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 ...

If you spend enough time backpacking, you may consider switching to an ultralight setup, as it opens the door to longer, faster adventures and allows you to travel more freely. A lightweight tent, pad ...

Carbon fiber cord spools. Ultralight thermometers that tell you not only the current temperature, but the overnight low. Tiny toothbrush heads that pop onto the end of a spork. The world of ultralight ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

From the most committed minimalist to the staunchest traditionalist, who among us hasn’t dreamed of a lighter pack? I know I have, especially around, say, mile 10 of the day, when every pound seems to ...

Modern trail gear delivers smartphone-like efficiency while dramatically reducing pack weight for hikers. With over five years in the web and tech space, I’ve developed a deep passion for PC hardware ...

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 — ...

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.