Ultralight

I’ve been backpacking for over two decades now. And over that time, I’ve become more and more of an ultralight Backpacker. Meaning, I prefer to carry as a little weight as possible, no matter how long of an excursion I am embarking upon. So I decided to go all in. I upgraded my entire backpacking kit to include only the most ultralight gear I could find to test it out and see if it was worth the weight savings, the cost, and the lack of feature-rich gear. So I took it all out on a recent weekend trip, and will break it all down for you right here, right now, and let you know if some of the most ultralight backpacking gear in existence today makes for a better backpacking experience or a more miserable one.

Is there an ultralight backpacker in your life? One of those people who cuts their toothbrush in half or sleeps without a sleeping pad to save a few ounces (or grams)? Want to really wow them with the perfect gift that shows you understand their plight to have the lightest kit in town? These ultralight gifts for backpackers are guaranteed to impress. How do we know? Because we’ve either tested it or it’s on our own wishlist. Sustainability bonus: less weight means less fuel required for shipping! Huzzah! So shop happy (and ultralight)!

Ultralighters rejoice, ‘cause have we got a tent for you: The One from Gossamer Gear. And it. Is. Lit. So read (or watch) to find out all about this ultralight tent from an Austin-based small business.

Like to backpack? Prefer to pack light? Then allow us to introduce you to the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 liter backpack, a pack for all you ultralighters out there. But …

The perfect headlamp is a thing of beauty: It should be bright, comfortable, not too heavy, and small enough to stash in your pocket or backpack for a quick trip. So we rounded up the best of the best. Here are our favorite ultralight headlamps; the 6 best headlamps for backpacking, climbing, late-night kayaking, you name it, all under 3 ounces.

Into backpacking? Thinking of giving it a go? (If so, you should check out our Backpacking 101 article here.) You may have heard the term “ultralight” tossed around from time to time. Not sure what it means? We’ll tell you. Essentially, it’s a form of backpacking that involves packing as light as humanly possible in an effort to go farther faster and with less pain and strain on your shoulders, feet and joints. It’s not for everybody (it does require giving up some creature comforts), but if you’re ready to give it a try, here are a few simple ultralight backpacking tips to get you started.

Holy crap we love ultralight tents. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a new tent so we’re completely smitten with the options available these days, but …

We love gear. Especially ultralight gear. Because who wants to clomp around in the backcountry with 50 pounds on their back? Not us. Certainly not I, whose pack weight maxes …