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It’s no secret that going ultralight could be costly. Whether or not it’s a 1000-fill-power down jacket or carbon fiber tent poles, there’s no scarcity of the way to lighten your pockets as you lighten your pack. That’s sufficient to place many backpackers off the thought altogether. However hidden amongst all of the high-end merchandise are reliable, low-cost choices which can be decidedly light-weight. Listed here are our prime picks, beginning with an ultralight “Huge 4”—tent, backpack, sleeping bag, and pad—that clocks in at about six kilos and fewer than $500.
Shelter: Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout
Value: $160
Weight: 2 lbs. 6 oz.
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For the Scout, Six Moon Designs lifted the design of its costlier fashions however changed pricier nylon and Dyneema fly supplies with polyurethane-coated polyester, a sturdy however barely heavier possibility. One other perk: Polyester absorbs much less water than nylon, so it received’t sag as a lot after it’s pitched. The tent has what Six Moon Designs calls “hybrid double-wall” building, which means {that a} mesh interior is sewn into the polyester cover, making a double wall over about 80 % of the inside. Within the discipline, this reduces the possibility of condensation dripping into the tent, a typical subject with single-wall tents and tarps that may postpone would-be ultralighters. The Scout could be arrange with tent poles ($30 for 2) or trekking poles.
Pack: Granite Gear Virga 2
Value: $112
Weight: 1 lb. 3 oz. (common measurement)
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The Virga 2 is a no-frills frameless pack that has lengthy been a mainstay on long-distance trails. With no prime lid or zippered pockets, packing the 54-liter Virga 2 would possibly really feel international if you happen to’re used to the additional group, but it surely makes up for that with two massive aspect pockets and an expansive stretch pocket on the entrance. All of that minimalism comes with a vastly lowered weight penalty—the usual measurement is available in at simply 19 ounces. A phrase of warning: In case you’re upgrading to ultralight gear one piece at a time, the pack needs to be your final buy. Making an attempt to hold a load of greater than 25 kilos with this frameless pack would overwhelm the pack’s light-weight suspension system, leaving a lot of the load in your shoulders.
Sleeping Quilt: Hammock Gear Economic system Burrow Quilt
Value: $200 (30 diploma commonplace size)
Weight: 1 lb. 6 oz. (30 diploma commonplace size)
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Don’t let the title throw you—although the corporate designs its merchandise for hammock campers, these quilts work simply as effectively on the bottom. The no-nonsense quilts provided by Hammock Gear sound too good to be true: 800-fill-power hydrophobic down, made within the USA, all for $200 and 22 ounces. For an extra cost, the corporate can even add customized options like further width, further down to extend loft and heat, and a strapping system to connect the quilt to a sleeping pad. A number of caveats: With its hoodless design, you would possibly wish to add a beanie to your sleep system to maintain your head heat. And as a small firm, Hammock Gear can have a lead time of 5-6 weeks, so order effectively prematurely.
Sleeping Pad: Klymit Static V
Value: $60
Weight: 1 lb. 3 oz.
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It’s straightforward sufficient to seek out an inexpensive closed-cell foam pad, however let’s face it: inflatable pads are much more comfy. Most often, they’re additionally costlier. Klymit’s most least expensive mannequin, the Static V, is one exception. As soon as inflated, it offers a 2.5-inch cushion from the bottom, on par with most premium pads. With a 75-denier coated polyester building, it’s additionally extra sturdy than most ultralight pads, although it does weigh a number of extra ounces. That mentioned, with an R-value of 1.3, the Static V shouldn’t be the warmest pad and wouldn’t be applicable on shoulder-season or winter journeys. Packing tip: Go away the pad partially inflated and use it as a suspension system in your new frameless pack by rolling it right into a cylinder and packing the remainder of your gear inside this makeshift body.
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Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Value: $65
Weight: 1 lb. / pair
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Trekking poles would possibly look like a luxurious, however they’ll save your knees on lengthy journeys and supply construction for a lot of ultralight shelters. These poles from Cascade Mountain Tech are available in at a scant 8 ozeach whereas nonetheless providing the sturdiness to face as much as rock strikes and miles of use. A lot of the options you’d discover on costlier choices are right here as effectively: quick-lock mechanisms, 4 suggestions for various path circumstances, and a three-piece design that enables them to pack right down to 26 inches lengthy.
Pack Group: Gossamer Gear Pack Liners
Value: $5 for a 2-pack
Weight: 1.2 oz.
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Fairly than stocking up on costly dry luggage or compression sacks, use considered one of these polyethylene pack liners to guard the majority of your gear (a separate dry bag or bear canister for meals remains to be a good suggestion). They’re cheaper and lighter, and utilizing a single pack liner additionally helps you utilize each inch of a frameless pack, since lumpy compression sacks can depart useless area.
Rain Safety: Frogg Toggs Xtreme Lite Rain Jacket
Value: $60
Weight: 7.5 oz. (m’s medium)
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Frogg Toggs’ Extremely-Lite jacket, standard with gram counters and thru-hikers, could be a bit lighter, but it surely’s additionally much less sturdy and presents a poor match. For a number of further {dollars}, improve to this two-ply polyester jacket, with two zippered aspect pockets, drawcords to cinch the hood and waist, and fewer danger of tearing on a wayward department. It’s additionally compressible sufficient to pack down into its personal aspect pocket.
Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
Value: $30
Weight: 3 oz.
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The tried-and-true Sawyer Squeeze is difficult to beat in the case of water filtration. It’s easy to make use of, comparatively low-cost, and can simply stand as much as the wants of the common person. Plus, it screws onto most narrow-mouth plastic bottles, so there’s no want to purchase costly appropriate vessels.
Flashlight: Energizer Imaginative and prescient HD Headlamp
Value: $15
Weight: 3.5 oz.
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It may appear bizarre to purchase a headlamp from a battery producer, however Energizer’s line of headlamps stunned us. Its 260-lumen Imaginative and prescient mannequin is vivid sufficient for many camp duties, has dimming and purple mild choices, and stays safe with a cushty, stretchy headband. On the low setting, its LEDs have a 35-hour runtime. One ding: it’s not USB-rechargeable, a function that’s more and more frequent amongst backpacking headlamps, so that you’ll want to hold batteries.
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