Ultralight Gear

AT 2016. PCT 2018. CDT 2019. Florida Trail 2023.

The gear collection, organized by trail. Each section below is the kit from one hike: what went in the pack, weighed on my own scale. After the trail kits, a short section for the pieces that do not fit a single trail list, then the full collection in one table.

Some links on this page will become affiliate links. When they do, I will say so, and buying through them will cost you nothing extra. I do not accept payment for reviews. Last updated: September 2026.

Florida Trail 2023

Thru-hike, January through April 2023. Cold-soak cook kit. Poncho-tarp and bug bivy shelter. 47 items, 8 lb 2.02 oz base weight. That is base weight. Worn clothes and shoes are not counted.

Also in the January 2023 flat lay, not in the list: two pairs of socks, a pair of gloves, a gray T-shirt, a black jacket, a navy fleece midlayer, an orange soft flask, a white wall charger, a cable bundle, a notebook, and a toiletries row.

Containers (14.5 oz)

Shelter (1 lbs 4.72 oz)

Sleep System (1 lbs 14 oz)

Clothing (1 lbs 11.8 oz)

Cooking (1.1 oz)

Hydration (6.8 oz)

  • LIFEWTR 1L Bottle (reused): 1.3 oz / 37 g, $2.49-$2.99
  • LIFEWTR 1L Bottle w/ Sports Cap (reused): 1.5 oz / 43 g
  • Platypus Platy 2L Bottle: 1.2 oz / 34 g, $19.95
  • Sawyer Squeeze: 2.8 oz / 79 g, $46

Electronics (6.2 oz)

Lighting (1.8 oz)

Tools (11.8 oz)

First Aid (3.3 oz)

  • First Aid Kit (assembled): 3.3 oz / 94 g

Hygiene (0.5 oz)

Miscellaneous (5.5 oz)

  • Pocket Journal: 5.5 oz / 156 g

MLD Hell 27L, the Florida Trail pack.

The Full Collection

The full collection. Everything in one table, including the pieces above. The trail sections walk through it hike by hike. This is the whole closet.

Multi Year Duo, 3 Season

The standing 3-season duo kit. Zpacks Duplex Lite tent, two-person quilt, canister stove for two. 31 items, 6 lb 5.8 oz base weight.

The Big Three

Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L (Aluula) — 13.7 oz / 388 g

The pack I reach for when the base weight is under 7 pounds. The Aluula fabric is stiff enough to transfer load without a frame, and the vest straps keep the weight on my shoulders where I want it. I have not found a lighter pack that carries this well. The tradeoff is volume. At 30L you are packing carefully, not stuffing.

Zpacks Duplex Lite — 14.9 oz / 422 g, $699

I bought this after deciding the Pivot Duo was more tent than I needed for two people going light. The Duplex Lite is a trekking pole shelter, so you are trading freestanding convenience for a full pound of savings. Setup takes practice. In a real storm you need to pick your site. For three-season miles it is the right call.

Sleep System: NeoAir XLite Small + Timmermade 30 Serpentes — 21.5 oz / 610 g total

The XLite Small is 8 ounces and the Serpentes is 13.5. Together they are good to 30 degrees for me. The false bottom on the Serpentes saves weight by skipping insulation where the pad is. It works if you stay on the pad. If you roll off, you will know.

Cook Kit

Soto Windmaster — 2.3 oz / 65 g, $69.95

Canister stove for two. I cold-soaked the whole Florida Trail and it works, but for a duo kit sharing hot meals the Windmaster earns its 2.3 ounces. Boils fast in wind. The tradeoff is carrying fuel, which cold-soaking skips entirely.

Water

Sawyer Squeeze — 2.3 oz / 65 g, $46

This filter did the entire Florida Trail. It is the standard for a reason. The flow rate slows as it clogs, so backflush it. I carry the Platypus 2L as the dirty reservoir.

Electronics

Nitecore NU25 — 1.1 oz / 31 g, $36.95

The headlamp. There is not much to say. It is 1.1 ounces, the battery lasts, and everyone uses it.

Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4 — 4.8 oz / 136 g, $59.95

Ten thousand milliamp-hours at under 5 ounces. Charges the phone twice. For a duo splitting navigation and photos, one is enough.

Containers (15.2 oz)

  • Hyperlite 10L Stuff Sack: 1.1 oz / 31 g, $31.00
  • DCF Ditty Bag: 0.3 oz / 9 g
  • Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L (Aluula): 13.7 oz / 388 g
  • Quart Ziploc: 0.1 oz / 3 g

Shelter (14.9 oz)

Sleep System (1 lbs 5.5 oz)

Clothing (1 lbs 5 oz)

Cooking (7.2 oz)

Hydration (5.8 oz)

Electronics (6.7 oz)

Lighting (1.1 oz)

Tools (4.6 oz)

First Aid (3.3 oz)

  • First Aid Kit (assembled): 3.3 oz / 94 g

Hygiene (0.5 oz)

The Kit in Use

The pieces above, on trail.

Cold-soak kit: the jar and the long spoon. Three ounces instead of eleven.

Sawyer Squeeze. This filter did the entire Florida Trail.

Platypus 2L. The dirty reservoir.

Nitecore NU25. 1.1 ounces. Everyone uses it.

Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4. Ten thousand milliamp-hours at under 5 ounces.

Arizona Trail (planned kit)

39 items, 6 lb 11.82 oz base weight. The kit list for a trail I have not hiked yet.

Containers (1 lbs 2.7 oz)

Shelter (1 lbs 0.5 oz)

Sleep System (1 lbs 5.5 oz)

Clothing (1 lbs 6.4 oz)

Cooking (2.9 oz)

  • Bandanna: 0.9 oz / 26 g
  • DIY Cat Can Alcohol Stove: 0.2 oz / 6 g
  • MLD Titanium Mug: 1.5 oz / 43 g
  • Sea to Summit Ti Spoon: 0.3 oz / 9 g

Hydration (8.6 oz)

Electronics (6.7 oz)

Lighting (1.8 oz)

Tools (8.2 oz)

Hygiene (0.5 oz)

Ouachita Winter Hike (partial)

Ouachita National Recreation Trail, winter. 13 items, 4 lb 8.35 oz. The full list is gone. This is what survives.

Containers (12.1 oz)

Sleep System (2 lbs 2 oz)

Clothing (14.1 oz)

Cooking (1.7 oz)

  • DIY Cat Can Alcohol Stove: 0.2 oz / 6 g
  • MLD Titanium Mug: 1.5 oz / 43 g

Hydration (2.8 oz)

Electronics (6.55 oz)

Lighting (1.1 oz)

The Triple Crown Years

The written gear lists from the AT, PCT, and CDT are gone. What survives is the photo record. All three packs are retired.

AT 2016: gray frameless pack, brand and model unknown. PCT 2018: two-tone frameless pack, dark upper and tan lower panel, brand and model unknown. The mile 1 selfie shows a gray and brown quilted puffy with a small white hexagonal chest logo, model unidentified. CDT 2019: Mountain Laurel Designs pack, brand confirmed by the logo in the monument photo, model unknown. Black Diamond poles at the monument, model unidentified. Low gaiters worn at the monument, likely Dirty Girl, not confirmed. The white Outdoor Research cap appears in both PCT and CDT photos. Plausibly one long-kept piece, not confirmed.

Camp at Navaho Peak, May 2026.

Southern terminus jump, PCT 2018.

The CDT 2019 pack at the International Boundary monument.

Other Picks

The rest of the collection. Pieces that are not in one of the trail kits above, with a note where I have one. Weights from my own scale and PackLight lists unless marked spec.

Containers
  • Exotic Packs 33L (unidentified model): 19 oz / 539 g (unidentified model; no reliable product page found)
  • Zpacks Nero Pro 40L Vest Straps: 16.5 oz / 468 g, $279.00 (weight varies by strap/belt options)
  • Zpacks Nero Pro 40L: 12.7 oz / 360 g, $279 (40L Nero Pro, 11.1 oz)
  • Zpacks Nero Pro 30L: 11.4 oz / 323 g, $279 (base weight 11.1 oz; configuration-dependent)
  • MLD Core 25L: 6.7 oz / 190 g (Current Core 25L (URL slug core-28l); inventory 6.7 oz likely older version)
  • Mesh Cook Bag: 0.5 oz / 14 g

Shelter

  • MLD FKT Event Bivy: 10 oz / 283 g, $340-445 (current FKT ProVent UL version; 10 oz matches older eVent version)
  • MLD Superlight Solo Bivy: 5.5 oz / 156 g, $185 (spec 4.3-6.7 oz by size)
  • Polycro Groundsheet: 1.2 oz / 34 g

Sleep System

Clothing

  • Melanzana Micro Grid Fleece: 10.4 oz / 295 g, $96 (Micro Grid Hoodie V2; weight size-dependent (W M 9.3 oz, M L 12.1 oz))
  • Smartwool Merino 150 Long Sleeve: 6.7 oz / 190 g, $116.95 (closest current Merino 150 short-sleeve baselayer line; original Merino 150 T-shirt discontinued; price $116.95, medium claimed 5 oz)
  • Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Quarter-Zip: 6.7 oz / 190 g
  • Sitka Shake Dry Shell: 6 oz / 170 g, $349 (discontinued; likely model/version mismatch vs 6 oz inventory)
  • Pudolla 2-in-1 Running Shorts: 5.6 oz / 159 g (Amazon-only brand; no reliable product page found)
  • Timmermade Alpha Direct 90 Pants: 4.5 oz / 128 g, $70 (made-to-order; no spec weight published)
  • Ultimate Direction Utility Belt: 2.2 oz / 62 g, $39.95 (prior-year model (2.25 oz) matches inventory weight; current version 3.3 oz)
  • Smartwool Thermal Merino Gloves: 1.4 oz / 40 g, $40.00 (style SW018132)
  • Altra Trail Gaiters: 1 oz / 28 g, $25 (REI says old product unavailable; newer version exists)

Cooking

Hydration

  • Dasani 1L w/ Sports Cap (reused): 1.8 oz / 51 g
  • Sawyer Micro Squeeze: 1.8 oz / 51 g, $34 (Sawyer Micro Squeeze; page lists MSRP $29.99, retail $34.99)

Electronics

  • Anker PowerCore Slim 5000: 4.3 oz / 121 g (discontinued; no reliable product page found)
  • Anker PowerCore Mini+: 2.8 oz / 79 g (discontinued; trades used only)

Lighting

  • Nitecore Tiki: 0.5 oz / 15 g, $19.95 (Tiki 300-lumen; inventory 0.54 oz may include attachment)

Tools

Hygiene

  • Hygiene Kit (assembled): 6.5 oz / 184 g
  • Toiletries Bag: 6 oz / 170 g
  • Toothbrush/Toothpaste Kit: 2.4 oz / 68 g

Therm-a-Rest sack, from the FT flat lay.

Mont-bell EX Light Down Anorak.

Buff neck gaiter, from the FT flat lay.

Black Diamond poles, from the FT flat lay.

Hyperlite umbrella, from the FT flat lay.

Item Weight Price
Zpacks Duplex Lite 14.9 oz / 422 g $699
MLD FKT Event Bivy 10 oz / 283 g $340-445
MLD Bug Bivy 7.2 oz / 204 g $140
MLD Superlight Solo Bivy 5.5 oz / 156 g $185
MLD DCF Rain Poncho Tarp 4.1 oz / 116 g n/a
FT Stakes, Rope, and Bag 3 oz / 85 g n/a
DCF Groundsheet 1.5 oz / 43 g n/a
Polycro Groundsheet 1.2 oz / 34 g n/a
Vargo Titanium Stakes (6) 1.6 oz / 46 g $3.95
EE Accomplice 2-Person Quilt (custom) 34 oz / 965 g $404-$800
EE Revelation 20 Quilt 22 oz / 624 g $345
MLD FKT Quilt 38 16 oz / 454 g n/a
Timmermade 30 Serpentes False Bottom Sleeping Bag 13.5 oz / 383 g n/a
MLD Spirit Quilt 48 13 oz / 369 g n/a
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite 12 oz / 340 g $199.95
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Small 8 oz / 227 g $199.95
Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow 2 oz / 57 g $44.95
Melanzana Micro Grid Fleece 10.4 oz / 295 g $96
Smartwool Merino 250 Quarter-Zip 8.9 oz / 252 g $115.00
Mont-bell EX LIGHT DOWN ANORAK 7.8 oz / 221 g $329
Zpacks Down Jacket 6.8 oz / 193 g $375.00
Smartwool Merino 150 Long Sleeve 6.7 oz / 190 g $116.95
Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Quarter-Zip 6.7 oz / 190 g n/a
Sitka Shake Dry Shell 6 oz / 170 g $349
Timmermade SUL 1.1 Down Sweater 6 oz / 170 g $290
Pudolla 2-in-1 Running Shorts 5.6 oz / 159 g n/a
Smartwool Merino Sport UL Hoodie 5.1 oz / 145 g $125
Timmermade Alpha Direct 90 Hoodie 5 oz / 142 g n/a
Smartwool Merino 150 T-Shirt 4.7 oz / 133 g n/a
Timmermade Alpha Direct 90 Pants 4.5 oz / 128 g $70
Timmermade Mega Zip DCF Jacket 4 oz / 113 g $340
Dance Pants (wind pants) 3.3 oz / 94 g n/a
Timmermade DCF Jacket 3.2 oz / 91 g $280
Darn Tough Hiker Crew Socks 2.7 oz / 77 g n/a
Timmermade Airwave Wind Pants 2.7 oz / 77 g n/a
Triple Crown Trucker Hat 2.6 oz / 74 g n/a
Ultimate Direction Utility Belt 2.2 oz / 62 g $39.95
Darn Tough Sport Crew Socks 2.1 oz / 60 g n/a
Black Diamond Deploy Wind Shell 1.7 oz / 48 g n/a
Timmermade DCF Rain Pants 1.5 oz / 43 g n/a
Smartwool Thermal Merino Gloves 1.4 oz / 40 g $40.00
Emergency Poncho 1.3 oz / 37 g n/a
Smartwool Merino Gloves 1.3 oz / 37 g $30
Buff UV 1.2 oz / 34 g $24
Timmermade Argon/Alpha Mittens 1.2 oz / 34 g $80
Altra Trail Gaiters 1 oz / 28 g $25
Darn Tough Sport Ankle Socks 1 oz / 28 g n/a
Head Bug Net 0.4 oz / 11 g n/a
Firemaple G3 Petrel Pot 5.7 oz / 162 g $25.95
Vargo 700 ML Bot (No Handles) 4.6 oz / 130 g $99.95
Soto Windmaster Stove 2.3 oz / 65 g $69.95
Toaks Titanium 450ml Mug 1.7 oz / 48 g $24.95
MLD Titanium Mug 1.5 oz / 43 g n/a
Bandanna 0.9 oz / 26 g n/a
Cold-Soak Jar (Talenti-style, repurposed) 0.9 oz / 26 g $5-$6,
Bandanna (partial) 0.6 oz / 17 g n/a
Sea to Summit Ti Spoon 0.3 oz / 9 g n/a
DIY Cat Can Alcohol Stove 0.2 oz / 6 g n/a
HydraPak UltraFlask + Filter Cap 2.3 oz / 65 g n/a
Sawyer Squeeze (no top) 2.3 oz / 65 g $46
Dasani 1L w/ Sports Cap (reused) 1.8 oz / 51 g n/a
Sawyer Micro Squeeze 1.8 oz / 51 g $34
LIFEWTR 1L Bottle w/ Sports Cap (reused) 1.5 oz / 43 g n/a
LIFEWTR 1L Bottle (reused) 1.3 oz / 37 g $2.49-$2.99
Platypus Platy 2L Bottle 1.2 oz / 34 g $19.95
Anker PowerCore 10000 6.3 oz / 180 g n/a
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4 4.8 oz / 136 g $59.95
Anker PowerCore Slim 5000 4.3 oz / 121 g n/a
Anker PowerCore Mini+ 2.8 oz / 79 g n/a
Dual USB Wall Charger 1.2 oz / 34 g n/a
Apple Headphones 0.3 oz / 9 g n/a
Anker Short USB Cable 0.2 oz / 6 g n/a
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp 1.1 oz / 31 g $36.95
Nitecore Tini 3 0.7 oz / 20 g n/a
Nitecore Tiki 0.5 oz / 15 g $19.95
Counter Assault Bear Spray 11 oz / 312 g n/a
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Poles 9.9 oz / 281 g $239.95
Hyperlite Umbrella 6.8 oz / 193 g $59.00
Repair/Tool Kit FT 2.2 oz / 62 g n/a
Cordage Hank 1.4 oz / 40 g n/a
CRKT Minimalist Bowie 1.4 oz / 40 g $34.99
Sabre Red Gel Spray + Holster 1.4 oz / 40 g n/a
Opinel No.8 Carbon (Beech) 1.2 oz / 34 g $19
Sabre Gel Pepper Spray 1 oz / 28 g $11.86
Victorinox Swiss Mini 0.7 oz / 21 g n/a
First Aid Kit (assembled) 3.3 oz / 94 g n/a
Hygiene Kit (assembled) 6.5 oz / 184 g n/a
Toiletries Bag 6 oz / 170 g n/a
Toothbrush/Toothpaste Kit 2.4 oz / 68 g n/a
The Deuce #2 Trowel 0.5 oz / 14 g $20.95
Pocket Journal 5.5 oz / 156 g n/a

5 Things I Stopped Carrying

1. A freestanding tent. Trekking pole shelters are lighter by a pound or more. The tradeoff is site selection and setup time. After 9,000 miles I would rather pick my site than carry the poles.

2. A stove on solo summer trips. Cold-soaking saves the stove, the fuel, and the pot. A jar and a long spoon. Three ounces instead of eleven.

3. Extra clothes. I carry what I hike in and one dry set for camp. Everything else was just-in-case weight I never wore. If you are cold in camp, get in your quilt.

4. A heavy pack. My base weight is under 8 pounds. A frameless pack carries that fine. At that weight, the frame was just extra.

5. "Just in case" gear. If I have not used it in 500 miles, it goes home. The trail provides gear shops.

Footnotes

Weights are from my own scale and PackLight lists unless marked spec. Prices are MSRP at time of writing and change often. The collection is owned or intended, not verified current ownership. Anything marked pending is waiting on me. If you spot an error, it is probably mine.