Lightweight Backpacking
Lightweight backpacking is a style of backpacking where you use the simplest gear possible in order to have the lowest possible backpack weight. During ordinary backpacking backpacks weighing thirty pounds is normal and there are weight variations up to even sixty pounds. Lightweight backpacking involves backpacks that are less than twenty pounds in weight. Some backpackers even attempt lightweight backpacking with only five pounds or less of equipment.
Lightweight backpacking was first given popularity by rock climber Ray Jardine. His book set the groundwork for the unofficial standards of lightweight backpacking. But this concept is not entirely new. Records exist for hikers such as Horace Kephart in 1917 and Emma "Grandma" Gatewood in 1955 who hiked through wilderness terrain using very minimal equipment.
The idea behind lightweight backpacking is to minimize the weight carried as much as possible to allow greater mobility, less fatigue and lesser risk of injury. Lightweight backpacking involves three main stages of item reduction. The first is to reduce weight. In this stage we leave out items which can be considered luxuries and not essential to the hike. Things like camping chairs, electronic devices, multiple clothing items are unnecessary for lightweight backpacking and are left behind. The second stage is reducing item weight. Here items that are necessary for the lightweight backpacking expedition are trimmed of any parts that only add dead weight. Breaking the handle off a toothbrush, taking off metal decorations or tags of clothing are examples for this stage. Or you could replace conventional items with lightweight backpacking gear that's designed to be lightweight and sturdy. For example gear made of ripstop nylon rather than canvas is much lighter. Also using items with few extra features and only the essential features that you need for lightweight backpacking is another way to reduce weight. The final stage is to use as much multipurpose equipment as possible. Things like swiss army knives are very valuable in these instances. Also you can find one item that can do the work of two, like a large raincoat or poncho that can double as a rain shelter. With all these steps there still is the "Big Three" which lightweight backpacking tries hardest to reduce; the rain shelter, sleeping system and backpack.
Lightweight backpacking also has to contend with consumable items. Water, Food and possibly Fuel are all in this category. Most hikers carry very little water and instead rely on lightweight purifiers to clean water that they find on the trail itself. Food also greatly contributes to pack weight. A hiker may need close to 5000 calories a day so it is important to keep a good food source. Unless regular food drops can be arranged high energy, low weight foods like nuts, dehydrated fruits, butters are a staple for hikers.
Lightweight backpacking is not for everyone. It is a strenuous and risky activity because only minimal equipment is used. But done properly with the right precautions, it will be the best hike you have ever had.
