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Packing light is a revered skill, one that often develops with time, experience, and lots of mistakes.Ultralightbackpackers have learned through years of trial and error how to shed off the non-essential weight from their backs. Experience will teach youhow to identify the unnecessary weight—and the gear you simply can not (and should not) do without.
Luckily, a little research and planning before your trip can start you on the right track towards becoming an expertultralight backpacker. We’ve compiled some ultralight backpacking tips and tricks for perfecting the art oflightening your load.
Some might help you shave whole pounds off your back, others just a few ounces. Either way, paying attention tolittle details helps you save big in the long term.
See 8.5 lb Ultralight Backpacking Gear List.
1. Trash compactor bag for backpack liner.
Pack covers are bulky, heavy and, sometimes,ineffective. Instead of covering the outside of your pack, line the inside of it with a trash compactor bag and keepall gear inside. Trash compactor bags are super waterproof, replaceable, affordable and weigh a fraction as much asa pack cover.
2. Rocks vs stakes.
Tie your shelter down to some nearby rocks. If necessary, make a pile tokeep it more stable. Rocks can also be used on hard surfaces where stakes are unable to penetrate the ground.
3. Get a scale.
A digital scale is a worthwhile tool to invest in - itcan reveal what eachitem actually “costs” in weight. Knowing the exact weight of your gear and supplies helps you pack morestrategically.
4. Cut excess straps.
Compression straps, excess hip belt straps, sternum straps, shoulderstraps, manufacturer's logo, anything. You can trim allof these to shed a couple ounces. If you pack your gearright, you won't even need compression straps.
5. Share the load.
Got company on your trip? Consolidate your resources. Chances are youprobably don't need two stoves, two shelters, etc. Take some extra time to distribute and share your gear weightevenly between the members of your group.
6. Drink up at the water source.
Remember that your water supply is also one of the heaviest items you will have to carry. Drink as much asyou can at the water source, plan how far your next source is and carry only what you need to get there.
7. Dry out your gear.
Morning dew can cover the entire surface area of your shelter and,subsequently, add a few ounces if packed up in your bag. Be sure to dry out tents, tarps, clothes, and any othergear before packing it away. You can always hang them on your pack to dry as you hike or lay them out in a sunnyspot as you pack up and eat breakfast.
8. No duplicate anything.
Except for 2 pairs of socks, you don't need a spare of anything. Evenyour clothes have a strategic time and place to be worn (see 42).
9. No cotton.
When packing your clothes, choose lightweight synthetic materials over heavierclothing like cotton and denim. Not only do synthetics weigh less, they’re also more water resistant than theirtraditional counterparts.
10. Ditch the boots.
Trailrunners are lighter weight, dry faster and are more comfortable.
11. Use a one-liter plastic water bottle.
Water bladders with chords have too many excessparts. A plastic water bottle is lightweight, cheap and durable. Smart Water bottles areparticularly great for their liter size and because their threads match well with Sawyer water filters.
12. Dental floss to stitch and tie.
Stronger than thread for stitching clothes and mendinggear. Floss can also be used as a dry line or for tying items to your pack.
13. Duct tape saves.
Wrap it around your water bottle or roll it into itself to prevent bulkand the extra cardboard weight. Duct tape can be a great barrier to prevent blisters as well as helping mend theobvious gear repairs.
14. Ultralight stove.
Consider an ultralight alcoholfueled stove. You can make one out of a soda can.
15. Shave off your toothbrush.
Cut off the handle. Or get atravel toothbrush that comes in twopieces and discard the extension half.
16. Analyze everything.
Do you really need it? Is there a lighter version of it? Canit be shaved or cut down? I spent months preparing my Appalachian Trail gear to keep it as light as possible. Evenfive months into the hike, I was still cutting off things that I was not using.
17. Go primitive (orelectronic-less).
Goodbye cellphones, watches, iPods, kindles, GPS,chargers, etc. This is the trail. Enjoy the solitude. If you're worried about safety - tell someone ahead of timewhere exactly you are going and when to expect your return.
18. Razor blade for knife.
Very rarely do I ever miss my knife and I certainly have neverneededmy knife. A razor blade can be great an ultralight alternative.
19. Ultralight pillow.
Inflate one of your Ziploc bags and wrap it in your extra clothes andstuff sacks. The Ziploc bag will give it some loft and the clothes, some cushion. See more ultralight pillow ideas.
20. Multi-use bandana.
A bandana (yes, cotton) can be used for:
Head wear or sun blocking neck tie.
Hanging food or other delicate items off your pack.
A slow drip coffee filter.
Dish cleaner and sponge.
Hot hand for your pot.
21. Multi-use Vaseline.
Other than the obvious lip moisturizer, Vaseline is essentiallypetroleum jelly which can be used for a variety of things.
Got blisters? Rub a little Vaseline in between your toes or on your heel before you get going in the morningto reduce friction.
Vaseline is a great slow burning fuel that can be used as a fire starter.
If you have a fresh, uninfected wound, Vaseline (plus some duct tape) can help shield the sore from outsideinfection.
22. Ultralightfire starter.
Cotton balls (or lent from your dryer) plus the aforementionedVaseline make an easy-to-light fire starter. It will burn slowly and can be stuck to anything. The slow burn can becrucial to getting wet sticks to catch.
23. Keep the big three ultralight.
Sleeping bag. 18oz or less. However, warmer sleeping bags contain more insulation and can weigh more. Seeultralight sleeping bags.
Pack. 30 oz or less for a 50 liter backpack. See ultralight backpacks.
Shelter/ Tent. 2 lbs or less for a solo tent. 1 lb or less for a tarp. See ultralight tents.
24. Sleeping bag should be down material.
It is lighter, more compact, and warmer than itssynthetic rival. Yes, it can get wet and become almost useless. However, with a proper dry pack liner (see 1), thatwon't happen.
25. Tarp, not a tent.
Tents can weigh twice as much as a tarp shelter. Atent provides twowalls - an outer one for shelterand innermesh one for a bug-freeenclosure.You only need the outer one forshelter (a tarp). What about the creepy crawlies though? Use a mosquito net for your face, everything else will becovered by your sleeping bag.
26. Ultralight tent footprint/ groundcloth.
Footprints and ground cloths act as a protectivebarrier in between the ground and the floor of your tent. They alsoprevent any water from seeping in from theground through your tent floor. Use a painterstarp instead of buying the manufacturer's footprint. You can find painter's tarp at anyhardware store. 2-3 mm thick is perfect. Cut it out to match the outline of your tent floor... and then cut off aninch border to make it slightly smaller than your tent floor.
27. Trekking poles, not tent poles.
Two trekking poles (plus your guylines) is all you need to keep your tarp supported. Many tarpsystems only require one pole. See ultralight trekking poles.
28. Knowing the weather saves weight.
You either need a piece of gear or you don't. This iswhere the importance of planning ahead comes into place. Preparing for the cold, hot or rainy weather can preventbringing unnecessary gear.
29. Embrace the smell.
Deodorant not only adds weight, it's odor can also attract unwantedinsects and bears.
30. Don't bring extra batteries.
The only batteries you need should be for your headlamp. Makesure they are fresh before hitting the trail. Hike in the day to minimize use. Most headlamps have a 'red lightsetting' that sucks a substantially less amount of energy as well.
31. Use Lithium batteries.
They are more expensive, but last longer and weigh less.
32. Gostoveless.
There are plenty of non-cook, nutritious and tasty meal plans out there. Leaving the stove, cup, fuel and spork at homecan save pounds.
33. Tooth powder vs toothpaste.
Yep, there isa "dehydrated toothpaste" and it makes a goodsubstitute for the real thing on trail. See tooth powder recipes.
34. Stuff the fluff manually.
Leave extra sleeping bag compression sacks and tent bags at home.Instead, mash your sleeping bag and tent down by hand inside your bag. They will be more 'flexible' like this aswell... not like an overly compressed ball.
35. Mini bic lighters.
They make mini bic lighters that are a fraction of theweight of their full-length counterpart. Remove that extra "safety" guard too.
36. Cut down that long sleeping pad.
Your sleeping pad is crucial - it not only keeps youcomfortable, but insulates you from the cold ground. However, a full length pad is unnecessary. Cut your foam pad inhalf - just to cover your torso. See ultralight sleeping pads.
37. Extend sleep pad with your pack.
If you want a full sleeping pad, not just your torso - putyour pack underneath your calves and feet.
38. Ultralight gaiters.
Get some of these. They are like those elastic booksock covers from school. Great to keep out any debris from your shoes and much lighter than other gaiter options.
39. Leave your puffy jacket (if it's not too cold).
Even in freezing temperatures on theAppalachian Trail, I was always shedding layers and still sweating buckets while hiking. You can always bundle withyour sleeping bag on breaks and at camp. See ultralight down jackets.
40. Wool socks.
Wool naturally fights odors and still insulates when wet, unlike cotton.
41. Lightweight camp shoes.
Thereare a lot of lightweight, waterproof camp shoe options. There arealso a lot of DIY shoes options that are more or less foam pads and duct tape.
42. Prep by activity.
You are either hiking on the trail or resting at camp. Your clothesshould be broken up accordingly. You have your hiking clothes that can get sweaty (typically short sleeves) and youhave your at camp clothes which stay dry (typically long sleeves).
