Tramping Equipment: Macpac Uber Lite down jacket

 ...My new winter clothing items...

Here is my latest outdoor equipment purchase the Macpac Uber Lite down jacket. I brought this recently in the Macpac winter sale and with the sale prices and club membership discount it cost me only $99 New Zealand dollars. 

The Macpac Uber Lite Jacket

I have previously owned a down jacket for using on my tramping trips but have not used it for several years as it became too small to fit my body. I could not do the zip up on the front as my advancing years and increasing chonk meant it was too small. You must be able to zip up your down jacket to keep in the air which warms you. 

Front zipper on the Uber Lite from Macpac

As you would have seen my go to warm layer is a Hunting and Fishing fleece top. these have many good features the best of which is ease of drying, warmth when wet and durability. The main problems with these tops is their bulk and weight...my fleece easily tops 500 gm's. 

Down jackets by comparison are super lite weights and pack down to basically nothing. this jacket is around 300 gm's and packs down to the size of a 600ml coke bottle. Down is significantly warmer for weight than fleece but they are useless if wet and are not as robust as your average fleece jacket. 

...the Uber Lite weighs in at 300 gm's...

Here are some specifications about the Uber Lite jacket:

Inner fabric: 100% Nylon

Fill Type: 90/10 RDS Duck Down

Fill Power: 650

Fill Weight(gms): 120 (4XL)

Main Fabric: 100% Nylon

Weight: 320gms (size 4XL)

The Uber Lite has a main zip up the front of the jacket from waist to neck and a padded collar around the neck to retain heat. It has two external zipped pockets and two internal pockets for gear storage. The fit is loose rather than athletic and sizes range from XS to 4XL in the men's jacket. There are jackets with and without a hood but hooded jackets go to size 20/3XL only!

Macpac Uber lite jacket...front

...zip pockets on the Uber Lite jacket...

The Uber jacket comes with a nifty waterproof Nylon bag which is the correct size to hold the jacket. Remember...stuff your jacket into the carry bag and do not fold it or roll it. All down products should be stuffed and not folded to prolong life of the insulation. 

Loose fitting through the back...Uber Lite

There are four colors with Black/Blue/Olive Oil/Tapestry and I currently own two Uber Lite jackets one in Olive Oil and one in Tapestry. Only the Tapestry and Olive Oil go up to size 24/4XL the black and navy blue variants are only to size 20/3XL...

The Uber Lite in 'Olive Oil' color...

Uber Lite jacket in 'Tapestry'

I have only worn the jacket a couple of times so far and I find it comfortable, warm and easy to use. I took it with me on my recent Christchurch 360 Trail trip and it worked well. I will put up some photos of the jacket in action once I take it out on some adventures. 

Wearing my Uber jacket on the Christchurch 360 Trail

Here I am at a park at McCormicks Bay on the way to the end of this section of trail...

At Indie's Park while walking from Scarborough to Mt Pleasant

You are sure to see my Uber Lite jackets going into the future and the next opportunity will probably be when I visit the Able Tasman Coast Track in early August. 

You Tube: Macpac Uber Lite jacket 

Tramping Equipment: Canon M50 Mark II camera

A quick look at my tramping camera...

I recently upgraded my camera equipment from the older point and shoot camera I had to a new Canon mirrorless camera with more advanced features. I am hoping that the new camera will enable me to produce better quality images for both this blog and my You Tube channel. 

Self portrait at Punchbowl Falls in March

I thought I would have a quick look at my camera gear after this new purchase. 

My old camera gear:

Up until the last year I have been using a succession of cheap point and shoot cameras I have been buying off Trade Me. The quality of the images from any digital camera made after 2015 are good enough to post on the blog and I was happy to use a simpler camera when tramping. 

Two of the previous cameras I have used

For the most part I have been using various models of the popular Canon Powershot camera which can be had for anywhere from $40-$100 dollars second hand. They are still excellent cameras and if you want something better than a phone camera this is a good start point. 

An older Canon SX170IS digital camera

This was fine when I only needed photos for my blog but once I started my NZ Bush Adventures channel on You Tube I needed to up date my equipment. The main problem is that older digital cameras will only film in 720p HD which is not high enough quality for good You Tube production. 

The number relates to the number of pixels...720p is fine for photos but the standard for video is now 1080, 2820 or 4 K. Filming in Fine High Definition (FHD) means clearer, sharper video with better color saturation. 

My Canon SX410 would only film in 720p HD

I have been unable to find a second hand camera that was cheap enough and also took at least 1080 FHD film and photos. After much research I decided I needed to bite the bullet and invest in some brand new photo equipment to drag me into the second decade of the 21st century.

Canon M50 Mark II:

My new camera is a Canon M50 Mark II. This is a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses and the ability to add other photography equipment like tripods, microphones, lights, filters and lens hoods. This camera is in the style of a DSLR but on a smaller scale...lighter, more compact but with the features of a full frame camera. 

Canon M50 Mark II mirrorless camera

I have upgraded so that the quality of both my photos and videos are better. The new camera allows me to make use of a range of specific lenses suited to different conditions and particular subjects. It is also able to film in 1080 FHD and 4 K so the quality of the films are a lot better...sharper, greater focus and color corrected.

Canon M50 Mark II...view of the top controls

The M50 is one of the more commonly used cameras for vlogging as it has many of the ideal features to make it good at this role. In particular the ability to film in 4 K, the flip screen, image stabilization, touch screen, ability to change lenses and plug for a exterior microphone. I'm still coming to terms with using it as I am not a photographer (yet) but the potential is obvious. 

Ancillary camera equipment:

While the M50 is fine right out of the box a few ancillary items will make it more useful and easier to use. I am slowly acquiring all of the equipment I need to make the best use of the camera and this will be an ongoing task as photography gear is heinously expensive here in New Zealand. I will look at a couple of items I have already brought....

Camera Bag:

I purchased a new Lowe camera bag to hold some of the gear I need to have to make the most of the camera. The one I brought is large enough to hold the camera itself, a couple of extra batteries and some SD cards. 

My LowePro camera bag

The bag has one large pocket for the camera and several smaller one for other gear and fits on the hip belt of both of my main tramping packs. 

Microphone:

One of the features of the Canon M50 is a port for an exterior microphone...a vital part of a vlogging rig. Some commentators believe that the audio is more important than the film itself so a good quality microphone is a vital piece of equipment. 

My Boya microphone kit

I brought a Boya microphone off Trade Me for a very acceptable price...it is a Cardioid type with a fluffy wind sock to cut wind noise. 

Boya Cardioid microphone model BY-MM1

I have used it on several of my vlog posts and it will eventually become a piece of gear I always carry with me. 

Filters/hoods:

Filters are basically like sunglasses for your camera and help deal with intense sunlight which might over expose your photos. There are a variety of types and a range of companies making filters for any size and type of lens. I brought a set of filters for the M50 from a company called K&F Concepts...available through Trade Me.

Various filters: Carry wallet, UV, variable ND and solid ND

The set included a UV filter to enhance photographs of water, a variable filter with the ability to decrease/increase the darkness level and a solid dark filter for extreme sunlight. I also have a lens hood for the camera to stop sunlight flares off the lens.

Various caps for camera and spare lenses

Additionally I have a series of lens caps to protect the fragile contact points on my kit lens and my EF 35-80 lens. 

EF to EF-M lens Adaptor:

An EF to EF-M adaptor allows you to use full frame lenses on a mirrorless camera thus gaining some of the advantages of using the larger lens. I have an older DSLR with a couple of EF lenses so buying this adaptor meant I could make use of the existing lenses I already had.

A Canon EF to EF-M lens adapter

There are a lot of second hand EF lenses on the market as they have been the Canon standard for the last 20 years so I will gradually acquire some new or second hand lenses to enhance my photography kit. 

Spare batteries:

You only get the one camera battery with the M50 kit so I have purchased three additional off brand batteries for the M50. I also purchased a USB type battery charger so I can re charge them from my power bank in the field.  

My USB charger and spare batteries

With the kit battery and three spares I should have enough battery power for 4-5 days without recharge. 

My camera gear list:

Here is a complete list of the equipment I have for the camera at this stage. 

Canon M50 Mark II, with 14-45 EF-M kit lens*

Canon EF to EF-M lens adaptor (allows me to use EF lenses on a EF-M camera)

Canon 35-80 EF lens (I already owned this lens from a previous DSLR camera)

...a Canon 35-80 EF lens I already owned....

Canon lens hood (49mm)*

LowePro Camera Bag

K&F Filter set (49mm) (MCUV/ND adaptive/Polarizing filter)

Boya Cardioid microphone set*

4X LH12E batteries* plus a USB type charger

You will need cleaning tools for your camera

I usually just carry the camera, kit lens and microphone (*) on my tramps...the other equipment I take as and when required. I could use a portrait lens (fixed 50mm) and a 12-22 EF lens for my vlogs but they will require time to acquire as a decent lens is from $400-$900 in New Zealand. 

A selection of example photos...

I have been using the camera for a couple of weeks now and have included a couple of photographs to give you an idea of the images I can capture with this camera. The greatest increase has been on my vlogs so have a look at my You Tube channel to see the change in quality. 

Otamahua/Quail Island from Gilpins Track

Lyttleton Harbor and Mt Herbert

A photo taken up the Otira Valley on the M50

A photo taken up the Otira Valley on the M50

North face of Mt Rolleston from Bealey Valley

South Island Robin

South Island Robin

Bealey River from the bridge near the village

I am slowly learning about digital photography but you can already see that using a quality camera can bring improvement to my blog images and vlogs. 

A pack for every adventure...

 

 My three most used backpacks...

I am a bit of a gear collector and have quite a good selection of outdoor equipment to take on my adventures around the country. While your basic gear load may be the same each trip I believe that individual trips will require some specific gear for a safe and comfortable experience. Items like food, packs, sleeping bags, tents and clothing will vary with the conditions you expect to face. 

My standard day trip load...

I have multiple tents, cookers, sleeping bags and packs which I tailor to a particular trip. When it comes to packs I currently own five decent packs with sizes ranging from 40 liters right up to 75 liters. This gives me the ability to choose a backpack that will best fit the type of trip I am planning. 

Rainbow Reach on the Kepler Track...Atmos AG 50

What I find though is that I keep using three main bags as between them one or the other will fulfill every need I may have. The three packs are the Vaude Brenta 40, the Osprey Atmos 50 AG and the Osprey Volt 75. 

Vaude Brenta 40l: 

Used for: Day trips, overnight trips:

I am a big fan of Vaude products and I currently own three Vaude backpacks ranging in size from 40 liters to 65+10 liters. Vaude is a well regarded German outdoor equipment manufacturer and their tents, sleeping bags and packs are some of the best in the world. 

I also own a Vaude Astra 65+10 pack....

...and a Vaude Brenta 50l pack...

I have one of their lighter backpacks which I use for short overnight trips and as my day tramping bag. This is the Brenta 40l pack and it has all of the features of its bigger 65 and 75 liter cousins. It is really a bit big for day trips unless I need to haul a lot of warm gear, ice axes or crampons. 

Vaude Brenta 40l pack is also red

Here is what I usually carry in the Brenta 40 for a typical day trip...clothing, safety equipment, wet weather gear and water. Added to this would be food for the day including some snacks, lunch and drink powders. 

My Vaude Brenta 40 with a typical day trip load

I have been using the Brenta 40 for four years now and it is an excellent pack. It has a really good harness system and provided you don't overload it it is comfortable for many hours. Ventilation is excellent and it is tough enough to take a few knocks without compromising its structure. 

The Brenta has an integral rain-cover contained in a small pocket on the bottom of the tent although I always carry my gear in a plastic bag to stop water ingress. No pack is totally waterproof despite what outdoor companies tell you and it is awful to need warm dry clothing and open your bag to find it is all soaking wet. 

Atop Mt Herbert in 2021 on a windy day

Break time on the Bealey Valley Track...

Heading for Packhorse Hut with the Brenta

Lunchtime at Bushline Hut, Nelson Lakes NP

I am happy to give the Brenta 40l eight out of ten stars...

It is a stylish, comfortable and well thought out pack and a pleasure to use. After four years of use it still looks good and I do not anticipate any problems with it in the near future. You are certain to see it on my adventures for some time to come.

Osprey Atmos 50 AG:

Used for: Overnight trips to bookable huts, Great Walks, Te Araroa Trail sections

Beside Vaude the other pack brand I favor is Osprey from the United States. Osprey have an excellent name among the outdoor community for high quality gear with a lot of thought going into the set up, materials and technology they use. They are a weight conscious brand and they have probably the best range of lite weight packs on the market bar specific UL manufacturers like ULA, Gossamer Gear & Hyperlite etc. 

An array of Osprey packs in an outdoor store

A lot of my multiday tramping trips over the last 2-3 years have been to bookable huts, remote huts or Great Walk huts. The thing with all three categories of hut is that you are either guaranteed or highly likely to have a bunk for the night. This means you don't have to carry any camping equipment with you saving weight and space. 

...guaranteed bunk for the night on the Great walks...

If you do not need to pack a tent, mat and ground sheet in your pack you can get by with a smaller pack. This is the main reason I brought a Osprey Atmos 50 AG pack. This pack is more than big enough to carry 3-5 days of equipment and I have used it exclusively on all of my Great Walk tramps from 2018 to the present. 

Osprey Atmos 50 AG pack

The primary use of my Osprey Atmos pack is for 2-3 night tramps where I will be staying in a hut. In a pinch I can carry my camping gear with this pack but it is a squeeze so I use my heavy life Volt 75 pack for those trips. 

Here is a typical equipment load for one of these trips...this is without food:

Osprey Atmos with an overnight load...Great Walk or bookable huts

Specifications for the Atmos 50 AG are as follows:

The Atmos 50 has become my 'go to' pack and I use it on around 60% of the tramps I am doing. I has gone to most corners of the South Island and Rakuira now but has yet to see any service in the North Island. 

The Atmos hanging in Lakehead Hut in 2020

A map check stop in the Hawdon Valley....

Atmos 50 on the Rakuira Track back in 2019

The shoulder harnesses on Osprey packs are always good but it is spectacular on this pack. I have carried it for 7-8 hours before and my legs give out way before my back does. It is comfortable and has great ventilation across the back with their patented Anti Gravity system. The waist belt is fantastic and molds around your hips for exceptional weight carrying ability. I have recommended this pack to dozens of people over the last four odd years...

The Atmos is the most comfortable pack I own...

Turkey Flat in the Waimakiriri Valley enroute from Carrington Hut

The Atmos 50 AG gets nine stars out of ten from Jon...only nine because any pack would more or less need to carry itself to get ten stars!!!

I am going to be sad when this pack finally gives up the ghost as it has become a solid companion on many adventures. I almost want to buy another and store it away for later use that is how much I like this wee beast...

 

Osprey Volt 75:

Used for: Heavy loads...longer trips from 3-7 days, camping, Winter trips:

The third pack I would like to talk about is my Volt 75l pack which I purchased back in 2018 as a heavy load replacement for my Vaude Astra. The Volt is basically a big olde sack that I can fill with all the equipment I usually carry as well as a full set of camping gear. With a bigger load carrier all your gear can stay safe on the inside of your pack and not hanging precariously on the outside. 

Osprey Volt 75l pack...heavy load carrier

This is my gear load out with camping equipment included. This includes a tent, sleeping mat, ground sheet and sometimes a small tarp for more living space. 

A full load...gear for a multiday or camping trip

My Volt is the heavy load carrier amongst these packs...it is the one I use if I am carrying a multiday load of food and gear. It has plenty of internal space for my usual load of equipment plus space for a tent, sleeping mat and camping accessories if required. 

Here are some specifications for the Volt 75l.....

This pack has not seen as much use as the other two...my style of trips over the last couple of years have heavily favored Great Walks, day walks and trips to bookable huts. I have used it most notably on my tramp of the Travers-Sabine Circuit and on the Casey-Binser Saddle trip. Now I have finished all the Great Walks I will be looking for more multiday trip ideas with the potential for camping. 

The Volt 75l near Hallelujah Flat in Arthurs Pass NP (2020)

The Volt 75 reminds me of Macpac packs I have seen...it is made from heavier duty materials and will last for a lifetime of tramping. New Zealand outdoor gear was traditionally built tough as we were very limited as to the gear you could get here. You brought a pack and expected it to last you a lifetime which some of them did. It is only over the last 20 years that overseas manufacturers have seen fit to sell their gear here in volume. 

The Macpac Torlese is similar to the Volt 75

The Volt is WAY lighter than any Macpac pack...1.8 kg's as opposed to something like 2.2-2.6 kg. For comparison...the Macpac Torlese pictured above is similar to the Volt but weighs 2.4 kg. That is 600 gm's heavier for less carry space. 

On Howard Saddle enroute to Sabine Hut (2018)

I have found the Volt to be a really comfortable pack and it has just enough technology to make it competitive. Even with a heavy load you arrive at your destination at the end of  the day feeling good. The pack has both excellent shoulder straps and waist belt and it can be adjusted to fit most medium to larger trampers.

 

The Volt 75 is an excellent heavy load carrier...

My one complaint about the Volt is inadequate airflow across my back...you get a bit sweating carrying it. It is a solid form shaped harness so not much air can get to your back. In reality it is not that bad and certainly better than many other brands. I have just been spoiled by the harness setup on the Atmos 50 which is the best I have ever used. 

Lakehead Track on the way to Kerr Bay in 2018

The Volt 75 is a rugged yet comfortable addition to my Gearshed...

I would give the Volt75 seven stars out of ten.

 I think it is a really awesome bit of kit and worth buying if you can find one. I will be using it for many years to come and my next outing with it will probably be a camping trip along the Abel Tasman Coast Track I am contemplating for later this year. 

My other packs:

Vaude Brenta 50

Used for: Overnight trips to bookable huts, day walks in Winter:

Another excellent pack from Vaude this was my main day trip pack from 2014-2018 and filled the roll admirably. I have also used this on a couple of overnight tramps including to Carrington Hut, Packhorse Hut, Nina Hut, Lake Daniell and to Rod Donald Hut. 

The Brenta 30 up the Otira Valley

Karen used this pack on the Abel Tasman Track in 2019 and thought it was good even though it was a little too big for her. Georgia also used it when we went up to Packhorse Hut to act as hut wardens back in 2019.

Karen crossing Awaroa Inlet wearing the Brenta 50

Georgia's feet got hot so into the river she went...

I still have this pack in my gear cupboards and will not dispose of it as it still has plenty of life left in it. I might use this for a short section hike in the Abel Tasman later this year although I now use the Atmos for those type of trips.

 

Vaude Astra 65+10

Used for: Heavy loads...longer trips from 3-7 days, camping, Winter trips:

This was the first new piece of equipment I brought when I started tramping again back in 2012. I brought a stash of new gear including a tent, sleeping bag and mat at that time and it was the start of my current gear shed. My choices at the time were dictated by my army gear and early tramping experiences before I knew anything about UL gear or lightening your load. 

The Astra on the Casey-Binser Circuit back in 2012

The Astra was my main overnight tramping pack from 2012 right up to 2018 when I replaced it in use with the Atmos 50 and Volt 75. It went to many different areas of the South Island such as the Casey-Binser Circuit, Wharfedale Hut, St James Walkway, Queen Charlotte Track, Hawdon Hut, Te Ara Pataka and Fyffe Hut to name a few. It was the pack I used on my first new Great Walk on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track in 2016. 

At the start of the St James Walkway in 2015

I am fond of this pack which is why I haven't sold it on Trade Me as it is a rugged, well designed bit of kit with some really good features. It is still my only 65 liter pack which is a good size for trips of 3-7 days. It also has an excellent harness with the ability to size to a persons torso. This means people other than myself can use it. 

Up the East Hawdon Valley in 2015

The main reason it doesn't get used more is two fold. It is heavy...it started at 2.2 kg's but I managed to get the weigh down to 2 kg by removing some straps etc. The other reason is that I have been visiting a lot of bookable huts and Great Walks and it is too big for these type of trips. 

Astra visits the Abel Tasman Coastal Track

I may sell it or give it away at some stage but I will be sad when I do so...

Future acquisitions?

I am in the market for a suitable 30-35l pack for my day tramps as my current stable are all a little big for this purpose. Ideally I would love to buy either another Vaude or Osprey pack to fill this role but Vaude is not readily available anymore and the price of Osprey packs has rocketed since Covid hit. 

The Osprey Talon 33 retails for NZD $299!!!!!

Ideally I would like a Vaude Brenta 30...Vaude have a whole family of packs in the Brenta range from 25-55 liters and they all have the same harness system. This means you can dial up or down the sizes and they will all be just as comfortable. 

The Vaude Brenta 30l pack

I can buy one overseas but not here in New Zealand which bothers me but that's what its like living at the bottom of the world. I look at this size range every time I'm in an outdoor store but have yet to find one that suits my requirements. 

The search goes on....