Backpacking Light

Download an Ultralight Backpacking 101 Handout

I spend a fair amount of time wandering the wilderness, and I though it might be useful to record my various musings on lightweight and ultralight backpacking for others to peruse at their leisure - saving the honest petitioner the hour-long diatribe normally reserved for such questions. Certainly, I'm indebted to a wide variety of sources for the following information.

Much of it was gathered through reading, perusing web sites, experimentation and even a few bright ideas of my own. Lightweight backpacking has come along way since I sought to lighten my load, and there is now extensive amount of information on the web linked to below. It comes down to this : less weight means more enjoyment. Nuff said.

First Things First

I'm not a gear-head. Honestly.

I value functionality, simplicity and multi-purpose items as a way to enhance my time in the wilds and to that end I look for the essentials that are lightweight and refined. I scrimp where possible and make things do double duty where I can.

Yes, I've read and re-read Ray Jardine's seminal book on ultralight backpacking and recommend it (see link below). However, now I mainly refer interested parties to Don Ladigin's book Lighten Up! is a great way to quickly learn the basics of lightweight backpacking.

Furthermore, there are also a lot of great ultralight stores/sites on the internet now (there sure wasn't 5 years ago) so make use of the links below.

Disclaimer: As with most things, the following information is just my opinion. I'm an experienced backpacker, and the following ideas work for me - I've refined them over years and many hundreds of miles. However, I'm not to blame if you take my advice and something bad happens. So use yer noggin and think about how these ideas will affect your trip before you try them.


Where to Start: The Big Three

The big three are the items that current take up the most weight on one's back - the shelter, the sleeping system and, funny enough, the pack itself. The streamlining you do here can save you more poundage than almost anywhere else. Its not uncommon to see people carrying 6-8 lb tents in a 6 lb pack with a sleeping bag/sleeping pad combo weighing 3-4 lbs. Consider that this is 15-18 lbs for just the three main items. One's total pack weight with food/fuel and water can be less that that.

Shelter
You can go one of two ways: Tarp or Tent. Tents weigh more, but offer more protection from bugs - something many people feel is important. Tarps are lighter, can provide more space, and are easier to vent. Some tarps have no-see-em netting attached along the edges/ends for some bug protection. However, they are harder to pitch and require a bit more thought on site selection than a free standing tent. For ultralight goodness, I use an Gatewood Cape - it doubles as rain gear, pack cover and tarp in one 11 oz package. Add a few ti-stakes and guy lines and you are at 12.5 oz for everything. Its full coverage. Get over the "no floor" thing. Its not a big deal, really. Better yet, it pitches like a tent, mostly. I also own a Golite Hex 3. Its easy to pitch, has a great tee-pee design comes in at just under 2 lbs stakes and pole extender - I can get me and my 3 kids in this tent without too much trouble and it has an optional bug net (the nest in Golite parlance) for my wife who is more squeamish than I am about bugs. I have an Equinox Mantis mesh bug net that goes over the end of a sleeping bag and protects me from bugs, but I hardly use it.

Other more tent-like options are the Nomad Lite from Wanderlust Outdoor gear. Nice at 27 oz, but a bit expensive. The second is the Tarptent Contrail - Tarptent has a variety of options to make anyone happy. Finally, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo is also a great tent. One can also consider "fast packing" it by taking the rain fly, the poles and the manufacturers footprint without the tent.

Sleeping Bag
I've got several sleeping bags that I use based on where I'm going and what I expect the temperature to be. For desert camping in the spring/summer I bring an amazingly lightweight Mountain Laurel Designs Devotion Bag. It weights 11 oz and packs to the size of a grapefruit. For colder temps I'll add in a Body Bag liner for an extra 5-10 degrees and sleep in a bivy for another 5-10 degrees. That can get me down to freezing, especially if I wear my insulating clothes too.

I also own a couple of Jacks R Better down blankets (The Stealth for myself and the Biker Quilt for when one of my kids comes along) that have a integrated pad option (Down to Earth Pad) that works great for colder weather, and the JRB stealth quilt doubles as a coat - goofy looking but very functional in the summer.
For a bit colder use an aging but well made Marmot Arroyo. Its a down bag rated to 35 Degrees and is the forerunner to their current ultralight bags. It compacts down to the size of a loaf of bread, it weighs 30 oz and its plenty warm down to freezing. I can extend that likewise with the Body Bag liner and bivy. I've never had problems with down getting wet.

Sleeping Pad
I have several pads. I like the idea of closed-cell pads, but I can't sleep on them. So I carry an Big Agnes Clearview pad (13 oz). Full length, 2.5 inches of cush. Great for the summer. I have a Gossamer Gear ThinLIght pad for a bit more insulation if needed. It weighs in at 1.7 oz.

I use a 4 mil plastic sheet for a groundsheet - must be replaced periodically, but its works and is light at 1 oz.

Backpack
I highly recommend two packs for standard backpackers : the Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus and the Golite Jam2. Both are great, durable packs that are inexpensive and have the features a UL hiker needs. The Mariposa plus is a bit geekier, but is my choice for my all round pack.

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus weighs in at 21 oz. This is a highly refined, ingenious ultralight backpack whose features include using one's sleeping pad for frame support, removable carbon-fiber poles for added support when you need it, and shoulder/hip pads that can use extra clothes (socks, hats) instead of foam padding to save a few ounces. Good for up to 30 lbs. It has a sil-nylon version that is a bit lighter.
I also have a Gossamer Gear Whisperlight pack that weighs 3.8 oz for when I go out with a sub 5 lb base weight. And yes I do that all the time.

Cooking

I'm mostly cooking freezer bag style (http:freezerbagcooking.com) and using a Backpackinglight Titanium Wing Esbit stove. Solid fuel tablets are great, easy to plan around and work as emergency fire starters. 1/2 of a tablet boils enough water for a meal and they are lighter than alcohol and easier to deal with.
I'm also a big fan of lightweight alcohol stoves. I like alcohol as a fuel it because it burns an easy to find, renewable resource: ethanol. Furthermore, you can carry just the right amount of fuel and it can be stored in a refillable small plastic container that weighs nothing. Its also easy to find. I recommend the Platypus "Lil Nipper" bottle that holds 12.5 oz of fuel and weighs (by itself) less than an ounce.
I sometimes use a home-made pepsi-can stove. One can easily make your own pressured pepsi-can stove out of either a couple of pepsi cans or Red Bull/V8 5.5 oz cans. I've used both and the latter is better for narrow diameter pots.. You can boil a cup of water in 3-4 min with 1/2 oz of fuel.
Build your own Stove : Zen Backpacking Stoves (make sure to use the PDF templates)

For a pot, I carry a converted Sterno pot. It weights less than 1/4 of an ounce and boils 1 cup of water, which is enough for me in most meals. I cook in ziplock bags (Freezer Bag Cooking ) not the pot. I added a tin-foil lid and bailing wire.
My utensil of choice is a plastic spoon I got at McDonalds that comes with the Mcflurry. Taco Bell has a disposable spork if you require tines. Kitchen weight comes in at less than 3 oz - add fuel and you are still less than just a canister.

Water

I always carry two forms of purifiation:
Traditionally backpackers have carried a big, heavy filter that weigh from 12 oz up to a pound. Too heavy.

Ultralighters have generally just carried iodine or the newer and more effective Aquamira chemical treatments. I carry the latter and a McNett Straw Filter for backup/emergencies or for when the water just needs to be filtered (i.e. debris etc). The Straw Filter weighs 1/4 of an oz and can filter up to 20 gallons.
For carrying water, I'll bring a mixture of platypus (1L, 2L, 3L) bottles - I tailor it to where I'm going. They all connect to the Platypus drinking hose and pack down nice and small when empty. They are so much lighter than Camelbacks and MSR Dromedarys that I've phased the latter bladders out. 1L Soda bottles are also great, cheap and durable.

Clothing

This is pretty personal and dependant on where you go, for how long, and how cold it will be.
Some things I often carry:
  • Golite C-Thru  shirts - long or short sleeve depending on temperature - 5 oz.
  • Montbell Ultra lightweight Long Johns 4 oz.
  • Patagonia Featherweight LS T-shirt - 5.5 oz.
  • Smartwool Racer RBX Socks - very comfy 1.3 oz per pair.
  • Toque - "stocking cap" for you yanks - to keep the head warm if it is going to be cold 1.5 oz
  • Serius glove liners - if it is going to be cold 1.5 oz
  • Montbell UL Down Jacket - ultralight down jacket, very packable and half what a fleece is - 7.5 oz.
  • Mountain Hardwear micro-fleece jersey - if its going to be cold 8 oz.
  • Bandana - headgear, emergency use 1 oz.
I like fair-weather camping more than rain/snow, so I tend to carry only a shirt, socks, jacket, gloves, rain jacket, and underwear.. Approximately 30 oz..

Shoes

I used to hike with boots. I don’t anymore. All I need are lightweight trail runners - I’m not carrying enough weight to need the boot support.
I like the New Balance trial runners for comfort and the fact they are a better company than some of their competitors. I also have used and liked the Solomon Adventure Racing shoes.

The aforementioned shoes seem to have decent shank protection (from rocks) and are much lighter on the feet than the boots - plus I find I don't hate getting into them in the morning or in camp like I do the heavier boots.
I've done some incredibly rocky hiking in these and found them adequate for the 3-5 day trips I usually take. If you turn ankles easy, then go for lighter weight boots. I have a pair of ultralight gaiters for keeping debris out of the shoes.

Gear

I vary what I carry by where I'm going and how long I'll be out, but there are several things that generally go with me.
  • For light, Photon Microlite - the latter is hardcore! Need a headlamp? Consider a Petzel E-Lite.
  • MSR PackTowel Ultralight - the new generation of these towels are lighter and feel much nicer on the skin. I take the extra small as its all I need. I can see cutting off the loop with snap for a slight gain, but I have not bothered. 0.5 oz
  • 1 L Soda Bottles. Don't be dumb enough to carry 6 oz of Nalgene bottle when a soda bottle works much better and weighs 1/6th as much. If you carry two, that is 3/4 of a pound in useless plastic.
  • Emergency Kit - This is a small silnylon bag full of first aid/emergency supplies. I put the first aid stuff in a re-sealable AlokSak zip-lock bag. See my Emergency Kit Contents here. 15 oz.
  • Books - I love to read on the trail, but I mostly bring my Audible books on the Creative Zen Nano Plus MP3 player now. I can get 12 books on that nutty thing.
  • Moleskine Notebook - I carry a small moleskine journal everywhere to record thoughts/activities and make notes. This means I also bring a small pen. You can get smaller moleskine notebooks, but I carry this everyday as my journal for the year, so I stick with it. 5.5 oz.
  • I carry a big knife. All Dundee jokes aside, I carry a fixed blade 3” knife with me - its the most important tool I have. My backup knife is a Victorianox Classic - scissors, knife, file, toothpick and tweezers. Most everything you need.
  • TP Kit - Trowel/TP/Ziplock bag - I have a titanium trowel from Montbell, although you can use a tent peg or stick. 3 oz.
  • Plastic Bag - if it is going to rain, I put everything in a big back plastic bag for added protection. Cheap and works great. Always have a few of these in your pack.
  • GPS - If I'm going somewhere in the desert, where sometimes trails are not the best, I'll carry a GPS. Currently a Garmin Edge 605.
  • Watch - I always wear a Sunto watch with an altimeter, barometer, compass and a bunch of other features. I especially like the altimeter. My wife thinks the watch is very geeky.
Food

I always cook in freezer bags and use a reflectix bag cozy to supplement my cooking fuel. Read up on it on the Trail Cooking website. It is dedicated to freezer bag cooking and has lots of very good recipes. Cooking in freezer bags is easier, less wasteful and requires no clean up. What is not to like?

Special Considerations

  • Hygiene - This is a big deal, especially for extended hiking. So keep clean, wash your hands often (I use a small bottle of Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap for daily cleaning). I also bring Purell in mini-squeeze bottle for keeping the hands clean after bathroom breaks. One should try to avoid direct contact with people who might not take the same approach to hygiene as I do. Getting sick on the trail is not fun. For oral hygiene I bring a little toothbrush but no toothpaste - I mean, do you need to have minty breath in the wild? Rinse and spit. Some bring little bags with baking soda or tooth powder. Don't forget a bit of floss, which can double as strong thread if needed. You can also use Dr. Bronners, but its a bit nasty. For the bathroom, I use a small, cut down trowel and 4x4 squares of blue disposable shop towel for TP - 2 per day at the most. The disposable shop towels are thicker, providing for a safer wipe and make planning easier. See this discussion here on BackpackingLight.com.
  • Photography - I'm a photographer, so I bring more camera gear than I should. I bring my big Canon’s along generally. Hey - I carry so little else...
  • Reading Material - I love to read. I love to read on the trail. Sadly, books are heavy, so I subscribe to Audible.com as a premier listener, giving me 2 books a month for $20. I use it up every month and love it for driving/hiking. I transfer them to a small mp3 player. I also have an iphone and Kindle with books. Sometimes they go along.
  • Cell Phone - If I'm not going too remote, I'll sometimes bring my cell phone. Nice for emergencies and a late night talk with the wife. I'm OK honey, really, I didn't get lost.
  • Trekking Pole - I carry REI carbon fiber trekking poles - good for the knees and for tarp support.
  • Bear Can - ugh. If I'm in bear country I just bring my bear can - a heavy plastic container. Saves late-night tree slinging, which I hate. Some places they are required (the Sierras) I have the BearVault solo (31 friggan ounces of plastic) - they are heavy but worth it in bear country.

Summary

Well, that pretty much covers the basics. Obviously my pack weight will vary based on where I'm going, for how long, and what I'm doing. Desert trips mean more water weight, less clothing etc. Sometimes I go ultralight on the camera gear, sometimes its half the weight I carry.
Hopefully this has been useful. Have any questions, feel free to email.

Links & More Info

Books & Sites
 Links & Stores
 Projects
A few projects if you are into DIY gear
 Ultralight on the Cheap?

You can easily go light with out spending a fortune. Here is an article to get you started: Ultralight on the Cheap!