@south.signal: I went into @REI with a simple challenge: build the core of an ultralight backpacking setup for less than $750. Here’s what I picked: REI Flash Air 1 — $229 / 36.6 oz @Gregory Nano 28 — $82 / 21.76 oz @bigagnes Rapide SL — $170 / 18 oz @EXPED Terra 30 — $210 / 25.9 oz @SOTO Outdoors Amicus with two pots — $50 / 7.8 oz Total: $741 and 110.06 ounces, or just under 6 pounds 14 ounces. This isn’t the absolute lightest setup available, and it isn’t a complete packing list. You would still need clothing, water treatment, food storage, first aid, fuel, stakes, electronics, and all the other small items that quietly increase your base weight. But it gives you a lightweight shelter, backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, and cookware without relying on obscure brands or waiting for gear to ship from five different websites. There are trade-offs. The Flash Air requires more care when pitching than a typical freestanding tent. A 28-liter pack forces you to keep the rest of your kit compact. And I chose the Rapide SL because it's affordable and comfortable, but definitely not the lightest. That is the part people sometimes miss about ultralight backpacking: the goal isn’t to buy the lightest item in every category. It’s to reduce weight strategically while still carrying equipment that fits your body, experience, conditions, and tolerance for discomfort. This is what I would buy at REI today with a $750 budget. #camping #ultralight #backpacking #trekking #ultralightpack

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Tuesday 28 July 2026 18:26:56 GMT