Getting your gear as ultralight as possible for backpack hunting is a tried-and-true practice among many backcountry hunters. After all, the goal is to go in light and come out heavy, so why not go in as light as possible to save yourself the weight? You wanna bring everything you need and nothing you don’t. I’m all about this … to an extent, at least.
Being ultralight comes at a cost, and that cost is comfort. On tough hunts, a little bit of comfort can go a long way in the name of mental and physical well-being. So, down below, I want to explore a few luxury items for backpack hunting that are well worth the extra weight.
In short: The items in this article may cost a bit more weight, but the payback on efficiency and comfort is worth the haul.
Tiny Pump
If you’ve never had the pleasure of manually blowing up a sleeping pad above treeline, let me tell you, you’re not missing out. On the adventure? Yes, but the inflating part can kick rocks. You’ll save your breath and the longevity of your pad.
In order to combat that, I’ve been using the Tiny Pump from Flextail when backpack hunting. It blows my pad up in minutes and doesn’t leave me lightheaded on the side of a mountain while doing so. In all honesty, I believe this particular model is discontinued, but there are new versions available.
Using the Tiny Pump will help keep moisture out of the inside of the pad that would come from your breath. This creates mold and will decrease the insulation value of your sleeping pad.
And then this can also be a game-changer at a fire pit or wood-burning stove. Instead of manually blowing air onto hot coals to get the flame going again, use the Tiny Pump and you’ll be ready to rock in seconds. It’s worth the weight all the way around, which is only a few ounces.
Helinox Chair Zero
Now, I was pretty anti-chair for many years with my backpack hunting endeavors. Once a year, I’d bring a small stool in the spring to keep off the ground from ticks, but that was it. I mean, who brings a chair backpack hunting, right? It’s extra weight, extra space, and nothing short of a luxury item. Well, I can confidently, with no shame, admit that I’m a changed man after using the Helinox Chair Zero.
The Helinox Chair Zero is incredibly easy to set up and is ultralight to boot, coming in right around 1 pound. One of my worries was the space it would take up in my pack. I just separated the poles from the fabric. Poles ran on the side of my pack, and fabric rode inside the pack.
And the comfort? Let me tell you, the very first time I sat in this chair, I was done. That was it. It felt like sitting on a cloud. A backrest is a game-changer out there, and you can truly relax in this chair. It is a bit pricey, but it’s worth it from where I’m sitting.
Argali Elite Dream Pillow
Another area where my ruggedness is in question comes in the form of a pillow. I used to be tough and sleep on my puffy jacket or my backpack. I also slept like garbage. Nowadays, I am a firm believer in bringing a good pillow along for the ride on backpack hunting trips. My recent main squeeze is the Elite Dream Pillow from Argali.
Not all ultralight pillows are created equal, and the Elite Dream Pillow is a reminder of that. This pillow is essentially a fancy stuff sack. The side you’d lay your head on has a velvety soft outer that is super-comfortable.
As far as the inners go, well, you add that yourself to your liking. Stuff your puffy jacket inside (see, I’m still tough) and any other layers in order to dial in the fluff of your pillow. I love being able to control this, as it adds to a good night’s sleep, which is paramount in the backcountry.
Another unique feature is that on the bottom side, you’ll find buttons. These can be connected directly to the Argali Alpine Sleeping Bags, should you have one. So, no playing “where’s my pillow” throughout the night.
Favorite Foods
I’m a big “food is fuel” type of person, especially for backpack hunting. You need to feel good out there, and food is a major part of that. A vehicle with no gas doesn’t go. With that said, if you aren’t a big fan of the food you bring with you, then the likelihood of you eating it drops significantly. For that reason, it’s essential to pack some favorites.
The reason I want to mention this is that I believe many get caught up thinking they need to pack only “backpacking food.” All freeze-dried or dehydrated meals, trail mixes, etc. You know, the stuff that you’re supposed to bring on a backpack hunt. I say, hogwash.
Those foods are good and all, but don’t shy away from packing foods that aren’t technically backpacking foods. For instance, I love bringing tuna packets and crackers, which are sold in every dang grocery store out there. I also love gummy bears, tortillas, and even throw in a candy bar.
These are foods I know I’m going to eat, and I’ll look forward to doing so. Of course, make sure things aren’t going to go bad, but aside from that, pack what you want and what you know you’re going to enjoy eating.
Last Light LED Light Rope
I’ve always considered anything past the point of a headlamp a luxury item in the illumination department. It doesn’t change the fact that having an extra light, though, comes in handy and is just nice to have all around on a backpack hunt. The LED Light Rope from Last Light makes the cut in both illumination and weight.
This is a 3.5-ounce ultralight LED Light Rope that I connect directly to my Dark Energy Poseidon Pro power bank. The amount of light it produces is wild at a whopping 350 lumens. And the amount of uses stack up. Wrap it around the center pole of your tent or hang it from the roof of your shelter.
Backpack hunting aside, my family and I use it in our camper. The LED Light Rope has magnets on the inside of it that run the length of the rope. We stick the rope to the ceiling of our camper via a metal support rod. Another use would be to hang it in tree limbs or bushes near a downed animal in the dark. Makes for a well-lit workplace. Luxury, yes, but incredibly useful.
Luxury Isn’t a Bad Thing
I’m all for being as efficient and lightweight as possible for backpack hunts. There is something to be said, though, about having a few luxury items. These are things that can help you stay out even longer. They can help keep motivation up as well as aid in recovery — or, they simply allow one to operate more quickly in certain scenarios.
These things are valuable to a backcountry hunter. Yes, they add weight, but the other thing they add is longevity to a hunt. And the longer you can stay motivated in the mountains, the better your chances are at filling your tag.
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