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Ultralightweight Backpacking Packing List
For backpacking, less is more. Traveling ultralight means that you carry just enough to stay alive and have move easily since you only carry a feather weight pack. Instead of figuring out what you can do without, sit down and figure out what you must have and can't do without. Reexamine your list and determine what you can do to replace two items with a single item and how you can make each item or system lighter. Repeat until you are as close to 10 pounds or less as you think is possible given your backpacking environment and budget.
The amount of gear needed for 1 weeks is the same for 3 months. The only thing that changes is the amount of fuel, food, and water purification tablets you will need. These items should be picked up along the way and predetermined drop points. If you are traveling through hot deserts and cold alpine regions, you can pick up and send home special gear along the way.
| Item | Location | Notes | |
| Worn | |||
| Nylon shirt | Worn | Microfiber nylon is light and dries fast; cotton keeps you wetter and cooler for longer and can kill you | |
| Hiking pants | Worn | Microfiber nylon is light and dries fast | |
| Hiking socks | On feet | Synthetic socks dry faster than wool; thick high density sock are generally not needed | |
| Light trail runner shoes | On feet | Light, comfortable and durable enough; trimming laces down is a little extreem | |
| Quick release nylon strap belt | Through pant belt loops | Light weight; can be used to secure cargo, as tourniquet, etc; may be needed to hold up pants as you loose weight | |
| Waterproof wrist watch | Left wrist | Waterproof is really preferred; alarm may be useful if you are on a time schedule | |
| Wrist compass | On wristwatch | Attached to watch strap; usually sufficient for most backpacking | |
| Sunglasses | Worn | If not sunny, pack them | |
| Backpack | Generally worn | Use a frameless backpack made from silnylon or something similar | |
| Mini LED light | Right shoulder strap | used to signal in crowds or see in dark | |
| Bottle of water | Side pocket | A small disposable water bottle is all you need | |
| Sleep pad | Separate compartment or lining pack | Not only provides comfort, it insulates back from ground; trim to minimize and fold to double as pack support | |
| Wallet | Special zipped up place | Small amount of emergency cash, ID, ATM card, laminated contact list with calling card numbers (simple encryption if you like) and keys (if taken); placed in Ziploc bag | |
| Shelter | Backpack | Silnylon tarp; keep in separate stuff sack - some more optimistic backpackers go without a shelter which isn't advised | |
| Bug net | Backpack | Depending on where you are backpacking, may be required; use a minimal one that just covers your head | |
| Tent stakes | Backpack | Titanium hooks are very lightweight; Coated or painted with bright orange to make finding easier; store in piece of corrugated cardboard with top that folds over hooks to protect pack and pack contects; these double as pot supports; if pack not water resistant, keep in reezer bag | |
| Tarpline | Backpack | Used to set up tarp; use ultralight cord | |
| Water bladder | Backpack | Enough to carry a days worth of water; more is needed when traveling through areas that have limited water points | |
| Food Bag | Backpack | See Below | |
| Plastic trash compactor bag | Backpack | May be needed if main pack is not waterproof; used to keep clothing dry | |
| Small pocket knife | Waterproof bag | So many uses; small pocket knife sufficient; small single blade if fine; use cord to tie to pack or belt | |
| Toilet paper | Waterproof bag | Stored in Ziploc bag; minimal amount rolled up without paper roll | |
| Female hygiene products | Waterproof bag | Needed if female and menstruating; kept in own Ziploc bag | |
| Map | Waterproof bag | Take just what you need; stored in Ziploc bag or waterproof; some hikers go without a map | |
| Jacket | Waterproof bag | Thin waterproof/breathable material is preferred; this is a must in potentially wet environments | |
| Soft jacket or pullover | Waterproof bag | Packed when climate/conditions mandate; should fit under outer jacket | |
| Thermal underwear | Waterproof bag | Synthetic or wool; need dependent on climate and sleeping bag | |
| Shorts | Waterproof bag | Wear when washing and drying clothes (longer trips); used as swim suit | |
| Trekking socks x 2 | Waterproof bag | synthetic socks dry faster than wool or cotton | |
| Cord | Waterproof bag | Used to tie pack to high branch | |
| Hygiene Kit | Waterproof bag | See Below | |
| Camp Towel | Waterproof bag | Fast drying; used to dry body and wring out washed clothing; trim to minimize | |
| Stove | Waterproof bag | Solid fuel (ESBIT); alcohol or collapsible titanium wood (long trips) stoves are preferred | |
| Stove fuel | Waterproof bag | Just enough fuel as needed; alcohol carried in disposable plastic water bottle | |
| Cook pot/mug | Waterproof bag | See Below | |
| Sleep quilt/bag | Waterproof bag | Down in dry environments, synthetic in wet environments; quilt lighter than bag | |
| Food Bag | Backpack | Separate bag for food | |
| Food | Dehydrated and stored in freezer bags; hang pack at night | ||
| Snacks | Limit to what you need | ||
| Spork or spoon | Makes eating grub so much easier | ||
| Cook Pot | Titanium pot or mug or Wal-Mart Grease Pot; only boil water for freezer bag meals; store cook gear in pot when packed | ||
| Windscreen | Cook pot | Needed for any stove; thin titanium sheet is nice | |
| Waterproof match case | Cook pot | Even waterproof matches need protection from water | |
| Waterproof matches | Waterproof match case | Ziploc bag may be used | |
| Match strip | Waterproof match case | Used to ignite match; take even if you have strike anywhere matches | |
| Bandana | Cook pot | Fold and used to lift and move pots | |
| Fire starter | Film canister | Fill a film canister with Vaseline impregnated cotton balls; needed if cooking with wood | |
| Hygiene Kit | Backpack | Kept in small Ziploc bag | |
| Toothbrush | Soft Bristles are easy on the gums | ||
| Toothpaste | Small tube or squeeze some in a small Ziploc bag | ||
| Bottle of liquid soap | Use very small bottle; used for washing, laundry and dish washing if needed | ||
| Disposable razor | If male and would like to shave; use soap lather or water alone to shave | ||
| Mini GUM dental floss container | Used for flossing, sewing and as string (such a for holding up bug nets) | ||
| Water purification | Kytadyn chlorine dioxide tablet are the best, but some opt of activated liquid chlorine dioxide in a small plastic bottle | ||
| Prescription meds | Carried if needed - this would also include extra glasses, contact lenses, birth control pills, etc. for those that need these; all stored in Ziploc bag | ||
| First Aid Kit | Backpack | Often skipped; stored in small Ziploc bags; kept very minimal | |
| Assortment of dressings | Band-Aids, Steri strips, 4x4 gauze pads, 2x2 gauze pads | ||
| Single use Betadine packet | |||
| Alcohol swabs | |||
| Sewing needles | Heavy duty stainless steel keep in mini plastic holder; stored here so that it doesn't get lost | ||
| Small roll of medical tape | Many uses - secure dressings, splinting, taping sprained ankles, make rope; minimize amount carried | ||
| Small roll of sterile gauze | Air squeezed out of package and stored in own Ziploc bag; used to pack, cover and wrap larger wounds as well as make slings, tie up splints and make tourniquets | ||
| Common Additions to List | |||
| Extra clothing | Backpack | Needed if really cold | |
| Camera | Backpack or pocket | Compact is easier to carry; may also require extra batteries or film | |
| Mini can opener | Hygiene kit | US military type is very small, with less mass than many coins; allows you to eat canned foods, which are not ideal for packing - but give you a pot/mug | |
| Hat | Backpack | Protect wearer from sun, cold, bugs and hides messy/dirty hair | |
| GPS | Backpack | Some backpackers can't navigate without one; these then to take away from backpacking and require batteries and an extra set if you can't navigate without one; these same backpackers may not be good candidates for ultralight backpacking | |
| Notepad | Backpack | Journal type or waterproof; used to right notes, etc.; keep in Ziploc if not waterproof | |
| Paperback, religious text, etc | Backpack | Kept in Ziploc bag | |
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