A photo of a Smart water bottle and a blue water bottle on the ground.
A photo of a Smart water bottle and a blue water bottle on the ground.

Ultralight Backpacking Hacks You Can Find at a Gas Station

Sure, it’s expensive to achieve that elusive sub-10 pound base weight. But trimming a few pounds off your kit is shockingly affordable. You can spend less than $20 at your local gas station and trim more weight off your backpack than spending hundreds of dollars on a Dyneema ultralight tent. Here are the top ultralight backpacking hacks for saving weight while saving your wallet.

Smartwater Bottle
For years, there was an obvious tell for the likes of ultralight thru-hikers versus traditional weekend warriors. One group was carrying a trusty Nalgene (or two) in their backpack’s side pockets. The other had bedraggled smartwater bottles. Occasionally, it’d be a Vitamin water or Gatorade, but the slim profile — often with a Sawyer mini sticking out the top — of the Smartwater bottle was the most ubiquitous.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Laura Lancaster.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Writer and Editor
Laura Lancaster

Hi, I‘m Laura. I’ve been editing and writing for nearly twenty years, covering everything from developing a seismologist’s first book to telling the story of my first deer hunt. While the first half of my career was spent learning the ropes of publishing in New York City, for the second I’ve been in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, working on projects for clients in the outdoor space. Most recently, I’ve been working as a senior staff writer at Outdoor Life. When I’m not at home with my husband and daughter, you can find me camping, backpacking, and running in the foothills of the Cascades.

Media Mentions

It all starts with Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L, the best and most reliable filter-bladder combo and the core of my backpacking water storage and filtration system.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Media Mentions

Our top water filter for thru hiking, the Sawyer Squeeze, is 15% off.

Naomi Hudetz
Chief Operating Officer & Online Editor

Media Mentions

People with alpha-gal syndrome show allergic symptoms such as rash, nausea and vomiting after eating such meat.

Stephanie Soucheray
Reporter