Articles (2020)

Every year, we poll our staff to make the hard decision of picking their favorite ultralight gear of the year – the best backpacking gear that makes it into their packs over and again on their wilderness adventures.

What Makes for the Best Backpacking Gear?

What a loaded question! The short answer is that

The best gear is in the eyes of the beholder.

First of all, and this should be a no-brainer for this audience: it has to be light.

Specifically, it should have a high “performance-to-weight ratio”. A 3 oz piece of equipment may seem light, but if it’s a toothbrush, forget it. On the other hand, a 100 pound piece of equipment may seem heavy, but if it’s a rocketship that can take you to a New Zealand Trailhead, then it’s all of a sudden lookin’ pretty light, right?

The longer answer, and one that we often use as a litmus test (especially for our Staff Favorites series) is that the best ultralight backpacking gear is the gear we grab over and again, trip after trip.

The normal qualifiers, of course, must be disclosed:

• What works for us may not work for you;
• Hike your own hike;
• Your mileage may vary.

As we assembled this year’s best/favorite gear picks and talked to others about their best/favorite gear, here are some of the (possibly emerging) trends we’ve been noticing:

1. There are now no less than four manufacturers of wood-stove-heated-shelter systems that are light enough for backpackers. On paper, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for an ultralight backpacker to carry four to six pounds worth of shelter and wood stove when they could carry a lightweight tent for less than two pounds. But we’ve yet to spend a night with anyone in an ultralight, fire-heated nylon shelter that has yet to exclaim: “OMG: This is awesome.”
2. Big, interchangeable lens cameras (i.e., DSLRs) continue to fall out of favor among the ultralight backpacking community. Large sensors and quality zoom optics packed into compact camera bodies with sealed (non-interchangeable) lenses have transformed ultralight photography for us, giving us magazine-publishable image quality in lightweight, cheap packages.
3. Some old standbys still work just fine. When somebody creates a well-engineered version of an otherwise boring product, we notice, whether it’s a titanium tent stake or line (i.e., rope, cord) that glides smoothly over branches for bear bag hanging.
4. As technology becomes increasingly reliable, new versions of old products are released, and costs go down. That means we’re going to continue to see tech make its way into our kits. This year, it’s water treatment, satellite tracking, and a camera – and in all three cases, mature variations of tech products that have been around for awhile. So while you may not be keen on Version One of some new tech gadget, give it some type and keep the idea in your back pocket.

Summary Table: Staff Favorites of 2015

Doug Johnson

Lite Outdoors Titanium Stove- 18″

• $250
• 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
• Buy Now

In 2015, I discovered the joy of backpacking with a wood stove. On a recent trip to the Washington coast with its (typical) cold rain, having a wood stove to keep us warm and dry was a joy!

At just under 2 1/2 pounds, the Lite Outdoors wood stove may not be the lightest wood stove on the market, but it’s well within the range of what we care about here at BPL! At $250, it strikes a balance between weight and cost; plus, it’s voluminous – 18″ deep – which gives room for large pieces of wood. It has a damper and a real door with an adjustable vent that works extremely well. I love this stove, and I can’t wait to take it on more basecamp-style backpacks this winter!

The Epiphany Outdoor Gear V3 Pocket Bellows

• $15
• 0.75 oz (21 g)
• Buy Now

The Epiphany Outdoor Gear V3 Pocket Bellows is an effective firestarting tool (and not all are). In a nutshell, it’s an extendable metal breathing tube used for directing air into the infant flame of an early-stage fire. Its length extends from 3.5 inches to 21 inches and it directs air with careful precision (even through the tiny vent of my wood stove).

Lawson Outdoor Equipment UltraGlide Bear Line

• $15 per 50-foot line
• 1.65 oz (47 g)
• Buy Now

Lawson’s UltraGlide Bear Line slides easily across the surface of branches when hanging a bear bag. Compared to my old cord, the friction is significantly reduced, making it far easier to hang heavy bags when using the PCT method. It’s available in both reflective and non-reflective versions. Check it out if you live in softwood (e.g., pine) country and/or have to hang bear bags in the rain, which further softens wood and increases the risk of cord cutting into the branches and getting stuck / damaging the tree.

Roger Caffin

Canon G15 camera

• $450
• 12 oz (352 g)
• Buy Now (new model: G16)

I won’t give a technical review of the Canon G15 here: you can find lots of them (e.g., see DPReview). The G15 supports Canon’s reputation for an easy-to-use interface. It has more controls and ‘features’ than I use, but it gives me everything I loved about my old OM-2 SLR cameras, and at 352 g with battery and memory card, it is much lighter.

I will add three of my perspectives about cameras:

First, they are no use safely buried in your pack (where most dSLRs seem to live). Mine rides on the shoulder strap of my pack in a showerproof fast-access pouch (MYOG naturally). I can get it out one handed, turn it on and press the shutter while walking in seconds.

Second, unlike film cameras, taking a photo is FREE. There is no cost for film and developing. So I take lots of photos while walking.

Third, the Canon G15 has some decent glass out front, unlike so many phone cameras (which IMHO produce crappy images – and seem mainly designed to take selfies).

Editor’s Note: The G15 has been replaced by a new model, the G16, as of the time this article was published.

Vargo Titanium Wire Stakes

• $3.25 ea.
• 0.2 oz (6 g) per stake
• Buy Now

There’s an enormous range of tent stake types, materials, shapes, and weights on the market.

The photo above shows a (rather weird) collection of mine, including the ubiquitous Chinese Tent Stake (CTS) which is mostly copied from the small silver (Salewa) one in the middle (you get bags of them free with made-in-China tents).

But it doesn’t matter, as most of these are just excess weight in comparison with the small orange Ti wire stake at the bottom right-hand corner. That one weighs a whisker over 6 g, and was the very first titanium stake ever to have a powder-coated hi-vis orange coating. The manufacturer? Backpacking Light of course! But now we’re out of the gear making business and other manufacturers are filling in the gap, like Vargo Outdoors.

In all my years of camping, I don’t think I have ever had a Ti wire pull out. Now there have been times when I have plonked a large, heavy rock on top of a stake, but rocks don’t cost pack weight! Equally, there have been times when camping in sand when I haven’t bothered getting the wires out of my pack: instead, I have just used some large dead sticks, burie d as deadmen anchors. But once again, those sticks have zero pack weight.

What I do not like about all of the fancier modern extruded aluminum stakes, apart from their weight, is that most of them (especially the Chinese ones) have sharp (“unfinished”) corners at the top. They hurt my hands when I try to push them into hard soil. Couple that with the fact that they are harder to pull out compared to Ti wires. Ti wire stakes just work.

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti & Classic3 UV systems

• Weights (3-4+ oz) and cost ($100+) depend on model
• Buy Now

I have used filters and gotten desperately ill from the viruses that passed through one filter (a long story I won’t bore you with here). I have used chemicals, and had to wait 4 hours for them to be effective (in cold weather), and I disliked the smell and taste anyhow. And yes, I have had Giardia.

Enter UV water treatment, as used by many municipal water treatment plants and the military, and which fully meets EPA requirements. No smell, no taste, no wait (well, 60 seconds), and lightweight. The one problem is that current implementations all use a Philips germicidal UV tube, which is a bit power hungry.

Some of the UV units on the market are a bit dangerous: they don’t protect your eyes. Some rely on embedded rechargeable batteries, which never last as long as they are meant to. But these two units are compact, light and reliable, and I use them. We have reviews of SteriPEN Opti and SteriPEN Classic.

Editor’s note: the excitement we have for this category makes us giddy. Most of the technologies that are around the corner in the UV pen category are very exciting! We have been embargoed from revealing too much info, but you should be able to glean some clues from the headlamp market…

Kevin Sawchuk

BPL 1100ml Titanium Pot + Trail Designs Mini Caldera Cone/Sidewinder

• The pot is no longer available
• $34.95 for the Mini-Caldera Cone system
• 3 oz (85 g) for BPL 1100 ml Pot – 1 oz to 2.8 oz (28 g to 78 g) for Trail Designs Mini-Caldera cone system, depending on configuration
• Buy Now

Perfect for efficient Esbit or alcohol cooking in a variety of weather and wind conditions, the Trail Designs Mini-Caldera Cone packs away inside the pot for protection and packing efficiency. It also provides excellent wind resistance for fuel efficiency. Although it’s not optimized for wood, wood can be used (with the titanium version) in a pinch by elevating the cone on a couple of rocks to improve airflow underneath the cone.

SPOT Gen3 Tracker

• $99 annual fee
• 4.0 oz (114 g)
• Buy Now

I’m not a fan of technology in the backcountry, but the SPOT tracker keeps my family comfortable with my excursions and adds an additional level of safety for me.

It offers two custom programmable messages as well as separate “help” and “SOS” messages. The annual fee is $99/year, and a rebate makes the device cost zero! For an additional $50/year it will automatically send messages every 10 minutes (the “Spotcast” feature). Battery life is excellent, and the weight and form factor minimizes its interference with my minimalist style.

ULA Circuit Pack

• $235
• 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)
• Buy Now

In my opinion, the ULA Circuit offers the best balance of weight, durability, and features for long trips (including difficult off-trail travel) than any pack on the market today.

The Dyneema ripstop fabric resists abrasion and puncturing sticks. The waistbelt pockets keep snacks handy so I can keep moving. The side water bottle pockets keep water accessible on the go. Although I’d love to have a floating lid to keep more small gear handy, keeping a small stuff sack on the top, inside the main pack bag, works nearly as well.  Mine has more than 100 days of use and is still (with a few patches…) going strong!

Dave Chenault

Seek Outside BT2

• $229
• 25 oz (709 g)
• Buy Now

The Seek Outside BT2 is not the lightest mid, nor the most spacious, but it stands out for its simplicity, aesthetics, ease of use, quality construction, and exceptional weather resistance. I’ve used quite a few mids over the years, and for solo and two-person use, this is simply my favorite.

Black Diamond Mont Blanc gloves

• $19.95
• 2 oz (57 g) a pair
• Buy Now

I loathe gloves, but they’re often a necessary evil, and the Mont Blancs offer the most weather protection for the weight of any gloves I’ve used, with excellent dexterity to boot. Durability is merely average, but the price is reasonable, and for the last year I’ve worn nothing else unless the temps are truly frigid. Get a few pair, along with some big fleece mitts and waterproof overmitts, and you’re set for almost all circumstances.

Patagonia Infant Clothing

• Various weights and costs
• Buy Now

Backpacking became more complex and fear-inducing in a way it hadn’t been for years this summer when Meredith and I welcomed our son into the world.

He’s proven to be an excellent hiking, biking, hunting, and skiing companion, and Patagonia’s fabulous line of infant clothing makes that a lot easier. Favorites include the Capilene onesies and pants, off which drool dries quickly, and the sadly discontinued (for the moment?) Synchilla Bunting, whose dual leg zips facilitate quick diaper changes that keep the kid warm.

Editor’s Note: Did you ever imagine Dave C saying the word “onesie” in the context of a product review?

Eric Vann

Buff

• $25
• 2 oz (57 g)
• Buy Now

Since getting a Buff earlier this year, it has been an indispensable piece of my ultralight kit. I use mine for sun and wind protection and as an added layer of warmth. It also works well when it’s too hot – dipping the Buff in cool water and wearing it around my neck helps keep me cool.

Patagonia Houdini Windshirt

• $100
• 4 oz (113 g)
• Buy Now

Before I owned a wind shirt, I used to think, “Please, a windshirt? Why would I need that?”

I am still not convinced that a wind shirt is needed; however, I do believe that the wind shirt fulfills a unique niche in backcountry travel as a movement layer. I have found that my wind shirt is useful for days when you are moving fast during cool or cold, and windy conditions. The wind shirt cuts wind (preventing evaporative heat loss) and offers excellent breathability (especially if you allow the DWR to wash out!). It is so light (4 oz) and compacts so well that I can stuff it into virtually any pocket or compartment so I always have it handy.

Oware 10×14 Flat Tarp

• $135
• 24 oz (680 g)
• Buy Now

This summer, while spending several weeks in the “Bob” (Bob Marshall Wilderness), I used the Oware 10×14 tarp tents extensively. I was amazed at their adaptability and capacity. This tarp comfortably sleeps five plus gear, is very lightweight, and has 20 tie-out points that allow for a stormworthy pitch.  It would not be my first choice for winter or shoulder season camping, or if you are expecting severe enough weather to warrant a full-perimeter shelter such as a pyramid. But for most three-season camping, it’s tough to find a better group shelter at this cost and weight than the Oware 10×14 flat tarp.

Ryan Jordan

HMG Dyneema Summit Pack

• $300
• 14.8 oz
• Buy Now

In my quest to minimize the amount of gear I own, and maximize the versatility of the gear I use, I’ve gravitated away from gram-counting in recent years and towards gear that will last a long time and/or can be easily repaired. The Dyneema Summit Pack from Hyperlite Mountain Gear fits this bill. I’ve used this pack more than any other this year: day hiking, biking, climbing, and on short overnight trips. It fits a sleeping bag, pad, bivy sack (or tarp), parka, raingear, stove, pot, and a few hundred cubic inches of food: perfect for my own style of SUL and simple overnight backpacking.

My favorite feature is its durability. I’m hoping this pack will be an heirloom that will be able to tell the stories of adventures that span decades of seasons, instead of the “trip or two” that so many ultralight backpacks seemed resigned to these days.

Helinox Ground Chair

• $110
• 22 oz
• Buy Now

“Camp Chair” and “Ultralight” are not usually found in the same sentence. But like a wood-stove-heated-tent that weighs less than five pounds, some chairs offer a performance-to-weight ratio (e.g., comfort level) that almost has to be experienced to be believed. The Helinox Ground Chair is one of those products.

This chair has revolutionized how I manage and cope with back pain from a nagging broken back suffered in 2005, and if I know I’m going to spend any meaningful amount of time in camp, it goes with me. With the Ground Chair, my creative writing (journaling and other forms) has soared in the backcountry, as well as the process of slowing down, enjoying a cup of coffee, and snuggling under a down quilt while the sun comes up. To that end, the Ground Chair has achieved nearly spiritual status amongst its utilitarian equipment brethren in my wilderness camps and has invoked jealous wrath from my campmates. My son likes to steal it when I sneak away to take a poop back in the trees.

Bluewater Titan 5.5 mm Accessory Cord

• $1.30/foot
• 18.4 g/m
• Buy Now

Hauling ten pounds of rope and hardware for incidental glacier crossings and the occasional top-rope belay or short rappel isn’t worth it to me.

I’d rather take a different route around the offending terrain, or maybe just take the risk and go ropeless. Which usually works out OK, but I’m no probability dummy either – I know that falls do happen, and could happen to me.

To that end, thin static cordage made with a Dyneema core has completely changed how I look at mountain and canyon travel. When the risk of a fall is low, and when the impact force on the rope is minimal (low angle, top-roping, etc.), I grab either a 25m or 50m hock of Bluewater Titan 5.5mm Dyneema. It has expanded my route options, and when I bring it, increases safety for myself and my companions. At 2.2 lb per 50m, it’s as ultralight as you can get for a cord that is reasonable for glacier travel and incidental belays. I used it this summer on a glacier trek and Gannett Summit climb in the Wind Rivers and on a Class 3 variation of a Sierra High Route section in California.

More Staff Picks

Click here to view previous years’ archives.

What is Your Favorite Gear of 2015?

Share your favorite gear of 2015 in the comments below!