An ultralight gear list with a 10 lb base weight target

Brad McCartney, an Australian who has finished the Triple Crown (PCT, CDT and AT), published his lightweight hiking gear list in July 2026, and it is a handy reference if you are trying to trim your pack. His goal is a base weight under 10 lb (4.5 kg). In practice he is usually under 13 lb (6 kg), rising to about 20 lb (9 kg) in very cold weather with snowshoes and winter clothing.

The core kit, meaning pack, trekking poles and sleep system, comes to about 5 lb (2.28 kg). It includes a Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L pack (585 g), a Zpacks Plex Solo tent (395 g), Gossamer Gear LT5 poles (280 g), a Sea to Summit Spark bag (665 g) and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT pad (350 g). The cook kit is tiny: a PocketRocket Deluxe stove, a 550 ml titanium pot and a spork, about 171 g in total.

Some of his tips stood out to me. Lighter tents, pads and bags give up durability and insulation, so prioritize insulation below freezing and check the pad's R-value. A quilt works well above freezing, while a sleeping bag is better below it. Carbon poles are lighter but can shatter, whereas aluminum can be bent back. Rain pants double as wind pants, and a rain jacket can be worn to bed for warmth.

I like that he is honest about trade-offs, including that cold soaking did not suit him. The page does carry affiliate links, so read the gear picks with that in mind.

Source: Bike Hike Safari