To the community I'm seeking input on ultralight gear for camping; run the table, tents, cooking gear, stoves, etc. What various bits & pieces have people found, their preferences, what works well, kind of cool yet functional and useful. As an example the recently reveled rope puller, its appears to be very functional and cool look piece of kit.

Lookup backpacking camp gear. To each their own on what is considered comfort vs those who don't mind sleeping on a rock.

I first started collecting lightweight camping gear for motorcycle trips with the idea that every second or third night we’d camp, and always have the ability to prepare some kind of meal if we found a nice place to stop for an hour or two. All that gear migrated to airplane camping when I got the Husky and started my northern multi-day airplane travel habit.

I was able to find a Northface one person tent that was light and has stood up well. I think about 3 1/2 lbs.

https://www.thenorthface.com/en-ca/p/ba ... t-NF0A52VH

I’ve also become a big fan of these Thermarest cots. A bit of fiddling to set up but not awful, and also around 3 lbs. Most importantly they get you off the ground enough to be warm and comfortable. No heavier than a self inflating mattress and more to my liking. Also nice that you can store a few things under the cot, which is nice with the small tent I use. Problem is, they’re hard to find now. May have been discontinued. Not sure.

https://gearjunkie.com/camping/therm-a- ... cot-review

I have a few different sleeping bags that I pick from depending on climate, but I’ve found a microfiber liner adds a lot of insulation value with very little weight. Total weight is usually 3 lbs or less

For food, I keep it simple and light and go with a Jetboil and dehydrated backpacking food. Can’t beat it for compact and lightweight. It’s not cuisine, but I don’t mind it. Lots of choices out there, and some brands are better than others. I don’t normally do multiple consecutive days living off the stuff so if that’s the plan then something a bit more nutritious and savory (and substantially heavier) would be in order.

I carry both an axe and a folding saw as part of my base kit in the Husky.

Lots of other small scale gadgetry as well. One of those two-bag water filtration systems is always part of the kit, as is some kind of solar panel to keep things charged. Long story short, I can usually set myself up for 5-7 nights of camping and keep it at or under 40 lbs including clothes and personal hygiene gear. All this small, lightweight stuff is less comfy and more of a pain to set up than ‘normal’ sized gear, but its not awful, works well, and the weight savings add up.

Edit:

I forgot to mention I always carry Helinox chairs (2) and a table. About 2 lbs each, so a total of 6. I have a couple of Alite Mayfly chairs too, but my old bones aren’t as graceful climbing out of them as they once were . All of that is included in the 40lb total.

Happy camping.

Belloypilot wrote everything I would have written. I really like those Thermarest lowboy cots.

Ounces really do become pounds, and unless you’re running a longer term base camp, the backpacking stuff all seems to work great.

I will sacrifice a few pounds for a larger tent though. I like to be able to keep stuff inside out of the dew and insects and have room to dress and do dance routines for whomever is along with me.

Many true things have been said already. I come from mountaineering/climbing so lightness and durability was always a must.

Couple thoughts:

Cots: have no experience with them but for me would not qualify as "ultralight". Check out Exped (Swiss) for a very lightweight and comfortable Thermarest sleeping pad alternative. Or stay with Thermarest (love mine).

Stove: I love my MSR Dragonfly and it has never let me down in the 24 or so years I own it. I also carry it as my only stove even when much more space/weight available (car camping). Burns everything from white gas (preferable) to diesel/kerosene and you can actually prepare meals rather than just heat water. Very fuel efficient also.

Check out Mountain Equipment or Marmot for good, lightweight sleeping bags. I agree with what Belloypilot said about liners although I prefer silk (check out Cocoon).

I also agree with Zane about the tent. Rather go little bit bigger there... On the other hand, among climbers probably no tent would qualify as ultralight. There are bivy bags for a reason...

Lots of options obviously and good advice so far. Me, I never go camping without my Exped semi inflatable mattress.....Old bones love it.

If I’m camping in the same spot more than one night I’ll upsize the tent as well. That usually means a lot more in and out and even time inside the tent. That little I guy I use gets pretty annoying in that scenario.

I always carry a lightweight tarp about 10 x10 and some 1/8” cord to string it up. It only comes out if it rains and I need a dry place to set up the table and chairs. I’ve done trips with just that and a bivy bag instead of a tent too, but then I’m back to using a mattress pad instead of the cot and there’s not much weight savings over my one person tent.

One bivy bag camping story. Grasslands National Park is in southern Saskatchewan and is one of ten or so dark sky preserves in Canada. https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/sk/grassl ... -astronomy.

My son and I camped there on a motorcycle trip and I slept in the bivy bag. It was a crystal clear night during the August Perseid meteor shower. I got to lay on my back and watch the fireworks. Probably didn’t get more than an hour sleep, but it was a sight I’ll never forget. Mostly because of the show I was able to witness, but also because there are about 700 wild bison that roam the park and it was hard not to think about getting inadvertently stomped on. Mixed blessings, those bivy bags

x2 for the lightweight tarp

Belloypilot wrote:Mostly because of the show I was able to witness, but also because there are about 700 wild bison that roam the park and it was hard not to think about getting inadvertently stomped on. Mixed blessings, those bivy bags

Have a similar story of watching the eruptions on Stromboli for a night. No bison there but then I think that maybe a tent wouldn't really keep them off and from the bivy bag at least one can see them. Same for bears. I sometimes fell uncomfortably blind inside a tent if there were strange noises outside.

If I can find a lightweight one a dining tent/shelter is something I's like to have. It offers protection from sun, rain and to some degree relief from flying pests

Sierra7 wrote:x2 for the lightweight tarp

Belloypilot wrote:Mostly because of the show I was able to witness, but also because there are about 700 wild bison that roam the park and it was hard not to think about getting inadvertently stomped on. Mixed blessings, those bivy bags

Have a similar story of watching the eruptions on Stromboli for a night. No bison there but then I think that maybe a tent wouldn't really keep them off and from the bivy bag at least one can see them. Same for bears. I sometimes fell uncomfortably blind inside a tent if there were strange noises outside.

Fool's Seldom Differ, I recall a winter night in Resolute Bay (CYRB) mesmerized by a massive display of the Aurora Borealis. It was 360 degrees of color and audible sound, like leaf's in a light breeze. However the though of sleeping outside didn't even cross my mind, it was about -40C plus there are Musk Ox and the occasional Polar Bear in the area.

I agree with most of what's been said so far. Good-quality light camping gear is great for almost any kind of camping: backpacking, canoe, airplane, motorcycle, whereas the bulkier/heavier stuff (while cheaper) is of more limited use.

I've gotten some great deals on nice gear from gear-swap pages on backpacking forums, especially backpackinglight.com in the past. Folks who are really into counting grams tend to upgrade their gear pretty frequently and things show up for sale with minimum use at major discounts.

As an alternative to the cot idea, there are some awesome light and comfy camping pads now with high R-values.

Oregon180 wrote:I agree with most of what's been said so far. Good-quality light camping gear is great for almost any kind of camping: backpacking, canoe, airplane, motorcycle, whereas the bulkier/heavier stuff (while cheaper) is of more limited use.

I've gotten some great deals on nice gear from gear-swap pages on backpacking forums, especially backpackinglight.com in the past. Folks who are really into counting grams tend to upgrade their gear pretty frequently and things show up for sale with minimum use at major discounts.

As an alternative to the cot idea, there are some awesome light and comfy camping pads now with high R-values.

That's a great looking gear site, do you have to be a member to purchase items on it ?

I travel light on most all of my camping gear.

Down sleeping bags only. So much more comfortable and packable that synthetic. But, if they get wet, they are not comfortable. Ask me how I know

These stoves are top notch: https://cascadedesigns.com/products/windburner-personal-stove-system

A modern hammock and straps are a great lightweight comfort addition if there are trees around: https://www.rei.com/product/202581/eno-singlenest-hammock

These tables are pretty small, but very light and sturdy: https://www.rei.com/product/866034/gci-outdoor-compact-camp-table-20

Camp lighting has come a really long way since the advent of LEDs. Lightweight options for headlamps, spotlights and ambience are abound.

I like this camp chair. It's light and sturdy. Helinox chair

The one place that I will take the mass hit is the sleeping pad. The Nemo Roamer Nemo Roamer will turn rocky ground into a good evening's rest.

Sierra7 wrote:Cots: have no experience with them but for me would not qualify as "ultralight".

These things really are light:

Scolopax, that a great list of sites thanks.

Mapleflt wrote:
That's a great looking gear site, do you have to be a member to purchase items on it ?

Hmmm. You didn't use to, but it does look like they require membership now. Sorry about that.

Oregon180 wrote:

Mapleflt wrote:
That's a great looking gear site, do you have to be a member to purchase items on it ?

Hmmm. You didn't use to, but it does look like they require membership now. Sorry about that.

No worries, its only $15 so for the right deal that's not a show stopper.

So are we talking Ultralight gear for plane camping or Ultralight gear for carry on my back up and down mountains for a week? If it is plane stuff I recommend the Heliox high back chair, with rockers if you are on tundra or soft sand. The chair will fit in a 3 person tent on rainy days and won't hurt the floor with rockers. Heliox also makes an excel cot with add on legs, excellent for getting old bones up and dressed in a small tent. A small camp table with thin wood cove or aluminum weighs a bit more but can stand hot stuff (on top). Rapid boil, XKG or wisperlight stove. For survival I carry a bevy sack. But for camping I have a nice 5 lb 3 person tent. Sleeping bag to fit the weather Wiggies for Sept and winter flying. I usually carry enough water for 1 1/2 gal a day in 5 gal jug hard or collapsable depending on cube space. I prefer hanging water filters to pump if needed. Basic screen shelter you can hang from wing with para cord over the top will hold 2 people so you can eat in peace. My shelter is a lot smaller and all screen but this one would be great if you have more than two people.https://www.amazon.com/Lightweight-Hamm ... =8-10&th=1. I always carry a ax in case I need a fire and to drive duckbills. Mountain house for meals, If you want to keep stuff cold a Yeti is great.
DENNY

OOPS REPOST.

Gear is important, but when it comes to food and water, not only does how light you pack count, but how smart you use what weight you have available, will greatly dictate how enjoyable your travels will be.

Water for example, where it makes sense, I'll take a purifier, or boil water over actually hauling water all day long...

But being a desert dweller, if I'm fly/camping locally real water needs to get packed. People dream up loads of survival scenarios, but without water, it's all a moot point.

Now if you're camping, there's nothing saying that water needs to be liquid. And if you're camping like I like to, you'll want real food, not something spilled out of a can, or a bag that's drier than the powder sand you landed on.

What I'm saying is, I never, ever, pack wet water. Instead I pack a 12, or 24 pack of frozen bottles. They add almost no weight, and in a good soft sided cooler will keep your Ramey's Pollo Asada, Pico, and Guac' cold for two days. If you are from the southwest and are lost here... You're obviously helpless. But I digress...

On the third day, we'll have the now thawed ribeye's. And still have now liquid water for the flight home . And if we're hunting/fishing, (and why wouldn't we be?) we now can trade water weight for game weight. Win-win.

Lightweight does not need to be uncomfortable.

Take care,
Rob