How to get your pack base weight under 5 kilos: optimizing the 'Big Four', multifunctional gear tricks, and the foot-weight rule explained simply.
Why are you lugging 18 kilos through the mountains when 5 will do? That's the core question behind ultralight (UL) trekking: while classic trekkers often haul 15 to 20 kilograms — about two full crates of drinks — the UL approach targets a backpack base weight (your gear minus water and food) under 5 kilograms.
The trick isn't sawing off your toothbrush handle — it's systematically optimizing the "Big Four": backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. A lighter pack spares your joints, cuts fatigue, improves your footing, and simply lets you enjoy nature more intensely. This guide from the DOMISPORTS Academy for intermediate hikers shows you how to slim down your setup — and what's allowed to stay on your packing list.
For a true UL setup, you need high-tech materials and a well-thought-out concept: - Shelter: an ultralight tent, a tarp, or a bivy bag. - Sleep system: a light down quilt (a sleeping bag open at the back) plus a 3-season sleeping pad. - UL backpack: frameless or very light (30-45 liters) — buy this last, once the rest of your gear is settled. - Clothing: a compressible insulation jacket ("puffy") and an ultralight hardshell rain jacket. - Shoes: sturdy, lightweight trail running shoes instead of heavy mountain boots.
The biggest savings hide in your bulkiest gear. Switching from a standard tent to a UL tent often saves 700 to 800 grams — about as much as a full 0.75-liter bottle. For your sleep system, switching to a "quilt" pays off: a sleeping bag with no back panel, since the down compressed under your body doesn't insulate anyway. That saves another 300 to 400 grams. Add a light 3-season pad (roughly 350 grams) and a minimalist backpack, and a total "Big Four" weight of 2 to 2.5 kilograms is absolutely realistic — less than a laptop.
UL trekking means smartly double-using gear. Classic move number one: instead of heavy aluminum poles, you use the trekking poles you're already carrying to pitch the tent. Your smartphone replaces your GPS unit, camera, and e-reader in one. And your empty stuff sack for daytime clothing turns into a comfy pillow at night once stuffed with your insulation jacket.
You don't need three T-shirts for a week. Stick to three layers: a sweat-wicking base layer of merino wool or synthetic (cotton is off-limits!), a warm, light mid layer like a Primaloft or down jacket, and an ultralight hardshell membrane jacket (e.g., Gore-Tex) for weather protection. You can flexibly combine these three layers in any weather — which means you barely need spare clothes at all.
One of the most important rules of thumb in mountain sports: 100 grams less weight on your feet feels like 1 kilogram less on your back. Switching from heavy mountain boots (1.5 kg) to light trail running shoes (700 g) saves your body enormous energy over thousands of steps. You can save on food too: skip heavy, water-laden items like fresh fruit. Instead, go for high-calorie, freeze-dried trekking meals and trail mix (nuts) — they give you the best calorie-to-weight ratio.
Ultralight should never mean "stupid light." Your safety always comes first. Never cut weight from your first-aid kit, emergency communication (phone/power bank), or weather protection. A waterproof, windproof hardshell jacket is mandatory on UL tours too. And never risk insufficient insulation at alpine elevations — hypothermia turns dangerous fast.
If you really want to dial in your setup, get a digital kitchen scale and weigh every single piece of gear down to the gram. Log the numbers in a tool like LighterPack. You'd be surprised how quickly bulky stuff sacks, heavy carabiners, and a stuffed toiletry bag add up to one or two kilos. Know your grams, and you'll spot the secret weight hogs instantly.
Base weight is the weight of all your gear excluding consumables like water, food, and fuel. Classic trekkers often sit at 15 to 20 kilograms, while ultralight hikers target under 5 kilograms. It's the standard yardstick the UL community uses to compare setups fairly.
Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad — these four items make up the biggest share of your total weight. Optimize these and you save the most: a realistic target for the combined "Big Four" is 2 to 2.5 kilograms, far below standard gear.
Always buy the backpack last. Optimize your tent, sleeping bag, and pad first — only once you know how much volume they need do you pick a fitting, usually frameless, backpack. Do it the other way around and you'll end up squeezing heavy standard gear into a pack that's too small.
Yes, as long as you don't cut corners on safety. "Ultralight" doesn't mean "stupid light": first-aid kit, emergency communication, and adequate weather protection always stay on board. You cut comfort extras, not the gear that protects your life in an emergency.