Sources for Ultralight and Lightweight Backpacking Equipment

This is only a small sample of the many sources for light equipment. Many other sources can be found by reading through the reviews and technique articles at Backpacking Light www.backpackinglight.com.  You can also check out forums/discussions for advice:

• Backpacking Light.com Forums
• WhiteBlaze.net http://www.whiteblaze.net/

General Outfitters & Larger Companies

• REI  (largest outdoor retailer in the country)
• Eastern Mountain Sports
• Moosejaw
• Backcountry
• Sierra Trading Post  (Good deals on closeouts)
• ULA Equipment (excellent packs and some other equipment)
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear (very light Cuben Fiber backpacks and shelters)
• Sierra Designs (good UL down bags & clothing)
• Campmor  (a solid retailer of good gear. often overlooked but shouldn’t be)
• Pro Mountain Sports  (carries a bunch of light gear)
• Marmot (clothing & sleeping bags)
• Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) (some light clothing & gear – good value)
• Patagonia (in with all the urban-vanity-wear is some very light gear)
• Montbell  (light and nice – a bit pricey)
• Outdoor Research  (tons of good light stuff)
• Rab (lots of great clothing and sleeping bags)
• Sea to Summit (tons of backpacking accessories: stuff sacks, cooking gear, sleeping pads, etc.)
• Mountain HardWear (clothing and tents)
• My Trail Co (former owners of GoLite will hopefully get up & running near future)

Personal Favorites (mostly small manufacturers)

• ULA Equipment  (excellent packs and some other equipment)
• Mountain Laurel Designs (very light backpacks, sleeping quilts, shelters, etc.)
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear (very light Cuben Fiber backpacks and shelters)
• Gossamer Gear   (packs, shelters, sleeping gear – formerly GVP Gear)
• Henry Shires’ Tarptents  (tents)
• Six Moon Designs  (packs & tents)
• Trail Designs  (superb ultralight cooking systems)
• Western Mountaineering  (superb down clothing and sleeping bags) 
• AntiGravityGear  (excellent stoves, cook wear, shelter & clothing)
• ZPacks (ultralight Cuben Fiber tents, backpacks, down sleeping bags, rain gear, etc.)
• Inov-8 Shoes  (IMO the best lightweight footwear!)

Hammock Gear (mostly small manufacturers)

Note: many hammock quilts & tarps can also be used for regular camping. Many times for less money and equal or better performance to conventional (ground sleeping) sleeping bags and tarps.

• Hammock Gear (light & inexpensive tarps & hammock quilts. can also be used for ground sleeping.)
• Hammeck (innovative, full featured hammocks)
• Dutchware (excellent bargain hammocks & about every hammock accessory, many innovative)
• Loco Libre Gear (quality quilts and good prices. can also be used for ground sleeping.)
• Enlightened Equipment (high quality quilts. can also be used for ground sleeping.)
• Dream Hammock (light custom hammocks, lots of models and options – some exceptionally light)
• Bargain Hammocks:
  • Grand Trunk UL Travel Hammock,
  • ENO, Eagles Nest Outfitters
  • BIAS (Butt in a Sling) Hammocks

Clothing (for manufacturers not listed above)

• Western Mountaineering (superb down clothing and sleeping bags)
• Red Ledge Thunderlight www.redledge.com/ (inexpensive light raingear at Campmor & other stores)
• Rainshield http://www.rainshield.com/ and also availabe s(at the Up North Store)
• Frogg Toggs & DriDucks http://www.froggtoggs.com/ (inexpensive ultralight raingear)
• Ibex www.ibexwear.com/
• Smartwool www.smartwool.com/ (also available through many retailers)

Packs (for manufacturers not listed above)

• Granite Gear www.granitegear.com (also shelters, storage sacks, and other items)
• Osprey  www.ospreypacks.com/
• Six Moon Designs www.sixmoondesigns.com (Packs & Tents)

Down Sleeping Bags and Down Clothing (for manufacturers not listed above)

• Western Mountaineering  (superb down clothing and sleeping bags) 
• Feathered Friends www.featheredfriends.com
• Nunatak www.nunatakusa.com/ (stock and custom down bags and clothing)

Stoves and Cooking

• Trail Designs http://www.traildesigns.com/ (superb ultralight cooking systems)
• Jetboil Stoves (Best backpacking stove, if alcohol is not your thing)
• Basic alcohol stove www.pcthiker.com (Pepsi can stove instructions)
• Vargo http://vargooutdoors.com/ (light titanium stoves, cookware and utensils)
• Snow Peak http://www.snowpeak.com/ (light titanium stoves, cookware and utensils)