How to Pack Ultralight: Gear Guide

An Introduction to Ultralight

Ultralight travel is the grand reverse of hyper-consumerism, trading in clutter for capabilities and adventure. Learning how to pack ultralight can dedicate a journey to total freedom.

When living at home, things tend to accumulate.  People gradually gather furniture, knick-knacks and all sorts of trinkets and tools.  Frequent traveling on the road tends to have the opposite effect.  The longer a person is mobile, the more willing they are to shed surplus gear and supplies.

When a traveler fully commits to limiting their travel weight, the method of traveling is known as ultralight.  Learning how to pack ultralight is more of an ideal than a rulebook. However, all ultralight travelers strive to aggressively limit the number of items they carry, the weight of the items and the size of a travel bag.  

There are various levels of ultralight travel.  A person can use it as a general guideline, or fully commit to traveling with next-to-nothing.

For example, the most mobile and versatile ultralight traveler I’ve ever met was a young man exploring Greece on foot, working his way towards Turkey.  He had a single waterproof knapsack with two outfits (while wearing a third), a water bottle, a universal adapter, a miniature medical kit, his passport in a Ziploc, a phone, a charger, his wallet, and a pair of sunglasses.  He was a fairly extreme example, but he was able to move freely and easily throughout the world.

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An ultralight traveler looks down at a series of vast and rolling hills

The Advantages of Ultralight

Almost all of the packing lists on this website espouse the importance of limiting weight and getting everything to fit in one backpack.  Learning how to pack ultralight takes that a step further, by focusing on even fewer items and much lighter versions of common gear.  

Ultralight has enormous advantages.  Carrying less is outright easier, making moving from one place to another a simple affair.  An ultralight traveler is somewhat inoculated against theft; they have very little to steal and most of their goods can constantly be kept on-person.

Having light, minimal gear makes travel plans more flexible.  There are never any costs for check-in luggage and managing fewer items reduces maintenance and care hassle.  Best of all, ultralight travel is cheap.  Once the initial set of goods are bought, they last for years.  An ultralight traveler simply doesn’t need to buy many things.  Finally, an ultralight traveler has no luggage fatigue as everything is supremely easy to both carry, move and unpack.

A series of figures make their way up a trecherous ice shelve, walking up stairs caved out of enormous icicles.

Guidelines of How to Pack Ultralight

Generally, ultralight travel has a series of basic tenants.  Learning how to pack ultralight usually means purchasing at least a couple of pieces of specialized gear. When making any purchase or bringing something on a journey, consider the following:

  • High Quality and durable
  • Multitool, multi-uses
  • Ultralight

Moreover, ounces matter.  An Ultralight traveler can look at some necessary gear and find ways to diminish the weight even further.  Generally, when selecting goods, it’s best to specifically look for something lighter, stronger and capable of multi functions.  

Additionally, when choosing clothing, pick attire that is lighter, stronger, and more versatile than standard.  For example, ultralight Merino wool sweaters work better for cold climates than a jean jacket.  

An ultralight traveler carries a small backpack while overviewing mountains on a foggy morning

Optimize Design

Next, when learning how to pack ultralight, optimized design is important.  This means your travel gear should fulfill your desired functions and have some extra uses as well.

For example, a vagabond likely needs to travel with a water bottle.  An ultralight traveler may specifically look at the lightest possible models which can be packed easily with a high level of durability.  They may also decide to get a bottle with a filtration feature to purify drinking water while traveling and a clip to bind things together. The bottom might be polished, serving as a signaling mirror in case of emergencies.  Thus, one piece of gear suddenly has three or four functions.

Count Usages

Finally, once you’ve selected your gear, start counting.  How many times a day do you actually use your gear?  How many times a month?  That deck of cards you bought for entertainment might have been a good idea. But if you’ve been on the road for a full year and only used them once, are they worth it?  

However, some gear is kept for long periods of time without ever using it, like items in your med kit.  But for everything that isn’t strictly emergency-oriented, consider giving it away or leaving it at home.  

An ultralight traveler in a red jacket stands over a huge drop, perched on a grey boulder

Challenges of Ultralight

Despite its advantages, learning how to pack ultralight has a few challenges to consider.  

Wear and Tear

First and foremost, ultralight gear, especially clothes, takes a lot of hits.  A person traveling ultralight is likely using the same gear daily.  Clothing is worn more frequently, in tougher conditions.  Outfits especially are going to see a lot more wear and tear than other travel methodologies.  

Comfort Concerns

Generally, the trade off between an ultralight setup and a heavier one is primarily found in comfort.  When traveling, some people pack away more and more comfort, gradually adding weight.  

For anything that isn’t strictly needed, do the comfort test. 

For example, a person is more comfortable traveling with a set of winter gloves during an autumn trip to Italy.  Pick up the gloves and walk around the room with them, mentally categorizing the weight.  Take that weight and space and measure it against the perceived comfort the gloves might bring.  Remember, everything a person packs must be carried for miles.  It must be stored, packed, moved and lifted for weeks or months at a time.

Unless the comfort of the object metaphorically outweighs the literal weight, it’s best to leave it at home.  

An ultralight traveler shoulder gear while climbing atop a mound of brown stones while viewing a billowing series of clouds

Rapid Replacement

Ultralight traveling tends to burn through certain types of gear quickly.  For example, even the sturdiest travel boots are hit with extensive wear and tear quickly.  Soles or entire shoes need to be replaced on long term journeys.

Initial Expense

Ultralight travel gear is made of quality, durable materials specifically designed to last for ages in a wide range of conditions.  This quality adherence means that the initial purchase of good gear is slightly more expensive than stuff gathered from around the house.  

A pair of ultralight travelers hikes a trail in the rain

How to Select Ultralight Gear

If a person has decided to commit to ultralight travel, the next step comes from gear selection.  The list below is designed for an all-seasons, long-term ultralight traveler.

Firstly, when learning to pack ultralight, a traveler should severely limit extra gear.  Everything placed into a backpack becomes one hundred percent vital. 

This style of travel has substantially fewer items than even a single-backpack standard list.  Keep in mind, this list includes “transit clothes” meaning the attire worn when getting from place to place.

A figure walks along a rail line, wandering into the distance, a light backpack upon his shoulders

Core Equipment

  • Backpack – Get a specific ultralight backpack, designed to be lightweight and more compact
  • Mini pack – Similar to an average daypack but even lighter and smaller
  • Absolute Vitals
    • Thin-grip case, Cell Phone and Charger
    • Small universal adapter
    • Minimalist Wallet/Purse
    • Passport/Visa in a ziploc and security sling
    • ID Driver’s License
    • Cash and Credit Card
    • Tickets
    • Insurance
    • Passport copies
    • Maps, guidebook (digital preferred)

Clothing

  • Transit Outfit (these are the clothes you wear from place to place)
    • Long Sleeve Shirt
    • Long Pants (quick dry, light fabric)
    • Trail Runners (best, lightest, all-terrain footwear option)
    • Hat (stuffable, lightweight)
    • Sunglasses
    • Exoffico Breathable Underwear (ultralight and quick dry)
    • Darn Tough Socks (best and most durable sock brand for travel)
    • Security Belt (a belt which stores hidden money)
  • Athletic Outfit Wardrobe
    • Merino Wool T-Shirt (cold climate layer, good for workouts)
    • Exoffico Underwear (3 or 4 pairs, these a ultralight and quick drying)
    • Darn Tough Socks (3 or 4 pairs total is perfect)
    • Ultralight All-Weather Lightweight Down Jacket (an outer-shell for dryness and warmth)
    • Compression Packing Cubes (better organizes clothes inside a bag)
    • Laundry Bag (this can literally just be a plastic bag)
    • Quick dry running shorts (for men, this doubles as swimwear)
    • Swim bikini (for women)
    • Two sports bras (for women)
  • Cold Weather Attire
    • Merino Wool Thermal Top
    • Merino Wool Thermal Underwear
    • Merino Thermal Buff (serves as a winter hat, earmuffs, face cover and scarf when needed)
    • Merino Wool Gloves

Personal Goods

  • Toiletries
    • Ultralight Compact Toiletries Bag
    • Mini biodegradable soap in bar form with case
    • Folding or split toothbrush (if you have a regular toothbrush, break off the bottom part of the handle to save weight)
    • Micro Toothpaste (repurchase as needed while traveling)
    • Floss
    • Deodorant 
    • Ear Plugs (only bring these if you don’t have headphones that block out noise)
  • First Aid Kit
    • Ultralight Med Kit Case
    • Advil Packet
    • Claritin Packet
    • Chlorine Water Purification Tablets
    • Standard Band Aids
    • Butterfly Band Aids
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Trauma Pads
    • Antibacterial Pills
  • Other
    • Pencil nub (pens leak)
    • Notepad
    • Collapsible ultralight  Water Bottle

Tech

  • Ultralight Tech (only for people traveling with extra technology.  This list can be entirely omitted if a person prefers to travel with just a phone)
    • Laptop or tablet
    • Laptop Case
    • Ultralight Digital Camera (mirrorless)
    • Spare Battery
    • Universal Adapter
    • Charger
    • Full Function Sound Blocking Earbuds
    • Charging Cable

 A person can get away with using even less for extended journeys if needed.  

Overall, Ultralight Travel is a unique method for exploring the world. The focus on functionality and capability make it an excellent way to explore. If Ultralight is the proper method of exploration for you, good luck and go far.

Best regards and excellent trails,

Old Sean

Ultralight isn’t the only way to see the world. It can also be done through an endless series of follies. Read about them here, at Leftfade Trails Blog Posts.

Osprey Backpacks

Ten years ago, I abandoned my military surplus store backpack for a Farpoint 40 Osprey Travel Pack. I’ve never replaced my bag since. Two years ago, I bought two more Ospreys for my younger siblings on their first tour outside the country. I have nothing but praise for Osprey Products.

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