View Full Version : Ultralight Book Suggestion
I don't know if any of you have read this, so let me know what you thought of it if you have, but the book The Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum is very comprehensive and addresses every aspect of ultralight that I can think of. Just thought I'd recommend it as a good read. -- :)
Kerosene
09-17-2005, 17:23
You can find the paperback version of this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071368280/qid=1126988459/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3226670-0368047?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) on Amazon.com for $10.85, 3.5 star rating.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-17-2005, 21:05
I have The Ultralight Backpacker. It does have some good material, but I learned a lot more about ultralight techniques from Ray Jardine's book - Beyond Backpacking - Guide to Lightweight Hiking.
I don't know if any of you have read this, so let me know what you thought of it if you have, but the book The Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum is very comprehensive and addresses every aspect of ultralight that I can think of. Just thought I'd recommend it as a good read. -- :)
i bought this book a couple years ago,ok book,but its now behind the times by my standards,a great book for people new to ultralight backpacking:cool: neo
jackiebolen
09-18-2005, 18:03
Go with the Jardine book if you had to only pick one! It's a classic :)
Go with the Jardine book if you had to only pick one! It's a classic :)
me to,he is a real pro:cool: neo
Wolf - 23000
10-11-2005, 16:19
me to,he is a real pro:cool: neoI would advise avoiding Jardine's book. I for one was backpacking with more weight on my back because of his book then if I never picked it up.
Ray himself admits spending nearly 40 hours to make his equipment and carry more than twice the weight compare to someone buying their equipment knowing what they are doing. The price tag, I figure out is about the same buying vs. making.
Wolf
I thought ray's book was quite good.
He covers the basics, spends some time on behavior and attatude modification which is at least as important than the actual gear you carry. I think that the two drawbacks to his book are that there are a number of new innovations that ray doesn't cover well because he either doesn't believe in them (its ray's way or the highway) or because his book precceded there common use.
Secondly, Ray has some stong opinions about "big business" as applies to both backpacking gear and food. However I think that most readers can evaluate ray's writings and take from it what they need and discard what they don't.
I also have to say that introducing handmade gear as a very viable option to commercial gear is a strong point of ray's book. I will admit that while these days its very possible to purchase all the gear you would need for ultralighting or Superultralighting, However making gear allows you to make gear specificlly suited to your exact application often at a cost well below that of comercially produced equipment. Also once you make gear you will also realize that no piece of equipment is sacred and that you can modify gear and test new ideas with a freedom that would be hard with comecially made gear. If you are out hiking and think "I wish my pack had a big mesh pocket so I could store my wet tarp", just go home, whip out the sewing machine and add the pocket. Much of the innovation we have seen in the area of stoves, tarps, quilts is due to the innovations of folks that hike and also sew.
Yes there are newer books than "beyond backbacking" , but IMHO its a very good place to start.
NoKnees
Footslogger
10-11-2005, 17:16
....and for another ultralight one, how about "A collection of the names of the most loved lawyers" ???
'Slogger
I don't know if any of you have read this, so let me know what you thought of it if you have, but the book The Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum is very comprehensive and addresses every aspect of ultralight that I can think of. Just thought I'd recommend it as a good read. -- :)
My mom encouraged me not to say anything if I didn't have something good to say... oh well. I was pretty disappointed with Ryel's book. The material is pretty basic and tend to offer "solutions" rather than explain underlying philosophy and principles which would lead the reader to a more advanced approach. The equipment recommended is already somewhat dated. A few years ago this was the only book (other than Jardine's) that did a good job addressing light weight backpacking. That is no longer true.
I think wolf's assessment of Jardine isn't look at things in context. When Beyond backpacking was written (or the earlier PCT guide) there were very little commercially availible light/ultralight gear. I think Beyond Backpacking opened lots of people's eyes and helped many of us to drop serious weight. That said, I would never suggest Beyond Backpacking as a first book. Sure, Ray is a bit extreme, and at times heads off into la-la land, but this book is filled with valuable information which will provide a great framework / perspective on backpacking, help the reader learn important techniques and help change the way the reader selects gear.
A number of books I would recommend:
Lighten Up! (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762737344/) by Don Ladigin is a short book designed to help traditional backpackers transition to an light or ultralight backpacking style. If I was going to write a book, it would look a lot like Don's book. Don doesn't spend a lot of time talking about specific items, but rather takes about general issues (sleeping bag -vs- quilt, tent -vs- tarp). This is a good approach because talking about specific gear will result in an extremely dated book in just a few years.
The Backpacker's Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071423206/) by Chris Townsend (http://www.auchnarrow.demon.co.uk/) (now in 3rd edition) is the best general book I have found. Balanced and informative without being as voluminous as The Complete Walker.
Backpacker's Pocket Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071370242/) by Chris Townsend (http://www.auchnarrow.demon.co.uk/) is the best condensed summary of the backpacking craft. This book will not help you effectively select the items you want to take: it has a very basic gear list which doesn't discuss options or talk about how items function together as a system.
The Complete Walker IV (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375703233/) by Colin Fletcher is the classic book, comprehensive, through. Great discussions about technique. Interesting discussions about gear. My only regret is that ultra-light gear (other than tarps) are not covered well.
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (file:///V:/Data/mark/outdoors/gear/information%20http:/www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898868270/) edited by Steven M. Cox, Kris Fulsaas is the classic guide to mountaineering. Pack full with useful information about mountain environments, snow techniques etc.
I just finished Ray Jardines book - and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read, he writes very conversationally. I doubt I would ever go as lightweight as he and his wife do but I learned a ton about how to make wise decisions when it comes to what's important. Some folks love "the Ray-Way" and some folks hate it. To me it sounds like he really enjoys himself and he really is non-judgemental about people who hike differently then he does.
sierraDoug
10-11-2005, 21:39
I just finished Ray Jardines book - and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read, he writes very conversationally. I doubt I would ever go as lightweight as he and his wife do but I learned a ton about how to make wise decisions when it comes to what's important. Some folks love "the Ray-Way" and some folks hate it. To me it sounds like he really enjoys himself and he really is non-judgemental about people who hike differently then he does.
RJ's book is the only lightweight bp'ing book I've read and it gave me tons of ideas and things to think about. Since then I've glanced at the other ones in stores and been underwhelmed. He's a real thinker and rethinker, and you can take what you like and skip what's too weird for you. Now I just expand on the base of information I got from his book with web info. WB is the best site for that, even though I never hike back east.
Wolf - 23000
10-14-2005, 14:59
In regards to Ray's book, I base my statement on my own experience doing the PCT three times when his book first came out. What I would have liked to seen more is how to truly use the equipment in many different ways and more efficient or that there is not just one way to do things.
It got real old when many “Ray’s Way” fans couldn’t believe it was possible to travel lighter than what Ray had told them by buying the right equipment for the same amount of money. Or were inexperience with dealing with poor weather conductions. They had the equipment to do everything but did know how to full use it. I know of several hikers who got themselves in trouble trying Ray’s way of doing things - one that was fatal. That why I don’t like Ray’s book. If a hiker wants to travel light weight or Ultra-light they are going to do it. They know better than Ray what is really a necessity and what is not.
Wolf