Lighten Up: Build Your Ultralight Backpacking Kit at REI

Building an ultralight backpacking setup has never been easier, and dare we say, more affordable.

Going ultralight doesn’t mean you have to obsess over a scale or break the bank. If you’re building a kit, you’ll get the best bang for your buck by cutting weight in one of the Big Three: your pack, tent, and sleeping bag. Going light in all three is the goal, but you can do that over time, too.

From there, look for versatile apparel and gear, from a sun hoodie to an insulated quilt, because that translates into the less you have to pack.

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Ultralight Backpacking Gear at REI

Mountain Hardwear Kazam 60 Pack: $315

The 60L Mountain Hardwear pack should grab your attention with its unique carrying system and rugged blend of ripstop shell fabrics. The pack uses an aluminum V-shaped frame that attaches to a swivel hipbelt that distributes the weight back to effectively work with you every step of the way.

The mix of nylon, polyethylene, and polyester shell fabrics is waterproof (though not seam-sealed) and keeps things light and durable in key places. The brand’s patented GiddyUp compression system is fully modular and lets you adjust the pack on the move.

The pack has a roll top, vest-style shoulder straps with drop-in pockets, a dual-density foam back panel with a mesh overlay, and several storage options, including an internal hydration sleeve and port. Additionally, the pack has a removable top lid, adjustable load lifters, and trekking pole loops with a top cord keeper. A medium/large Kazam 60 weighs 2 pounds, 10.3 ounces.

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Big Agnes Pitchpine VST 1.5 Tent: $650

The Big Agnes VST series is all about going light without cutting corners. The Pitchline isn’t a trekking pole tent; instead, it uses a simple design with (DAC Featherlite) poles to create headroom and a floor plan big enough for a 25-inch-wide pad.

The tent also doesn’t compromise on weather protection, either. It uses a proprietary HyperBead fabric, which is lighter, stronger, and more waterproof than traditional ultralight materials — and less prone to sag, too. Don’t worry, the hybrid design uses single-wall fabric and mesh for ventilation.

Rounding out the user-friendly features are the ErgoZip fly zippers, TipLok buckles for setup, and the included Dirt Dagger UL stakes. This three-season ultralight tent has a minimum trail weight of 1 pound, 11.1 ounces.

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HOKA Mafate Hiking Boots — Men’s & Women’s: $200

HOKA packs lightweight running materials into these hiking boots. You’ll find the durable Matryx mesh uppers to be both breathable and hydrophobic. Keeping things airy are the ARIAPRENE collars, stretchy vamps, and dual-density EVA midsoles.

The boots address trail stability and protection with TPU heel clips, a flexible Achilles construction, and Vibram’s well-regarded Megagrip outsoles with Traction Lug. A pair weighs 1 pound, 10.2 ounces.

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REI Co-op Flash Air 50 Packs — Men’s & Women’s: $299

Our review tester praised its comfort over long days on the trail, with the reviewer concluding, “The REI Co-op Flash Air 50 backpack is the everyman’s ultralight backpack.”

The pack offers a great value among ultralight bags, especially if you value storage and customization over ounce counting. The Flash Air 50 has a roll-top lid with compression adjustments, a Y-strap closure to stash items up top, and plenty of attachment loops and daisy chains for stashing layers or axes to the exterior. Women’s & Men’s Medium: 1 pound, 14 ounces.

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Leki Skytera Lite Trekking Poles: $150

Leki brings together its proven pole design with cutting-edge materials for greater versatility and efficiency on the trail. The three-section telescoping poles are made from high–tensile-strength HTS 6.5 aluminum. When the trails are full of ascents and descents, hikers will enjoy the ease of the poles’ Speed Lock Plus technology, which lets you quickly adjust the pole length with the flip of a lever.

The grips are techy, too. Each Ultralight Verticon grip uses molded 1K foam and weighs just 1 ounce, including the breathable D-Loop mesh strap. The poles come with carbide flextips, 2.0 trekking baskets, and larger-diameter, 70 mm winter baskets. A pair weighs 14.6 ounces or 15.31 ounces, depending on size.

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REI Co‑op Flash Pants — Men’s & Women’s: $100

REI balances weight, durability, and function in its Flash hiking pants. The four-way stretch fabric is highly breathable while offering UPF 50+ sun protection. A PFAS-free DWR gives them some water repellency, too.

Comfort is just as important, and so you’ll find a quick-drying (wide) waistband, a gusseted crotch, and relaxed, tapered legs for a good range of motion. The Flash hiking pants have roomy hand pockets, a stash pocket, and zippered thigh pockets.

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NEMO Tensor Elite Mummy Sleeping Pad: $220-260

NEMO’s lightest Tensor ever weighs just 8.5 ounces (regular size) while still providing a stable and comfortable sleeping surface. The Tensor Elite sleeping pad is 3 inches thick, with a custom 10-denier Cordura nylon for puncture protection. Its unique Apex baffle construction helps use less material while distributing weight evenly.

An included Vortex pump sack offers speedy inflation with less moisture blown inside, and the pad’s Laylow value allows for small adjustments. This three-season pad offers a 2.4 R-value.

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REI Co-op Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt: $329-339

Ultralight backpackers often choose to spend their nights under an insulated quilt that straps around a sleeping pad. That design cuts out the bottom of the bag, and the full-length zipper (every ounce counts). This REI Co-op Magma Down 30 insulated backpacking quilt offers a bit more versatility, with a footbox that can be cinched up and zipped shut on cold nights, or completely undone and used as an open quilt on warm nights.

REI’s Magma line is known for offering a wide range of inclusive sizes and shapes, and this quilt is no different. The varied baffle design helps keep areas warm without the down migrating or compacting. The quilt gets its 30-degree rating from water-resistant, 850-fill-power goose down and should feel warmer when used with a sleeping pad with a solid R-value. A medium-wide Magma Down 30 quilt weighs 12.6 ounces.

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