If you’re interested in ultralight backpacking at all, you’ve probably wondered just how much lighter gear can get. I certainly have: While manufacturers surprise me every year with strong-yet-light fabrics and smart cuts that shave off grams, it often seems to me like we’ve run up against the asymptote of how featherweight we can make backpacking equipment, and that there aren’t many strides left to make. What if our packs weighed nothing at all?
This episode is the latest of Failure is an Option Brendan Carberry is the host and former aerospace engineer of Outside Watch. He set out to test if attaching an heavy-duty balloon to his backpack could reduce its weight. Is hiking atop a giant inflatable balloon the way of the future? See him test his gravity-defying hypothesis in the video below. Failure is an Option Brendan tries to turn a few canisters into a bear bag that is assisted by a balloon, an ultimate camplight, a motorless robot, and much more.
Haven’t watched Failure is an Option yet? You’re in for a treat. Brendan creates a hoverboard using leafblowers. To building a boat out of…
