There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
This time, we’re talking to Danny Milks, who leads the Ultralight team at Massdrop. First, we’ll let you read a little about his background and passions. Then, we’ll turn the mic over for a community Q&A. Submit your questions in the comment section, and he’ll answer them as soon as he can.
I pick the products and negotiate the drops on behalf of our community. I scour the forums for new info, test out new gear, and help with the photo shoots. I’m also working with various designers and companies to create more custom ultralight products.
When did you get started in the ultralight community? What got you interested?
I started getting into backpacking in college in the early 2000s. The ultralight movement was already on its way, but I was mostly unaware, as my info largely came from Backpacker Magazine and friends. I had limited money and resources, but I knew that backpacking gear could last decades, so I wanted to make wise choices. Some of my first gear purchases were fairly traditional: the Gregory Palisade pack, the Sierra Designs Meteor Light tent, and the Mountain Hardwear Sawtooth sleeping bag. Together, those three weighed about 15 pounds, and at the time, you were considered “going light” if you could get your pack, tent, and bag under 10 pounds.
A few trips with some older, more experienced friends taught me that it’s basic common sense to want to carry as little as possible. I quickly sold or traded my nearly-new gear and lightened up with a Mountainsmith Mountainlight Ghost pack, Exped poncho tarp, and a GoLite Featherlite 40 (a hoodless, zipperless bag that I eventually split down the back to make a cozy two-person quilt). Just like that, my “Big 3” weighed 5 pounds! And they didn’t cost much: $67 for the Ghost, $55 for the Featherlite, and $60 for the Exped (the only item not on extreme discount). Eventually, I upgraded from the poncho tarp to Tarptents, though the Ghost is still my main pack and I use the Featherlite quilt on all my warm-weather trips.
The influence of a few friends, plus the desire for efficiency, led me to the ultralight movement—but it was BackpackingLight.com (BPL) that got me hooked on the community. That’s where I read the most thoughtful forums and honest reviews, and eventually made many a friend.
What does “ultralight” mean to you?
The Ultralight Community is very focused on numbers, and the traditional definition is that your base weight (all of your non-consumable gear) is under 10 pounds. But to me, ultralight is the lightest weight for your needs and budget. This seems pretty straightforward, though I think most people won’t agree, as they don’t often think about how varied those qualifications can be. I’ve expanded my thoughts on this based on my travels and interaction with members around the world. Also, when the activities are so varied (thru-hiking, fishing or hunting, mountaineering, packrafting, family camping…), how do you define base weight?
Tell us about a few of your favorite trails/places.
I’ve backpacked abroad for more than 3 years, bicycle-toured the west coast of Italy and the Pacific Coast of the US, and hiked the JMT twice (first SOBO, then NOBO). The greatest trek was the partially off-trail circumference of Cordillera Huayhuash in the Andes. The highest elevation was 19,931 feet (6,075 meters) at Mount Chachani in southern Peru. I’ve guided numerous climbers up Shasta. I’ve run a few ultramarathons, biked a double century (with a high of 109 degrees), and gone on several other silly adventures. To me, the Sierra Mountains feel like home, and October to November is my favorite time there.
What do you typically bring on a weekend backpacking trip? Do you have a favorite piece of gear you never leave behind?
What’s the biggest investment you’ve made to pare down your pack?
My partner, because we share everything (even our toothbrush). On our first backpacking trip together (which might also be considered our first date), we were at the trailhead packing up our gear when we realized we could fit everything into my frameless GoLite Jam2. A lot of ULers pack solo, but there is so much efficiency gained when you can share a tent, stove, filter, first-aid kit, and so on.
My next biggest investment has been the time spent researching. Not just gear, but technique, fitness, trail conditions, and so on. It’s 100-percent true that the more you know, the less you need to carry. This includes taking the 80-hour Wilderness First Responder course (and re-certifying three more times), along with several avalanche safety courses.
In terms of monetary investments, some of my pricier items have been my Black Diamond mountaineering gear and tent, NeoAir sleeping pad, and various Rab down jackets.
What did you do before working at Massdrop?
I helped run an outdoor education program where I trained university students to become guides. I’ve also guided backpacking, snow camping, rafting, and backcountry skiing trips. I’ve worked as a guide for Shasta Mountain Guides on and off since 2009. For a number of years, I wrote for BPL. Personally, I traveled and hiked a lot, so I have a good idea of what works in a great variety of conditions.
What’s your favorite thing about working here?
My job is to check out the best gear, read the forums, test out products, and talk with hikers and the greatest people in the outdoor industry. On a regular basis, I get to chat with the leaders of the ultralight community—from cottage company owners at ULA, EE, TT, BRG, LUL, and ZPacks, to bloggers like Will Rietveld, John Abela and Philip Werner, and not-so-famous people like Manfred and Michelle, KenT, Casey and Emily, Todd and Jess, and more.
Which ultralight companies or products are you excited about today?
I’m excited about several companies, and I’ll try not to play favorites with my list. CalTopo.com has evolved into the best custom mapping site for wilderness adventures, and it’s free. Enlightened Equipment is the fastest-growing company that I know of; I think it won’t be long before they expand beyond quilts, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. I’ve been a fan of Henry Shires since I bought my Contrail in ‘07 and Double Rainbow in ‘09. ULers anxiously await Tarptent’s new releases and product redesigns like others wait for a new iPhone. Finally, I’m super psyched about the tiny house movement, because I feel like that’s taking the ultralight philosophy to an entirely different, higher level.
Last question: What’s on your bucket list?
Any questions for Danny? Leave ‘em in the comment section below—or just drop a quick “Hello!” If you’d like more ultralight info, hit the "Follow" button to get notified about future posts from this account.