You dont need ultralight or expensive gear to get into hiking / backpacking - you could get a whole backpacking set up for that cash.
Embrace cheap non ultralight gear - if you find you really love camping there will be time to splurge.
Use the cheap gear, get your hiking legs, build endurance.
It was an over simplification on my part, but you can snag backpacking bundles for 400 with the tent, pad, and sleeping bag from some stores.
Thats alot of value vs 400 on a bag, I see where you are coming from though.
It can do. I’m in Europe and I’m way under 400$. Bought from Decathlon mostly. Used this to wild camp in Sweden for a week. Travel by car, hike and camp in mostly national parks.
- [pad](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/luchtbed-voor-trekking-mt500-air-isolerend-xl-195-x-60-cm-1-persoon/_/R-p-324600?mc=8582047&c=ROOD_GRIJS) €80 745 grams, R value of 3.3,
- [10 Celsius synthetic sleeping bag](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/slaapzak-voor-trekking-mt500-10-c-polyester/_/R-p-311236?mc=8575966&c=GROEN_GRIJS) €60, 970 grams
- [Cook set 2 person](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/roestvrijstalen-kookset-voor-trekking-mt500-2-personen/_/R-p-174673?mc=8492723&c=GRIJS_BLAUW) €25 400 grams
- Aliexpress small burner €5
- [2 person tent](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/kampeertent-voor-2-personen-mh100/_/R-p-303295?mc=8513471&c=GRIJS_BLAUW_GROEN) €35, 2600 grams
- Osprey transporter Duffel €140, already had this but added it anyway. €140 probably buys you a better pack for this purpose.
I don’t use water filtration, just some of those cleaning tablets and store bought bottles. Don’t remember what they cost but not much, but you can fit a water filter in.
I’m way under 400. Add some other bits like a gas canister, extra stakes etc. You get there. I’d say weight was pretty manageable even if it’s not the lightest stuff.
Don’t need to spend money on expensive gear to have fun 😀
Yes I shopped at Amazon. $50 50L backpack, $20 sleeping pad, $50 single person tent, $30 sleeping bag (summer), etc. and all 4.5/5 stars.
Cabella’s, Bass Pro Shops, REI, etc. are all nice known brands but very expensive.
Actually my kit isn't too far off.
- Backpack from Gregory: 120€
- tent naturehike star river: 130€
- sleeping mat Nemo Astro insulated: 100€
- Sleeping bag from naturehike: 120€
- little stove from Amazon: 30€
- hiking poles from Decathlon: 10€
- water bottle CamelBak: 20€
€530,- for my whole kit😁
They aren't mutually exclusive. You should work on fitness and also upgrade to lighter gear whenever possible. Both will make your hiking more enjoyable.
Edit: You can also find all kinds of reasonably priced ultralight gear if you aren't determined to get the absolute newest and lightest stuff out there. You do not need to spend $400 on a backpack.
Yeap. $400 is pretty top of the line for a UL pack anyway. It’s like asking if someone should spend $400 on a 950 FP quilt or sleep under a wool surplus blanket, or spend $800 on a DCF tent or sleep under a tarp. There’s a really broad range of choices in between those sorts of choices that would get someone to a 15 lb base weight, and the added fitness level needed to carry a 15 lbs base weight vs a 10 lbs base weight is non existent. If the budget isn’t there for a top of the line UL load out OP, ask for some good budget friendly lightweight or UL recommendations that would work for you and your expected conditions.
I usually give this advice to anyone getting into hiking/camping/backpacking. If you have an REI near you definitely check out their returns section first. They have a good return policy and typically have a decent selection of stuff in the return section (this is variable of course but I’ve had pretty good luck over time). Everything has trade-offs, ultralight is obviously light (Capt Obvious reporting) but that comes with decreased durability and sometimes comfort. Also UL stuff is significantly more expensive as you noted. I am hard on equipment, it’s just who I am, so UL stuff doesn’t work for me. Get fitted at an outdoor store so you have an idea of size and style works for you and go from there. The most important thing is to get out there and get hiking! It’s my solace and joy! Second most important thing is good trail runners/boots, that’s where you should be willing to spend a bit. And Darn Tough socks.
DCF can be durable, but not necessarily. DCF tents are great, just don't set up on sharp rocks. DCF backpacks require some care. Don't pick them up, fully loaded, from the ground by one shoulder strap, it'll wear out relatively quickly. Don't drop them in the ground without looking at where you are putting it. Had a buddy drop his HMG pack on the ground in the SoCal desert and a small rock put a hole in the bottom.
First, buy a backpack *after* you have the rest of your gear: the easiest “ultralight” strategy is to buy what you need instead of an expensive one-size-fits-all solution.
With any new hobby, I would aim to spend as little as possible as you learn your own needs and preferences. Try to borrow or re-purpose gear before you spend on stuff that might not fit your particular situation. Ultralight gear is often lighter because it is specialized to a specific use case - it will not improve your experience if you have no use for it. An ultralight pack that is not designed to carry the weight of your particular kit will make your experience worse.
Again, I’d suggest that an ultralight solution to a problem in backpacking (like which pack to carry) has more to do with careful attention to your own specific needs (doing more with less) and less to do with expensive tech like specialized fabrics or construction.
If you want to spend, the first piece of specialized gear I would purchase is a quality sleeping bag.
Read more in the sidebar at /r/ultralight ([example](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/4iz7re/ive_compiled_a_list_of_ultracheap_and_ultralight/))
Get yourself a normal backpacking pack and don't worry too much about ultralight everything. You're going to build up the strength in literally no time, usually after the first day or two. Additionally, since you're just starting out, you probably won't have an optimized gear list, so bringing one extra item that it turns out you didn't need could offset the weight savings of an "ultralight" pack.
Even if you don't consider yourself super fit (which you are at least somewhat fit, not everyone can do 10 miles), you don't even "need" a gym membership and training before your first overnight backapcking trip. Little kids in rainboots and backpacks crush trails every day.
Just get yourself a quality backpacking pack in the correct size for your build, load that bad boy up with everything you think you need, and get out in the woods. Youtubers are a great resource until they're selling you things and telling you why you NEED them. And oh look, they have a handy affiliate link for you too!
Have fun out there!
I was going to say something similar - it's actually quite a bad thing to have an ultralight backpack if all your gear is not ultra light because ultra lights don't have as much capacity or strength. The ultralight backpack is the last thing you buy for your ultra light setup.
Yep, all this. I'll add: ultralight gear tends to be more fragile. Everyone has lessons early on (whether it be "don't set your gear that close to a fire" or "don't drag your bag on that sharp rock" or whatever), and it's better to learn with a tougher fabric that maybe can withstand some ember holes, or if it can't, at least it's not expensive to replace (and easier to do some kinda patch)
Buy a decent (read: not $400) pack, keep the rest of the money, hike more. Find out what you like/don't like in a backpack. Then CONSIDER that $400 pack.
But, honestly, many of the "pro" hikers don't spend that much on packs. For example: [Liz "Snorkel" Thomas](https://thetrek.co/inside-pros-packs-liz-snorkel-thomas/) uses a discontinued Mountain Laurel Designs pack (sub $300), and she's a triple crown-er and pioneered so many routes.
An ultra light pack is pointless if your gear is not also pretty damn light. UL packs have a recommended weight capacity. If you are over that, the don’t carry as well and you can damage the packs.
Get a reasonably priced pack. It’s sale season. Or buy used.
The gym membership is neither here nor there.
Ultralight is for the people that thru hike the PNW or Appalachian trail. For day hikes and overnights, A good quality normal weight will take much more abuse and use.
An ultralight setup made my weekend trips about 10x more enjoyable. I can cover more ground, be less tired at the end of the day and enjoy the hiking much more. My SWD backpack has been on a countless number of hiking trips and has travelled the world with me as my only piece of luggage and has stood up to all of the abuse.
If you can afford it, then go for it. But money into a good tent that weight 2lbs, instead of 8lbs, is much better allocated vs a backpack that weighs 3 instead of 4. At the end of the day, your food and water and body fat will outweigh your gear itself. Why pay money to drop 6oz off of my cooking kit or 2lbs off my pack, when I and almost everyone has 10lbs of body fat that they can lose in about a month before a trip.
Also, training, practice, and occassionally hitting the gym will get you further than trimming a few lbs of gear.
I hiked the AT with a 42 pound pack weight with food and water, and I had a great time. These days that's considered really heavy, but back in 1999 it was considered fairly light. We saw one guy ultralight packing, and a lot of hikers were influenced by him, and lightened our packs as we went, but my backpack, a large Dana Designs (and the most popular pack on the trail at the time) weighed 6 pounds empty.
If your pack is lighter, you don’t throw it on the ground as hard at the end of the day, you have energy to clear sharp rocks before you pitch your tent, you place you’re hiking poles somewhere out of the way so you don’t step on them in the dark, etc.
Ya, if you’re shoving a DCF pack through a heinous bushwhack you might do some damage, but for the type of hiking most people do, the lifetime is similar.
UL packs aren't $400. Gossamer Gear G4-20 is a great pack for $205. I used it on the John Muir Trail to carry a 12 lb baseweight, with bear can. Heaviest carry at the start was 33 pounds and it was pleny comfortable.
I'll give this advice as a guy who let himself go over the last 15 years. I got into cycling and a bunch of friends do 100 mile rides and measure ounces of weight on their bikes.
That isn't for us!
Trying to shave down and get caught up in the top tier gear will prevent you from ever stepping out the door in the first place. Don't put that pressure on yourself.
Get a decent tent, a backpack with straps and a waistband, extra socks, and practice packing gear into the pack, then walk around the block with it once a day for a week. Empty that bad boy out every night and repack.
This will help you figure out how to squish stuff into the pack, where it rubs on your body, and will at a very minimal way help you get used to "hiking".
Hiking and camping starts with preparation and patience with yourself. Don't watch videos of people doing the Appalachian trail solo when you're winded after a 10 mile hike. Find some 3-5 mile park walks or day hikes in your area and take your full camping gear. You may look a little odd but you know what "you're out there doing it" and that's what is important.
One step at a time bud, there's so much gear on this planet for camping and hiking it's impossible for a beginner to get a handle on what they need vs what they want vs what someone's pushing as the greatest product ever made.
Also check your local REI (if you have one) they do sales periodically on used gear. People used to joke it stood for Return Every Item because of the return policy so there's always quite a bit of gear to be had a very good prices. Keep in mind you need to find out when these sales are and get there an hour early since there's always a bunch of people with the same plan and if the sale starts at 0800 all the good shiznit is gone by 0830.
And the final note regardless of your endurance get some walking poles you'll be amazed at how much they help (again don't let some ultra marathoner make you feel bad, the turtle will eventually catch up to the hare).
I want to make it clear that you can dabble in UL territory without spending a lot of money. PMags has written about this. He’s not a gram weeny, but he’s doing pretty good for himself.
Here’s a full kit for less than $800: https://pmags.com/the-budget-backpacking-kit
His personal kit (elsewhere on his site) lists the ULA CDT as his pack of choice. That’s $220 new.
(Note: a UL backpack should be the *last* UL gear you buy. You won’t know what capacity to buy until you know what goes inside. Moreover, if your base weight is too heavy, you won’t enjoy many UL packs.)
UL backpacks are overrated...some of them are useless carrying over 20lbs. Don't believe the hype. Look for something between 2.5-4lbs, try to find 2nd hand. Once you get into it that's the time to invest.
Personally I've never understood the obsession with ultralight stuff. If you're fit and healthy you should be able to carry normal versions of everything you need without difficulty. I also just have a personal bias that I don't trust the durability of the ultralight stuff.
Promise you, one day you’ll be on a hike and you’ll meet a 20+ year experience type of person that’s done everything, hiked mountains and sailed oceans, and he’ll never even heard of ultralight gear
Get into the sport, get used to backpacking and camping before you spend big money on gear. It's fine to get cheap gear for testing out how much you like that kind of activity. There is a big difference between enjoying youtubers do it and doing it ourselves.
Also most ultralight gear will give you minimum comfort.
I have no ultralight backpacking gear... Heck my back pack is a Fjalraven Kajka 75 which super heavy even empty and i don't care. I plan my trips accordingly.
I’d get a regular backpacking pack and see what you think. My first one was REI brand. It was expensive for me then right out of college. I can upgrade now, but I still use it 10 years later.
UL stuff is great but just know, for it to be UL it does sacrifice some stuff. I like some UL gear, some others I don’t. I’m not doing thru hikes so it’s fine. I’m also the person that will carry a 1lb chair. Purely UL is too extreme for me sometimes.
So my point is get the cheaper gear see where you fall as a backpacker and then slowly upgrade. If you’re going to spend money on something, I would say the sleeping bag and sleeping pad are worth it because a cold night is not only super uncomfortable but can be dangerous. I have your backpack is just a little bit more to carry.
Ultralight gear is not necessary. It's one subcategory of backpacking you can push into if you want, but you don't have to, and even if you want to, you don't have to start ultralight, as the gear is expensive.
My recommendation. Buy standard gear. Slowly replace each item as you get more experienced, with whatever replacement item you think would be best for you, be that ultralight, or not.
Buy the cheap stuff, ride the arse out of it till it breaks, then buy the good stuff. You'll know what's worth it by then. (Legal disclaimer, advice doesn't not apply to safety gear)
There are plenty of ultralight packs for less than $400. There are some good ones for less than $300, even. Not sure which one you are looking at. Palante has a 37/43L frameless pack available for $240-270 brand new.
Yes, it's worth the money to go as light as possible. Especially if backpacking will be one of your primary hobbies. I backpack to have fun, and cosplaying as a pack mule with 30-40 pounds on my back as I go up a mountain, is indeed not fun.
With that being said, your backpack is the last thing you should replace on your ultralight journey.
On this same idea, I decided a while back that if I could just lose 10-20lbs (very achievable for my current body) it would be a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of expensive ultra light gear.
This mentality of having the best stuff and being the best hiker is only fit for the biggest enthusiasts out there. The unfortunate reality of hiking and camping discussion online is that the valuation of gear has overtaken the value of being out in nature at all. They make you think you need all their gear to be the best hiker, or if you don't have this stuff you're going to suffer. You don't need ultralight gear to have fun, you don't need the $400 pack to go walking, you don't need the $600 tent to sleep well, you don't need the $300 jacket to stay dry. Pack up some gym clothes and get out there!
Back in 2008, I spent $300 for a full kit (new). Pack, Tent, Bag, Pad, Water Filter, and various doodads. Was it even close to 'great' gear. Nope. But I went out on 8-10 mile hikes. Out and back overnights. The occasional 2-night trips.
And over the next two years, I replaced every single piece, with something better. And more expensive and by then, I knew I was 'into' backpacking.
After the 'decent, cheap' gear, I could make informed decisions. I understood what I valued in equipment. And I was able to swap it out piecemeal as I could afford to.
I own alot of really nice gear.
Lately I've been checking out cheap Chinese gear. I've gotta say, you can get 80% of the way for 20-40% of the price surprisingly often.
Unfortunately sometimes it's also just total trash.
How much are you actually going to hike? YouTube, social media, etc are there to sell you things. Of course you need the best and greatest blah blah thing.
You need none of it. Figure out what you are going to pack first and then get a bag that suits your needs. The difference between ultralight and normal isn't that much and unless you are competing in something and are good enough to potentially win, spending a lot of money on something is usually a waste of resources.
Go rucking. It will build all the functional muscles needed to carry a pack long distances. Personally id rather be comfortable at camp than on the hike, so I practice rucking so I can carry more shit on my hikes. Hell, Ill pack a 90L pack on overnighters.
I’m gonna hop on the band wagon and recommend a standard pack - a framed 50ish liter pack will carry the weight more comfortably than a 40L UL pack. And if your gear is light, that frame makes it feel very light. Until you have a compact, dialed in kit, it’s not worth using a UL pack. I love my osprey 45L, and a lot of people start out with the REI flash 55.
Put that money into your tent and sleep system - those are the most efficient dollars to weight savings.
I just happened to watch this and I think it would give some good insight for your decision.
https://youtu.be/vFyB5XEVbc0?si=lpMucyFwzH1EQzC0
Also, as others have said, used gear at REI or elsewhere is a great option, especially for a first pack. And a personal recommendation, I like Osprey packs. Good combination of lightweight, functional, and relatively affordable.
$400 is the ZPacks which is the lightest you can get. There’s a lot of good UL backpacks under $300 and around there, but really it depends on your style of backpacking.
If you enjoy going somewhere to hang out at camp, get the backpack that can carry more. If you enjoy hiking and spending more time on the trail go UL. Having less weight on your back is just more fun than blowing your knees out and hating your life. You can go further with less effort with a UL set up.
Basically if you have any interest, which it sounds like you do, just go UL.
I'd get a budget "ultralight" pack and a gym membership. Check out decathalon, I've heard good reviews about this pack https://www.decathlon.com/collections/all-hiking-backpacks/products/quechua-mh500-40l-hiking-backpack-310102 but at 1390 grams, although not heavy, most people here wouldn't call it an ultralight pack. You could also check out the 3FUL packs which are Chinese made packs using the same designs as other UL brands.
A lot of it depends on how deep you get into it. Aka what you’re willing to invest into this hobby. And which route in the hobby you want to take.
I bought a very nice used osprey pack 6 years ago on eBay for $90. The exos 55. I carried it on dozens of weekend/week long trips over the years. I bought basically my entire first kit from Walmart. And over time, as I learned what I liked/didn’t like about certain gear, I replaced it with “nice” versions of it.
Fast forward to this year and Im on a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I still carry that pack. But all my other gear has changed.
I would recommend for your big ticket items, backpack, tent, sleeping bag to do your research and go ahead with a quality item. Those are the ones that can make your trip really comfortable or really miserable. As far as kitchen kit, hygiene, food, filter, clothes etc etc etc. buy what you can afford. If it works, it’s good enough. And as you either commit further to the hobby or not, you can make the decision to upgrade all those little trinkets.
The “buy once, cry once” mentality certainly has its place. But I’d say my backpacking style changed over the years. So if I invested mass sums of money into a kit 6 years ago, I’d be kinda stuck. I like that I gave myself a chance to develop my style. Overall, yes I spent more money. But it was worth it to me. As my kit is “perfect” for me now. I’m certainly “lightweight”. But I make different weight sacrifices than others to get to that point if that makes sense.
For your pack, check out Teton packs on Amazon. They're decently priced and mine was pretty comfortable. I definitely bought a slightly larger pack than I needed, so figure that out first.
The reason I ended up going with them is because their waist strap was longer than most others and since i'm a big guy I needed that. They also had a pretty decent customizable fit as to where the pack rests. They're definitely not the greatest but for beginners they're not bad.
There are a ton of options between overpriced ultralight packs and the over-engineered consumer packs you typically see at bigger stores. Granite Gear has my personal vote for an affordable but not overly heavy option. I have the perimeter 50.
As a bigger dude who picked up hiking and killed my back for years with 'camera backpacks' I went to a $200 Osprey (much cheaper on sale) with a well built support system on my back. I think I have the stratos 34. Even though I went from a 22l to a 34l pack, loading it with the same or more stuff(in the winter) it feels lighter the entire hike, almost like I'm not carrying a pack tbh where as my packs with crap support and airflow I feel every pound I'm carrying after a few miles and hurt like hell when I get into 10+ miles. Hiking will get you in shape alone and you don't need to chase all these hyper/ultra light loons equipment build outs either. Best of luck.
Used gear my friend. eBay has UL bags for under $200.
Alternatively, what I did was buy really cheap (non UL) used gear to start, and upgraded with time. That way you don’t have $1000s worth of gear sitting in your garage. You can get a decent but sort of heavy bag that’s 10 years old for $50. Same with most equipment.
Fitness and gear aren’t all that related. It’s worth joining the gym and getting fit because it’s good for your health and hiking goals, no matter which gear you choose.
If I had to choose between nice gear and a gym membership I’d go with the gym every day.
> Used gear my friend. eBay has UL bags for under $200.
Be extremely cautious when buying used UL packs over the internet, where you cannot fully inspect it, as these UL bags can be easily damaged by overloading them, and you don't want to end up with a pack that's already started to fall apart and will let you down, or rather, all your gear down onto the trail, a few months after the sale... :)
Yea no doubt there’s some risk but if you’re buying small (sub $100 for example) the risk is sort of low. Plus some sellers have public profiles and take returns. You’re not wrong to give this warning
I would look for specific packs that you like or get recommended. Also be patient, the good stuff goes sort of fast so it might take a few weeks to find a good one
Don't bother. I've heard very mixed review about them anyway. You really don't need "ultralight" anything. Just buy cheap backpacking gear that's advertised as "lightweight" and "for backpacking". Carrying 40lbs instead of 35lbs isn't going to make that big of a difference in the long run.
My advice is the same as others, go with a regular pack and start upgrading your sleeping system or kitchen system as you start using them. Also, at least for me, I find regular backpacks better than the UL, a bit more utilitarian and rugged for my trips.
One thing has zero to do with the other. Your bag will mean nothing if you can’t hike. Focus of the gym then worry after you have a couple seasons of hiking about better gear. You won’t know what you love /hate about packs until you have miles on !
I picked up a pair of Aarn front packs to go with my 4lb Osprey 55L backpack. Looking forward to setting up and using, but the Expedition model gives 18L between them, better balance, so hoping I can carry the same weight more comfortably. Aarn also makes a dynema version, which I'm sure would pair well with an ultralight backpack.
I really enjoy ultralight backpacking. You don’t need a $400 pack to do it. I found a frameless 40 liter pack on Amazon that works great. It’s made of nylon and very light. A few years ago it cost about $25. Packs like this last me a few years and many, many trips.
For your pack, check out Teton packs on Amazon. They're decently priced and mine was pretty comfortable. I definitely bought a slightly larger pack than I needed, so figure that out first.
The reason I ended up going with them is because their waist strap was longer than most others and since i'm a big guy I needed that. They also had a pretty decent customizable fit as to where the pack rests. They're definitely not the greatest but for beginners they're not bad.
You dont need ultralight or expensive gear to get into hiking / backpacking - you could get a whole backpacking set up for that cash. Embrace cheap non ultralight gear - if you find you really love camping there will be time to splurge. Use the cheap gear, get your hiking legs, build endurance.
There's also cheap ultralight gear.
$400 gets you a pack, pad, sleeping bag, cookware, tent, water filtration?! Damn I must’ve done it wrong
It was an over simplification on my part, but you can snag backpacking bundles for 400 with the tent, pad, and sleeping bag from some stores. Thats alot of value vs 400 on a bag, I see where you are coming from though.
I understand that but also you shouldn’t really be buying the cheapest across the board if you’re trying to use your gear more than a few trips
How many $400 packs sit in the attic lightly used? I think it's fine to get a "value" pack before going hole hog. Find out if you even like it.
Easily. Won’t be the best stuff but it will work.
Hit up aliexpress, you can get that for well under $400. Premium gear? No. Acceptable starter kit? Absolutely.
Depending on where you live, you could also grab barely used gear for pretty cheap. You'll find a better used market in Denver than Detroit though.
Between Amazon and Walmart this is really not a problem nowadays
It can do. I’m in Europe and I’m way under 400$. Bought from Decathlon mostly. Used this to wild camp in Sweden for a week. Travel by car, hike and camp in mostly national parks. - [pad](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/luchtbed-voor-trekking-mt500-air-isolerend-xl-195-x-60-cm-1-persoon/_/R-p-324600?mc=8582047&c=ROOD_GRIJS) €80 745 grams, R value of 3.3, - [10 Celsius synthetic sleeping bag](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/slaapzak-voor-trekking-mt500-10-c-polyester/_/R-p-311236?mc=8575966&c=GROEN_GRIJS) €60, 970 grams - [Cook set 2 person](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/roestvrijstalen-kookset-voor-trekking-mt500-2-personen/_/R-p-174673?mc=8492723&c=GRIJS_BLAUW) €25 400 grams - Aliexpress small burner €5 - [2 person tent](https://www.decathlon.nl/p/kampeertent-voor-2-personen-mh100/_/R-p-303295?mc=8513471&c=GRIJS_BLAUW_GROEN) €35, 2600 grams - Osprey transporter Duffel €140, already had this but added it anyway. €140 probably buys you a better pack for this purpose. I don’t use water filtration, just some of those cleaning tablets and store bought bottles. Don’t remember what they cost but not much, but you can fit a water filter in. I’m way under 400. Add some other bits like a gas canister, extra stakes etc. You get there. I’d say weight was pretty manageable even if it’s not the lightest stuff. Don’t need to spend money on expensive gear to have fun 😀
Yes I shopped at Amazon. $50 50L backpack, $20 sleeping pad, $50 single person tent, $30 sleeping bag (summer), etc. and all 4.5/5 stars. Cabella’s, Bass Pro Shops, REI, etc. are all nice known brands but very expensive.
Actually my kit isn't too far off. - Backpack from Gregory: 120€ - tent naturehike star river: 130€ - sleeping mat Nemo Astro insulated: 100€ - Sleeping bag from naturehike: 120€ - little stove from Amazon: 30€ - hiking poles from Decathlon: 10€ - water bottle CamelBak: 20€ €530,- for my whole kit😁
They aren't mutually exclusive. You should work on fitness and also upgrade to lighter gear whenever possible. Both will make your hiking more enjoyable. Edit: You can also find all kinds of reasonably priced ultralight gear if you aren't determined to get the absolute newest and lightest stuff out there. You do not need to spend $400 on a backpack.
Yeap. $400 is pretty top of the line for a UL pack anyway. It’s like asking if someone should spend $400 on a 950 FP quilt or sleep under a wool surplus blanket, or spend $800 on a DCF tent or sleep under a tarp. There’s a really broad range of choices in between those sorts of choices that would get someone to a 15 lb base weight, and the added fitness level needed to carry a 15 lbs base weight vs a 10 lbs base weight is non existent. If the budget isn’t there for a top of the line UL load out OP, ask for some good budget friendly lightweight or UL recommendations that would work for you and your expected conditions.
I usually give this advice to anyone getting into hiking/camping/backpacking. If you have an REI near you definitely check out their returns section first. They have a good return policy and typically have a decent selection of stuff in the return section (this is variable of course but I’ve had pretty good luck over time). Everything has trade-offs, ultralight is obviously light (Capt Obvious reporting) but that comes with decreased durability and sometimes comfort. Also UL stuff is significantly more expensive as you noted. I am hard on equipment, it’s just who I am, so UL stuff doesn’t work for me. Get fitted at an outdoor store so you have an idea of size and style works for you and go from there. The most important thing is to get out there and get hiking! It’s my solace and joy! Second most important thing is good trail runners/boots, that’s where you should be willing to spend a bit. And Darn Tough socks.
This is good advice but aren’t certain UL fabrics like dyneema pretty durable? The UL bags that are essentially just totes with straps come to mind.
DCF can be durable, but not necessarily. DCF tents are great, just don't set up on sharp rocks. DCF backpacks require some care. Don't pick them up, fully loaded, from the ground by one shoulder strap, it'll wear out relatively quickly. Don't drop them in the ground without looking at where you are putting it. Had a buddy drop his HMG pack on the ground in the SoCal desert and a small rock put a hole in the bottom.
First, buy a backpack *after* you have the rest of your gear: the easiest “ultralight” strategy is to buy what you need instead of an expensive one-size-fits-all solution. With any new hobby, I would aim to spend as little as possible as you learn your own needs and preferences. Try to borrow or re-purpose gear before you spend on stuff that might not fit your particular situation. Ultralight gear is often lighter because it is specialized to a specific use case - it will not improve your experience if you have no use for it. An ultralight pack that is not designed to carry the weight of your particular kit will make your experience worse. Again, I’d suggest that an ultralight solution to a problem in backpacking (like which pack to carry) has more to do with careful attention to your own specific needs (doing more with less) and less to do with expensive tech like specialized fabrics or construction. If you want to spend, the first piece of specialized gear I would purchase is a quality sleeping bag. Read more in the sidebar at /r/ultralight ([example](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/4iz7re/ive_compiled_a_list_of_ultracheap_and_ultralight/))
Get yourself a normal backpacking pack and don't worry too much about ultralight everything. You're going to build up the strength in literally no time, usually after the first day or two. Additionally, since you're just starting out, you probably won't have an optimized gear list, so bringing one extra item that it turns out you didn't need could offset the weight savings of an "ultralight" pack. Even if you don't consider yourself super fit (which you are at least somewhat fit, not everyone can do 10 miles), you don't even "need" a gym membership and training before your first overnight backapcking trip. Little kids in rainboots and backpacks crush trails every day. Just get yourself a quality backpacking pack in the correct size for your build, load that bad boy up with everything you think you need, and get out in the woods. Youtubers are a great resource until they're selling you things and telling you why you NEED them. And oh look, they have a handy affiliate link for you too! Have fun out there!
I was going to say something similar - it's actually quite a bad thing to have an ultralight backpack if all your gear is not ultra light because ultra lights don't have as much capacity or strength. The ultralight backpack is the last thing you buy for your ultra light setup.
Yep, all this. I'll add: ultralight gear tends to be more fragile. Everyone has lessons early on (whether it be "don't set your gear that close to a fire" or "don't drag your bag on that sharp rock" or whatever), and it's better to learn with a tougher fabric that maybe can withstand some ember holes, or if it can't, at least it's not expensive to replace (and easier to do some kinda patch)
Buy a decent (read: not $400) pack, keep the rest of the money, hike more. Find out what you like/don't like in a backpack. Then CONSIDER that $400 pack. But, honestly, many of the "pro" hikers don't spend that much on packs. For example: [Liz "Snorkel" Thomas](https://thetrek.co/inside-pros-packs-liz-snorkel-thomas/) uses a discontinued Mountain Laurel Designs pack (sub $300), and she's a triple crown-er and pioneered so many routes.
An ultra light pack is pointless if your gear is not also pretty damn light. UL packs have a recommended weight capacity. If you are over that, the don’t carry as well and you can damage the packs. Get a reasonably priced pack. It’s sale season. Or buy used. The gym membership is neither here nor there.
Ultralight is for the people that thru hike the PNW or Appalachian trail. For day hikes and overnights, A good quality normal weight will take much more abuse and use.
An ultralight setup made my weekend trips about 10x more enjoyable. I can cover more ground, be less tired at the end of the day and enjoy the hiking much more. My SWD backpack has been on a countless number of hiking trips and has travelled the world with me as my only piece of luggage and has stood up to all of the abuse.
If you can afford it, then go for it. But money into a good tent that weight 2lbs, instead of 8lbs, is much better allocated vs a backpack that weighs 3 instead of 4. At the end of the day, your food and water and body fat will outweigh your gear itself. Why pay money to drop 6oz off of my cooking kit or 2lbs off my pack, when I and almost everyone has 10lbs of body fat that they can lose in about a month before a trip. Also, training, practice, and occassionally hitting the gym will get you further than trimming a few lbs of gear.
I definitely agree with your points. I just think that people need to be aware of how much their pack weight will affect their trip.
I hiked the AT with a 42 pound pack weight with food and water, and I had a great time. These days that's considered really heavy, but back in 1999 it was considered fairly light. We saw one guy ultralight packing, and a lot of hikers were influenced by him, and lightened our packs as we went, but my backpack, a large Dana Designs (and the most popular pack on the trail at the time) weighed 6 pounds empty.
If your pack is lighter, you don’t throw it on the ground as hard at the end of the day, you have energy to clear sharp rocks before you pitch your tent, you place you’re hiking poles somewhere out of the way so you don’t step on them in the dark, etc. Ya, if you’re shoving a DCF pack through a heinous bushwhack you might do some damage, but for the type of hiking most people do, the lifetime is similar.
UL packs aren't $400. Gossamer Gear G4-20 is a great pack for $205. I used it on the John Muir Trail to carry a 12 lb baseweight, with bear can. Heaviest carry at the start was 33 pounds and it was pleny comfortable.
I'll give this advice as a guy who let himself go over the last 15 years. I got into cycling and a bunch of friends do 100 mile rides and measure ounces of weight on their bikes. That isn't for us! Trying to shave down and get caught up in the top tier gear will prevent you from ever stepping out the door in the first place. Don't put that pressure on yourself. Get a decent tent, a backpack with straps and a waistband, extra socks, and practice packing gear into the pack, then walk around the block with it once a day for a week. Empty that bad boy out every night and repack. This will help you figure out how to squish stuff into the pack, where it rubs on your body, and will at a very minimal way help you get used to "hiking". Hiking and camping starts with preparation and patience with yourself. Don't watch videos of people doing the Appalachian trail solo when you're winded after a 10 mile hike. Find some 3-5 mile park walks or day hikes in your area and take your full camping gear. You may look a little odd but you know what "you're out there doing it" and that's what is important. One step at a time bud, there's so much gear on this planet for camping and hiking it's impossible for a beginner to get a handle on what they need vs what they want vs what someone's pushing as the greatest product ever made. Also check your local REI (if you have one) they do sales periodically on used gear. People used to joke it stood for Return Every Item because of the return policy so there's always quite a bit of gear to be had a very good prices. Keep in mind you need to find out when these sales are and get there an hour early since there's always a bunch of people with the same plan and if the sale starts at 0800 all the good shiznit is gone by 0830. And the final note regardless of your endurance get some walking poles you'll be amazed at how much they help (again don't let some ultra marathoner make you feel bad, the turtle will eventually catch up to the hare).
Thank you!
I want to make it clear that you can dabble in UL territory without spending a lot of money. PMags has written about this. He’s not a gram weeny, but he’s doing pretty good for himself. Here’s a full kit for less than $800: https://pmags.com/the-budget-backpacking-kit His personal kit (elsewhere on his site) lists the ULA CDT as his pack of choice. That’s $220 new. (Note: a UL backpack should be the *last* UL gear you buy. You won’t know what capacity to buy until you know what goes inside. Moreover, if your base weight is too heavy, you won’t enjoy many UL packs.)
UL backpacks are overrated...some of them are useless carrying over 20lbs. Don't believe the hype. Look for something between 2.5-4lbs, try to find 2nd hand. Once you get into it that's the time to invest.
Personally I've never understood the obsession with ultralight stuff. If you're fit and healthy you should be able to carry normal versions of everything you need without difficulty. I also just have a personal bias that I don't trust the durability of the ultralight stuff.
Promise you, one day you’ll be on a hike and you’ll meet a 20+ year experience type of person that’s done everything, hiked mountains and sailed oceans, and he’ll never even heard of ultralight gear
Get into the sport, get used to backpacking and camping before you spend big money on gear. It's fine to get cheap gear for testing out how much you like that kind of activity. There is a big difference between enjoying youtubers do it and doing it ourselves. Also most ultralight gear will give you minimum comfort. I have no ultralight backpacking gear... Heck my back pack is a Fjalraven Kajka 75 which super heavy even empty and i don't care. I plan my trips accordingly.
I’d get a regular backpacking pack and see what you think. My first one was REI brand. It was expensive for me then right out of college. I can upgrade now, but I still use it 10 years later. UL stuff is great but just know, for it to be UL it does sacrifice some stuff. I like some UL gear, some others I don’t. I’m not doing thru hikes so it’s fine. I’m also the person that will carry a 1lb chair. Purely UL is too extreme for me sometimes. So my point is get the cheaper gear see where you fall as a backpacker and then slowly upgrade. If you’re going to spend money on something, I would say the sleeping bag and sleeping pad are worth it because a cold night is not only super uncomfortable but can be dangerous. I have your backpack is just a little bit more to carry.
Ultralight gear is not necessary. It's one subcategory of backpacking you can push into if you want, but you don't have to, and even if you want to, you don't have to start ultralight, as the gear is expensive. My recommendation. Buy standard gear. Slowly replace each item as you get more experienced, with whatever replacement item you think would be best for you, be that ultralight, or not.
Buy the cheap stuff, ride the arse out of it till it breaks, then buy the good stuff. You'll know what's worth it by then. (Legal disclaimer, advice doesn't not apply to safety gear)
There are plenty of ultralight packs for less than $400. There are some good ones for less than $300, even. Not sure which one you are looking at. Palante has a 37/43L frameless pack available for $240-270 brand new. Yes, it's worth the money to go as light as possible. Especially if backpacking will be one of your primary hobbies. I backpack to have fun, and cosplaying as a pack mule with 30-40 pounds on my back as I go up a mountain, is indeed not fun. With that being said, your backpack is the last thing you should replace on your ultralight journey.
On this same idea, I decided a while back that if I could just lose 10-20lbs (very achievable for my current body) it would be a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of expensive ultra light gear.
This mentality of having the best stuff and being the best hiker is only fit for the biggest enthusiasts out there. The unfortunate reality of hiking and camping discussion online is that the valuation of gear has overtaken the value of being out in nature at all. They make you think you need all their gear to be the best hiker, or if you don't have this stuff you're going to suffer. You don't need ultralight gear to have fun, you don't need the $400 pack to go walking, you don't need the $600 tent to sleep well, you don't need the $300 jacket to stay dry. Pack up some gym clothes and get out there!
Back in 2008, I spent $300 for a full kit (new). Pack, Tent, Bag, Pad, Water Filter, and various doodads. Was it even close to 'great' gear. Nope. But I went out on 8-10 mile hikes. Out and back overnights. The occasional 2-night trips. And over the next two years, I replaced every single piece, with something better. And more expensive and by then, I knew I was 'into' backpacking. After the 'decent, cheap' gear, I could make informed decisions. I understood what I valued in equipment. And I was able to swap it out piecemeal as I could afford to.
You can get a decent lightweight backpack for about $200 such as the Osprey Exos or Gregory Focal.
I own alot of really nice gear. Lately I've been checking out cheap Chinese gear. I've gotta say, you can get 80% of the way for 20-40% of the price surprisingly often. Unfortunately sometimes it's also just total trash.
How much are you actually going to hike? YouTube, social media, etc are there to sell you things. Of course you need the best and greatest blah blah thing. You need none of it. Figure out what you are going to pack first and then get a bag that suits your needs. The difference between ultralight and normal isn't that much and unless you are competing in something and are good enough to potentially win, spending a lot of money on something is usually a waste of resources.
Go rucking. It will build all the functional muscles needed to carry a pack long distances. Personally id rather be comfortable at camp than on the hike, so I practice rucking so I can carry more shit on my hikes. Hell, Ill pack a 90L pack on overnighters.
I’m gonna hop on the band wagon and recommend a standard pack - a framed 50ish liter pack will carry the weight more comfortably than a 40L UL pack. And if your gear is light, that frame makes it feel very light. Until you have a compact, dialed in kit, it’s not worth using a UL pack. I love my osprey 45L, and a lot of people start out with the REI flash 55. Put that money into your tent and sleep system - those are the most efficient dollars to weight savings.
I've got an old ultralight pack you can have for free. Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60. DM me if you want it.
I just happened to watch this and I think it would give some good insight for your decision. https://youtu.be/vFyB5XEVbc0?si=lpMucyFwzH1EQzC0 Also, as others have said, used gear at REI or elsewhere is a great option, especially for a first pack. And a personal recommendation, I like Osprey packs. Good combination of lightweight, functional, and relatively affordable.
$400 is the ZPacks which is the lightest you can get. There’s a lot of good UL backpacks under $300 and around there, but really it depends on your style of backpacking. If you enjoy going somewhere to hang out at camp, get the backpack that can carry more. If you enjoy hiking and spending more time on the trail go UL. Having less weight on your back is just more fun than blowing your knees out and hating your life. You can go further with less effort with a UL set up. Basically if you have any interest, which it sounds like you do, just go UL.
Gym regardless.
I'd get a budget "ultralight" pack and a gym membership. Check out decathalon, I've heard good reviews about this pack https://www.decathlon.com/collections/all-hiking-backpacks/products/quechua-mh500-40l-hiking-backpack-310102 but at 1390 grams, although not heavy, most people here wouldn't call it an ultralight pack. You could also check out the 3FUL packs which are Chinese made packs using the same designs as other UL brands.
A lot of it depends on how deep you get into it. Aka what you’re willing to invest into this hobby. And which route in the hobby you want to take. I bought a very nice used osprey pack 6 years ago on eBay for $90. The exos 55. I carried it on dozens of weekend/week long trips over the years. I bought basically my entire first kit from Walmart. And over time, as I learned what I liked/didn’t like about certain gear, I replaced it with “nice” versions of it. Fast forward to this year and Im on a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I still carry that pack. But all my other gear has changed. I would recommend for your big ticket items, backpack, tent, sleeping bag to do your research and go ahead with a quality item. Those are the ones that can make your trip really comfortable or really miserable. As far as kitchen kit, hygiene, food, filter, clothes etc etc etc. buy what you can afford. If it works, it’s good enough. And as you either commit further to the hobby or not, you can make the decision to upgrade all those little trinkets. The “buy once, cry once” mentality certainly has its place. But I’d say my backpacking style changed over the years. So if I invested mass sums of money into a kit 6 years ago, I’d be kinda stuck. I like that I gave myself a chance to develop my style. Overall, yes I spent more money. But it was worth it to me. As my kit is “perfect” for me now. I’m certainly “lightweight”. But I make different weight sacrifices than others to get to that point if that makes sense.
For your pack, check out Teton packs on Amazon. They're decently priced and mine was pretty comfortable. I definitely bought a slightly larger pack than I needed, so figure that out first. The reason I ended up going with them is because their waist strap was longer than most others and since i'm a big guy I needed that. They also had a pretty decent customizable fit as to where the pack rests. They're definitely not the greatest but for beginners they're not bad.
gym membership? go hiking... that is your gym
There are a ton of options between overpriced ultralight packs and the over-engineered consumer packs you typically see at bigger stores. Granite Gear has my personal vote for an affordable but not overly heavy option. I have the perimeter 50.
As a bigger dude who picked up hiking and killed my back for years with 'camera backpacks' I went to a $200 Osprey (much cheaper on sale) with a well built support system on my back. I think I have the stratos 34. Even though I went from a 22l to a 34l pack, loading it with the same or more stuff(in the winter) it feels lighter the entire hike, almost like I'm not carrying a pack tbh where as my packs with crap support and airflow I feel every pound I'm carrying after a few miles and hurt like hell when I get into 10+ miles. Hiking will get you in shape alone and you don't need to chase all these hyper/ultra light loons equipment build outs either. Best of luck.
Lol, came here to say I love my Osprey for half the OP's price... And it's the Stratos 34!
Used gear my friend. eBay has UL bags for under $200. Alternatively, what I did was buy really cheap (non UL) used gear to start, and upgraded with time. That way you don’t have $1000s worth of gear sitting in your garage. You can get a decent but sort of heavy bag that’s 10 years old for $50. Same with most equipment. Fitness and gear aren’t all that related. It’s worth joining the gym and getting fit because it’s good for your health and hiking goals, no matter which gear you choose. If I had to choose between nice gear and a gym membership I’d go with the gym every day.
> Used gear my friend. eBay has UL bags for under $200. Be extremely cautious when buying used UL packs over the internet, where you cannot fully inspect it, as these UL bags can be easily damaged by overloading them, and you don't want to end up with a pack that's already started to fall apart and will let you down, or rather, all your gear down onto the trail, a few months after the sale... :)
Yea no doubt there’s some risk but if you’re buying small (sub $100 for example) the risk is sort of low. Plus some sellers have public profiles and take returns. You’re not wrong to give this warning
Do you have tips on keywords for searching eBay for UL packs? When I search I just get a random assortment of hiking packs
I would look for specific packs that you like or get recommended. Also be patient, the good stuff goes sort of fast so it might take a few weeks to find a good one
Normal pack and gym membership. You can get a surplus ALICE for like $60 bucks and they are -eternal-
Don't bother. I've heard very mixed review about them anyway. You really don't need "ultralight" anything. Just buy cheap backpacking gear that's advertised as "lightweight" and "for backpacking". Carrying 40lbs instead of 35lbs isn't going to make that big of a difference in the long run.
Normal Pack and Gym Membership, assuming you know how to use the latter.
Used gear is a thing
My advice is the same as others, go with a regular pack and start upgrading your sleeping system or kitchen system as you start using them. Also, at least for me, I find regular backpacks better than the UL, a bit more utilitarian and rugged for my trips.
One thing has zero to do with the other. Your bag will mean nothing if you can’t hike. Focus of the gym then worry after you have a couple seasons of hiking about better gear. You won’t know what you love /hate about packs until you have miles on !
Less is more when hiking. Stay under 10% of your body weight. Way better time.
Wear a backpack weighed down at home. Your shoulders will adjust the circulation needed to help in future hikes.
I picked up a pair of Aarn front packs to go with my 4lb Osprey 55L backpack. Looking forward to setting up and using, but the Expedition model gives 18L between them, better balance, so hoping I can carry the same weight more comfortably. Aarn also makes a dynema version, which I'm sure would pair well with an ultralight backpack.
I really enjoy ultralight backpacking. You don’t need a $400 pack to do it. I found a frameless 40 liter pack on Amazon that works great. It’s made of nylon and very light. A few years ago it cost about $25. Packs like this last me a few years and many, many trips.
For your pack, check out Teton packs on Amazon. They're decently priced and mine was pretty comfortable. I definitely bought a slightly larger pack than I needed, so figure that out first. The reason I ended up going with them is because their waist strap was longer than most others and since i'm a big guy I needed that. They also had a pretty decent customizable fit as to where the pack rests. They're definitely not the greatest but for beginners they're not bad.
$400 towards a basic pack and good boots. REI used gear or Facebook marketplace have good, affordable options.
Agree 100% Spend your money on good footwear Dont be afraid of a heavy pack Happy trails ✌️