Ultralight Backpacking Gear List
Dear fellow backpacker,
I’m on the sunset side of 60, but even when I was in my teens and twenties I had fun reducing the weight of my pack.
When I was young, strong, and full of energy I still couldn’t understand carrying a heavy pack. Backpacking is infinitely more enjoyable when you’re carrying a light load and getting closer to nature. Hiking should be closer to walking than hauling.
So, for over 50 years I’ve been working on ways to lighten my pack — without sacrificing comfort.
I get lots of people that say things like "I have knee problems and need to get my pack down to 35 pounds." Ouch!! Why not get under 20 pounds so you can float along and really have fun!
Much of a heavy pack comes from the overkill of carrying winter items. If your biggest weather threat is a summer shower, backpacking should be simple. For starters, most people use a sleeping bag that makes them sweat in summer. It’s easier to use one of the Western Mountaineering bags — then if you go on a trip that’s going to be a little cooler, just add a silk liner. It’s just 4.7 ounces, and the liner keeps you another 9 ½ degrees warmer.
Once you commit to a light pack, you can save a lot of weight on the pack itself. Many packs weigh 7 pounds or more. And the manufacturers have the nerve to say how "comfortable" they are. Your knees and ankles know the total weight you’re carrying.
Notice how these products are as comfortable to use as heavier ones, and in most cases more convenient because they’re small and simple.
People have asked me for a specific list of how I can get my pack weight down to 15 pounds, and less. Here it is -- including clothing and food. You can modify it with a tent instead of a bivy sack and so on. Put the pencil to it. It works!
Add up your heaviest items, the pack, sleeping bag, bivy, pad, rain gear, stove, and fuel and you’re still under 4 pounds — the weight of many packs alone! Choose a full size pack and a tent instead of a bivy, and you’re still under 6 pounds. Then see how light your total can be, including food and water.
Your 3-day pack can be only 6 lbs. 6 oz. plus 27.5 oz. for food for a total of 8 lbs. 1.5 oz. plus extra clothing. No smoke. No mirrors. These are the real weights of each item and the real total. You can switch to a full tent and still be less than 11 pounds. Add water and you're still less than 13 pounds.
Here's a convenient Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet so you can compare gear. Special thanks to Chuck Lowe for providing the spreadsheet.
Have fun,
Steve Green
3-Day Ultralight Backpacking Gear List
Item |
Weight |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Pack |
19.0 oz. or 21.0 oz. |
Six Moon Designs Flight 30 (1,900-2,200 cubic inches) |
Or |
28.2 oz. |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider (3,000 cubic inches) |
Or |
19.0 oz. or 21.0 oz. |
Granite Gear Virga (3,300 or 3,450 cubic inches) |
Or |
34.0 oz. |
Granite Gear Crown V.C. 60 (3,660 cubic inches) |
Or |
25.0 oz. |
Klymit Motion 35 (2,135 to 2,196 cubic inches) |
Sleeping bag |
16 oz. |
Western Mountaineering HighLite 6' |
Shelters |
6.6 oz. |
Equinox Ultralite Bivy Cover |
Or |
15.1 oz. |
Lightweight Equinox tarp (using 6 titanium stakes) |
Or |
24.0 oz. |
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (Pole +1.8oz. & stakes) |
Or |
24.0 oz. |
Six Moon Designs Trekker (2 poles 1.8oz. each + stakes) |
Or |
11.0 - 14.0 oz |
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape/Shelter w/ stakes and pole |
Or |
13.0 oz |
Six Moon Designs Deschutes Tarp |
Or |
16.0 oz |
Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus Tarp |
Or |
41 oz. |
Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo (Pole +1.8oz & stakes) |
Or |
16.0 oz. |
Six Moon Designs Skyscape X |
Or |
9.5 oz. |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Tarp |
Or |
29.5 oz. |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo II |
Sleeping pad |
9.1 oz. |
Klymit X-Lite |
Or |
10.0 oz |
Klymit X Frame |
Or |
12.5 oz. |
Klymit Inertia Ozone |
Rain gear |
9.9 oz. |
Rainshield Rain Wear (large) |
Or |
22.9 oz. |
Red Ledge Jacket & Pants |
Stove |
1.9 oz. |
White Box Stove w/ windscreen |
Or |
1.9 oz. |
Snowpeak titanium - Very quick and convenient |
Fuel |
7.0 oz. |
White Box Stove: 2/3 oz. boils 2 cups 6 oz. and 1 oz. container |
Or |
7.0 oz. |
Snowpeak 70% butane/30% propane cartridge |
Kettle, cup |
4.6 oz. |
Titanium .9 Liter kettle, 4.6 oz. Plastic cup sold separately is .8 oz. |
Spoon |
.2 oz |
I take the spoon only, shortened for weight & to fit in cook kit |
Knife |
.6 oz |
Gerber ultralight knife - Super strong for its size |
Water bottle* |
1.4 oz. |
* 32 oz./1 liter soda or water bottle |
Towel |
.7 oz |
Using about 1/4 of the towel on the web site |
Mirror |
.8 oz |
Use this mirror for grooming & as an emergency signal device |
First aid kit |
1.0 oz. |
Add your items to our first aid kit & place in a lighter ziplock bag |
Flashlight(s) |
.5 oz |
The weight is for 2 Pulsar II's, so you even have a backup |
Compass |
.3 oz |
Sun Minicomp II |
Matches |
.5 oz |
2 book matches & a few water/windproof in 2x3" ziplock bag |
Emergency Blanket |
1.8 oz. |
This emergency blanket is very light for the peace of mind it offers |
Whistle |
.2 oz |
This whistle weighs about 1/2 regular plastic size & 1/6 metal size |
Insect repellent |
.4 oz |
Sawyer Ultra 30 in 1/4 oz. container |
Biodegradable soap |
.4 oz |
Campsuds in 1/4 oz. container |
Sun screen |
1.2 oz. |
Sawyer Stay-Put SPF 30 Sunblock in 1/4 oz. container |
Lip protection* |
.3 oz |
Your favorite with SPF protection |
Water purif. tablets |
.6 oz |
50 Potable Aqua tablets in the 1-dram bottle |
Toilet paper |
1.0 oz. |
100% biodegradable toilet paper comes in rolls of 140 sheets and is only 1 oz. per roll. But don't try to go too light on this one! |
Cord* |
.4 oz |
25 feet of very lightweight nylon cord for general use |
Garbage bag* |
.4 oz |
Large re-sealable bag (10 1/2x12") found in all supermarkets |
Short-sleeve shirt |
4.9 oz. |
Short Sleeve Shirt. Only The Lightest Performance Shirt |
Socks |
2.0 oz. |
Wigwam Mid Hiker™ (large size) |
Running shorts |
4.8 oz. |
Lightweight polyester shorts pack small, dry fast |
Underwear |
2.5 oz. |
Use lightweight Terramar briefs or silk boxers |
Map* |
1.5 oz. |
Trim if desired - Don't cut legends, side trails, etc... |
Pencil, paper* |
.2 oz |
Small pencil & paper for emergency messages and notes |
Sunglasses |
.8 oz |
Choose from a selection of Sunbelt Polarized Sunglasses; ziplock bag is lightest protection |
Toothbrush* |
.2 oz |
Pick one with small brush area, cut handle in half |
Toothpaste* |
.6 oz |
Small sample, half empty. Or use powder or baking soda |
Comb* |
.1 oz |
Smaller than average, and cut in half |
Car Key* |
.2 oz |
Take just the one you need; tie small bright cord to it; drill and file much of the weight out |
Cash & ID* |
.3 oz |
I always carry some cash, 1 credit card, and drivers license |
Rubber bands/pins* |
.4 oz |
Rubber bands, safety pins, tape, needle & thread |
The clothing items above are your extras. Of course, you can reduce overall carrying weight by wearing lightweight clothes to begin with, too.
Food* for 3 days
The following weights are achieved by removing packaging from the MountainHouse freeze dry products and placing them in sandwich-size ziplock bags.
Meal |
Weight |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Breakfasts (3) |
4.1 oz. x3 = 12.3 oz. |
Mountain House granola with blueberries & milk |
Lunches (3) |
2 envelopes = 4.7 oz. |
* Lipton dry soup mix, rated at 6 total servings |
Dinners (3) |
3.5 oz. x3 = 10.5 oz. |
Mountain House entrees. (Add 6 oz. for double servings) |
Total food weight = 27.5 oz.
Optional Items
Item |
Weight |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Water filter |
.6 oz. |
Aquamira Frontier Emergency Filter |
Or |
2.0 oz. |
Sawyer Mini Filter |
Or |
5.3 oz. |
The Timberline filter is very fast and light |
Or |
5.9 oz. |
20 oz. Aquamira Bottle Filter |
Or |
11.0 oz. |
Katadyn Hiker (Formerly Pur) Water Filter |
Gloves |
1.0 oz. |
Polypropylene gloves are warm, light & compact |
Hat, cap, or visor |
1 oz |
Maxit Z-Beanie |
Camera* |
varies |
Several brands make very light models |
Deodorant* |
.3 oz |
Arrid makes a cream that can go in a small, plastic container |
Dental floss* |
.1 oz |
Put some in a 2x3" zip seal bag |
Scouring pad* |
.1 oz |
Cut about 1/3 from the ones you find in the supermarket |
Fire starter* |
.5 oz |
Wind & waterproof matches & stove should be enough.... |
Hiking Poles |
9 oz. |
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles (120cm) |
Umbrella |
7.0 oz. |
ShedRain Travel Umbrella |
Gaiters |
3.7 oz. |
Liberty Mountain Ankle Gaiter |
Mosquito Head Net |
.6 oz |
This Mosquito Head Net is great protection if bugs are thick |
Reading glasses* |
.5 oz |
I take the tiny folding kind |
Medications* |
Varies |
Not optional, but their weight adds to the total |
Reading Material* |
Varies |
Some folks like to take some light reading |
Total weight before food and water: 7 lbs. 7.3 oz. ; with food 9 lbs. 2.8 oz.
There you have it. A checklist of where you can make the most weight savings to lighten up and have more fun. Happy camping!
This chart is figured for solo camping. When hiking as a pair, you can make some other small weight savings.
Clothing
Here’s a sample of the gear I’d be wearing:
Item |
Weight |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Socks |
2.0 oz. |
Wigwam Mid Hiker™ (Same as list above) |
Shoes* |
19.0 oz. |
New Balance Trail running |
Silk T-shirt* |
2.5 oz. |
Featherweight Silk Shirts |
Long-sleeve shirt |
8.5 oz. |
RailRiders, Roll-up tabs convert it quickly to short-sleeve |
Pants |
10.3 oz. |
RailRiders, Adventure Khakis |
Underwear |
2.5 oz. |
Use lightweight Terramar briefs or silk boxers |
* These are the only items not found on our website