There are known abnormalities in this gear guide based on “AI” that’s, well, missing a lot of its “I”. We are rebuilding this gear guide with real humans and manual curation! In the meantime, please visit our new Gear Shop for a much nicer gear discovery experience!
Here’s our curated selection of lightweight backpacking gear available at REI.com.
Table of Contents • Note: if this is a members-only article, some sections may only be available to Premium or Unlimited Members.
About This Gear Guide: How We Choose the Gear
It’s the gear that our guides, staff, and reviewers believe to be among the best stuff that you’ll find at REI.
We’ve personally field-tested every item in this gear guide.
Also, the gear has to meet these criteria:
- high value (good performance for the price)
- high performance for the weight
- positive reviews and recommendations by other users
About REI Membership
Many of us here at BPL are REI Members. We are especially fans of REI’s unconditional return policy, REI Members-only sales, and of course, the annual REI dividend check that arrives in our mailbox every spring!
Backpacking Light & REI
Backpacking Light and REI Events have worked together for several years by supporting and teaching lightweight backpacking clinics at REI Stores nationwide. We want to make sure that REI’s customers and lightweight backpackers understand their options when shopping at REI. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the gems in the sea of gear at our nation’s largest outdoor retailer.
Our Top Picks
Packing Systems
Backpacks – Men’s
Backpacks – Women’s
Stuff Sacks
Accessory Packs
Shelter Systems
Solo Tents
2-Person Tents
With a general trend towards lighter fabrics and more efficient pole structures, many 2-person tents are now considered “light enough” for solo hikers.
Tarps & Hybrid Shelters
Bivy Sacks
Tent Stakes & Guylines
Sleep Systems
Sleeping Bags & Quilts
Sleeping Pads
Clothing Systems
Raingear
Insulation
Wind Shirts
Other Clothing
Footwear
Light Boots
Boots and ultralight don’t always mix, but there’s a few cases where we recommend light boots over trail running shoes:
- You’re feet have aged, feel worn out, and you need the extra protection, stiffness, and support so you can keep hiking.
- You need stability on soft terrain in cold, wet environments – imagine bushwhacking in Tasmania during the monsoon season or snowshoeing in Colorado during the winter.
- You want durability and are tired of buying $100+ trail running shoes every few months.
Trail Shoes
Gaiters
Cooking & Food Systems
Stoves
Cookware
Food Storage
Hydration Systems
Water Treatment
Review our recent article about ultralight water treatment methods.
Water Bottles
Trekking Poles
Winter Gear
Traction Devices
Snowshoes
Backcountry Skiing
There is an infinite number of combinations of backcountry skis, boots, bindings – it’s overwhelming. We’ve curated the following kit as a reliable, durable, lightweight, versatile kit for the backpacker who wants to ski rolling terrain in deep powder. Backpacking Light publisher Ryan Jordan has tested and used this kit no several expeditions in the US Rocky Mountains.
Ultralight Chairs
Disclosure: Thinking about buying this gear? You can support Backpacking Light in the process: if you place an order after clicking a link on this page, the retailer will contribute a portion of the sale to help support Backpacking Light. It doesn’t increase your cost, and it helps us maintain our site, fund content development, and grow member services! Thanks!
