Ultralight hiking

In early February, I’ll be setting out on my first thru hike attempt. I’m going to be hiking the Backbone Trail (BBT), a long distance trail in California’s Santa Monica Mountains. Since this trail is only about 70 miles from point to point, I’ll be taking 5 days to complete it. I like to define my hiking style as “As Ultralight As Possible.” Because I’ve dealt with quite a bit of chronic pain over the past three years, ...

Some of the best moments in my life happened when I had the very least. Whenever I stress about money or work, I remind myself of that. When I was spending a majority of each year backpacking, hitchhiking, or cycling, people would ask me if I was a self-made millionaire or a trust-fund baby. I’d laugh it off and assure them that living like a hobo was dirt cheap. I used to have a motto back then: “A dollar saved is a mile hiked.” I’d see something I wanted to buy and think, "is it worth 200…

“There seems to be a miscommunication, that UL just means driving up miles but what it can mean is including so many more people.” JPD began our conversation talking about conceptions of UL as exclusive and elitist—we both had several stories of our gender and gender expression being an issue in the wider outdoor community.

Ultralight backpacking gear list for thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail. Refined list of cottage industry and traditional backpacking gear companies.

Outdoors blogger and former Backpacker magazine Northwest Editor and lead gear reviewer Michael Lanza reviews the Slingfin 2Lite ultralight backpacking tent.

Learn tips on how to pack a lightweight backpack so it’s comfortable and stable.

The best ultralight backpacking gear from Decathlon. If you're looking for tested and affordable lightweight gear, Decathlon is worth a look.

Barney "Scout" Mann hiked the Triple Crown after turning 55. Here's his ultralight pack list for trips of any distance.

Ultralight rain skirt Ripstop Nylon (MYOG): pattern, sewing, experiences. Make your own gear easily for lightweight hiking and backpacking!

HOW TO MAKE ULTRALIGHT HIKING SANDALS AT HOME By Yu Liu Sandals are very important in long distance hiking, you can’t wear hiking shoes or boots all the time after arriving at the camp, putting on sandals can make your feet feel incredibly relaxed, and sandals are even more important when crossing rivers and bathing, […]