Ultralight Backpacking Essentials Of 2024
Carry a smaller, lighter pack without making heavy sacrifices in comfort.
What does ultralight even mean? To us, it means more than just paper thin fabrics and toothbrush handle trimming. It’s about crushing big miles from dawn to dusk, day after day, without getting sore shoulders and feet. It’s about shaving grams by finding multiple uses for individual items. It’s also about choosing gear that is simple and encourages further simplicity—and that’s where we come in, our Gearhead® Experts have corralled the best UL gear right here.
Picking The Best Ultralight Gear
These ultralight backpacks, shelters, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads prioritize low weight without skimping on functionality.
What We Look For In An Ultralight Backpack
Ultralight backpacks are constructed from lightweight materials and forego bells and whistles to shave grams. They’re also usually smaller in volume to encourage hikers to carry less (and more compact) gear.
Most 40–55-liter ultralight backpacks weigh between 1.5 and 2.5lbs. Those among us who crush 30+ miles a day sometimes even gravitate towards 20–30-liter fastpacks with running vest-style harnesses that minimize jostling when jogging or scrambling.
When using ultralight packs we sometimes have to give up features we are familiar with such as load lifters and adjustable torsos, but those features lost will be miles gained as we are able to move more quickly without feeling loaded down.
Remember, going ultralight is less about the gear and more about our approach to packing, how we use our gear, and what we leave behind. Even if we use a 70 liter pack, for example, we can apply an ultralight ethos and fit more inside it so that we can spend more time out there.
Looking for more of an all-around pack? Consult our Backpacking Guide.
Best Backpack For Ultralight Backpacking
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 40L Backpack
This simple rucksack-style 40L backpack is ideal for the minimalists among us who have dialed kits. It’s constructed from DCF (Dyneema Composite Fabric) laminated to 50D polyester (white) and 150D polyester (black). These materials balance durability and weight well. Many ultralight packs ditch the frame to save weight, but not this one. And even with its 7075-aluminum frame, this pack still only weighs 1lb 13oz.
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How We Choose Our Ultralight Sleeping Bag
We choose ultralight sleeping bags based primarily on their warmth-to-weight ratios. Because sleeping bag temperature ratings sometimes refer to survival, we recommend relying instead on fill weights when comparing sleeping bags. A 32-degree bag with 6.3oz of 900-fill down will be warmer than a 32-degree bag with 5oz of 900-fill down, for example. Check fill weights!
20- or 15-degree ultralight bags are what we choose for all-around three-season use. 30-degree bags are great for summer, and some of us can even get away with 45 degree bags if we’re clever. Using the ultralight ethos, we can integrate our daytime clothes as part as our sleep system to make sure we’re warm enough each night.
We recommend bags stuffed with high fill power down for ultralight backpacking. Look for bags with fill ratings of 850 or higher for ultralight backpacking—they pack smallest and offer the very best warmth-to-rate ratios. Many ultralight sleeping bags use light and thin shell materials and need to be treated with care.
Best Sleeping Bag For Ultralight Backpacking
Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20F Sleeping Bag
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite Sleeping Bag lives up to its name by keeping your backpacks light while still packing in a hefty dose of premium 850-fill down for those chilly nights. A soft taffeta lining caresses trail-weary skin and, thanks to the ExtremeLite shell's breathability, the climate inside of the bag stays comfortable on balmier nights—making it perfect for fall’s varying weather.
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Check the specs on these light & high-loft sleeping bags.
How We Choose Our Ultralight Sleeping Pad
When choosing an ultralight sleeping pad, we consider comfort and warmth, but always with an eye on weight. R-values indicate a pad’s warmth. We pick pads with higher numbers when we know the ground is going to be cold, but warmer pads are often heavier, so we have to check the specs. For example, the NeoAir XLite NXT is our top pick because it has an R-value of 4.5 while only weighing 13oz. Now that’s what we call a sweet spot.
The two main types of sleeping pads are foam and inflatable. Foam pads are durable, light, and inexpensive, so they are often a top choice of budget-conscious ultralight backpackers. We opt for ultralight inflatable pads like our top pick when we want more comfort and warmth. They tend to be pricier than foam pads, however. We gravitate towards inflatable pads weighing between 8 and 16oz for ultralight backpacking because they will usually give us ample warmth at a low weight. Often the lighter the pad, the more fragile the fabric, so make sure to brush the Russian thistle off your clothes before bed and keep sharp dog claws outside or at the foot of the tent.
Best Sleeping Pad For Ultralight Backpacking
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad
Beefier, toastier, yet lighter than its predecessor, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad is our go-to backcountry sleep surface when fall temps get frigid. Constructed with a rectangular design and a 3-inch stack height, this pad boasts car camping comfort, while its fine-tuned Triangular Core Matrix build and ThermaCapture tech deliver a fiery 7.3 R-value rating at a surprisingly low gram count and compact stuff size.
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What We Look For In Ultralight Shelters
Most ultralight 2-person hub and pole tents weigh between 1.75 and 4lbs. Hub and pole tents have a body and rain fly that are supported by a dedicated poleset. This sort of tent is partly or fully freestanding and easy to pitch. Our top pick, MSR FreeLite 2 Tent, is an example of a hub and pole tent made with high-end ultralight materials and simplified features to save weight while offering 3-season protection. Ultralight tents can be made with ultralight (and thus thin) materials and should be treated with care.
Here at Backcountry, we love ultralight non-freestanding shelters. They rely on trekking poles for pitching, and due to the lack of poles and features, these shelters can be less than 2lbs. Some categories of non-freestanding shelters are flat tarps, shaped tarps, and pyramid tarps. Flat tarps are simple rectangles that can be fashioned into various shelter shapes but require a lot skill to pitch well. Shaped tarps can only be pitched in one shape, and often offer 3-sided protection. Pyramid tarps are easy to pitch and offer 4-sided protection. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4 is an example of a popular non-freestanding pyramid shelter. We like the modularity of non-freestanding shelters. For example, we can save weight by carrying only the tarp when bugs aren’t a concern.
Best Shelter For Ultralight Backpacking
MSR FreeLite 2 Tent
We’ll cut to the chase—this tent only weighs 2lbs 5oz and packs down to an 18 x 4.5in package. The 29sq ft interior floor space is similar if not larger than other tents in the 3-season backpacking category, making that low weight even more impressive. There are two doors to reduce the possibility of elbowing a tent partner in the face, and we must say, the red and gold color combo is truly excellent.
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Ultralight Kitchen
Cold-soaking all your meals? Keep scrolling. But if you like to enjoy a hot meal at the end of the day and a cup of coffee in the vestibule, bring along an ultralight stove. We’ve sorted through all our best stoves to bring you our top canister fuel stoves.
How We Choose An Ultralight Stove
Canister fuel stoves are the most popular type of stove for ultralight backpacking because they require no maintenance and are extremely easy to use. Easy-to-use items save much needed time in the morning and evenings that you need to crush miles. Ultralight is not always all about saving weight, it's also about becoming more efficient—and simplifying your tools is a great way of doing that.
There are two main categories of canister stoves: integrated and non-integrated. Integrated stoves, like the Jetboil Flash Stove, snap right onto the pot and are often very light. Heat exchange fins or flux rings surrounding the burner block wind and capture and transfer heat into the pot, making these stoves impressively efficient. Remember, efficiency can translate to weight savings because you don’t have to carry as much fuel.
Most integrated stoves can only boil water, while non-integrated stoves have the ability to simmer. An example of a versatile and ultralight backpacking stove that will give you the ability to make a slow-cooked wildermeal is our top pick, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove. Paired with an ultralight titanium pot, you’re only looking at about 8oz for your entire wilderkitchen. That’s impressive.
Best Stove For Ultralight Backpacking
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove
This is our go-to stove for use with ultralight titanium cookware. Due to its wind-resistant recessed burner, this stove is more efficient than typical canister-top stoves in variable conditions, while the pressure regulator maintains fast boil times even when fuel runs low. It has simmering capabilities, weighs only 2.9oz, and features a Piezo ignitor. Pair it with the MSR Titan Kettle for a truly UL kitchen setup.
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How We Choose An Ultralight Water Purifier
We always purify all water when ultralight backpacking to stave off protozoa, bacteria, and other nasty water-borne pathogens. There are three main types of water purification systems commonly used for ultralight backpacking: gravity and bottle filters and purification drops or tablets.
Gravity systems are ideal for groups trips when you have to purify large amounts of water at once. Simply fill a large bag from a creek or lake, hang it from a branch, and let gravity pull the water through a filter and into your containers. Gravity systems can weigh between 4 and 12oz.
We love bottle filters because they are light, reliable, long-lasting, and inexpensive. Scoop water into the integrated bottle, screw on the filter lid, and drink as you walk! Bottle systems like the much-loved Katadyn BeFree 1L Tactical Microfilter can weigh as little as 2.6oz.
Purification drops or tablets are also a great option for ultralight backpacking because they are extremely light. A 30 pack of Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets, for example, will weigh about the same as 30 ibuprofen.
Best Water Purification For Ultralight Backpacking
Grayl UltraPress Purifier Bottle
Potable snowmelt at the ready. Whenever we step over a stream or discover another lake, we simply scoop dirty water into the bottle, screw on the filter lid, and then keep walking, sipping happily as we go. What else do we like? The bottle’s 16.9oz capacity is ideal for hydrating between water sources, and the 12.5oz total weight is nothing considering how durable it is.
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Footwear
Most UL hikers here at Backcountry prefer light, low-top trail running shoes. Our top picks have soft foam, grippy outsoles, durable, and well-draining uppers to keep you... ahem treading lightly.
How We Choose Ultralight Backpacking Footwear
We often choose ultralight backpacking footwear based on weight but we also always consider the particular needs of our feet, the amount of weight we’ll be carrying, and the types of terrain through which we will be walking.
If our pack is light enough that we can move swiftly down the trail, we often reach for lightweight, low top footwear such as trail runners.
For most three-season ultralight backpacking we look for non-waterproof footwear that will drain well and dry quickly. We choose light waterproof footwear when we’re pushing our trips late into the fall, starting early in the spring, or expect the weather to be particularly cold.
Your footwear is where the rubber hits the trail, so it’s got to be comfortable. If you are near one of our stores, please stop by! Our Gearheads would love to help you fit your perfect ultralight backpacking shoe.
Best Men’s Shoe For Ultralight Backpacking
Lowa Merger GTX Lo Hiking Shoe
When temps drop and the high alpine afternoon thunderstorms start to turn from rain to snow, we want to be prepared with an ultralight shoe that’ll remain ultra-capable throughout it all. The Lowa Merger GTX Lo Hiking Shoe features a tightly-woven ripstop upper to resist debris while the GORE-TEX membrane resists the precip. This shoe’s Monowrap midsole perfectly envelopes the foot for a secure and supportive fit on technical terrain—which is good because that’s where we’ll be.
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Men’s UL shoes only a step away from our top pick.
Best Women’s Shoe For Ultralight Backpacking
Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX Trail Running Shoe
8.3mm of drop. Waterproof GORE-TEX membrane. Only 9.4oz. The specs on this shoe are good but comfort is its real achievement. The Sense Ride 5 GTX has a relatively narrow heel cup to lock the heel down when you’re crossing uneven terrain, while the moderately wide forefoot accommodates a variety of women’s feet. And the addictive Quicklace System is just icing on the cake.
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Women’s UL shoes only a step away from our top pick.
Emergency layers
Smart ultralight layering means finding multiple uses for every part of your system. Your sunshirt might become your baselayer. Your puffy might become a part of your sleep system. Check our top layering picks for ultralight backpacking here.
Learn The Ultralight Layering System
Even ultralight folks agree that rain jackets are essential for safety. Fortunately rain jackets these days weigh as little as two protein bars and pack down just as small. We choose rain jackets between about 5 and 12oz for ultralight backpacking.
We wear 5–10oz fleece or synthetic puffies when we need a little extra warmth when hiking. These midlayers keep our body temp regulated even when we’re cranking over the tenth and final pass of the day in a cold drizzle.
We usually pack a down puffy jacket on ultralight backpacking trips. At 5–12oz, these ultralight insulation layers will do more than just warm you in camp. They can also supplement your sleep system, boosting the warmth of your 45 degree bag so you can push it beyond its comfort rating.
Layers
Fleece, rain jackets, puffies & more UL backpacking layers.