Travis Olander 12.07.23
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This writer’s spent too many miles rucking big, heavy, bulky stuff through the woods of the east coast, and the Rocky Mountains in the Midwest. The military was certainly no help, either. I destroyed my back (literally, requiring two reconstructive spine surgeries) thanks to carrying gear that weight at least half my own body weight. In short, I appreciate ultralight camping gear. You should, too. If you don’t, well – you probably just haven’t trekked far nor wide enough to appreciate having a svelte 10 Lb load instead of a 25 Lb rucksack. So, here’s the best ultralight hiking gear and camping equipment to make your next trek a little (or a lot) easier.
Best Ultralight Tent: StratoSpire Li Tarptent
Weight: 1.9 Lb (30.35 oz / 861 g)
Sure, there are plenty of super lightweight camp tents – but few are as durable and well designed as the StratoSpire Li. The StratoSpire’s one of the lightest camp tents ever made. But it can still handle rough terrain and it requires no supplemental “stuff” (like a separate ground cover) to make it livable. Tarptent also didn’t skimp on features nor space to get the StratoSpire to such a feathery weight.
Interior height and width measure 45″ with a length of 86″. The floor’s made from ripstop silicone-and-poly nylon, while the fly’s made from Dyneema composite. The rest of the tent’s fashioned from 10D ripstop with 15D “no-see-um” fine mesh to keep small creepy crawlies and critters at bay. The StratoSpire Li’s fully waterproof and perfectly suitable in all weather, with room for two. If you’re traveling in warm, dry weather, you can reduce weight even more and pack only the interior, which weighs just 12.4 ounces. Of course, this level of engineering and weight savings will cost you: The StratoSpire Li currently commands about $660.
(Honorable Mention: Zpacks Duplex Zip Tent)
Weight: 1.27 Lb (20.4 oz / 577 g)
Technically, the StratoSpire’s not the lightest ever all-season tent. That title goes to the Zpacks Duplex Zip. The catch here, though, is its construction: the Duplex requires separate trekking poles to set up, which are sold separately. So, technically, the Duplex isn’t a complete tent on its own. For this, its comparatively lighter advertised weight gets an asterisk.
Any trek poles measuring 48″ will work for the Duplex, though Zpacks offers its own carbon fiber poles to pair with the tent. The poles weight about 7.2 ounces (205 g), which brings the Duplex’s total, assembled weight to about 1.72 pounds (27.6 oz / 782 g). This is still lighter than the StratoSpire and the Zpacks doesn’t skimp on features, either: It measures 53″ by 100″ from corner to corner and its Dyneema fly is rated for wet weather. The floor requires no separate ground cover, and you get 48″ of head room inside – about 3″ more than the StratoSpire Li. The Zpacks Duplex Zip can be had for about $700 at publication.
Best Ultralight Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55
Weight: 1.98 Lb (31.7 oz / 898 g)
This 55L backpack truly is a lumbar and neck saver; this writer knows it from personal experience. The Southwest 55 isn’t just incredibly light – it’s incredibly comfortable, with one of the best cummerbunds and shoulders straps I’ve ever donned. Coupled with plenty of tiedowns and compression straps to keep center of gravity as close to your backside as possible, the Hyperlite Southwest is in a league of its own when it comes to ultralight backpacks.
In spite of its construction, the Southwest can hold up to 40 pounds. That’s a criminally hefty amount of weight for any ultralight hiker, so you’ve got plenty of buffer for long treks and extra gear. There’s room for a water bladder inside, and three external pockets provide an additional 9 liters of capacity. Four outside buckles make lashing your sleeping bag or more storage a simple matter.
Though not technically a full rigid framed pack, the Southwest includes removable contoured aluminum stays for some extra support. The back also incorporates about a quarter inch of foam padding for more comfort, too. Although not fully waterproof, the Southwest’s Dyneema fabric provides good water resistance in light rain and humid environs. The Hyperlite Southwest 55 costs about $380 at publication.
Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag: Zpacks Classic
Minimum Weight: 0.76 Lb (12.2 oz / 347 g)
The Zpacks Classic is technically a line of ultralight sleeping bags, so weight will vary based on your height and the temperature rating you opt for. Available at 30F (-1C), 20F (-7C), and 10F (-12C), the Zpacks Classic remains the lightest (and probably the most compact) sleeping bag on the market. The Classic manages this by relying on good ole’, classic goose down, which remains unrivaled in its insulation and ability to stay dry in wet weather.
To keep the down evenly disbursed, the Classic bag’s sewn with vertical compartments that prevent the insulation from falling and clumping up in the sides. The bag also comes overstuffed by approximately 30% to account for future compression and wear. A three-quarter length zipper makes entry and exist easy, while the squared foot box is roomy. As we wrote in our guide to cold-weather sleeping bags, you’ll want at least 800 fill for 10-degree (F) temperatures, and 1,000 fill for a true 0-degree bag. The Zpacks Classic rests neatly between these figures with 900 fill. The Zpacks Classic is priced by its size and temperature rating: The smallest 30-degree bag runs about $390, while the largest 10-degree bag commands just over $500.
Best Ultralight Boots: Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX
Weight (pair): 1.86 Lb (30 oz / 850 g)
Picking the “best” footwear in any category is almost entirely subjective. After all, our feet vary wildly when it comes to shape, size, gait, and weight. But this writer spent years wearing a pair of Salomon Forces in a uniform and whilst hiking plenty of tough trails, and I’ve found those boots – which are significantly similar to these X Ultra 4’s – to be one of the most comfortable boots, maybe ever. Sure, there are lighter options for day hikes and short treks. But for all-trail boots capable of handling scrambles and temperate alpine hikes, the X Ultra 4 Mid’s are about as light as you’ll find while still enjoying proper waterproofing and ankle support.
The X Ultra 4’s upper is made from PU leather, with Salomon’s typical waterproofing treatment applied. In my experience, their factory treatment will last a few weeks – but, with hard use, you’ll want to invest in your own waterproofing wax or spray. The GORE-TEX liner inside does well enough at keeping water at bay, but it isn’t ever 100% effective. The all-rubber outsole and textile liners are what keep things lightweight and flexible. Long-term durability is invariably sacrificed, here. I became fast friends with a bottle of shoe glue after my Salomons began popping corners near the toe box. At publication, the X Ultra 4 Mid’s cost about $175.
Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Weight: 0.81 Lb (13 oz / 369 g)
A good sleeping pad is one of the most overlooked pieces of kit. But all it takes is one bad camping trip to realize you should’ve spent a little bit of cash (and gave up some weight and space) for a comfortable pad. Sure, there are lighter foam pads. But take it from me: A 1/8″ piece of rolled foam is not going to stop your backside from keeping you awake all night. Inflatable sleeping pads are inarguably the best. They provide the best comfort and padding, and they insulate the best. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite checks all the boxes: A solid 3″ of padding and an insulation R-value of 4.5, which is high enough to effectively insulate in winter. For context, a good three-season pad needs an R-value of at least 2, while summer pads only have an R-value of 1 to 2.
Therm-a-Rest claims some engineering gobbledygook – they call it ThermaCapture technology and a “Triangular Core Matrix” innard – helps circulate body heat while reducing heat loss. Whatever the case, user reviews remark the NeoAir works quite well in cold weather, with easy inflation and deflation with the included pump sack. Deflated and rolled up, the NeoAir measures about 12″ by 4″, or roughly the size of a 1-liter bottle. To keep weight down, you can opt for a smaller XLite. This pad comes in four dimensions: Large, Regular Wide, Regular, and Short, which heights varying from 77″ to 66″, and weights ranging from 1 lb to 0.75 lbs. The NeoAir XLITE (regular) is currently available for $210 at publication.
Best Ultralight Camp Stove: Stash Cooking System
Weight: 0.44 Lb ( 7.1 oz / 201 g)
At less than half a pound, the JetBoil Stash still affords good heat output and capacity with a typical JetPower fuel canister. Boil time averages 2.5 minutes for a half liter of water, with the included ceramic 0.8-liter pot providing stick-free cooking and good insulation. The burner includes feet for the fuel canister and stows neatly inside the cooking pot for easy carrying, while also affording accommodation for a 100-gram canister. Users have reported the JetBoil Stash is more susceptible to wind than other, comparable jet stoves. It’ll pay to use some sort of windshield when you’re lighting and cooking with this lightweight stove. The Stash Cooking System can be had for about $150 at publication.
Best Ultralight Water System: Sawyer Squeeze
Weight: 0.36 Lb (5.7 oz / 162 g)
There’s no getting around carrying the weight of water, unless you simply decide to collect potable water at some source on your hike or camping trip. The Sawyer Squeeze provides precisely this weight saving opportunity to stay hydrated on the trail. Sawyer says their Squeeze adapter filters nearly 100% of all bacteria and protozoa, using a 0.1-micron filter that also removes microplastics. They also say the Squeeze is good for filtering up to 100,000 gallons of water – though you’ll certainly want to occasionally clean the filter.
The Squeeze includes two 32-ounce, reusable water bags that roll up empty for storage. The filter and adapter will, however, fit any typical water bottle with standard 28mm threads. If you opt to ditch the bags and bring just the filter, you can get your carry weight for potable water filtration down to just 2 ounces. At publication, the Sawyer Squeeze costs about $30.
Best Ultralight Headlamp: Petzl E+LITE
Weight: 0.05 Lb (0.9 oz / 26 g)
Thanks to low-voltage LEDs, the Petzle E+ELITE weighs just 26 grams. Yet it offers about 11 hours’ worth of white light illumination, 15 hours of red light illumination, with a usable beam distance of about 10 to 15 feet. It’s also sealed with an IPX7 waterproof rating, so it’ll work just fine in the rain. The thin, elastic headband isn’t exactly the most cushy, but this headlamp’s so minuscule that you needn’t worry about it sagging or digging into your skull. The band adjusts with a simple stretch-and-lock clamp at the rear, while a front knob, adjacent to the diodes, provides brightness and red or white light adjustments. At publication, the Petzle E+LITE costs $30.
Best Ultralight Camp Utensil: UCO 3-in-1 Titanium Spork
Weight: 0.03 Lb (0.64 oz / 18 g)
Titanium stuff can be gimmicky, except when you’re trying to shave off ounces or grams. The UCO Titanium 3-in-1 “spork” does just that, weighing in at well under an ounce and providing all the things you need to eat like a civilized mountaineer. That’s it, really. It’s a spork. Doesn’t get much simpler than that. Sure, there are some lighter glass nylon options on the market – but you can’t rely on those to stir that soup you just heated up on your JetBoil without it melting. Titanium melts at about 3,000 degrees (F), so you should be fine. The UCO 3-in-1 Spork costs about $9 at publication.
Best Ultralight Dry Bag: Earth Pak Torrent
Weight: 0.69 Lb / 11 oz / 311 g (5L) to 1 Lb / 16 oz / 453 g (20L)
Murphy’s Law says that every time you decide to hike or camp without a dry bag, it will rain or snow. You should always store your food away from your tent, anyway – again necessitating a scent-mitigating dry bag of some sort. Earth Pak’s Torrent gets the job done without adding much weight to your ultralight kit. Made from 500D PVC, they’re completely waterproof and don’t require any spray or treatment to maintain.
The 11 Oz, 5L bag’s suitable for electronics and small snacks, while the 1 Lb, 20L bag provides enough capacity for typical “just-add-water” meal packs and MREs. All Torrent bags come with a small external zipper pocket for personal items like keys and phones. A top buckle with adjustable strap allow for over-the-shoulder carry if you opt to not stuff it in your ruck. The strap also doubles as a convenient way to hang your foodstuffs to keep critters away.
“You didn’t cover fire starters!”
That’s because the best ultralight firestarter is boring, predictable, and simple: It’s [drum roll] a BIC Mini Lighter. Yes, really. At just 0.3 ounces (9 grams) and capable of providing an estimated 2,000 lights, the BIC Mini is unbeatable for any ultralight camping or hiking setup. All other firestarters weigh more than this little plastic lighter. Of course, that doesn’t mean the BIC Mini is the overall best option for reliable lighting, especially in cold and wet weather. Read our guide to the best camping firestarters for more.
