Consider Lightweight Backpacking For A More Enjoyable Holiday
October 14, 2008 2:04 pm Outdoors
Backpacking can be a very enjoyable activity, full of fun experiences that can leave an individual with many wonderful memories, but not if all they remember is traveling with a heavy, overstuffed backpack. For traditional backpackers, toting around 30 to 50 pounds of backpacking equipment is the norm. Yet not all individuals can or would want to be burdened with all of that weight. This is why many are taking to lightweight backpacking. Lightweight backpackers travel with a considerably less amount of gear, bringing backpacking equipment down to between 12 to 20 pounds. This can alleviate a lot of stress from the body and cause a more enjoyable trip.
Individuals who enjoy lightweight backpacking are able to maneuver the trails faster and more easily than those carrying 30 to 50 pounds of backpacking equipment with them. Heavy gear can cause increased chances of having an injury, experiencing exhaustion and falling from poor foot placement. A backpacking traveler who is not weighed down with a lot of excess equipment can use their energy to enjoy the trip itself.
When backpacking hiking with less gear, simply do not take more than what you know you will need. Many people tend to pack duplicate equipment just in case, but many people never need the duplicate gear. Believe it or not, packing your everyday 12 ounce tube of toothpaste or your ultra mega bottle of sunscreen can add to the weight content of your backpack very quickly, yet you will never need those amounts of products for a weekend or even a week long trip.
Instead, try packing trial size bottles of products so that you are more comfortable when traveling. Another item that can significantly add to your backpacking weight is packing unnecessary food. This is where deliberate food planning comes in. Many lightweight backpackers have found that packing food consistent with a 2,000 calorie a day diet relieves them of a lot of weight.
This averages out to about 1.5 pounds of daily food and can actually reduce the average backpacker’s weight by over 5 pounds, in food alone. While there are other items that can be deleted from your backpack to drop weight, starting with items like these can get you off and running.
While backpacking can be very enjoyable, the weight of backpacking equipment can sometimes be a burden, making for a weary traveler on the trail. Lightweight backpacking is a way for many individuals to enjoy the activity, while not having to tote around all of the heavy equipment. Lightening the load of the equipment can cause less stress on the body and allow for a more enjoyable hike.
