Camping Gear & Equipment, Hiking Gear & Equipment, Trekking & More

Ultra light backpacking and camping gear refers to specially designed gear that, once fully assembled, enables a pack to weigh less than 10 pounds.

This goal is sought out for conservation of energy on long and difficult hikes. It is also a desirable goal for minimalist hikers and campers.

The first step when attempting to pack an ultra light backpack is to eliminate all unnecessary items.

This means that your favorite coffee mug and that change of dry clothes gets left behind. If an item is not absolutely necessary for survival in the wild, it is not included. There is no room for comfort items in the ultra light backpack.

This includes eliminating any items that can substituted with an item found in the hiking environment.

Water, fuel, and basic elements of shelter can often be obtained from the natural environment while backpacking and camping, so minimal amounts of these items are carried on the hike. (This naturalist concept can be taken to the extreme by learning to live off the land as much as possible. Many popular backpacking and camping books are available on this subject.)

The next step is selecting gear made from lightweight materials. This process may begin by selecting a nylon backpack over canvas and choosing titanium over aluminum or stainless steel.

Finally, ultra light backpacking and camping seeks to find multiple uses for the same item. rain poncho may be used as a shelter or ground cover and selecting a heavier jacket can make it possible to pack a lighter-weight sleeping bag.

What to Pack: the Essentials

Every pack must contain necessary items for a shelter, a sleeping cover, and the means to transport these necessary items. Silicone tent poles and lightweight hammocks are popular choices for the ultra light backpacker.

The ultra light backpack itself is most often a frameless model, constructed of ripstop or silnylon. Even an internal frame backpack can significantly reduce the amount of weight a hiker carries. Tarps, down quilts and closed-cell sleeping mats are popular choices as well.

Some ultra light extremists prefer to make their own gear, rather than rely on the commercially manufactured options. The resulting gear can weigh as much as 50% less than a store bought pack.

Whether ultra light backpacking and camping is a reflection of your life’s philosophy or just a handy means to travel more country in a day, it is a great way to extend your camping and hiking horizons.

Learning how to pack for a backpacking trip is the key to a rewarding and enjoyable hike.
Over pack and you risk fatigue setting in as your energy and enjoyment of the hike drains out; under pack and you may find yourself without essential items. Although experience is going to serve as your best teacher, here are a few things to consider when preparing your pack.

How you pack your pack is always going to depend on 4 factors - the length of your trip, the weather, the location of your hike, and your own personal preferences.
The best way to pack for a backpacking trip is to make a list, check it twice and then check it again before ever putting anything into your pack.

Section the list into things you “will need” and things you “may need”.

When purchasing and packing, keep in mind each item’s weight, and always choose gear that provides a dependable balance of durability, flexibility and weight.

How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip: Clothing

Clothing is always going to depend on the climate and your personal preferences. All experts recommend that you stay away from cottons when possible, break in your boots before the hike begins, and buy heavy wool or synthetic socks to protect your feet. Aside from the clothes on your back, we recommend that you also pack a waterproof windbreaker to keep you dry when it rains and a bandanna, great to block the sun and for emergencies.

How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip: Food

Freeze dried meals provide the nutrients and energy your body needs, without the weight and clumsiness of other types of packaging like cans. Pack enough for your planned trip, and then add a meal or two in case an emergency arises. For cooking, take along utensils and one titanium or aluminum pot that have a non-stick surface, a handle and that is large enough to prepare your meal.

How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip: water

By having sufficient water for your backpacking trip you can prevent unnecessary dehydration during your hike. Plan your water supply according to the mapped locations of the natural and man made water sources found along the trail. And don’t forget water purification tablets for natural water no matter how clear it may appear.

How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip: Gear

Essential gear for your backpacking trip should include a hand-held flashlight, as well as one that does not require holding (use your head instead), fire starters and tinder, a sleeping bag, tent, map, compass, a knife, and a few plastic bags for wet clothing and garbage. Emergency gear should include a whistle, signal mirror, insect repellent, a cell phone and a first-aid kit.

Useful things to remember when packing for a backpacking trip:

When packing, it’s best to use a backpack that is up to the task of your trip. It should have straps for your poles and a place for your tent equipment. Place heavy gear, such as your cooking supplies, and less needed items toward the bottom of the bag, and keep frequently used smaller items (like your compass) inside your pockets.

Always plan ahead before venturing out on your backpacking trip, no matter how long you plan to be out. The time spent making sure that your pack is light and yet ready for any situation will set the foundation for an enjoyable backpacking experience.

Hiking poles can help you a lot if you plan to do a lot of hiking on woods trails with unpredictable conditions. But even if you plan to hike the wide-open paved roads of your community, hiking poles can be a big asset, gaining stability and enhancing your workout.

So what do you need to know about choosing hiking poles?

Here are ten top tips to help you get started.

1. Determine your conditions—the basis of all camping gear purchasing decisions. Know when you’ll do the majority of your hiking, and where. It matters whether you will be on an uneven woods trail or paved sidewalk, and whether the weather will be warm or cold and the trails dry, solid, soft, or icy.

2. One pole or two—decide whether you are best off with just a solitary pole or a full set. With two you’ll have to carry more, but a pair of poles offers better stability on the trail and relieves the joints of the lower body; a pair of poles is preferable in the woods and wild, while a single pole is okay for casual street walking.

3. Get a grip-the material—pole grips differ depending on whether the pole is for walking or true hiking. Grips are made from cork and rubber blends (the best, but most expensive), which provide comfort and insulation value, polyurethane (also a good, fairly warm grip, but can get clammy when cold) or polyethylene, a plastic (which is durable, but can cause hand-chafing if worn or cut).

4. Get a grip-the angle—poles may be straight or have angled grips (with angles of about 15°). Straight grips are the best seller, but positive angles relieve wrist-joint stress and overuse.

5. Get a grip-the straps—straps on grips help you keep ahold of your poles, but they can get you into trouble if you can’t get out of them quickly. Look for quick- or easy-release grips, as well as grips that are easily adjustable so you can loosen them in a flash, or adjust them without getting your hands chilly in cold weather.

6. Getting adjusted—straight, one-height walking poles are okay for the sidewalk, but for longer trekking and wood or wild hiking, you should really choose an adjustable set of poles. Adjustable poles are available in 2- or 3-section poles; generally three section poles fold up smaller for easier storage. The thing to look for on adjustable poles is strong, quality craftsmanship and locking mechanisms—an unexpected fold-up could cause a bad fall.

7. A shocking experience?—hiking poles are available with or without anti-shock systems. Anti-shock systems help absorb the impact of the pole hitting the ground. Anti-shock systems add weight to poles, and that is generally the deciding factor. Anti-shock systems do allow for increased comfort, though.

8. A tisket, a tasket, choose the right basket—this is where it really helps to know where you’ll be hiking. The basket is the shield-like structure above the pole tip. It helps to keep the pole from sinking too far down into soft snow and ground. There are different types of hiking pole baskets, but here are the top 3—small baskets are for dirt, sand and rocks; medium-large baskets are for snow; large(est) baskets are for deep powder snow. It’s best to choose a pole with changeable baskets in case one is broken or you want to hike in other conditions.

9. A tip for the Tip—tips must be made of durable materials that can withstand the conditions of the trail or surface. The best tips are made from tungsten or carbide, two very durable materials that can stay sharp for a long time, even under the most trying conditions. A cheaper option is steel tips, still durable, but less so than carbide or tungsten. Many poles offer a rubber tip cover for walking on asphalt, too. Another alternative is a “paw”-footed pole which can be used on pavement and smooth walking trails.

10. One last tip Tip—Use breakable tips. Tips are easy to replace, and replacing tips is far cheaper than replacing an entire set of poles. If you purchase poles with breakable tips, you can snap one off should the tip become immovably stuck in a crack, rocks, or ice. This can keep you from having to replace you favorite poles prematurely.

All in all, good quality hiking poles will last you a long time, so it’s worth it to take some time researching poles and invest a little more in them. Know how you plan to use your poles, and choose a strong, quality set, and you’re sure to be hiking with them for a long time to come.