One step at a time

I've reiterated often in this guide moving to ultralight backpacking doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. Instead of diving in at the deep end, seriously consider taking a step-by-step approach. Focus on one aspect of your gear at a time. This way you will be able to safely transition to lighter techniques, without going out with a full kit of untested gear.

You could pick any item in your pack as a starting point – stoves, clothes, hydration, first aid – but a more effective place to start is by addressing one of the "big three" items.

In part one, we looked at the three for three concept: getting your three core items – your backpack, your sleep system, and your shelter – all under 3kg in total. Start by changing to a lighter weight version of any one of these three items and you'll immediately be losing a considerable amount of weight.

However, rather than just randomly picking one as a starting point, let's give some thought to the implications and roll-on effects of choosing each one.

Where to begin?

Ultralight backpacks, as well as being lighter, are typically smaller. If you are transitioning from heavy to light gear, then you'll need to make sure all your old kit fits inside; if you have a lot of larger, heavier hear, it can take up a lot of space and put a strain on a lighter pack.

Probably the most attractive route is to swap your old, heavy tent for an ultralight shelter. This is, after all, where you will most likely see the greatest weight reduction. But if you're planning on switching from a hardcore, two-wall behemoth to a flighty little single-wall tarp, you need to be sure that the rest of your existing gear is up to the challenge of coping with the different conditions you'll experience, i.e. more exposure and condensation.

Perhaps the easiest and safest starting point is your sleep system, and making the move to a lighter sleeping bag, or even quilt. Sure, it's less exciting than all those sexy shelters, but it's a low risk place to start reducing weight. You can use a new quilt can in your existing tent, with no negative impact. Its smaller size and lower weight will make a noticeable difference compared to what you might normally use. And if you plump (ah, the puns keep coming) for a good quality fluffy down quilt, it will last for many years to come.

After you've got a new lightweight bag, you can more easily move on to the shelter. With that pair sorted, and perhaps with a smaller stove and pot, you'll easily be able to fit your new kit into one of those lovely ultralight backpacks.

Doctor Sleep

When you're shopping around for a new ultralight sleeping bag or quilt, you want to plan ahead for using it in a single-wall shelter. While condensation in tarps and 'mids isn't the thing of nightmares traditional marketing would have you believe, you'll want to keep your sleeping bag dry, especially if its filled with down.

There are two ways to do this: buy a bag that uses at least water-resistant outer materials, and ideally waterproof-breathable materials in critical areas (feet/shoulder), or buy a waterproof/breathable bivy bag to put the sleeping bag inside. This will prevent the bag from getting very wet shoudl it brush against the sides of your shelter.

As for down vs. synthetic, the gap between these two is drawing closer every day. Modern synthetic materials are lite and warm. The upsides of down are greater compressibility and longer life. The upsides of synthetic are its continued warmth-giving when wet, and price.

Sleeping Recommendations:

Synthetic quilt:

As Tucas Sestrals Quilt - Smart design from an EU UL cottage

€170 - 475 g / 16.7 oz - should be good down to 0ºC

Down quilt:

GoLite Unisex Z30 - a classic introductory down quilt - but it sells out fast

$300 - 615g /1lb 6oz - good to 0ºC (but that's probably generous)

Sleeping bags (if you don't like quilts):

Western Mountaineering HighLite - it's a classic for a reason

$330 - 455 g / 16 oz - good to 2ºC / 35 º F

Remember to also get a decent sleeping pad, and if needed, a bivy bag. For a more detailed look at bags and pads and bivy bags, see part 4.

Pad and Bivy Recommendations:

NeoAir XLite - A light pad, warm enough for most three-season use, and widely available (EU)

$160 - 340g / 12 oz

Katabatic Gear Bristlecone Bivy - The ultimate UL bivy bag

$150 - 215g / 7.6oz

Alpkit Hunka - the budget UL bivy bag

£45 - 500g / 17.6 oz

Pack it in

For a starter UL backpack, I would recommend not getting the lightest you can possibly buy. Instead, look for one with enough volume to carry the rest of your existing gear, and try to find one with some kind of minimal internal frame (or stay) to add stability under heavier loads. Check out some of the options highlighted in part 2.

Pack recommendations:

Gossamer Gear Mariposa - Voluminous enough for plenty of gear, sturdy enough to carry a decent load, and it won't break the bank.

$235 - 800g / 28 oz

GoLite Jam - a true classic, and a great pack the the new ultralighter. Also now available in the EU

$110 - 840g / 29 oz for a 50l version. Larger 70l size also available.

Helter Shelter

If you're ready to take the leap into an ultralight shelter, you need to think about where you'll be hiking, and what you are ready to cope with. I would recommend starting with a shelter that offers at least some protection from rain and wind in all directions; i.e., not a simple rectangular tarp. If you want to ease yourself into ultralight, allow yourself the safety and comfort of a shelter that will do exactly that: shelter you. There are numerous examples in part 3, but below you'll find my recommendations for newbies.

Shelter recommendations:

Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid - the classic do-it-all UL shelter; copied by many for a reason

$215 - 567g / 20 oz in Silnylon. Check out OookWorks for some nice inners.

GoLite SL3 - the best option for shared shelter, with an inner included.

$299 - 1967g / 69 oz (including inner, so share the weight and it's under 1kg/person). Now available again in EU, and in another form from Nigor.

Luxe SilHexpeak - a new Mid-plus-inner for the budget conscious ultralighter

€190 - 1255g / 44oz (including inner). Skip the inner and you get a cross between an SL3 and a TrailStar under 700g.

Easton 8" (Blue) Stakes - Much stronger than your average stake, and advisable for the extra tension needed in a Mid.

$11 for four - 12 g / 0.43 oz each - you can get away with the 4" stakes for the mid panels, and reduce weight more.