Is ultralight more expensive?

The gear is absolutely more expensive, from the pack to tent/hammock to stove to everything else.

It's a never ending game of compromise and expense.

It depends how you do it. Ultralight gear is definitely more expensive because the designers use more expensive materials and really sweat the details. It's also a lower-volume niche market than traditional camping/hiking gear.

Though you can also lighten up by just carrying less. This grandma thru-hiked the AT multiple times with little more than a shower curtain, blanket, bag of food, and sneakers.

Generally, yes, often an order of magnitude more expensive. A 4 pound tent you can probably get for a few bucks at a yard sale, but a 1 pound tent is probably $500. Walmart probably has 4-5 pound backpacks for $50, but a 1 pound backpack is going to be like $200-300.

That being said, a lot of it is mentality. Carrying lighter food, not carrying too much water, not bringing extra clothes.

Also, it's totally possible to make your own ultralight gear for a big discount. I got into sewing and have made several decent 1.8 pound 50L packs for only about $80 a pop. Check out https://learnmyog.com/

I’d say gear is more expensive, often much more expensive. But UL often means less gear, so I guess that should be considered too. What I means is that you don’t need to buy a whole Triangia kitchen - just a burner, you don’t need a whole wardrobe of clothes - just the bare essential, etc.

I think it depends on the choices you make. For each expensive option there is usually a decent cheap option. Most people associate ultralight with over-engineered DCF and carbon fiber tents that cost $1000, but a sub-$100 tarp can work as well.

For me ultralight became a compromise of cost and enjoyment. I have a pretty small frame a slight shoulder injury. A lighter pack isnt as painful and much easier for me to balance. My first trip I had over 1/3 of my body weight on my back and that certainly took its toll and took away from the experience I wanted.

As much as ultralight gear is expensive, I do find its quality to be pretty good. Taking care of your ultralight equipment will often lead to a lifetime of service.

Yes, I would say it generally costs more. But it doesn't have to.

For example, ultralight tents are expensive, so I embraced tarp life. My tarp and bivy are lighter than most UL tents and cost hundreds of dollars less.

My individual pieces of clothing cost more, but adopting an ultralight approach means I don't carry needless extras, so I don't buy as many clothes in the first place.

UL stoves can cost a lot, but the BRS stove or an alcohol stove are cheap and weigh less. Eating cold food is even lighter.

You get the idea. It costs exactly what you spend on it. It can be done affordabley if you are strict about what you are carrying and strategic with purchases. Leaving unneeded items at home will have a bigger impact on your base weight than any $700 tent.