A guide to great lightweight backpacking gear

If you're still suffering through weekend or weeklong 3-season backpacking trips with a 40 or 50 pound pack, enough is enough. It has become quite easy to assemble a feature-rich backpacking kit that will allow you to travel in comfort while carrying less than 25 pounds, including food and water! And better yet, there's no reason to break the bank. Many of the lightweight options are very affordable.

Once you've pared down your pack weight, you'll be amazed at how much extra ground you can cover, or how fresh you feel at the end of the day. Lighter weight footwear is also possible because your feet will require less support with a light pack on your back. We backpack with nothing more than trail running sneakers on our feet. No more big clunky boots to weigh your feet down.

Our favorite lightweight tents

• Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo Enhanced (one person tent)
• Six Moons Designs Lunar Duo (two person tent)
• Tarptent Squall 2 (two person tent) - great value and fantastic, light design
• Tarptent Rainshadow 2 (three person tent)

Our favorite lightweight backpacks

• Golite Jam2 - comfortable, very light (21 oz.) and durable
• ULA Circuit - 36 oz pack with great features, such as hipbelt pockets

Our favorite lightweight sleeping bags

• Mountain Hardwear UltraLamina 32 - Great 3-season bag for about 2 pounds
• Slumberjack Super Guide +30 - Budget-priced bag for warm sleepers
• The North Face Cat's Meow - a little heavier, but great for cool Spring and Fall nights

Our favorite lightweight cooking gear

• Etowah II Alcohol Stove - light, durable, no heavy fuel canister
• Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 mug style cooking pot
• MSR Pocket Rocket Canister Stove - dependable, sturdy, fast-boiling canister stove