Guide to Ultralight Backpacking Gear for Long-Distance Treks

When you're trekking hundreds—or even thousands—of miles, every ounce counts. Ultralight backpacking isn't just a trendy concept; it's a proven strategy for reducing fatigue, improving mileage, and staying injury-free on long-distance hikes.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to minimize your pack weight without sacrificing safety or comfort, using tried-and-true strategies and recommending gear that seasoned thru-hikers swear by.

1. Understanding Ultralight Philosophy

Ultralight backpacking is about doing more with less. The core goal is to keep your base weight (everything except food and water) under 10 pounds. Even getting to 15–20 lbs is a huge upgrade from traditional loads. Ultralight isn’t about discomfort—it’s about strategic choices and efficient systems.

2. The Big Three: Where to Cut the Most Weight

• Backpack: Aim for a frameless or internal-frame pack under 2 lbs. Examples include the ULA Circuit and Gossamer Gear Kumo.
• Shelter: Consider trekking pole tents like the Zpacks Duplex or Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo, or even Dyneema tarps.
• Sleep System: Swap your mummy bag for a quilt. Pair it with a foam pad (Therm-a-Rest Z Lite) or an ultralight inflatable like the NeoAir UberLite.

3. Clothing Systems for Efficiency

Use a strict clothing budget. Bring only what you'll wear daily and one set of sleep clothes. Avoid cotton and heavy layers:

• Base Layer: Merino wool or synthetics like Capilene
• Mid Layer: Active insulation such as the Patagonia R1
• Rain Layer: Ultralight shells like the Outdoor Research Helium or Frogg Toggs

4. Food and Cooking Choices

To save serious weight, consider cold-soaking meals in a peanut butter jar. If you enjoy hot meals, use an alcohol stove (like the TOAKS Siphon) and a titanium pot. Maximize calorie density—aim for 120–150+ calories per ounce using foods like trail mix, peanut butter, ramen, and olive oil.

5. Water Strategy

Don’t carry excess water weight. Use a Sawyer Squeeze filter and 1L Smartwater bottles (lighter than Nalgenes). For camp use, a collapsible CNOC bladder works great. Always check water sources ahead of time using Guthook/FarOut or AllTrails.

6. Toiletries and First Aid

• Multi-use items: A few drops of Dr. Bronner’s for soap, teeth, and laundry
• Tape: Leukotape for blisters instead of a full kit
• Minimal meds: Just what you truly need

7. Electronics and Navigation

Your smartphone can do it all—GPS, camera, journal. Download offline maps (Gaia GPS, FarOut) and bring a 10,000mAh power bank. Add a micro headlamp like the Nitecore NU25 and ultralight cable.

8. Ultralight Mindset: Do More with Less

Question everything. Can I use something lighter? Can one item do the job of two? Can I go without it? This mindset is key to going lighter while staying safe.

9. Recommended Ultralight Brands

• Zpacks – packs, tents, quilts
• Gossamer Gear – shelters, frameless packs
• Enlightened Equipment – quilts
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear – Dyneema packs and tarps
• Montbell – puffy layers
• TOAKS – titanium cookware
• CNOC – water storage

10. Final Thoughts

Ultralight backpacking isn’t just for elite thru-hikers—it’s for anyone who wants to go farther, feel better, and experience more. Start by trimming the big three, stay curious, and tweak your setup as you learn. The less you carry, the more you gain on the trail.