Ultralight Backpacking Gear List

Ultralight backpacking gear is ideal for hikers who want to travel quickly and efficiently and don’t mind sacrificing some luxuries to save weight. I don’t recommend this ultralight backpacking gear list for beginners. But, if you already have some miles under your belt, cutting pack weight is one of the best ways to improve your comfort, speed and enjoyment on the trail.

Weight: 5.2 lbs

These “big three” items make up the foundation of your lightweight backpacking system. They get used more than anything else, make up the bulk of your pack weight and will take the biggest chunk out of your budget.

The Big Three:

• Backpack: ULA Equipment CDT (27 oz)
• Shelter: Gossamer Gear The One (19 oz)
• Sleeping Bag: REI Magma 30 Med (24 oz)
• Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Reg (13 oz)

Alternatives:

• Backpacks: REI Flash Air 50 (30 oz) | Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 (32 oz) | Hyperlite Mtn Gear SW 55 (32 oz) | Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 (22 oz)
• Shelters: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (26 oz) | Tarptent ProTrail (24 oz) | Zpacks Altaplex Classic (17 oz)
• Sleeping Bags: Marmot Hydrogen 30 (25 oz) | Therm-a-Rest Corus 20 Quilt (26 oz) | Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Quilt (23 oz)
• Sleeping Pads: NEMO Tensor All-Season Mummy (14 oz) | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL Sml (10 oz) | NEMO Switchback Sml (11 oz)

Weight: 3.2 lbs

This is the clothing you will wear every day on the trail. Since these items spend more time on your body than in your pack, they are excluded from the “base weight” calculation. But they are included in your “skin-out weight.”

Clothing Worn:

• Shoes: Altra Lone Peak (21 oz)

• Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Cushion (2 oz)

• Insoles: Superfeet Green (5 oz)

• Shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt (5 oz)

• Pants: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants (12 oz)

• Underwear: Under Armour Boxer Jock (3 oz)

• Hat: Outdoor Research Helios (3 oz)

• Sunglasses: 3M Tekk Safety Glasses (1 oz)

Alternatives:

• Shoes: HOKA Speedgoat (21 oz) | Brooks Cascadia (23 oz) Danner Trail 2650 (24 oz) | Salomon X Ultra (27 oz)
• Socks: Merrell Wool Everyday Hiking (2 oz) | Smartwool Hike Light Cushion ( 2 oz) | REI COOLMAX Lightweight Hiking (2 oz)
• Insoles: Superfeet Hike Cushion (5 oz) | Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer (5 oz) | Sole Active (5 oz) | Currex HikePro (5 oz)
• Shirts: REI Sahara T-Shirt (5 oz) | Columbia Tamiami Shirt (6 oz) | Mountain Hardware Canyon Shirt (8 oz)
• Pants: REI Sahara Convertible Pants (10 oz) | Adidas Utilitas Zip-Off Hiking Pants (12 oz) | prAna Stretch Zion Pants (13 oz)
• Underwear: REI Everyday Boxer Briefs (3 oz) | REI Merino Boxer Briefs (3 oz) | Smartwool Merino Boxer Briefs (3 oz)
• Hats: Outdoor Research Sombriolet (3 oz) | Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper (3 oz) | Outdoor Research Swift Cap (3 oz)

Weight: 1.6 lbs

This is clothing that is usually packed and gets worn during cold and wet weather, at camp in the evenings and on laundry day. Because these items spend as much time in your pack as on your body, they are included in the “base weight” calculation.

Clothing Packed:

• Insulated Jacket: Patagonia Nano Puff Vest (9 oz)

• Rain Jacket: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket (7 oz)

• Base Layer Top: Terramar ThermaSilk Shirt (3 oz)

• Base Layer Bottom: Terramar ThermaSilk Pants (3 oz)

• Warm Cap: REI Polartec Fleece Beanie (0.8 oz)

• Gloves: REI Flash Power Wool Gloves (1.4 oz)

• Spare Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Cushion Socks (2 oz)

• Wallet: Granite Gear Hiker Wallet (0.4 oz)

Alternatives:

• Insulated Jackets: Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (9 oz) | Montbell UL Thermawrap Jacket (9 oz) | REI 650 Down Jacket (11 oz)
• Rain Jackets: Montbell Versalite Jacket (6.4 oz) | Zpacks Vertice Jacket (5.4 oz) | Marmot Precip Eco Jacket (11 oz) | REI Rainier Jacket (11 oz)
• Base Layer Tops: Icebreaker Merino Oasis 200 (7 oz) | REI Lightweight Base Layer (7 oz) | Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino (7 oz)
• Base Layer Bottoms: Icebreaker Merino Oasis 200 (7 oz) | REI Lightweight Base Layer (7 oz) | Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino (7 oz)

Weight: 1.3 lbs

These items are used for cooking and eating, cleaning dishes and storing and treating drinking water. This example will allow you to pack up to 4 liters of water. You may need to carry more or less water, depending on the conditions where you plan to hike.

Cooking & Hydration:

• Camp Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (2.6 oz)

• Cook Pot: MSR Titan Kettle 850ml (4.2 oz)

• Cup: TOAKS Titanium 450ml Cup (2.7 oz)

• Pot Cozy: Home-made Pot Cozy (1.4 oz)

• Spoon: HumanGear GoBites Uno Spork (0.5 oz)
• Pot Scrubber: 1/2 Scotch-Brite Pad (0.4 oz)

• Water Bladder: Platypus Hoser 3 Liter (3.8 oz)

• Water Bottle: Aquafina 1 Liter Bottle (1.5 oz)

• Water Purification: Aquamira (3 oz)

Weight: 1.7 lbs

These items are used for navigation, fire starting, first aid, gear repairs, personal hygiene, organization and other various tasks. Some of these things may not get used very often, but it’s still wise to carry them, because they are important to have in an emergency.

Survival & Miscellaneous:

• Trail Map: Pocket Atlas (3 oz)

• GPS Messenger: SPOT Satellite Messenger (5 oz)

• Compass/Thermometer: Silva Pocket Compass (0.5 oz)

• Light: Black Diamond Spot 400 (2.7 oz)

• Multi Tool: Swiss Army Classic (0.7 oz)

• Fire Starter: Mini Bic Lighter (x2) (0.8 oz)

• Backup Fire Starter: Spark-Lite Fire Kit (0.4 oz)

• Whistle: SOL Slim Howler (0.2 oz)

• Tape: 50″ Duct Tape (0.6 oz)

• Cord: 25′ Guyline (0.5 oz)

• First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical .3 Kit (3.2 oz)

• Bug Head Net: Sea to Summit Head Net (1 oz)

• Wash Rag: Packtowl Personal Towel (0.7 oz)

• Toothbrush: Folding Toothbrush (0.7 oz)

• Phone Charger: Smartphone Charger (2 oz)

• Food Sack: Granite Gear Air Zippsack 16L (1.5 oz)

• Sleeping Bag Sack: Sea to Summit UltraSil 8L Dry Sack (1 oz)

• Clothing Sack: Sea to Summit UltraSil 8L Dry Sack (1 oz)

• Ditty Sack: Granite Gear Air Zippsack 5L (1 oz)

Weight: 1.6 lbs

These are non-clothing items which are typically carried in your hands or on your body. They are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation, but are included in your “skin-out weight.”

Worn or Carried:

• Trekking Poles: REI Flash Carbon Trekking Poles (14 oz)
• Fixed Blade Knife: Morakniv Craftline Basic 3.6 inch (4 oz)
• Smartphone: Phone & Accessories (7 oz)

Weight: 20 lbs

These items get used up as you hike and have to be replenished occasionally. Since the weight of consumables fluctuates, they are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation. But they are included in your “full pack weight” and “skin-out weight.”

Consumables:

• Food: 5 Days Trail Food (160 oz)
• Water: 4 Liters Water (140 oz)
• Fuel: 4 oz Isobutane Fuel Canister (7 oz)
• Toilet Paper: Toilet Paper (1 oz)
• Hand Sanitizer: Purell 1 fl oz (1.2 oz)
• Wet Wipes: Wet Ones Singles (x5) (1 oz)
• Spare Batteries: Lithium AAA (x3) (0.8 oz)
• Body Powder: Gold Bond Powder (1.8 oz)
• Toothpaste: Travel Toothpaste (1 oz)
• Sunscreen: Travel Sunscreen (1.2 oz)
• Lip Balm: Carmex Lip Balm (0.5 oz)
• Bug Repellent: Deet 1 fl oz (1.5 oz)
• Medication: Tylenol, Ibuprofin, Bennadryl, Immodium (0.5 oz)

Base Pack Weight: 9.8 lbs

There are a few different methods for calculating pack weight. “Base weight” includes all of your packed gear, but does not include clothing worn, consumables and other items worn or carried. “Full pack weight” includes all of your packed gear and consumables like food, water and fuel. “Skin-out weight” includes everything packed, worn and carried.

Here is how our example ultralight backpacking gear list stacks up:

Ultralight Backpacking Gear List

The Big Three: 5.2 lbs
Clothing Packed: 1.6 lbs
Cooking & Hydration: 1.3 lbs
Survival & Miscellaneous: 1.7 lbs
Base Pack Weight: 9.8 lbs
+ Consumables: 20 lbs
Full Pack Weight: 29.8 lbs
+ Clothing Worn: 3.2 lbs
+ Items Worn or Carried: 1.6 lbs
Skin-Out Weight: 34.6 lbs