Start with Trail Running Apparel
With less weight comes more speed. We borrow from trail running to get apparel that's made to move. Use the TrailTech Short and Radical Airflow during the day with the Boulder 125 legging and Capilene hoody for after dark.
W TrailTech Short
"The TrailTech short is a 3" liner short that we choose because it doesn't ride up. The stout elastic keeps the short in place for all day comfort. With nearly a liter of storage within the short, snacks and essentials stay handy and carry efficiently. The TrailTech short is comfortable under a pack and doesn't compromise in fit or materials."
- Alpenglow Educator, Max
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
W TrailTech Short
Black / S
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Two-piece Pack Solution
A 20L running vest is a surprisingly useful bit of kit. With a compression sack, you can fit your sleep system in the back with nutrition and hydration up front. Add the Dera B01 Belt to put an extra 2L on your hips.
S/LAB Adventure 20 Set
"Can you run with a loaded 20 liters? You'll surprise yourself with this vests ability to equalize weight between front and back and feel super balanced. It fits my whole kit and the BearVault BV One bear can. My top pick for fastpacking."
- Alpenglow Educator, Max
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
S/LAB Adventure 20 Set
Black/White / S
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Ready for more gear?
Optimize the Big Three
Start by optimizing your sleep system: bag, pad, and pillow. Our lightest summer-weight sleeping bag is the Western Mountaineering Summerlite at just 1lb 3oz. Pair that with the 8 oz (240 g) Tensor Elite Pad (lightest inflatable pad in production) and Airhead Lite Pillow.
SummerLite
"I love long days and nights in the mountains but I don’t love carrying a heavy pack. So I try to make my big three (shelter, sleep and pack) as light as possible. Western Mountaineering makes exceptional bags with their attention to detail and high quality 850+ ethically sourced (gathered from nests) goose down. The Summerlite Mummy Bag is rated as comfortable to 32F and with a well insulated sleeping pad and a liner or down jacket I have slept comfortably down to 25F. I use a lightweight compression sack to squish the bag down to the size of a grapefruit - I am 5’7” and I use the 6 ft bag — the weight is only 1 lb 3 oz! This bag has been perfect for summer and fall trips in the Sierra."
- Alpenglow Educator Janice
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
SummerLite
LZ / 5'6
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Choose a Tent
Choose between a semi-freestanding (Hornet OSMO 1P), or trekking pole tent (String Ridge VST 1.5) for the lightest shelters available. Choose the Tiger Wall for maximum comfort.
String Ridge VST 1.5 UL Tent
"The String Ridge VST 1.5 is fantastically light and offers a secure feeling inside the tent. Unlike a tarp shelter or other ultralight options, it has a full "bathtub" floor and bug netting. It's full-featured nature made it an easy transition from freestanding tents and I unlocked profound weight savings."
- Alpenglow Educator, Max.
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
String Ridge VST 1.5 UL Tent
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Running Power Ups
Use Superlite Leki poles to gain climbing propulsion and keep you balanced. They Sylan 2 is my top pick as it's carbon plate makes the shoe stiff and stable. For the fast ones, choose the Kjerag 2.0 as one of the most nimble, durable, and lightweight shoes available.
W Guardian Air Jacket
"At just 200 grams, this is the lightest three-layer rain shell on the market. The fit is super versatile, making it useful for all your sports. Packing down to the size of a beer can, a Guardian Air in your pack is a huge confidence boost in the backcountry."
- Alpenglow Educator, Max.
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
W Guardian Air Jacket
Graphite / S
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Cold-soaking Essentials
Yep, no stove when fastpacking. Choose meals that are designed to be served cool, like the salads and bowls from Good to Go. All you need is a long spoon.
Arizona EVA
"The best lightweight camp shoe. Birkenstocks are famous for their supportive footbed. The Arizona EVA takes that same molded footbed and cuts the weight dramatically by using EVA foam instead of cork. Now your camp shoes offer a restful and restorative rebound after a long day on the trail. "
- Alpenglow Educator, Max.
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
Arizona EVA
White / 35 / Nar
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Ultralight Essentials
Learn More
Properly fitting your multi-day backpacking pack is crucial for comfort and efficiency on the trail. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the perfect fit for your backpacking pack.
Base weight is the combined weight of your backpacking gear minus all consumables, like food, water, and fuel. Understanding your base weight helps you plan for how far you can go, how fast you can...
How to Choose an Ultralight Tent
This quick guide has everything you need to make the right choice on what is often the single heaviest thing you will carry with you: your tent. Learn the difference between freestanding and semi f...
More kits?
Shop the Women's Running Kit
Shop our women's running kit featuring top apparel and gear picks. Curated by Janice and Tracy.