Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Finally an ultralight kit that won't turn your savings into dust. Here's where to start.

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Last updated:
August 14, 2025
|  5 min read
The sun rising over a mountian.

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

YouTube video highlight

Finally an ultralight kit that won't turn your savings into dust. Here's where to start.

Watch video

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Aucun élément n'a été trouvé.

This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Between inflation and rising tariffs, prices for gear have gone up noticeably over the past few years. Ultralight gear—even American-made ultralight gear—isn’t immune: Between 2023 and 2024, the total cost of one popular budget ultralight kit we published on Backpacker rose $52, and it has continued to go up since.

If you’re an aspiring ultralight backpacker on a budget, that extra cost can be hard to swallow. But if you know where to look, you can still snag deals on quality gear. Here, we’ve built a Backpacker-tested ultralight kit aimed at budget-minded backpackers who don’t want to waste their money: The four main items in this kit—tent, pack, sleeping pad, and quilt—will cost you $550 and weigh just 5 pounds, 12 ounces combined. (You can add on our picks for a headlamp, jacket, filter, and poles for an additional 1 pounds, 12.8 ounces and $192, leaving plenty of room for clothes and other necessities while still staying below a 10-pound baseweight).

Continue reading to learn more about this budget ultralight backpacking kit, written by Adam Roy.

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Between inflation and rising tariffs, prices for gear have gone up noticeably over the past few years. Ultralight gear—even American-made ultralight gear—isn’t immune: Between 2023 and 2024, the total cost of one popular budget ultralight kit we published on Backpacker rose $52, and it has continued to go up since.

If you’re an aspiring ultralight backpacker on a budget, that extra cost can be hard to swallow. But if you know where to look, you can still snag deals on quality gear. Here, we’ve built a Backpacker-tested ultralight kit aimed at budget-minded backpackers who don’t want to waste their money: The four main items in this kit—tent, pack, sleeping pad, and quilt—will cost you $550 and weigh just 5 pounds, 12 ounces combined. (You can add on our picks for a headlamp, jacket, filter, and poles for an additional 1 pounds, 12.8 ounces and $192, leaving plenty of room for clothes and other necessities while still staying below a 10-pound baseweight).

Continue reading to learn more about this budget ultralight backpacking kit, written by Adam Roy.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Rédacteur
Adam Roy
In his time with Backpacker, Editor in Chief Adam Roy has hiked or skied in and reported from five different continents and is still dreaming about hitting the other two.
Mentions dans les médias

Backpacker: This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

This Budget Ultralight Backpacking Kit Costs Just $550

Between inflation and rising tariffs, prices for gear have gone up noticeably over the past few years. Ultralight gear—even American-made ultralight gear—isn’t immune: Between 2023 and 2024, the total cost of one popular budget ultralight kit we published on Backpacker rose $52, and it has continued to go up since.

If you’re an aspiring ultralight backpacker on a budget, that extra cost can be hard to swallow. But if you know where to look, you can still snag deals on quality gear. Here, we’ve built a Backpacker-tested ultralight kit aimed at budget-minded backpackers who don’t want to waste their money: The four main items in this kit—tent, pack, sleeping pad, and quilt—will cost you $550 and weigh just 5 pounds, 12 ounces combined. (You can add on our picks for a headlamp, jacket, filter, and poles for an additional 1 pounds, 12.8 ounces and $192, leaving plenty of room for clothes and other necessities while still staying below a 10-pound baseweight).

Continue reading to learn more about this budget ultralight backpacking kit, written by Adam Roy.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Rédacteur
Adam Roy
In his time with Backpacker, Editor in Chief Adam Roy has hiked or skied in and reported from five different continents and is still dreaming about hitting the other two.
Mentions dans les médias
browse all articles
Ici, à Sawyer
September 27, 2021
6 Min
Dans l'Est : L'ultra-athlète Katie Spotz parcourt 360 miles à vélo à travers le Maine
Read More
Explore more content

Mentions dans les médias

We’ve used this filter for over 800 miles in the backcountry and it’s still the best option for clean drinking water.

Brett Kretzer
Brett Kretzer
Adventurer. Writer. Creator.

Mentions dans les médias

Squeeze Water Filtration System by Sawyer

Garage Grown Gear
Mentions dans les médias de Garage Grown Gear

Mentions dans les médias

This popular repellent from Sawyer has 20% Picaridin, which protects against a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers and sand flies.

Amylia Ryan
Associate Editor
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory