A Couple's Sub-10lb Ultralight Backpacking Gear!

We’re all about backpacking here at Terradrift. Specifically ultralight backpacking (I carried an 8.2 lb base weight recently). That’s partially due to the fact that we’re small people so it’s easy to have a pack that’s too heavy pretty quickly, but also because we love the challenge of seeing what we can pare down and do without so we can move faster, father, and more comfortably.

But ultralight (UL) doesn’t have to mean ultra uncomfortable. In fact, there’s tons of UL backpacking gear out there that’s designed to be both easy on your shoulders and comfy to carry. And we took a bunch of it out onto the Allegheny Trail in West Virginia in late spring conditions (i.e. mild during the day, cool at night, and plenty muddy) to see how light we could get our packs and how the gear performed.

That said, this list of gear is perfect for late spring through early fall. And altogether, our average backpacking base weight (the weight of all gear minus food, water and consumables like fuel) was about 8.5lbs! For a couple’s ultralight backpacking kit, that’s pretty dang impressive and more than meets the criteria for ultralight backpacking (which is historically a base weight of 10lbs). Here’s some of the best ultralight backpacking gear we carried.

Want more UL backpacking content? Check out the biggest mistakes UL backpackers make and 5+ tips for packing ultralight.

A man wearing an ultralight backpacking in the woods. — Josh ultralight backpacking in West Virginia.

His Ultralight Backpacking Kit: 8.8 lbs

We each carried our own personal items then split up shared equipment. Here’s what was in Josh’s pack:

Backpack: LiteAF ECOPAK Curve 40L (32oz)
- We reviewed this pack in more detail in this post, but suffice it to say that this ultralight backpack is a durable powerhouse. A simple removable U-shaped aluminum frame gives it some structure without adding much weight, the outer fabric is made of recycled materials and is also ultra durable and highly water resistant, and there are so. many. pockets. We also love that these packs come in tons of colors and patterns and you can order a fully custom pack if you so desire.
Sleeping Pad: Nemo Tensor Elite UL (8.5oz)
- A comfortable, compact, ultralight, quiet pad that’s perfect for warm summer nights with an R-value of 2.4.
Sleeping Bag: Zenbivy Ultralight (1.6oz)
- This 25º ultralight sleeping bag is designed for summer and shoulder season weather. Comfy, roomy, and when paired with the optional pad sheet, super comfy. Read a more in-depth review here!
Headlamp: BioLite 325 (1.8oz)
- It’s powerful, rechargeable functional, and easy to use. It’s the headlamp I always reach for.
Extra Clothing: UYN Baselayer Top and Bottom plus Socks (15.3oz)
- Clothing you wear doesn’t count toward your base weight, but any extras you pack, like for sleeping, do. Josh loves his plant-based synthetic UYN baselayer set for chilly nights plus one extra pair of Injinji toe socks.
Ultralight Rain Jacket: Aequilibrium Lite GTX (6.8oz)
- Ultralight but ultra durable.
Camp Shoes: Shamma TrailStar Ibex (14oz)
- Josh wears them for day hikes and around camp.
Tent: Hyperlite Unbound 2 (22oz)
- We reviewed this ultralight tent in more detail here, but this is a comfortable, roomy, ultralight backpacking tent that we love. It has plenty of room for 2 plus gear.
Hydration: CNOC Collapsible Bottle and Thru Bottle (5.3oz)
First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits UL Kit (3.6oz)
Power: Nitecore NB10000 power bank + phone cable (6.3oz)
Various Personal Care Items + Stuff Sacks: Toothbrushes, pocket knife, sunscreen, insect repellent, paracord, etc. (~14oz)
iPhone 14 Pro Max + Case (9.6oz)

A woman hikes down a trail with the Mountain Hardware Alakazam 45 ultralight backpack. — Alisha ultralight backpacking in West Virginia.

Her UL Backpacking Gear: 8.2 lbs

I’m a pretty small human (just 108lbs), so when I pack my ultralight backpack, I do so judiciously. Nothing goes in that I don’t absolutely need and I’m willing to pay more for lighter gear that won’t weigh me down. This is what went in my pack this time around.

Backpack: Alakazam 45L (28.9oz)
- This pack is expensive, but worth it. It’s comfortable, versatile, you can customize the webbing, and it’s made of ultra durable and water resistant materials. This is my new favorite UL backpack.
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (13oz)
- Designed for spring and fall backpacking when nighttime temps are cooler with an R-value of 4.5.
Sleeping Bag Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt 40º (17.8oz)
- Ultralight and pretty dang cozy. This quilt is one of the few truly UL synthetic quilts out there and I love it. Straps keep it fastened to my pad and it easily opens up into a true quilt on warmer nights.
Headlamp: BioLite 325 (1.8oz)
- It’s powerful, rechargeable functional, and easy to use. ‘It’s the headlamp I always reach for. ‘Nough said.
Clothing: Craft SEAQUAL top and bottom + Injinji Socks (8.9oz)
- I only bring one set of clothes to hike in, but I bring a spare pair of socks and a base layer top and bottom to sleep in.
Ultralight Rain Jacket: Rab Phantom (3.7oz)
- This jacket is as ultralight as it gets.
Camp Shoes: Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV Sandals (8.6oz)
- My favorite camp sandals by far, and also super light.
Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear LT5 Carbon Poles (10.4oz)
- The lightest UL trekking poles on the market. Two words: envy inducing. We brought one pair to share and to pitch our tent.
Cookware + Utensils: Toaks 650ml Pot (2.8oz), Toaks 375ml mug (2.2oz), long-handled spoons x 2 (1.2oz)
- We love an ultralight titanium pot for backpacking. We packed a small pot and single mug since all we do is boiling water to rehydrate meals and drink coffee.
Stove: MSR PocketRocket Deluxe (2.9oz)
- We love the PocketRocket Deluxe with its larger, more efficient head and plus built-in igniter.
Hydration: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter with CNOC Collapsible Bottle and Thru Bottle (8.3oz)
Bathroom kit: Trowel, Pact Outdoors compressed wipes + mycelium tablets, Kula Cloth (2.6oz)
iPhone 14 Pro + Case (8.7oz)
Various Personal Items + Stuff Sacks: (~11oz)

Backpacking gear spread out in a shelter on the Allegheny Trail.

Ultralight Backpacking Gear Bottom Line

Summer is the perfect time to dabble in ultralight backpacking. This is some of the gear we love for the task. Just getting started? Shop for used gear, which not only saves you cash, but is kinder to the planet. Then pack lighter, get outside and wander on (in the backcountry, obvs).