Budget Ultralight Hiking Tips: Hike With Light Gear Without Breaking the Bank

Let’s get one thing clear right off the bat: I have no idea how much my pack weighs. Is it ultralight? Not even close. Is it light enough that I can still enjoy the hike? Absolutely! The key to hiking light on a budget isn’t about having the fanciest, lightest gear, but finding that sweet spot between what’s necessary and what you can comfortably live without—like a pillow. Or a cup. Or, you know, sometimes basic hygiene.

The Facebook Marketplace Jackpot

First tip: buy used. Forget browsing for discounts at outdoor stores—Facebook Marketplace is where the real deals are. I managed to snag a tent that normally costs $450 for just $100, and it was practically brand new! It had been used once by a backpacker who didn’t want to lug it home. Easily one of my proudest finds.

But the true jackpot—my crowning second-hand glory—was my One Planet sleeping bag. I was casually browsing the clothing section at an op shop when I stumbled across a hiking sleeping bag for $80. After a quick look, I found out it was worth closer to $800! Considering my old Amazon sleeping bag cost me the same $80 brand new, this was a massive upgrade.

Amy, my partner (and occasional pack mule), also found gold on Marketplace. She scored a Kathmandu backpack for $75 from an Argentinian backpacker who had taken it all over the world. It’s not an ultralight pack by any means, but for the price, it was a steal. We love that it has a little history. The beauty of backpacking is that you don’t need to start with the best gear. You can start on a budget, then gradually lighten your load as you go along and learn what works for you. In fact, we’ve had fun refining our gear over time. To lighten the pack ever so slightly Amy had fun going to town with a pair of scissors cutting off all the excess straps.

Honestly, when not all of your gear is deemed as 'ultralight' you need a backpack that isn't. Definitely something to keep in mind when you are buying your pack. Many of the ultralight packs could not successively hold all my gear, I JUST fit everything with my Deuter Aircontact which is designed to be ultralight. Amy often saves the day by having extra room in her larger pack.

Cutting Comforts to Cut Weight IS Budget Ultralight Hiking

If you want to cut weight, sometimes you’ve got to say goodbye to the little comforts. Like a pillow—who needs one when you can stuff your jacket under your head? I’ve been using my puffer jacket as a pillow for a long time, and while it’s not exactly luxurious, it works. However, avoid getting too creative like I did once, using a Kmart dry bag stuffed with clothes. I woke up with a boil on my face from some sort of plastic-sweat reaction. Lesson learned—stick to softer alternatives.

Amy and I also share the weight when we hike together, which makes a huge difference. Our tent weighs in at 2.88 kg—not exactly ultralight—but it’s a lot easier to manage when split between two people. Sure, there are tents out there that weigh just a few hundred grams, but they can cost upwards of $1,000. At this time in my life when I'm not made of money, I’d rather carry a little extra weight and save that money for other adventures.

Repurpose, Reuse, and Get Creative

Another fun discovery we made was reusing old gear in creative ways. For instance, we stopped bringing cups or bowls and started using an old insulated bag from “Backcountry” dehydrated meals. My dear friend Jenna gifted us a box of these meals, and after using them, we realised the bags worked perfectly for our own dehydrated food. Now we reuse them on every trip.

When Amy and I hike together, we bring a 360 Furno cook pot and a collapsible cup for tea. One of us drinks out the pot and the other out of the cup. When hiking solo, we ditch the cup and drink straight from the pot. It’s little adjustments like these that help cut weight without needing to buy fancy ultralight gear.

What NOT to Skimp On

While cutting weight is great, there are some things you absolutely shouldn’t skimp on—like toilet paper. Trust me, it weighs nothing, and you do not want to be caught without it. I once ran out of TP on the Overland Track and had to temporarily trade my phone charger for a few precious squares. Lesson learned.

Band-aids are another must-have. Blisters happen, and there’s no faster way to hate life on the trail than dealing with them unprepared. Sure, you want to go ultralight, but don’t sacrifice your feet in the process.

Small actions to drop weight

Here are some simple actionable swaps and budget ultralight hiking tips to keep in mind when trying to drop weight.

• Switch to a disposable plastic bottle (so much lighter than anything on the market and cost you about a buck). I will say it hurts me to recommend this as an environmentalist, it also hurt me to buy this. But I have reused the first ones I ever bought since my first hike, and that was years ago. I have no plan to throw them out.

• Bring as little clothes as possible. You are going to stink anyway, so all you need are the clothes on your back and clean ones to sleep in.

• Ditch the deodorant. Again, you are going to stink anyway.

• Decant all your items: eg put sunscreen, bug repellant and toothpaste in smaller light containers so you aren’t bringing a whole bottle worth of extra weight you don't need.

• Only bring the gas that you need (if using this mechanism for cooking). Amy and I bought a 100g butane canister between us for a 7 day hike, and still had gas to spare!

• Think about if there are any other items you really need. Do camp shoes matter to you? The pillow? The cup? As Amy and I eat vegan and our meals are pretty mess free, we don’t even bring dish soap. 

Little Luxuries Worth the Weight

Despite all my talk of cutting weight, there are a few luxuries I refuse to leave behind. My trusty Japanese pocket knife, for example. It’s not ultralight, but it’s sentimental and useful—whether I’m slicing up food or whittling a random stick for fun. Plus, it’s just cool to have.

Then there’s my book. Sure, I could read on my phone, but there’s something about lugging around a physical book that feels right. Amy and I love to read to each other before bed on the trail—usually stories about hiking and adventure. There’s something magical about winding down after a long hike with a good book and some sore legs.

Lastly, we always bring our film camera. Is it necessary? Not at all. But we love the analog experience, and it keeps us off our phones and more in the moment. Plus, it adds to the adventure when we develop the photos later and relive those hiking memories.

The Takeaway

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to spend a fortune or have a feather-light pack to enjoy hiking. It’s all about balance. You don’t need a $1,000 ultralight tent unless you’re planning a thru-hike. For most of us, making do with what we have, upgrading slowly, and getting creative with second-hand finds can take you far.

At the end of the day, hiking is about enjoying the journey, even if it means carrying a little extra weight—and maybe picking up a funny scar or two along the way.