I’m sure lots of you guys wanted to run up that ridge, just to see what’s there! Wanted to easily carry your pack up those fourteener’s, so you can go down by any route you choose! And wanted to feel good at the end of a twenty-mile day! Well, it’s time to lighten your load. Here are the first 3 steps to ultra-light backpacking.
- Buy a light backpack. Mine weighs 14 ounces, and I’ve used it on week-long trips. Don’t go over two pounds.
- Buy a light sleeping bag. I stay warm in my 17-ounce bag down to freezing. Don’t go over three pounds.
- Buy a light shelter. My tarps weigh just 16 ounces with all strings, but if you prefer a tent, keep it to three pounds.
The “big three” above are where you save the most weight. After those, consider each item carefully. Do you need it? What happens if you don’t bring it? Are there lighter alternatives? After you’ve cut down your weight, you can always add back a luxury or two. But then, ultra-light backpacking is a luxury in itself.
Money helps reduce weight. The lightest gear can be expensive. If you don’t have much money, well, decent rain jackets cost a sixth of the great ones, and weigh almost the same. There are many options.
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