Almost all backpackers agree: lighter packs make for happier campers. And those few that don’t agree? They haven’t been backpacking long.
Pack weight matters. So this week, we rounded up four pieces of gear that will shave off a few ounces.
The 54-liter CDT is big enough for a Continental Divide thru-hike (if you pack properly), but not too bulky for a weekend trip. And because it doesn’t have a frame, it runs quite a bit lighter than most packs of equivalent size. The medium CDT weighs in at just 24 ounces.
Like most backpacks, the CDT comes complete with a hip belt, side pockets, and an attachment for shoulder pouches. But unlike most backpacks, it doesn’t have a frame. That means it’s best used to carry loads that weigh less than 18 lbs.
The CDT is custom-made to order. It sells online for $145.
If you know tents, you know it’s hard to find a double-walled two-person tent that weighs less than two pounds. And if you don’t know tents, you’ll just have to trust us when we say the Cirriform DW 2-person tent is a rare find.
When erected, the tent offers a 26 square foot base and 44 inches of headroom. Its double-walled construction reduces condensation and holds up to even heavy rain. The tent relies on two trekking poles and seven stakes for its structure.
The Cirriform DW is made to order, and can be customized in several ways. The tent sells online from $355.
Probably the easiest way to cut weight on a sleeping bag is to get one specifically designed for your body size. And thanks to the folks at ZPacks, that’s an option.
The company’s 900-fill goose down bags are available in three girths (56″, 61″, and 66″), and four lengths (that fit bodies from 5’0″ to 6’8″). Bags can also be customized by temperature, ranging from 10 to 40 degrees.
Bag weight varies by size. Example: for a 30-degree bag, a slim/short bag weighs in at 12.9 ounces, while a broad/xx-long tips the scales at 20.8.
Prices also vary by size and temperature, with the cheapest costing $335 and the most expensive $475. The bags sell online.
Serious ultra-lighters have time-tested secret for trimming ounces: take half-sized things. If you’re comfortable sleeping with your legs dangling off the couch or recliner, GossamerGear’s sleeping pad is a way to cut back even more.
Generally speaking, egg-crate sleeping pads are actually lighter than inflatable ones, and the Nightlight pad takes it even further by only providing a torso-length version of that pad. It’s more comfortable than it looks.
The sleeping pads sell online for $24.
—
Have a super-duper-light piece of gear that didn’t make this list? Email [email protected] to let us know!
Camping is meant to be primitive, but that doesn't mean it can't be comfortable. These four items help make any campground feel a little more like home.
Promised yourself you'd run more in 2017? Stewart Moore rounded up five pieces of gear that will help you start today.
Even a short day on the trail demands a lot of little items. The Wildland Packing Pouch makes it easier to pack sunglasses, gloves, snacks, and the like without losing or forgetting them.
Keeping warm should look good. So our own Stewart Moore rounded up four pieces of winter headgear that don't look like...well... headgear.
Eons ago, fire helped man emerge from the wilderness. But what has it done for us lately? In this week's gear roundup, Stewart Moore features the fall's four best fire innovations.
Signup to get the discount code for 20% off all HydraPak gear. (Make sure to check your junk mail for the code.)
