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201 Ultralight Backpacking Tips An ultralight backpack means more fun. Enjoy floating down the trail instead of hauling heavy gear. You can have an ultralight backpack if you mercilessly analyze every piece of gear in your pack. Here are 201 tips to consider for reducing the weight of your pack. Some are big, some are small. That’s part of the secret. Small things add up. The old and obvious are mentioned because they are some of the most important. Have fun being a fanatic. If your friends make negative comments, invite them to lift your pack and compare it to theirs. Think of these tips as a buffet, and take what you like: 1. Buy a digital scale. You can
find a good one that measures down to 1/10 ounce for about $30. You’ll be surprised at the weights of some
items. You can take your light, portable
scale into stores and make wise decisions before you buy. Do not fear sales people with little or no
knowledge of the backpacking gear they’re selling. You’re now in control. Let them fear you.
2. Remove the excess weight from your body. Losing those unwanted pounds is probably the
best weight reduction you can make. It
doesn’t involve leaving any of your favorite equipment home. You’ll feel better, and there’s a net gain in
strength and endurance.
3. It needs to be mentioned at least once. If you don’t need it, leave it
home.
4. Avoid last-minute packing. If
you hurry and pack at the last minute, you’re more likely to throw in things
like extra clothing you don’t need.
5. If you’re backpacking with a companion, plan ahead and share the
weight of the gear such as the tent and cooking gear.
6. Develop your sewing skills. Be
creative. Some of the best, and most
inexpensive, ultralight backpacking gear is the kind you make
yourself.
Pack
7. Purchase a light backpack.
Your pack is one of the best places to lighten up. You’ll need to reduce the volume and weight
of every piece of gear to use the lightest pack. Your final result can be a pack that weighs
less than 2 pounds. That’s a savings of
more than 5 pounds over the big “load monster” packs.
8. Don’t buy a pack with too much capacity. You’ll be too tempted to fill it, and it
won’t handle as smoothly if it’s partially filled.
9. Try using your pack without the hip belt. You might like it better.
10. Remove your pack’s sternum strap if you don’t use it.
11. Remove any manufacturer tags from the bag. In fact, remove tags from all your gear,
including clothing. Save the care
instructions from the clothing if you can’t remember how they’re to be
washed.
12. Cut some of the length from the waist belt and straps on the
pack. Remember to leave them long enough
for when you’re wearing your bulkiest clothing.
13. If the pack has aluminum stays, or some other reinforcing material
that can be removed, try carrying the pack without it. The really light pack you end up with
shouldn’t need reinforcing. Think
positively from the outset.
14. If your pack has large buckles or cord locks, find a way to replace
them with lighter ones.
15. Don’t worry too much about the lighter materials in ultralight
packs. These materials are still very
strong. You can make repairs that are
lighter than tape by using McNett Seam Grip.
It works for sleeping bags, tents, and other gear, too.
16. If you need a pack cover, use one that’s very light, like the ones
that are made from 1.3 ounce silicone-coated nylon. Or, use a lightweight garbage bag. Or, spray your pack with a waterproof
coating. Your pack may already be
waterproof. Check the manufacturer’s
specifications. You might be able to
save the weight of a pack cover.
17. Ultralight compression stuff sacks can help you reduce the volume of
your gear. You may be able to lower your
overall weight by using compression bags because you end up with a smaller
pack.
Sleeping Gear
18. Buy a sleeping bag that isn’t “overkill.” It’s surprising how many people buy a
sleeping bag for low temperatures and then use the bag for summer camping 95% of
the time.
19. Use a down bag. Nothing is
more efficient for the weight. Don’t
worry too much about the down getting wet and losing its efficiency. High quality bags are made with shell fabrics
that have a very tight weave and are very water repellent, so they tend to
protect the down. The down itself has
natural oils in it. It works for the
geese. Use your skills to keep your bag
dry. Keep it in a waterproof stuff
sack.
20. Have a small towel handy to wipe any condensation from tent
walls. That will help your ultralight
sleeping bag perform to its maximum.
21. A piece of very light and thin
painter’s tarp plastic or a light trash bag can be used to keep condensation off
the foot of your sleeping bag. The
plastic or trash bag can have multiple uses such as keeping gear
dry.
22. With a lightweight bag you can always add layers of clothing for
extra warmth.
23. You can also use a silk liner that adds warmth and weighs as little
as 4 ounces.
24. Switch your stuff sack for an ultralight one that’s made of 1.3 oz.
silicone-coated nylon. They weigh as
little as .6 ounces.
25. Keep your sleeping bag clean.
That will keep the efficiency high.
26. Keep your sleeping bag in a large storage bag when it’s at home so it
will retain its full loft and maximum efficiency.
27. Air out your bag during lunch and as quickly as possible after you
set up camp. Moisture can evaporate and
the bag can fully loft.
28. Eat and drink before going to bed.
That will help your body to efficiently heat your sleeping
bag.
29. If your feet get a little cool, you can use things as light as
plastic newspaper bags or grocery sacks to keep them warm. You can use the bags for dual purpose tasks,
and they add hardly any weight. They can
also be used for bringing wet gear and boots into the tent. The sleeping bag stuff sack can be used as a
foot warmer.
30. Using an ultralight air mattress can reduce your pack weight and
volume and increase your comfort. They
can be as light as about 20 ounces for a full-length mattress.
31. You can have an air mattress with insulation in the tubes for only
about 1 ounce more.
32. Leave any inflatable sleeping pad open as much as possible so the
condensation inside will evaporate.
33. A closed-cell foam pad is light and easy to use. You can even cut away areas that you don’t
need to save a few ounces.
34. The lightest air mattress available is called a balloon bed. No joke.
The shell can be made from 1.3 oz. (or lighter) silicone-coated ripstop
nylon. Sew 7 tubes (or more or less)
into the 60” long fabric. Leave the ends
open for inserting and removing the balloons.
Insert Qualatex 60” balloons (model 260Q) because they’re the
strongest. Use clear or white since
they’re stronger than colored ones. The
balloon bed can weigh less than 4 ounces.
A pump can weigh 1.3 or 2.2 oz.
Each night you’ll need to use new balloons, so figure 8 per night. Eight balloons weigh .4 ounces. This figures one for breakage. They don’t pop when you lay on them, but may
pop when you tie them off. See more at
www.balloonbed.com. Or make
your own and get balloons and a pump at www.tmyers.com, www.larocksmagic.com, or
others.
35. You can go crazy and use bubble wrap for your sleeping pad if you
don’t need too much insulation or cushion.
It’ll weigh about 4 ounces.
There’s a variety that’s made with some nylon that is much stronger than
the cheapest kind, but the bubbles still pop when you concentrate your knees or
elbows directly on a small area.
36. Ultralight backpackers have come up with a lot of ideas for
lightweight pillows. One of the most
common is using your extra clothing for a pillow. One place to contain the clothing is in your
sleeping bag stuff sack.
37. When you pack ultralight, you often don’t have much in the way of
extra clothing. Some hikers use their
pack for a pillow. It solves a second
challenge of where to put your pack in the tent.
38. A small piece of foam with some of your gear underneath can serve as
a pillow.
39. At .4 oz. you can get a pillow at Office Depot. It’s a 10 x 12” air wrap plastic packing
“bubble” that you can blow up and deflate with a straw.
Shelter
40. You can save a lot of weight by choosing an ultralight tent that
weighs two to three pounds for the two-person tent, or less than two pounds for
a one-person tent.
41. If you usually backpack with a companion, consider buying a
one-person tent for those times you go solo.
42. If you already use hiking poles, you can save the weight of tent
poles on some tents.
43. If you have an old tent you’d like to keep, you can save weight by
replacing the poles with lighter carbon fiber poles.
44. If you have an old tent that you like which has a fly, you can save
weight by using the old fly as a pattern and sewing a new fly from 1.3 oz.
silicone-coated nylon.
45. You can save weight by using titanium tent stakes. The 6” titanium stakes are just .2 ounces
each.
46. Save weight by leaving stuff sacks home. A few rubber bands around your tent are
lighter than the stuff sack. Put rubber
bands around the titanium stakes and band them to the poles to keep the stakes
from poking holes in anything.
47. In some dry regions, you may be able to use a bivy sack or sleeping
bag cover as your only shelter.
48. If you need bug protection only, the pop-up bug bivies weigh only 6.5
ounces.
49. For an even lighter solution to bugs, a square yard of no-see-um
netting weighs less than an ounce.
50. Simple, lightweight tarps can reduce your shelter weight to a pound
or less.
51. If you use a bivy, tarp, or poncho/bivy, you may want to have a
mosquito head net to keep the bugs away.
Of course, these can be used during the day, too. They weigh only .6 oz.
52. Some tarps serve a dual purpose by doubling as your poncho,
too.
53. Creative cord tying from a tree or using an available stick with some
tarps and tents can save the entire weight of poles.
54. The lightest ground cloth is the one you don’t take. Use caution when you set up your tent so you
don’t need a ground cloth.
55. If you use a ground cloth, use one that’s a light as possible. An ultra-thin 99-cent plastic painter’s cloth
is a light disposable option. Some
people like Tyvek. Consider using 1.3
oz. silicone-coated nylon for your ground cloth.
56. If you use a ground cloth, be sure to trim it a couple of inches
smaller than your tent. If it’s bigger
than your tent, you can catch unwanted rain and funnel it under
you.
57. Consider hammock camping.
Hammocks can be as light as about 2 pounds, and there are some great
advantages like being able to set up on uneven ground.
58. If you have a tent with a fly, you may be able to set it up with the
poles and fly only, especially in late summer when there are fewer
mosquitoes.
59. You can more effectively use tent options without netting if you
repel insects by adding permethrin to your tent.
60. Shake the water from your tent before packing it on a damp
morning. Let the moisture drain off
while the tent is on a rock or tree.
Clothing
61. Long-term weather reports from the internet can cut ounces from you
pack. In dry weather you can leave some
of the rain gear home. In warm weather
you can leave some insulating layers home.
62. You can shave ounces by making some last-minute decisions about
whether to carry things like rain pants.
If the weather and conditions look good, you can leave items in the
car.
63. If the weather is warm enough, some hikers like to leave the rain
pants home anyway. Your legs will get
wet, but they won’t be trapped inside sweaty rain pants.
64. Your rain pants can be lighter than 4 ounces if you use “chaps” that
cover your legs but are open at the midsection.
65. Rain gear can weigh less than 10 ounces for top and bottom if you use
the very lightest and most simple varieties.
We’ve already mentioned combination poncho/tarps if you want a piece of
gear that serves as shelter and rain gear.
66. One of the best lightweight clothing rules is “no multiples.” If you have one pair of pants, running shorts
and/or rain gear are enough backup.
67. One very light short sleeve shirt and one long-sleeve shirt should be
enough.
68. Avoid cotton. It doesn’t dry
as quickly, so it could be dangerous.
And even if it’s not dangerous, it’ll be heavier when it’s wet because
the water weight won’t dry as quickly as other fabrics.
69. Very light synthetic materials and silk may allow you to leave
heavier, bulkier fleece at home. A
couple of silk layers under your rain gear may be enough for summer hikes. That’s a total of less than 6 ounces for 2
shirts.
70. Never wear jeans. They weigh
about 1 ½ pounds and don’t dry well.
Lightweight nylon outdoor pants can weigh as little as 8
ounces.
71. If you need more insulation, there are ultralight jackets made with
down that weigh less than 8 ounces, about the weight of a T-shirt.
72. You can save a lot of weight by using running shorts that weigh
around 3 ounces instead of heavier cargo shorts.
73. Leather belts can be quite heavy.
Look for a light belt. A
lightweight nylon accessory strap with a quick-release buckle works
well.
74. Using silk can cut the weight and bulk of your underwear in
half.
75. A lightweight watch cap (beanie or lightweight stocking cap) can
weigh as little as an ounce. It’s great
for extra warmth during the day or while you’re sleeping.
76. A full-brimmed hat for storm protection that’s made from
silicone-coated nylon weighs as little as 1.2 ounces.
77. A baseball-type hat from lightweight ripstop nylon for sun protection
can weigh less than an ounce.
78. A painter’s cap will give you cheap, light protection from the
sun. They weigh about 1.3
ounces.
79. If a hat is too hot for you, use a visor to be cooler and
lighter. Visors vary a lot in weight, so
use a digital scale to find the lightest one.
80. Lightweight polypropylene gloves that weigh an ounce will give you
some warmth.
81. You can use your extra socks as gloves, or for added warmth over
light gloves.
82. Those plastic newspaper or grocery bags that we used for keeping your
feet warm at night can be used to keep your hands dry.
83. Socks that are warm, comfortable, and help you avoid blisters are
vital. Don’t try to go too thin and
light if you tend to blister. But many
popular styles come in various heights.
So a shorter, lighter sock might give you the same function.
84. One of the best ways to save clothing weight is to use running shoes
instead of hiking boots. The old saying
of one pound on your feet being equal to five pounds in your pack is true. You lift your shoes with every step, so why
not lift something light and comfortable?
85. Shoe laces that come with your running shoes are often too long. They catch on the little twigs along the
trail. You might as well cut them off
and save the weight. Burn the ends so
they don’t unravel.
Cooking
86. Keep your cooking gear light by using a kettle only. You can save more than half the weight of the
cooking kit by leaving the plate and fry pan home. The ¾ quart kettle by itself weighs less than
5 ounces.
87. With titanium, your kettle can weigh under 4 ounces.
88. Stainless steel is heavy.
Avoid it. Non-stick coatings make
a kettle heavier than one without it.
Decide whether the weight of the non-stick surface is worth it for
you.
89. For your cup, use the plastic kind that have measuring marks
inside. They’re four times lighter than
a sierra cup.
90. Try using a lexan spoon only.
You probably don’t need a fork.
For cutting food you can use your pocket knife. File some of the excess weight from the
handle of your spoon. Have some fun
being a fanatic. Drill some holes in the
handle.
91. Some hikers like a long Dairy Queen spoon because it can reach all
the way into foil pouches and zip lock bags.
Be ready to use some emergency chopsticks if the spoon breaks. Some people like chopsticks
anyway.
92. Blacken the bottom of your kettle to cook faster and conserve
fuel. If your kettle won’t do this
naturally, use heat-resistant paint, the kind you use to paint barbeques and
wood stoves.
93. Keep the lid for your kettle.
You’ll save its weight by using less fuel.
94. Use a windscreen so you conserve and carry less fuel. You can probably use something that’s already
in your pack so there’s no weight added.
Or use something very light, like aluminum foil.
95. Use your digital scale to know the weight of a full and empty fuel
canister if you use butane/propane. It’s
surprising how far a small can will go.
You can learn when to leave a full 7-ounce canister home.
96. For a scouring pad, keep it simple and cut it down to a very small
size. Or, better yet, don’t take one at
all. They tend to become bacteria
magnets. Use goats beard -- the stuff
that’s attached to tree bark. Or use
pine cones or sand.
97. You may need a towel to handle your hot kettle. Keep one small piece of a rayon camper’s
towel for kitchen use and one for your body.
98. The lighter, thinner towels you can find in grocery stores are even
lighter than a rayon camper’s towel.
These work well on your body because they can rinse so easily for washing
up.
99. There are two main types of ultralight stoves. Titanium stoves that burn butane/propane fuel
can be as light as 2 ½ ounces. Their
small fuel canisters are 7 ounces. Or
you can choose a soda can style stove that burns denatured alcohol. These can be lighter than 2 ounces. Their fuel is readily available and can be
carried in very light containers.
100. Fiberglass is often used as a wicking agent in the soda can
stoves. The thin fiberglass within foil
can be used to hold hot stoves or kettles and can be used to hold heat in your
kettle.
101. The lightest water container
is a plastic soda, water, or Gatorade bottle.
Of course, you’ll want to remove that heavy label.
102. Some backpackers like to stay hydrated by drinking directly from a
tube as they hike. You can keep the
weight of this system to a minimum by using only a bladder within your
pack.
103. If you like to take salt and pepper, stock up on the kind that’s in
paper packets in fast food restaurants.
Keep them in small zip lock bags.
104. Book matches are about as light as any. Store them in a small zip lock to keep them
dry.
105. It’s good to carry some windproof
and waterproof matches, but the box they come in is heavy. Put some of the matches in a small zip lock
bag and store the striker portion of the box in a small zip lock bag within so
it doesn’t accidentally strike.
Food
106. Freeze dried food is one way to reduce your food weight. But they are expensive and not always dense
in nutritious calories. Freeze dried
meals are often high in sodium, sugar, and fats. Read the labels. Learn what you like and what’s
nutritious.
107. There’s a wide variety of weights among one and two-person freeze
dried meals. Always check the weights to
get the most nutrition for the least weight.
108. Eating vegetables is one of the biggest challenges on a
long-distance hike. Learn which veggies
you like in freeze dried form.
109. To reduce the weight and bulk of freeze dried meals, repackage them
in lighter zip lock bags, and remember to keep the label and cooking
instructions. Add a single piece of tape
if you use a zip lock to avoid having zip locks pop open in your
pack.
110. Some hikers cook in the foil bags that come with the freeze dried
meal. If you do this, you can still
repackage and use some of the foil bags more than once.
111. Experiment with trail mixes in your supermarket. Learn which ones you like and which ones are
lightest.
112. Nuts are a part of what many hikers carry because they’re nutritious
and high in protein, but they are heavy, so consider eating them
first.
113. Sunflower seeds are a dense, nutritious food.
114. Always eat your heaviest food first. Some of the most enjoyable foods aren’t even
considered backpacking food. But a nice
steak cooked right on the coals of a fire is a fantastic treat the first night
out.
115. Foods like packaged peanut butter and string cheese are nutritious
and healthy, but heavy enough to be in that category of eating as soon as
possible.
116. Dried apricots and some fruit leather aren’t really that light. Know the weights, and if you still want to
take them, eat them early in your hike.
For instance, banana chips are far lighter than dried
apricots.
117. Some backpackers like to use energy bars instead of traditional
meals, partly because no cooking is involved.
It’s easy and you can hike more hours during the day. It pays to read the labels, because some
energy bars are loaded with sugar which means empty calories.
118. A granola, oatmeal, or cereal breakfast can give you a quick start
in the morning since you don’t have to cook.
You’ll save fuel weight, too.
119. Dried soup mixes can be found in any supermarket, and it’s an easy
food to test at home. Experiment to find
what you like and what’s easy to fix.
120. Pretzels, crackers, tortillas, and healthy taco chips are good foods
for the weight and you can munch on them without slowing down to
cook.
121. Of course, a hike isn’t a hike without beef jerky. It’s high in flavor and protein and low in
fat.
122. Tuna and chicken are becoming more available in small, foil
pouches.
123. Consider buying a food dehydrator.
You can experiment and find which foods are the lightest and taste
best.
124. Powdered sports drinks can help you replace electrolytes. Find the ones that are lowest in sugar, since
sugar gives you empty calories.
125. Remember to take your vitamin pill.
It can’t replace a meal, but it supplements your efforts.
126. Always carry some spare food in case of emergency, but make it some
of your lightest food since it’s not likely to be used.
127. Consider using a gallon size zip lock as your trash bag. Since some of your food containers will be
thrown away when they’re wet, leave the trash bag open as often as possible to
let liquids evaporate.
128. Because water is one of your heaviest and most necessary items to
carry, it’s best if you know where it is so you don’t have to carry so
much. A reliable trail guide is far
lighter than unnecessary water.
129. Having extra water in your car will help you carry and treat less
water. Drink up just before you leave
the car, and have enough to drink as soon as you get back to the car. It’s simple, but many hikers don’t do
it. Keep the water in the trunk to stay
cool.
130. For any of the water treatment methods, if the water is murky and
heavy with particulate, you may want to pre-filter with a coffee filter or
cloth. A coffee filter is extremely
light.
131. There are lightweight methods for each of the six main ways to treat
water. Boiling is slow and tedious, but
this method doesn’t take any extra weight for your cooking water. If you use a wood fire, boiling is the
lightest method.
132. Bottles of iodine tablets weigh only 1.1 ounces full.
133. Iodine treatment can be as light as .3 oz. if you put your tablets
in a 1-dram bottle. If you add a vitamin
C to improve the taste, it will add only about .1 oz. more.
134. If you use chlorine dioxide (Aqua Mira) and use the small, one-ounce
containers, the weight will be only 3.1 oz. when they’re full.
135. If you use a filter, it can weigh less than an ounce if you use the
McNett Emergency Frontier filter.
136. Bottle filters can weigh as little as 5 ounces including the
bottle.
137. If you use a pump filter, remember to pump all the water out after
each use so you’re not carrying extra water weight.
138. The lightest of the ultraviolet light water-purifying devices weighs
only 2.4 oz. and can be recharged and perform 20 treatments per
charge.
139. You can use sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) in
emergencies. Two to four drops of it
will treat a quart of water. So, a very
small and light supply of bleach could treat a lot of water. But websites that talk about this form of
treatment always use the words “emergency use” and don’t give details about
overall effectiveness or the effects of long-term use on your body.
Body Care and First Aid
140. For insect protection, put only the amount of a good DEET-based
repellent you need into a ¼ or ½ ounce container.
141. If you like spray applicators, the spray top from a Ben’s DEET
repellent bottle will fit the ¼ and ½ ounce Nalgene bottles. You can also find other spray tops that will
fit the small Nalgene bottles in places like the sample section of your grocery
store. Sample shampoo bottle spray tops
often work.
142. Treat your clothing (and even your tent and pack) with Permethrin
before you leave home. It’s a weightless
and effective way of keeping insects off all the areas of your body that are
covered with clothing.
143. Keep your first aid kit in a zip lock bag. That’s lighter than most original
containers. Or, build your own kit with
a goal of making it fit in a small zip lock bag.
144. A good starting point for a first aid kit is a tiny list of basic
first aid procedures.
145. Your first aid kit should include light versions of bandages, gauze
pads, alcohol pads, antiseptic pads, moleskin, butterfly bandages, and triple
antibiotic ointment.
146. If you replace a needle with brass safety pins in your first aid
kit, you won’t have to worry about the needle poking you or your equipment. You can treat blisters with a (disinfected)
safety pin. The brass ones last longer
before they start to rust. A few tiny
safety pins can be a part of your repair kit, too.
147. If you want cotton swabs in your first aid kit, remember the
hollow-tube style are lighter than the solid ones.
148. A portion of a roll of surgical tape is a great, light way to be
able to make large bandages if needed.
It’s also part of your repair kit.
149. A little wide athletic tape can be lighter than moleskin in
preventing blisters. This tape can also
be used for bandages and repairs.
150. Your aspirin and/or ibuprofen can be kept in small zip lock
bags.
151. If you use antacids, they can be kept in small zip lock
bags.
152. Anti-diarrhea tablets (loperamide hydrochloride) can be a life
saver. A few with the packaging trimmed
weigh almost nothing and can save a lot of inconvenience and the weight of lots
of toilet paper.
153. A little Benadryl in a tiny container or in tablet form can give
lightweight relief from insect bites.
154. Small zip lock bags should be considered for storing any small
item. The small 2 x 3” zip locks weigh
3/100s of an ounce each, and the 3 x 5” bags weigh 9/100s of an ounce each. After you eat the food that you have stored
in zip locks, the bags can be used for other things.
155. You can repackage your biodegradable soap in ¼ or ½ ounce
containers.
156. Hand sanitizer is a good way to avoid stomach problems caused by
dirty hands. You can carry a small
amount in a ¼ or ½ ounce container.
157. If you can find a high SPF sunscreen that is a liquid instead of a
gel, it’s easier to use from a small container like the ¼ or ½ ounce
bottles. With a liquid you won’t have to
dig with anything like you would with a gel to get the last bit from the
container.
158. Look for good SPF lip protection in a smaller-than-average
tube. You can find some that weigh .2
oz. instead of .4 oz.
159. Store your toilet paper in a zip lock bag so it stays dry. Take it off the roll so you never carry that
“heavy” cardboard core. Use white,
non-scented toilet paper so you don’t attract animals.
160. For your toothbrush, look for one that has a small head. They vary a lot. Cut off part of the handle, and yes, drill a
few holes in the handle. It’s fun to be
a fanatic.
161. If you want to use regular toothpaste, get the sample sizes. Use small amounts when you’re hiking. It’s easier on the environment and you’ll
carry less. For most short hikes you’ll
have plenty of toothpaste if you use the first half of the tube at
home.
162. To pack a little lighter, use tooth powder. It’s usually made up largely of baking
soda. You may want to keep it in a very
small plastic container. If you put it
in a zip seal bag, the powder tends to get in the grooves of the closure and
makes it difficult to work.
163. If you use dental floss regularly, measure it out and cut it for the
number of days you need. The wax style
stores well in small zip lock bags.
Dental floss can be used for repairs, too.
164. If you take a comb, of course you’ll want to cut it in
half.
165. A mirror can be handy not only for grooming, but emergency
signaling. The light, acrylic plastic
mirrors weigh .8 ounces. They are 2 ¾” x
4 ¼”. You can cut one with a utility
knife and a file, so you have 2 mirrors.
It will now fit in a 2 x 3” zip lock bag that will keep it from getting
scratches.
166. Many hikers enjoy not using a deodorant for a few days. But if you’d like to pack some, you can find
Arrid Extra Dry in many stores.
Repackage only what you need in a tiny, plastic container.
167. Most medications can be kept in a small zip lock bag.
Miscellaneous
168. Your flashlight can be as light as ¼ ounce if you use one of the
little “squeeze” lights. The kind with a
positive on/off switch are much easier to use.
Carry two and you’ll still be incredibly light in this area and have a
backup and more hours of light.
169. Use lithium batteries to save weight. They cost more, but last longer.
170. If you use the little “squeeze” lights, trim the excess packaging
from your extra batteries, but don’t take them out of the packaging and let them
rub together. They’ll lose their charge
and be worthless.
171. If you want a beefier flashlight, a model with 2 AAA batteries can
be as light as 1.5 ounces.
172. If you like a headlamp, it can be as light as 1.1
ounces.
173. Trim your map to only the portion you need. Be sure to keep emergency exit routes and any
other necessary information.
174. When using a guidebook for one of the long trails, take only the
part that’s needed. If you’re hiking a
major portion of the trail and mailing food drops, you can cut the book into the
appropriate parts. Then you can throw
away the old ones or mail them back home as you get to each new
package.
175. Many hikes tend to be on very established trails. A compass is one of your essential items, but
many hikers carry heavy compasses that are overkill. On some of the biggest trails like the PCT,
CDT, and AT, the only question if you’re off trail is, “Do I want to head due
east or due west to get back to the trail.”
You can carry a compass that is as light as 1/10 oz. For 3/10 oz. you can have a compass that is
marked every 5 degrees, is liquid filled, has a luminous dial, and a rotating
bezel.
176. Some hikers love to carry their heavy “all-in-one” utility
knife. For that weight you can carry a
knife that weighs 3/10 oz. and 10 to 20 other pieces of gear.
177. Have a separate pair of sunglasses for backpacking, a pair that
weighs less than an ounce. Chances are a
small, frameless pair will be quite a bit lighter than your regular
sunglasses. The lightest storage
protection is probably a zip lock bag.
178. There are a lot of things you can use for fire starter. Your cooking gear might be enough. Dryer lint is an old favorite that is very
light.
179. You may never need an emergency blanket, but it’s cheap insurance
for only 1.8 oz. and it can serve other purposes such as a ground cover or a dry
place to sit.
180. Your emergency whistle can be as light as .2 oz. for a small plastic
version or .1 oz. for the light aluminum style.
181. Choose a utility cord that is thin, but strong. You can have strong cord that weighs only .4
oz. for 25 feet.
182. A few rubber bands make a nice utility item and add very little
weight.
183. If your regular watch is very heavy, get a cheap plastic one for
backpacking. Many hikers like a light
and an alarm and don’t need much else.
If you get one with only those features it will be inexpensive and
light.
184. Some hikers won’t leave home without duct tape. It works for a number of repairs and can be
used for first aid. If you tape some to
the outside of your pack, be sure it’s not melting into a ball in the sun. Some brands do better in heat. You can find duct tape in “flat packs” of 3
or 5 yards.
185. There are hikers who must have a trowel for bathroom use, but you
can save weight without one. The
wilderness provides its own trowels.
They’re called sticks.
186. A pencil and pen are important items to have. You may need them to leave important messages
on the trail. You can place a message in
a used zip lock bag on the trail and it will be protected from rain. Find a very small pen or even a thick plastic
pen refill that works as your pen.
187. You’ll need to carry your car keys, so have a separate one made that
can be drilled out and filed to lighten.
188. Your car key would be a terrible thing to lose, so add some bright
Mylar from a party balloon or a piece of bright cord or yarn.
189. If hiking poles appeal to you, check around until you find the
lightest. You may not want all the
features that add weight. A pair should
be under one pound. Specialty companies
are bringing this weight down even further.
190. Umbrellas work in sun and rain.
They can be as light as 5.5 ounces.
191. If you’re doing an “in and out” hike, you might be able to save
purification time by caching (hiding, storing) some water part way into the
hike. Be sure you can find it on the way
out.
192. If you’re hiking one of the long trails, become an expert at what to
send to re-supply points. Keep a supply
of what you may need with your support person at home so you can call or send a
note and have it sent to your next supply point. Carry postage, or include it in your food
drops in case some of your supply points don’t sell postage. If you have postage, you can send unwanted
gear home.
193. Some people like to take a lightweight paperback for reading. One way to lighten your reading material is
to burn it as you read it.
194. If you need reading glasses, get a separate pair for
backpacking. You’ll find that the very
thin ones, the kind you buy in a tube case, are very light. These are often sold in airport gift
shops.
195. If you have trouble with foggy glasses, you may not need to carry a
special anti-fogging liquid. Try the old
skier’s trick that is used on ski goggles – spit on them.
196. When you stop to rest and want a clean, dry surface, try using a
Tyvek envelope or a small piece of closed-cell foam.
197. You don’t want to leave your wallet in your car, so plan ahead and
take only the cash you need, your ID, a credit card or two, and possibly a phone
card.
198. Leave your jewelry at home.
It’s probably not that heavy, but you wouldn’t want to lose it out
there.
199. Find the lightweight camera that works best for you. Some of the disposable models are very
light. If you’re more serious about your
photography, lighter models with more quality are available. Take your digital scale when
shopping.
200. Leave extra clothing in your car.
When you return, if you’re especially wet or dirty, it’ll feel
great.
201. Leave your cell phone in your car.
You don’t need it hiking and probably won’t have coverage in many
areas. If it’s in your car, you can call
home for messages as soon as your hike is over.
There you have it, 201 ultralight backpacking tips. Hike light. Have fun.
Bonus tips!!
1. Get a haircut!
2. Trim your nails!
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