Andrew Skurka's Blog, page 52

March 8, 2017

Reader question: Are Cuben Fiber shelters & backpacks worth the cost?



A question from reader Patrick H.:


I plan to buy a new tent and backpack, as part of a larger effort to reduce the weight of my gear. I’m attracted to the weight of Cuben Fiber, but I’m concerned about its durability relative to sil-nylon or Robic. Is it worth the premium price?


Most backpackers who look beyond REI while researching gear have probably learned of Cuben Fiber, either in a standalone conversation or as a fabric option for shelters, backpacks, and accessories made by cottage brands like Hammock Gear, Katabatic Gear, Mountain Laurel Designs and others.


Cuben stands out, partly because equipment made with it is exorbitantly expensive relative to comparable products made of more conventional fabrics. A few examples:



In Cuben, the MLD Cricket Tarp costs $335. In a premium sil-nylon, it’s $185.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 costs $330. The ULA Ohm 2.0 costs $210.
A 5.6L Cuben stuff sack from ZPacks costs $20. A 5L sil-nylon stuff sack from Granite Gear costs $11.

These price tags beg the question: Is Cuben Fiber worth the cost?


What is Cuben Fiber?

Cuben Fiber, also known as Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF), is a grid of Dyneema fiber — which is the strongest fiber in the world, at 15 times the strength of steel per weight — embedded in flexible polyester film. Imagine a painters plastic-type material that is remarkably waterproof, tear-resistant, and lightweight.


The most common versions of Cuben weigh 0.5 oz/yd2 and 0.75 oz/yd2.


Cuben Fiber is a grid of Dyneema fibers embedded in a translucent and flexible polyester film. For its weight, it is exceptionally strong and waterproof.


Cuben can also be laminated to other fabrics, like a 50-denier polyester, to improve resistance to abrasion and puncture. These laminates weigh more, in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 oz/yd2, depending on the Cuben variety and the laminating fabric. ZPacks and Hyperlite Mountain Gear are both well known for their backpacks made of Cuben laminates.


To improve its resistance to abrasion and punctures, Cuben (the clear shiny fabric) can be laminated to another fabric, such as a 150d polyester (the black fabric). The combination makes a worthy pack fabric. The Cuben is kept on the inside of the pack, where it is more protected.


Shelter fabrics
Conventional fabrics

Backpacking shelters are typically made of woven nylon or polyester. If the fabric must be waterproof — such as the case with a tent fly or floor — it is coated with polyurethane (PU), polyethelete (PE), or silicone (sil).


All things being equal, silicone results in the strongest and most waterproof fabric. However, pure sil-nylons cannot be seam-taped and do not meet fire-resistant standards for critical US markets like California and New York. So wholesalers like Sierra Designs, MSR, and REI use fabrics that are treated with silicone on one side and with PU or PE on the other.


I think that we will see fully seam-taped and fire-resistant sil/sil nylon available within a few years. But the technology is not yet commercial.


A conventional coated nylon that is treated with sil on one side (upper left half) and with PU or PE on the other (lower right half) so that it can be seam-taped and fire-resistant.


Today’s best coated woven fabrics weigh 1.0 to 1.5 oz/yd2 and have been rated up to 4,000 mm of hydrostatic head, several times in excess of “rainproof” standards. If the fabric performance is undisclosed — such as in the case of Big Agnes tent fabrics — you should assume that it is less.


In the case of hydrostatic head, more is better. A more waterproof fabric will withstand greater forces and will have a longer service life.


The quality of coated wovens is continually improving. I’m certain that the shelter fabrics I used on my longest trips are not as good as what I use and see today, while guiding trips and designing shelters with Sierra Designs.


Among active backpackers, coated wovens may have a trust issue. A high quality coated woven makes an excellent shelter fabric, but one bad experience with a low quality version (e.g. cheap or poor quality control) may create nervousness about the whole fabric category. Personally, I have never experienced “misting,” but I have had to replace multiple shelters because they were no longer reliably waterproof — they absorbed too much water, and in some cases would visually leak.


Cuben Fiber

As a shelter fabric, Cuben is very attractive — if you can afford it. A shelter made of Cuben will be:



Lighter by 30 to 50 percent, depending on the exact fabrics being compared and on the amount of non-fabric parts, e.g. zippers, buckles, struts.
As waterproof as the best coated nylons, with hydrostatic head ratings of 3,500+ mm.

The performance of Cuben will degrade over time due to use, UV exposure, repeated folding, and wet storage. But the lifespan is still excellent. Ron Bell at MLD estimates the functional lifespan of his shelters made with .75 oz/yd2 at around 250 “thru-hiker nights,” which assumes intense use and occasional wet storage. This is comparable to or in excess of standard coated nylons, which Ron puts at 300 to 500 nights depending on the quality.


Cuben is an exceptional shelter fabric: it is ultralight and extremely waterproof.


Besides cost, weight, waterproofness, and tear strength, there are a few other noteworthy qualities of Cuben. First, it does not “stuff” small. The material is stiff relative to coated wovens, so it needs to be folded for it to pack away small.


Second, Cuben does not stretch. This results in a less forgiving pitch — the tension and anchor points must be perfect — but the shelter will stay taut until the morning. Sil/sil nylon is especially stretchy, and a pre-bed and sometimes middle-of-the-night adjustment is necessary, especially in wet or humid conditions. Obviously, this could get annoying.


Third, the surface of Cuben is less slick than coated wovens, so more snow tends to stick to it. I’ve had multiple Cuben shelters on my winter guided trips with no issues; the coated nylon shelters nearby have fared better, but not dramatically so.


I have had mixed experiences (and have heard mixed reports) about the water absorption of Cuben versus coated wovens. With use, I think you should expect both fabric types to absorb more water than when new.


Is Cuben worth it?

Without knowing your budget or your expected use, I can’t tell you if a shelter made of Cuben is worth the premium price. But hopefully you now have the information necessary to decide.


If you need some help deciding, leave a comment below with an explanation of your situation.


Pack fabrics

The weight and performance of a shelter, especially common designs like A-frame tarps, is largely a function of its fabric.


This is not the case with backpacks. I can think of at least a handful of considerations that I prioritize above the pack fabric, including:



Fit/comfort,
Suspension/load-carrying ability,
Pockets,
External utility and compression, and
Volume.

Conventional fabrics

Premium conventional pack fabrics may be branded as Cordura, Dyneema, Robic, and X-Pac. They are all woven nylons, perhaps with a reinforcing gridstop of an exceptionally tough or thick fiber. They can be coated with PU or sil to improve resistance to water, abrasion, and tearing.


For long-term abuse, I would avoid any fabric less than 100 denier.


As a thru-hiker I put serious miles on a handful of packs. For example, I used one GoLite Jam for the length of my 7-month 6,875-mile Great Western Loop trip. And I used the ULA Epic for about two-thirds of my 6-month 4,700-mile Alaska-Yukon Expedition. The packs were made of 210d Dyneema and 210d Robic, respectively. These are high quality fabrics, but reasonably priced and widely available.


Top: A Cuben laminate with 150d black face polyester face fabric. Bottom: The 210d Robic nylon that is standard on ULA packs.


Cuben Fiber

On its own, Cuben Fiber is an inferior pack fabric, unless you are okay with:



Disposable gear, or,
Babying your backpack.

Why? Because Cuben has poor resistance to abrasion and puncture. For its weight, it’s pretty good, but for my uses I would never buy a pack made only of Cuben, even the heaviest version of it — it would get trashed by a few bushwhacks or rough bumps against granite.


Cuben laminates — whereby Cuben is glued to another fabric, like a 50d polyester — are another story. Their performance is more comparable to the premium woven nylons mentioned earlier, and some would argue that they are even better. The supposed value-added:



Weight-savings,
Greater tear-strength, and,
Waterproofness.

But I think this argumentation is dubious:


1. A pack made of a Cuben laminate will be marginally lighter, by perhaps 5 percent. The reason: the pack fabric constitutes just a small fraction of the overall pack weight. Most of the weight of a pack is its suspension, hipbelt, shoulder straps, and buckles and straps.


2. Based on past performance, standard woven nylons have proven to have sufficient durability for hard, multi-month trips.


3. With extended use, Cuben laminate packs will not remain waterproof. So, as with a pack made of woven nylon, you will need to waterproof your gear. I recommend using a 20-gallon trash compactor bag as a pack liner.


Is Cuben worth it?

If you find a Cuben laminate pack that fits you perfectly and that has your exact wish list of features, go for it.


But I would strongly discourage limiting your search to packs only made of Cuben. They are not functionally lighter or tougher than packs made of conventional woven nylons, and you will pay $50-100 more for it.


Your turn: Do you think that Cuben Fiber is worth the price? Leave a comment.

Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.



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Published on March 08, 2017 07:33

March 3, 2017

Final Friday Giveaway: Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide || Plus, Flex Capacitor winners!



Big shipment #1 of 2. Ready for the PO.


Next week the second edition of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide will be officially released.


If you pre-ordered a copy from me, it was shipped earlier this week. If you order one now, it will be shipped within 24 hours. If you ordered the hardcopy or Kindle edition from Amazon, it will ship or downloaded on March 7.


Multiple copies of the Gear Guide have been given away already. Most recently, Sierra Designs awarded two people with the Gear Guide and a new Flex Capacitor 40-60 Pack. Congrats to the winners:



Laura H. of Denver, and
Tom T. of Benton, Miss.

Final giveaway

For those unlucky so far, I’ll do one more giveaway. The winner will be drawn tomorrow morning at around 8 AM MST, before Amanda and I take off for spring skiing at nearby Eldora.


The giveaway is now closed. The winner was Ricky R, lucky #306.



Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.



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Published on March 03, 2017 06:26

March 2, 2017

Review: Men’s Nike Hypercool Compression 6″ Short



While I was researching for my recent review of the Under Armour Sonic Compression Short, I saw a new (at least to me) model from Nike that looked similar to the original Pro Combat Short, which I had worn before the Sonic. I was disappointed when Nike replaced it with the Pro Combat 2.0 Short, which were too thin to be used as standalone running shorts.


Sadly, the Nike Hypercool Compression 6-inch Short, which retails for $28, is not a suitable replacement for the Sonic Short or the original Pro Combat Short. They are simply too sheer to serve as standalone running shorts. They are best layered underneath other shorts or pants.


If I were recommending underwear, however, I would point you to the Jockey Men’s Sport Mesh Midway Brief, which are $10 less and comparably constructed.


The Hypercool fabric is so sheer that my fingers can be seen through it.


Even if the fabric had not been a deal-breaker, the fit may have been. The Small is supposedly for 29-31 inch waists. I’m a solid 29 right now, yet I could not pull the Hypercool over my knees without a fight. With a 10 percent spandex content, I’m sure that I could have pulled them on, but probably at the detriment to their lifespan — when stretched excessively, a thin fabric will not last long.



Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.



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Published on March 02, 2017 16:08

February 26, 2017

Worth a look: SD’s spring clearance, up to 50% off || And, High Route back in stock



Smiling in -10 F in Rocky Mountain National Park in late-February, and not just because Dave is a happy guy. His baffled parka is a must-have for winter hiking and camping.


First off, the High Route Tent is back in stock, as of Friday. If we sell through this inventory, we have a bigger batch arriving in early-April.


Next, Sierra Designs is clearing out their inventory in advance of new arrivals. The High Route Tent and Flex Capacitor 40-60 Pack are among the few items that are not on the sale list, which otherwise includes most tents, sleeping bags, and men’s and women’s apparel.


View all SD sale items


If I were doing personal shopping, here are the items I would most consider:


Elite DriDown Hoody, now $124 (XL and XXL only). An ideal 3-season jacket for the Mountain West, or cooler season in the East.


Elite DriDown Parka, now $175. For winter trips in cold temperatures, and fall hunting trips when you’re not generating much body heat.


S/S Pack Polo, now $34. The long-sleeve version is my go-to for milder temperatures in the West (read my long-term review). The short-sleeve is more suitable for the East, or for those who are willing to regularly apply sunscreen. The same selling points apply: unmatched air permeability, quick dry, good looks. The treated polyester has proven more stink-resistant than conventional polyester, but it’s not as good as wool.


Mobile Mummy 30-deg 800, now $210. For most of my trips I use a quilt, except when temperatures will be regularly below freezing — at that point, quilts are simply too drafty to be comfortable. So I have a mummy in my closet for these colder temperatures. This Mobile Mummy has a lot of things going for it — just $210 and 1 lb 11 oz, and many features that make it more versatile than a conventional mummy, e.g. front zip, arm ports, and a jacket-style hood.



Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.



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Published on February 26, 2017 05:57

February 24, 2017

Long-term Review || Running favorite: Under Armour HeatGear Sonic Compression Shorts



For long runs when I cannot risk chafing, and for runs in temperatures colder than about 55 degrees, my go-to has been the Under Armour Sonic Compression Short. Left: Run Rabbit Run 100, a 20-hour ultra. Right: Colorado Marathon in temps just above freezing.


For the past three years the Under Armour HeatGear Sonic Compression Short has been my go-to running short. After 500+ runs — including my biggest races like Run Rabbit Run 100, the Colorado Marathon, and San Juan Solstice 50 — I feel very confident in writing a long-term review.


I use the Sonic Shorts primarily for:



Temperatures below 55 degrees, when I find conventional split running shorts too drafty;
Temperatures below 35 degrees, when beneath my full-length tights I want supportive and thin underwear with mid-thigh coverage; and,
Any run longer than about 2 hours, when I cannot risk any chafing.

Of the three pairs of Sonic Shorts that I have purchased (with personal funds), two are still fully operational. The first pair no longer provides satisfactory performance due to lost elasticity.


Availability

The Sonic Shorts are still available on Amazon, for about $20.


However, officially they have been replaced with the HeatGear Armour Compression Shorts. I have confirmed with UA that most everything is the same: fabric, inseam, patterning, seam types, etc. They changed the waistband and made a claim about “better construction” but had no additional details.


The Sonic Shorts are more “tight shorts” than “compression shorts,” especially after a few wears. I find them comfortable and supportive enough for multi-hour runs.


Onto the pros and cons:


Price

At $25 MSRP the Sonic Shorts are attractively priced. But they are very basic: one fabric, simple patterning, and a jockstrap-like waistband. Do not expect a built-in brief or even an accessory pocket.


Sizing and compression

I have a 29- or 30-inch waist, depending on the training cycle and the cut of my jeans. The Sonic Short in size Medium (30”-32”) are true to size. They fit very snugly at first — legitimate “compression” — but they loosen up within a few wears and become comfortable “short tights.”


Inseam

The Sonic Short is spec’d with a 6-inch inseam. I would have thought this would only be the case with the sample size (normally, Large) but my size Medium have a 6-inch inseam, too.


I think 6 inches is the perfect length. It’s long enough to prevent chafing and to keep my legs warm in brisk temperatures, but not so long that the hemline bothers the tendons above my knee.


Fabric thickness

The single best feature of the Sonic Shorts is the fabric. It’s a run-of-the-mill 84 percent polyester/16 percent spandex blend, but these shorts are a perfect application for it. It’s:



Stretchy and conforming, but still adequately supportive; and,
Thin and cool, but not too sheer or revealing (double-layer construction in the groin helps).

I much prefer the Sonic fabric to that used in the R-Gear SpeedPro Shorts, which is thicker and has 30 percent more spandex (79/21 blend). Those shorts are less supportive (too much stretch), less comfortable in warmer temperatures (too heavy and too much moisture retention), and less long-lasting because the elasticity loses its rebound.


Patterning

My single gripe of the Sonic Short — and it’s a big one — is its patterning. It seems anatomically oblivious, designed to fit a mannequin, not a male with balls and a penis.


Preferably, I’d like a “pouch” to hold my reproductive organs. But in the Sonic Short, it must be directed to the left or right, possibly across a flatlock seam (which is smoother than other seam types but rougher than plain fabric). Everything is held in place by the stretchy fabric, although occasional adjustment will be necessary depending on the weather and fit.


I have considered wearing underwear beneath the Sonic Short, essentially replicating the UA Run True Half Tight, which has a built-in brief. But I’ve always erred on the side of simplicity and a single lightweight fabric, and can only recall an instance or two when I had some minor chafing.


Buy the Sonic Short now from Amazon

Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.



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Published on February 24, 2017 09:23

February 21, 2017

Reader question: Should I change my High Sierra itinerary due the heavy snowfall?



Extensive snow coverage on the north side of Mather Pass, looking towards Palisade Lakes, after a very wet winter. Taken June 28, 2006.


A reader question from Gabino:


In August I was planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail through the High Sierra from South Lake Tahoe to Horseshoe Meadow. But all of this rain & snow has me concerned about lingering snowfields, high stream crossings, and late mosquitoes. Should I reschedule to September, instead?


I’m sure that every backpacker planning to undertake the PCT, JMT, Sierra High Route, Kings Canyon High Basin Route, or any other high-elevation route in California’s High Sierra is wondering the same thing right now. Here are some thoughts:


California’s snowpack: The Facts

There are many ways to record and analyze the snowpack, but I’ve always liked these snowpack plots from California’s Department of Water Resources. They show the current snowpack relative to the “average” winter, or to actual past winters.


If you have backpacked in the High Sierra for many years, this “percentage of average” figure can be used to accurately predict summertime conditions. CDWR divides the Sierra Nevada into three main watersheds. The High Sierra is encompassed mostly by Central and South.


In the charts below, you can see that more snow blankets the Sierra Nevada right now than anytime since the winter of 2011-12. Of course, several of these years were droughts, with the 2014-15 winter being the driest ever recorded.



This winter is tracking more closely to the biggest winters in recent memory — 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2010-11. And in the central and southern parts of the Sierra Nevada, it is on par with the wettest winter ever, 1982-83.



And the winter is not over yet

The snowpack typically peaks on April 1. In an average year, before April 1 more snow falls than melts; and, after April 1, more snow melts than falls. But wet winters tend to be longer, and the snowpack often does not peak until mid- or late-April.


Right now it’s only late-February and the snowpack is already well above its April 1 average. Even if the snow-machine turned off tomorrow, there is already so much snow on the ground that conditions will probably at least be “average” in the summer. More likely, however, snow will continue to fall and it will be a late spring.


Conditions after a wet winter

A wet winter presents a few obstacles for summertime backpacking.


Lingering snowpack

The High Sierra has a few glaciers and permanent snowfields. Everywhere else, the snowpack melts off completely. After a wet winter, it simply takes longer for the snow to melt.


Early-season hikers are affected most, with several miles of lingering snow on both the north and south sides of major passes. Look at the photo at the top of this page for a good example.


Sometime in June the snow becomes consolidated, and you can walk on top of it. But before that point, it rots in the afternoon (after the sun and warm temperatures melt the crust from the night before) and arduous post-holing ensues.


But even after it’s consolidated, the High Sierra snowpack is rarely pleasant. It becomes covered in small depressions (“sun cups”) that make for tedious walking.


Annoying sun cups near Selden Pass


High water and wet meadows

During peak runoff — normally in June, when temperatures are finally high enough to cause extensive melting — the rivers will be scary. At the right place and time of day, some will be pretty scary in July, too.


The creek flows are cyclical. In the morning, when temperatures are low and the sun is barely up, there is relatively little runoff. In the afternoon, after a full day of warm temperatures and intense sunshine, there is a lot. Plan your days around the creek crossings. And learn to read your map to identify safer ford locations — the trail is designed for July-September conditions, not June, and not July after a very wet winter.


By August the water levels should be manageable. When I did the JMT in 2010-11 after a big winter, there were only two crossings where we had to get our feet wet. Elsewhere, there were constructed bridges, downed trees, and rock steps.


In late-June 2006 I crossed Evolution Creek at the meadow about a half-mile above the trail crossing. Here, at 5 PM, it was MUCH safer. The trail crossing would have been a swim.


Mosquitoes

Normally the High Sierra mosquitoes peak in July, and dwindle or die-off in August as the meadows dry up. I would expect a late hatch, because they can’t come out until the ground is snow-free; and they will probably persist through August, until the first frosts of September.


Thankfully, mosquitoes can be managed. Some reading:



The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide || Chapter 1: Clothing (newest info)
Core Clothing || Item #3: The Bug Shirt
Clothing system for peak mosquito season
Tips for Coping with Horrific Mosquitoes

Learn to manage mosquitoes, or your back will look like this. Donohue Pass, August 2011.


Should you change your itinerary?

Without knowing more about your situation, I can’t answer that for you. If you want some specific feedback, leave a comment below. Given the current conditions, I don’t expect any unprecedented challenges for 2017 hikers — we’ve seen these conditions before, although not often.


Some specific predictions:


May: Bring skis.


June: Anticipate extensive snow coverage at the higher elevations, and high water crossings, especially in the afternoons. Earlier in the month, the snow will often be rotten in the afternoon. Later in the month, most of it will have consolidated but it will be sun-cupped.


July: The snowpack will melt off and the creeks will come down, but the mosquitoes will hatch.


August: The first month of “normal” backpacking in the High Sierra, but with heavier bug pressure. It will be more like July.


Finally, September will be the nicest month of the year:



No lingering snow, high water, or mosquitoes;
Fewer people, especially after Labor Day; and,
Cooler daytime temperatures and a less intense sun.

Of course, September is always the nicest month, except when the High Sierra is on fire.


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Published on February 21, 2017 15:07

Giveaway: Win a Flex Capacitor Pack & The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide




Sierra Designs is putting on a giveaway that you’ll want to get in on, through this Thursday (Feb 24). Enter to win a Flex Capacitor 40-60 Pack and a signed copy of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide.


Enter here at SierraDesigns.com

Update. This contest has closed. 


Congrats to the winners:



Laura H. of Denver, and
Tom T. of Benton, Miss.

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Published on February 21, 2017 06:54

February 20, 2017

Inventory update: High Route Tent



Update (Feb 26): The High Route is currently back in stock.


For about a month the Sierra Designs High Route Tent has been unavailable:



The gearing-up season has already started, and I’ve received a few direct inquiries about when it will become available again, which means that probably a few more people are wondering the same.


The answer: Not long. Here is the official line from SD:



Some units are being air-shipped this week, and will be back in stock later this week (Feb 24th-ish) or early the following week.
The remaining balance will ocean ship and be available April 1-15th.

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Published on February 20, 2017 06:33