Lightweight Hiking Gear List

The Best Lightweight Hiking Gear List

Brad McCartney
Hiking Gear

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This is my complete Lightweight Hiking Gear list. This gear list enables me to hike almost anywhere in the world in anything but the most extreme of weather. In the last 3 years I have hiked almost 13000km (8075miles) and feel very comfortable about my gear. I carry all this gear with me as I cycle around the world. Fortunately the same gear for hiking also works well as my adventure cycling gear.

Click here to read about all my hikes

My Lightweight hiking Gear list base weight is normally around 6kg (13lb), but in very cold weather that weight can increase to around 9kg (20lb), specially if I am carrying snowshoes and winter clothing. My selection of gear does not put me in the ultralight range but my gear is both lightweight, strong and dual purpose. Not all the gear listed is carried with me on every hike, but it is a list of all the gear I carry with me as I Cycle and Hike the worlds most amazing places.

Note:- Most of these items have been very well used by me and I’m in the process of updating my gear. Check back in a couple of months to see what has changed.

Table Of Contents

Lightweight Hiking Gear List

Shelter + Pack + Sleep System

Want to know all about the best gear on the market?
Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags and Quilts for 2021
Best Lightweight Hiking Backpacks for 2021
Best Lightweight Sleeping Pads for 2021
Best Lightweight Down Jackets 2021
Best Lightweight Rain Jackets 2021
Best Lightweight Tents for 2021
My Current Lightweight Gear List

Footware

Clothing

Raingear for Hiking

Winter Hiking Gear and Trekking Poles

Cooking and Water Treatment

Cameras and Electronics

First Aid and Misc

  • Plastic zip lock bags
  • Money / ID / Credit Cards
  • Blister pads
  • Strapping Tape
  • Giardia anti-biotic
  • Foot infection anti-biotic
  • Ibuprofen
  • tweezers
  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste
  • Safety Pin
  • Needle
  • Deet insect repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip Balm
  • Toilet tissue

Total 13oz / 375 grams

The Best Thru Hiking Trails in the World?
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the Appalchian Trail
Hiking the Continental Divide Trail
Te Araroa Trail

The Best Hiking Gear at the Best Prices :
Backcountry.com | REI | Moosejaw.com | Amazon |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear | Patagonia | Feathered Friends |
Nemo | Vasque | Sea to Summit | Enlightened Equipment | Campsaver | Snowys.com | Macpac | MEC Canada | Wildfiresports.com.au
Traveling Overseas to go Hiking?
World Nomads Travel Insurance

What is your base-weight when you go hiking?
Leave me a message in the comments section below.

ultra light gear list

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Disclosure: There may be affiliate links on this blog post. This means I could receive a small commission if you choose to purchase an item after clicking on one of the links. There is no cost to you and this small commission helps support this website as I grow and provide free content. Thank you for your support.
Brad McCartney
Life long lover of hiking and keen observer of the natural world. Former Police Officer and Wilderness Tour Guide who loves Cycling and Hiking the most amazing places on the planet.

14 Comments

  1. Thanks for all the great resources and inspiration! I noticed you switched to a Samsung from the iPhone. Any reason for the change? Also why go with an unlocked phone? As for your stove, what would you take on the PCT now?

    Thanks,
    Mary

    Reply

    1. Hi Mary, I switched to Samsung due to the cheaper price for a better quality product a couple of years ago, specially the camera which was much better than iPhone. However, a couple of weeks ago I switched back to iPhone when I got the opportunity to purchase a near new phone at a great price. As for stoves for the PCT, I love the Jetboils. They are popular on the PCT as they are very fuel efficient and boil water very quickly. If you are only boiling water then any of them are great, if you are cooking or simmering meals then get any of the Jetboils ending in mo, such as the MiniMo is best. The flame is variable on any of the mo models. Hope that makes sense. I’ll be writing a review on stoves in the coming months but at the moment, I think Jetboil is best for the PCT.

      Reply

      1. I look forward to your review on stoves. Sounds like canister over alcohol would be your choice nowadays. I have my older Soto micro regulator but heard good things about the newest jetboil.
        Probably going to stick with my iPhone but could use an upgrade. Will research battery issues/ life on various models. Thanks!

  2. Hi Brad,
    Seems we’re on similar paths, though you’re way ahead ;-) or I’m a little more free-form …
    Enjoying some of the insight and intel.

    Wondering if I should return the favor and blog so others can learn from these humble experiences as well. So far it simply seemed too time consuming. Uploading daily gps-tracks and selecting/sharing from several hundred daily photos with families and friends usually take all the remaining time in the evenings and often more, resulting in many a shorter-than-healthy night and time spent the next day in some WiFi hotspot and/or recharge place. Time not spent on having more great moments out, biking/hiking/meeting.

    I similarly saved up enough to continue this cheapskate lifestyle indefinitely, so far didn’t want to spend time on generating travel income with blogging, reviews, etc.

    That said, it might be a motivation: could you indicate (or if its private send me a PM) how much income you generate from ads, from affiliate links, from free gear and other sponsoring, from donations, etc.

    I’ll let you know when it seems our paths might cross. Currently taking a break in California, starting to bike to Patagonia sometime this winter.

    Cheers!

    Reply

    1. Sorry for the slow response, I’ve been taking an extended break from Blogging and Social Media, time to recharge the batteries.Starting a blog is a personal thing and maybe question your motivation. For me it was easy. I wanted to give back and combine a story of my travels with information that would assist others who might want to do the same. Often I didn’t want to due to fatigue or wanting to chat with people late into the night rather than write. But I enjoy the creative process so it was an easy decision.
      Over the years the writing and photos turned the blog into something that made a small income. Ads, affiliate links and some free gear has not been enough to call an income. It is enough to offset the cost of running the blog but not enough to live off. There are many times it could have been better spending more time biking, hiking or socialising but no regrets from me. There is always the opportunity to take a break away from the blog as I have the last couple of months. Now my motivation and inspiration has returned and I’ll be doing more writing soon which might lead to more income to live off in the future. Might see you on the roads and trails one day. Take Care.

      Reply

  3. On your hiking gear list, I noticed the pack weight comment indicates it is without the lid. Do you detach the lid/ prefer not to hike with it? Is this to reduce overall weight? Do you pack a pack cover? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Elizabeth, I detach the lid because I don’t really want to use it. Just a personal preference, the result is it saves weight. I have a pack cover but I rarely use it, only if I’m heading into some really rainy weather.

      Reply

    1. Thanks Ellen and Seth. I plan to buy a sailing vessel after I have finished hiking and cycling the world. I was actually looking at cruising forums when your comment came through. I’ll have fun looking at your journey on your site.

      Reply

      1. Wonderful! We love sailing (obviously… ) – both cruising and the sailing itself. Hope you enjoy our site and if you have any questions about boats, routes, preparations, etc. feel free to ask!

    1. I looked at them, great idea. A great compromise for many hikers and cyclists but I couldn’t see myself hiking with them for 2000+ miles.

      Reply

    1. Thanks Heather. The feet are getting better week by week. The plantar fasciitis is all but gone. In about 14 weeks I’ll be hiking the Appalachian Trail, it should be perfect by then.

      Reply

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