As said in another post, lightweight backpacking is a combination of mentality and gear and is a constant experiment. When packing you must ask yourself, “Do I really need this” and “Is this a luxury item.” Don’t get me wrong, some things are luxury, like a pillow, but it varies between people, whether they are needed or not.
Now, this is where gear comes in. If a pillow is needed for you, you can’t your big pillow bed, you need gear that is weight sufficient.
For example, a pillow that is small and inflates. If a luxury has no lightweight alternative, it may not fit into your packing system.
Keep in mind that this is all a constant experiment. Therefore, you may have to switch your gear around to find what works for you and those factors like the trail, the weather, your other gear, etc.
Going lightweight is to/so expensive! – Unknown
Well, it’s more about bang for your buck, not how cheap. To be honest, a lot of cheap stuff is pretty crappy, but, I’m not saying things aren’t worth a try. All in all, don’t settle when it comes to gear.
After trying out lightweight style packing it can be easy to become obsessive, or in other words, taking it too far. A good rule of thumb to know when this happens is when you start counting grams.
There is also a potential danger to taking things too far. For instance, you start to become risky by not packing enough first aid supplies, not having a safe amount of food, not packing proper clothing, etc.
You may be asking, so why go lightweight?
The simple answer is in the name. You probably assumed that it would make your life easier. It also reduces stress on the body allowing you to hike farther, longer, and harder. Going lightweight can make your trip all more enjoyable too! You just have to have an open mind.
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