Lightweight Backpacking to Better Enjoy the Outdoors
No other trend has seen such an increase in following in recent years than lightweight hiking. They put less stress on your body and results in a more comfortable and enjoyable hike. It’s really not hard to do especially where you have a choice of lightweight equipment as well as multifunctional ones.
1. What backpacking equipment do you currently have?
Write down what you have and the corresponding weight. You need to weigh your gear to find the actual weight. You may find that the actual weight is not the same as what the manufacturer states. This will help you calculate the weight cost of your gear selection.
2. Only pack what you need
It’s ok to carry luxury items but don’t take everything with you. Books, camping mattresses, fishing poles, binoculars and folding camping chairs are some of the popular luxury items backpackers frequently carry. Carefully select a few key items for a particular trip. Some luxuries never get used at all because they’re not applicable or you just don’t have the time.
3. Plan according to season and weather
A zero degree sleeping bag won’t be suitable in the summer. Carefully choose clothing, shelter, and sleeping bag that are appropriate for the season.
4. Use lightweight alternatives
Lighter alternatives are usually available as long as you can afford them. Try first to find lighter alternatives for your backpacking pack, sleeping bag and shelter. When choosing an ultralight backpack, make sure it can handle the whole weight of your gear.
5. Look for items that have multiple uses.
Your gear should be compatible to each other. Multi-functional gear and the ability to recognize the synergistic relationships between your gear is one of the key skills to reduce your pack weight. One example is the use of your trekking pole as a tent pole.
6. Choose down sleeping bags and down jackets.
Down still has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetics. You need to be careful with down though because if it gets wet, it provides you with zero insulation. Replacing a Polarguard 3D sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees and a 1″ thick Polarguard 3D jacket with down counterparts that are equally as warm can save as much as 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.
7. Wear a windbreaker
A lot of good windbreakers or wind shirts weigh as little as 3 ounces. Addition of a wind shirt to your clothing system can add tremendous comfort and significant warmth, allowing you to wear lighter base layers. The bottom line: a wind shirt extends the comfort range of your clothing system.
8. Sharing your backpacking equipment
Hiking with a friend, you can pool resources, especially shelter and cooking gear. With some creativity you can extend the concept further – sleeping bags, ground sheets, light, maps, camera.
9. Improve your outdoor skills
Expertise at backcountry hiking and camping is simply the accumulation of experience that allows you to solve problems using innovative solutions with minimal equipment or supplies. To acquire these skills may take year of experience in the outdoors. It helps if you attend backpacking clinics, survival courses and and first aid courses.
10. Use Mini Versions
Use travel sized version of your soap, shampoo, cereal, etc. Use a smaller container than the original packaging if possible. MInimize all packaging.
Reduce Your Pack Weight Gradually
To reduce your backpack weight, you need to do it gradually in stages. Be aware of the stuff that you really and the stuff that you don’t need at all. These tips will help you reduce your pack weight without sacrificing too much comfort and safety.
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