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Ultralight backpacking gear is a worthy funding for hikers who wish to get probably the most out of day by day on path with out sacrificing their knees to do it. And going ultralight doesn’t need to be difficult. Many in style ultralight gadgets may even be discovered at your native REI, which means you’ll be able to dodge lengthy lead instances, examine gear out in particular person earlier than buying, and have the safety of REI’s sturdy return coverage as you overhaul your setup.
From Large Three gadgets to smaller devices, listed here are 15 of the very best ultralight backpacking items you should purchase at REI, chosen by our editors.
Store Ultralight Backpacking Gear at REI
Altra Lone Peak 9 Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $145 | Weight: 1 lb 6.4 oz (M), 1 lb 3 oz (W)
Ever heard it stated {that a} pound in your toes is value 5 in your again? Path trainers just like the Altra Lone Peak have grow to be overwhelmingly in style in long-distance mountaineering communities, largely because of the affect of the ultralight motion.
Whereas they don’t rely towards base weight because you’ll be sporting all of them day whilst you hike, these minimalist footwear nonetheless weigh loads lower than conventional mountaineering boots, they usually’ll breathe higher and dry extra rapidly too.
Large Agnes String Ridge VST 1.5 TentMSRP: $549.95 | Weight: 1 lb 7.1 oz
This comparatively new tent is Large Agnes’s first foray into the world of ultralight trekking-pole tents. It’s roomy for one particular person and will additionally match a furry mountaineering companion. Pitched with two trekking poles in lieu of devoted tent poles, the String Ridge is 9 ounces lighter and considerably roomier than the Fly Creek One, the model’s lightest freestanding tent.
REI Flash Shorts Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $69.95 | Weight: 5.6 oz (M), 5.3 oz (W)
Light-weight shorts + solar hoodie is the basic Ultralight Hiker uniform of the 2020s. This combo is flexible and comfy throughout a variety of situations, from muggy Appalachian summers to shoulder season trekking within the excessive alpine.
REI’s Flash shorts have a roomy, snug match that received’t prohibit your vary of movement. They’re made with stretchy, quick-drying, and UPF 50+ material and have two beneficiant hand pockets — plus a zippered thigh pocket particularly designed to be accessible beneath a hip belt.
REI Sahara Shade Solar Hoodie Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $59.95 | Weight: 8.8 oz (M), 6.4 oz (W)
An ideal pairing with the Flash shorts above, this basic solar hoodie will present full protection to your higher physique. Pull the hood up and pair it with shades and a trucker hat for a easy, ultralight sun-protection system that many a thru-hiker swears by. The cuffs have thumb loops so you’ll be able to even pull the material down to guard the backs of your arms.
The UPF 50+ material is moisture-wicking, comfortable, and breathable. Importantly, the UPF 50+ safety is an inherent property of the material itself, moderately than a chemical remedy that might ultimately put on off.
Nemo Tensor Elite Sleeping PadMSRP: $249.95 | Weight: 8.5 oz (Reg. Mummy)
The launch of this mind-blowingly light-weight sleeping pad has been one of the thrilling developments within the ultralight gear world in the previous couple of years.
Its beneficiant three-inch thickness is greater than sufficient to maintain you sleeping comfortably, even on uneven floor, and the pad’s 2.4 R-value is sufficient for many hikers in gentle situations. (For comparability, the Tensor Elite weighs much less and is barely hotter than the accordion-folding CCF foam pads some ultralight hikers nonetheless favor.)
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $399 | Weight: 8.8 oz (M), 6.9 oz (W)
At simply round half a pound, give or take, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer has lengthy been one of the ultralight down puffies in the marketplace, and it’s nearly definitely the lightest one obtainable at a serious mainstream retailer. The Ghost Whisperer has developed a stable status over a few years and is appropriate for many three-season journeys, although you may wish to pair it with one other layer in case you run chilly.
REI Flash Air 50 Pack Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $299 | Weight: 1 lb 14 oz (M), 1 lb 13 oz (W)
This tidy little pack has gone beneath the radar in ultralight communities, however we predict it’s completely value a glance. REI says the design was impressed by thru-hikers, and you’ll positively see that within the pack’s options, which lean rather more towards the streamlined, minimalist configurations that ultralight backpackers are likely to favor over heavier, extra structured conventional packs.
The Flash Air is lighter —by loads — than the Osprey Exos that’s so in style amongst AT thru-hikers and is available in at an inexpensive value level. It’s made with sturdy and abrasion-resistant UHMWPE all through. Even the spacious exterior pockets are all largely UHMWPE, lowering the chance of snagged mesh. Additionally, it has hipbelt pockets.
Rab Mythic 20 Sleeping BagMSRP: $625 | Weight: 1 lb 8.7 oz
It’s no secret that quilts are actually in style within the ultralight backpacking neighborhood, however typically you simply want a correct mummy bag to really feel actually heat. The excellent news is that a number of the greatest, warmest mummy luggage on the market don’t weigh rather more than a typical quilt. At lower than 25 ounces complete, the Mythic 20 matches that invoice.
If you need the safety of a mummy bag within the weight vary of a quilt, examine this one out.
Petzl Swift LT HeadlampMSRP: $54.95 | Weight: 1.5 oz
The ultralight shock-cord headband on this lamp will make you appear to be an ultralight cool child. And though it appears like a bare-bones headlamp, the Swift LT is something however.
It nonetheless boasts a most gentle output of 380 lumens (greater than sufficient for campers and evening hikers) and features a purple gentle and a locking operate. It’s rechargeable, and the battery lasts 2 to 60 hours, relying on the brightness setting. Regardless of all that, the whole weight together with the battery, shock wire, and every thing is simply 1.5 ounces.
HMG Southwest 40 BackpackMSRP: $395 | Weight: 1 lb 13.6 oz
Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s distinctive white backpacks have been a staple of the ultralight world for years. The Southwest is made with extremely sturdy Dyneema Composite material, and these packs have been recognized to outlive a number of consecutive thru-hikes, rising progressively extra dirt-colored with every passing season. The 40-liter capability ought to be greater than sufficient for hikers with ultralight gear setups.
Nemo Hornet Osmo 2 TentMSRP: $479.95 | Weight: 2 lb 8 oz
Sure, you’ll be able to have a freestanding tent and nonetheless be ultralight. Freestanding tents just like the Nemo Hornet Osmo are usually quicker and extra simple to arrange than trekking pole shelters, which is good if you’re rolling into camp on Empty and have to lie down as quickly as attainable.
Nemo’s proprietary, high-performance Osmo material excels in water repellency and doesn’t sag when moist as a lot as a typical silnylon tent would. It’s additionally constructed from 100% recycled yarns, which we love.
The Hornet Osmo tent has good sturdiness and supplies a cushty, sturdy dwelling house. Whereas it’s designed for 2 individuals, it’s nonetheless gentle sufficient {that a} solo hiker might carry it guilt-free.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking PolesMSRP: $219.95 | Weight: 9.9 oz (120 cm)
At lower than 10 ounces per pair, these z-folding carbon fiber poles are a number of the lightest in the marketplace, full cease. They’re not adjustable, so in case you’re a trekking pole tent person, we advocate checking your tent’s setup pointers to make sure you get a set of Distance Carbon Zs that matches each your mountaineering and tenting wants.
Apart from the dramatic weight financial savings, there are a couple of benefits of fixed-length poles: they’re simpler to deploy and extra dependable/sturdy (the difficult locking mechanisms on telescoping poles are a standard failure level).
They’re additionally only a well-made product. Black Diamond is likely one of the greatest names in trekking poles for good cause.
REI Magma 30 QuiltMSRP: $329 | Weight: 1 lb 4.3 oz
Keep in mind how we stated earlier that quilts are vastly in style amongst ultralight hikers? That’s as a result of they eradicate superfluous further materials, streamlining your sleep system in a method that yields large weight financial savings with out compromising your heat or consolation.
At simply 20 ounces, the Magma 30 is way lighter than most conventional sleeping luggage — and its reasonably priced value level proves that going ultralight doesn’t need to be far more costly than a typical backpacking package.
Outside Analysis Helium UL Rain Jacket Males’s | Ladies’sMSRP: $225 | Weight: 5.7 oz (M), 5.6 oz (W)
Outside Analysis’s Helium rain jacket has been one in all our prime ultralight rain gear suggestions for a few years now. There merely aren’t many rain jackets this gentle, particularly if you wish to purchase from a serious model that you could find at REI.
The Helium rain jacket has protected many a thru-hiker through the years, and although its design is minimalist, it nonetheless has some helpful options like zippable pockets and an adjustable drawcord hood.
Toaks Titanium Backpacking StoveMSRP: $29.95 | Weight: 1.6 oz
Toaks got here out with this helpful little UL backpacking range in 2025, and it simply occurs to be one of many lightest stoves in the marketplace. There’s nothing fancy about this contraption: the design is easy and minimalist, however most hikers are simply utilizing their stoves to boil water a couple of times a day anyway, so do you actually need greater than this?
Store Ultralight Backpacking Gear at REI
Featured picture: Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.
