Achieving En-LITE-enment: UltraLIGHTBackpacking

   
     Never been backpacking but want to get into it the right way? Been backpacking a couple times but hated it ‘cause your pack was so heavy and uncomfortable? Or maybe you’ve been backpacking a long time and have just come to accept the pain. Then on your last trip you saw someone deep in the back country with what you thought was a day-pack. Do you want to know how that was possible? Well, let me introduce you to benefits of ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING!

      I don’t know all the rules of backpacking, but I’m pretty sure there aren’t any that prohibit being more comfortable, hiking faster, going farther, being safer, or having more fun. These are just five of the advantages Ultralight backpacking has over “Traditional” backpacking! 

     The first and most obvious reason for carrying less weight, is that it’s more comfortable. Traditional packs typically weigh between 30-45 pounds— sometimes much more! That typically represents base weights (carried gear without food, water, or fuel) in the 25-40 pound range, plus food, water and fuel for a particular trip. Ultralight hikers typically have base weights at, or bellow, 10 pounds.* With the proper food selection and water sourcing, you could be on the trail for several days carrying much less than 15 pounds for the majority of your trip! I’m not sure how else to convince you if this isn’t enough, but I’ll try…

     If your pack is smaller and more comfortable, you’ll be able to hike faster. Hiking faster means going farther, and therefore seeing more. Imagine covering so much more ground that you get to see as much in one trip, as you would in two or three previously. Sounding better?

     But, you might say, “It’s unsafe not to take all my gear.” I beg to differ! Your single greatest asset while backpacking is your mind. Being mentally flexible and prepared will go a long way towards having a safe Ultralight backpacking trip. That means a lot of different things, which I will unpack in later posts. For now, all I can say is that knowledge of basic first aid, and how the gear you do carry can be used to address emergency situations, will be adequate enough to address at least 75% of the emergency situations you might encounter. For the small percentage requiring more than that, well now you only have 10 pounds to carry or split up when you or someone in your group is dehydrated, injured, sick, or otherwise too impaired to exit the wilderness safely. 

     The last advantage follows directly from the others: being more comfortable, seeing more, and being safer all add up to having more fun! We all love the outdoors and want to spend time there because… well, it is fun…

...Getting there as an Ultralight backpacker is just more fun!

*There are other designations such as “Super Ultralight” that are used to designate even lower base weights but the general principle is the same. All that needs to be said is, always be aiming lower and call it whatever you want!


Convinced about the awesomeness that is Ultralight Backpacking?! Now you're ready to become LITEminded! If you've got the mindset down, then its time to thing SYSTEMatically. Or maybe you're ready for "The Big Three." (Coming soon!)