Hot-weather overnight
Sun, a light shelter, and a shirt that dries.
Who it is for. Warm-night hikers who sleep warm enough for a lighter bag.
- A 30°F bag is still a lot of bag if the night is 60°F. Swap in the Spark or a summer quilt you trust.
- Carry the water for the dry stretch.
- Bugs may matter more than the cold.
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Packing list
From this kit on Amazon: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo.
Check current price on the listing.
Sun hoodie
Outdoor Research Echo Hoody
A sun hoodie is the most useful shirt in a lot of western kits. The hood fits under a hat or instead of one. It is not a warm layer at camp. Rinse salt out of it. A bug-proof weave is a different product if mosquitoes are the actual problem.
Who should buy it. Exposed trails in sun.
Pros
- UPF
- Hood
- Breathable
Cons
- Not warm
- Can feel clammy in humidity
Not sold on Amazon US.
Closest on Amazon: Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie (men's). A hooded sun shirt from Outdoor Research. The men's Echo Hoody is not listed on amazon.com, so this is the closest hooded option from the same brand.
Check current price on the listing.
Synthetic hiking tee
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily
Wear it, rinse it, and accept that it will smell before a merino shirt would. It is the right fabric when you sweat hard and the shirt must dry by morning. Cotton is still the one to leave at home once you are away from the car.
Who should buy it. Warm-weather backpackers.
Pros
- Fast dry
- Light
- Fair price
Cons
- Odor
- Not warm when you stop
Not sold on Amazon US.
Closest on Amazon: Outdoor Research Echo T-Shirt (men's). A lightweight synthetic hiking tee from Outdoor Research, made for the same hot-weather use and sold at a similar price.
Check current price on the listing.
Best budget solo
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
The Lunar Solo is a real shelter for one person and a pack, not a couple's tent with optimistic marketing. Vent it. Sealing every zipper on a humid night and then blaming the fabric is a user error. It is a fair budget solo shelter if you already understand single-wall condensation.
Who should buy it. Solo hikers who want a named tent without a flagship price.
Pros
- Low cost for the weight
- Simple pitch
- Enough floor for one
Cons
- Single-wall condensation
- Not for two sleepers
Check current price on the listing.
Best ultralight mummy
Sea to Summit Spark
Spark bags are for hikers whose tent and cook kit are already light. If you sleep cold, buy a lower rating instead of a lighter shell. The cut is narrow. Try it. A quilt may be the kinder ultralight answer if you move a lot.
Who should buy it. Warm sleepers counting ounces on dry trips.
Pros
- Tiny packed size
- Light
- A real hood
Cons
- Narrow
- High price for the warmth
Best foam pad
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
The Z Lite is a seat, a kneeling pad, and a summer bed. Under an air pad it adds reliability and a little R-value. It is bulky on the outside of the pack, which is the correct place for it. Do not take it alone into a frost if you sleep cold.
Who should buy it. Hikers who want a pad that still works after a thorn.
Pros
- No puncture
- Doubles as a sit pad
- Cheap insurance
Cons
- Bulky
- Low warmth alone
Check current price on the listing.
Best default filter
Sawyer Squeeze
Squeeze it from a dirty bag into a clean bottle. Backflush it. Do not let it freeze. It does not handle viruses, so it is the wrong only-tool for some international travel. In typical North American mountain water it is the default for a reason: light, cheap, and field-proven if you maintain it.
Who should buy it. Backpackers filtering lakes and streams at home.
Pros
- Light
- Inexpensive
- Threads on common bottles
Cons
- Slow when clogged
- Not a virus barrier
- Freeze damage
Check current price on the listing.
Best lightweight lamp
Nitecore NU25
The NU25 is in the kit because of weight. Runtime on high is short, which is fine if high is ten minutes of trail and low is the rest of camp. Recent versions moved to USB-C. Confirm that on the box. It is easier to lose than a larger lamp.
Who should buy it. Ultralight hikers who still want a real headlamp.
Pros
- Very light
- USB-C on recent versions
- Multiple modes
Cons
- Small battery
- Easy to misplace
Check current price on the listing.