Great advice from KC and others on the hammock and tarp. I don't DIY those items so I can't help there.
However, there are a few of us UL/minimalist types on HF who can help lighten the rest of the load. For a good intro to all aspects of UL, take a look at
Mike Clelland's videos on YouTube. His book,
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips, also has some good ideas and reinforces the general philosophy around UL. You begin to understand that it's not so much about weight (although that's a huge side benefit
) as it is about simplifying and doing more with less stuff.
One hammock-related suggestion (for suspension) is to use a couple of 12-15' UHMWPE straps (Venom, Myerstech, Dutch spider) tied directly into hammock CLs with Becket hitch or J-Bend. The advantage of straps is that they can be used with more closely spaced trees where whoopies would be too long. Here is my entire suspension—2x 15' Venom straps with Evo loops—which weighs 2.05oz:
Attachment 165261
"Back in the day" I carried about 35 lbs of "stuff" for a simple overnighter; nowadays I carry less than 10 lbs and it is so much more fun. I have absolutely no dread of hills!
Attachment 165262
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