My ULTIMATE ultralight backpacking gear set up!

I've finally completed my ultimate ultralight backpacking gear set up. This is no expense spared backpacking gear load out that looks at the lightest wild camping gear available but is also reasonably durable and comfy.

Personally, I see most lightweight backpacking gear set ups as better-weather use only. There is often a trade off between weight and weatherproofness, comfort, durability, etc. However, ultralight backpacking gear is great for long distance thru hiking trails or if you're injured or less fit and healthy.

I've done several backpacking gear load-outs for difference weights and budgets. This is the extreme end of the scale so don't be surprised with the total cost!

If you want to see close ups of this 2024 backpacking gear list check out my Instagram:

Backpacking Tent – Durston X-Mid Pro 1 – 485g - £797
Trekking Poles – Durston Z-Flick – 188g - £76
Tent Pegs – Easton – 54g - £30 (approx.)

Backpack – Durston Kakwa 40 – 775g - £275 (approx.)
Liner – Highlander – 55g - £5

Sleeping Bag – Western Mountaineering Highlite - 455g - £480
Sleeping Pad – Exped 3R – 365g - £182
Pillow – Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow – 82g - £59
Pump – Flextail Gear Nano Pump – 59g - £45

Cookset – Unigear 450ml – 92g - £30 (approx.)
Stove - Forclaz MT900 – 47g - £49
Lighter – OEX Piezo – 15g - £13
Spork – S2S Spork – 9g - £10

Power Bank – Nitecore NB1000 Gen 3 – 150g - £65
Head Torch – Sandmarc Pro – 53g - £40 (approx.)
USB Lead – 7g - £3 (approx.)
iPhone Lead – 21g - £10 (approx.)
Bag – Gossamer Gear Small Ditty Bag – 12g - £15

Trowel – S2S Nylon – 87g - £8
Hygiene – 60g for toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, eye mash, 2 tiny towels, sponge
Bag – Gossamer Gear Large Ditty Bag – 14g - £17

Filter – Katadyn BeFree – 63g - £40
Bottle – Misc – 25g - £1

Hiking Gear - Carrying
Spare Socks – Inov-8 – 60g - £13
Top – OMM Core Hoodie – 115g - £100
Bottoms – OMM Flash Tights – 185g - £70
Waterproofs
Inov-8 race top – 92g - £93
Inov-8 race bottoms – 73g - £90

Total weight 3,698 grams

Total cost £2,601.00

Thanks to Ben for originally lending me his X-Mid Pro to test out. Thanks to Andy for letting me use his X-Mid Pro (this one) when I like. Thanks to Scott for the pack liner idea and to Ed for donating his Kakwa. You're all legends!

Note: these items are either new, second hand or gifted. Where new, I usually buy in the sales where possible.

If you are into your hiking, backpacking and wild camping please SUBSCRIBE @BackpackingUK

Thanks, Andy.

#backpacking #wildcamping #backpackinggear

[NomadsViewpoint]

Fifteen years ago, I hiked the West Highland Way with a 16 kg rucksack and completed it in 5 days. Nowadays, I keep my rucksack weight to no more than 9 kg, and I’m aiming to reduce it to under 5 kg. I’ve come to realise that there’s no need to hike with a heavy rucksack anymore, as there are many affordable lightweight gear options available. Even your gear is reasonably priced when compared to the costs of other items today, including hotel expenses and more.

[Mikeytt]

Loved the video! Pretty expensive, but nobody forces you to buy it all right at the same time. I love the process of gathering and upgrading gear as years go by. And that base weight of yours is bonkers!

[markswishereatsstuff]

I hope the comments don't devolve into how expensive this gear is and how they use a 6lb. canvas tent like a real man. I've got Dyneema and carbon everything and glad of it.

[tomsk]

Like how that small gust of wind at 4:01 almost blew everything away

[dudeymcduderson]

Fair play to you for remembering all the weights. Really well presented video.

[garysmith]

Great video mate. Why dont you do the same for a winter type set up?

[chrishamilton]

Nice ……. Well done. Mine is not a million miles different. I have a DCF Bonfus pyramid tent carried in an Atom Pack backpack. I use a small Des Cattys alcohol burner with a titanium pot which works stunningly. I sleep on an R7.2 Thermarest with a goose down quilt. My only ‘heavy’ item is a Grayl water purifier as I’ve moved on from a water filter having seen the number of issues others are reporting. The other biggies are a Timmermade DCF waterproof smock (amazing, but took months to get, but worth it) and my Vivo barefoot forest boots which are simply the best. My kit weighs in at a tad under 8kg Including fuel and food but excluding water.

[pootlingalong]

Wow. Thought I was doing well with my Nordisk Telemark tent - says it’s 870g but all in with pegs bags and everything is more like 950g. I believe in ultralight camping gear, I think our bodies will thank us for it when we are pensioners. It costs, yes, but you can save up and buy one thing at a time. Thanks for the video - I still have the lw clothing to sort out 👍🏻

[karlkeating]

I just returned from several days hiking in Yosemite National Park, with a setup very similar to yours. I have the X-Mid Pro 1 with the Dyneema floor, which saves 45 grams, and I used a quilt rather than a sleeping bag and likely saved more weight there, but I took more clothing than you did (such as hiking pants in addition to rain pants and a puffy jacket in addition to a hoodie similar to yours) because in the Sierra Nevada, in October, snow can sneak up on you almost instantaneously (though I was blessed with sunny days). My only puzzlement with your review is that you said the tent wasn't good in cold weather. No tent keeps out the cold--if properly staked, it keeps out the cold wind, but a tent's fabric doesn't provide insulation as a jacket does.

[robertwaller]

I just took my two oldest kids on their first backpacking trip. It kicked my ass and the pack only weighed 40 pounds. lol! I need to invest in some of this light stuff

[stewartgregson]

Hi Andy great video as always. Just some ideas for cheap summer 😅alternatives: dd hammocks super lite tarp, vango Aotrom Matt, cold soak plastic jar, no need for leggings - use waterproofs to keep wind off, toothpaste tablets. And if u buy second hand kit I reckon you could get an ultra light kit together for two or three hundred quid - max. The other thing is it doesn’t have to be all done at once - the pleasure is trialing things and reducing your weight to what suits you over time. Keep up the great content.

[paddle_hike]

I just got the Xmid pro 1 (but dcf floor) + poles too... Love it

[stephenmorris]

Amazing weight. Good context. Really good video.

[HilltopPacks]

Nice dialed in setup! Gotta love that Durston tent

[fraserp]

I enjoyed this, I am not buying it all, but it's a great rundown of the best of the best and I trust your opinion.

[ОлександрСтепаненко-ды]

Sweet English pronounce! ) Great thus costy setup, space for challenge.. after war
Thanks for the vid and cheers from UA!

[ksgonewild]

Hey lovely! Excellent vid as always, don’t usually comment as figure you’re sooo popular you probably wouldn’t notice 😂
I would love to see a lightweight setup for winter camping. I’m having to re-think my gear as I’m waiting for spinal surgery. I don’t have money for really expensive gear but sometimes one little change can make a super saving so always intrigued to watch these vids.
Thanks for sharing! 🥰

[Ddrodducxmwalejjdbd]

2 kg for a kit is very impressive. Fair play ❤

[GeordiLaForgery]

Fascinating gear thx would be nice to see a winter one

[chrisvardy]

Not a bad set of options. I like the DD gear too, I've swapped out my ZPacks tents for the X-Mids. However, I don't find the DCF tents to be any colder than dual walled nylon ones from Terra Nova etc so that was an interesting observation. For me PHD sleeping bags are very capable as the temperature drops and, given the right ones, you can use one of the uber light ones inside one of the others to take you way down below freezing. Gas stove though - nah - I moved over to hexy first and then bioethanol (now that the regulations are in place preventing us from buying hexy). I make my own packs to a similar de facto roll top design at around 800g and they have the features that I want.