My first experience backpacking was far from being "lightweight". More the opposite! Do you remember the movie where Robert Redford played the part of a man who decided to spurn society and live in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains? You would have thought I was the reincarnation of Jeremiah Johnson given how I dressed and the gear I chose to carry. Looking back it makes me shudder!
But that is how we learn. And learn I did until the knowledge and experience gained by increasingly migrating towards lightweight backpacking gained traction and became routine.
The lighter the backpack the easier the going...
Although it should be self-evident, this simple fact doesn't always impress us to the degree it should. And the longer the trip, the more force upon our decisions this credo ought to have. Our legs and backs will be ever grateful to us! Backpacking should be fun and moving in the lightweight direction will help you avoid the sort of weariness and fatigue generated by toting around extra pounds.
Take only what you need to be comfortable and safe...
Selecting only the items you need to be comfortable and safe is a process of experience. Over time, you'll come to develop a short list of items that meet this criteria. Until then, thoughtfully consider each prospective item, challenging yourself to consider if the item is both necessary and useful-not in the hypothetical but in the practical.
Often, you can take advantage of multipurpose items such as Swiss knives and clothing (like convertible cargo pants) that offer flexibility of purpose.
To help pare down your list, weigh each item, then re-examine each by weight, challenging yourself more aggressively for items that weigh more. Is it useful? Lightweight? Compact? Dependable? What would the consequence be if it were left behind?
Choose a pack that's small...
What better help in disciplining oneself towards lightweight backpacking than to choose a pack that forces you to be discerning in what you pack? By its very nature, a small pack limits what you can carry.
My own beginnings in the world of backpacking began in winter, the season that demands sober consideration in both the realm of safety and comfort. Saddled with excessive weight, my initial forays into the wild white yonder were peppered with aching muscles, fatigue and periods where I'm sure I was a less than congenial hiking companion! Yet as I challenged myself to prove the worthiness of the items I chose to take with me, concentrating on getting the weight down, I found my enjoyment quotient rising and so will you!
Fred D. George is a writer who specializes in outdoor activities. You can check out his latest website Cute Backpacks where he and his wife provide unbiased reviews, buying advice and best deals for a range of stylish and functional backpacks for girls, kids, college, work and play.
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