You know, I might actually be willing to be SEEN in these shirts. (From the Rail Rider Website)
Okay…maybe you have heard of one or two of these, but I’ll bet you haven’t heard of all of them. REI is a wonderful thing, but why not support the little guy from time to time:
1. Hyperlight Mountain Gear. Cuben fiber is the predominant theme in their line, and their Echo I and Echo II shelters are extremely light. They are also a bit expensive. The Echo 1 (one-person shelter) is less than 23 ounces, without stakes, and each of those 23 ounces will cost you about $25. The stuff sacks are a little less costly and would be a great way to shave some ounces, if you are using a heavy one for your down sleeping bag.
2. Titanium Goat. If you’re the bivy type you have to check out Titanium Goat. How about a shelter for less than SEVEN OUNCES. And you’ve got to love any operation that includes, on its “About Us” page, a comment like this: “During the winter of 2007 we moved the sewing machine from the living room to a small…750 square foot basement.” They also have down beanies that would keep your head warm in the coldest conditions.
3. Minibulldesign Cult. Sorry, but I’m not sure if that is two words or four. If you think your JetBoil is outrageously heavy, however, this is the place for you. Surprisingly, there is no titanium to be found—almost everything is aluminum. Oh, and the aluminum occasionally still has the evidence of a previous life as a Red Bull can or a Bud Light container. Before you laugh this off, remember that Andrew Skurka uses a cat food can.
4. Six Moons Design. Six Moons is probably a little more well known than the other folks on this list. They have been around for a while, and have a pretty complete line of tents, packs, tarps, and rain gear. Their Gatewood Cape doubles as a poncho and a shelter, for less than 12 ounces. They also sell Tyvek foot prints, if you would prefer not buying it by the yard at your local hardware store. If you visit this site be sure to read the blog article titled, “The Death of Ultralight.” It’s one of the smartest things written on the topic I’ve read.
5. Railriders. I saved the best for last. Their tag line is “toughest clothes on the planet”, which is exactly what I need. This stuff isn’t cheap, but you won’t be like me at Muir Trail Ranch, last year, sewing up the ripped seams in my hiking pants. On another note, the shirts come in colors that are actually pretty sharp!
Good hiking, Ray
Ray,
Nice appetizer of the many little guy manufacturers out there. FWIW, Borah Gear also has a nice sub-7 ounce bivy (3 choices of fabric) that is the same price or slightly cheaper that TiGoat’s bivys. I used it extensively this year and really liked it. It should be noted that neither TiGoat or Borah Gear bivys are waterproof on the top so need to be paired with a tarp (for example, 5 ounces in cuben) — still quite lightweight at 12 ounces total for a flexible shelter system. fred
To be fair, the full weight of the cuben tarp with stakes, lines, line locks, and sack is 9 oz. So, if one is into such a bivy and tarp setup, it can be done at 16 oz.
Great point, Fred! Thanks!
Hey Ray!
Great post and topic, these manufacturers are amazing and deserve all the promotion they can get!
I actually have put together a pretty comprehensive list of as many of these cottage manufacturers here (https://lwhiker.com/brands) and hope to start highlighting them in similar blog posts!
I <3 my Six Moon Designs Starlite!
Terrific list, Mike. Thanks so much!
Not only have I heard of all of them, I’ve bought stuff from all of them.
What do I win?
Sorry, Martin, my budget doesn’t allow for prizes. 🙂
Enjoyed your post, Ray. My brother-in-law and I are a couple of old farts who have done Oregon’s segment of the PCT and, in August, the JMT. We both have Six Moons Design Lunar Solo tents and love them. A 30-ounce tent that’s all you need — and handled that JMT rain well in early August. Only in Oregon do you run into the head of the Portland company who makes your tent … while you’re on the PCT. (Mentioned him in my book, “Cascade Summer.”) Keep writing. Enjoy your stuff.
I actually am familiar with all these cottage industry manufacturers. Although I never purchased anything from Hyperlight, (I ended up going with a different tent), I can give some feedback on the others.
I have a pair of Goose Feet down slippers from Titanium Goat, and they are superb! Just a couple of ounces will keep your feet toasty warm, even in the 20’s.
I have a very old Minibulldesign stove, from way back when he first started. I have switched to the Flat Cat Gear system (LOVE being able to truly dry bake on the trail), but I still watch some of Tinny’s YouTube videos. He has some good dehydrating videos on there.
I have owned a couple of “poncho” shelters, and in my opinion, the Gatewood Cape, (named after Grandma Gatewood) is the only one that is really usable in a storm, and the only one I would bring on the JMT. I love mine, and intend to get the bug netting too!
I have a couple of pieces of clothing from Rail Riders. They have very minimal selection for women, (their catalog is 90% male clothing) and I definitely like the pants better than the shirts. I have the Sun Tech and Hydro Zip shirts, and both snagged very, very badly, just brushing past bushes on a trail, but the pants are bomb proof.
Wow, Kathy, I’m impressed! Thanks for the great comments.
Great to get the word out, it’s important to point out that not all of the cottage makers will empty your bank account (ULA backpacks come to mind). Lots of discussion about many of these resources on the backpackinglight.com site, although Mike’s list above really takes the cake for comprehensiveness and – darn it! – now I have more surfing to do.
FWIW my Rail Riders shirt lasted several trips including this year’s JMT thru, although it’s really ugly now and I can’t get the stains out from where it rubbed against my pack. I love how it protects from the heat on hot days, and if there’s something better out there I’d love to hear about it!
PS Don’t forget that Goosefeet makes wonderful little down pillows in a range of sizes and weights. Mine is 1.5 oz of ahhhhhh…
Thanks, Arla. The pillows sound wonderful!
Great article thanks for writing it.
I’d also like to add Lightheart Gear for a gear maker you might not have heard of. Their Solong 6 clocks in at 2lbs 1 ounce for me and is cavernous for my 6’4 frame. It’s also generally cheaper at around 300 dollars than most larger label solutions that weigh 1-2 pounds more.
And if I can keep plugging away at solutions I like, Enlightened Equipment makes a fantastic down quilt that’s fairly affordable (300 dollar range) and very light.
Thanks for the gear tips and the comment, Sean.