ULTRALIGHT GEAR LIST
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HIKING SHOES
Hoka Speed Goat Mid GTX is my choice for huge miles. This waterproof shoe will protect your feet and achilles on multi day hikes. My tender spot on multi day hikes is my achilles, and these shoes seem to reduce strain to the entire foot area. The sole is soft, but really stiff and shaped like the bottom of a rocking chair. It has a heel elevation, and the mid tops help keep debris off your nice wool socks. The regular version will be more like a tradition low top trail runner. If you want a shoe that makes the miles drift by as easily as possible, look at the Speed Goat lineup. Amazon has the wrong pic on the mid top speed goat that I recommend. It shows the regular version. The women’s mid top gtx has the correct pic. I don’t see a mid speed goat 7 yet, just the mid 6 like I wear. I will leave links to multiple choices on many of these products.
Hoka Speedgoat https://amzn.to/4feUcyp
Altra Lone Peak trail runner is my zero drop choice and the shoe I recommend for day hikes and every day use. The flat zero drop helps to strengthen your feet and improve foot health as we age. If your feet are strong enough and you are accustomed to a zero drop, this shoe is highly recommended for through hikes. Be careful trying to push big miles in a zero drop if you’ve worn an elevated heel your whole life. This shoe will give you a more “connected to the earth” feeling as compared to the rocker of the Speed Goat.
Altra Lone Peak https://amzn.to/4wK5Yrz
HIKING SANDALS
Xero Shoes is my choice for a hiking sandal, water shoe, and camp site shoe combination. It feels great to get your hiking shoes off and hang out around camp in a pair of sandals. Switching into them for water crossings is a luxury. Wading out in some chilly water to get your feet refreshed is also very nice while the dogs splash around and get drinks. Their lightweight design is simple and works really well. If it rains hard, I switch to hiking sandals. For me, there’s no sense in sloshing around with water in my shoes. Embracing and enjoying the conditions in a hiking sandal is a great move. There is also a niche of hikers who only hike in sandals. I’m not really a sandal guy, but don’t knock it until you tried it. There is a sense of freedom, being in touch with nature, and overall “airiness” that goes along with exploring the wilderness in a great set of hiking sandals.
Chaco Z/Cloud get great reviews for hiking and have a lot of cushion and support that the minimalist Bedrocks are lacking. The Cairns are going to weigh about half of what the Chacos do and take up less space in the pack as a back up footwear. I see the Chacos as being more of a primary footwear for sandal hikers. If you’re looking for cushion and support in a hiking sandal, this is the one.
Chaco Z Cloud https://amzn.to/4fiAphm
HIKING SOCKS
Darn Tough wool socks get my vote for go to hiking socks. Wool is a must for long hikes as it outperforms cotton in every way. There are both thick and thin versions of the Darn Tough socks that I use for different situations, including a fresh pair of the thick ones to wear in the sleeping bag at night. Darn Tough makes their socks in Vermont, USA, come in some really cool colors and designs, and include a life time warranty.
Injinji toe sock liners are recommended if you have issues with blisters, especially between your toes. Wear these underneath your wool socks to help remedy the issue. I like to carry a set of these ultra thin liners just in case…
TENTS
Durston X-Mid is my pick for a great value premium engineered ultra light tent. The X-Mid saves weight by using your trekking poles as supports for the tent, and is remarkably sturdy. The regular version gets an amazing amount of air flow and the solid version is great for retaining your body heat. Durston makes an ultra premium Pro version made from Dyneema. I sleep in the regular or solid X-Mids that are made from polyester, and have never regretted it. The Pro version is known to have condensation issues as it is a single wall design. Durston tents are some of the lightest and best value tents in production today. If you don’t use trekking poles, or don’t like the idea of a trekking pole tent, the Durston X-Dome is a wonderful ultralight option and the only non trekking pole tent to get a mention. Durston will continue to come up on this list, and does not have an affiliate link program. Dan produces some of the most intelligent and most awarded gear in the industry and I couldn’t possibly make this list or hike without his wonderful creations. They can only be found on the Durston or Kaviso websites.
Lanshan 1-2 person trekking pole tent is my pick for best budget tent. I almost purchased this tent many times as it always gets great reviews and mentions in the forums. If you’re trying to save a few bucks, the Lanshan is at a nice price point to get you into some legitimate ultra light gear.
BACKPACKS
ZPacks Arc Haul gets my pick for best overall ultralight pack. Its available in big range of sizes, and the arc design in the carbon fiber frame helps to keep your back ventilated and dry. You get a feathery light design, built to last, and a solid selection of colors. If you want the best, I think this is it. It has all the necessary features while staying as light as possible. If I was recommending a pack for a woman, I would be mentioning the women’s Arc Haul first and foremost. Women’s backpacks have straps designed to work better for women.
https://zpacks.com/collections/arc-haul-ultra-backpacks
Durston Kakwa 40/50 gets my pick for best value ultralight backpack. Durston does it again with this reasonably priced high end pack that seems to weigh nothing at all. The hip belt design works particularly well, doesn’t seem to slip down over time, and is very comfortable. The Kakwa is going to be very similar to the ZPacks Arc Haul and is going to offer substantial price savings. If you have a longer torso, maybe over 6’2”, the large size Durston will not be big enough for you.
Osprey Atmos AG LT 50 is not an ultralight pack, but it makes my list for being the best “comfort pack” and is loaded with features, pockets, and an “anti-gravity” (AG) suspension system. The new LT version shaves over half a pound off the standard design. If you want extra padding, the best design to keep your back dry, and want lots of zipper pockets, this pack should be at the top of your list. Personally, I opt for the weight savings of the Durston or ZPacks, but the Atmos is an incredible pack. You are very likely to see them out in the wild on the trails.
ULTRALIGHT KITCHEN
BRS 3000-T ultralight stove is my go to cook top. It weighs almost nothing, packs inside my cooking pot, and is proven to last. I use a 4 oz. cannister of gas because the stove and gas will pack inside my small titanium pot. You can pick these up for under 20 bucks, which is really nice when you’re trying to put together a set of gear. The one drawback to the BRS is the flame being exposed to high winds. The wind issue isn’t difficult to overcome, but some opt for a slightly heavier and more wind proof setup. You can cook with larger pots and pans on this tiny BRS setup when you are camping near your vehicle.
MSR pocket rocket is going to be a more substantial looking version of my BRS 3000-T and is a really good option for a backpacking stovetop.
Fire Maple makes a nice looking low price ultralight stove top as well…
I use a 750ml titanium pot with my BRS and find that it is plenty big enough for one person. I use it to boil water for dehydrated meals, drink coffee/tea out of it, mix drinks like hot cocoa, etc. You could go for the 550 ml version to conserve a bit more space in your pack, but 750ml is going to be what you find in the majority of packs on the trails.
ULTRALIGHT SLEEPING BAGS
REI Magma 15 or 30 is my pick for value while still delivering top of the line 850 power fill down in a sleeping bag or quilt. The weight to warmth ratio on 850 power fill down is amazing. The REI Magma delivers military grade zippers on the mummy bag version, and the quilt version with no zipper is an interesting option. My Magma has been through many hikes and years of backpacking. This bag feels luxurious, is built to last, and even has a small internal zipper pocket for your water filter so that it doesnt get frozen…. and ruined. This is a wonderful feature for nights that drop below freezing as a frozen water filter puts you at risk of drinking contaminated water.
Feathered Friends makes custom, top of the line, ultralight sleeping bags according to your specific dimensions. They are a bit pricey, but they will deliver you the best product. I hear nothing but good things about Feathered Friends.
(insert down ultralight amazon bag/quilt)
ULTRALIGHT INFLATABLE SLEEPING PADS
Nemo
Sea to Summit
Thermarest
CLOSED CELL FOAM PADS
I highly recommend carrying a foldable foam pad and strapping it to the bottom of your pack so it prevents abrasions from being placed on the ground repeatedly. When you toss and turn on an inflatable sleeping pad, your elbow/hip/shoulder is going to “bottom out” into the ground as you reposition. This is why many backpackers use these foam pads under their inflatable for comfort, to protect from punctures, and to add a bit more thermal resistance between them and the cold ground. I take it a step further and put my foam pad under my tent so I’m protecting tent and sleeping pad from damage at the same time. My dogs share their own foam pad so they have something warm to sleep on. Losing body heat into the ground is a major concern on chilly nights and a foam pad will help. They make great padding to sit on, a perfect yoga mat, and could provide some electrical insulation from the ground in the event of a nearby lightning strike.
Nemo link
Thermarest link
WATER FILTRATION DEVICE/RESERVOIR
Katadyn Be Free is my top choice for back country water filtration. It has a fast flow rate and the water tastes great. The down side is the odd size threads and needing specific sacks for collecting water. Cleaning the filter is easy and is expected to filter up to 1,000 gallons before needing replacement.
Sawyer Squeeze might be the best overall water filtration system for a few reasons, but mostly for having threads that screw onto a standard water bottle. This is both cost effective and convenient. The Sawyer is going to filter slower than the Be Free, but the Sawyer is expected to last longer and filter more gallons before replacement. Cleaning this filter is slightly more complicated, requiring a syringe or small plastic piece to backflow the filter. Its a simple enough task, but the exposed nature of the Be Free filter allows it to be cleaned simply by shaking it in water.
CNOC water sacks are the only reservoir to make my list and are made in thread sizes to fit both the Sawyer and Be Free filters. The end of these sacks open up all the way to make scooping water a breeze. When empty, they roll up for easy storage. I have never had a leak or break in a CNOC water sack and find them to be very reliable, and the easiest water sack to fill.
CAMP GADGETS/ELECTRONICS
FlexTailGear portable air pump is the ultimate backpacking gadget. It is a dual use device and doubles as an LED lantern after inflating your sleeping pad, so take that awkward pump sack and place it directly into your nearest trash receptacle. It is a tiny device with a low price tag, and worthy of the small space and weight in my pack. They make an even smaller “zero” version that does not double as a lantern. I love using the lantern function with its 3 levels of brightness, so I recommend the original version.
Anker Power Bank is going to be the most recommended power bank for backcountry usage and keeping your phone and FlexTail charged. Many people opt to use their phone as a mapping device, and having the ability to charge up is important. GPS software will work with your phone on airplane mode and doing so will conserve your battery. I can go 3 days on airplane mode taking pics and using my phone as a map before needing a charge.
FlexTailGear power bank is another cool option.
Head Lamp is recommended and lights an area while keeping your hands free. Below are some recommendations at different price points. I’ve used a set of cheap ones for years.
TREKKING POLES
Foxelli trekking poles get my first pick. They are affordable, come in aluminum and a lighter carbon fiber option, and lasted me many hikes and years. The cork grips and straps work great. I bought 2 sets of the carbon fiber for my parents, and mine are the aluminum. I almost didn’t recommend another trekking pole, but if you want the best, I have a couple more for ya..
Durston trekking poles are my “some day poles.” They are the lightest design in the trekking pole world and anything made by Durston is going to be well thought out and made with pride. They come in a strap and strapless version. I am heavily reliant on my trekking pole straps and couldn’t imagine owning a set without them. I highly recommend the version with the straps.
Black Diamond carbon fiber trekking poles are going to be heavily recommended on many reviews and forums. Again, the price point is considerably higher than the Foxelli, but you are getting top of the line poles from a proven brand. Its that simple.
DRY SACKS AND COMPRESSION SACKS
Wise Owl dry sacks are what I use to keep my stuff organized and dry. They are cheap, and another piece of gear that has lasted the test of time and miles. They are good for food, sleeping bags, electronics, clothes, anything really. They come in different colors and sizes, and I rather enjoy the Wise Owl logo.
Hilltop Packs gets my nod for custom sized dyneema sacks sewed to order right here in the USA. From small jewelry size sacks to big bear hang bags, Hilltop has you covered. When you start getting into dyneema, you’re really spending money to shave ounces off your pack, tent, dry sacks, etc. Usually you see veteran backpackers getting into dyneema who are obsessed with dropping weight from their gear. Dyneema is a material that has an amazing strength to weight ratio, and is expensive. I use a couple of Hilltop’s sacks in my setup and really enjoy them. Check out their other products too.
Sea to Summit eVac compression dry sack is what I trust to keep my sleeping bag as dry and compressed as possible. Compression sacks have a membrane on one end that allows air to pass through in only 1 direction (out of the sack). This membrane allows you to compress your sleeping bag and clothes down to leave more room in your pack. Most importantly, this sack is going to keep your sleeping bag dry for an emergency situation. Lets say a cold front hits on your hike and you fall into a creek on a water crossing. You and your pack just got submerged in icy waters. You could be at risk of hypothermia, but as long as you can get into a dry sleeping bag, you will live. Having your sleeping bag compressed down into a good water proof sack is one of the most important aspects of backpacking safety, planning, and preparation. No matter what temperature it is, you are never going to be happy in a wet sleeping bag. Sea to Summit eVac is my go to.
FIRST AID KIT
You will want to buy or create an ultralight first aid kit for your adventures. The extent of your kit will be up to you, but a few basics are highly recommended. To be continued…