Resource for going UL

[sizemj]

I want to get my pack lighter (40 lbs with food and water is too much! Getting too old for that) Any good books to read, or websites. Thanks

[Lord Helment]

the guru of traveling light is ray jardine..http://www.rayjardine.com/....

[WhoDey]

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...ght/index.html
Everything you need to know and probably more than you wanted

[aaronthebugbuffet]

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...ght/index.html
Everything you need to know and probably more than you wanted

great site

Also this guy
http://www.andrewskurka.com/

[Mags]

Buy this book if you are a traditional backpacker and wish to cut down:
http://www.amazon.com/Lighten-Up-Com.../dp/0762737344

It is a KISS book perfect for someone looking to break into the lightweight world w/o breaking the bank or getting inundated w/ extra data!

I like the book because it goes over general concepts rather than the specific WHAT to take. (Gear can change from year to year, but the general concepts do not)

ps. the author just came out with a similar UL book

[tuswm]

post up a gear list with weights. and a budget. with a grand I am sure we would get you under 20 lbs with a weeks worth of food and water for summer time.

example:
"the one" tent 16 oz
neoair sleeping pad 14 oz
marmot fancy 40* bag 18 oz
ULA OHM 22 oz w/ frame

big 4 under 5 lbs

total cost over a grand but you could get down to the same weight for under 100 bucks
ruck sack, wally world blue CCf pad, tarp, home made quilt


Also I dont remember who said it but this helped me." If you cant wear all your cloths at one time you brought too much"

[tat44too]

Also I don't remember who said it but this helped me. "If you cant wear all your cloths at one time you brought too much"[/QUOTE]

Awesome advice...

[Wise Old Owl]

Kind of covers it, but the books I got overstated the obvious, the best resources are here on WB in past threads... tips tricks...and elephants feet. FBC cooking and lightening the big four, be prepared to spend some money.....

[bulldog49]

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...ght/index.html
Everything you need to know and probably more than you wanted

This is the best site. Anything you want to know about the latest light wt equipment and techniques can be found here. Annual subscription is just $25.

[STICK]

This is the best site. Anything you want to know about the latest light wt equipment and techniques can be found here. Annual subscription is just $25.

That is a great site, but I haven't bought into it. The forums are free, just like here and at other backpacking sites.

There are plenty of helpful people here on this site. I agree with the comment above about posting your items, or items you are looking into, and start asking away. Of course you will get numerous responses, and probably none will be the same, but they will all be good and helpful in one way or another. Sometimes you learn things you never even think to ask...

[sbhikes]

Ray Jardine's Beyond Backpacking or its previous iteration, PCT Hikers Handbook is a good resource. Ignore the corn pasta and the preachy tone, but pay attention to the techniques and the mental shifts necessary. Take what you like and leave the rest because every little bit helps.

[DawgU]

Cannot say how much Lighten Up (I'd read this first) and backpackinglight.com have helped me. After a couple of years @ $25 I bought the lifetime membership. Like this site, great people with great advice - just a thousand times more than you'll see in the UL forum here.

[tammons]

Hang out at BPL for a while.
Basically your first step should probably be 6# + 6# for a 12# total base weight.
With food you will be at 26# or so.
6# for your big 4 and 6# for everything else.
Big 4 being Sleeping bag or quilt, pad, pack, Tent or Tarp and bivy.

Create a spreadsheet and Internet window shop and compile your list and dont buy anything that
does not fit into your weight goals.

Buy a 1oz digital postal scale of some sort.

You can go a lot lower than 12#.
8-10# base weight is reasonable.
Even 6# base weight is very doable.

As you get lighter and lighter you have to start buying more expensive SUL
materials and gear made of cuben fiber etc.

[Deadeye]

+1 on the Lighten Up book, and this site:

http://thelightweightbackpacker.com/

[gearfreak]

This site has some additional advice you may find useful: Erik the Black

[skinewmexico]

The "Lighten UP" DVD @ Gossamer Gear is a bargain for $5. Also like the BPL rec. This forum is OK, but I've never had anyone over there bust in saying you'll die if you go lightweight, or be miserable, or be in danger, or any of the other things traditional backpackers feel compelled to pop in here in mention.

[Raul Perez]

I never read any of those books but I hear they are GREAT. I just bought a scale, weighed all my items and then posted my gear lists on forums to get some input.

I went from 65lbs for a 5 day hike down to 24lbs for a 5 day hike (fully loaded with food and water). I also did a video series on gear which can be found on my signature. You can also see what I carry for 3 season in my gear list video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FQj63MA9WM

Everyone packs different things but it gives you an idea of what I take and how I organize my gear in different "groups".

[tammons]

Ouch - 65lbs for a 5 day hike.
Sounds like the 70's

[Raul Perez]

Yeah I blame backpacker magazine...

[tammons]

Yeah 65# is luxury when stopped, but not when you start having joint and feet issues and such.

I remember in the 70's when my friend and I were planning a hike.
He was at 55-60 Umph with a heavy full external frame pack etc.

I had just bought a new fancy latest thing ski tour pack.
Light for the time at about 3.5#.

Leather strap ties, Stainless steel main buckle etc.
I would load it up and Umph, every time it was too heavy, I just stripping more stuff out.
Ended up at about 40# which was doable, but in an internal frame pack it was heavy.

Think if it would have been an external frame I would have gone heavier.

Thinking back now I do think I could have hit about 30# with food with a lot of myog stuff, but materials
are a lot better and lighter now.

Now I would rather be 6# plus food and fly than have all the luxury.