Three Reasons to Pack Light When Hiking

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

One thing that might separate any experienced hiker from a complete beginner is seeing how the hiker is packed. An experienced hiker will have a good backpack, one that is steel-rod enforced that helps to distribute the weight of their towage across their body, instead of dragging down on their shoulders and neck. The experienced hiker might look under-prepared on first glance, traveling light, but carrying only the essentials.

The novice hiker might look like a walking hike-cyborg, a person with too many machines, too much to carry, and no respect for what carrying weight over long distances will do to their energy. While it’s true that some hikers can handle more weight than others, there’s no doubt that someone carrying too much for their own strength and energy levels is in for a pretty tough lesson about hiking.

#1. You’re preparing for the second half of the hike, not the first.

A rule of thumb for preparation is that you’re not preparing for everything that’s expected – although that’s part of it, as well – but preparing for the unexpected. By carrying too much equipment with you, you might be prepared for every situation, but you’re really only preparing for the first part of the hike – the time when you aren’t exhausted from carrying so much equipment. If you need some technology to navigate your way home, carry it with you – but only if you need it.

#2. Reducing your resource needs.

As you expend less energy by carrying less weight, you’ll also create less of a need to consume energy. Consider it the hiker’s paradox: the more food you carry, the more food you’ll need to eat to maintain your energy levels. This might not be as true during shorter hikes because you won’t need as much endurance, but on longer hikes, your endurance is a key factor, and reducing your resource needs is one of the reasons to pack light.

#3. Hiking is tough enough.

If you’re a serious hiker who’s tackling the terrain, it’s no fun to be held back by the weight you’re carrying. Hiking is tough enough, so pack light in order to give yourself the license to move with agility and relative speed, chasing high points and tackling long distances. For you beginners, you’ll understand this once you get out there. Some people increase their exercise intensity by adding weights to a run or jog, but unless you’re a serious hiker, there’s no reason to do this the first time out.

Photo Credits: The Sunshine Rabbit