Backpacking

Ultralight Backpacking

INTRODUCTION What is ultralight backpacking? Ultralight backpacking allows you to greatly reduce the weight of your load on backpacking trips. How low can you go? There are people hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (some 2,500 miles) with only 8.5 pounds of gear! No kidding. And that includes the weight of the pack itself. Add two pounds of food per day, plus some water, and you have a total pack weight of 20 pounds for a 4- or 5-day trip … not bad. Why go light? The reasons are probably obvious. If you’ve ever spent days sweating and huffing and puffing under a huge load, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re interested in doing a long hike, like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide trail, or some other route, an ultralight load can make a huge difference. Many people on long thru-hikes come down with serious injuries to their ankles, knees, backs, etc. An ultralight load greatly reduces the risks of these stress injuries. It’s all about freedom … The ability to stroll casually through the wilderness without effort is truly amazing. We’ve become such slaves to gear, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Imagine being able to spend days in the wilderness with a pack no heavier than a daypack. This greatly changes the quality of your trip … increases your freedom, and makes your experience a true joy. Drawbacks of going light … Ultralight backpacking isn’t for everybody. There are some trade-offs. For example: if you carry a decent 6-pound tent, you can set it up without too much concern for location and be reasonably sure you are going to be fine and roomy in violent thunderstorm. If you want to go the ultralight route, you’ll need to make a few sacrifices, or at least have more knowledge of how to use your equipment. Bivy bags are much smaller and more claustrophobic. Tarps are larger and airier, but less protective. Even some of the latest tarp/tent hybrids aren’t quite as good. But … all of those options...