Lightweight Backpacking

M th d Lessons,
Methods, L Trades
T d
Wind River Range, WY

Richard Harris
Cherokee Hiking Club
Are you tired of carrying a 40
pound backpack over those
trails? There is a solution.
 Introduction
Session Goals
1. Share my ideas on how I reduced my carry weight Adventure Alan

2. List some of the pros and cons of lightweight backpacking

3. Offer references & empower
p yyou to gget more information
My history
50 years backpacking experience throughout US, Ryan Jordan

mostly in Boy Scouts as a Scout & as an adult leader 8 pounds IPW

IPW, 4 days!
Maximum trip length: 14 days
Progressing from 35+# to 12# base pack weight
As I get older,
older I cant
can t carry as much as I used to
 Nothing without a Cost
BIG Tent

Reduced weight & volume may result in:

Less camp comfort

Everyone has their minimum comfort level for it to remain a fun
adventure
Smaller tents, snug bags, less mattress, simpler food, etc.
Higher dollar cost
What is it worth to you to reduce a pound or two in an area?
E.g., ultra-light feather bags are not cheap (e.g., $350)
There are exceptions: e.g., alcohol stove, mattress, pack
Easier hiking
Carrying 10-20
10 20 pounds is exceptionally easier than 40-50
40 50 pounds
pounds,
especially in mountains, at altitude, and when you are over 60 years
old. Its healthier and faster! Extra Stuff

Easier means more fun

 References
Books
Ray Jardine, Beyond
Beyond Backpacking,
Backpacking , 1999 (out of print)
Ryan Jordan, Lightweight Backpacking & Camping, 2005 ($17 Amazon)
Lighten UP DVD, $5, http://www.gossamergear.com Ray Jardine

Some Luminaries & Web Sites

Backpacking
p g Light:
g http://www.backpackinglight.com
p p g g ((The BEST))
Ryan Jordan (engineer)
Gossamer Gear: http://www.gossamergear.com/
Glen Van Peski (engineer) w/ Excel gear lists! (good formatting free)
Sub-10, 5, & 3 pound base pack lists, 10 pounds for $200, etc.
Ray Jardine: http://www.rayjardine.com
Ray Jardine (engineer)
Ryan Jordan
Six Moons Design: http://www.sixmoondesigns.com
Ron Moak (computer programmer)
Tarptent: http://www.tarptent.com/
Integral Designs: http://www.integraldesigns
Mountain Laurel Designs: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com
Anti-gravity Gear: http://www.antigravitygear.com
http://www antigravitygear com
Adventure Allen: http://www.adventurealan.com (w/ gear lists)
Trail Designs: http://www.traildesigns.com
Joes Ultralite Backpacking: http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com
HikeLite: http://www.hikelight.com
GoLite: http://www.golite.com
p g
REI: http://www.rei.com (general outfitter)
 Weight Nomenclature
& Examples
E l
Formula 6-Dayy2 3-Dayy3
Base Pack a 11.8 10.0
Consumables1 b 7.9 4.2
I iti l Pack
Initial P k a+b=c
+b 19 7
19.7 14 2
14.2
Worn or Carried d 4.7 4.7
Full Skin
Skin-Out
Out c+d=e
c d e 24.4 # 18.9#

Notes:
1 Food, fuel, & water: For me, includes 1 liter of water
2 6 days & nights, 32-40o nights
w/ camera (5 oz), GPS (7 oz)
3 3 days & 2 nights, 50o nights
 Where to start
Buyy digital
g scale, determine all weights,
g & make
spreadsheet
Prioritize & consider HEAVY items first: save pounds,
then ounces later
Ounces add to pounds, and pounds add to discomfort!
Focus on weight, but also consider volume closely size
matters! Consider 3000 cu in pack
Exercise discipline in choosing luxuries
Book, cell phone, GPS, camp chair, etc.
Limit contingencies
Good trip planning & experience are the keys
Don
Dontt just take stuff,
stuff, build a system
system
Identify HEAVIEST & LARGEST
Example Item Trip
Trip Wire
Wire
Shelter: > 2 pounds
Pack:
P k > 1 poundd
Summer Bag: > 1 pound
Stove: > 3oz
Water Treatment: > 3oz
Food: > 1 pound/day
 Shelters
My y North Face Tadpole
y History: p 5#
GoLite tarp 1#, mosquito netting extra 1#
Big Agnes 3-wire bivy 1#12oz
Considerations
C id ti
Single wall construction
Condensation inside
Single person size
Less room: sides and height
Non-free-standing
Non free standing
Harder to pitch
Other Issues:
Tarp
Tarp not necessarily needed for light weight,
weight but best
Tarps = Bugs, bugs, bugs
In buggy season, I take my mosquito netting inner tent as well
 Shelter Examples
p
Tarptent Contrail: 34.5 oz (everything), $200
http://www.tarptent.com/

Gossamer Gear The One: 20-32 oz., $275

http://www.gossamergear.com
p g g

Six Moons Design Luna Solo: 23-29oz, $230

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/

Backpacking Light Spin Tarp: 5-17 oz., $100

http://www.backpackinglight.com

Integral Designs Sil-Poncho:

Sil-Poncho : 10-22oz,
10-22oz $85
http://www.integraldesigns.com

1
1. Watch weight advertisements: Needs to include with all stakes,
stakes poles,
poles ground cloth,
cloth ropes,
ropes
seam sealing, & stuff sack!
2. Do you always carry hiking poles? Decide before buying a tent. Min. +12oz
3. Whats your tolerance for bugs and water?
 Packs
My y Gregory
y history: g y DenaliPro 7#12oz
GoLite Speed 2#10oz, 3000 cu in
GoLite Jam 1#12oz, 2867 cu in
Considerations
Frameless pack design is feasible
Must have very light loads (<20#)
Use mattress as stiffener
Lighter material used in construction
Take care to not tear
Smaller capacity is mandatory
Reduce y
your weight
g & VOLUME ((3000 cu in or so))
Make sure you can carry items inside the pack!
 Light Pack Examples
Gossamer Gear G5: 3800 in3, 10.7oz., $115
http://www.gossamergear.com

Essence : 3100 in3, 17 oz., $120

Six Moons Essence:
http://www.sixmoondesigns

Mountain Laurel Designs: 3200 in3, 13 oz,

oz $160
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/

1. Watch capacities: whats inside and whats out?

2. Watch weights: includes belt, padding, etc.?
3. Some people cut off unneeded accesories
 Sleeping Bags
My History: North Face Cats
Cat s Meow
Meow 2#10oz
Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20
1#13oz
Considerations:
Snug fit for reduced weight
Must tolerate tighter-fitting bags
Consider only down fills (850)
Synthetics
S th ti cant
t match
t h weights
i ht ratios
ti T i lM
Typical Mummy B
Bag

Use your clothing too

Wear clothing at night to supplement/regulate bag
warmth
 Light Bag Examples
Western Mountaineering Highlite 15.7oz, 35o,
3 , $260
http://www.westernmountaineering.com

Feathered Friends Merlin 23oz, 30o,

4, $314
http://www featheredfriends com
http://www.featheredfriends.com

1. Watch loft height: its everything!

2. Watch stuff sack weight and size
Other Items in your Base Pack
Big 3 (tent, pack bag): Covered to this
(tent pack,
point But, what else is in your pack?
Extra Stuff

Ask Three Key Questions

1. Do I really need it?
2 Is
2. I it worth
th the
th extra
t weight?
i ht?
3. Can I lighten it up?
 Mattress
My history:
Therm-a-Rest Ultralite (14oz)
Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest length (8 oz)

Comfort
C f t versus Weight
W i ht & Volume
V l
Big air versus closed foam
Air more comfortable and smaller size
Air mattress used alone: can puncture!
Closed foam can be used as form for pack
Full length versus partial
Mummy versus rectangular
R-value
R value is important
Foam + Air
 Cook Stove
My y WhisperLite
y History: p gas ((15oz)) alcohol
g
(1oz) (3.4oz w/ pot, screen, bag)
Considerations:
Fuels: Gas, alcohol, canister, tablets, none
Coke-can/alcohol is lightest stove option
Fuel container size & weight
Simmer versus full-blast (boil only)
Objective: cook meals or boil water
Examples
E l
Vargo Triad 1.06oz + foil, $30
Brasslite TurboF, .85oz + foil
Ion Kit, .46oz + foil, $22
Make your own
 Cooking Utensils
My y 2-Pot Aluminum Kit ((24oz)) Titanium
y history:
pot (2.7oz)
Considerations:
Simple versus complex meals
Freeze-dried dinner in cooking bag
Small p
pot/cup
p to boil water ((1-2 cups)
p )
Single spoon is ample for simple meals
Cold meals for breakfast and/or lunch
Some examples
Titanium Pot, 4oz (w/o top) $40 www.rei.com
Titanium Spoon
p 0.4oz, $12 www.backpackinglight.com
p g g
 Water Containers
History: Nalgene,
Nalgene 3.5oz,
3 5oz $6 > Gatorade,
Gatorade
1.5oz, free
Nalgene: is out,
out drink
drink bottles are in
Essentially free
Dispose,
Di d t sanitize
dont iti
My Strategy
1 Qt Gatorade (1.5oz)
2 Qt Platypus rollup (1.5)
 Water purification
History: MSR pump (15oz) AquaMira
(chlorine dioxide) (3oz) (15-30gal)
Lightweight Options:
AquaMira Chlorine Dioxide Liquid
3oz, $13, 60-120 qts, 15 min
Katadyn Chlorine Dioxide Tablets
.5oz, $10, 20 tablets & qts, 30min
Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets
3oz,
3oz $8,
$8 30 qt,
qt 15min
SteriPEN UV Rays
3.6oz w/batteries, $100, 90sec
 Food Protection
Options:
p
1. Do Nothing: attract critters and bears poor
alternative
2. Bear Canister: Excellent, except for weight (2.5#)
and volume (700in3)
BearVault BV500, $80
http://www.rei.com
3. Hanging Bag: Best alternative, except when hiking
above tree-line
UrsaLite Bear Bag , 2oz,, 4in3 (p
g System,
y (plus
food volume)
http://www.backpackinglight.com

PS: Some places require a canister be used

 First Aid Kit
History: Every contingency (1.5#)
minimum contingency (3.7oz)
My minimums
Pills (Benadryl, Advil, Imodium, GasX), Band-Aids, antibiotic,
antiseptic, tick remover, mole skin, pads, duct tape
Put contents in zip-loc
zip loc bag
Considerations:
Alone or with others?
Within a day of civilization?
Cell phone coverage available?
Your level of training?
g

Heavy Alternative
 Extra Shoes (Camp
(Camp, Water)
History: Extra Running Shoes (2#)
None
Considerations:
Camp shoes are nice
Dry,
y comfortable, backup
p
Water shoes are nice
Crocs are excellent (13oz)
Sandals for everything
Teva or Keen Sandals example (29oz)
Replace your boots with this lightweight alternative
Camp shoes + Water shoes = 0 oz
 Lights
History: large headlamp, 6oz Princeton
Tec 0.28oz

Considerations
May consider taking no light in the summer
Many lightweight lights out there
 Food
Set a goal for weight/day and focus on it
< 1 pound/day?
Simple-to-fix or complex-to-fix meals?
My typical simple-to-fix breakfast:
Cold cereal, powdered milk, sugar all in zip-loc bag
Just add cold water to zip-loc bag! No cook, no clean-up!
Alternatives:
Granola, oatmeal or grits just heat up a little water
My typical simple-to-fix lunch:
No actual lunch period, just occasional eat trail snacks
power bar, granola bar, Toasty crackers, peanut butter
Peanuts,
P t snacks,
k candy,
d power bars
b -- allll are greatt
My typical simple-to-fix dinner:
Dehydrated meals prepared at home
Vacuum sealed
Pour in hot water, mix, eat from bag, no clean-up
My typical allowance: 1#/day
 Water

2.1 pounds/quart! WATCH THIS AREA!

Don
Dontt carry more than you need to get to
the next water source, with an
insurance policy
insurance policy in some situations
If you get to the next source with water in your
pack, you probably carried too much!
Drink your fill at each water source, and
then carry less to the next source
 Alcohol Fuel
Carry
y only
y what needed for trip
p length
g
Plus, one extra day for insurance
My typical trip: 1 oz (weight) /day is more than sufficient
to boil 2 cups of water at one time
One hot meal/day (at dinner)
My plastic fuel bottle: 8 oz-liquid bottle = 1.1oz wt.
That
Th t equals
l 8-day
8 d supply
l off fuel
f l att 1oz/day
1 /d
What works best
Heet 99+% Methyl Alcohol (yellow bottle!), 12oz, $1.50
Other
OK: Ethyl rubbing alcohol (70%), 16oz, $2
Bad: Isopropyl
p py antiseptic
p alcohol ((70-91%),), 16oz,, $
$2
 Worn
Worn or Carried
Carried Weight
Why important?
You legs cant tell the difference!
It
Itss all carried up,
up and down,
down that hill!
Pay attention to whats not in you pack
Boots
Poles
Clothing
Camera, Bear spray, etc.
 Boots/Shoes
Light
g p packs enable lighter
g foot ware!
Less support needed
Running shoes, trail runners, sandals, Crocs, etc.
Old saying: 1# on foot = 5# on back
Choices
Leather boots: 64oz
Mid Boots: 46oz
Trailrunners: 41.6oz
R
Running
i shoes:
h 26 6
26.6oz
Keen Water Sandals: 29oz
Crocs: 13.4oz
13 4oz
 Trekking Poles
Poles add weight
g
But is this offset by advantages?
Pushing up hills
Braking down hills
Stabilizing creek crossings and difficult terrain
Use as tent poles
Some
S people
l dont
d t use poles
l
Examples
Lightweight: REI Peak Shock Carbon 13.5oz/pair
13 5oz/pair
Leki Aergon Carbonite Anti-shock - 14oz/pair
Average
g ppoles: Black Diamond Shock 20oz/pair
p
 Clothing
Lightweight Philosophy
Layers, layers, layers
No duplicates, except socks and underwear
Snug fits are lighter & warmer
B lightest
Buy li ht t fabrics,
f bi andd use down
d i jackets
in j k t
Fleece does not pack as well
Weigh everything!
Watch Your Raingear!
How much is really needed?
Jacket probably, pants may not be in summer
Shop for the lightest possible items rain gear tends to be made of
heavy materials!
Examples
GoLite Squall breathable jacket, 9oz
GoLite
G Lit RReed
d breathable
b th bl pants: t 4.6oz
46
 Camera
What are your trip objectives?
If photography is an objective, then take
that big 2
2-4#
4# rig
Otherwise, a small digital at 5oz will do
Look for a waterproof shockproof camera
such as Olympus Stylus 770SW
Maybe nono camera
camera is acceptable
 Personal Protection
Pepper
pp Spray
p y needed? ((I have never taken
it on any trip, seen lots of bears)
Are p
problem-bears in the area?
E.g., hiking alone in National parks
Are people a potential threat?
E.g., camping close to population centers &
trailheads?
Are you hiking alone?
E.g., are you a woman hiking alone?
Whats yyour fear factor level
Counter Assault canister with belt holder:
13.5oz (heavy.)
 Summary!
Ryan Jordan

Formula 6-Dayy 3-Dayy

Base Pack Weight a 11.8 10.0
Consumables Weight1 b 7.9 4.2
I iti l P
Initial k Weight
Pack W i ht a+b=c
+b 19 7
19.7 14 2
14.2
Worn or Carried Weight d 4.7 4.7
Full Skin Out Weight
Skin-Out cc+d=e
d e 24.4 # 18.9#

Base Pack Weights of 8-12# are very reasonable for anyone

My
M old
ld Gregory
G packk weighted
i ht d over 7# b
by it
itself!
lf!

Light weight: 12-20#

12 20# Base Pack Weight (BPW)
Ultra-light weight: 6-11# Base Pack Weight
Ridiculously-light weight: <=5# Base Pack Weight
 Go light and enjoy your next backpacking adventure even more!

Thanks for your time!

Contact Information
Ri k H
Rick Harris
i
harrisri@aol.com