A lightweight backpack makes a huge difference in the backcountry. With less weight on your back you can cover more distance in less time, decrease your chances of injury, and enjoy the hike more. But investing in the fanciest ultra-light backpacking gear can get expensive. So instead of dropping a ton of cash, check out these twelve free ways to lower your pack weight before you head out on your next adventure.
1) Pack Items That Multitask
Instead of packing two separate items, see if you can use one item for multiple uses.
- Use your insulated jacket to extend the warmth of your sleeping bag. If you are already planning to bring an insulated jacket, pack a lighter and less warm sleeping bag and wear your insulated jacket to bed.
- Ditch a dedicated bowl and mug by eating and drinking directly out of your cooking pot.
- Use trekking poles to set up your tent. Not every tent can do this, but if you are looking into buying a tent this is an option that can save lots of weight if you already use trekking poles.
- Instead of carrying a pillow, roll up your extra clothes and stuff them in the hood of your sleeping bag.
- Instead of packing extra warm layers, wear your sleeping bag over your shoulders like a blanket when sitting in camp.
2) Carry Less Water
A liter of water weights 2.2 pounds! Pack a water filter and drink water at each water source. Then, carry only what you need to safely get to the next one. In many places you can get away with carrying less than 1 liter at a time. But you should always plan ahead and know when the next reliable water source is.
3) Go Stoveless
Stoves, pots, and fuel can add considerable weight to your pack. Cooking also takes time and cleanup can be a pain. Save the hassle and opt for no-cook backpacking meals instead.
4) Pack Nutrient Dense Foods
Pay attention to how many calories a food provides per ounce. Foods that are calorie dense pack a lot of calories into a light package. Look for foods that pack at least 100 calories per ounce. Examples: nuts, nut butters, seeds, olive oil, chocolate, dried fruit, pasta, milk powder, oats, and instant potatoes.
5) Split Up Group Gear
If you are hiking with another person coordinate group gear to avoid duplicated items. Often you may only need one stove, shelter, first aid kit etc.
6) Leave Your Change of Clothes In The Car
Other than socks, you do not need any duplicate pieces of clothing. You will smell–embrace it. Hiking in the same clothing for days is normal in the backpacking community. If your clothes are especially funky, you can always rinse them out each night. Just be sure to observe Leave No Trace principles and rinse clothing at least 200 feet away from water sources.
7) Hike in Trail Runners and Say Goodbye to Camp Shoes
With less weight on your back you can get away with less weight on your feet as well. Swap your bulky leather hiking boots for lightweight hiking shoes or trail runners. These lighter footwear options are more comfortable and dry out quickly so you don’t need to haul a dedicated pair of camp shoes in your pack.
8) Leave Books at Home
Instead of packing a guide book, take pictures of the necessary pages with your smart phone to consult later. You can also download books to read using the Kindle app. If you are concerned about battery life, keep your phone on “airplane mode” and turn it off between uses.
9) Repackage Food and Hygiene Items Into Smaller Containers
Repackage all of your food in resalable bags to reduce the weight of excess packaging. This will also decrease the amount of trash you will have to pack out and allows you to squeeze out any excess air to save on space. As for toiletries, no one needs a full size tube of toothpaste or sunscreen, opt for travel sized containers instead.
10) Ditch Stuff Sacks
Stuff sacks don’t weight much, but the weight of many stuff stacks can add up fast. Instead of packing items like your bag, tent, and pad in their own individual stuff sacks, try stuffing them into your backpack by hand. The items will naturally conform to the space and fill all the little gaps. You may find it is actually easier to pack and you won’t be sacrificing any room.
11) Cut Excess Material
If you can cut something down without sacrificing function then go for it. Cut down the handle of your spoon or toothbrush. Foam sleeping pads can be cut down to your exact height or torso length. You can also trim the hip belt, sternum straps, and shoulder straps on your backpack.
12) Analyze Your Gear
After each trip carefully examine each piece of gear. Did you use it? Did you really need it? If the answer is no, try leaving that item out on your next trip.
I agree with literally everything expect #3. I couldn’t skip the stove as it’s needed for a hot cup of coffee! Great point cutting off straps, haven’t thought of that!!
Thanks for always carrying three stove btw.
If my husband and I are going to buy a new tent, do you have one you recommend that we can use with the trekking poles? This is a super cleaver idea!
Hi Meagan.
If you are planning on purchasing a tent that sets up with trekking poles, there are a few things you should be aware of:
1) Most tents that set up with trekking poles are hybrid style tents that consist of a single tent wall and a waterproof floor that are attached by a layer of bug netting (rather than a traditional double walled tent, which consist of an inner tent which is then covered by a rainfly). A disadvantage of hybrid tents is that they can be more prone to condensation than double-walled tents. That said, this has never been a significant issue for me.
2) Tents that setup with trekking poles are usually not free-standing. Meaning they will only stand up if properly staked and are more difficult and time consuming to set up. If you camp where stakes won’t go in the ground, you will need to use rocks or other heavy objects to hold the guylines (the lines that come off the tent to attach to the stakes) so the tent will stand.
For me, the weight savings of tents that setup with trekking poles are worth the inconvenience. I would personally recommend any of the following:
1) The Zpacks Duplex is an amazing tent and is very light (19 ounces excluding stakes, cost $599). I am currently saving my pennies for one because it’s worth it.
2) The Two from Gossamer Gear (32 ounces excluding stakes, cost $311) is an affordable option.
3) The Tarptent Motrail is another good choice (34 ounces including stakes, cost $259). Although this tent has a head entry instead of a side entry, making it harder to get in and out.
4) The Tarptent Double Rainbow (42 ounces including stakes, cost $299) uses both tent poles and trekking poles to make a free-standing tent.
If you decide to go with the ease of a traditional free-standing and double-walled tent, then I suggest the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV 2 (49 ounces including stakes, cost $450) and the MSR Huba Huba NX 2 (61 ounces including stakes, on sale now for $299).