In ultralight hiking, most of the weight is concentrated in three items: backpack, shelter, and sleep system.
Discover how to cut kilos by optimizing the “Big 3”.
When someone starts getting into ultralight hiking, they often think the way to lighten their pack is by swapping small items: a lighter spoon, a smaller headlamp, or a different bottle.
But in reality, most of the weight is usually concentrated in three key pieces of gear: the backpack, the sleep system, and the shelter.
In the ultralight world they’re known as the “Big 3”.
They’re the three heaviest items in your pack, and also where you can save the most weight in a meaningful way.
Cutting weight in these three areas can take several kilos off your back without having to drop important gear.
Why are they called the Big 3?
In a traditional hiking setup, these three items can account for more than half of your total kit weight.
Backpack: 2–3 kg
Tent: 2–3 kg
Sleeping bag: 1–1.5 kg
Just these three items can easily add up to more than 6 kg.
With modern ultralight gear, it’s possible to bring that total down to under 2–2.5 kg.
That’s why, if you want to lighten your pack, the biggest gains are always in these three areas.
The sleep system
The sleep system usually includes three elements: sleeping bag (or quilt), sleeping pad, and pillow.
A common benchmark in ultralight setups is to keep this whole system under 1 kg.
For three-season routes (late spring through early autumn), a bag or quilt with a comfort rating around 5 °C is usually enough in most situations.
Down bags are often preferred in ultralight setups because they offer:
Better warmth-to-weight
More compressibility
Less volume inside the pack
Alongside traditional mummy-style bags, quilts are getting more and more popular. They remove the insulation that gets compressed under your body, reducing weight and bulk.
When used correctly, this design can save hundreds of grams without sacrificing warmth.
The tent
The tent is another of the heaviest items in traditional hiking kits.
Many classic double-wall, pole-supported models easily exceed 2 or even 3 kg.
Modern ultralight tents, on the other hand, cut that weight by using:
Trekking poles instead of tent poles
Simpler designs
Lighter materials
This makes it possible to find fully enclosed shelters weighing between 500 and 900 grams.
Tarps can be even lighter, although they require more experience to use properly and to manage factors like wind, rain, or insects.
The backpack
The backpack is the third major contributor to total weight.
Many traditional packs are built to carry very heavy loads, which means heavier frames, more reinforcement, and more volume.
When all your gear is lighter and more compact, that kind of pack is no longer necessary.
Modern ultralight packs typically weigh between 400 and 900 grams, compared to the 2 kg+ of many traditional packs.
And with less weight and volume, your load feels more dynamic and efficient on the move.
Make your list to lighten your pack
The first step to lighten your pack is to make a complete list of all your gear.
Weigh each item and write down its weight in grams. This will let you clearly see where the weight is concentrated and which changes will have the biggest impact.
Without a detailed list, it’s hard to know where you’re starting from and where you can improve your kit.
In most cases, starting by optimizing the Big 3 is the fastest and most effective way to drop several kilos from your pack.
Would you like us to notify you when we publish another article?
[fue_subscribe placeholder_email="Email" list="All" submit_text="Subscribe" success_message="You have successfully subscribed!"]
The Big 3
In ultralight hiking, most of the weight is concentrated in three items: backpack, shelter, and sleep system.
Discover how to cut kilos by optimizing the “Big 3”.
When someone starts getting into ultralight hiking, they often think the way to lighten their pack is by swapping small items: a lighter spoon, a smaller headlamp, or a different bottle.
But in reality, most of the weight is usually concentrated in three key pieces of gear: the backpack, the sleep system, and the shelter.
In the ultralight world they’re known as the “Big 3”.
They’re the three heaviest items in your pack, and also where you can save the most weight in a meaningful way.
Cutting weight in these three areas can take several kilos off your back without having to drop important gear.
Why are they called the Big 3?
In a traditional hiking setup, these three items can account for more than half of your total kit weight.
Just these three items can easily add up to more than 6 kg.
With modern ultralight gear, it’s possible to bring that total down to under 2–2.5 kg.
That’s why, if you want to lighten your pack, the biggest gains are always in these three areas.
The sleep system
The sleep system usually includes three elements: sleeping bag (or quilt), sleeping pad, and pillow.
A common benchmark in ultralight setups is to keep this whole system under 1 kg.
For three-season routes (late spring through early autumn), a bag or quilt with a comfort rating around 5 °C is usually enough in most situations.
Down bags are often preferred in ultralight setups because they offer:
Alongside traditional mummy-style bags, quilts are getting more and more popular. They remove the insulation that gets compressed under your body, reducing weight and bulk.
When used correctly, this design can save hundreds of grams without sacrificing warmth.
The tent
The tent is another of the heaviest items in traditional hiking kits.
Many classic double-wall, pole-supported models easily exceed 2 or even 3 kg.
Modern ultralight tents, on the other hand, cut that weight by using:
This makes it possible to find fully enclosed shelters weighing between 500 and 900 grams.
Tarps can be even lighter, although they require more experience to use properly and to manage factors like wind, rain, or insects.
The backpack
The backpack is the third major contributor to total weight.
Many traditional packs are built to carry very heavy loads, which means heavier frames, more reinforcement, and more volume.
When all your gear is lighter and more compact, that kind of pack is no longer necessary.
Modern ultralight packs typically weigh between 400 and 900 grams, compared to the 2 kg+ of many traditional packs.
And with less weight and volume, your load feels more dynamic and efficient on the move.
Make your list to lighten your pack
The first step to lighten your pack is to make a complete list of all your gear.
Weigh each item and write down its weight in grams. This will let you clearly see where the weight is concentrated and which changes will have the biggest impact.
Without a detailed list, it’s hard to know where you’re starting from and where you can improve your kit.
In most cases, starting by optimizing the Big 3 is the fastest and most effective way to drop several kilos from your pack.
Would you like us to notify you when we publish another article?