Ultralight Backpacking Gear List 9 Pound 2026

Less than ten pounds of equipment is all you need to be safe, warm, and comfortable in the backcountry, and this ultralight backpacking gear list is fully optimized. It’s been evolving and improving for over two decades, and we’ve tested it from Alaska to Patagonia, and everywhere in between. If you want to carry less weight while increasing the quality and functionality of your kit, then you’ve come to the right place. Simply put, this is best-in-class gear.

This ultralight backpacking gear list is a base from which to build off. Modify it based on trip-specific needs and desired luxuries. The sub-10-lb base weight counts the backpack and everything carried in it while hiking. It excludes worn, held, optional, and situational items, as well as consumables like food, water, fuel, and sunscreen.

Continue reading to learn more about a 9 pound gear list for ultralight backpacking, written by Alan Dixon and Jaeger Shaw.