Ultralight gear is awesome. Until you check the price tag.
So let’s flip that idea on its head.
This isn’t about dropping hundreds on a featherweight tent or titanium spoon. It’s about ditching extra weight without spending a dime.
I’ve got 25 zero-cost tips to help you pack smarter, lighter, and faster.
Some of these might not fit your setup or your style. That’s totally fine. Use what works, skip what doesn’t. Let’s dive in.
Smart Substitutions & Gear Removal
Tip 1
Check if your backpack comes with a built-in rain cover and remove it if it does. Instead of protecting your gear with a rain cover or interior dry sacks, put everything into one large trash bag inside the backpack.
The trash bag is lighter, cheaper, and 100% waterproof.
Tip 2
Go through your first aid kit and remove duplicates or unnecessary items. Chances are, even if something happens, you’d only use one or two things.
I personally bring an emergency blanket, wound disinfectant wipes, gauze, Leukotape, bandages, something for the stomach, and ibuprofen. I also recommend putting it all in a Ziploc bag — it’s waterproof and lighter.
Clothing Tips That Cut Weight
Tip 3
Instead of bringing a sun cap for hiking during the day and a beanie for cold evenings, bring only the sun cap.
If you have a down jacket and a rain jacket, putting on both hoods is almost as warm as a beanie. So, there’s really no need to carry the extra hat.
Tip 4
Utilize rain jackets even if it’s not going to rain. Rain jackets block most incoming wind, which keeps you warm with just a few layers underneath.
You’ll need to test this for yourself, but for me, wearing a down jacket under a rain shell eliminates the need to carry an extra fleece — unless temperatures will drop below freezing.
Shared Gear and Group Strategy
Tip 5
If you plan to build a fire, bring a small saw instead of a hatchet. A saw is smaller, lighter, easier to use, and lets you gather firewood faster.
Tip 6
If hiking in a group, communicate what gear each person will bring.
You only need one saw for the group, not one per person. The same goes for camping stoves, pots, knives, and other shareable items.
Lightweight Personal Items
Tip 7
Keep a small travel-sized toothpaste at home and refill it by squeezing from a larger tube before your trip.
Tip 8
Leave your inflatable camping pillow at home. Instead, put your spare clothes in the hood of your down jacket and use that as a pillow.
Tip 9
You don’t need a lantern or handheld flashlight if you already have a headlamp. Some even skip the headlamp and use the torch on their phone.
Since you usually set up camp before dark — especially in summer — lighting needs are minimal.
Luxury or Unnecessary? Leave These Out
Tip 10
Camp shoes are a luxury, not a necessity. Unless it’s very cold or you’ll be spending a lot of time around camp, skip them.
Ultralight Hygiene and Navigation
Tip 11
Unless you’re planning to swim or shower at campsites, you probably don’t need to bring a towel.
If you do, bring a small microfiber one. If not, a small bath towel works — just don’t pack a full-size towel.
Tip 12
You may not need a guidebook, compass, or paper map. Offline apps like Locus Maps or Gaia GPS can be downloaded for free.
Still, don’t rely solely on your phone unless you’re very familiar with the area. Take this one with a grain of salt.
Fuel, Cooking & Fire Strategies
Tip 13
Bring the smallest gas canister you can find. Larger ones add unnecessary weight.
When mine starts feeling light, I save it for car camping.
Tip 14
In summer, skip pants. Wear shorts during the day and long johns underneath in the evening. They’re lighter, warmer, more comfortable to sleep in, and don’t look too bad under shorts. Downsides: changing them quickly can be awkward.
Compact Seating & Bathroom Setup
Tip 15
Bring a small sit pad instead of a camping chair. Cut a piece from an old foam mat — it’s all you need.
Tip 16
Don’t pack a full roll of toilet paper. Bring only a small section. It doesn’t save much weight, but it saves space.
Food Storage & Meal Prep
Tip 17
Refill liquids from glass into plastic containers. Repackage food into Ziploc bags.
Pre-cook vegetables at home to reduce weight and cooking time.
Tip 18
Avoid food with poor weight-to-calorie ratios or long cook times: canned goods, fresh fruits and veggies, chickpeas, beans, lentils, rice.
Tip 19
Dinner needs protein, carbs, and fat.
Protein: Dried fish, meat, or my favorite — texturized soy. It’s light, protein-packed, and fast to cook.
Carbs: Pasta, rice, couscous, oats, quinoa.
Fats: Add olive oil to your meals. It’s calorie-dense and easy to carry in a plastic bottle.
Coffee, Drinks & Water Carrying
Tip 20
I used to bring a moka pot for coffee. Now I use instant or pour boiling water over grounds.
It’s lighter and still tastes great outdoors.
Tip 21
Don’t bring an extra mug. Drink coffee or tea straight from the pot.
Tip 22
Thermos bottles are nice, especially in cold weather — but they’re heavy. If you have a stove, you don’t need one.
Tip 23
Skip metal or Nalgene water bottles. Use cheap plastic grocery store bottles. They’re lighter, everywhere, and easy to replace.
Final Pack Tweaks Before You Go
Tip 24
Before you leave, check all your backpack pockets. You’ll probably find junk from your last trip — rocks, trash, random items.
Tip 25
For trips 1–3 nights, don’t bring repair kits or extra cords. Fix small tears with duct tape (wrapped around your lighter) and handle proper repairs at home.
Footwear, Storage, and Personal Items
Tip 26
Do you really need big hiking boots? On most trails, trail runners are better — lighter, faster, more comfortable.
Sometimes, even regular running shoes or Converse are enough for flat trails.
Tip 27
Keep the storage sacks for your sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, and pillow at home. They aren’t needed and waste space.
Just squish everything down at the bottom of your pack.
Tip 28
Lighten your keys and wallet. Use a Ziploc instead of a bulky wallet. I forget this all the time and carry a brick in my pocket.
Knives, Socks, Toiletries, and Load Distribution
Tip 29
Skip large knives. Bring a pocket knife — or no knife at all unless you’re fishing, hunting, doing bushcraft, or watching too much survival YouTube.
Tip 30
Bring only two pairs of hiking socks — one for hiking, one for sleeping. If one gets dirty, tie it to your pack to dry as you walk.
Tip 31
How many toiletries do you really need? I bring toothpaste (tiny tube), lip balm, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer.
On longer trips: eco-friendly soap and sometimes bug spray. Skip deodorant, shampoo, makeup, and dry shampoo. They’re heavy and unnecessary for just a few days.