The Best and Lightest: A Comprehensive Guide to Ultralight Hiking Gear

Ultralight hiking, a minimalist approach to backpacking, emphasizes reducing gear weight to enhance mobility, endurance, and overall enjoyment of the wilderness. By optimizing every item on their packing list, ultralight hikers can venture deeper into the backcountry with greater efficiency and comfort. This guide explores the latest ultralight gear, providing insights into its benefits and guiding you in making informed choices for your next adventure.

The Best and Lightest: 150 Healthy Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: A Cookbook

by Amy Morin

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	400758 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	517 pages

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1. Backpacks: Less is More

Features to Consider:

• Volume: 50-65 liters for extended trips, 30-50 liters for shorter excursions
• Weight: 1-2 pounds or less for a fully loaded pack
• Suspension: Adjustable shoulder straps, hip belt, and back padding for comfort
• Materials: Durable, lightweight fabrics like Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF) or ripstop nylon

Recommended Models:

• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 (34oz)
• Six Moon Designs Swift X (24oz)
• Zpacks Arc Zip 55 (19oz)

2. Tents: Shelters Without the Weight

Features to Consider:

• Weight: 1-2 pounds or less
• Type: Single- or double-wall shelters, with or without mesh for ventilation
• Floor: Waterproof and durable, with a bathtub-style design to keep moisture out
• Vestibule: Provides additional storage space outside the tent

Recommended Models:

• Zpacks Duplex (17oz)
• Nemo Hornet Elite 2P (19oz)
• MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2P (38oz)

3. Sleeping Bags: Warmth-to-Weight Ratio

Features to Consider:

• Temperature Rating: Choose a bag rated for the coldest temperatures you expect to encounter
• Insulation: Down or synthetic insulation, with down offering a higher warmth-to-weight ratio
• Fill Power: Indicates the loftiness of the insulation, with higher numbers providing better warmth
• Shape: Mummy bags are narrower and more efficient at retaining heat

Recommended Models:

• Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 (20oz)
• Feathered Friends Flicker UL 20 (22oz)
• Kelty Cosmic 20 (24oz)

4. Sleeping Pads: Comfort on the Trail

Features to Consider:

• Type: Self-inflating, closed-cell foam, or inflatable sleeping pads
• Weight: Aim for pads weighing less than 1 pound
• Insulation: Look for pads with additional insulation for colder temperatures
• Thickness: Choose a pad that provides adequate support and comfort

Recommended Models:

• Thermarest NeoAir XTherm (12oz)
• Exped Synmat HL Winter (17oz)
• Klymit Static V Insulated (20oz)

5. Trekking Poles: Enhanced Stability and Support

Features to Consider:

• Weight: Poles weighing 10-12 ounces per pair
• Length: Adjustable poles allow for a customized fit
• Material: Carbon fiber or aluminum poles offer a balance of strength and weight
• Grip: Ergonomic grips for comfort and moisture management

Recommended Models:

• Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork (11.2oz/pair)
• Leki Micro Vario Carbon (10.8oz/pair)
• Komperdell Carbon FXP.4 (9.6oz/pair)

6. Footwear: Lightweight and Durable

Features to Consider:

• Weight: Aim for boots or shoes weighing less than 2 pounds per pair
• Support: Choose footwear with sufficient ankle support and cushioning for long distances
• Traction: Look for aggressive treads for stability on various terrains
• Waterproofness: Consider waterproof boots for wet conditions

Recommended Models:

• Altra Lone Peak 6 (17oz/pair)
• Hoka Speedgoat 5 (20oz/pair)
• Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX (21oz/pair)

7. Clothing: Layering for Efficiency

Features to Consider:

• Moisture-Wicking: Choose fabrics that move sweat away from the body
• Breathability: Breathable materials allow air to pass through, enhancing comfort
• Weight: Aim for clothing weighing less than 1 pound per piece
• Versatility: Look for clothing that can be used for multiple activities

Recommended Models:

• Patagonia Capilene Air Hoody (11oz)
• Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody (10oz)
• Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants (10oz)

8. Cooking System: Lightweight and Efficient

Features to Consider:

• Weight: Aim for a cooking system weighing less than 1 pound
• Fuel Efficiency: Choose a stove that burns fuel efficiently
• Cooking Space: Ensure the stove and cookware provide sufficient space for cooking
• Versatility: Consider stoves that can boil water and simmer food

Recommended Models:

• MSR PocketRocket 2 (3oz)
• Soto Amicus (2.5oz)
• Jetboil Flash (13oz)

9. Water Filtration: Safe and Portable

Features to Consider:

• Weight: Choose filters weighing less than 10 ounces
• Flow Rate: Higher flow rates allow for faster water retrieval
• Micron Rating: Look for filters with a micron rating of 0.1 or lower
• Durability: Choose filters that are rugged and withstand multiple uses

Recommended Models:

• Sawyer Squeeze (3oz)
• Katadyn BeFree (5oz)
• MSR Guardian Purifier (7.5oz)

10. Headlamps: Illumination without the Weight

Features to Consider:

• Weight: Aim for headlamps weighing less than 4 ounces
• Brightness: Look for headlamps with at least 150 lumens
• Beam Pattern: Choose headlamps with a wide beam for close-up work and a narrow beam for distance
• Run Time: Ensure the headlamps have a sufficient run time for your needs

Recommended Models:

• Petzl Actik Core (5oz)
• Black Diamond Spot 350 (4oz)
• Princeton Tec Vertex (3oz)

The Best and Lightest: 150 Healthy Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: A Cookbook

by Amy Morin

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	400758 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	517 pages

FREE