Ultralight backpacking permits the adventurous spirit to see the world on their very own toes with out carrying the discomfort of a heavy load. Whether you’re headed out on a thru-hike otherwise you wish to create a system that can maintain you snug in your native backpacking trails, ultralight gear helps you hike farther and extra comfortably.
Learning how one can drop a couple of kilos out of your system is an effective way to scale back the pressure in your physique, however determining the place to begin and what to search for in your ultralight gear decisions might be actually intimidating.
In this weblog publish, we cowl every part you have to learn about ultralight backpacking. We’ve additionally created a easy ultralight backpacking gear listing for “the big three” objects (tent, sleeping bag, and backpacking pack) that embrace a few of the finest merchandise available on the market that can assist you slim down your pack weight.
What is Ultralight Backpacking?
Ultralight backpacking is a type of foot journey that includes carrying a particularly gentle load. While it isn’t unusual for some backpackers to hold 30 (and even 40) pound masses, light-weight backpackers carry a base weight (every part of their backpack apart from meals and water) of 20 kilos or much less, and ultralight backpackers purpose to scale back their base weight to below 10 kilos. Superlight backpackers carry a base weight that quantities to fewer than 5 kilos.
Backpackers’ causes for switching to an ultralight setup differ, however many select to take action as a result of a lighter load places much less stress in your joints. This means that you would be able to usually journey quicker and extra comfortably than you’ll with a 30 or 40-pound pack.
A lighter load might also show you how to to remain damage free, simplify the packing course of, and create area for a couple of luxurious objects.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Ultralight Gear
A number of backpacking gear comes with an “ultralight” label. But there aren’t any business laws that categorize simply what meaning. A couple of components that you must take into account when you’re selecting ultralight gear embrace:
Is it inexpensive?
Is it dependable?
Is it protected?
Ultralight Gear Affordability
Ultralight backpacking gear usually comes with a hefty price ticket. But, relying on the product that you just’re selecting, it may additionally offer you hundreds of miles or a number of years of continuous use. If you’re working inside a strict funds, this is without doubt one of the components that can be most necessary to you.
Fortunately, it’s attainable to seek out light-weight and even ultralight merchandise on a funds.
Another method to economize on ultralight gear is to purchase used or wait on the market durations like Black Friday, Labor Day, and Memorial Day.
Read More
Where To Find Budget Gear
Ultralight Gear Reliability
There’s a standard false impression that ultralight gear is flimsier or much less dependable than customary backpacking gear.
While most of the supplies which are used to assemble ultralight gear are thinner, they’re not essentially extra liable to abrasions or punctures.
Still, be certain to try a chunk of substances’s reliability scores prior to creating your buy.
Ultralight Gear Safety
Some ultralight backpackers select to go with out widespread backpacking objects like a range to shave a couple of ounces. In some conditions, doing so could also be an acceptable determination. But remember the fact that consolation objects like a range are additionally security objects since they can assist you fend off hypothermia and boil water.
It’s by no means value sacrificing security gear (like a satellite tv for pc communication machine or first support equipment) within the title of ultralight backpacking.
Once you determine to go ultralight, an important items of substances that you must deal with are your “big three”: your tent, backpack, and your sleeping bag, which is what we’ll speak about beneath.
These objects are usually the heaviest objects in a pack, and preserving their complete weight beneath 6 or 7 kilos will set you as much as hit that ultralight mark.
Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents
Ultralight tents are available plenty of totally different sizes and shapes. Backpackers can usually be present in freestanding tents, semi-freestanding tents, trekking pole tents, tarps, hammocks, and bivvies.
Each of those kinds caters to a selected kind of climbing.
A bivy, for instance, is what a hiker may use for a fast and light-weight journey into the backcountry the place you want much less safety from the weather, whereas a freestanding tent gives an answer for backpackers who need to have the ability to arrange their dwelling anyplace.
The following picks are a few of the most time-tested, light-weight choices available on the market:
ZPacks Duplex Tent
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: solo or partnered utilization, thru-hikes, anybody who needs to sit down up of their tent.
- What we like: Extremely light-weight, very spacious, makes use of trekking poles for arrange
- What we don’t like: Learning curve for arrange, can have condensation build-up
The Zpacks Duplex Tent is without doubt one of the hottest ultralight tents available on the market. It’s a two-person tent, however it’s light-weight sufficient that a number of folks use it as a spacious one-person tent.
With a sturdy construct, backpackers can count on it to face as much as most environments with confidence though it’s necessary to notice that you just do want two trekking poles to set it up. Alternatively, you may go for the Freestanding Flex Upgrade.
Backpacking with a tent just like the Zpacks Duplex means that you can shave off a big quantity of weight out of your setup because of the Dyneema(R) cloth, which can also be extremely waterproof.
A well-treated Duplex will final any backpacker hundreds of miles. You’re unlikely to fulfill a Zpacks Duplex proprietor who hates their tent – and that’s saying one thing! BFT Founder Kristen makes use of the Zpacks Triplex (3P) tent which is nice for backpacking with a companion and a pet.
The most important downside with this tent is that it traps each warmth and moisture, which implies that you possibly can find yourself with just a little little bit of condensation in your tent. But preserving it ventilated will cut back moisture in your tent.
MSR Hubba Hubba 2-Person Tent
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Camping on rock outcroppings and locations with arduous floor the place freestanding tents are simpler to arrange
- What we like: Spacious, sturdy, freestanding tent, nice in inclement climate
- What we don’t like: Not essentially the most ultralight tent choice available on the market
The first time I took the Hubba Hubba 2-Person Backpacking Tent out for a spin, I used to be instantly impressed with its inner area. My good friend and I camped collectively on this tent with out combating for room and each of us had been capable of stretch our our bodies out with out hitting the partitions.
The Hubba Hubba is a superb tent for many who prefer to camp in spots with arduous or questionable surfaces since you can set it up and camp within it even if you happen to’re unable to correctly stake it out.
This tent additionally comes with two doorways, which implies that you don’t should crawl over your companion to get out in the course of the night time.
The most important difficulty I had with this tent was packing it all the way down to a compact dimension. With the assistance of a compression sack, you may reduce the area it takes up. But in the usual sack that it is available in, it may be actually arduous to make it small.
Join our group for entry to our free member assets!
Download our Handy Outdoor Packing Checklists and Trip Planning Guides
MLD Cricket Pyramid Tarp
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Desert campers, dry environments
- What we like: Lighter than simply about every other tent, very packable
- What we don’t like: Can be uncomfortable in moist and stormy environments, no safety from bugs
It takes a sure sort of individual to change into really snug with a pocket tarp. But the MLD Cricket Pyramid Tarp makes it straightforward to make the transition and it’s nearly half of the burden of different widespread ultralight tents.
This tarp has a pyramid type, which implies that it provides you just a little bit further safety than a easy sq. or rectangular-shaped tarp.
Users can customise their tarp, selecting the fabric and shade of the man strains that they want. Depending on what decisions you go for, it’s possible you’ll add or minimize a couple of ounces.
This tarp requires two trekking poles to set it up however the course of is comparatively easy and the guylines make it straightforward to create the proper pitch and stage of stress that’s acceptable on your campsite.
Those who’re new to utilizing tarps as their most important shelter ought to stick with arid environments whereas they’re getting used to the MLD Cricket Pyramid Tarp.
But as soon as they get the hold of it, it’ll possible change into their go-to shelter due to its weight financial savings and flexibility.
Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags
One good option to help your ultralight gear targets is by upgrading your sleep system. Consider swapping your sleeping bag out for a quilt.
Quilts operate like a sleeping bag, however as an alternative of tucking it down beneath your physique, you strap it round your sleeping pad for insulation.
And, since quilts make the most of much less cloth and down than most sleeping baggage, they’re usually a lot lighter than a standard mummy bag.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Those preferring a custom-made quilt, hotter sleepers
- What we like: Cozy, versatile, easy design, lighter than most sleeping baggage
- What we don’t like: Learning curve with strap system to stop drafts and chilly spots when you’re sleeping
Enlightened Equipment’s best-selling quilt is the Revelation Quilt. This time-tested traditional is available in a wide range of totally different temperature choices and is totally customizable.
Its iconic zippered foot field retains your toes heat even when the temps dip low. And, if you need, you may unzip every part and use this quilt like a blanket.
I owned a 0-degree Revelation for plenty of years. There had been quite a few occasions once I woke as much as frost on the bottom and frozen water bottles, however I didn’t discover the acute temperature drop as a result of I used to be so cozy within my Revelation.
BFT Founder Kristen makes use of the Enlightened Equipment Accomplice which is the 2P model of this quilt. It’s nonetheless extra light-weight than another 1P sleeping baggage.
These quilts are dependable, long-lasting, and light-weight, which makes them a fantastic choice for ultralight backpackers.
Katabatic Flex Quilt
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Cold sleepers, quilt sleepers who hate a draft
- What we like: Long-lasting, hotter than aggressive quilts, straightforward to make use of
- What we don’t like: costly funding
The Katabatic Flex Quilt is my go-to ‘bag’ for all 3-season backpacking as a result of its light-weight design and adjustable type. My common 22-degree, 900-fill energy quilt prices $410 and weighs 22.8 ounces. But it packs a critical punch!
In reality, the temperature vary on this product is extra beneficiant than many aggressive merchandise, preserving you heat all the way down to 10 or 15 levels with out difficulty.
This makes it a terrific choose for chilly sleepers and a staple merchandise for a lot of ultralight backpackers.
While this bag is without doubt one of the dearer choices available on the market, it seldom disappoints its consumer.
Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Ultralight backpackers preferring a standard sleeping bag type
- What we like: Center zipper, heat, sturdiness
- What we don’t like: Not the lightest choice available on the market
Outdoor Vitals is understood for uplifting innovation by rigorously crafting new methods to expertise the outside. The Summit Down Sleeping Bag is the right instance.
This sleeping bag contains a middle YKK zipper, permitting you to zip or unzip your bag with both arm, after which you may splay it open from the center.
The sewn foot field retains your toes further heat throughout use and the shell is made out of 10 denier ripstop nylon that’s DWR handled with the intention to cut back saturation throughout use. This bag is finest for ultralight backpackers who aren’t fairly prepared to surrender the protection of a standard sleeping bag however nonetheless need a light-weight choice.
Best Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight backpacks mean you can carry every part you’re utilizing in your again with out considerably including to the load. Fine-tuning your pack’s weight is a superb technique you should use to shave a couple of ounces.
The most necessary components to think about embrace the quantity of help that you just want, the torso and hip belt size, the pack’s capability, weight restrictions, and climate resistance.
The following packs present dependable, time-tested options for ultralight backpackers.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Desert backpackers, every-weather backpacking
- What we like: Spacious, nice weight-to-capacity ratio
- What we don’t like: Thin materials
If you’ve ever seen a dialed-in ultralight backpacker earlier than, they had been most likely carrying the Hyperlite Mountain Gear: 2400 Southwest Backpack.
This pack is a traditional choice for many who need a robust, sturdy backpack with out the burden.
Available in 40L/55L/70L capacities, this pack comes additionally in two totally different shade choices. The DCF cloth creates a water resistant barrier between the weather and your belongings. And it’s designed to help long-term use.
The Hyperlite 2400 Southwest Backpack is a nice choose for each ultralight backpackers and hikers that want to make the transition to an ultralight system. This is as a result of it’s a light-weight product however its weight capability can also be larger than customary ultralight backpacks.
Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Versatile backpackers, thru-hikes, backpacking in several climates
- What we like: Customization, shade choices, water-resistance, might be made with extra sturdy supplies
- What we don’t like: Shoulder mesh could trigger chafing
The Long Haul is considered one of Superior Wilderness Designs’ most rugged and dependable backpacks. It’s a customizable pack that comes with 50 liters of inner storage and 10 liters of exterior storage.
Its giant capability makes it nice for multi-day and week-long journeys and every part in between. Do you want to have the ability to carry a bear canister? No downside. This pack has your again.
I carried the Long Haul pack for a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, for travels internationally, and in informal environments and it rapidly grew to become my most-trusted piece of substances. Even after practically half a decade of use, this backpack continues to carry out reliably in each surroundings through which I take advantage of it.
It’s additionally made with a detachable body, which I like as a result of you may regulate it and its weight to accommodate your consolation and backpacking type.
This is a superb backpack for anybody who likes a private contact to their gear, together with a bulletproof backpack efficiency.
Granite Gear Virga 2
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Uber ultralight backpackers, brief journeys, superior backpackers
- What we like: Affordable worth, easy-to-use strap system, roomy inner and exterior area
- What we don’t like: Not nice for medium to heavy masses
Ultralight backpackers can usually be discovered chopping weight and giving themselves shakedowns on the weekends. It’s an unlucky side-effect of a seriously-dialed-in system.
But uber ultralights are one other breed, fully. They search for the lightest backpacks after which proceed shaving ounces off of their system. And for this type of individual, the Granite Gear Virga 2 backpack may be the proper choose.
The Granite Gear Virga 2 is a frameless backpack that is available in three totally different torso sizes with a standard roll-top closure. This pack options the entire fundamental requirements like area and power loops, however it weighs simply 19 ounces – or about half of the burden of some ultralight backpacks.
But due to its light-weight design, it’s not essentially the most snug pack to make use of for medium to heavy masses. It’s finest used for brief journeys or longer journeys with a particularly gentle load.
When paired with its inexpensive $149 worth, this backpack has sufficient catchy options to show heads everywhere in the nation.
Additional Ultralight Backpacking Gear Considerations
The finest option to optimize your backpacking setup is by specializing in the “big three” objects. But backpackers additionally have a look at important gear like sleeping pads, tent stakes, pots, stoves, prepare dinner techniques, sunscreen, electronics like a GPS machine and headlamp, and clothes like your base layer, hoodie, rain jacket, and boots to see the place they will swap for extra light-weight gear.
You can and will proceed making changes to your equipment even after you’ve designed your first system to present your self the very best and most snug ultralight backpacking gear setup attainable.
Learning how one can go ultralight can take some effort and time. But when you’ve dialed in your huge three objects, it’s so much simpler to take action.
A couple of extra gear objects that will show you how to to realize your ultralight targets embrace:
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
2 ounces
This range is without doubt one of the lightest choices available on the market. But it nonetheless performs completely at excessive elevations or in inclement climate.
Shop at:
Knog Bandicoot Headlamp
2 ounces
Knog is generally identified for making gear for biking however this headlamp is a sport changer due to its adjustability, light-weight design, and rechargeable construction. Plus, it’s waterproof and it comes with a 2-year guarantee.
Shop at:
Therm-a-rest ZLite Sleeping Pad
10 ounces
The Therm-a-rest ZLite is an efficient sleeping pad for hammock sleepers or those that don’t wish to take care of an inflatable sleeping pad.
Shop at:
Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite
12 ounces
The NeoAir XLite is extraordinarily snug and it has an R-value of 5.4 (girls’s) for further heat within the shoulder seasons.
Shop at:
Brooks Caldera 6 Trail Shoes
1lb 2.2 ounces (pair)
These path runners shave some weight with out forfeiting consolation and help. It’s not unusual to seek out sneakers that weigh 22 ounces or extra. These are available at half of that.
Shop at:
Tips For Shaving Weight From Your Pack
While preserving your “big three” ultralight is the best option to lighten your load, there are different straightforward methods you lighten your load whereas backpacking:
I hope this publish helps you in your journey towards ultralight backpacking. Remember that there is no such thing as a ‘right’ gear arrange and it could take you a couple of journeys and even years to dial in your method. Most of all, have enjoyable!
Still getting your ultralight backpacking gear dialed? Keep studying with these backpacking gear weblog posts:
Are you an ultralight backpacker? What are your go-to ‘top three’? What different ideas are you able to share? What different questions do you’ve gotten? Leave a remark beneath!
Related
