The Trail Companion

For the uninitiated, looking at an ultralight hiker’s gear list can be confusing. You might see a claim of a “9-pound base weight,” yet when you lift their pack at the trailhead, it feels closer to 20 pounds. Is the hiker lying? Probably not. They are simply using the specific accounting language of the backpacking … Read more

Imagine covering a 40-mile trail loop that usually takes three days in a single weekend. You move lightly through the terrain, jogging the downhills and power-hiking the climbs, carrying only the bare essentials on your back. This is not just hiking, and it isn’t quite running—it is fastpacking. As ultralight gear becomes more accessible, the … Read more

Every ultralight hiker remembers the specific moment they decided to make a change. Usually, it occurs around mile eight of a steep ascent, shoulders screaming under the straps of a 45-pound pack, while a trail runner with a tiny vest breezes past effortlessly. The desire for that freedom is what drives hikers toward transitioning to … Read more

Walk into any outdoor retailer or browse an online hiking forum, and you will likely be bombarded with terminology describing gear weight. Terms like “ultralight,” “super ultralight,” and “traditional” are often thrown around loosely, leading to confusion for beginners who just want to enjoy the trail. Understanding the difference between ultralight vs lightweight hiking is … Read more

For many beginners, the concept of backpacking conjures images of massive, towering rucksacks and the physical struggle of hauling 50 pounds of gear up a mountain. However, a growing movement in the outdoor community challenges this norm. By asking what is ultralight backpacking, hikers are discovering that they can travel further, faster, and more comfortably … Read more