Lightweight Backpacking Advice

Being a lightweight is no longer a bad thing, honest!

Lightweight Backpacking Help & Advice

Walk and Ramble specialise in selling top quality outdoor and walking gear, and being outdoor sports enthusiasts ourselves, are keen to learn and share as much knowledge as possible.  We'd be happy to publish any great ideas on our website if something isn't covered already so get in touch!  We have almost 20 years experience in the outdoor leisure industry, so we certainly know our stuff!

This lightweight backpacking advice page would actually be helpful to all those outdoor sports enthusiasts who enjoy the benefits of travelling, running or riding lightweight - adventure running, mountain biking, lightweight travel or expeditions.

Why is lightweight backpacking and outdoor gear so important?

Lightweight backpacking gear is amongst the most technologically advanced outdoor gear available. This is because it uses the specially advanced technologies which serve the same core purposes as 'regular weight' outdoor clothing and equipment, but at a reduced weight.  The importance of this to you, as a lightweight backpacker, is that you can move over-ground faster, with more stability and / or efficiency with less weight but the same benefits as if you caried regular-weight outdoor gear.  

People who enjoy lightweight backpacking often still use walking poles, rucksacks, walking boots, etc, but simply benefit from their lightweight eficiencies, such as light weight materials including Pertex and titanium. There are those than do push lightweight backpacking to the extreme and benefit from notions of minimal and ultralight travel.  This breed of backpacker enjoys carrying as little gear as safely possible, and making sure that every item has at least 24 purposes!   Gram-by-gram they will shave off their pack weight, with typical attempts including people drilling holes in their cut-down toothbrush and cutting the washing instructions tag out of their clothing.     

Anyway, back to the point...so why is lightweight gear so important?

Outdoor Sports: Outdoor sports enthusiasts and athletes have come to value lightweight camping and sports equipment because of the way it enhances their performance, hence the increasingly popular manufacture of ultra-light clothing and gear. Adventure runners, backpackers and mountain bikers are amongst those looking to shave every gram off their pack weight.

Lightweight Backpacking and Travel: It's important to realise that whilst you're traveling around the world, taking a gap year, or backpacking for a weekend in the fells, you will greatly appreciate good quality, lightweight clothing and equipment, as no one else is going to offer to carry your backpack for you!

Reduced Backpack Weight: By reducing the weight of the gear you are carrying with you, it means that you are putting less strain on your legs and upper body, making yourself less top heavy and more than likely reducing your pack size which means you can squeeze through more spaces!  

Reduced Clothing Weight: Agility is helped by reduced friction against key areas of your body's movement. By having less weight, you are reducing the gravitational pull of your gear towards the ground, when most people want to be moving forward. Importantly, lightweight and ultralight walking equipment often means less bulk, which too helps to reduce the friction of clothing against your body and make it easier to conquer another mountain!

Packing Your backpack for lightweight benefits

Prioritise. When packing your backpack, like many people I bet you think of an occasion (however remote) where you might actually need the melon baller. Well, the chances are you won't, so don't pack it. The rule is, when your lightweight packing, is to focus on absolute need and emergency need, which includes at the very least: water, food, shelter, warmth and safety.

Ask yourself these questions when packing your rucksack:

1. Do I need it? Throw out luxury items. 'Luxury' means different things to different people but try and stretch yourself with removing these items, as it makes a huge difference to the way you enjoy the outdoors.
2. How many times will I use it? Just the once - is it worth it?
3. Can something else replace it? Can it double-up as something else?
4. Can I share the weight with someone else (e.g. backpackers often share the weight of a tent)
5. If I was caught-out without it, would I be in a safe and secure situation?

Note: Don't make any cut-back where it might compromise your safety or others.

"Make sure you have the best lightweight outdoor gear"

One of the easiest ways to make weight savings when backpacking is by having the right gear.  Across the Walk and Ramble we have included weight and suitability to lightweight travel as often as possible as we know the importance of this as a product specification.  

3-layer lightweight clothing:

• Lightweight baselayer - not cotton as this absorbs a great deal of sweat and rain
• Lightweight warm mid-layer - pack the weight of fleece you need, or consider a lightweight down jacket
• Lightweight waterproof jacket - ideally should be highly breathable and waterproof!
• Visit the Walking Shop for outdoor clothing suggestions.

Lightweight footwear (walking boots, shoes, trainers or sandals?):

• Sometimes it's not neccessary to wear walking boots, so try mid-height walking shoes or trail running trainers
• Wear appropriate walking socks, with appropriate thickness and breathability.  Avoid getting them wet as they're often ultra-absorbent wool!  ...and gaiters are a designed for this reason!

Lightweight Walking Equipment:

• A specialist lightweight rucksack can often save a great deal of weight.  Carry a pack that is full with all your gear in at the start and not one with surplus space, as you'll create space as you eat your way through your supplies.
• Walking poles and head torches can now be both lightweight and durable with titanium now being used by Leki walking poles and Petzl head torches.
• Most importantly, when seeking the ultimate lightweight backpacking experience, don't skimp on health and safety equipment.  Take a comprehensive travel first aid kit and mountain whistle.
• Although water is a must, a slim line hydation pack is a good idea as it slides easily into your backpack, and if you pack sensibly you can place it as close to your back as possible, helping you to feel less weight swing around on your back as you move as the items centre of gravity is close to yours - this is a good tip will all relatively heavy items.

Weight saving tips:

1. A decent cooking pan can work as a eating bowl, and, you guessed it, a cooking pan! Do you really need a plate and a bowl?
2. How many tent pegs do you need for the weather? Did you know you can now get ultralight tent pegs?
3. Many baselayers are quick drying, wicking, low odour and so can be worn again and again, and dry quickly after a quick wash.
4. Share the weight of your camping equipment - is a two man lightweight tent lighter than two ultralight one man tents?  Is the camping stove separable? Share one first aid kit?
5. Down sleeping bags are far lighter (weight-to-warmth ratio is better).
6. Toiletries - shaving gel is heavy and bulky, consider shaving oil or go without. Don't go over board and throw-away your deodorant - going lightweight isn't worth losing your friends over! Empty your toothpaste and other liquids into smaller containers - taking just what you need. Consider taking a mini toothbrush too, and leaving the hairdryer.
7. Take a single lightweight camping stove rather than a double-hob camping stove, just cook one thing at a time and eat it as it comes off the hob
8. Stainless steel or titanium cutlery and a multi-tool pen-knife will be the only utensils and tools you'll need
9. Food - sauce sachets help to make any meal interesting! Tins are heavy - try Wayfayrer meals as these are very popular with lightweight enthusiasts.
10. Drinks - decant drinks from glass and plastic bottles into a Platypus or Camelbak bladder.
11. Money - always spend your lose change before you break into a note.
12. First aid kit - take everything you need, or might need - don't make any cutbacks.

Items to avoid:

1. Camping chairs and tables - just find a couple of rocks, or sit on the floor.
2. Synthetic sleeping bags (down sleeping bags are much lighter for the same comfort temperature).
3. Too many clothes - buy quick drying clothing and wash it before you go to bed.
4. Heavy-duty inflatable mattresses - ridiculously heavy!
5. Camping stoves that are bulky and require bulky gas canisters - mini lightweight stoves are available.

This is a simple summary of lightweight backpacking advice and is provided as a general guide only - if you do have any more queries, ideas or thoughts on this topic, do not hesitate to contact us, as the Walk and Ramble walking shop team are walkers and outdoor sports enthusiasts ourselves! We are always happy to help!