Finding Light Gear For Your Backpacking Trip

There are two ways that you could potentially remember your backpacking trip. You might remember the peace that comes with solitude, the connection with nature that comes when you remove civilization from your life and head out under the sky. You might remember the stars over your campsite each night, and how it brought about deep questions about your life. Or, you can remember how uncomfortable the experience was, how heavily your backpack weighed you down, and the blisters on your feet.

Needless to say, we want to avoid the latter backpacking trip. Which is why it’s so important that your backpacking gear be as lightweight as possible – the more it can get out of the way of your experience, the better. It’s one thing to pack one lightweight item, but once your supplies add up, you realize just how quickly twenty pounds turns into forty. If you want to make sure that you carry as little weight as possible, you’ll have to consider all over your supplies and their impact on your traveling weight.

What supplies will you want to consider?

Your backpack (and how it distributes weight) will be important, as will cookware and your water. Necessary items like first-aid kits can be lightweight but you’ll want to make sure to err on the side of safety. For some more help, here are some supplies that can help you travel lightweight.

The North Face Ion 20 Backpack weighs under two pounds and has a suspension system and molded foundation that provides for comfort. The less backpack you’re carrying, the more supplies you can bring: that’s the idea behind a backpack like the Ion 20.

Other features include a rain cover, a front “stash” pocket, and water-friendly options. Needless to say, you’ll want a backpack like this if you’re interested in staying as comfortable as possible during your backpacking trip.

MSR DuraLite Classic Cookset. This cookset registers at over half a kilo or just over a pound (20.6 ounces, to be precise), which means that you won’t have to notice that you’re carrying so much cookware. If you plan on having some nice hot meals at night before you rest, you’ll want to make sure that you have a set of cookware that is lightweight.

Remember that backpacking doesn’t have to be all about the supplies. Instead, you’ll want to make sure that your supplies simply stay out of the way as much as possible. The experience is about you, not your supplies, which is why you shouldn’t let them weigh you down.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

This post involves:

backpack, backpacking gear, backpacking trip, blisters, campsite, civilization, cookset, first aid kits, kilo, north face, peace, rain, registers, sky, solitude, suspension system, two pounds, two ways

... and focuses on:

hiking, hiking equipment

Posted by Hike Camp Fish on August 27, 2009 in hiking, hiking equipment. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.