---
title: "A gear list is worth its weight in gold – how to build your ultralight gear list"
description: "Thanks to a carefully prepared gear list you won't forget a single piece of kit and you'll uncover the skeletons in the closet in the form of your heaviest or duplicated gear."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/how-to-build-an-ultralight-gear-list"
last_updated: "2023-03-16"
---

# A gear list is worth its weight in gold – how to build your ultralight gear list

Authors: Tomáš Roztočil

Date: 2023-03-16

Thanks to a carefully prepared gear list you won't forget a single piece of kit and you'll uncover the skeletons in the closet in the form of your heaviest or duplicated gear.

You might be thinking right now that lists and statistics aren't really your thing. A lot of trekkers associate detailed gear lists, known as “gear lists,” with radical [ultralight hiking](/blog/lightweight-hiking-benefits) enthusiasts who obsessively weigh every single piece of gear and then happily build colorful pie charts to figure out where they can still shave off a few more grams. In this article, though, we'd like to convince you that gear lists really are for everyone, for a few simple reasons.

Thanks to a carefully prepared gear list, **you won't forget a single essential piece of gear.** For example, you'll avoid the unpleasant discovery that usually comes right after a romantic sunset somewhere on a ridge – that you do have plenty of spare batteries for your [headlamp](/c/gear/headlamps), but the actual light itself is sitting forgotten in a drawer at home.

A gear list lets you see clearly where **the “skeleton in the closet” is hiding in your backpack, in the form of the heaviest, or even duplicate, gear.** You can also share gear lists with your hiking buddy, and you might discover items you can lend each other. That gives you a complete overview of your trekking gear, and in the end you might even find a way to **lighten your backpack without spending another cent**.

A gear list like this for three-season use usually doesn't change much, whether you're heading out for a weekend trek or a month-long one. That's why **it's enough to put the list together just once** and on every future trip it'll serve you brilliantly as a **checklist** when packing, where you just swap out a few items and adjust it to the specifics of that particular trip. That way you avoid the drawn-out overthinking of every little detail, **the fear that you're missing something**, and the confused running around the apartment into the small hours of the morning. The biggest “fuckups” happen when you pack at the last minute under stress – that's when people tend to throw everything they own into the backpack just in case. A gear list helps you avoid exactly that.

Now you know that a gear list **is far from just for ultralight fanatics**. If gear lists make sense to you and you like wearing T-shirts with fun designs, check out our Gramino Gear List T-shirt ([men's](/p/gramino-tshirt-gearlist-mens), [women's](/p/gramino-tshirt-gearlist-womens)), which was inspired by exactly this – building gear lists and this very article.

So let's move from theory to practice, and work our way step by step toward your own gear list, tailored to you and your adventure.

#### **Where to keep it?**

You can go old-school and simply write down items **on a piece of paper**, or keep your gear list in **electronic form**. The advantage of an electronic gear list is the huge time savings, easy sharing with friends, the option to edit and improve it, and the fact that you won't lose it and can easily come back to it even after several years.

Next time you're packing for an adventure, try using a globally popular web app instead of paper for once – **our favorite** being [lighterpack.com](https://lighterpack.com/), where you can put together a gear list tailored to the demands of your adventure, and to yourself, in just a few minutes. **The app is completely free**.

Lighterpack has become a favorite among ultralight enthusiasts thanks to how **simple and clear** it is, while also offering a range of features that let you uncover the “dead weight” hiding somewhere deep in your backpack. You can create **as many gear lists as you like** in it, and add your own gear to them along with its actual weight. That gear is then saved to your account's database, so when building your next lists you no longer need to weigh things and add items from scratch.

But that's far from everything! Lighterpack can label and sort gear into the **“worn” category,** which mainly covers clothing and other small items you'll have out of your backpack and on your body for most of the trek. It's also common practice to mark as “worn” any gear you'll be actively using during the trek (for example trekking poles, sunglasses, and so on).

Another useful category is **“consumables”**, which covers items whose weight will drop significantly as you cover more kilometers (things like cooking fuel, water, and food). Whether you also add other items to this category (like toilet paper, tissues, soap, lip balm, and so on) is entirely up to you. To us it makes sense to only include in “consumables” what you'll most likely actually use up during the trek, not everything that could potentially be used up.

If you're still putting together a list of things you want to buy, you can also **add a price and a link** to individual items.

Within each gear list you can also **split your gear into categories**, such as the so-called “big four” – backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and shelter; or things like gear, clothing, cooking, hygiene, electronics, and other. On the pie chart the app generates automatically, you'll see which category is weighing you down the most, and where you might be able to shed some excess weight. Don't feel limited when it comes to categorizing items – feel free to come up with your own system of dividing things up, one that makes sense to you.

What we do miss in Lighterpack, on the other hand, is a mobile app and a public database of gear lists where you could look for inspiration.

That said, a simple **Excel spreadsheet** also works great for building a gear list – it might be a bit more work to set up your own system at first, but you have complete control over absolutely everything in it.

You'll often hear ultralight enthusiasts debate what's called **base weight** (Base Weight). Lighterpack calculates this for you automatically. This weight doesn't include consumables (food, water, cooking fuel) or the clothing you'll have on your body most of the time (worn).

Weight of gear – food and water – consumables – clothing and items on your body = base weight

It's a good idea not to fixate too much on the Base Weight figure itself, since it varies wildly depending on what someone counts as “worn,” “consumables,” or something else. It makes more sense to us to look at the total pack weight as a whole.

### **One thing at a time**

You've got the app open, the floor of your room is clear, and now all that's left is to start packing. But where to begin? Below you'll find some basic categories of gear, clothing, and other necessities that no adventurer with a feel for lightness should really be without on a trip. So let's dive in!

### **The big (heavy) four**

Let's start with the most essential gear, without which you can't get by on any trip, from a short two-day outing to a walk around the world. We're talking about the so-called “big 4,” where the biggest “dead weight” is usually hiding. It's sometimes also called the “big 3,” where the sleep system in the form of a sleeping bag or quilt is counted together with the sleeping pad.

### **Backpack**

This is where the rest of your entire gear list has to fit. That's exactly why **it's smart to buy your backpack as one of the last items** – it's easier to nail down the volume and load capacity you actually need. A backpack's properties can fundamentally shape your whole upcoming experience. Depending on the season, your load, and other specifics of the trip, you'll need to carefully choose the right backpack, and our article on [choosing an ultralight backpack](/blog/how-to-choose-an-ultralight-backpack) will help you with that. Don't forget to pack [waterproof drybags](/c/gear/drybags-and-organisers) in your backpack, which will keep all your gear and clothing dry even in the heaviest downpours.

### **Shelter**

Many ultralight enthusiasts prefer sleeping under the stars. But the moment rain clouds roll in, or swarms of mosquitoes show up, you can't do without [a roof over your head](/c/sleep/tents). [Choosing the right shelter](/blog/ultralight-tents-everything-you-need-to-know) will depend on the weather conditions at your destination, but also on your own comfort requirements. True ultralight enthusiasts will happily settle down under a simple [tarp](/c/sleep/tarps), while fans of a peaceful night's sleep will instead choose between ultralight [tents](/c/sleep/tents).

- [Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1](/p/big-agnes-copper-spur-ul1.md)
- [Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3](/p/big-agnes-tiger-wall-ul3.md)
- [Liteway Illusion Solo Tent](/p/liteway-illusion-solo-tent.md)
- [Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2](/p/big-agnes-fly-creek-ul2.md)
- [Liteway Biggie Tarp](/p/liteway-biggie-tarp.md)
- [MSR Hubba Hubba NX](/p/msr-hubba-hubba-nx.md)
- [Sea To Summit Escapist 15D Tarp Large](/p/sea-to-summit-escapist-15d-tarp-large.md)
- [DD Hammocks SuperLight Tarp XL](/p/dd-hammocks-superlight-tarp-xl.md)

### **Sleeping pad and sleeping bag**

Your roof is sorted, now you just need a comfortable bed. As for sleeping bags, ultralight backpacking fans pretty much unanimously choose down, which offers an unbeatable ratio of insulation to weight. But it's also easy to get lost in the world of [down bags](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags), so [make sure to pick the right sleeping bag](/blog/6-tips-how-to-choose-a-sleeping-bag-for-treks-and-multi-day-crossings) for the season and the size of your backpack. The bolder among you will go straight for a [minimalist quilt](/c/sleep/quilts), which offers excellent insulation and comfort even at a negligible volume and weight.

[When choosing and packing, definitely don't underestimate your sleeping pad either](/blog/how-to-choose-a-sleeping-pad-for-treks), which takes care of the essential insulation from the cold ground. Savvy trekkers, who know only too well how important a good night's sleep is, also won't forget an [inflatable pillow](/c/sleep/pillows), which will guarantee quality sleep even after the toughest days on the trail, while keeping weight to a minimum.

- [Patizon D 290](/p/patizon-d-290.md)
- [Cumulus X-Lite 300](/p/cumulus-x-lite-300.md)
- [Patizon G Quilt 350](/p/patizon-g-quilt-350.md)
- [Cumulus Lite Line 200](/p/cumulus-lite-line-200.md)
- [Cumulus Panyam 450](/p/cumulus-panyam-450.md)
- [EVA Foam Pad 3 mm](/p/eva-foam-pad-3-mm.md)
- [Sea To Summit Ultralight Aeros Pillow](/p/sea-to-summit-ultralight-aeros-pillow.md)
- [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-stuff-sack-pillow.md)
- [Tyvek 150x250 cm (for 2 people)](/p/tyvek-groundsheet-250-x-150-cm.md)

### **Cooking and eating**

Hardly any of us can imagine a long trek without **proper food**. So on any trek you can't do without a reliable  [lightweight stove](/c/cooking/stoves-and-accessories) and [pot](/c/cooking/cookware). Among ultralight enthusiasts today, **incredibly light titanium reigns supreme**, while more conservative travelers swear by traditional aluminum mess kits.

As for the food itself, try preparing a detailed [day-by-day menu](/blog/tips-for-eating-on-trail), like we did [on our trek across Iceland](/blog/on-foot-across-iceland-preparations-part-2). **Cleverly prepared and portioned food** will save you a lot of hassle and an unnecessarily growling stomach. A great choice for ultralight adventures, or just to add variety to your menu, are [freeze-dried meals](/c/cooking/food), which weigh almost nothing, pack down small, and yet in ten minutes let you conjure up a hearty and **restaurant-quality meal**.

- [TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 650 ml Pot](/p/toaks-light-pot-650-ml.md)
- [Freeze-Dried String Cheese – Chilli 50 g](/p/freeze-dried-smoked-cheese-strings-chilli-50-g.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Pot 2 L](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-pot-2l.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Bowl](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-bowl.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Long Handle Spoon](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-long-handle-spoon.md)
- [REAL Turmat Beef Stew (new recipe)](/p/real-turmat-beef-stew.md)
- [Adventure Menu Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice](/p/adventure-menu-chicken-tikka-masala-with-basmati-rice.md)
- [MSR PocketRocket 2](/p/msr-pocketrocket-2.md)
- [MSR Titan Kettle 900 ml](/p/msr-titan-kettle-900-ml.md)

Your field kitchen should of course also include an (at least minimalist)  [knife](/c/cooking/cookware) and some sort of [cutlery](/c/cooking/cookware) to enjoy a satisfying meal after a long day on your feet.

[Victorinox Classic SD](/p/victorinox-classic-sd.md)

So your morning coffee doesn't end up tasting like yesterday's tuna pasta, consider packing a [scouring sponge](/p/optimus-bob) and some [soap for washing your dishes](/c/gear/personal-care). Some outdoor soaps can even double as body wash or laundry detergent.

[Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml.md)

Last but not least, don't forget a **lighter** – a tiny, reliable lighter from BiC, for example, has proven itself very well.

### **Clothing**

Every trip naturally puts different demands on your clothing too. Just like in every other category, try to minimize volume and weight when it comes to clothing as well (for a weekend crossing you really don't need four T-shirts or three pairs of pants). Above all, choose [modern technical materials](/blog/technical-glossary-of-outdoor-materials), which tend to be quick-drying, durable and lightweight at the same time, but don't be afraid of traditional merino wool either.

On trips south you can happily pack just a T-shirt, a light [midlayer](/c/clothing/men-s-clothing/men-s-fleeces-and-midlayers) and a [waterproof jacket](/p/montane-mens-minimus-jacket) in case a summer storm catches you somewhere in the mountains. If you're heading north, though, even in summer a lightweight and well-packable [down jacket](/c/clothing/men-s-clothing/men-s-jackets) will often come in handy, and when long rainy days arrive, [waterproof socks](/blog/how-to-choose-waterproof-socks) will protect your feet. Just as with other ultralight gear, versatility is key when it comes to clothing too. That's why ultralight enthusiasts often, somewhat paradoxically, pack **more thin layers** that they then layer and swap out depending on conditions. For longer trails, instead of a bigger pile of clothes, don't forget to pack the already-mentioned [universal laundry detergent](/c/gear/personal-care), thanks to which **you can get by on a trip around the world with the same amount of clothing as on a weekend trip**.

- [DexShell Ultra Thin Crew](/p/dexshell-ultra-thin-crew.md)
- [Montane Minimus Lite Jacket](/p/montane-mens-minimus-lite-jacket.md)
- [Nikwax Tech Wash 300 ml](/p/nikwax-tech-wash-300-ml.md)
- [Montane Anti-Freeze Hoodie](/p/montane-mens-anti-freeze-hoodie.md)
- [Enlightened Equipment Men's Torrid Pullover](/p/enlightened-equipment-mens-torrid-pullover.md)
- [Darn Tough Women's Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-light-hiker-micro-crew-lightweight-womens.md)
- [Darn Tough Men's Sunset Ridge Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-sunset-ridge-micro-crew-lightweight-mens.md)
- [Tidy Gear Gaiters](/p/tidy-gear-gaiters.md)

### **Essential pieces of gear**

On long treks you'll still need plenty of other gear. First and foremost, remember that before packing any item into your backpack, you should turn it over in your hands a few times and think about whether you really need it, or whether its function couldn't be covered by another piece of gear that can do even more.

A great example of this kind of versatile gear, which has become a favorite among ultralight hikers, are [trekking poles](/c/gear/trekking-poles). This seemingly self-indulgent piece of gear mainly saves your knees and helps with stability on tough technical sections high in the mountains or when fording rivers, but today it also plays a key role in setting up [ultralight shelters](/c/sleep/tents). The vast majority of modern tarps are designed around trekking poles – it's simple… during the day you lean on them, and at night your shelter leans on them. And if you're heading into winter conditions, or expect to traverse snowfields high in the mountains, you definitely shouldn't forget [microspikes](/c/gear/microspikes), which, with a bit of experience, will give you and your poles solid footing on snowy and icy terrain.

As for electronics, every trekker's and hiker's essential gear especially includes a [headlamp](/c/gear/headlamps), without which you'll get lost in the woods, and even inside your own backpack. Besides a paper map, you'll also definitely appreciate an electronic one, which thanks to GPS navigation will get you out of even the thickest fog – we're fond of reliable and detailed apps like [mapy.cz](http://mapy.cz/) for Central Europe, or globally minded alternatives such as Gaia GPS and OrganicMaps, but on your bike's handlebars or in tougher conditions where touchscreens stop cooperating, you'll also appreciate a standalone GPS unit. All this electronics needs power, though. You won't find many outlets in the forest, so for any longer adventure you'll probably need to pack an ultralight [power bank](/c/gear/powerbanks).

- [Fizan Compact Pro](/p/fizan-compact-pro.md)
- [Fizan Compact](/p/fizan-compact.md)
- [Snowline Chainsen Light](/p/snowline-chainsen-light.md)
- [Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil 15D Nano Tarp Poncho](/p/sea-to-summit-ultra-sil15d-nano-tarp-poncho.md)
- [Nitecore NB20000 Power Bank GEN3](/p/nitecore-nb20000-power-bank-gen3.md)
- [Flextail TINY Helio 600Z](/p/flextail-tiny-helio-600z.md)
- [Petzl Tikka Core 2025](/p/petzl-tikka-core.md)
- [Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Bag](/p/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-bag.md)
- [Trekmates Tick Remover](/p/trekmates-tick-remover.md)
- [Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid](/p/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-bag-first-aid.md)

The list of key gear for your trek is far from over, though. Heading into arctic conditions? Then you'll quite possibly need to back up your inflatable **sleeping pad** with an extra layer of insulation – a [foam sleeping pad](/c/sleep/sleeping-pads). Heading into mosquito-filled country? Then you can't do without repellent and a [mosquito net](/c/sleep/mosquito-nets). Expecting changeable weather and maybe even snow? **Waterproof socks** might just save your feet… Every trek brings its own particular challenges that you need to gear up for properly – how to save weight while doing it is up to you and your own resourcefulness, but you can find plenty of tips on [our blog](/) or on **our podcast**.

### **Just like at home**

At this point you shouldn't be missing any key gear from your backpack. But what would an adventure be without a “comfort item” – something that **brings you joy out on the trail** and keeps up the morale you need for climbing hills. Storytellers like to bring along a simple journal and pencil, and on rainy rest days you can chase away the blues with a simple board game like dice or cards. Coffee and tea lovers, meanwhile, swear by their favorite little mug, a coffee dripper or [Drip It coffee](/p/drip-it-tasting-pack-5x-10-g). So go ahead and treat yourself – pack that one “unnecessary” thing without guilt, just try to stick to the rule that it should really be a **single item** and of course consider its weight too. This kind of choice might even get you thinking more broadly about your relationship with the things you surround yourself with in everyday life – but that's a topic for another time.

[Drip It Tasting Pack 5× 10 g](/p/drip-it-tasting-pack-5x-10-g.md)

[Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Pour Over](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-pour-over.md)

### **Expectation vs. reality – from the first step to the finish**

Whatever your gear list looks like before you leave, first of all don't be too hard on yourself, and remember that **a perfect gear list simply doesn't exist**. The longer your trek, the more you'll need to **adapt to conditions on the ground, not just in the comfort of your home but above all on the move**. It's not for nothing that we like to say we approach adventures in nature **with lightness** – and that's true not only of our gear, but of the whole ultralight concept. In the end, with light gear you'll learn to work things out your own way, and you'll be able to handle even the tougher situations with the bare minimum.

Below you'll find two example gear lists: one general, and one applied to a specific trek and its particulars. Think of them as **a springboard for your own adventures**.

### **List no. 1**

Our [first gear list](/blog/ultralight-gear-list-1-under-4-kg) can serve as a general outline of basic trekking gear. Try going through it item by item and thinking about how much our suggestion overlaps with what you already normally carry into the outdoors, and which specific items you could leave at home. When putting this gear list together we kept in mind **the lowest possible weight**, but also enough **warm clothing** for mountain conditions. This sample gear list is sized for trekking from spring through autumn. With a warmer sleeping bag (for example the [X-Lite 300](/p/cumulus-x-lite-300)) and an extra layer or two, you should be able to handle temperatures around freezing with this gear too. The gear list is also put together **for more experienced solo trekkers** who have to rely on themselves alone out in the mountains.

### **List no. 2**

We also drew on the basic gear list when putting together [the gear list for the Macedonian High Scardus Trail](/blog/ultralight-gear-list-2-5-5-kg). The trek was planned for early summer. This gear list is built for temperatures down to 5 °C, and really comfortably at that, so it can also serve as great inspiration for long mountain treks from spring through autumn. In this case we were planning to set off as a pair and really take our time enjoying the trip, which is why some items are listed at half their weight. So in this list you'll find plenty of spare clothing even for long rainy days, as well as genuinely comfort-focused items like an inflatable pillow or a [sit pad](/p/gramino-ultralight-sit-pad), which you can snack on and properly take in the views, even on cold rocks.

### **List no. 3**

This is a [ultralight gear list](https://lighterpack.com/r/ze6tr2) for a solo hiker with all the basic items for a long-distance trek ⛰️. The list is put together to include everything important for a trek lasting anywhere from several weeks to several months, and is built around temperatures around 0 °C.

You'll find plenty more inspiration in **episode 13 of our podcast, with Pavel Sabela**, with whom we discussed the gear that's proven itself for him on long-distance trails. Pavel is a huge ultralight gear fanatic and has already **completed the great trio of American treks** ([the Triple Crown of Hiking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Hiking)) covering more than 12,500 kilometers in total.

You can find even more inspiration in **episode 19 of our podcast**, where we showed what a packed backpack like this can actually look like.

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCcajPwWFwg)

### **Finally: from the bedroom to under the tarp**

If you've read this far, you now have all the theory about gear lists in your head. Now it's time to put it into practice – into your backpack, into nature, out toward adventure. If you're gearing up for your first bigger trek, take a good hard look at whether you're really carrying unnecessary things, but above all try to picture the specific conditions you're heading into and what they'll demand from your gear. **But first and foremost, just go!** You'll come home not only with a much better idea of what to pack next time, but above all with a pile of priceless experiences and memories you won't find on any gear list.

This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/how-to-build-an-ultralight-gear-list).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.