Whether or not you are a first-time backpacker, a newbie thru-hiker, or a seasoned fastpacker, in some unspecified time in the future, each backcountry adventurer wonders lighten their load for a extra snug trek. Ultralight backpacking methods vary from shaving off just a few grams to chopping a number of kilos out of your base weight—however at its core, it is all about studying to take much less so you are able to do extra.
In case you’re questioning minimize weight when backpacking, you are in the appropriate place. With insights from our model ambassadors and workers, we have compiled sensible suggestions to assist each newbies and weekend warriors streamline their gear decisions. We hope this record conjures up you to refine your pack and discover the right steadiness of consolation and effectivity whereas on path.
1. Study A number of Makes use of for Your Gear
A good way to chop pack weight is to convey gear that can be utilized in a number of methods quite than needing separate gadgets for various features. When gadgets in your pack can carry out double duties, it means that you can go away further gadgets—and weight—at house.
Listed here are just a few examples of double-duty gear gadgets:
- Bunch up your puffy jacket or additional clothes layers to make use of as a pillow at night time quite than packing a separate camp pillow
- Select a tent which you could arrange with trekking poles, equivalent to The One or The Two, quite than needing to pack separate tent poles
- Discover ways to use your gear for first support situations, equivalent to substituting a sit pad rather than a SAM splint
- Carry a backpacking tarp, which has so many potential makes use of that we even launched the #GGTarpChallenge for anybody who want to take part
2. Chilly Soak Your Meals
In case you’re already not a giant fan of cooking within the backcountry or simply need the best dinner possibility on the finish of an extended hike, attempt ditching your range and cold-soaking your meals as an alternative. This feature is finest throughout heat summer time journeys the place a scorching meal isn’t as important or interesting.
Even higher, spend money on a Crotch Pot! You learn that proper. Our Crotch Pot means that you can cook dinner your dinner whereas mountain climbing, utilizing your personal physique warmth. Not satisfied? Our weblog editor (me!) took it for a spin on the Appalachian Path by the Smokies and wrote an in depth assessment and information on the expertise. Learn extra concerning the suggestions and methods realized on the Gentle Ft weblog.
3. Scrutinize Your Further Clothes and Different Objects
Many newbie backpackers convey extra clothes than they really find yourself needing or utilizing. Simply since you’re mountain climbing for seven days doesn’t imply you must pack seven pairs of socks, for instance. It’s good to have one additional pair of “sacred” socks that you simply solely put on in your tent or in any other case preserve dry in any respect prices, however past that, you’ll be able to most likely make do with one pair.
Investing in good merino wool mountain climbing apparel could make re-wearing your path outfit for a number of days a much less smelly affair, as can studying some backcountry laundry expertise. However, additionally, it’s alright to embrace the stink a bit. Typically there’s solely a lot you are able to do, and also you’re simply going to be a bit soiled alongside the way in which. It makes the post-trail bathe all of the extra wonderful!
So, as you’re packing, query whether or not you’re bringing any doubles of stuff that you simply don’t want doubles of: Do you actually need mountain climbing pants and mountain climbing shorts? Do you actually need two mountain climbing shirts? Do you want a base layer and pajamas?
4. Streamline Your First Help and Restore Kits
Commercially out there first support kits are often heavier than they have to be for a backpacking journey as a result of they’ve greater merchandise portions in them, equivalent to a full field of bandaids or a number of packs of bandaging supplies. Nonetheless, they’re additionally typically extra economical since they stop somebody from having to buy bulk portions of each merchandise individually. Use these as a place to begin. Pull what you want from them to your journey after which retailer the extras at house to switch something you used if you return.
Gossamer Gear founder Glen Van Peski additionally wrote a Gentle Ft weblog about how he has created a minimal, important first support package over time for backpacking should you want further inspiration on streamline what you carry.
Additionally, check out your restore package and see the place you’ll be able to scale back gadgets. For instance, you don’t want a whole roll of duct tape or a full set of restore patches. Trim down the extras and take solely what you want.
5. Repackage Your Toiletries
Just like first support and restore kits, toiletries are sometimes a simple class to chop some pack weight. As an alternative of taking a full bottle of sunscreen, carry solely what you want by placing some in a small refillable bottle. Fairly than take your full container of floss, minimize off the quantity you’ll want to your journey and retailer it in a Ziploc bag or light-weight stuff sack.
Determine what toiletries you actually use whereas on path and convey solely mini variations of every. With time, chances are you’ll discover that you simply don’t really need some gadgets whereas mountain climbing, equivalent to a deodorant stick given you’re more likely to get sweaty it doesn’t matter what.
6. Have a Plan for Your Water Sources
One of many heaviest issues hikers and backpackers carry is water. One gallon weighs greater than eight kilos! Earlier than heading out in your journey, get grasp on out there water sources alongside the way in which. Will you cross by cities the place you’ll be able to refill? Are there frequent well-flowing streams or full lakes alongside the way in which?
As a lot as attainable, scale back your pack weight by carrying solely the quantity of water you’ll want between dependable fill-up sources. In fact, should you’re touring by desert areas or different areas with low or unreliable water sources, lowering water weight might be tougher, however doing a little route analysis beforehand is essential.
7. Establish Your Heaviest Gear for Potential Substitute
For most individuals, their backpack, sleeping bag, and shelter are going to be the heaviest gadgets they carry as a part of their base weight. In case you’ve trimmed down the whole lot you pack every journey however nonetheless discover that you simply need to go lighter, it could be time to start out taking a look at changing this stuff with ultralight options.
Evaluation some totally different fashions to seek out the appropriate worth and luxury mixture to your wants. Do not forget that investing within the lightest possibility upfront that also feels snug could prevent in the long term. You too can look into lighter headlamps, stoves, clothes, and different gear.
8. Skip the Extra Waterproofing
If you end up placing your gear into a number of waterproof stuff sacks earlier than placing it into your pack, that is a simple place to chop some weight. Every further bag you employ for waterproofing or group finally provides additional weight to your bag that might not be vital.
One different is to make use of a water-proof pack liner as an alternative. Gossamer Gear’s clear waterproof pack liners weigh lower than 40 grams with a 48-liter capability to maintain all of your gear dry with out weighing you down. Hold your waterproofing and storage easy by ditching particular person stuff sacks for a pack liner.
9. Weigh and Observe Your Journey Meals
Meals is heavy, {and professional} guides have discovered that newbie backpackers have a tendency to hold greater than two kilos of additional meals per day than what they really want. Begin monitoring what you truly eat on every journey per day in comparison with your mileage. This may also help you higher finances sooner or later for the way a lot meals you truly have to pack.
Weighing your meals also can assist with decision-making when it comes to what to convey. Select lighter meals choices that also supply the identical dietary worth and tastiness.
10. Trim Unused Components From Your Gear
At Gossamer Gear, we design our packs to solely embrace the necessities. We would like every bit of our gear to serve a helpful perform. Nonetheless, should you actually need to get into the nitty gritty of shedding some additional grams, many ultralighters will minimize off, or in any other case take away, items of their packs and different gear that they discover superfluous.
For instance, should you by no means intend on happening an journey the place you’ll use an ice axe, be happy to chop off the ice axe loop out of your pack! Obtained your strap sizing simply the way you need it? Some backpackers like to chop off any additional webbing that dangles from it. Different ultralight hikers may minimize off the deal with of their toothbrush or take away tags from clothes. In case you discover something that doesn’t serve a objective in your gear which you could discard, go for it!
Curious what the whole lot in your Gossamer Gear pack truly does? Take a look at our weblog that explains all of the hidden, extremely purposeful options on our light-weight backpacks.
11. Study Extra and Follow to Belief Your Abilities
Probably the greatest and sometimes neglected methods to chop weight out of your pack is solely expertise. The extra you get on path, the extra you see what works for you and what you are able to do with out. You begin to belief your expertise and know what dangers to arrange for versus that are seemingly overkill. Extra path confidence means a clearer head and lighter pack—and vice versa!
Taking a Wilderness First Help or Wilderness First Responder certification may also help hikers proceed to refine their expertise and confidence within the outside, bettering their skill to pack what they want for security and luxury with out overdoing it. Turning into an avid reader of the Gentle Ft weblog additionally helps, after all.
Shave Weight From Your Backpacking Pack With Newbie Ideas and Tips
Our mission at Gossamer Gear is evident: take much less. do extra. Once you’re in a position to scale back your pack weight right down to the necessities, you’ll be able to transfer with extra ease on path and embrace the journey. We hope the following tips for shedding just a few extra grams or kilos out of your pack turn out to be useful to your subsequent journey!
Have your personal artistic concepts for chopping pack weight for backpacking journeys? We’d love to listen to them! Tag Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and use the hashtag #takelessdomore to share your knowledge with our neighborhood.
Hungry for extra outside journey inspiration and planning information? Take a look at a few of our different articles on the Gentle Ft weblog:
