Be prepared for some sticker shock. The price of lightweight gear has really gone up a lot. The good news is anyone can go UL (<10 pounds) not including food and water "off the shelf." Gone are the days of making your own gear or doing without something. I typically carry a 14oz bow saw and fishing rod and even with these items, I manage to hit about 3oz over ten pounds. Base weight is all the gear in your pack plus the pack, itself, needed for backpacking/camping. Less than twenty pounds is considered Light. Less than ten pounds is consideredne UL. Less than 5 pounds is SUL.
Small volume stuff seems to be the first thing to think about. This means you can take a lighter, smaller pack. Gossamer Gear makes some good models in the 2200ci range (Kumo, Murmur.) Z-Packs are more expensive but make some good packs, too.
Tents have changed a lot. Gone are the 4-5 pound tents. Generally, a smaller 2 person tarp tent is used for starters at around 2.5-3 pounds. You can get them lighter, in Cuben for example, if you can use a tarp. Use permethrin dipped clothing and bug spray to slow down bugs, but I don't worry about it on the colder nights in the ADK's. 7-16oz for a decent 2 person tent in cuben, but pricy. Cuben is plastic that is reinforced with a fine mesh of duneema/spectra and carbon fibers. It has fair to good durability. Silnylon is 30% heavier, but it has good durability.
Pads have changed, too. A simple foam pad at around 10oz has been replaced by many with a NeoAir. This is an inflatable pad that weighs about 12-13oz. It is MUCH warmer and more comfortable. The Z-Rest is a good foam pad and fairly light.
Stoves come in two varieties, mostly. Small alcohol stoves are used for 1-2 day weekend trips. Canisters are used for up to a week. I continue to use the old SVEA 123r (about 40 years old) simply because I don't care for the canisters. Roger Caffin makes about the best one at around $150. The SVEA cost about 100, now days (I think it was 49.99 when I got it) and the alcohol set ups (Trail Designs-Caldera Cone) run about 100 and up. Or you can make these, yourself for about $10.
Pots haven't changed much. An old aluminum pot that will boil 2 qt(or 2 Liters) is about right for two people. I use a 1L grease pot because it is very light. Despite the hype, titanium is NOT lighter. And, ti is alloyed with some aluminum. I don't worry about dents. Aluminum does dent easier.
Bags are well bags. Many have dropped the older bags and gone with a top quilt, instead. Mostly, this is because of the better pads. Thise are good down at around 250-300. A good bag runs about 350-400, today. For example, a Western Mountaineering bag will weigh about 2 pounds, have 850 or 900 fill down and be comfortable to 20F. It will last about 20-30 years if it is taken care of. High end stuff is actually cheaper in the long run.
Lights are also getting smaller, last longer and throw more light than the old Mag lights. For about 3 oz you can get a pair of lights, with batteries, that will last about two weeks of morning/evening use. (I tie one in the tarp.) For reading, you need more, of course.
Lines, bear lines, guy lines, are usially finer diameter spectra these days. You can often get 50-100' lengths from a bow shop or from a tree/shrup shop. Arborist line is loosly braided to throw over a tree branch. It is 300-600lb test and about 2mm dia. Smaller and you food bag will saw into the branch when the bag is full. That and a throw bag weigh about 2-3oz. I also cut sections for guy lines, but check the knots. Spectra/dyneema does not hold well…it slips.
Lots of little things to go in the ditty bag. Super Glue instead of band aids. Duct tape for more seriuos injureries, maps, a small compas, a couple saftey pins, a lighter, a couple small razors, Steripen, batteries…about 4-8oz makes up a small ditty bag of small odd items,
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