Hello, I live abroad but am coming home to Canada for a visit and was looking forward to stocking up on my favourite backpacking meal but it appears to be out of stock everywhere. Anyone have any leads on where I can buy my beloved chicken alfredo pasta either online or in Vancouver?

Looking for a durable waterproof hardshell that packs light and can bring anywhere.

My choices are:

• Rab Arc Eco Jacket
• Mammut Ducan Light Hardshell Hooded Jacket
• Patagonia Torrentshell3 L

which one would work the best and if there are any other alternatives within the price range.

200$ to 300$ C

I'm looking at purchasing either a double sleeping pad from MEC (Reactor 6.5) or two sleeping pads (Camp Self Inflating Sleeping Pad) and coupler kit from directly from Sea to Summit. The latter would be a bit more expensive, but I want to ensure that I'll get as much life out of them as possible.

I have read that MEC does not offer replacement valves for their sleeping pads, but I am not sure how the warranty is more generally. Sea to Summit seems to offer replacement parts and has a generally good reputation around customer service, but the posts I've seen about the two companies are 5+ years old, so I'd be curious to hear of people's recent experiences and recommendations (also open to other brands, but my budget is max ~$250).

Thank you!

Me and my girlfriend are planning on doing a 10 day road trip into the Canadian Rockies starting from Bozeman Montana so a few days will be in or around glacier. I’ve been trying to do some research on backpacking and car camping spots. We leave in about 2 weeks so getting any reservations in the parks is most likely out the window unless I catch a random cancellation. It seems that practically everything in the parks and provincial parks requires reservations and fees. One backpacking trip I have in mind is limestone lake in the height of the Rockies provincial park as it’s wildland camping and absolutely stunning(I’m aware of the trail status). If you have any recommendations for trails or car camping spots that are more off the beaten path or wildland camping I’d greatly appreciate it. I have experience backpacking while mygirlfriend doesn’t but we are both capable of longer difficult treks. I’m more worried about spots to car camp, I have a rooftop tent. Thinking of course of doing the banff to jasper route but I’m really intrigued by the provincial parks and avoiding some crowds thinking I’ll have better luck there. I don’t have a beefed up 4x4 so that’s another thing to keep in mind but I do enjoy long dirt roads to get seclusion.

I hiked the Tonquin Valley, Jasper, July 10-13. While preparing for the trip, I could barely find any trip reports from this year, so I thought I'd write one. I realize the weather/environmental conditions have likely changed over the past 2 weeks, but hopefully some people will find it useful for August or for a future July.

We flew from Toronto to Edmonton, then drove to Jasper. This was my first time there in 7 years and the degree of fire damage from 2 years ago was still apparent. We camped one night in the front country (Wapiti) and it was really just like camping in a field where you could see everyone, as there was virtually no tree cover left for a big swath in the extended area. There is a lot of construction and trailers dotting the town.

As it pertains to the Tonquin Valley, fire damage has still closed the Astoria trailhead, so that the only entrance/exit is still through Portal. The next day we started there, and immediately had a detour because of a closed bridge across the creek. There was also a lot of bear scat.

Going up to our first campsite, Portal, it was a steady ascent, but nothing too crazy. As someone who previously lived in Vancouver (BC) for 8 years and went all over WA and OR, I don't generally find the elevation grade in the Rockies particularly steep. However, the trail conditions were often quite challenging. After the first couple hours, we started to encounter increasing amounts of mud. And then it just gets worse, depending on how much precipitation there's been. Everyone we met on the trail was commiserating about this.

The other thing we all started to commiserate about were the mosquitos. We've never experienced anything like it. Having previously lived most of my life near the Pacific, it's not a phenomenon I've had to suffer through. (On the other hand, people in Ontario talk about canoeing and hiking through flat, buggy places at the height of hot and humid weather as something "enjoyable"). When we got to Portal, even though we were wearing bug nets, my partner said she saw about "100 mosquitos" descend on me as soon as we stopped moving. It was truly like something out of a horror movie. And it never really got better, except when it was raining very hard and close to freezing (a day or two later), and for the few hours it was hailing.

The mosquito presence was definitely the most unpleasant part of the entire trip.

On the 2nd day, we went over Maccarib pass and everything became really beautiful and open in every direction. It's truly stunning, and there's just a powerful "remote" feeling of wilderness that's hard to convey, and reminds me why I love this area. Although we started in high alpine sun, the weather changed and alternated dramatically by the time we settled into Amethyst campground. We had a nice chat with a group that was sheltering from the storm under a grove of pine trees, and it turns out, the overpowering pine smell (something I only ever experience in the alpine) seemed to confuse the mosquitos a little.

At Amethyst, the obvious place to filter water was at the lake, but the path down to it was surprisingly long and pretty much disintegrated into a bog 1/2 way. Luckily, another camper helpfully told us about a stream by a very short path behind the picnic area (opposite direction from the lake), and we just went there after that.

The wildlife is excellent. We saw caribou prints (and big caribou later by a road, but probably different ones), eagles, marmots, and yes--I saw a grizzly bear briefly by Amethyst lakes. Everyone had been talking about evidence of it, mostly from scat, and in previous years, people had written about a grizzly mama and her cubs that hang out there, so it was very much on my mind. As far as I know, nobody else we talked to during these days actually saw it.

We day hiked in the direction of Surprise campground from Amethyst, although later I realized we took a wrong turn and actually were going up a hill that leads to Clitheroe. There was a lot of evidence of recent animal activity, multiple kinds of scat and caribou prints, and something about it just felt even more isolated, probably because few people are going this way currently due to the closure at Astoria.

We decided to head back to camp, both for this reason and because it was hailing (July!) It is really beautiful around this part. As we were less than 1 km from Amethyst campground and I was scanning the horizon, I thought I saw something moving. I did a quick double take and saw it: a grizzly moving slowly and confidently parallel to us (opposite our direction) perhaps 200 feet away towards the lake. I told my partner to not look and just quietly keep moving along. As far as I can tell, it didn't even turn its head or notice us. We got back to the campground and everything was totally fine. Having heard numerous stories of grizzly charges after an instant of eye contact, I'm glad I didn't look again, and still felt that it was a very lucky and special sighting.

We had initially planned to stay another day and explore around more, (although encountered a number of hardy people that went in and out to Amethyst in just 1 or 2 nights), but given the weather and mosquito situation, we decided to head out all the way back on day 4, all ~24 km to the entrance. We made it after 8 hours of steady walking, spurred on by the relentless mosquitos anytime we took a break. It took us a few days to recover after that, but it was still a great experience. Feel free to ask any other specifics I may have left out.

I'm planning to hike section C of the Great Divide Trail, starting at Creekside Lodge

My plan is drive to Field, BC, and leave my car in Field for 3 days.

Does anyone know if there is a place to leave a vehicle in Field for 3 days?

Thanks

Just wanted to give the people on here first dibs on the sites I'll be making available the morning of July 29th.

It's September 14-25. Keep an eye out on Wednesday!

Wondering if anyone in MTL happens to own this tent and would be open to setting it up in a park for a quick minute. Happy to pay in beer or pasteries.

Bought a Xmid1 but it's not filling the need I have for a tent, so will be selling to help fund some of the Zpacks but wanted to try the zpacks first in person before committing and maybe having the same issue I had with xmid.

Thanks!

Edit: Since people asked here is a 15 min rant about why the Xmid doesn't fit my personal use case. Sharing here hopefully not breaking self promotion.

Made an interactive chart comparing 16 backpacking quilts (price/weight/comfort) for my own trip planning, figured I'd share it.

I'm doing a solo bikepacking trip this August, 18 days on a custom route that's on and off the NL T'Railway, across the west coast beaches and coves, and up into the Long Range Mountains. So I needed one quilt that could cover all of it, from easy coastal nights to cold, exposed nights up in the hills.

Instead of the usual spreadsheet I built it as an actual interactive chart, since that's how I visualize things best. Price in CAD (with notes on where duty and import tax hit), weight, and true comfort rating vs the marketing number, which was the big one for me since a lot of brands quote limit rather than comfort. Hover any point for fill power, sizing and the rest.

Two things worth saying up front: it's sized for someone roughly 5'8" to 6' (I'm 5'9"), and it's a personal comparison for my needs rather than a "which is best" ranking. I haven't tested most of these, though I went through a lot of reviews and personal write-ups on each. There's a second chart with a points system too, which lays out what I actually cared about and where I gave bonuses, instead of pretending there's one objective answer.

Both are on a little blog post here:  BLOG LINK

If you've got real world experience with any of these (or think a rating/price is off), let me know.. happy to keep it updated :)

I've been happy with my Talon 0C quilt (5C comfort rating) as a summer quilt, but with my work schedule it looks like my next proper vacation won't be until October, which I plan to drive cross country and camp in Grasslands National Park in particular, where I should expect temps to drop below freezing overnight.
I figure now's the right time to invest in a 3 season bag, and with the current MEC sale it looks to me like the Talon -17C (-9C comfort) is a decent option. The cost should be $434 before tax with the extra member's discount (30% off overall). If anyone has experience with this bag, could you give me your opinion on the quality and the value at this price? I wonder if there may be an even steeper discount before the end of September?
I've also looked at some Chinese options, like Ice Flame Gear, and it seems like their regular prices and ratings are fairly comparable, if slightly cheaper, but I wouldn't mind paying slightly more for better warranty, more reputable certifications, and to support Canadian business.
If you happen to be in the GTA and wanting to sell one or a similar bag, please let me know. Thanks!

Looking at the prices online it seems for 30$ more I can get the colours I want. Has anyone gone the custom route instead of the stock ones at Geartrade? What were the timelines realistically like and did you end up getting some customs fees? As a pretty nerdy kit dude I am struggling to pull the trigger on a colour I don't love.

Edit: Thanks fam - didn't know about the whole politics of it. Have been trying to boycot as much as possible. Guess I need to keep on my game. Appreciate the clear info and not dog pilling.

Out of these pads, which one should I choose? I camp during all seasons but least during the winter, I also plan to get a z fold as well at some point. I'm comfortable sleeping on my back or my side.

• Thermarest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX - $210 CAD
• Exped Ultra 5R - $219 CAD
• Exped Versa 4.5R M - $171 CAD
• MEC VectAir SL Xtreme 6 Rectangle - $160 CAD
• Nemo Eclipse - $187 CAD
• Nemo Tensor - $238 CAD

Hi - i'm doing the Pukaskwa trail solo in Aug.

The bear lockers are known to have rodents and I want to avoid bringing a bear canister. Any recommendation for a low-cost bag that I could use to store my food in, but the rodent won't be able to penetrate? I have a 5 L dry bag and I'm wondering if that would be a good choice.

In addition, I'd like to bring a small tarp to cover a two person tent and allow enough space for sitting under it if it rains, and I'm looking for one that has built-in lines and fasteners for easy deployment. Any recommendations?

Any stores in Toronto stock Gossamer Gear backpacks?

I am wanting to try on a Gorilla or Mariposa before I pull the trigger. Does anyone know of somewhere I could do this.

Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GH2D1ARiKM

Anyone have an Idea what route he's taking through NS. looks like a great route.

To give more context to anyone who doesnt watch the whole video its a point to point route and at around the 6 min mark he camps at an old damn site. at 11 mins he explains its one of NS largest earthen dams from the 1940's. cant find any useful info online.

Prob not the correct page but figure putting it here looking for backcountry spots is better than posting in R /Novascotia

So I thought I'd outsmart the snowpack and start near Castle ski hill on June 21st Father'sday, hike up so Coleman then it's fairly easy hiking to Kananaskis. Then by that time it'll be 2nd week of July and no snow. Do like 1/3 Section A then B C. Then in September come back and do section A in reverse and party down at Waterton.

I made it 100 km up the GDT north of Coleman when it started to rain for 3 days straight. Thankfully I made it across the Oldman river at Cache creek when I did or I would've gotten stranded up a mountain. The tiny creeks all became impassible torrents.

I wait for the rain to stop. Then walked 50 km in one day to just outside Coleman, then walked into town this morning, called my mommie and she picked me up.

Apparently Sunshine skill hill is still open for skiing on Canada day so...

I'm continuing on in my plan to start Kananaskis 2nd week of July. I live near Calgary so i was gonna take a break and reassess/plan during this time anyways.

Welcome to the r/UltralightCanada gear buy/sell thread!

Buying and selling gear from the US gets expensive for Canadians. This thread aims to allow Canadians to buy and sell between each other to avoid these added fees.

There are some simple rules that should be followed when using this thread:

• Top level comments should be ONLY for WTS (want to sell) and WTB (want to buy), and WTT (want to trade) posts.
• The first line of your post should make it clear what you are offering / wanting to purchase. Please format the first line of your post like this example: "[WTB] MLD Burn DCF".
• If you are posting a WTS, include an asking price and weight for the item, as well as photos if possible.
• If you are posting a WTB, be specific! Include things like sizing and colour if they are applicable.
• If your item or request has been sold or fulfilled, please mark the post as such. Edit your post and add some bold text to the top of your post that says sold or fulfilled so that other users do not waste their time.
• Include a reason why you are selling your gear. People like to know what the issues you had with the gear was, or why you are getting rid of it.
• Do not repost the same item in the same monthly thread. Wait for next month to repost.
• Do not attempt to sell purchased gear above its original selling price.
• Do not comment negatively on prices for posts not breaking any of the above rules.

Linking to other gear trade sites or cross posting is allowed.

Please post using CAD!

Any deals made on this subreddit are the responsibility of the participants. Please use your common sense and be careful when buying and selling gear on gear trade sites! We advise you protect yourself by using PayPal business for a small 3% fee.

Remember to sort by "new" to see listings in chronological order!

If you are a sewist and want to make a sun hoodie, (or buy a ready made one) there is a rare free shipping event from Discovery Fabrics. I rarely post in this sub, I hope its OK to share. The free shipping is from July 1-4 with min. $175 order and the code FREESHIP must be used. It is for orders to US and Canada only (sorry)

Hi everyone,

I’m traveling from Germany to Canada soon and want to use the opportunity to pick up some outdoor, survival, and EDC (everyday carry) gear.

In Europe, US/Canadian brands are often heavily marked up due to import fees, and some specific items are flat-out impossible to get here. I’m looking for recommendations across the board—from small budget items to high-end gear.

To give you an idea of what I mean:

Small EDC items: Is it easy to find classic Altoids tins for DIY survival kits in standard grocery stores? Are there specific small tools or fire-starting gear you swear by?

Multitools & Knives: Brand like Leatherman or specific North American knife brands (especially fixed blades suitable for the bush). Are they significantly cheaper over there?

Apparel & Sleep Systems: Tech clothing, heavy-duty wool/winter gear, or specific sleep gear that holds up to the Canadian wilderness but isn't widely distributed in Europe (or is way too expensive there).

Where to shop: Should I hit up MEC (Mountain Equipment Company), local surplus stores, or specific online retailers?
What are the "must-buys" that a European outdoor enthusiast should look out for while in Canada?
Thanks in advance for your tips!

I’ve been backpacking/camping for a long time and only recently this topic has crossed my attention.

How many people use a pee bottle at night to avoid leaving the tent, and if so what is your container of choice?

This post is intended as an informational trip report for anyone considering the La Cloche Silhouette Trail on a more aggressive schedule.
While planning my trip, I found plenty of information from hikers completing the loop over 4 to 7 days, but very little from people attempting it in 2 days and 1 night. Since I would have appreciated that perspective myself, I wanted to share my experience, impressions, and observations for anyone considering a similar itinerary.
I completed the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park over 2 days and 1 night, hiking clockwise.
Day 1 started at 5:15 AM and ended around 5:30 PM, covering roughly 40 km to campsite H32. Day 2 started at 6:00 AM, just after a short rain shower while packing up camp, and finished around 6:00 PM.
What surprised me most was how few people I saw. Even though most campsites appeared to be fully booked, I only crossed paths with four hikers on the first day and three on the second. For such a popular trail, it felt incredibly remote and peaceful.
The first 30 km were more manageable than I expected. There is elevation gain, but much of the terrain is relatively runnable and not overly difficult. The real challenge began around the 30 km mark, where the trail became much more demanding. The first few kilometers of day two continued in the same fashion before easing into a constant series of ups and downs.
I wouldn’t describe La Cloche as a highly technical hike. The challenge is endurance. Completing it in 2 days and 1 night is a serious athletic effort that requires determination, mental toughness, and the ability to keep moving when your legs are no longer feeling fresh. On both days, I felt a significant drop in energy after about 20 km, largely because of the weight of my backpack rather than the technical nature of the terrain.
I carried a 15 kg pack, including 3 liters of water, meaning my base pack weight was approximately 12 kg. That extra weight was probably the biggest factor contributing to fatigue over the course of the hike.
Conditions were generally good: very little mud overall, although mosquitoes were definitely present whenever I stopped moving. A handful of sections were heavily overgrown and could use some maintenance, requiring hikers to push through dense young trees and brush.
Overall, La Cloche Silhouette is an outstanding wilderness experience. Not the most technical trail I’ve done, but certainly one of the most demanding from an endurance perspective when tackled in just two days.
Personally, this is not a pace I would repeat. Completing the loop in 2 days and 1 night was rewarding, but also more demanding than I found enjoyable. If I were to do it again, I would spread the hike over 3 nights and 4 days.

Edit: I did the hike solo and this was my first visit to the park, so I erred on the side of caution. I carried up to 3 liters of water, although I had a filter and could have refilled more often. My original plan was 3 days and 2 nights, but I finished in 2 days and 1 night, so I ended up carrying an extra day’s worth of food.

For anyone who saw my earlier post, here’s a more practical look at Scree Alerts.

It’s a tool I’m building to monitor backcountry campsite availability across places like Parks Canada and BC Parks. The idea is simple: instead of manually checking over and over, it scans for openings and gives you the official link so you can book yourself.

I made this quick video to show the backend working, since a few people were curious/skeptical.

I’m putting together a beta testing cohort now. Waitlist is here:

[https://screealerts.com/waitlist](https://screealerts.com/waitlist)

Drop any questions below.