The Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Our top picks across a range of categories to cut the pounds from your baseweight
Whether you’re in the middle of your first thru-hike or planning out next season’s adventures, upgrading to ultralight backpacking gear is a smart investment. The more grams you shed, the farther you’ll be able to travel day-to-day and the better experience you’ll have. To help you choose the best ultralight backpacking gear for your kit, we’ve rounded up our top picks from side-by-side tests conducted in the field.
- Best Quilt: Therm-a-Rest Vesper
- Best Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest Uberlite
- Best Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze Mini
- Best Utensil: GSI Pouch Spoon
- Best Satellite Messenger: Garmin inReach Mini 2
- Best Trowel: TheTentLab The Deuce #2
- Best Rain Jacket: Montbell Versalite
- Best Puffer Pants: Montbell Light Down Pants
- Best Puffer Jacket: Crazy Levity
- Best Trail Runner: Altra Lone Peak
- Best Sock: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock
How We Tested Ultralight Backpacking Gear
The Outdoor Life team has conducted numerous side-by-side tests of the top-ranked backpacking gear, from the best backpacking water filters to the best trail runners to the best backpacking quilts. The gear on this list were the top performing lightweight or ultralight picks from those tests. If we’re recommending it, we’re confident that it will work well across any terrain that backpackers travel in.
Kutoka kwa kikosi
Mazungumzo ya Campfire na jamii yetu, kutoka kwa Wanachama wa Squad na Mabalozi kwa Washirika wa Brand na timu ya Sawyer.
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
Clothing and gear can be treated with a 0.5% permethrin spray, sold under names including Sawyer, Insect Shield and Ranger Ready.
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
Sawyer’s picaridin lotion offers the longest protection windows on test — up to 14 hours against mosquitoes and ticks — and its creamy, low-odor formula goes on smooth and dries quickly.
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
The Sawyer Squeeze and Cnoc Vecto made hydration easy.
