ultralight backpacking

In this adventure, I show you my 6.5 lb ultralight backpacking gear list.

backpack: ultimate direction 20l fastpack

shelter: sling fin splitwing poly ground sheet 2 msr groundhogs 6 shepard hooks ruta locura carbon fiber poles

sleep system: ph designs sleeping bag gosserman gear 1/8th sleeping pad

cook system: 500ml toaks titanium pot titanium esbit stove

water treatment: platypus quick draw

clothing: darn tough socks alpha direct hoodie high tail designs pantagonia houdini wind breaker enlightened equipment copperfield wind pants

light: nitecore nu25

misc: hyperlight pod hyperlight umbrella apex giant poop shovel zippo knife adotek bear bag

Looking for an affordable ultralight backpacking gear list that’s actually comfortable? In this video, I take you on-trail to break down my full backpacking loadout — with a base weight under 7 lbs and a total cost under $500. From a fully enclosed tent to a thick sleeping pad and full cook kit, this setup proves you can go light without giving up comfort. Whether you're a beginner or just trying to lighten your pack on a budget, this gear list shows you don't have to spend big to get outside.

This video covers my ultralight hiking gear & knowledge from 20,000 miles on the trail.

The following gear setup is full comfort, weighs 10 pounds, and covers down to 20 degrees for all weather scenarios, including:

Best Tents & Tarps for Backpacking

Sleep System - Sleeping Bag / Quilt, Pad & Pillow

Best Backpacking Backpack

Stuff Sacks & Equipment Organization

Clothes & Layering Systems

Small Essential Equipment

First Aid Kit for Hiking

Toilet Kit

Cooking System & Stoves

Water Purification & Storage

Simple 4 Day Resupply from Aldi

I did some research on a simple resupply plan using products available at Aldi. There are 4 ingredients:

Oatmeal, Protein powder, Almonds, Cranberries

4 Day Resupply:

1 - 42 oz oatmeal (regular)

1 - 32 oz protein powder

2 - 14 oz almonds

4 - 6 oz dried cranberries

Total weight: 7.9 pounds

Daily:

2 - 1.5 cups cold soaked oatmeal (about 2/3 peanut butter jar)

2 to 5 servings of protein powder

1/2 14 oz bag of almonds

1 6 oz bag of dried cranberries

The package of protein powder will provide up to 5 scoops of protein powder per day. Drink as many as you wish.

Daily nutrition (with 5 servings of protein powder per day):

Calories 3775

Fat 189% USDA recommended

Carbohydrate 152% USDA recommended

Protein 450% USDA recommended (5 servings protein powder)

Cost: about $46 at Aldi

I LOVE Cold soaking meals on the trail. Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner all from a peanut butter jar. MORE RECIPES: irontazz.com/stoveless-backpacking

This is the comfy summer SUL Kit I used in 2019.

A sub 5lb kit isn't as crazy as it may seem. I can still shave some weight If I wanted to but i'll save that for my XUL gear video ;)

LighterPack: lighterpack.com/r/cd5sg

This is my full 2025 Pacific Crest Trail 3 season thru-hiking gear list. Comfort, safety, and full self-reliance at just 4.5 lbs—it is possible. This ultralight backpacking setup is perfect for any summer thru-hike or backpacking trip.

It includes:

A fully enclosed shelter A self-inflating air mattress (more comfortable than the Therm-a-Rest Xlite) 6.5 oz backpack Full rain protection

💼 View my full gear list on LighterPack 👉 lighterpack.com/r/aeu8e3

join me on a solo backpacking adventure through one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. i traverse the massive lava fields of mauna ulu and trek 8 miles along the rugged hawaiian coastline to reach a remote, oceanfront campsite. along the way, i share the stories of native plants, their survival secrets, and the deep connections they hold to the land.

come along for stunning ocean views, crystal-clear waters, and a glimpse into the unique ecosystems of hawai'i volcanoes national park!

in this video:

lava field crossings and coastal trekking
setting up camp at a secluded oceanfront site
hawai'i native plant survival tips and cultural significance
solo swimming in pristine Hawaiian waters

Here are a bunch of Stoveless backpacking recipes that are super easy!! This is a method of cooking while backpacking and thru hiking that I have been doing for almost a decade now! I loved it back then, and I still love it today! It's lighter weight, it's faster and more efficient, it's cheaper, and it's easier! I hope you enjoy

more information at http://johnzahorian.com/2021-pct-gear

2 drops of bleach per liter, wait 30 minutes.

In today's video I'll cover the hard won tips I've learned from making hundreds of mistakes over my 20,000 mile hiking career. These ultralight hiking tips will help you reduce your pack weight and have a better time hiking without spending extra money.

Join us as Reuben breaks down his ultralight backpacking kit — a 4.5 lb base weight system he’s refined over years of experience and over 100 nights a year sleeping under the stars around the world. From alpine treks to remote jungles, this minimalist setup proves that you don’t need a heavy pack to thrive outdoors.

I get a lot of questions about using a tarp when I backpack, rather than a tent or a hammock. Among the questions I answer in this video are these:

--What are the main advantages of a tarp? --What about rain? --What about bugs and snakes? --How do you set up without trekking poles? --How do you use a bivy sack and an umbrella? --How important is site selection to staying dry in the rain? --How can I get started backpacking with a tarp?

And here’s a FOLLOW-UP video titled “More Square Tarp Set-Ups,” featuring some of the ways I set up my tarp when I used it to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail in 2018–youtube.com/watch?v=zetBiNj9NMc

gear list: lighterpack.com/r/9zfaxn

I know that you've been kept up at night wondering, "will a poncho tarp work for me on my hike next season?" This comprehensive review of the functionality and features of the poncho tarp will set your mind at ease with clips of long term, on-trail use of the equipment, the ambient sounds of rushing creek water, and the soothing yet informative rambling of SongBird himself. (I feel better already - does anyone read these things?)

Build a DIY MYOG 1 person ultralight minimalist asymmetrical pyramid tent tarp shelter out of dyneema composite fabric cuben fiber.

PATTERN & DETAILS: 👉https://www.joshbukoski.com/dcf-ess-tent

If you're serious about ultralight backpacking, these shelters are worth knowing. In this video, I go over three of the most unique ultralight shelters available right now — the Gearswifts DCF Poncho Tarp, the Ounce Designs Abode, and the Meadowphysics Adobi.

Each of these shelters weighs under 7 ounces, and they’re built by small, passionate cottage companies focused on true minimalist performance. I’ll cover the price, weight, dimensions, and materials for each, so you’ll have a clear sense of what makes them stand out in the world of lightweight tents and backpacking shelters.

Whether you're into minimalist camping, trekking, or just looking for new outdoor gear ideas, these ultralight designs offer some of the best options for cutting serious weight without giving up real protection.

Backpacking and hiking gear can be really expensive, but it doesn't have to be! You can get extremely nice things for extremely cheap if you would like to. In a lot of cases I choose the cheap gear instead of the really expensive gear! So all of what I am recommending here, I personally have used for hundreds or thousands of miles and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I bought two of these seat pads and I am hoping to use them as a sleeping pad. I have tried to use foam pads but don't sleep well and have back pain the next day. I am hoping that these inflatable pads will work when placed under the hips and shoulders. They are not large, only 14"x14", so they will have to be strategically placed and moved when switching from back to side sleeping. 2.6 ounces for each, so 5.2 ounces total. Compare this to 14 ounces for a short Static V pad.

I am still testing them. Ideally they would be the only sleeping pad, but I may use them together with a foam pad. I have no idea if this will actually work.

I've been wearing Xero shoes as my preferred every day shoe and my hiking shoe of choice for a while. I got a few pairs on a steep sale and now my last pair is starting to die.

I don't mind getting more, but I'd like to see what else is out there. I used to wear Altra and I've gotten Hobbart shoes, but those were weird shaped and rubbed on my pinky toes.

Any suggestions for foot shaped shoes? I'd prefer some cushion like Altras and bonus if there's a business casual looking variety