Reviewing the very best ultralight backpacking gear
The Adventure Alan Featured Gear Reviews are comprised of deep dive write ups on a selection of recent and/or highly relevant hiking gear and apparel, with a focus on ultralight models. All of these products come highly recommended. As we publish new in-depth single product content, we will add it to the featured gear reviews section.
For even more gear, including a wide array of micro-reviews, jump over to the All Reviews section.
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Zpacks Free Zip 2P Freestanding Tent
31.3 oz | $899
The Zpacks Free Zip 2p is 25-50% lighter than its freestanding peers, has an exceptional wind-resistance-to-weight ratio, is made with best in-class-materials, and offers above average headroom. However, it’s also very expensive, has a smaller-than-average interior, and the smallest vestibules in its category. Nonetheless, this is likely one of the best, and virtually only, true ultralight freestanding tent on the market. It is an exceptionally useful and versatile shelter to add to your quiver for use in wind and when unable to pitch non-freestanding tents.
Firemaple Petrel Pot
5.7 oz | $24
The new Firemaple Petrel Pot is exciting because it is one of, if not the first, standalone heat exchanger pots with built-in stove arm notches that definitely increase stability and hypothetically increase efficacy. Its heat exchanger improves stove boil time and fuel economy by trapping heat and blocking wind. It features a superb Tritan plastic lid, with a flip up lid-locking handle. Petrel is one of the very best pots on the market for solo use, and likely the single most compact, held back only by its slightly-too-narrow-to-be-optimal diameter. Oh yeah, and did we mention it’s also 800 ml, not 600 ml?
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, 2024 Update
34.7 oz | $315
We’re stoked on the updated Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, an exceptional and iconic full-size, fully featured, internal frame ultralight backpack. You still get the same best-in-class external storage suite, but now with an improved frame-hip-belt-combo that moves with you. And the entire pack is made with recycled Robic Nylon. Mariposa’s smaller sibling, the Gorilla 50, got the same overhaul, and all of GG’s pack are now made with recycled Robic.
ULA Equipment ULTRA Catalyst
40.1 oz | $400
The ULA Equipment Ultra Catalyst and its less expensive robic nylon sibling win our top pick award for storing a bear can. No other pack holds canisters as well and as easily in horizontal orientation. On top of that, the ULTRA Catalyst is an exceptionally well designed pack with 75L volume, high comfort, immaculate durability, very high water resistance, perfect external storage, and great load carrying capacity. In short, it’s ready for full week (or more) without resupply, an entire thru hike, or anything else requiring a true workhorse of a backpack. Shop now.
REI Co-op Flash Air 50 Backpack
30 oz | $299
We’re thrilled to see REI pumping out Co-op brand ultralight gear, and the sub-two-pound REI Co-op Flash Air 50 might just be their crown jewel. It builds on the successful chassis of their esteemed, value-oriented Flash 55, but removes the top lid and upgrades to a lighter fabric for what amounts to nearly 50% weight savings. Shop now.
NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated
14.1 oz | $200
Wow, the NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated is a dang impressive sleeping pad. With an R-Value of 5.4, and weighing only 14.1 oz, it clocks the highest R-Value-to-weight-ratio among 3-season pads, narrowly beating out the esteemed Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT, despite being an ounce heavier in total. Shop now.
Zpacks Offset Solo
18.8 oz | $749
If you’ve ever felt cramped in a 1P tent, Zpacks Offset Solo is your ticket to spreading out comfortably. This two-door, two-vestibule ultralight DCF trekking pole shelter offers truly exceptional interior volume and floor area, easily accommodating wide pads, tall hikers, and plenty of gear. It is a top tier performance option for solo hikers, thru-hikers, and fastpackers. Shop now.
Garmin inReach Messenger
4.0 oz | $300
Garmin inReach Messenger is the latest contender in the satellite communicator genre, and offers best-in-class battery life, signal receptivity, and nearly all of the most desirable features, (except a dedicated phone number) for just $300 and four ounces. As such, it takes our top slot award, narrowly beating out ZOLEO and inReach Mini 2. Shop now.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35
23.5 oz | $359
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 is an ultralight fastpack made with waterproof Dyneema and an internal frame for load transfer. The entire package weighs just 23.5 oz and comes with all of the right features and voluminous external storage. It’s perfect for use as an overnight backpack, carrying a fully dialed-in UL kit, or as a high volume daypack. Shop now.
Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket
6.4 oz | $250
Choose the Visp Rain Jacket because it is the most breathable ultralight rain shell with an unprecedented MVTR rating of 83,000. The three layer Visp weighs just 6.4 ounces in a unisex size medium, and comes with most of the bells and whistles including pit zips for even more breathability. This is Alan’s preferred rain jacket and we know you’ll love it too! Shop now.
Arc’teryx Alpha Jacket
13.1 oz | $700
The Arc’teryx Alpha Jacket is what we would choose if our lives depended on staying completely dry in the backcountry. Alpha, previously referred to as Alpha AR, is reasonably lightweight, supremely durable, fully-featured, and completely weather-proof. Shop now.
Paka Performance Socks
1.7 oz | $24
For the ultimate blend of comfort and functionality, pull on a pair of these alpaca wool socks in 3/4 crew height, our editor’s choice award winning model for hiking socks. They have all of the right features, and are made with a dreamy blend of alpaca, Tencel, recycled nylon, and spandex that keep your feet comfortable, thermo-regulated, dry, blister-free, and less smelly, all day long. We’re even prepared to say that alpaca wool is superior to merino wool. Shop now.
Zpacks Offset Trio
22.8 oz | $869
This is a top-tier 3P ultralight tent with unmatched stats and good backcountry performance, despite the unusual and somewhat wonky looking geometry. It has a jaw dropping interior-size-to-weight ratio, an impressive feature set, and good DNA based on our extensive experience its forebears. Shop now.
SlingFin Portal 3
3 lbs, 12 oz | $600
This tent is large, livable, relatively lightweight, well-featured, and slots into a category we refer to as “all-season” or “3+ season.” That is, thanks to SlingFin’s impeccable engineering, it is far sturdier and more storm-worthy than your average 3-season tent, but not specifically designed as a winter/4-season model. And within that genre, it is our preferred 3p tent for backpacking. Shop now.
Feathered Friends Helios
18.0 oz | $469
The Feathered Friends Helios is a truly top tier, finely crafted, premium midweight puffy, perfect for winter-use. Its performance is thanks to an impressive stat line, and confirmed by our field testing. With 7.8 ounces of 900 fil power, Helios simply has higher quality down, and more of it than its peers, all while maintaining a below average weight and reasonable price tag, given the quality. AKA all up side, no down side. Shop now.
Teragon Pioneer 3D-Printed Titanium Stake
0.18 oz | $25
Early test results are in, and so far the Teragon Gear Pioneer Stake, made of 3D printed titanium, has been an outright terrific piece of ultralight gear. These Norwegian tent stakes represent overdue innovation in a category that has, until recently, been stagnant. They are likely the best ultralight performance option on the market, and they are almost certainly the most expensive. This could be the G.O.A.T. of stakes. Shop now.
Salomon Thundercross
11.1 oz | $140
Enjoy exceptional traction and comfort in this fully cushioned trail running shoe with aggressive 5mm rubber lugs (shop now). With zero break-in required, Thundercross’s outsole delivers best-in-class grip to hikers and runners alike on steep and/or slippery terrain. You may or may not love the QuickLace system, but it’s an overall excellent trail shoe nonetheless.
HMG Elevate 22 Daypack
17.9 oz | $245
New this summer, the HMG Elevate 22 takes everything we love about their new Unbound backpacking packs, and shrinks it down to a 22L main compartment size daypack. It is made with waterproof, durable Dyneema, and features the full suite of side pockets and a stretch mesh front pocket, albeit, much smaller than on a backpacking pack. This our top pick performance day pack for challenging day hikes, and backpackers will feel right at home transitioning from a larger version of the same chassis. Shop now.
Outdoor Vitals Skyline Fastpack
20.6 oz | $200
The Skyline Fastpack is a killer design for multi-day running with a minimalist load of fair-weather gear, and with that purpose in mind, we recommend it highly as a top pick for a great price. Thanks to the secure running-vest harness and low volume, the pack almost completely minimizes bounce and sway. However, the flip side of that coin means you may have to play gear-Tetris to fit everything in, ditch the stove and pot, or grab a different pack entirely whenever voluminous puffy gear is required for cold weather camping. Shop now.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 Tent
16.8 oz | $599
New for 2023, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 Tent is a fully enclosed, ultralight, single-wall, pyramid shelter intended for thru-hiking and/or high-mileage solo endeavors. HMG loyalists will love this tent as the brand’s best yet for trail-based applications, and gram counters will be glad to see another great option enter the marketplace. Mid-1 is a killer solo shelter for ultralight backpackers and immediately joins a small and elite group of options in consideration for best-in-class solo shelters. Shop now.
Stio Exploit Jacket
8.8 oz | $399
The Stio Exploit Jacket is a phenomenal blend of minimalist design and premium fabric technology. Few jackets can boast a superior combination of waterproofness, breathability, and lightness of weight. The end result is a seriously excellent Gore-Tex Active ultralight rain shell for a high-but-worthwhile asking price. Nice work, Stio! This rain jacket is truly exceptional. Shop now.
Zpacks Offset Duo
19.7 oz | $769
The Zpacks Offset Duo Tent is the best and most spacious 2P Zpacks brand tent to-date, and one of the very best trekking pole supported tents on the entire market. OD builds on the success of Zpacks’ flagship Duplex design by increasing its length, width, and headroom, adding vents, zippered storm doors, L-shaped inner doors, magnetic roll-ups, a 32″ end strut, and ingeniously offsetting its trekking pole placement towards the head-end to maximize ceiling space directly above where users sit up. (shop now)
Nashville Packs Cutaway
15.3 oz | $342
Based on our research, Nashville Packs Cutaway with Hybrid Vest Straps is one of, if not the, lightest weight fastpacks with a running vest harness (shop now). What’s more, it’s waterproof and has voluminous external storage thanks to the massive, continuous hybrid-paneled outer pocket and shoulder strap pockets. The Cutaway is an exceptionally sweet backpack.
COROS APEX 2 Pro Watch
1.9 oz | $450
If you are serious about your outdoor adventuring and/or serious about training, then the COROS APEX 2 Pro  is the right watch for you. Over the past two years we’ve run this watch through the wringer, guiding in Alaska, mountaineering, nordic skiing, ocean kayak racing, trail running, mountain biking, etc. The verdict? This an exceptional performer in the field and our favorite outdoor smartwatch. In particular, its battery life blows the competition away with 200 hours of in-field GPS tracking. As such, it’s a perfect choice for those who play and train hard in the backcountry, especially for multiple days at a time. Shop now
ULA Ultra Circuit Backpack
33.8 oz | $380
The ULA Ultra Circuit is an absolutely top tier, comfy, indestructible, ultralight-yet-voluminous backpacking pack. Designed for thru-hiking, but perfect for all multi-day excursions, this internal frame workhorse is built with best-in-class Challenge Ultra fabric, its namesake upgrade to the original Robic Nylon version. Shop now.
Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack
27.0 oz | $368
If you want a top tier, fully-featured, lighter-than-average ultralight pack, the Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack is well-worth considering. It’s durable and waterproof thanks to UltraWeave, and has great comfort and load transfer thanks to the carbon fiber fram. Despite a few minor quibbles with their pockets, we give this pack a very strong seal of approval. Shop now.
Saucony Peregrine 13
9 oz | $140
We find that Saucony Peregrine 13 is the best option if you dislike the cushiness of HOKA or the zero drop of Altra. This trail runner builds on a legacy of excellence, is simple, effective, and straight down the middle in terms of fit, cushion, drop, and toe box. Shop now.
Osprey Exos Pro 55 & Eja Pro 55
33 oz | $290
New and exciting for 2023, the Osprey Exos Pro 55 & Osprey Eja Pro 55 & ultralight backpacks are slimmed down versions of their forebears. They are the best ultralight backpacks from a mainstream outdoor brand, with comfy, breathable high tech frames and trampoline style back panels. This is a big upgrade in weight savings (nearly one pound) from Osprey for a small increase in price ($30). And if you liked the original, you’re sure to love the pro models which is strictly better on paper! That said, the rear and side pocket designs are mediocre and the on the whole, the pack just feels bulky. Shop M’s Exos Pro 55, Shop W’s Eja Pro 55.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 & 55
31.0 oz | $399
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound Backpack is waterproof, incredibly durable, and similar to HMG’s 3400 series packs in volume, weight, and price. But it delivers an improved suite of pockets and bonus features that make for a nice little upgrade to their top of the line DCF backpacks. Shop now.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
12.5 oz | $210
New for 2023, the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite NXT is currently the undisputed best performance sleeping pad for backpacking that money can buy, and it has no equal. It is statistically superior in almost every way and across all measurements when compared to all other sleeping pads. Shop now.
Adventure Alan Featured Gear Reviews Conclusion
We hope you’ve found something you like in our featured gear reviews. Stay tuned and check back often as we’ll be adding more content to this section. Happy hiking!