood flow to the joints to keep them healthy. He played a long time. I've never seen my father in law - very healthy - eat more than half a sandwich. I guess what I'm saying is, it's not just the gear, you have to take very good care of your body as you age, if you want to keep doing the same things. Easier said than done, don't I know :( I've noticed that Will Steger weighs a lot less than I do.
"

Yes, conditioning is important, too. While we've been trying to lighten our portage weight for several years, after last year's Quetico trip we started regular gym visits. We've worked with a personal trainer to improve/maintain upper body strength and overall conditioning. It's kinda tough being the same age as "old people"!

TZ

Another option might be a tarptent.

I like my Thermarest Neo-Air XTherm sleeping pad - It's light, compact, and warm.

I'm solo generally and like my Durston X-mid 1 tent. Although it seems you are looking for something bigger, it's worth looking at the X-mid 2 for comparison, especially from a budget perspective.

Western mountaineering makes great lightweight sleeping bags. I like my Apache MF 15 degree bag at 2 lbs.

Food and kitchen is another place I looked for weight savings, especially when planning longer trips. I saved considerable weight, bulk, and fuel usage by making several changes.

Of course, there's always weight savings by "just not taking things", which is an inexpensive option.

We recently lightened our tent from a 4P REI and now have a 3P Sea to Summit Telos for my husband and me. I like it versatility in how it can be set up and it has a lot of head room while still keeping it light.

I can't say enough good things about the Enlightened Equipment down quilts! Incredibly comfortable and well made. Its the first "sleeping bag" that actually lives up to its temperature ratings. To save money, I watch the page on their website for returns or seconds. Love the raincoat I got from them and there puffy jacket and pants, too.

Canoewise, we bought a used Kevlar one from Piragis. They sell off their fleet each year. Put down a deposit asap as they sell them in order of best condition to worst condition. Their website lists the offerings and you pick it up in October. We got a Northstar Seliga, but they have lots of options.

Garage Grown Gear is a Twin Cities based company that sells lots of lightweight gear from various cottage industries.

To help me lighten my gear list, I use a website called lighter pack. It really helped me realize how lots of small stuff adds up.

Sea to Summit Telos 3P tent

Enlightened Equipment (a MN company)

Garage Grown Gear (a MN company)

Piragis used canoes

I read in your original post the idea of lightening up but wanting a roomy tent.

Our guys are mostly in their 50's and 60's. . .even one in their 70's. We also went through a lighten up phase and all of us but the young guy (he is 45) went to hammocks. Far more comfortable and much lighter.

If not a hammock, why not go for an ultralight backpacking style tent? That would shed a lot of pounds vs a traditional 3-4 person tent.

boonie: "Food and kitchen is another place I looked for weight savings, especially when planning longer trips. I saved considerable weight, bulk, and fuel usage by making several changes.


Of course, there's always weight savings by "just not taking things", which is an inexpensive option. "

Both bulk and weight can be reduced by building trip menus around freeze-dried or home-dehydrated meals. You can also drastically reduce your fuel weight by making/using a cozy for your cook pot.

Our "not taking things" approach includes leaving axes/hatchets, big saws, chairs (other than a single Crazy Creek), griddles, cast iron skillets, etc, off our gear list.

TZ

Exactly, TZ. I went further by eating cold cereal for breakfast and rehydrating (in a cozy) and eating the meals out of the bags. There's nothing to clean - just swish the spoon in some water in the coffee mug and drink 'er down. Put the empty bag in a ziploc garbage bag. You can swish it out too.

Pretty much leave the same things . . .

Reject the tent. Sleeping on the ground is for young folks.

Explore hammock camping - far easier on 50+ year old bones and joints. It won't be lighter than the lightest tent options but it is weight worth carrying.

If you compare apples to apples. . . ultralight hammock vs ultralight tent you will find that the hammock weighs less. For the tent: Add in the ground mat, tent, insulated sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Then the hammock add in a down underquilt and top quilt. (Assuming you are buying a camping hammock like a Hennessy ultralight backpacker hammock that has the netting and rainfly with it). They hammock will come in lighter.

ockycamper: "If you compare apples to apples. . . ultralight hammock vs ultralight tent you will find that the hammock weighs less. For the tent: Add in the ground mat, tent, insulated sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Then the hammock add in a down underquilt and top quilt. (Assuming you are buying a camping hammock like a Hennessy ultralight backpacker hammock that has the netting and rainfly with it). They hammock will come in lighter."

Apple to apple: for a solo camper that is true that a hammock can be lighter, but the "we" in original post implies at least 2 campers. Hammock + Suspension + Tarp x 2 is more weighty than my Tarptent that will sleep 3.

Lighter or heavier- The hammock will always be more comfortable/oz.

Thanks again, all. Being healthier and stronger is a good one, of course. Any thoughts specifically around the noise that the newer pads make? Like, the squeaky sound?

lundojam: "Any thoughts specifically around the noise that the newer pads make? Like, the squeaky sound?"

Our "noise" experience is only with the REI Helix insulated pads, and seems to be the pad's interaction with the urethane coating on our tent floor. It was annoying the first couple nights we used them, but we don't notice it much now. One might play with a liner (Tyvek? ripstop nylon?) under the pad, but that's more experimentation than I care to do.

TZ

lundojam: "Thanks again, all. Being healthier and stronger is a good one, of course. Any thoughts specifically around the noise that the newer pads make? Like, the squeaky sound?"

Everything is silent after I remove my hearing aids . . . ;)

A lot of great ideas above. I also in the past 2-3 years have started thinking more carefully about how to lighten my load going forward.

My first suggestion is, if you don't already have them, get these pieces of gear in the photo. Then make a simple spreadsheet and start recording how much ALL your gear weighs. Then you will be in an even better place to start evaluating how to spend dollars to reduce pounds/ounces/grams. Or as Boonie mentioned, think hard about what you can leave at home. I also found when I started weighing my food I did a far better job of eliminating extra, which I always seem to have.



Canoes, tents/hammocks, quilts, pads, paddles, and cook gear have already been well covered. I'll toss out to also weigh your packs. Many of us love our canoe packs, but they are pretty heavy and overbuilt. Also not sure what your current preferred food storage is, but hanging and Ursacks are definitely lighter than barrels or canisters. Of course, if you can do a combination; put your durable food (not easily crushed) in the Ursack, and more fragile things (oil, eggs, syrup, etc) in a waterproof bag and hang it - hopefully the Ursack makes the hanging bag lighter and easier to put up/down.

lundojam: "Thanks again, all. Being healthier and stronger is a good one, of course. Any thoughts specifically around the noise that the newer pads make? Like, the squeaky sound?"

We bring a cotton bed sheet for the tent floor to stop our Expeds from squawking.