When I was a boy, lightweight backpacking was easy; you just didn't carry things with you. There was no other alternative. The only materials suitable for outdoor use were wool, leather and canvas, none of which is known for being light weight or compact. The whole purpose for learning camping skills was to be able make what you needed from what the forest provided. There was no need to carry an air mattress when you could make a bed from pine boughs. In case of rain, the forest provided everything needed to build a shelter. Any cooking was done over an open fire. All the camper needed to carry was a ground cloth, a hatchet, a knife, inclement weather gear, and either a sleeping bag or a couple of wool blankets.
Unfortunately, those days are gone forever. The impact of people on wilderness areas has become unsustainable and responsible campers no longer rely on nature to provide their needs. In the spirit of "pack it in, pack it out" some folks happily shoulder 50, 60 and even 70 pound packs and head off down the trail. That sort of backpacking isn't for everyone, though. For a lot of people (myself included), nothing spoils a backcountry experience as fast as carrying too much gear.
The ultralight backpacking concept is a reaction to the mule size packs of the traditional camper. The goal is to keep your total pack weight, less food and water, to under 15 pounds. Many folks believe that reaching this goal involves a combination of paring every gram from existing gear (e.g. drilling holes in the handle of your spoon); investing in the newest, hi-tech, ultralight gear; and finally, leaving essential gear at home and hoping mother nature blesses you with mild weather. The end result is often an uncomfortable, minimalist experience, at best.
But it is possible to keep your pack weight to a minimum without breaking your wallet or leaving out essential gear. It's just a matter of packing smarter and looking at how all your gear works together to get the maximum utility out of it. Don't carry gear you don't need, but don't leave out anything you will need. It is also important to not be fixated on a 15 pound limit (or any other "hard and fast" rule). The real goal is to make sure you have enough gear to be safe and reasonably comfortable without carrying unnecessary weight.
The chart below shows the gear I carry for safe and sane backpacking. None of this equipment is expensive or exotic. In fact, all of it is pretty cheap and low-tech. This gear is not a minimalist, summer kit. It is adequate for low temperatures down to 20°.
|
Item |
Weight* |
Comments |
| Jansport Catamount Pack | 1.7 lb | This pack has a capacity of 2600 in3 with an internal, foam "frame". It is important to keep your pack small so you won't be tempted to over-fill it. |
| Woods Canada City Lite 350 Sleeping Bag | 2.3 lb | This is a tapered bag with an integral hood. It is very warm and compact. I have personally used it to below freezing without a liner. Since the insulation is synthetic, it retains heat even when wet. It stuffs to 6"x12". |
| REI Travel Sack | 1.6 lb | This is a wearable sleeping bag with a hood that can be used as a sleeping bag liner, evening wear in camp or layering for cold weather. It stuffs to about the size of a softball. |
| Wenzel Star Lite Tent | 2.2 lb | This tent is roomier than many other solo tents, but is lighter, cheaper and packs smaller due to its simple, "pup tent" design. You do have to waterproof it and seal the seams. This weight is w/o the front poles, as I use my walking stick. |
| Thermarest Ultralite 3/4 Pad w/ Chair Kit | 2.0 lb | A sleeping pad and comfy chair in one! The pad folds flat to go in the pack. The chair kit rolls up with the tent pole and straps to the bottom of the pack. |
| 3/8" Closed Cell Pad - 20"x36" | .4 lb | This goes under the Thermarest pad for warm, comfortable sleep even on the hardest ground. It packs around the sleeping bag. |
| Wind suit | .9 lb | A nylon jacket and pants, waterproofed to serve as rain gear, too. |
| Poncho | .8 lb | Heavy duty nylon poncho that doubles as a sturdy, 5'x7' tarp or ground cloth |
| Thermal undies | .7 lb | Polypropylene top and pants for sleeping or layering |
| Fleece pullover | .6 lb | Mid-weight |
| Cold weather gear | .5 lb | Hat, gloves, neck gaiter, extra socks |
| Ground cloth | .2 lb | Mylar emergency blanket |
| Pot, stove, fuel, spoon | .75 lb | ThermoJet MicroLite stove with three days fuel |
| Misc. | .85 lb | First aid kit, duct tape, lighter, whistle, pen knife, sewing kit, LED flashlights, compass, toothbrush, plastic trash bags, paper towels, iodine tablets |
*All weights are actual measurements. Advertised specifications from both manufacturers and retailers are often inaccurate.
Total weight = 15.5 lb !!
This list really shows the secret to successful lightweight backpacking. Not only is the gear compact and light, most of it serves more than one function: a sleeping bag that can be worn as a coat, a sleeping pad that is also a chair, a poncho that can be a tarp, a wind suit that is also a rain suit, sleep wear that doubles for cold weather layering. Even emergencies can be handled with this gear. The sleeping pads and duct tape can be used to splint a broken bone. The iodine tablets or alcohol stove fuel can disinfect even a large cut or gash. Once the basics are out of the way you can always add an extra or two like a camera or book.
The next time someone says that ultralight backpacking means giving up safety, comfort or convenience have them look at this list. This gear will keep you warm and dry in the worse three season weather. You sleep comfortable and secure on thick padding in a real tent; protected from weather, mosquitoes and crawling things. You have a comfortable chair to relax in after a long day on the trail. You have a tarp to shelter under in case of rain. You have a stove to cook a hot, satisfying dinner. Pretty much the only things you won't have are a sore back and tired feet.
Oh, there is one more advantage to switching to the ultralight school. You get to smile with a great sense of satisfaction as other hikers look at your pack with a combination of curiosity and envy.