Many of us 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 has supported REI Events for several years by supporting and teaching lightweight backpacking clinics at REI Stores nationwide, and 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.
The following list is our curated selection of lightweight backpacking gear that our guides, staff, and authors believe to be among the best stuff that you’ll find in the REI.com online catalog. These items offer good value, excellent performance-to-weight ratio, and have stood the test of being on the market long enough to have earned a great deal of respect among the backpacking community.
Lightweight Shelters
1-Person Tents
- Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum Tent – 1 lb 6 oz
- MSR Carbon Reflex 1 Tent – 1 lb 7 oz
- REI Quarter Dome 1 Tent – 2 lb 2 oz
2-Person Tents
- Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Tent – 2 lb 12 oz
- NEMO Hornet 2P Tent – 2 lb 0 oz
- MSR FreeLite 2 Tent – 2 lb 6 oz
Other Shelters
- Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp Shelter – 9.5 oz
- Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Pyramid Insect Shield Net Shelter – 2.9 oz
- Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy – 2 lb 0 oz
Lightweight Sleep Systems
Down Sleeping Bags (Mens)
- REI Igneo Sleeping Bag – 1lb 13 oz
- Sea to Summit Spark SpI Sleeping Bag – 12.3 oz
- Marmot Hydrogen Down Sleeping Bag – 1 lb 7 oz
Down Sleeping Bags (Womens)
- REI Flash Sleeping Bag – Women’s – 1 lb 11 oz
- REI Joule Sleeping Bag – Women’s – 2 lb 2 oz
Sleeping Pads
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad – 8 oz
- Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated Sleeping Pad – 14.5 oz
- Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad – 10 0z
Lightweight Backpacks
Backpacks (Men)
- Granite Gear Crown V.C. 60 Pack – 2 lb 2 oz
- REI Traverse 48 Pack – 3 lb 11 oz
- Osprey Exos 38 Pack – 2 lb 1 oz
Backpacks (Women)
- Osprey Tempest 40 Pack – Women’s – 2 lb 0 oz
- Granite Gear Crown VC 60 Ki Pack – Women’s 2 lb 0 oz
- Gregory Jade 38 Pack – Women’s – 2 lb 10 oz
Lightweight Cooking & Water Systems
Stoves
- MSR WindBurner Stove System – 15.5 oz
- Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System – 14 oz
- Vargo Titanium Hexagon Backpacking Wood Stove – 4.1 oz
- Esbit Pocket Stove – 3.25 oz
- Snow Peak LiteMax Stove – 1.9 oz
Water Treatment
- SteriPEN Ultra Water Purifier – 4.8 oz
- LifeStraw Water Filter – 2 oz
- Aquamira Water Treatment Drops – 3 oz
Water Bottles
- Platypus SoftBottle Water Bottle – 34 fl. oz. – 1.2 oz
- Platypus Platy Water Bottle – 70 fl. oz. – 1.3 oz
Lightweight Clothing & Footwear
Rain Jackets (Men)
- Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket – 6.4 oz
- REI Co-Op Rain Jacket – Men’s – 9.4 oz
- Patagonia Alpine Houdini Rain Jacket – 5.6 oz
Rain Jackets (Women)
- REI Co-Op Rain Jacket – 8 oz
- Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket – 5.5 oz
Insulated Jackets (Men)
- Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoodie – 10.5 oz
- REI Co-Op Down Jacket – 10.5 oz
- Patagonia Nano-Air Hoodie – 13.6 oz
Insulated Jackets (Women)
- Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody – 14.1 oz
- REI Co-Op Down Jacket – 8.8 oz
- Patagonia Nano-Air Hoodie Jacket – 12.4 oz
Trail Running Shoes and Boots (Men)
- Salomon XA Comp 7 CS WP Trail-Running Shoes – 1 lb 6.8 oz
- The North Face Ultra 109 Gore-Tex XCR Trail-Running Shoes – 1 lb 11 oz
- Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Trail-Running Shoes – 1 lb 3.5 oz
- Salomon X Ultra Mid II GTX Hiking Boots – 1 lb 12.4 oz
- HOKA ONE ONE Tor Ultra Hi Waterproof Hiking Boots – 2 lb 2 oz
Trail Running Shoes and Boots (Women)
- Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Trail-Running Shoes – 1 lb 0 oz
- Brooks Cascadia 11 Trail-Running Shoes – 1 lb 4.2 oz
- Salomon Quest 4D II GTX Hiking Boots – 2 lb 4 oz
- HOKA ONE ONE Tor Ultra Hi Waterproof Hiking Boots – 1 lb 13.4 oz
Other Lightweight Gear
Emergency Communications Devices
Trekking Poles
Mountaineering Gear
- Petzl Ride Ice Axe – 240 grams
- Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System – 11 oz
- Black Diamond Vapor Climbing Helmet – 188 grams
- Petzl Altitude Harness – 150 grams
- C.A.M.P. USA Universal XLC 490 Aluminum Crampons – 605 grams
Headlamps and Lights
- Black Diamond Spot Headlamp – 2016 – 3.2 oz
- Petzl e+LITE Headlamp – 0.95 oz
- Inova Microlight STS Keychain Flashlight – 0.5 oz
Accessories
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack – 0.4 – 1.2 oz
- Adventure Medical Kits UltraLight / Watertight .7 First-Aid Kit – 8 oz
- GSI Outdoors Cathole Sanitation Trowel – 3.1 oz
- Buff Original Buff – 1.5 oz
- Light My Fire Titanium Spork – 0.7 oz
- SOL Scout Survival Kit – 5.4 oz
- Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Patches – 0.5 oz
- Natrapel 8-hour Insect Repellent Pump – 3.4 fl. oz. – 3.4 oz
- Badger Sport Sunscreen Stick – SPF 35 – 0.65 oz
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!