If you've been meaning to upgrade your backpacking or hiking gear with lighter weight items or "gasp", switch from heavy hiking boots to trail runners for 3 season hiking this presentation will guide through the basic concepts and techniques for lightening your load, so you can take less but do more.

1. Lighten that Pack
~ for backpacking & day hiking ~
Julie LePage & Philip Werner
(thanks to Mike Clelland and Diane Soini for the awesome illustrations and photos)

2. Why Go Lighter?
• Because that ——->
looks ridiculous :)
• Less wear/tear, less
energy used
• Less stuff = more agile
• Cover more miles, see
new places
• Gain comfort in your
efficiency & skills with
less
Heavy pack! Not as fun

3. What is Baseweight?
The weight of ALMOST everything in your pack….
Copyright: Mike Clelland, Ultralight Backpackin' Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping

4. Pack Weight
You Now? Future you!
Copyright: Mike Clelland, Ultralight Backpackin' Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping

5. My Road to Light-Weight
AMC - Outdoors Magazine
3 day backpack, June
I can barely
lift this
2014: BW = 12 lbs
PW = 19 lbs
And it only took me 6 years
(its ok to laugh)
Feeling light as
a feather!
2008: BW = 30 lbs
PW = 39 lbs

6. Obstacles/Tradeoffs
• Lack of Knowledge
• Higher Co$t
• Fear of being unprepared
• Compromising Comfort/Safety

7. General Principles
• Simplify & be more efficient
• Pack to be safe, comfortable, secure
• Bring items that are
multipurpose, compact, useful & dependable
• Make big cuts first, little cuts second
• This is can be fun, creative & inexpensive!

8. 1. Rethink
2. Repackage
3. Replace/Remove
How Do I Start?

9. How Do I Start?
Gear Shakedown
• Buy a scale
• Weigh, document
• Set a goal
• Rethink/Repackage/R
eplace
Experiment / Test
• Try out new system on a short
hike/backpack
• Sort gear out & rethink:
• 1. Used
• 2. Didn’t use much
• 3. Didn’t use at all
Do Your Homework
• Look around, steal ideas
• Read articles, books..
• Scour hiker blogs

10. Weigh & Document
http://ultralightbackpackintips.blogspot.com (search for spreadsheet)

11. Rethink, Repackage
82.4oz = 5.15 lbs
empty bottle = 6 oz x 2 = 12oz
2.5oz + 35.2oz = 2.36 lbs
2 empty bottles = 2.5 oz
empty

12. Replace, Repackage
0.3 oz
both full
14.6 oz 3.0 oz

13. Reduce Weight: Backpacking
Big Three
• Shelter
• Sleep System
• Backpack
9 lbs (3 lbs ea)
Other Stuff
• Water/Meals
• Clothing
• Cookware & water treatment
• FAK / Emergency gear
• Toiletries
takes more time/experimenting to
achieve lightness

14. Backpacking Weight Savers (Big 3)
Shelters:
• Tarp
• Lightweight tarp/tents
• Hammocks
• Bivy Sack
Benefits:
• Great for tree-filled forest, good air
flow, super comfy, inner bug net
Tradeoffs:
• Can be colder, still need pad, not
always light, $$$-$$$$
Benefits:
• super light, compact, good air
flow
Tradeoffs:
• Bugs*, can get wet from rain
splash-back, pole placemt, $$$
Benefits:
• Easy set up, good air flow, bug
net, full coverage, $$
Tradeoffs:
• Not as light/compact as tarp
Benefits:
• Small footprint, no fuss w/
poles/tarps, some have bug net
Tradeoffs:
• Can be TOO cozy, heavier than
tarp/not much lighter than LW
tent
Tarp
Lightweight Tent
Hammock
Bivy Sack

15. Backpacking Weight Savers (Big 3)
Sleep System
3/4 Sleeping Pad vs Full Pad
ZPacks QuiltNeoAir - Full sizeThermaRest 3-4 length
Sleeping quilt vs Mummy bag
Western Mountaineering
Mummy bag
Benefits:
• Lighter, more compact
Tradeoffs:
• Might be less
comfy/warm
Benefits:
• Lighter, more compact
Tradeoffs:
• Might be less comfy/warm

16. Backpacking Weight Savers
Backpacks
• weigh 1 - 2 lbs
• super light materials
• often no more $ than big-
name backpacks
Benefits:
• Light!
• Simple designs, no fuss
Tradeoffs:
• Less back ventilation
• Weight limits/Capacity Limits
• Treat with more care
• some only good for summer
HyperlightZPack
GoLite
Gossamer Gear

17. Multipurpose items…
Bandana/Buff
• Towel, water filter, neck protection, pot
cleaner, tent
drier, hat, hairband, hanky, sand storm
protection for face
Pot (Stove)
• Can act as bowl, cup, washing
vessel, blueberry collector.
Hiking Poles
• Tarps/Tent poles, helpful when crossing
rivers/hiking
Backpack
• Goes under legs when sleeping on 3/4 pad,
Sleeping Pad
• Makeshift backpad; small foam models
are good sit pads
Floss
• Thread
Socks
• Mittens
Ziplocks
• Repackage everything, first aid kit, wet
weather foot protection/warmth, water
scooper

18. Reduce Weight: Dayhiking
Daypacks
• Most forgotten about
weight saver!
• 16L - 30L
Daypack - Kumo, GGear
Benefits:
• Light! Nothing extra!
• Simple designs, no fuss
• Some have mesh pockets to dry
gear while hiking
Tradeoffs:
• Less back ventilation & padding
• Weight/Capacity Limits
• Treat with more care
• some only good for summer
Daypack - Zero, Zpacks
Daypack - Flash, REIDaypack - Flight, SMD

19. Reduce Weight: Dayhiking
Repackage - Make
things tiny!
• Bring only what you need
for the time out
mini hygiene items, copyright Diane Soini
mini bug stuff, copyright Diane Soini

20. Reduce Weight: Dayhiking
Footwear
• lighter footwear w/ your lighter
pack
• test on short hikes first
hiking shoes
trail runners
Benefits
• lighter, more airflow dry fast
• excellent grip
• more like a sneaker, more agile
• should have a supportive/stiff underfoot
• breathable, mesh panels, great for hot feet
Tradeoffs:
• less ankle support
• not waterproof
• not as abundant in stores
hiking shoes

21. Some cheap ideas…
Water
• Replace the Nalgene, reuse plastic
water bottles, repackage H20 treatment
Food
• Dehydrated: Not just for dinner!
• One container for everything
Feet/Socks
• Reuse, wash in eve, dry, wear again
Headlamp
• Use recharged batteries, leave extra
batteries at home
Get Skills & Practice!
• Take WFA/CPR/AIARE classes
• Take leadership training classes
• Learn how to…
• make a fire
• a makeshift shelter
• hike in the rain & keep warm
• Test Runs: Hike on short trips with new gear
Share Gear!
• Reduce weight by sharing
tents, sleeping bags (quilts)
stoves, water treatment

22. DIY!
Stoves
•zenstoves.com
Clothes & Gear
•http://jasonklass.webs.com/
•https://diygearsupply.com
•http://thru-hiker.com/projects/
•http://www.backpacking.net/homemade/
•http://www.backpackinglight.com/forums
Food/All sorts
•http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Projects-
for-Backpackers/
DIY Pot Cozy
DIY Alcohol Stove DIY Stuff Sack
Hiker Bars

23. Basic, Pro, Loco
Stove
Basic: share (-2)
Pro: replace (-1)
Loco: remove (-2)
Shelter
Basic: replace (-2)
Pro: Bivy (-1)
Loco: tarp / poncho (-.5)
Sleep System
Basic: remove pillow, replace bag (-1.5)
Pro: 3/4 pad (-.5)
Loco: remove pad (-.5)
How low do you want to go?
Clothes
Basic: one of each layer (-2)
Pro: remove camp shoes (-1)
Loco: socks as mittens (-.5)
Water:
Basic: Replace w/aquamira (-.8)
Pro: take only what is necessary (-4)
Loco: micro kit (-.2)
Daypack/Backpack
Basic: reduce size (-2, -1)
Pro: replace with LW pack (-2)
Loco: modify/trim straps (-.2)

24. Resources, Blogs, etc
Hiker Blogs
• SectionHiker.com
• Backpackingnorth.com
• Hikelighterm.com
Forums
• SectionHiker.com
• Backpackinglight.com
Lightweight Gear
Makers/Sellers
See Sectionhiker.com for a comprehensive list
Anti-Gravity Gear (lots)
•Gossamer Gear (packs, shelters, accessories)
•Mountain Laurel Designs (lots)
•Tarp Tent (shelters)
•Titanium Goat (maker/store)
•ULA (bigger haul packs)
•Ultralight Designs (store)
•Western Mountaineering (sleeping bags)
•Zpacks (packs, accessories)

25. The End
After ditching the extras, now there’s room for kitty