After five years and over 100 stories, I’m moving on from my post as Backpacker’s ultralight columnist. There’s a lot I could say about the people I’ve met, the stories I’ve told, and the trips I’ve ...

In 2026, lightweight backpacking is more mainstream than ever. Where slashing pack weight used to be the realm of toothbrush-cutting die-hards, advances in fabrics, design, and technology have made it ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. For backpackers, going ultralight is easier (and less expensive) than you might expect. We stepped back to give tips on reducing ...

In 2023, Sam “Shade” Carter attempted a Calendar Year Triple Crown with an astonishingly low baseweight of just 2.67 pounds. He carried no tent, sleeping bag, pad, or stove. Instead, as our writer ...

A new generation of freestanding ultralight tents has been rolling out over the past year or so to make backpacking and other backcountry activities more convenient than ever. Durston Gear's X-Dome 1+ ...

Hyperlite Mountain Gear joins fellow ultralight backpacking gear makers like Durston and Six Moons Design in adding a little bit of extra usability and comfort to its lineup of low weight shelters.

Fifteen years ago, ultralight hiking gear was truly edgy. Every cottage brand had a 12-ounce silnylon pack. Half-length pads and body mapped designs were a compromise between full-on misery and smart ...

No matter how long you’re out on the trail, these lightweight outdoor gear items will support you on your adventure. ByWendy Altschuler, Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert ...

For the best overall value in three-season camping, the Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Down TopQuilt is the top pick. For ultralight gram-counters, the Big Agnes Fussel UL Quilt wins. If wet conditions are ...

I first encountered the ideas of ultralight backpacking in 1994, in an article in now-defunct (and much-missed) Backpacker magazine. It was titled “Less is More,” by Mark Jenkins. (I still have a PDF ...

For plenty of outdoorsmen and women, ultralight backpacking conjures up a particularly kooky image. Sawed-off toothbrushes. Dingy plastic water bottles with water filters screwed on top. Backpacks — ...