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Lightweight Backpacking
By Steve Gillman, Thu Dec 8th
You aren't lightweight if you are carryingtwenty-five pounds for a summer weekend. I invent thesestandards, but I try to be reasonable. I backpack with less thanfifteen pounds total weight for a weekend trip. With a few newpieces of gear, and a little knowledge, you can probably carryless than twenty pounds for a three-day trip, and less thanthirty for a week-long trip. Start by throwing out those pack weight/body weight formulas.Learn the principles of lightweight backpacking, and you'llnever be close to what they say you can carry anyhow. And whowants to carry 25% of their body weight down the trail? Thequestion to ask is "How much do I need to carry to be safe andcomfortable?" Lightweight Isn't Masochistic The biggest reason for lightweight or ultralight isto enjoy the trip more. I don't leave crucial things behind orotherwise make myself miserable, just so I can call itlightweight backpacking. Here's a good rule: Go as light as you can without sacrificingthings that are most important to you (safety items, a goodbook, a bottle of rum?). It's not about giving things up. It'sabout carefully choosing what you really need to have anenjoyable, safe trip, AND replacing heavier things with lighterthings. For example, if you really need an inflatable pad, get rid ofthat 2-pounder
and buy one of the new 13-ouncers. My downsleeping bag weighs 17 ounces and has kept me warmer than any 3or 4 pound bag I've had. If you replace items one-by-one withlighter alternatives, you can eventually cut your packweight byhalf 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. Ofcourse, going light can be expensive, but I've gone 110 miles inseven days (no blisters) with $7 running shoes, so it doesn'thave to be. How Much Weight? With proper equipment and skills, you probably can becomfortable and safe with twenty pounds on your back for theweekend. Watch yourself on your next hike. What did you actuallyuse, and which items brought you the most comfort? What can youleave behind next time? What can you replace with lighter items?
My first really light
trip was a true test in themountains of Colorado. It rained or snowed every day. I went 110miles without a blister, climbed 5 "fourteeners", stayed warmand dry, and never had more than 17 pounds on my back. Oh, and Inever had as much fun with a heavy pack. That was lightweightbackpacking at its best.
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