for me 2020 has been the year of cutting gear weight. I’m tired of carrying extra weight uphill for miles on end. so far in 2020 i have cut ~6 lbs from upgrading my tent, sleeping bag, pad, and water heating system. but let’s not get it twisted- some things i refuse to give up because of CONVENIENCE and comfort, while others.. i gotta trim the fat asap. This post covers the four most basic EQUIPMENT that every backpacker needs. I provided the ideal goal weight for each item, which products i own, and more affordable options. If you are able to stick to these general guidelines, you will cut unnecessary weight and make more room for comfort items (chairs, pillows, ALCOHOL, etc.).

Generally, loaded backpacks should not weigh more than 20% of your body weight. having that said, i typically will carry more than this because of comfort items (~35 - 40lbs). if you aim to carry between 20-30 lbs regardless of body weight, you are doing great in life.

It’s no secret that the more lightweight an item is, the more expensive it will be. this is a very sad and unfortunate truth about backpacking. It’s a delicate balance between lightweight, durability, and AFFORDAbility. Note: the “affordable” gear options mentioned below are likely not as lightweight and durable as the more expensive items. for backpacking, you really do get what you pay for.

ps. if you are looking for camping gear, aim for gear within these weight guidelines so you don’t have to purchase two sets of everything (i.e., 1 for camping, 1 for backpackn).

Also keep in mind that you can make the items listed below even lighter by not bringing the extra packaging the gear comes with (e.g., stuff sacs).

essential gear

1. tent. aim for ~2.5 lbs (40 oz) or under per person. The tent i was using was 5 lbs, but I just purchased a new tent!!!! And i am so excited to try it out. anyway, my preference is to always get a 2-person tent because it is spacious when you are by yourself, and if you have a partner, friend, or pet(s) joining you then you have enough room without having to carry two tents. you should also aim for a 3-season tent so you are able to use it in most weather conditions.

My tent: 

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent: 3-Person 3-Season - 2.69 lbs (43.02 oz).

more affordable, lightweight, 2-person, 3-season, tents: 

Naturehike Cloud-Up 2 Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent with Footprint - 4.7 lbs (75.2 oz).

Clostnature Lightweight 2 Person Backpacking Tent - 3 Season Ultralight Waterproof Camping Tent, Large Size Easy Setup - 5.4 lbs (86.4 oz)

2. Sleeping bag. aim for ~2 lbs (32 oz) or under. I will only purchase a sleeping bag with a temperature rating of 20 or less. this will allow you to stay warm and camp/backpack in TEMPERATURES as low as 20 degrees. note: besides being lightweight, sleeping bags also need to compress so they don’t take up much space. you can look into a hammock sleeping bag/tent, which can be fairly light but i personally wouldn’t recommend it because of climate and location uncertainties.

my sleeping bag:

Sierra Designs Cloud 800 Sleeping Bag: 20F Down - 1.8 lbs (29 oz)

more affordable, lightweight, ~30 degree sleeping bags: 

TETON Sports TrailHead Sleeping Bag for Adults; Lightweight Camping, Hiking - 2.9 lbs (46.4 oz).

ATEPA Ultralight Down Sleeping Bag Regular Size for Backpacking - 1.8 lbs (28.8 oz)

3. Sleeping pad. Aim for ~1 lb (16 oz) or under. I won’t sleep on any pad that is less than 3 inches thick because i’m a side-sleeper and need extra cushion between the ground and my hip bone. my sleeping pads are extra large/wide in order to optimize sleeping comfort, this is why my pads are heavier than the recommended weight limit. if you are sleeping in cooler climates then you’ll also want to consider the pad’s insulation (R-value). for 3-season backpackn, which is everything i’ve catered to so far, you’ll want an r-value of 2.0 or higher.

My sleeping pads:

Big Agnes Q Core SLX Ultralight Sleeping Pad (wide and long) - 1.2 lbs (19.2 oz), r-value= 3.5.

Nemo Tensor Alpine Mountaineering Sleeping Pad (LARGE) - 1.5 LB (24 OZ), R-value= 4.8.

more affordable, lightweight, sleeping pad: 

TREKOLOGY UL Sleeping Pad, Inflatable Camping Mat, UL80 Ultralight Backpacking Mat - 1.24 lbs (19.8 oz), r-value= 2-2.5.

4. Backpack. aim for ~3.5 lbs (56 oz) or under. I only have 65 liter packs because it allows for extended trips and provides a lot of packing space. The smaller pack sizes you get, the lower the weight will be. you probably shouldn’t get anything smaller than a 50 liter pack for backpacking.

My backpacks:

Osprey Ariel AG 65 Women's Backpacking Backpack - 4lb 11.2oz (75 oz). i loveeeee this backpack. so durable, yet cute!

MOUNTAINTOP 55L/65L Internal Frame Backpack Hiking Backpack - 3.45 lbs (55.2 oz). i wouldn’t recommend this product, everything about it is very cheap.

Gregory Stout 65L Backpack - 3.13 lbs (50.08 oz)

More affordable, lightweight, 65 liter backpack:

TETON Sports Ultralight Backpacks; Lightweight, Durable, Internal-Frame Backpack - 4 lbs (64 oz).

If you follow these general guidelines then you will carry about 8 lbs of basic essential items, leaving room for about 22 lbs of other essential/unnecessary items. such as: a stove, propane, bear canister, food, ALCOHOL, water filter, water bottle, chair, pillow, clothes, HYGIENE/makeup, headlamp, camera, camera stand, cup, coffee, spork, sandals, hiking boots, and battery bank.

Happy backpackn!