Ultralight Backpacking Guide! Part One
Part one of a four-part series on what to consider when going ultralight
There are two types of backpackers in this world: those who cut the ends of their toothbrushes to save weight and those who bring the whole kitchen sink with them. You think I’m kidding, but sadly I’m not. In all honesty, the majority of these multi-day hikers fall somewhere between these two extremes. Like most things in life, backpackers are a part of a spectrum when it comes to how they choose to hike and what they decide to take with them. A lot of hikers who are new to trekking long distances while carrying everything they need on their backs get overwhelmed with figuring out which setup works best for them and rightfully so! There are a lot of moving parts involved and a lot of money at stake as well. Also, if you don’t have a ton of experience in this field, it can seem extremely confusing trying to teach yourself while going down endless research rabbit holes about “warmth-to-weight” ratios.
So! I have decided to put together a four-part series on what to consider when wanting to go ultralight backpacking. This guide is perfect for someone who has already spent a few nights in the backcountry and is interested in experimenting with taking a lighter load the next time they hit the trail. I will NOT be telling you how to backpack because that would be like me telling you how to live your life. Everyone needs to find the individual methods that work for them, but I will provide advice on what has helped me transition to backpacking more on the ultralight end of the hiking continuum. For me, it’s been a multi-year process trying to get my gear dialed in the way that I want it to be with a lot of epic fails in between. And I am still learning! As hikers, we should constantly be discovering new things about ourselves as we evolve into the people we hope to be. The same goes for the gear we may or may not use as we adapt and change through hiking.
Ultralight vs. Traditional Backpacking
First of all, what does it mean to be ultralight? Well, it could be different for different people, but generally, it means trying to get away with backpacking with as little as that individual possibly can. Some hikers think having a base weight (all gear inside the pack without food, water, or fuel added) below a certain amount classifies as being ultralight. However, this amount could be different for each hiker. Each hiker attempting to lighten their load may have a specific base weight number goal in mind that they strive to get towards based on a variety of realistic factors like cost, durability, and luxury items. For me, I try to not get so hung up on all the numbers and don’t obsessively weigh my pack before every trip. Having a base weight at or below ten pounds is what feels the best for me and typically I can physically sense whether this is the case whenever I put my full pack on without having to plop it on a scale.
On the flip side, what is regular backpacking? Traditional backpacking is when hikers choose gear without really paying too much attention to the weight. Maybe they want to stick with brands that are familiar to them and don’t want to branch out to the growing list of outdoor companies dedicated to producing durable, lightweight backpacking options. Or maybe they value comfort at camp above everything else. Neither of these reasons is wrong or bad and I don’t want to paint the picture that ultralight backpacking is the only superior way to hike a trail. However, my first few backpacking trips looked a lot like what I just described and I was immensely miserable from how heavy my pack was for my body size. The pursuit of ultralight backpacking has always been about me wanting to focus my attention on hiking and enjoying the journey instead of crippling underneath the weight I carry.
Foundation gear
With that being said, one of the most important parts to consider when putting together an ultralight setup is deciding the “must-haves.” What are the gear items you cannot possibly live without when spending a night or two or several in the woods? I will go into more detail on gear options in another post within this series, but for now, here is a list of items typically every backpacker will bring with them:
Tarp or tent
Sleeping bag, quilt, or hammock
Sleeping pad
Cooking supplies (stove, pot, utensils)
Water supplies (filter, bottle, squeeze bag)
Clothing
Headlamp or flashlight
Navigation tool (Garmin or GPS device)
Small individualized first aid kit
Luxury items
These are just the basics that are recommended for each overnight trip. Yet, depending on the individual there are a few other items that may not be survival necessities but instead will make the hike better or more enjoyable. This could be a small journal, a book, a cell phone, a sketch notepad with pencils, a GoPro, camp shoes, a pillow, a camera, a charger for electronics, playing cards, a Frisbee, a hacky sack, etc. Even though these items fall into the luxury category that doesn’t mean they aren’t extremely important for our mental sanity, especially if on a solo hike. Each hiker has their non-negotiables. I’ve heard of some who even take a musical instrument with them or yarn and crochet hooks. Just because you may be temporarily living in the backcountry doesn’t mean you have to abandon your hobbies!
This might seem super Gen Z, but I never go on a backpacking trip without my phone for a variety of reasons. My phone not only acts as a navigation device and as a safety precaution, but also serves as my camera, book, or journal with the Kindle and Notes app feature. Also, if I am by myself and get paranoid, listening to downloaded music or podcasts on Spotify helps tremendously. The downside is having to conserve battery and carry a portable power bank that I’ll have to recharge at some point depending on how long the trip is. These items may be on the heavier end, but they are worth it to me. As a backpacker, you will need to decide on the items you can’t live a few nights without or find possible lightweight alternatives that will help you achieve your ultralight goals.
Get ready to be comfortably uncomfortable
Sacrificing comfort is another aspect of ultralight backpacking that needs careful consideration. Backpacking in general is extremely uncomfortable for most. Let’s face it, the dirt, mud, bugs, sweat, and days without a shower are a huge turnoff. Therefore, attempting to go even lighter than before means getting rid of items that you don’t regularly use or necessarily need in the long run, which can create room for additional suffering. There are ways to make it better, like finding compromisable lightweight alternatives like I mentioned. However, depending on how light you want to go, a sacrifice to the Backpacking Gods needs to take place.
At this point, taking a pillow or pair of camp shoes doesn’t even enter my mind anymore. Depending on the trip, I also typically won’t pack more clothes than I know I will use (except when it comes to socks; extra socks are always a good idea). This looks like only taking one pair of shorts or pants and two tops at the most in the summertime. Winter backpacking is a little different and I will go into further detail on how the seasons/environment play a role later in the series. I know this sort of goes against the Ten Essentials, but this is what I’ve always done and as long as I’m smart about the weather, I never have any issues.
Storytime!
At the end of each post within this series, I will be sharing a comical yet educational story about how I made mistakes while on treks into the backcountry and how I have learned from them. This one, in particular, is about my very first backpacking trip where I overpacked tremendously and had literally no idea what I was doing, but still had fun anyway. A friend and I decided to hike a very popular beginner-friendly trail about two hours outside of St. Louis called the Bell Mountain Loop. Nestled in the St. Francois Mountain range of the Mark Twain National Forest, Bell Mountain sits at 1,702 feet and is Missouri’s second highest point. The entire loop is 11 miles long and isn’t super challenging but at the time, it felt like one of the most physically demanding hikes I’d ever put my body through.
We bought all our gear at Walmart and Cabela’s, which offers some surprisingly high-quality backpacking gems. However, we were way more concerned about breaking our budget than how heavy everything would be and ended up investing in a cheap 7-pound two-person tent. With my bulky Kelty Redwing 40 and three changes of clothes, I could barely make anything fit in the pack. I remember the night before the trip sweating trying to stuff everything inside and ultimately opting to attach lunch bags filled with our food with carabiners to the outside. The entire ensemble looked tragic but functional and had to be at least fifty pounds. It took all my strength to hull the monster on my back. When I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I looked like the “unpack your adjectives” girl on School House Rock. Despite the pain I felt from carrying something that hefty and awkward, my inner child felt seen.
I remember the sky raining almost the entire time we were out there and me trying to stay positive even though I couldn’t help but mutter “this sucks” with every step. We tripped over slick tree roots jutting from the earth and fell into mud puddles, drowning the socks inside our boots within seconds. And then, of course, we struggled to stand again because our packs were so heavy (think of the most pathetic turtle ever). When we got to the top of Bell Mountain, the view was caked with fog and mist, so we couldn’t see anything. But we stood on those rocks and screamed the most primitive, badass, victory screech in the world. At that moment, it didn’t matter how inexperienced we were. We were filled with the power that we could do anything, even if our underwear was soaked from lack of proper rainwear and there was no way we’d be able to walk straight for the next week. I knew I felt alive.
That’s when it all changed. After that hike, as miserable as it was, I committed myself to learn everything I could to maximize my experiences in the backcountry. Which meant getting rid of the 7-pound tent and starting the journey towards lightening my load.
Be sure to like or share this post if you enjoyed it and comment below if you have a funny backpacking story to tell! I would love to read it. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to stay up to date with new posts every Tuesday, and be on the lookout for part two of this ultralight backpacking series next week!
See you out on the trail!