UltraLight Mock Bugout -- takeaways

With this board's help, I spent the winter and summer experimenting with ultralight backpacking tech -- hoping to find a better way to bug out on foot (other than a 70 pound ruck.)

I just completed 39 miles in 3.5 days overland (bushwhacking) with a 12 pound (base weight) pack -- 19 pounds total pack weight with consumables. No blisters. No fatigue. 3.5 miles/hour average. 15 mile days were easy. (I'm 47 with bad knees/hips.) Here are my takeaways:

- The ZPacks Arc Zip pack is amazing. It's waterproof (went in the drink and my sleeping bag stayed dry). Great belly band. I've tried three other UL backpacks and this is my keeper.
- Kifaru Paratarp is an excellent choice for a bivy system. The ZPacks Splash Bivy is my choice for a bivy after testing several.
- ZPacks Altaplex tent -- big thumbs up.
- Stove of choice (tested multiple trekking) Vargo Triad Titanium
- Sleeping pad -- I woke up 15 times a night with the Thermarest Z Lite and three times with the Klymit Static. I'm going to test Klymit's light pads next.

As a side note, I fly-fished all day, every day with my pack on my back, and I caught the biggest trout of my life -- because we were so remote. I had to land this 20 inch beast on a 3 weight rod.

I don't understand why ultralight isn't a bigger part of the "bug out" gear conversation. I would never try a long overland movement with my standard backpacking gear. Why isn't ultralight "the thing" for bugout?

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UltraLight Mock Bugout -- takeaways