The easiest ways to go ultralight, and get down to a 10lb base weight! In hiking and backpacking these days it is easier than ever to go ultralight with new high tech fabrics, knowledge everywhere, and thousands of companies all focused on ultralight specific gear. I hope this video helps!
My Favorite Ultralight Hiking Gear:
Tent - http://tinyurl.com/bdxm9229
Quilt - http://tinyurl.com/4fm96rt4
Backpack - https://tinyurl.com/22rh8fr2
Pack Liner - http://tinyurl.com/2p8uvn7w
Rain Jacket - http://tinyurl.com/bdadk452
Fleece - https://tinyurl.com/ucd7ypdr
Puffy - https://tinyurl.com/29966jbw
Socks - https://amzn.to/3tUDH6U
Bug Head Net - https://tinyurl.com/2vrwsd26
Smart Watch - https://amzn.to/3mz7ePp
Stove - http://tinyurl.com/58r2rys8
Pot - http://tinyurl.com/hn32nxxp
Battery Bank - http://tinyurl.com/47x276b3
Flashlight - http://tinyurl.com/5n6jkrmd
Camera - https://amzn.to/4axYKgb
Lens - https://amzn.to/41Xjlqg
The benefits of going ultralight are endless! It will make hiking up difficult mountains more fun, you'll avoid injury more easily, you won't be as sore the next day, you can cover more miles with less effort, and it's just fun!
Gear Mentioned in the Video:
- Garage Grown Gear (Ultralight Marketplace) - https://tinyurl.com/238zh22n
- Durston Gear (Tents) - https://durstongear.com
- Enlightened Equipment (Quilts) - https://tinyurl.com/5xu3p3sp
TIPS TO GO ULTRALIGHT !!
- Bring Less - Lay all of your gear out on the ground, and ask yourself what is truly necessary for the conditions I will be facing. This is free to do, and a fun exercise!
. If you are hiking in the summer, you can bring less layers
. Camp shoes are fun, but they're also pretty heavy and don't pack well
. Leave behind your camera and use your phone instead
. Consider that after a long day of hiking you will be too tired to read that book, or use other luxury items
- Weight Everything! - Knowing what an item weighs can be good to help put its value into perspective, as you have to carry that weight! Use a website like lighterpack.com and then compare your list to others! What do they have that is lighter, what are you carrying that they aren't?
- Small Items Add Up! - When going through gear it's nice to upgrade and consider big ways you can save pounds with just one change, but don't forget that a lot of small items can also add up to big weight! Consider leaving duplicate items at home, small luxuries and gadgets, extra unused or unneeded layers of clothes. Small items add up quick.
- Lighter Weight Fabrics! - The fastest way to go ultralight is through high tech fabrics like Dyneema which is used in Tents, Backpacks, and Stuff Sacks. It is more ultralight than any other fabric out there, and swapping gear out for dyneema is a fast way to go very light without sacrificing anything!
So biggest bang for buck, replace your shelter and your sleeping bag for the largest benefit as those use the most fabric!
- Cottage Companies - Big brands like REI just aren't focused on ultralight gear, so instead of shopping there check out small ultralight companies instead. I recommend looking into Garage Grown Gear as they are an ultralight gear marketplace (https://tinyurl.com/238zh22n) with all sorts of options from shelters all the way down to doodads and dehydrated food.
- Planning & Research - Knowing what you're heading into can play a huge roll in what gear you will need, and more importantly... what gear you WON'T need! Look into the weather, temperatures, if there are bugs, how remote it is, difficult sections of the trail, the terrain, and environment. All of this can allow you to better pack your bag and prepare.
- Shakedown Hikes - Take lots of little trips near home to get used to gear, weather, and try brining different items or leaving things at home! You can learn a ton on short trips, and it's much safer to do this than far across the country where you don't know anyone.
0:00 - Easiest Way to go Ultralight!
1:40 - Benefits of Ultralight
3:09 - Choose Gear with Care
5:10 - Weigh Everything & Compare
6:32 - Small Items Add Up
7:51 - High Tech Fabrics
9:21 - Small Ultralight Companies
10:52 - Research & Planning
12:30 - Shakedown Hikes
13:49 - Rapid fire Tips :)
Hiking Essentials Shirt! http://jupiterhikes.com/product/hiking-essentials/
THE BACKPACKING GEAR I USE:
http://www.jupiterhikes.com/gear/
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