🇪🇺Ultracheap Introduction to Ultralight - Old World Edition🇪🇺

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🎒 Backpack Options €90.00 1.55 lb
🛏️ Sleep €174.00 2.14 lb
🏕️ Shelter €100.00 1.37 lb
🧦 Packed Clothing €40.00 1.22 lb
🌊 Food/Water €42.00 0.3 lb
🔧 Gear/Tools €19.00 1 lb
⚡ Electronics €15.00 0.54 lb
💩 Misc (Toiletries and First Aid) €10.00 0.19 lb
🍳 Cooking €28.00 0.38 lb
🥾 Worn Clothing €0.00 0 lb
🥨 Consumable €0.00 0 lb
Total €518.00
8.69
lb
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
Consumable 0.25 lb
Worn 0.44 lb
Base Weight 8 lb
Total Pack Weight 8.25 lb

! Currently work in progress !

Welcome to the idea of UltraLight Backpacking!

This is the EU specific version of this list / guide, for the Deputys original US list click here.

We made this gear list to help beginners buy an inexpensive and user-friendly ultralight setup. Everything that is on this list is safe, efficient, and made strong enough for multi-week trips. It mostly came from items already popular with the community. If an item is not on this list, it is because you don't need it!

If you need help, or would like me to help you decide which options are best for you, come and ask on Reddit on r/Ultralight!

Some of the items below are marked with a quantity of zero. These are optional or alternative items. Some trips or areas require different things like bear canisters, wind jackets, or warmer gear. This guide is only a starting point, more research is going to be required!

I like to say that the lightest items are the ones that you leave at home, but also keep in mind that there is nothing cheaper than the gear you already own. While it's important to always be conscious of the weight you are carrying, perhaps that old fleece jacket or JanSport school backpack you have laying around could be the best place to start.

Here are a few key ultralight items and concepts that could use some extra explanation:

-How to use a sleeping Quilt

-How to seam-seal a tarp/bivy

-How to load a frameless backpack

-How to pitch the Xunshang Tent

-10€ Sleeping Pad

-Resources for women

-Litesmith and All the Little Things

-DeputySeans's Comprehensive Guide to an Ultralight Baseweight

Last updated 07.11.2026

- 🎒 Backpack Options
  €90.00 1.55 lb 2
- Backpack 3FUL Tutor. Features a minimalist frame as well as a hipbelt. 30l main compartment, all the usual features the more expensive ultralight backpacks have. Hipbelt can be cut off as a rite of passage when ready. €89.00
  650
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Pack Liner Any heavy duty trashbag will do. You can cut the excess volume. €1.00
  52
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Frameless Backpack €50.00
  400
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- 🛏️ Sleep
  €174.00 2.14 lb 3
- Sleeping Pad Foam sleeping pad, folds up like an accordeon. Warm down to roughly -2 to 4°C, depending on tolerance. Can be cut down to torso length (6 - 10 panels should be enough, the empty pack goes under the feet. Saves half the weight). €20.00
  370
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Sleeping Quilt Iceflame Semi Quilt Mono NXT, esentially a very warm down blanket that can close around your feet. The long version contains 385 g of 850 FP down, it should be good to around -2°C depending on clothing and how warm you run. €154.00
  585
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Quilt Straps Straps to attach the quilt to the pad so the lack of a back compared to a sleeping pad doesnt matter. Come with the quilt. €0.00
  14
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Inflatable Sleeping Pad Inflatables can be more comfortable, but they can break. Note that they tend to sleep colder than their warmth rating (R-value) implies compared to foam. €86.00
  468
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Sleeping Bag €150.00
  650
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- 🏕️ Shelter
  €100.00 1.37 lb 8
- Outer Tent Aliexpress Aricxi Patrol Tarp €65.00
  308
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Inner Tent Aliexpress Bug Bivy, volume rather limited, so if you use a large inflatable, very warm sleeping bag or are larger yourself consider alternatives. €35.00
  260
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Tent Stakes 6x Groundhog Mini copies are included with the original Aricxi. If you bought from a different seller any triangular stake will do. €0.00
  9
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  6
- 🧦 Packed Clothing
  €40.00 1.22 lb 4
- Rain Jacket 3FUL non-breathable rain jacket. This for if it rains, not for when. If youre hiking north of the Ardennes you might want to invest in something breathable or take the jacket you already own. €23.00
  178
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Rain Pants 3FUL Rain Kilt. Pack if you expect a lot of constant colder rainfall and no time to dry in-between. Proper rain pants are warmer. €19.00
  115
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Warm Gloves Decathlon Fleece Gloves. Pack when you expect below freezing or when your hands get cold fast. €4.00
  24
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Socks Use what works well for you. There's a good chance you already own socks that are good enough. Many people hike in dress socks. €4.00
  76
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Fleece Decathlon MT100 1/4 Zip. This is a 200g/m² fleece pullover which should be warm enough for summer use on it's own. If you own any other fleece already probably take that. €13.00
  300
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Puffy Decathlon. Pack if you expect below freezing or if you need additional static warmth. Not used for hiking in but for keeping warm while setting up camp, cooking, etc and to supplement your sleeping bag in extreme cases. €65.00
  320
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Warm Hat €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- 🌊 Food/Water
  €42.00 0.3 lb 2
- Water Filter Decathlon filter + 1l bag. The popular choices from the US get increasingly unaffordable. This has cheap replacement filters still available. Weight includes the 1l water bag it comes with. €40.00
  115
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Aquatabs are a good alternative to a filter. They take some time to activate, but they are generally lighter and dont need any maintenance. You also wont need to stop to filter. €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Water Bottle The flimsier the plastic the better. This is a 1,5l bottle from Rewe brand ja. €2.00
  23
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Special food storage is not mandatory anywhere in Europe yet. I would personally still recommend taking precautions in bear country, European brown bears tend to be skittish but habituated to humans. For recommendations on bear cans, bags, spray or hangs refer to the US list. €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- 🔧 Gear/Tools
  €19.00 1 lb 4
- Trekking Pole / Tent Pole Decathlon MT100 Hiking pole €7.00
  200
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  2
- All of the shelter options on this gear list require trekking poles. €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Trowel / Snow Stake Aliexpress aluminium. For digging cat holes and for pitching your tarp. €5.00
  52
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- ⚡ Electronics
  €15.00 0.54 lb 2
- Phone Without a case. €0.00
  200
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Conserving battery is the lightest option with your phone. Use battery savers, dark mode and turn off the radio/GPS/etc. when not in use. Maybe also look at your phone a little less, you're outside. A modern phone can last a weekend that way quite comfortably. €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Headlamp This is not only for setting up camp but also in case you get caught in the dark. The phone has the backup flashlight. Only place a lightsource isn't necessary is well north of the polar circle during the polar day. If that doesn't tell you anything probably take the lamp. €15.00
  45
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- 💩 Misc (Toiletries and First Aid)
  €10.00 0.19 lb 10
- Keys House or car keys. €0.00
  26
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Toilet Paper Can be wrapped in plastic wrap. Wiping with natural materials or using water (with or without a bidet cap) is also an option. €0.00
  8
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Toothbrush €2.00
  8
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Toothpaste In a ziplock or dehydrate your own tabs. €4.00
  4
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Ziplocks For the consumables and as a wallet. €1.00
  1
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  3
- ID/Debit/License Standard Euro cards weigh 5g. €0.00
  15
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Cash 0.2g per bill, coins weigh more €0.00
  10
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Freezer Ziplock Used as a storage bag for all the little things in the pack. Expensive stuff sacks are unnecessary. €1.00
  12
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- 🍳 Cooking
  €28.00 0.38 lb 6
- Pot Firemaple Petrel 330 ml. Enough capacity to boil one pack of Instant Ramen or rehydrate any backpacking meal. €15.00
  32
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Spoon Bamboo spoon. Can be had in 10-packs in every supermarket. McDonalds includes one with every ice cream purchase. €3.00
  2
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Alcohol Stove Homemade Supercat or Fancyfeast stove. For a tutorial see www.andrewskurka.com €1.00
  8
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Lighter MiniBIC wrapped in a little Leukotape. Safety removed for easier operation with cold hands. Available in every gas station or supermarket. €2.00
  12
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Fuel Bottle To store the alcohol. Any small (0,5l or less) bottle from the supermarket will do. €2.00
  20
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Alcohol Methylated spirits, Spiritus, whatever lights up. €5.00
  100
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- Gas Stove BRS 3000T. Simple Titanium stove, faster and simpler than a alcohol stove. Arguably also safer. Not particularly wind resistant or suited to cooking, but boild water just fine and the weight can't be beat. €16.00
  26
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Gas Can Weight of empty iso butane canister with screw thread to match the gas stove. Can be had in most outdoor gear or hunting shops. Not allowed on planes. €0.00
  98
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- 🥾 Worn Clothing
  €0.00 0 lb 1
- €0.00
  0
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  1
- 🥨 Consumable
  €0.00 0 lb 0
- Water Half liter €0.00
  500
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0
- Food Half a days worth of food €0.00
  285
  g
  - oz
  - lb
  - g
  - kg
  0

🇪🇺Ultracheap Introduction to Ultralight - Old World Edition🇪🇺

🎒 Backpack Options

🛏️ Sleep

🏕️ Shelter

🧦 Packed Clothing

🌊 Food/Water

🔧 Gear/Tools

⚡ Electronics

💩 Misc (Toiletries and First Aid)

🍳 Cooking

🥾 Worn Clothing

🥨 Consumable