Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Breecher View Post
Ultralight tends to be about comfort while hiking - usually it's for those who are hiking 20-40 miles a day, and only camp when it's time to sleep. Ultraheavy (or also: traditional backpacking) is more about comfort while camping - when you generally hike 5-10 miles and pick a spot to set up camp for longer term. Neither one is right or wrong, but they have different goals.

Tyvek doesn't crinkle as much if you run it through the washer a time or two. It becomes softer, probably loses some of its waterproof qualities but retains enough to keep you mostly dry. I've used it as a ground cloth after having washed it, and didn't find that water came up through it.
I walk pretty far, sometimes about 20 KM to reach a spot for "utesittning": I teach others to sit out too (kind of like a northern european vision quest): we choose our spots carefully, in winter: if you can make a fire, and know how to handle fire and keep it going at night, you need to carry less equipment, like sleeping bags etc. I've learned to sleep in my clothes, and this can be surprisingly comfortable, if you wear the right ones. Overall, while winter camping (when everyone has to bring more gear, regardless) I don't carry much more than other people, in weight that is, but my items are bulkier.

I did train myself to "yomp" and find that training to carry a sizeable load is a great help in going further in more comfort.

40 miles a day hike, that's 64 km? that's speed march/yomping territory.