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When it comes to packing all your gear ready for a backpacking trip it can be very easy to over pack. Over packing leads to a heavy load that could mean the difference between a good enjoyable trip, and one that you remember for all the wrong reasons. So learning a few ultralight backpacking tips to help you pack light can be very useful.
The first thing of course is to ditch anything that is not really essential. Try to think if you can do without an item and if so leave it behind. Next try to consider items that can be used for more than one task. This can be quite easy if you give it some thought. (For instance do you need to take a plate or will the lid of your cooking pot do the job)?
A few other things that can have more than one use are things such as candles; these can do more than just provide you with light. You can use a candle to help start a fire, and they can also work as a great waterproofing agent. Compared to a lantern or lamp that has the extra weight of the batteries a candle weighs next to nothing.
Parachute cord is a very useful piece of equipment and should always be included in your pack. It can be used for many different tasks, from using it as a clothes line, using it for emergency boot laces, tying awkward shaped items to your pack, or using as guy lines for your tent or tarp.
Do you really need to take a complete set of cutlery? There are many items on the market such as a spork, which combines a spoon at one end and a fork at the other, and if you carry a small pocket knife, then this is really all you need. Buy lightweight Titanium cookware as apposed to heavy stainless steel pots and pans.
If you know that you will have access to a good supply of water on your chosen route, Then you can save weight on your food by taking a good quantity of dehydrated ready meals, instead of lots of heavy canned goods.Also take crackers instead of bread, not only are they lighter but they don't go stale as quick as bread will do.
These are just a few ideas of how to cut down the weight and go ultralight backpacking I am sure that when you think things through you will be able to come up with many more ideas to enable you to become a lightweight camper.
Mike Legg is a seasoned hiker with many years experience of backpacking in europe. For more information on this or other aspects of backpacking go to http://www.buytryreview.com/category/backpacking
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