Howdy, I'd say the best ultralight hack I've come up with is cooking using only a mug, spork, and mini stove for all meals.The real hack is that I wrapped the handles of the mug in some kind of non-conducting self-adhering tape I got from the HVAC section of the hardware store a long time ago. Sorry, I don't remember what it's called. This lets me grab the mug from the fire or the stove, so I don't need seperate pans, plates, bowls, etc. You can make mac'n cheese, dehydrated anything, soup, etc in it. Then you wipe it out and make some hot chocolate or tea. I currently use a small, light MSR PocketRocket 2 (~$45) - but my father-in-law has one from amazon that similarly screws directly on the fuel he got for less than $20 that he loves and swears is a better product than mine. I also currently use a Snow Peak Titanium mug (also ~$40). You might be able to get something else, but I've had no trouble with warping or anything and have used the mug directly on the heat source for years without issue. I also like the silicone hotlips you can put on it so you can drink from it while hot ($7 for 2). This mug is also big enough you could probably make enough hot water (or maybe even meal) for two, then split it with a second mug. Hope this helps. Cheers! ... View more

I have my core essentials, essentials for overnight, and essentials for cooking (if we group cook, my cooking essentials go out the window). The bare minimum, core essentials that I currently keep in an Osprey Talon 22 in my car is: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Medical Kit A water bottle (drawn from an assortment of brands and styles) that I usually have with me, plus an emergency backup consisting of a Sawyer Mini & collapsable water bottle. Morakniv Eldris knife on paracord lanyard w/magnesium firestarter (I recently threw a Lanksy Quadsharp in the bag for sharpening, but I might go back to a basic whetstone) A couple granola bars UCO Survival Matches Lightweight columbia fleece I've had for ages Compass Flashlight Hand sanitizer & kiss my face sunscreen Outdoor Research Radar pocket hat I also have a northface raincoat and a Tilley Airflo hat in my car that I'll take, depending on the weather. Likewise sunglasses that live in the car. If I know I'm going hiking when I leave home, I'll add an appropriately filled hydraflask 2L water bladder & maybe a map of the area. For overnight/multiday backpacking, my additional core gear is: An Osprey pack I've used long enough I've forgotten the model and size A Hennesey Hammock Jungle Explorer I recently started using with it's sundry accessories. I'm about to replace my mummy bag with a quilt, once I decide which. A water filter (the sawyer mini is my backup). Currently either a Sawyer Squeeze or platypus GravityWorks, depending on length and companions. If wood processessing is expected, I'll carry a hatchet, but I've recently replaced that with a SOG Kukri (but I haven't yet gone on a trip anticipating its use, and thus not taken it, so more testing is required). A Petzl headlamp An independent carrying method for my ten essentials (as I don't bring the Talon). My last few trips, this has been a Revamp Gear front pack vest, which basically adds detachable pockets to the front of my pack and which I can take off and wear seperately (I use this for my 10 essentials so I can keep them with me when I don't have my full pack on). So far it has worked well, but I'm still on the lookout for other options. If cooking for myself is a component of the excursion, my core kitchen gear is: Platypus GravityWorks Filter MSR PocketRocket Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 Mug (I wrapped the handles in some kind of non-conducting self-adhering tape I got from the HVAC section of the hardware store a long time ago. I use the mug to boil water for cooking, cleaning and for hot drinks; then just add silicone hotlips if I intend to drink from it) GSI Crossover Kitchen kit (replaced the included towel with the GSI Camp Dish Cloth and added a small pepper mill, a little spice container with salt, jerk spice & cumin, and small bottles of olive oil and sriracha, because why not - and it all fits) Snowpeak titatanium spork An MSR Piezo Ignitor. Campsuds Ok, I think that's it on my essential gear. Cheers! ... View more