Light is right when you鈥檙e backpacking, even if you鈥檙e just out for the weekend. You鈥檒l be more comfortable on the trail and less fatigued when you get to camp. But don鈥檛 worry. I鈥檓 not going to suggest you cut the strings off your tea bags or forgo the chocolate bars. Here are seven totally doable,听real-world hacks to keep the weight down.听
#1:听Bring Multi-Purpose Products
I like to pack gear that serves听more than one purpose.听For example, I always bring a multi-tool instead of a can opener. And I like trash compactor bags because they keep clothing dry, hold food at night, and carry waste out at the end of the trip.
#2: Plan Your Food Wisely
You don鈥檛 want to be hungry on the trail, but you also don鈥檛 want to haul too much food in. I like to bring a mix of real food (think apples and hard boiled eggs), snacks, and just-add-water meals that I portion out carefully. On big days, I often skip lunch and opt for a hearty snack like beef jerky and trail mix听that I can eat on the move.听
#3: Don鈥檛 Carry Too Much Water
If you plan carefully, you shouldn鈥檛 have to weigh yourself down with extra water. Read trail guides so you carry just enough to get you to a stream for filtering听or to a potable water site.
#4: Ditch Any Unnecessary Packaging
Instead of carrying the whole听mac and cheese box, dump everything into a freezer bag.听Another tip: take the cardboard roll out of your toilet paper. Hacks like this shave ounces and space in your bag.听
#5: Cut Unnecessary Straps
This is another hack that only saves a few ounces, but it will make your life easier. Many backpacks come with too many straps, so cut the ones that don鈥檛 serve an essential听purpose. You鈥檒l spend听less time fumbling to get your pack ready for the day.
#6: Invest in a Lightweight Rain Jacket
You can buy ultra-light tents and sleeping bags, but they鈥檙e usually silly expensive. Not so with a rain jacket. You can get the ,听which only weighs 6.4 ounces for $160. The 听($200) is also a good choice. Stuff it in the top of your pack and forget about it 'till you need it.听
#7: Use Geargrams
gives weights for specific pieces of gear,听then creates a pie chart so you can see what鈥檚 weighing you down the most. It鈥檚 a good tool for helping determine听what should or shouldn't get left behind.听