With this lightweight yet rugged gear, you can hit the backwoods without breaking your back.

Ditch the unwieldy tent poles with REI’s combo hammock tent. A fine mesh top keeps the skeeters out, and the optional rain fly thwarts the elements. It sleeps only one, though, so your trekmates will have to get their own damn tents. | $219

An empty water bottle is just a space-­eating piece of plastic, mocking you with its emptiness. Not this BPA-free soft-shell canteen. It holds a liter of liquid and rolls up when the H₂O runs dry. The double-­locking cap prevents it from spilling all over your sleeping bag. | $12

Once you lug your gear deep into the wild, you’ll be ready for less-encumbered day hikes. Get yourself a bag that can do both. The Aether has 60 liters of room for camp essentials, and its removable upper compartment converts into a daypack for a quick trip to that epic waterfall. | $280

Hiking boots typically compromise on weight to gain stability. Danner’s nimble suede trail slippers weigh just a pound each, making you more fleet fox than shambling bigfoot. And a super-grippy Vibram outsole helps ensure that you stay on track. | $160

Your mummy bag may be lightweight, but it doesn’t compress down to the size of a Nalgene bottle like the Flume does. Rated to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, it’ll keep you cozy in freezing overnight temps, and the water-­repellent down filling stays fluffy even in the morning dew. | $470 and up

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