this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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ultralight

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Overnight backcountry backpacking/hiking in the spirit of taking less and doing more. Ask yourself: do I really need that?

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Is cheap Chinese gear worth it? (self.ultralight)
submitted 1 year ago by miles to c/ultralight
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Should ultralighters embrace the cheapest stuff that works or “buy once, cry once”?

3F UL Lanshan is the go-to cheap tent, AONIJIE offers a compelling vest-style frameless pack for $75 and cheap Aegismax and Naturehike sleeping bags and quilts have hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon. Even DeputySean is bullish on the Aricxi patrol tarp.

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[–] z00s 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Cheap, light, durable. You can pick two.

Cheap, light = online gear from China, best for occasional or light use.

Cheap, durable = Surplus army gear, heavy but unbreakable no matter what you throw at it.

Light, durable = Very expensive ultralight gear for frequent use. Best for those who've tried all the other gear and know what they want.

I'm mostly in category 2, so I don't feel guilty if I don't take my gear out as often :P Some non-essential convenience accessories from category 1.

[–] Potatos_are_not_friends 5 points 1 year ago

I buy cheap Chinese gear knowing full well that if I use it consistently, I'd want a better version of it. Mostly useful for test runs.

I've made the mistake of buying something expensive (light & durable on your scale) only to realize it didn't fit well and leave it at home.