Whether or not you are a first-time backpacker, a newbie thru-hiker, or a seasoned fastpacker, sooner or later, each backcountry adventurer wonders easy methods to lighten their load for a extra comfy trek. Ultralight backpacking methods vary from shaving off a couple of grams to reducing 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.
If you happen to’re questioning easy methods to lower weight when backpacking, you are in the proper place. With insights from our model ambassadors and employees, we have compiled sensible suggestions to assist each novices and weekend warriors streamline their gear decisions. We hope this listing conjures up you to refine your pack and discover the proper stability of consolation and effectivity whereas on path.
1. Be taught A number of Makes use of for Your Gear
An effective way to chop pack weight is to deliver gear that can be utilized in a number of methods moderately than needing separate objects for various features. When objects in your pack can carry out double duties, it permits you to depart further objects—and weight—at dwelling.
Listed below are a couple of examples of double-duty gear objects:
- Bunch up your puffy jacket or further clothes layers to make use of as a pillow at night time moderately than packing a separate camp pillow
- Select a tent which you can arrange with trekking poles, comparable to The One or The Two, moderately than needing to pack separate tent poles
- Discover ways to use your gear for first support eventualities, comparable 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
If you happen to’re already not an enormous fan of cooking within the backcountry or simply need the best dinner choice 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, put money into a Crotch Pot! You learn that proper. Our Crotch Pot permits you to cook dinner your dinner whereas mountaineering, utilizing your individual physique warmth. Not satisfied? Our weblog editor (me!) took it for a spin on the Appalachian Path by means of the Smokies and wrote an in depth overview and information on the expertise. Learn extra in regards to the suggestions and tips discovered on the Mild Toes weblog.
3. Scrutinize Your Additional Clothes and Different Objects
Many newbie backpackers deliver extra clothes than they really find yourself needing or utilizing. Simply since you’re mountaineering for seven days doesn’t imply it’s essential to pack seven pairs of socks, for instance. It’s good to have one further pair of “sacred” socks that you just solely put on in your tent or in any other case preserve dry in any respect prices, however past that, you may most likely make do with one pair.
Investing in good merino wool mountaineering apparel could make re-wearing your path outfit for a number of days a much less pungent affair, as can studying some backcountry laundry abilities. However, additionally, it’s alright to embrace the stink a bit. Generally there’s solely a lot you are able to do, and also you’re simply going to be a bit soiled alongside the best way. It makes the post-trail bathe all of the extra superb!
So, as you’re packing, query whether or not you’re bringing any doubles of stuff that you just don’t want doubles of: Do you actually need mountaineering pants and mountaineering shorts? Do you actually need two mountaineering 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 should be for a backpacking journey as a result of they’ve greater merchandise portions in them, comparable to a full field of bandaids or a number of packs of bandaging supplies. Nonetheless, they’re additionally typically extra economical since they forestall 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 dwelling to interchange something you used while you return.
Gossamer Gear founder Glen Van Peski additionally wrote a Mild Toes weblog about how he has created a minimal, important first support equipment over time for backpacking for those who want further inspiration on easy methods to streamline what you carry.
Additionally, check out your restore equipment and see the place you may scale back objects. For instance, you don’t want a complete 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 a substitute of taking a full bottle of sunscreen, carry solely what you want by placing some in a small refillable bottle. Reasonably than take your full container of floss, lower 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 produce solely mini variations of every. With time, chances are you’ll discover that you just don’t really want some objects whereas mountaineering, comparable 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 best way. Will you cross by means of cities the place you may refill? Are there frequent well-flowing streams or full lakes alongside the best way?
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, for those who’re touring by means of desert areas or different areas with low or unreliable water sources, decreasing water weight will likely be more durable, however performing some route analysis beforehand is essential.
7. Establish Your Heaviest Gear for Attainable Substitute
For most individuals, their backpack, sleeping bag, and shelter are going to be the heaviest objects they carry as a part of their base weight. If you happen to’ve trimmed down the whole lot you pack every journey however nonetheless discover that you just wish to go lighter, it could be time to start out taking a look at changing this stuff with ultralight options.
Assessment some completely different fashions to seek out the proper worth and luxury mixture to your wants. Do not forget that investing within the lightest choice upfront that also feels comfy might prevent in the long term. It’s also possible to 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 utilize for waterproofing or group finally provides further weight to your bag that is probably not crucial.
One different is to make use of a water-resistant 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 Monitor 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 actually need. Begin monitoring what you really eat on every journey per day in comparison with your mileage. This can assist you higher finances sooner or later for a way a lot meals you really have to pack.
Weighing your meals can even assist with decision-making when it comes to what to deliver. Select lighter meals choices that also provide the identical dietary worth and tastiness.
10. Trim Unused Elements From Your Gear
At Gossamer Gear, we design our packs to solely embody the necessities. We wish every bit of our gear to serve a helpful perform. Nonetheless, for those who actually wish to get into the nitty gritty of shedding some further grams, many ultralighters will lower off, or in any other case take away, items of their packs and different gear that they discover superfluous.
For instance, for those who 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 further webbing that dangles from it. Different ultralight hikers may lower off the deal with of their toothbrush or take away tags from clothes. If you happen to discover something that doesn’t serve a objective in your gear which you can discard, go for it!
Curious what the whole lot in your Gossamer Gear pack really does? Try our weblog that explains all of the hidden, extremely purposeful options on our light-weight backpacks.
11. Be taught Extra and Observe to Belief Your Expertise
Among the finest and infrequently 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 abilities and know what dangers to organize for versus that are doubtless overkill. Extra path confidence means a clearer head and lighter pack—and vice versa!
Taking a Wilderness First Help or Wilderness First Responder certification can assist hikers proceed to refine their abilities and confidence within the outdoor, enhancing their capability to pack what they want for security and luxury with out overdoing it. Turning into an avid reader of the Mild Toes weblog additionally helps, after all.
Shave Weight From Your Backpacking Pack With Newbie Suggestions and Methods
Our mission at Gossamer Gear is evident: take much less. do extra. While you’re capable of scale back your pack weight right down to the necessities, you may transfer with extra ease on path and embrace the journey. We hope the following tips for shedding a couple of extra grams or kilos out of your pack come in useful to your subsequent journey!
Have your individual artistic concepts for reducing 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 data? Try a few of our different articles on the Mild Toes weblog:
