Lightweight Backpacking 2025 (Guiding)
- Category Weight
-
Clothing
8.7 lb
-
Electronics
3.48 lb
-
Hygiene
1.38 lb
-
Kitchen
1.22 lb
-
Other
3.79 lb
-
Packing
2.86 lb
-
Shelter
3.22 lb
-
Sleeping
3.5 lb
-
Food
9.26 lb
-
Fuel
0.93 lb
-
Water
2.2 lb
-
Group Safety
4 lb
Mike's lightweight backpacking gear list - guiding edition
Total weight is all items added up (e.g. consumable + worn + base). Consumable items (e.g. food, fuel, water) are trip specific and will vary depending on trip duration. Worn items are trip specific and will vary depending on route and environmental conditions (e.g. footwear, gaiters, rain gear). Base items are trip specific and will vary depending on trip duration and objectives (e.g. clothing, electronics, other). Items without links are unavailable (e.g. not found online or discontinued by manufacturer) or customized for their specific purpose (e.g. tarp rigging, repair kits).
-
-
Clothing
Weight qty -
Bandana
Buff CoolNet UV Neckwear
35
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Camp Pants
Patagonia Terravia Trail Pants - Regular (34)
315
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Camp Footwear
Arc'teryx Norvan SL2 Shoe (11.5 M)
390
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Gaiters
Altra Trail Gaiter (L/XL)
33
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Convertibles
Patagonia Quandary Convertible Pants (34)
337
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Fleece
Arc'teryx Delta Hoody (L)
260
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Footwear
Arc'teryx Vertex Alpine Shoe (11.5 M)
672
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Shirt
Arc'teryx Phase SL Zip Neck LS (L)
120
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Socks
Arc'teryx Synthetic Mid Crew Sock (L)
48
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Underwear
Saxx Kinetic Light-Compression Mesh (L)
84
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Insulating Hoody
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL Jacket (L)
325
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Ladder Gloves
Stanley General Purpose
68
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Orthotics
Custom Orthotics
160
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Rain Jacket
Arc'teryx Zeta FL Jacket (L)
205
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Rain Pants
Arc'teryx Beta Pant (L)
360
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping Hoody
Arc'teryx Cormac Hoody (L)
158
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping Socks
Arc'teryx Synthetic Mid Crew Sock (L)
48
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping Underwear
Saxx Kinetic Light-Compression Mesh (L)
84
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sun Gloves
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Chroma Full Sun Gloves (L)
32
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sun Hat
Arc'teryx Caldium 5 Panel Cap
52
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sun Hoody
Arc'teryx Cormac Hoody (L)
158
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Electronics
Weight qty -
Headlamp 1
Petzl Swift RL
102
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Headlamp 1 Cable
Goal Zero USB to Micro (5 cm)
8
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Headlamp 2
Nitecore NU25 UL
45
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Headphones
Apple AirPods Pro 2
56
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Power Bank
Nitecore CARBO 10000
157
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Radio
Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio
184
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Satellite Communicator
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
117
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Smartphone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
227
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Smartphone Cable
60W USB-C Charge Cable (1m)
19
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Smartphone Case
Quad Lock Mag Case
48
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Smartwatch
Suunto 9 Peak
52
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Smartwatch Cable
Suunto 9 Peak Charging Cable
20
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Video Battery
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Battery
35
g3
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Video Camera
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
177
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Video Mount
Insta360 Action Invisible Selfie Stick
124
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Weather Data Logger
Kestrel Drop D3
35
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wireless Microphone
Rode Wireless Micro
102
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Hygiene
Weight qty -
Cleansing Wipes
Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes (12)
99
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Deodorant
Native Mini
27
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Floss Picks
Plackers Dental Flossers (12)
10
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hand Sanitizer
Purell Hand Sanitizer (100 ml)
130
g2
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Toilet Paper
Coghlans Personal Tissue (150)
30
g2
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Toothbrush
Aurelle Toob Travel Toothbrush
36
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Toothpaste
Colgate Total Advanced Health Toothpaste (18 ml)
6
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Towel
PackTowel Ultralite (XL)
105
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Trowel
Tent Lab The Deuce of Spades
22
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Kitchen
Weight qty -
Lighter
BIC Mini Lighter
12
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Spork
Geartrade Titanium Extra Long Spork
20
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Mug
Snow Peak Ti-Double 450 Mug
116
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pot
JetBoil Stash Pot
112
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water Bottle
Smart Water (1 L)
27
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water Filter
Platypus QuickDraw Filter
70
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water Flask
HydraPak SoftFlask WMX (500 ml)
24
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water Storage
CNOC 28mm Vecto Water Container (3 L)
84
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Stove
Soto WindMaster Stove with 4Flex
87
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Other
Weight qty -
Bear Spray
Frontiersman Bear Spray 1% (225 g)
225
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Chair
Helinox Chair Zero
499
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Eyeglasses
Oakley Chamfer Squared
28
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Insect Repellent
Ben's 30 Tick & Insect Repellent Wipes
6
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Multi Tool
Leatherman Skeletool CX
141
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Rope
Carabiner and 3 mm Nylon Static Cord (15 m)
123
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Scissors
Victorinox Nail Clip 580
36
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sitting Pad
Geartrade Reflective Sitting Pad
45
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunglasses
Oakley CTRLNK
28
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunglasses Cloth
Oakley Eyewear Cleaning Cloth
8
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunscreen
KINeSYS SPF 50 Fragrance Free Spray Sunscreen (30 ml)
44
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Trekking Poles
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
486
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wallet
Cash, Cards, Identification
50
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Packing
Weight qty -
Backpack
Durston Kakwa 55 (L)
915
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Backpack Vent
Vaucluse Ultralight Backpack Ventilation Frame & Sleeve
154
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Clothing Pods
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod 4400 (L)
39
g3
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Fanny Pack
LiteAF Feather Weight Fanny Pack
65
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Kitchen Stuff Sack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Drawstring Stuff Sack - Large / Gray - DCF11
15
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Other Stuff Sacks
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Drawstring Stuff Sack - Small / Gray - DCF11
10
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Shelter Stuff Sack
Durston Stuff Sack
8
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping Stuff Sack
Enlightened Equipment Stuff Sack
13
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Shelter
Weight qty -
Tent
Durston X-Dome 2
1250
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent Cloth
Geartrade Tent Shammy
10
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent Groundsheet
Durston X-Dome 2
145
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent Stakes
DAC J Stakes
7
g8
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Food
Weight qty -
Menu Plan
Beverages, Breakfasts, Snacks, Dinners, Desserts
600
g7
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Fuel
Weight qty -
Canisters
Mountain Safety Research IsoPro 4oz
210
g2
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Water
Weight qty -
Fresh
1 L
1000
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Group Safety
Weight qty -
First Aid Kit
Adventure Medical Kits Guide
1000
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Repair Kit
Custom Repair Kit
350
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tarp
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Flat Tarp (8x10 ft)
276
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tarp Rigging
Custom Tarp Rigging
190
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-