Ultralight Gear Wishlist:
The Paradox of Wanting More to Have Less

Here is what I would consider (budgeting aside) the lightest and most efficient essentials for the dream multi-day mountain mission setup, with South African cold conditions in mind:​

First Aid

Starting off with a quick serious note, owning a first aid kit but neglecting to carry it with you negates the point of having it in the first place! It’s always better to go non-ultralight in this regard – stick to essentials, but don’t be silly for the sake of a few grams or dismiss major risks/emergencies, especially when there are plenty of light, compact kits (like these ones) out there.

Backpack

The Osprey brand speaks for itself in the hiking community in terms of quality, value-for-money, and design research. The Atmos AG and its female counterpart, the Aura AG, are my personal favourites. 

The Anti-Gravity (AG) harness system, in tandem with the packs’ durability and low weight when compared with others of the same volume, turns your mountains into molehills. While it is technically not the lightest pack money can buy, the AG technology makes that hard to believe once you have it on your back. 

With a female-specific option, a lifetime warranty for any damage sustained, and a bunch of cool features, the Atmos & Aura packs (available in 65L and 55L models, special order only; email info@mountainmailorder.co.za ) are ideal for a lightweight setup, especially for multi-day treks or fastpacking excursions.

• Pack weight: 2000g*
• Total weight tally: 2000g

*Approximate; will vary with pack size.

Sleep System

A ‘sleep system’ refers to the combination of gear that you use to create your sleep setup – my go-to is a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and thermal base layers (with the option of adding a liner for extra-cold condies).

Sleeping Bag

I will forever sing the praises of the Sea to Summit Spark -1C Down sleeping bag, which will get you through a cold night anywhere in the country, especially when used with a thermal liner (apart from harsh winter in the Berg or at high altitudes). 

Weighing just 493g, the Spark -1C compresses down to the size of a 2L milk bottle. With an updated anti-snag zipper design and 850+ fill, ultra-dry-treated goose down, the Spark is an internationally rated, lightweight, water-resistant sleeping bag, and arguably the best you’ll find in the country.

• Sleeping bag weight: 493g
• Total weight tally: 2493g

While the Spark is classified as a -1C bag, it is worth noting that this is the comfort rating for the average male – the female comfort rating is set at 4C.

Mattress

Without a sleeping mat to insulate you from the ground, any sleeping bag will underperform. For the ultralight-junkies who want everything to fit in their pack, the Nemo Tensor Trail is the way to go. 

This 3-season sleeping mat inflates to 8.8cm and rolls down smaller than a Nalgene bottle! The baffle-structure design works to eliminate the annoying waterbed feel found in lower-quality air mattresses, and the ripstop nylon aids in the prevention of punctures and tears.

• Mattress weight: 395g
• Total weight tally: 2888g

Thermal Base Layers

Any good sleep system is tested wearing a set of thermals. Merino wool products, although on the pricier side, are the all-time best and most versatile – with the wool’s insulating qualities and anti-bacterial properties that help prevent odour, the value they add will outweigh the cost. 

The Icebreaker Merino Oasis 200 long-sleeve top and leggings, for use by night or day, come in clutch at just under 200g a piece!

• Base layer set (top & bottoms) weight: 400g
• Total weight tally: 3288g

Tent

With its compact, water resistant, compression bag, the Nemo OSMO Dragonfly 2 tent weighs in at just 1.2kg and boasts a more spacious interior than some of its heavier and cheaper counterparts.

A symmetrical double-door setup and thoughtfully designed side-vestibules make it a fantastic choice for one person with a pack, or two people if packs are stored in the vestibules. Rivalling MSR in quality, this 3-season tent is currently the best ultralight option readily available in the country.

• Tent weight: 1200g
• Total weight tally: 4388g

Cook-system

Why complicate things when one product can do it all? 

By this, I’m of course referring to the Jetboil Flash 1.0L Cook System, which includes a bowl and a Jetboil fuel canister support compatible with both 100g and 230g gas canisters.

With a built-in igniter and Jetboil’s heat-saving Fluxring technology, this simple, all-in-one pot and stove system takes only 120s to boil half a litre of water – there’s also a colour-changing thermal patch on the cosy to indicate when it is boiling, further conserving energy.

Perfect for coffee and freeze-dried dinners – staples in any UL cook system! 

• Cook system weight: 371g
• Total weight tally: 4759g

Top Tip: Approximately 10 litres of water can be boiled from one Jetboil JetPower 100g fuel canister using the Flash cook system, in which the 100g canister can nest – this little guy should more than get you through an ultralight trip of five days.

• 100g canister weight: 200g
• Total weight tally: 4959g

Regardless of whether I’m hiking, at work, or in the club – I never leave home without a spoon. You don’t need anything fancy, and you could even opt for the spork variant, but for me the Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery Spoon is as affordable as they come and is an essential piece of gear in any ultralight setup!

Using insanely advanced technology with inspiration from neolithic times, this small tool prevents hikers from scalding themselves by eradicating the need to grab food or stir coffee with their fingers.

• Spoon weight: 10g
• Total weight tally: 4969g

Weatherproof Gear 

When it comes to choosing clothing for an ultralight trip, it really depends on your personal preferences (e.g. how many days in a row are you willing to wear that shirt), BUT there are two essentials no matter what: a rain shell/jacket and an insulated jacket. 

Rain Shell

Black Diamond’s Stormline Stretch Rain Shell is a reliable outer for your weather-proof layering system, weighing an impressively low 282g and boasting a 10000ml waterhead rating, silicone-sealed zipper, pit-ventilation zippers, peak brim and adjustable cuffs & hood.

• Rain jacket weight: 282g
• Total weight tally: 5251g

Insulated Jacket

For ultralight insulation on a hike, there is no better jacket than a down jacket!

Packing down super small into its own pocket, and boasting quality baffles of 650 fill down, the Ocún Tsunami Eco Down Jacket will boost your comfort by night and your street-cred by day, with some fun features like a fold-away hood and thumb loops (which prevent the need for gloves unless conditions are extreme). 

It also doubles as the ultimate climbing jacket with its two-way belay-friendly zippers and helmet-compatible hood!

• Down jacket weight: 370g
• Total weight tally: 5621g

Totalling just over 5.6kg, excluding food and water, this combo would come in approximately 4kg lighter than the average overnight setup – if not more!

Remember, we didn’t take budgeting into account, and a premium setup like the above would be quite the investment. There are always more affordable options, just bear in mind that saving money will likely mean adding some extra weight.

It’s also good to be conscious of the impact of buying quality, sustainable items rather than supporting mass consumerism or unethically sourced products (such as cheap down) when buying your gear. 

Visit the CityROCK Gear Shop to check out the above products for yourself, and feel free to chat to our friendly staff if you have any questions – happy adventuring!