Anyone who has ever spent several days on the trail with an overloaded trekking rucksack knows the problem: shooting pains in the shoulders, tired knees, burning feet. With a total weight of 20 kilograms or more, this is almost inevitable. For expeditions lasting several weeks in extreme climate regions, such a rucksack may be the right choice. For most multi-day tours in Central Europe, it is clearly oversized.
An ultralight rucksack is an exciting alternative. It demands an honest look at what is truly needed and rewards this honesty with a freedom of movement simply not possible with a traditional 3-kilo rucksack. In this guide, we will walk through all the important topics together: what defines an UL rucksack, which materials count, how much volume you really need, how to pack it correctly, and for which trips it works.
What exactly is an ultralight backpack?
An ultralight rucksack is fundamentally comparable to a classic trekking rucksack. Both have a large main compartment, a few external pockets and padded shoulder straps. However, that is usually where the similarities end.
The UL rucksack is characterised by a very minimalist construction off. All superfluous or excessively heavy features are systematically reduced, because the goal is a low total weight. In return, a freedom of movement is created that noticeably intensifies the hiking experience. The greatest weight saving almost always comes from the Omission of massive carrying frames and oversized padding.
A lid, countless internal pockets and stiffened hip belts are also frequently omitted. With ultralight trekking gear or the light luggage of a hut-to-hut hike, these features are no longer necessary. As a result, a volume of over 60 litres is no longer required either. The lighter the gear, the smaller it usually is, meaning that material can once again be saved effectively.
Concrete figures: ultralight backpacks sometimes weigh under 500 grams, while some large representatives of conventional trekking rucksacks quickly up to 3 kilograms to weigh.
What makes a good UL backpack
Even among ultralight backpacks, there are many different designs and constructions. While some manufacturers optimise for the lowest possible weight, others seek an honest balance between durability and low dead weight.
Sensible features
These features can be found on well-thought-out ultralight backpacks (for example on the Agilist):
- Side pockets for water bottles or easily accessible items
- elastic front pocket for wet garments
- padded shoulder straps
- lightweight yet abrasion-resistant materials
- Additional pockets on shoulder straps or hip belt for smartphone, camera, snacks
- lightweight chest and hip straps for improved carrying comfort
- Loops to attach additional equipment to the outside of the backpack
- Elimination of heavy support frames
- Avoidance of excessively thickly padded or stiffened hip fins
Gear in an ultralight backpack
Ultralight rucksacks frequently use lightweight nylon fabrics with interwoven tear-resistant reinforcement threads. The most prominent example is Dyneema Gridstop. Also multi-layered, very lightweight yet abrasion-resistant laminates such as X-Pac are often used. The big advantage of X-Pac is that the material is 100 per cent waterproof. This significantly improves the weather resistance of an UL rucksack.
The latest high-tech generation, which is also becoming increasingly popular with UL backpacks, are laminates that consist partly of UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene). UHMWPE fibres are currently the best combination of tear resistance, abrasion resistance and material weight, which is available on the market. A well-known example, alongside Dyneema, is the Ultra 200-Laminate from Challenge Sailcloth. The outside consists of 67 per cent extremely tear-resistant 200-denier UHMWPE fibres and 33 per cent recycled polyester.[1] The relative weight of 119 g/m² the Ultra 200 variant can hardly be undercut.[2]
While the choice of main material does have an influence on the subsequent weight of the backpack, it does not do so to the same extent as the reduction of superfluous product features. Dispensing with a heavy carrying frame contributes significantly more to weight reduction than using the thinnest and lightest high-tech fabric.
Since many lightweight rucksacks nevertheless use thinner materials than their heavyweight counterparts, it is a careful handling advisable. Sharp-edged and pointed objects should be avoided inside as well as merciless overloading. Lightweight trekking gear is therefore the ideal combination for your UL backpack.
carrying system without a traditional frame
Due to the lack of a carrying system, the contents give the rucksack the necessary stability. The most important tip is: packing ultralight backpacks compactly and fully. Half-full, these backpacks do not achieve their optimal carrying comfort.
Some models have a stiffener in the form of a removable foam padding or a light plastic sheet. These stiffeners give the rucksack structure even when empty, cushion the back against the contents and transfer the weight better to the hip belt. This ensures that carrying comfort remains high, even if a little extra water or provisions need to be carried. If required, the padding or sheets can in many cases be removed from the inner pocket.
How much weight and volume will fit inside?
Maximum payload
An ultralight backpack is sensibly only chosen when the rest of the trekking gear is known and has already been reduced to a light level. Only then is it clear how much volume is actually needed. Ideally, the Basis weight of the equipment (so everything except provisions, water and fuel) at only 5 to 6 kg.
Including food, water and fuel, the total weight of the equipment should Limit of 10 to 12 kilograms at best not exceed. While most UL rucksacks can structurally handle more weight, depending on the model, carrying comfort suffers as a result. This comfort limit is very subjective: some hikers carry 15 kilos with a UL rucksack, while others reach their comfort limit at just 8 kilos.
What volume do I need?
The volume depends primarily on the planned tour and its length. How much provisions do you have to carry at the same time? From when on can you replenish your supplies?
| Tour type | Required volume |
|---|---|
| three-season trekking with ultralight gear, resupply every 3 to 5 days | 35 to 40 litres |
| Three-season trekking with ultralight gear, resupply every 5 to 8 days | 40 to 50 litres |
| Three-season trekking with ultralight gear, resupply every 10 to 14 days | 60+ litre |
Resupply means the possibility of buying or restocking provisions along the way. On the E5 or the Munich-Venice Dream Way, resupply points are often 3 to 5 days apart, on the GTA it is sometimes 6 to 8 days, and on remote routes such as Vienna-Nice, in its loneliest sections, it can even be 10 days.
Your trail. Your Pack.
Set up your tour and we will recommend the right pack. With live weight analysis, load check and size recommendation.
- 1 Pick a scenario as a quick start, or adjust the six sliders to your tour: base weight, days, water, extras, height and preference.
- 2 See live how your total weight breaks down and which pack still has reserve.
- 3 You get a reasoned recommendation with comparable trails and the matching back length.
Trailist
from 289 g · 27 L · max. 8 kg · trail/fastpacking
Agilist 2026
570 g · 54 L · max. 13 kg · Ultra 200X
Endurist
from 747 g · 65 L · max. 18 kg · aluminium frame
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How do you pack an ultralight backpack correctly?
A common prejudice against the ultralight backpack is its apparent lack of carrying comfort. This can quickly be disproved, because carrying comfort always depends on the way it is packed as well. With an UL backpack, the correct packing technique is much more noticeable than with a traditional trekking backpack with a carrying frame, because the frame forgives a lot there. Without a frame, the load is carried one-to-one the way the backpack is packed.
Light things at the bottom
Sleeping bag and down jacket go right at the bottom. Although bulky, they are light and don't need to be accessible on the go.
Heavy objects close to the back
Water bottles, a stove with fuel, the day's provisions: everything with any weight should be as close to the back as possible at shoulder-blade height. This lowers the centre of gravity and takes the strain off the shoulders.
Medium heavy equipment farther at the top
Tent or tarp, spare clothes, and toiletries fill the upper section. They balance the overall weight.
Consistently avoid whitespace
10 to 20 per cent spare volume is enough. Anyone who packs half-full gives the rucksack no stability, the load shifts when walking and rubs against the shoulders.
Top gear away from your back
Tent pegs, trekking pole tips, knives: all sharp items belong on the outside or in a separate pocket. Otherwise, after several hours, they will press uncomfortably between the back padding and the contents.
Compress after packing
Pull compression straps or roll-top tight. A well-compressed UL rucksack sits significantly more stably than one that hangs limply against the back.
With this packing technique, even a frameless ultralight backpack sits very comfortably on the shoulders, and thanks to its low weight, over long periods and long distances. Many current ultralight models also feature thickly padded shoulder straps that are somewhat more forgiving of heavier loads.
What an ultralight backpack works particularly well for
Classic ultralight trekking
The clear primary use case: multi-day to multi-week tours with a tent or tarp, your own sleep system, and self-sufficiency. This is where the ultralight backpack plays to all its strengths. A base weight of between 4 and 6 kg, plus provisions and water, results in a total weight of between 8 and 12 kg, which is precisely the range in which a frameless lightweight backpack performs best.
On the pilgrim's way
Ultralight backpacks are not just for trips involving a tent and sleeping bag. Anyone walking one of the Camino de Santiago routes benefits significantly from the low empty weight. Without a tent and sleeping mat, some of the largest items are removed from most pilgrims' packing lists. However, since most pilgrims take a full sleeping bag for the hostels, too much empty space in the ultralight backpack can also be avoided with less luggage.
Typical equipment for a multi-week pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago weighs between 5 and 8 kg, which is ideally within the payload range of a frameless lightweight rucksack, even with a little food and water. As on all other trips, the rule applies: pack it compactly and fully, then carrying comfort is at its highest.
On a mountain hut tour
The same applies to multi-day hut-to-hut tours. Depending on your need for comfort, the weight of lightweight hut tour equipment is between 2 and 8 kilograms. Since hut tours usually involve carrying less bulky items, making efficient use of space is important. If most items are stowed inside, it can be useful to pack the thick down or Primaloft insulation jacket right at the top of the backpack. It avoids empty space and gives the contents a good structure.
Depending on the mountain hut tour and the time of year, it is worth taking a slightly thicker sleeping bag instead of a thin liner. Not all huts have thick woollen blankets in sufficient numbers, and a cold night in the dormitory makes the next day difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How durable a rucksack is depends primarily on the materials used. In the UL segment, there are many models that are highly abrasion-resistant. It all depends on what activities you’re planning. Hikes on marked trails place very little strain on the material, whereas cross-country hikes in the wilderness do. If you want to combine both, you should look for a fabric weight of over 200 denier. Fabric blends such as Ultra 200, 210-denier X-Pac or 500-denier Cordura offer an excellent balance between durability and lightness. All three variants are comparatively lightweight, yet highly abrasion-resistant.
The use of high-quality materials is reflected to some extent in the price, but with a few exceptions, UL backpacks do not cost much more than conventional trekking backpacks from well-known brands. Most models are in the price range between 150 and 300 euros. Many come from small, specialised manufacturers, which is precisely why they use very high-quality materials. When comparing different models, it is worth paying close attention to the materials used. Cheaper UL backpacks are available from time to time in the WeitLäufer Prototype CategoryTest sample from development at a discounted rate.
That depends on the tour length between resupply points. For a 3 to 5-day resupply interval, 35 to 40 litres are enough, for 5 to 8 days 40 to 50 litres, and for 10 to 14 days of self-sufficiency, 60 litres and more. It is important to determine the volume only after optimising the rest of your gear, because reduced UL gear takes up significantly less space than traditional trekking gear.
For base weights of up to 7 kg, a traditional carrying frame is not necessary. Instead, the contents themselves give the backpack stability, ideally supported by a removable foam padding or plastic sheet. It is important to pack the backpack compactly and fully. A conventional sleeping mat can also be used for stabilization by being packed into the backpack first in a rolled state and unfolding inside it.
Yes. On pilgrim trails, typical gear weighs 5 to 8 kg, and on hut-to-hut tours, 2 to 8 kg. Both fit ideally within the payload range of a frameless UL backpack. It is important to pack the backpack compactly, packing a down jacket at the top if necessary to avoid empty space, and to adapt the insulation properties of the sleeping bag to the respective season.
Sources
- Extremtextil: Overview of the Challenge ULTRA laminates with fibre composition (67 per cent UHMWPE content in the outer fabric, polyester content, recycled polyester film). extremtextil.de
- Challenge Sailcloth: ULTRA Collection, Material Data Ultra 200 (3.5 oz/yd², 119 g/m²). challengesailcloth.com
- Avient/Dyneema: Manufacturer’s data on the weight-based tensile strength of UHMWPE fibres compared with steel. dyneema.com
