The Ultralight Philosophy – Getting Started
We’ve all been there- you’re on a backpacking trip, maybe one of your first, and your pack is far too heavy. Your shoulders ache, your knees twinge, and morale is at an all time low. “Never again”, you promise yourself.
But wait! It doesn’t have to be this way!
So what’s the solution?
If you’ve spent any significant time in the backcountry, then you’re probably familiar with the concept of “ultralight”. The concept refers to the weight of your backpack. The heavier your pack is, the more stress is put on your body, the more pain you’re in, and the less pleasant the experience. Pretty logical.
So…knowing this, how do we proceed?
Getting Started
To begin, you’ll have to be familiar with the term “base weight”. Your base weight is the weight of your pack, minus consumables (food, water, and fuel).
Reducing the weight on your back, means reducing your base weight. There are a few effective ways to quickly reduce your base weight. However, keep in mind your, preferences, hiking style, budget, and the things you might not be willing to sacrifice (safety, comfort, warmth etc.).
The key to a successful ultralight backpacking setup is being honest with yourself about the things you are willing to go without.
You have to consider your comfort level, and weigh your past experiences. Often times, a lighter pack doesn’t always equal more success. It’s going to take time to dial in your setup to perfectly match your hiking style, and most people are constantly tweaking their gear. Lets begin…
Strategy #1 – Mr. Money Bags
The most obvious (and expensive) way to immediately reduce your base weight, is invest in all the newest ultralight gear. If you have the means, this is probably the most efficient way to quickly bring down your base weight. Obviously, this method isn’t an option for most people, but just to give you an idea…
Let’s say you were to invest in a new tent, sleeping bag, and backpack, with the goal of reducing your base weight as much as possible. These three items are known as, “the big three”, and are responsible for a majority of your base weight. Thus, if you want to quickly reduce your weight, these are good places to start. Here are three examples of common ultralight gear you could consider:
Tent: Zpacks – Plexamid – $549.00 – 15.3oz (https://zpacks.com/products/plexamid-tent)
Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment – Enigma – $290.00 – 17.95oz (https://enlightenedequipment.com/enigma-stock/)
Backpack: Superior Wilderness Designs – Superior 40 – $179.00 – 15oz (https://www.swdbackpacks.com/product-page/superior-40l-frameless)
TOTAL = 3.14lbs (50.25oz) / $1018.00
With your big three only adding up to 3.14lbs, you’re off to a great start on your ultralight journey, but at $1018.00, it comes at a steep price.
But there are some things to consider gear-wise here. For example, the Zpacks tent is a single-wall tent, so you’ll want to make sure you are comfortable with that. The Enlightened Equipment Enigma is a quilt rather than a sleeping bag. Finally the SWD backpack is frameless, and may ride on your back poorly when carrying heavier loads. These are the kinds of personal considerations that must be made before investing in this expensive, top-of-the-line gear.
Strategy #2 – MYOG
A second, much cheaper option is to make your own ultralight gear. However, this option requires intimate knowledge of hiking gear and materials. It also requires some hardware, such as a sewing machine, and technical skills that most people don’t have. Not to mention most people who are making their own gear probably already have a pretty good handle on their gear setup, and aren’t reading this post. If you’re looking for resources to make your own gear (MYOG) I can recommend https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/
Strategy #3 – The 99%
This is the most reasonable way to bring down your pack weight, and the way most people will find themselves doing it. It’s sort of a more calculated approach to strategy #1.
Step 1: Get organized
A great resource to organize your gear list is https://lighterpack.com. This is an awesome tool to keep track of what your packing, and how much each item is contributing to the weight of your pack.
Step 2: Prioritize and Eliminate
Consider your pack list, and pick out items you think might be unnecessary, or that are contributing a disproportionate amount of weight. These might include a pillow, a camera, or an extra pair of shoes. It’s in this step that you have to be honest with yourself about what you really want when on a backpacking trip versus what you really need.
Step 3: Upgrade
It’s not practical to replace all your gear at once. My advice is, do your research, pick one piece of gear, and upgrade incrementally. Remember, this is a process, and it will take time for you to find the right setup. I think a new backpack is a great place to start, but any one of the “big three” are great starting points.
Here are some great companies to consider:
Backpacks
https://www.ula-equipment.com/
Tents
https://www.nemoequipment.com/
Sleeping Bags/ Quilts
https://enlightenedequipment.com/
Step 4: Get out there!
The best way to figure out what works for you is to go hiking! Go on a multi-day trip in your local backcountry, and make mental notes about what you liked, and what you would do differently next time. Then, when you get home, begin again from step #1. Rinse and repeat.
And that’s it! This was an entry-level introduction to the ultralight philosophy, and I’m hardly an expert. Everyone is different and I have my own thoughts on ultralight culture. So do what works for you, and do what feels right. Good luck!
