Lightweight Backpacking: How Light?

You aren't lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds for a summer weekend. I invent these standards, but I try to be reasonable. I backpack with less than fifteen pounds total weight for a weekend trip. With a few new pieces of gear, and a little knowledge, you can probably carry less than twenty pounds for a three-day trip, and less than thirty for a week-long trip.

Start by throwing out those pack weight/body weight formulas. Learn the principles of lightweight backpacking, and you'll never be close to what they say you can carry anyhow. And who wants to carry 25% of their body weight down the trail? The question to ask is "How much do I need to carry to be safe and comfortable?"

Lightweight Backpacking Isn't Masochistic

The biggest reason for lightweight or ultralight backpacking is to enjoy the trip more. I don't leave crucial things behind or otherwise make myself miserable, just so I can call it lightweight backpacking.

Here's a good rule: Go as light as you can without sacrificing things that are most important to you (safety items, a good book, a bottle of rum?). It's not about giving things up. It's about carefully choosing what you really need to have an enjoyable, safe trip, AND replacing heavier things with lighter things.

For example, if you really need an inflatable pad, get rid of that 2-pounder and buy one of the new 13-ouncers. My down sleeping bag weighs 17 ounces and has kept me warmer than any 3 or 4 pound bag I've had. If you replace items one-by-one with lighter alternatives, you can eventually cut your packweight by half or more.

Start by setting aside your lightest sweater, socks, hat, etc. Then, when you can afford to, buy one of the big three (pack, tent, bag) because this is where you'll save the most weight. Of course, going light can be expensive, but I've gone 110 miles in seven days (no blisters) with $7 running shoes, so it doesn't have to be.

How Much Weight?

With proper equipment and skills, you probably can be comfortable and safe with twenty pounds on your back for the weekend. Watch yourself on your next hike. What did you actually use, and which items brought you the most comfort? What can you leave behind next time? What can you replace with lighter items?

My first really light backpacking trip was a true test in the mountains of Colorado. It rained or snowed every day. I went 110 miles without a blister, climbed 5 "fourteeners", stayed warm and dry, and never had more than 17 pounds on my back. Oh, and I never had as much fun with a heavy pack. That was lightweight backpacking at its best.

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

---

The Great Outdoors is to be Explored and Loved in all its fullness

The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More

Visiting Croatia

Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good... Read More

Packing a Backpack - A Guide

With so many different designs, packing a backpack will vary... Read More

Ultralight Backpacking Skills - A Three Day Test

On Lake Michigan, at the end of the Stonington Peninsula,... Read More

Discover Eaton Canyon In Pasadena California

Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More

Alaska - Brief Travel Guide

WHAT TO SEE, TO DO AND WHERE: Mount McKinley is... Read More

Lake Winnipesaukee ? The Smile of the Great Spirit

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More

San Diego Beach Hikes ? Cardiff to Carlsbad

San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the... Read More

Yellowstone Camping In The Fall

Soon, the busy summer tourist season will be over in... Read More

River Rafting: An Overview

White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences... Read More

Great Family Camping Trips Make Excellent Traditions

A wonderful way to invest in your families' treasure trove... Read More

Too much to do in London!

No one can truly say... Read More

Mystic Seaport Captured ? Links to Our Past Guide, Part 3

Mystic Seaport celebrates the seafaring past of New England. Known... Read More

Alaska Hunting Guide

WHAT TO HUNT AND WHERE: Alaska is a hunter's paradise.... Read More

Going it Alone: The Waterfall at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska

I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More

Unforgettable Cape Cod Vacations: The National Seashore Gift

Take a captivating trip through the Cape Cod National Seashore... Read More

Santa Cruz Church ? the Portuguese Legacy in Bangkok

Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More

South Africa Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves

A South Africa safari is the ideal wildlife trip to... Read More

Inflatable Pontoon Boats

Bryce Whitmore designed the modern whitewater inflatable pontoon boat, and... Read More

Kerala ? Holiday in Gods Own Country

Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a... Read More

Camping - Get Those Tents Up!

Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More

Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Backpackers

Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping... Read More

Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with an RV

New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More

Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks

The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in... Read More

River Rafting in Washington State

The great state of Washington offers some of the best... Read More