Skip to main content

Lightweight Backpacking

Lightweight Backpacking Techniques
by: Steve Gillman

These lightweight backpacking tips and techniques are options or ideas, not recommendations. I tend towards the extreme side of ultralight backpacking, and if you don't know yourself or your skills, some of these techniques will get you into trouble.

A good example of this is the "natural mattress" that allows you to leave your sleeping bag behind. With this technique, I've slept with no pad, and only a five-ounce sleeping bag liner, on a night when it was near freezing. It took fifteen minutes to collect enough bracken ferns to make a two-foot thick mattress, but it was comfortable and warm.

You can use leaves, pine needles, dead grass or dry bracken ferns. All you do is make a pile big enough to set your tent or bivy sack on. This could damage the enviroment in some areas, so use common sense, and collect only DEAD vegetation. Also, scatter your materials in the morning, so they won't smother the plants underneath.

An important point here is that you have to know your enviroment, so you know you'll be able to find proper mattress materials. Otherwise, you could have a very cold night or worse. Also, gloves make it easier and safer to collect the ferns or grass. Try this first near home.

Knowledge Reduces Weight

Learn certain backpacking techniques, like the one above, and you can carry a lighter sleeping bag, less clothing, and even less food. Wilderness survival knowledge can help you reduce weight, but it also lets you travel the wilds more safely.

Learn which berries are edible, and you can eat as you hike and bring less food. I've eaten half of my calorie needs in the form of berries on some days in the wilderness. During a hike to Grinnel Glacier in Glacier National Park, my wife and I ate nine types of wild berries.

Researching the climate, and timing can help you reduce weight. You can leave rainwear home, for example, if you're in the eastern Sierra Nevadas in September (bring a garbage bag for emergencies). I sometimes plan trips to coincide with the full moon. I enjoy getting up at four in the morning and hiking by moonlight, and since I'm up and moving at the coldest time of the night, I can get by with a lighter bag.

Money Reduces Weight

Money will buy you lighter gear, and expensive backpacking gear is generally of very high quality. I didn't enjoy paying over $200 for my sleeping bag, but I've never yet been cold in it, and it weighs just 17 ounces.

Concentrate on the the larger items. A sawed-off toothbrush could save you 1/4 ounce, but a lighter shelter can save you pounds. Consider small things last. Buy dual-purpose items, like a poncho that can double as a shelter. Drink soup and tea from your pan, and you won't need a bowl or cup.

Leaving Things Reduces Weight

This can be the tough part of lightweight backpacking. Ask of every item; Can I get by without it? Stoves aren't necessary if you bring ready-to-eat food. You don't need a change of shirt or pants on a three-day trip. If you're not sure you'll be happy as a minimalist, go back to the money solution. Start replacing your things with the lightest alternatives you can buy. There are many ways to go lightweight backpacking.

About The Author
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com.

Comments

Popular Posts

Mount Everest Death Rate

The death rate on Mt Everest is still too high. According to the British Medical Journal, the death rate remains for many years at 1 death for every 10 successful attempts to climb the world’s highest mountain. Mount Everest is 8,848 meters or 29,029 feet high. An unofficial report states 15 deaths in 2006 season alone. Dr Andrew Sutherland, Oxford-based surgeon and Mt Everest expedition adviser said there should be a lot fewer deaths due to improved climbing gear, established routes and a better understanding of the need of acclimatisation. Sutherland, who climbed Everest this year from the northern side (Everestmax expedition), said most deaths are caused by injuries and exhaustion but a significant number of climbers die from altitude related illness. There are two major forms of altitude sicknesses, HAPE or high altitude pulmonary oedema and HACE or high altitude cerebral oedema. Both causes build up of fluid in lungs or brain and are potentially fatal. Andrew Sutherland

Cheap North Face Coats

I'm hunting for some good deals on cheap North Face coats. After digging around with different online stores, I ended up finding what I was looking for on sale over at Amazon . . The prices there seem to be excellent. The selection by far greater than expected. As an example, the woman's Denali Jacket - a popular soft shell - is a the time of this writing 31% (!) off. That's $112.99 instead of $ 164.95 . A good number of color options are available too. Here's a product description: The North Face Women's Denali Jacket No other fleece piece feels like The North Face Denali Jacket. The reasons are versatility and smart design. The Recycled 300-series Polartec® fleece fabric offers exceptional insulating warmth that easily works as a middle layer during winter skiing or as an outer layer while backpacking or camping in the summer. The North Face reinforced key abrasion areas along the elbows and shoulders so you don't have to worry about the frayed pi

Seven Summits

Seven Summits –Seven Continents – Seven Months Swedish Adventurer Sets New Guinness World Record It’s unbelievable! It seems nowadays that each year sees a number of records and world records in the mountaineering and climbing scene. As you might suspect 2007 will be no exception with the latest feat of Swede Frederik Strang who climbed the Seven Summits in less than 7 months. From the hyped up challenge to the mountains itself, the history, the critique, Seven Summits draws much attention in the world of mountaineering and adventure. This article will explore some of the aspects of climbing the seven highest peaks on all seven continents. The Mission Fred had planned to climb the “Seven Summits” - the seven highest peaks on the world’s seven continents – in just seven months. He started his adventure in the spring climbing season of 2006 with Mt. Everest (8,848 m / 29,029 ft), it was his second time to summit the world’s highest mountain. Strang then raced from one continent an

Yellowstone Hiking

Yellowstone Hiking Image via  Wikipedia Yellowstone National Park has over 1100 miles (1800 km) of blazed and mapped hiking trails. Some of them have been used for hundreds of years. Several of these Yellowstone hiking trails were the sites of historical events. Yellowstone hiking trails are known for various geysers, hot springs and other geothermal features. Hikers will have many opportunities for viewing bald eagles, ospreys, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, Coyotes, Bighorn Sheep, pronghorn antelope and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. With fresh air in the lungs and boots on your feet hike along... Beaver Ponds One of Yellowstone's shorter loop trails then wanders through both meadows and forest. Black bears and Wild Flowers usually dominate the flora and fauna of this part of the world. Fairy Falls 197-foot Fairy Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone, The longest and most scenic route starts at the Fountain Flat Drive barricade. Grebe

Hiking Safety Checklist

Hiking Safety A Safe Hike Is A Happy Hike by Forrest Treker Hiking Safety Checklist Having made my share of mistakes in the wilderness over the years, I have compiled a list of gotcha's that can be applied to any outdoor adventure. I urge you to print this out and store with your outdoor gear. Hiking can be a most rewarding distraction from the daily grind, but safety should NEVER be taken for granted! Click here for full "Hiking Safety" article.