Field guides
Learn ultralight backpacking
Plain-English guides to building a lighter kit, plus data-driven best-of lists ranked by real weight and price.
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Guide · 5 min
What Is Base Weight? (And How to Lower Yours)
Base weight is the single number that defines an ultralight kit. Here's what it means, what to aim for, and where to cut.
Guide · 6 min
The Big 3: Where Ultralight Is Won or Lost
Your pack, shelter, and sleep system make up most of your base weight. Get these three right and the rest is easy.
Guide · 7 min
Build Your First Ultralight Kit Under 10 Pounds
A beginner-friendly walkthrough of a complete sub-10-lb base weight — system by system, with real gear to start from.
Guide · 6 min
The Complete Backpacking Poop Kit
Your whole backcountry hygiene system — the specific trowel, bidet, wipes, sanitizer, and pack-out bag we recommend, with live weights and prices.
Guide · 5 min
5 Small Items That Make Camp Life Easier
The five small, low-weight items we'd add for an outsized comfort payoff at camp — with specific picks you can drop into your pack.
Guide · 8 min
Sleeping Bags vs. Quilts: Fills and Fair Comparison
The real differences between bags and quilts, a deep dive on down vs. synthetic fills, and how to read a temperature rating.
Guide · 8 min
Backpacking Water Filtration: Every Method Compared
Squeeze, gravity, pump, UV, and chemical treatment — how each works, the gear it needs, the pros and cons, and our specific picks.
Best-of gear lists
Best of
The Best Ultralight Tents
The lightest, best-rated backpacking tents we track — freestanding and trekking-pole shelters ranked by real spec weight.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Tarps
Minimalist flat and shaped tarps for the lightest possible shelter, ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Backpacking Quilts
Down and synthetic quilts — the ultralight standard for sleep — ranked by weight, warmth, and reviews.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags
The lightest mummy and semi-rectangular bags we track, ranked by spec weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads
Inflatable and foam pads balancing warmth, comfort, and weight — ranked for the ultralight kit.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Backpacks
Frameless and framed packs from the cottage ultralight world, ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Backpacking Stoves
Canister, alcohol, and wood stoves for the trail, ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Backpacking Water Filters
Squeeze filters, gravity systems, and purifiers to make backcountry water safe — ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Trekking Poles
Carbon and aluminum poles that double as tent supports — ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Rain Jackets
Packable rain shells and jackets that keep the weight down when the weather turns.
Best of
The Best Ultralight Insulated Jackets
Down and synthetic puffies for cold camp evenings, ranked by warmth-to-weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Backpacking Cookware
Titanium and aluminum pots and cook systems, ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Backpacking Headlamps
Lightweight headlamps and lanterns for camp and night hiking, ranked by weight and reviews.
Best of
The Best Bear Canisters & Bags
Approved food-storage canisters and bear bags to keep your food safe, ranked by weight.