Ultralight tramper and thru-hiker Justin Sprecher loves the zen-like meditation of walking from sunup to sundown. To achieve this he pares down his gear to the bare essentials. 

He patiently waits for sales or purchases gear second-hand. “Ultralight doesn’t have to be ultra-expensive. I’ve slowly built my kit over many years,” he says. “Getting a smaller pack taught me to live with less. At first, I could only do overnights. As my gear got smaller I could go longer and longer with the same pack.” 

His base weight, including tent, is 3.8kg without food and water. 

Pack

I love my little Gossamer Gear Pilgrim 36. It’s comfy and fits me perfectly, plus I got it for a song at a thrift store. The best feature is the removable backrest that doubles as a foam seat. I can carry eight to nine days of food and gear before needing a larger pack. I use a Wellington council recycling bag as a liner.

Clothes

I hike in running shorts and a Kathmandu Sun-Stopper Hoodie that I picked up on clearance for $20. I take merino wool thermals and a down puffer jacket for the evenings. For rain, the Outdoor Research Helium II with Marmot PreCip Eco Pants are my go-to. On colder missions I’ll use the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L.

Footwear

I used trail runners for my first long-distance hike in 2017 and was surprised by how much my tramping experience was improved. I like the Altra Lone Peaks, or Saucony Peregrines in more rugged terrain.

Shelter

Gossamer Gear’s 600g tent The One pitches with my trekking poles and eight pegs. It’s not spacious, but is cosy with a lot of headroom. Because it pitches with poles I need to take care when choosing a site to minimise wind.

Food

For ultralight trips I don’t pack a pot, fuel or stove. I eat muesli for breakfast, graze on wraps and snacks during the day and make my own cold-soaked meals for dinner.

Other essentials

Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp, Katadyn BeFree water filter with Platypus 2L storage bag, Anker 6700mAh battery pack and the Deuce #2 Trowel.

Safety and repair

I always take my rescueME PLB1, a first aid kit and an emergency blanket. Safety is one place I don’t cut corners. I also take a small utility kit with a Leatherman CS multi-tool, patch kit, sewing kit, super glue and duct tape.

Sleep system

My Enlightened Equipment Enigma -1℃ sleeping quilt has an 850 down fill and weighs 380g. I pair it with a Therm-A-Rest UberLite, putting my sleep system at a touch over 600g. If it’s forecast to go below 5℃ , I’ll add a Cocoon silk liner or a more insulated mat like the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir.