Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards 2023
Posted by Andy Neil on Dec 22, 2023
2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8.5.
We also wanted to showcase our customers' favourite and best-selling gear, as well as the equipment that we here in the office have loved and used on our trips, such as the TGO Challenge, the Cairngorm 4000, and countless Munros and Wainwrights.
We didn't just want to award the "big names"; we wanted to show off the smaller, unsung heroes, like Denttabs and Nitecore, that make life on the trail a little easier. And, of course, we wanted to let you know what food we found to be the most satisfying of the year. We are proud of our first awards and are excited about the leaps forward in innovation and weight saving that 2024 will bring.
Best Camping Gadgets
Customer Favourite: Flextail Tiny Pump X2
The Flextail Tiny Pump 2X has earned the title of our Customer's Best Camping Gadget Of The Year due to its remarkable speed in inflating sleeping pads, efficient deflation for compact packing, integrated lamp for tent illumination, and its compact and lightweight design making it an indispensable, multifunctional tool for any outdoor enthusiasts.
On-Trail Favourite: Denttabs
Not the most glamorous of gear, but the Toothpaste tablets from Denttabs emerge as the on-trail favourite for ultralight hikers, offering a weight-conscious solution with precise usage, simplicity in application, and an eco-friendly bamboo brush, providing a win-win combination of efficiency and environmental consciousness.
Best Lightweight Gadget: Nitecore NB10000 Gen 2 Power Bank
Nitecore's NB10000 Gen 2 Power Bank earns the title of the 'world's lightest' 10,000mAh power bank and our prestigious “Lightweight Gadget of The Year” due to its innovative Carbon fibre construction, providing a perfect balance of lightweight design and robust strength.
Camp Kitchen
Customer Favourite: SOTO WindMaster
Our customers consistently tell us the SOTO Windmaster Stove is their favourite camp kitchen gear. The stove's groundbreaking design, unique burner head, and impressive performance in windy conditions make it a top choice for campers. Even in strong winds, the Windmaster Stove efficiently and rapidly boils water.
UOG Favourite: TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 650ml Pot
TOAKS' LIGHT Titanium Pots stand out as the premier ultralight camp kitchen gear of the year, seamlessly combining the unparalleled lightweight properties of titanium with TOAKS' expert integration, providing durability and high performance for backcountry enthusiasts who prioritise minimising weight without sacrificing essential features.
Favourite Food: Real Turmat Taco Bowl
The Taco Bowl from Real Turmat is the best-dehydrated meal of the year due to its exceptional flavour, pleasing texture, and a perfect balance of spice, making it a unanimously acclaimed 10/10 among our staff.
Best Mid-layer
Most Versatile Mid-Layer: Rab Vapour Rise Alpine Light Jacket
Rab's newly updated VR Alpine Light Jacket stands out as the most versatile mid-layer of the year, seamlessly balancing lightweight design with surprising warmth, optimal breathability through the VR Wicking and VR Airflow technologies, and exceptional protection from the elements, making it an ideal choice for year-round use and excelling particularly in cooler months.
UOG Staff Favourite: Men's Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody & Women's Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody
The Ultralight Outdoor Gears staff selected the R1 Air as their Mid-layer of the year because of its innovative construction. The zig-zag pattern of Patagonia's hollow-core fabric creates a warmer and more breathable alternative to the classic R1 fleece. This makes the R1 Air ideal for high-intensity activities while maintaining durability.
Best All-Rounder: Fjallraven Abisko Lite Fleece Half Zip
The Abisko Lite Fleece is the best all-around mid-layer of the year. It is made from 100% recycled polyester, has a half-length zip for heat regulation, thumb loops, and a stylish design that makes it perfect for both on and off-trail use.
Best Footwear
Customer Favourite Footwear: Altra Lone Peak 7
With minor alterations, the Altra Lone Peak 7 retains its winning formula, adhering to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. However, it introduces a sleeker design and improved stability with the addition of a stabilising cradle, making it our customers' favourite hiking footwear this year.
Best Trail Runner: Hoka One One Speedgoat 5 GTX
The Speedgoat 5 GTX has to be our top trail runner of the year, offering an enhanced experience with Hoka’s renowned well-cushioned midsole, a reliable Vibram sole for versatile terrain, a comfortable higher-heel cup, secure fit with a flat tongue, and effective Gore-Tex membrane for dry feet.
Best Boot: Inov8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 & Women's Inov8 Roclite Pro G 400
The Roclite Pros stand out as the best hiking boots of the year, seamlessly combining enhanced durability, immediate comfort, and superior grip on various terrains, all while offering the support of a hiking boot and the cushioning of a trail runner.
Best Trekking Trousers
Best Ultralight Trousers: Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers
The Patagonia Terrebonne Jogger emerges as the best ultralight trekking trousers of the year, seamlessly blending trail-worthy functionality with everyday style. These joggers balance sleek aesthetics, performance, and environmental consciousness effortlessly, making them a top choice for the trail and town.
Best All-Rounder Trousers: Men's Mammut Runbold Pants & Women's Mammut Runbold Pants
The Mammut Runbold Pants are versatile hiking trousers made from soft-shell fabric. They are wind resistant, provide exceptional stretch for strenuous trail activities, and are durable enough for rock scrambling. This makes them a top choice for year-round use and our best all-around tracking trousers of the year.
Best Winter Trousers: Berghaus Extrem MTN Guide MW Technical Pant
The Extrem Guide pants from Berghaus embody the re-introduced Extrem range's dedication to durability and functionality. The pants feature a Cordura 4-way stretch fabric for exceptional toughness and abrasion resistance, four flat-taped pockets for comfort and practicality, and a roomy fit that prioritises freedom of movement, making them the top choice for winter hiking trousers.
Best Synthetic Jacket
Best Ultralight Synthetic: Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex 7D Insulated Jacket
The EE Torrid Apex jacket earns the title of the best synthetic jacket of the year with its unparalleled warmth-to-weight ratio, ultralight design, efficient packability, versatile weather protection, and thoughtful features, making it an ideal choice for long-distance multi-day hiking.
UOG Favourite: Men's OR SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie & Women's OR SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie
The Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Jacket earns its title as the best all-round synthetic jacket of the year, seamlessly combining exceptional warmth with a lightweight design and affordability, thanks to its VerticalX™ insulation, compressible baffle design, and versatile fit, making it an ideal choice for various outdoor activities.
Best All-Rounder: Men's Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody & Women's Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody
Patagonia's Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody seamlessly merges the breathability of the beloved R1 Air fleece with a water and wind-resistant front, offering optimal moisture-wicking efficiency for high-activity pursuits while providing added protection from the elements, making it our staff's favourite synthetic jacket of the year.
Best Down Jacket
Most Innovative: Men's Rab Mythic G Down Jacket & Women's Rab Mythic G Down Jacket
The Mythic G has to be the most innovative down jacket of the year, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technologies and premium materials, including a 7-denier Atmos outer with DWR, TILT technology for enhanced warmth, and 1000-fill power European goose down, all meticulously designed for optimal performance without compromising on lightweight functionality.
Best Ultralight Down Jacket: Men's Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket & Women's Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket
The Montbell Plasma 1000 emerges as the premier ultralight down jacket of the year, seamlessly blending unparalleled weight-to-warmth ratio with its 1000 fill power, making it virtually weightless yet surprisingly warm, perfect for minimalist adventurers seeking superior performance in chilly conditions.
Best In Test: Montane Alpine 850 Down Hoodie
The Alpine 850 Down Hoodie stands out as the top-down jacket for winter use due to its winning combination of exceptional warmth, lightweight construction, packability, and purpose-driven design tailored for alpine and high-level performance in harsh winter conditions, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking a versatile and reliable winter jacket.
Best Shell
Most Versatile Shell: Montane Phase Nano Gore-Tex Jacket
The Phase Nano from Montane is the most versatile shell of the year, excelling in both protection and comfort for runners and active individuals in varied weather conditions. The GTX membrane delivers exceptional waterproof performance, while the 3-layer Gore-tex Active fabric and the soft Gore C-Knit backer material provide impressive breathability.
Best Ultralight Shell: Men's Montbell Versalite Jacket & Women's Montbell Versalite Jacket
Montbell's Versalite has revolutionised traditional windproof designs by seamlessly integrating Gore Infinium and fully taped seams, elevating the jacket to the pinnacle of ultralight shells with an impressive 30,000HH waterproof rating, a breathability level of 43,000 MVTR, and strategically added features like pit zips, Aqua-Tect zippers, and ample pockets—all within a remarkable sub-200g weight, making it the standout choice for the best ultralight shell of the year.
Best Value Shell: Men's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket & Women's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket
Patagonia's Torrentshell 3L Waterproof Jacket stands out as the best value waterproof shell of the year, boasting a significant upgrade with its 3-layer waterproof fabric for enhanced durability and high performance, all while maintaining its commitment to sustainability through the use of 100% recycled face fabric, making it an impressive and reliable choice for enduring heavy rain in any environment.
Best Sleeping Mat
Best Winter Mat: Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions
The Tensor Extreme distinguishes itself as the most innovative sleeping pad of the year, boasting an exceptional 8.5 R-value, a revolutionary Apex™ baffle design utilising Thermal Mirror Metallised Film for unmatched warmth-to-weight ratio, and a virtually silent construction, all complemented by the efficiency of Nemo's Vortex Pump Sack, making it an outstanding choice for a cosy, supportive, and lightweight camping experience.
Best Newcomer: Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated Sleeping Mat
The Zoom UL sleeping pad earns the title of the best new mat of the year, boasting an impressive combination of lightweight materials, exceptional comfort for side sleepers with its 8cm thickness, and a rectangular shape that adds a few extra grams but ensures a restful night's sleep, making it one of the top picks for sleeping pads in its weight class.
Best All-Rounder: Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT Regular Sleeping Mat
The new line of Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads boasts a fivefold reduction in noise. It provides a night-and-day difference in comfort, particularly for side sleepers like me. It has earned its well-deserved title as the best all-around sleeping pad of the year thanks to its impressive thickness, efficient pump sack, and remarkable 4.5 R-value at a mere 377 grams for year-round use.
Best Rucksack
Best New Product: Men's Osprey Exos Pro & Women's Osprey Eja Pro
The Osprey Exos Pro, inspired by the minimalist Levity range, the Osprey Exos, stands out with improved usability, featuring spacious side pockets, a large front panel with added mesh panels and adjustable compression straps, making it a more streamlined and supportive backpack for long-distance walking and thru-hiking, earning its place as the best new rucksack of the year.
Best All Rounder: Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60L
The 2023 Flex Capacitor emerges ast as the ultimate all-round rucksack, seamlessly combining expandable volume, user-friendly design with elasticated mesh pockets, and thoughtful features like U-shaped lid access, making it the top choice for versatility and convenience on the trail.
Best Day Pack: Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36 Fastpack
The Kumo Fastpack stands out as the top day pack of the year, catering to fast hikers and trail runners with its innovative design featuring a secure running vest-style harness, widened shoulder straps with multiple pockets for essentials, side pockets for water bottles, a large mesh pocket for extra storage, and versatile attachment options, providing a lightweight and stable solution for those seeking efficiency and speed on the trail.
Best Sleeping Bag or Quilt
Best Ultralight Bag or Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 850FP
The Revelation by Enlighten Equipment is the ultimate ultralight quilt. Its versatile design seamlessly transitions between warm and cool weather, with a drawcord closing foot box, secure clips for mat attachment, and an impressively compact pack size. This makes it a top choice for quilt camping enthusiasts.
Most Innovative Bag or Quilt: Rab Mythic Ultra 360 Down Sleeping Bag
Rab's Mythic Ultra 360 Down Sleeping Bag stands out as the most innovative sleeping bag of the year, combining cutting-edge technologies such as Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT) and advanced box-wall construction with lightweight materials to achieve an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio, making it a top choice for experienced backpackers and alpinists prioritising warmth and efficiency in their gear.
Customer Favourite Bag or Quilt: Big Agnes 2023 Pluton UL 40 Down Sleeping Bag
This versatile sleeping bag is our customers' favoured choice for the year, excelling in warmer climates and the UK summer months with its spacious design, large foot box, and innovative zip feature for temperature regulation; its minimalist hood design, easily adaptable with a drawcord, makes it perfect for pleasant weather and doubles as a quilt, providing ample wriggle room for a comfortable sleeping experience.
Best Tent
Best Ultralight Tent: Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 2P Tent
The NEMO tent is the top ultralight tent of the year, thanks to its innovative OSMO™ fabric, made from 100% recycled materials and free of PFCs and PFAS. It also weighs less than 800 grams. The tent's spacious design, impressive features, and user-friendly innovations, such as gatekeeper door ties and a night light pocket, make it stand out from the competition.
Best All-Rounder: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent
Big Agnes has successfully improved the 2020 Copper Spur series, making it the ultimate all-around ultralight tent of the year. It features lighter weight, more robust fabrics, a freestanding design with generous head height, improved pitching efficiency with a buckle system, versatile fabric and mesh composition for optimal privacy, warmth, and wind resistance, increased storage options, and innovative awning-style doors that provide easier access and opens up the tent for a more immersive outdoor experience.
Best Four Season: Hilleberg Soulo
The Hilleberg Soulo Tent, designated as the best four-season tent of the year, is ready for the worst conditions on solo trips due to its meticulous design, high-quality materials, and robust construction within the Red Label category, offering a genuinely freestanding, three-pole setup, 12 guy points, and exceptional stability, making it the best choice for all-season camping, especially in challenging weather conditions.
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Andy Neil |
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Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. |
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2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8.5. We also wanted to showcase our customers' favourite and best-selling gear, as well as the equipment that we here in the office have loved and used on our trips, such as the TGO Challenge, the Cairngorm 4000, and countless Munros and Wainwrights. We didn't just want to award the "big names"; we wanted to show off the smaller, unsung heroes, like Denttabs and Nitecore, that make life on the trail a little easier. And, of course, we wanted to let you know what food we found to be the most satisfying of the year. We are proud of our first awards and are excited about the leaps forward in innovation and weight saving that 2024 will bring.