Ben Kilbourne
Complete Guide to SWD Packs' Load-carrying Ability
Whether you're planning a thru-hike of the PCT, a weekend trip in your local mountains, or a weeklong ski/packraft adventure through the...
Blog Posts
Ben Kilbourne
- Jul 25
- 8 min
Packrafting Honaker to Grand Gulch
The trip started at the top of the Honaker trail near Goosenecks State Park, the part of the San Juan river that twists back and forth...
587 views0 comments
Ben Kilbourne
- Dec 28, 2021
- 3 min
Patching EPL Ultra
Even the Toughest Fabrics can be Damaged EPL Ultra is a very durable material, but like any fabric, it has its limits. I found the limits...
1,286 views0 comments
Ben Kilbourne
- Oct 22, 2021
- 4 min
Don't Forget To Pack Your Critical Thinking Skills
It was nearly 2 pm when Porter and I set foot on the wet, red, sandy trail that drew us south towards the mouth of Deer Creek Canyon in...
533 views0 comments
Ben Kilbourne
- Sep 18, 2021
- 4 min
Can You Packraft with the Long Haul 50?
Is the Long Haul 50 small enough and light enough for general three-season backpacking while also being large enough for packrafting? I...
1,201 views1 comment
Ben Kilbourne
- Aug 23, 2021
- 5 min
New Pack Fabrics
Fabrics Old and New DCF (Dyneema composite fabric) hybrids and X-Pac fabrics have become ubiquitous in the ultralight backpacking world,...
9,086 views2 comments
Ben Kilbourne
- Jul 23, 2021
- 6 min
Planning and Pulling off a Family Trip
When my sister and I first talked about doing a family trip, we were feeling fairly ambitious. We imagined that we could plan a shortened...
280 views0 comments
Superior Wilderness
- Apr 18, 2019
- 3 min
Which pack for which trail? (AT, PCT or CDT)
Aspiring thru-hikers frequently ask for our feedback on which type of pack they should purchase for their upcoming thru-hike (size,...
8,106 views0 comments
Superior Wilderness
- Feb 19, 2019
- 2 min
What sized UL pack should I choose?
Picking the appropriately sized pack is an important step when planning an upcoming hike. While there are lots of variables to consider,...
4,524 views0 comments
Superior Wilderness
- Jan 11, 2019
- 2 min
What's the deal with Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF)?
Here at Superior Wilderness Designs we use two main types of fabrics for the body of our packs: X-Pac and Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF)....
6,103 views1 comment
Superior Wilderness
- Nov 8, 2018
- 2 min
Internal Frame vs. Frameless?
Choosing a pack is a big decision, and there are a bunch of different variables to consider. Weight, size, materials, features, and of...
9,317 views0 comments
Superior Wilderness
- Oct 26, 2018
- 5 min
Glossary of materials, features, and customizations
We understand that putting together a custom backpack can require some unique jargon. To help you better understand the different...
9,712 views0 comments