Best Lightweight Backpacking Gear on Amazon Prime

Lightweight Backpacking Gear on Amazon Prime | Utah Canyon Sunset

When You Need Lightweight Backpacking Gear Fast!

If you need backpacking gear delivered ASAP, then you’ve come to the right place. In this buyer’s guide, we’ve swept the marketplace for the best lightweight backpacking gear on Amazon Prime and ultralight backcountry equipment and apparel available with fast and free Prime shipping. Here you’ll find our recommendation for every key piece of gear a backpacker would need; the best options available to you on Amazon, some of which are priced well below the brand’s listed MSRP.

However, there are tradeoffs. Amazon is shunned by many outdoor companies, so shopping here means narrowing your selection. While you may not always be able to find the very best gear in existence, there are always good options, and sometimes you needn’t make any compromise at all. Lastly, we’ll note that inventory and Prime designations are fickle and ever changing. Product is constantly going in and out of stock, and something that was Prime yesterday may not be tomorrow. Tents, in particular, tend to fluctuate constantly and ship slower.

Not in a Rush?

Then You Have More Backpacking Gear Options…

If you’re not rushing to gear up, or simply prefer shopping elsewhere, we recommend you check out our Best Backpacking Gear of 2021, where you will find only the very best products presented in a vendor-agnostic format.

Most Popular | Top Reader Picks

  1. Best Stakes | Anygear 7075 Tent Stakes – $11 | You can do better than the stakes that came with your tent. These are far stronger, more functional, and have better holding power.
  2. Best Knife | Gerber LST Ultralight Knife [46050] – $19 | With an impeccably sharp & LARGE 2.63” blade and weighing a scant 1.2 oz, this Gerber Knife is great for backcountry food prep and all general-purpose cutting.
  3. Best Gloves | Outdoor Essentials Touch Screen Running Gloves – $11 | A do-it-all fleece liner glove that’s touch screen compatible with added grip on the palm and fingers.
  4. Best Charger | Anker PowerCore 10000 – $25 | Weighing just over 6 oz, this powerhouse, rechargeable USB battery can charge most phones multiple times
  5. Best Coffee | Hario V60 01 Plastic Dripper – $10 | This 2.2 oz marvel is the coffee dripper that Tetsu Kaysuya used to win the 2016 World Brewers Cup Championship.
  6. Best Fleece | The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece – $59 | Old fashioned fuzzy fleece actually delivers a high warmth-to-weight ratio performance. While it’s marked as a budget pick, and it certainly isn’t anything fancy, TNF’s TKA fleece line deliver surprisingly good performance and stats in a basic fleece at a low price. It goes on every trip.
  7. Best Budget Tent | Naturehike Cloud-Up 2 – $165 | There’s a ton of budget backpacking tents from unknown brands on the Amazon, so which to choose if you need an affordable shelter ASAP? The Cloud-Up 2 has the best combination of stats, price, and 5 star reviews…

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is a Lightweight Backpacking Gear on Amazon Prime

Best Tent | Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Ul 2 – $450

When assessing a tent, you must evaluate many factors like weight, volume, livability, materials, stormworthy-ness, and features. The Copper Spur gets high marks from us across the board; it excels in every single category, it’s intelligently designed, and it’s highly livable. A simply excellent overall tent, and without flaw. Great for backpackers of all experience levels. Plus, we love the innovative awning vestibules.

Best Budget Tent | Naturehike Cloud-Up 2 – $165

There’s a wide assortment of budget backpacking tents from unknown brands on the Amazon marketplace, so which to choose if you need an affordable shelter ASAP? The Cloud-Up 2 has the best combination of stats, price, and 5 star reviews. At just under 4lbs it can barely be considered lightweight, but this is handy option for anyone in a budget or timing pinch.

Best Stakes | Anygear 7075 Tent Stakes – $11

You can do better than the stakes that came with your tent, and we recommend these Y stakes by Anygear. They are extremely affordable, and the triple notch neck Y shaped chassis offers an excellent blend of strength, stability, and customizable pitching.

Granite Gear Crown 2 60 Lightweight Backpacking Gear

Best Backpack | Granite Gear Crown 2 60 – $199

Voluminous, comfy, and just over 2 lbs, the Granite Gear Crown 2 Backpacks are a great product at a great price. With huge external mesh pockets and a detachable brain, this pack offers excellent storage for handy gear. It exemplifies what a simple backpacking pack should be.

Comfiest Backpack | Osprey Exos 58 (M’s) and Eja 58 (W’s) – $220

A big part of what makes backpacks comfortable is how they carry, how they ventilate, and how cushy they are. Most users find that the Exos and Eja’s frame does an excellent job of transferring weight to the hips, that the mesh materials are soft and don’t chafe, and that the air flow back panel actually reduces sweat. Meanwhile, it’s also large, lightweight, and durable. A winning combo.

Best Sleeping Bag | Sierra Designs Cloud/Nitro 20 $285

The Cloud or Nitro 20, two slightly different versions of the same base model, offer the highest warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleeping bag in the sub $300 class. Stuffed with 800+ Fill DriDown, the entire bag weighs only 1lb 13oz and is of remarkable quality for such a reasonable price.

Best Value Sleeping Bag | Hyke & Byke Eolus 15 – $184

At just under 2.5 lbs and just under $200, the Hyke & Byke Eolus is nothing fancy. But it simply offers the very best warmth-to-weight-to-price ratio on the entire sleeping bag marketplace, and with a ton of 5 star reviews to boot. This sleeping bag exemplifies the perfect budget bag, and it’s smaller cousin, the 30 degree model, is equally as great. While the Hyke & Byke brand is new to the marketplace, and we expect great things to come.

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite 1

Best Sleeping Pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X-Lite – $190

We believe NeoAir XLite is the best blend of high comfort, low weight, long-term durability, and heat reflectivity. And if you can find it, the women’s version is even better for all genders, since they’ve slightly upped the R-value (warmth rating) on this model.

Altra Lone Peak 5

Best Shoes | Altra Lone Peak 5 – $129

An excellent hiking shoe, renown for its aggressive tread, wide toe box, zero drop, and high comfort. This has been a go-to for many years, and we’ve worn it in Alaska, Patagonia, the Sierra Nevada, the deserts of Utah, and everywhere in between.

Best Socks | Smartwool Phd Elite Low Cut – $19

These socks fit very securely, are virtually seamless, and the merino blend fabric is light, breathable, wicking, and comfortable against the skin. We have yet to find a better sock.

Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Trekking Poles

Best Trekking Poles | Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles – $45

Sturdy, lightweight, carbon fiber trekking poles for only $45— 1/3 to 1/4 the price of similar carbon poles. This is premium quality gear at a price that can’t be beat.

Best Rain Jacket | Outdoor Research Helium Rain – $160

For a six ounce, ultralight rain jacket, the OR Helium Rain simply costs less than the competition. Plus, the new fabric is extremely durable, unlike other ultralight shells, which are prone to micro rips and tears. Plus, it’s only $160.

Best Rain Pants | Outdoor Research Helium Rain – $120

Waterproof, durable, and ultralight for the low price of $120. We love the Helium Rain Pants, nothing else on the market comes close in terms of bang for your buck.

Best Down Jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody – $325

At 8.8 oz, the Ghost Whisperer is the best ultralight performance down puffy available on Amazon Prime. With 800 fill power RDS certified down and the rapport of an ultralight classic, this beloved puffer is trustworthy, reliable, and always a good option.

Best Fleece | The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece – $59

Old fashioned fuzzy fleece actual deliver a high warmth-to-weight ratio performance. While it’s marked as a budget pick, and it certainly isn’t anything fancy, TNF’s TKA fleece line deliver surprisingly good performance and stats in a basic fleece at a low price.

Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants

Best Pants | Eddie Bauer Guide Pro – $75

Style meets high performance and comfort in this great looking, reasonably priced pair of hiking pants. We appreciate them for the their two way stretch comfort and elegant look.

Nitecore NU25 360 Lumen Headlamp

Best Headlamp | Nitecore NU25 360 Lumen Headlamp – $37

For 2021 we are going with a rechargeable headlamp that’s a favorite with ultra runners. This 1.9 oz light is super simple to operate and puts out a ton of light. Best of all, no worrying about batteries — it can always be fully charged when you hit the trail!

Best Charger | Anker PowerCore 10000 – $25

Weighing just over 6 oz, this powerhouse, rechargeable USB battery can charge most phones multiple times — great for use on trips longer than three days. And unlike many “smart” batteries it will detect & charge low drain devices like a fitbit or smart watches.

Best Satellite Communication Device | Garmin inReach Mini – $350

Staying safe in the backcountry has never been so small and light. The Garmin inReach mini allows text messaging (by bluetoothing to your phone) and SOS pings from anywhere, no service necessary. An indispensable comms unit.

Best Stove | Jetboil Stash – $130

New for 2021 and weighing and only 7 oz, the Stash is the lightest Jetboil-style stove on the market — 1/2 the weight of previous JetBoils! Amazingly, it retains the famed Jetboil heat efficiency and fuel economy. We love how well it holds a pot, how quickly it boils water, and how astoundingly light it is.

AOTU Portable Camping Stove

Best Budget Stove | AOTU Portable Camping Stove – $20

This is a legit backpacking stove for $20. It’s in the time-tested Pocket Rocket style, and even comes with a handy built-in sparker and hard sided case.

Best Coffee | Hario V60 01 Plastic Dripper + V60 Paper Coffee Filters 01 – $10

This 2.2 oz marvel is the coffee dripper that Tetsu Kaysuya used to win the 2016 World Brewers Cup Championship. Pour over is a huge upgrade over Starbucks Via.

Best Spoon | TOAKS Titanium Long Handled Spoon – $10

Lightweight, stiff, and long enough to dip into the deepest of freeze-dried meal bags.

Best Pot | TOAKS Titanium Pot 900ml – $45

This wide, easy-to-clean, no-nonsense titanium pot weighs only 5.5 oz and costs just $45, a great deal from a classic brand.

Best Mug | TOAKS Titanium Cup 450ml $40

Strong, elegant, and weighing only 2.7 oz, this titanium mug is a killer deal for only $20.

Sawyer Squeeze Filtration System - Camping & Hiking Equipment & Gear on Amazon Prime

Best Water Purifier | Sawyer Squeeze System – $45

Faster and more efficient than pumping or chemical treatments, the squeeze system offers on-the-go hydration at a good flow. This product is long-lasting, affordable, reliable, and very user-friendly. We also like the sawyer water bags for compressibility.

Best Knife | Gerber LST Ultralight Knife [46050] – $19

With an impeccably sharp & LARGE 2.63” blade and weighing a scant 1.2 oz, this Gerber Knife is great for backcountry food prep and all general-purpose cutting. That is you can really do work with this near-full-sized bade vs the far smaller blades on most 1 oz knives! Note that the (alt) Gerber US1 Pocket Knife 31-003040 is essentially equivalent if the LST is out of stock.

Best Bug Head Net | EVEN NATURALS Premium Mosquito Head Net $10

Weighing virtually nothing but critical to bug defense, this is a solid headnet at a good price.

TentLab Deuce #2 Trowel Camping & Hiking Equipment & Gear on Amazon Prime

Best Trowel | TheTentLab The Deuce UL backpacking Potty Trowel #2 – $20

This is the sturdiest sub one ounce trowel we know of. And at $20, it’s also a great buy.

Best Compass | Suunto M-3D – $51

This is a simple and durable lightweight compass with all of the essential features including declination adjustment. Great to carry along with paper maps as a backup to GPS.

Best Gloves | Outdoor Essentials Touch Screen Running Gloves – $11

A do-it-all fleece liner glove that’s touch screen compatible with added grip on the palm and fingers.

Best Beanie | Smartwool Unisex Cuffed Beanie – $30

An elegant, cuffed beanie from a great brand. The cuff provides great versatility, offering double the ear warmth or more coverage when unfolded.

Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap option for Lightweight Backpacking Gear on Amazon Prime

Best Sun Hat | Outdoor Research Sun Runner – $36

A classic option for any hiker who agrees with us that capes and caps are better than 360 brims. Capes perform better in wind, and do a better job of protecting the neck, especially in angled late afternoon sunlight when your skin needs a break.

Sawyer Picardin Insect Repellent - Lightweight Backpacking Gear on Amazon Prime

Best Bug Repellent, Skin | Sawyer Picaridin – $9

Stop using Deet and switch to Picaridin. Available as a spray or lotion (which we prefer), this bug repellent works as well or better than the competition, and it’s way way less toxic.

Best Bug Repellent, Clothes | Sawyer Permethrin – $15

For anyone headed out in mosquito or tick season, we recommend wearing permethrin treated apparel. This spray on solution allows you to convert any garment you would normally bring into a bug resistant version of its former self.

Disclaimer

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on the these links, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you. I do not receive compensation from the companies whose products are listed. For product reviews: unless otherwise noted, products are purchased with my own funds. I am never under an obligation to write a review about any product. Finally, this post expresses my own independent opinion.