How to Reduce the Weight of Your Pack
Feeling weighed down by your backpack? Wondering how to lighten your load without losing essentials? Let’s dive into practical strategies for reducing pack weight and hiking more comfortably.
In SHORT…
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What’s the smartest way to share and distribute gear? Explore how teamwork and sharing can cut down individual load.
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How can multi-use items save space and weight? Discover clever gear swaps and hacks that double up your essentials.
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Which packing choices help you ditch the excess? Learn simple tricks to minimise bulky or unnecessary items and hike lighter.
Tips for Lightening Your Load
I’m going to assume you’ve found this blog because your pack is uncomfortable in some way. This could be down to two things. The fit or the stuff inside; or rather the excessive amount of it. If you’d like to learn about pack fitting before diving into this blog, you can here. Excessive amounts of kit will put unnecessary strain on your shoulders, hips and knees, causing increased fatigue, imbalance and damage. Here are great ways on how to reduce the weight of your pack without becoming someone who drills holes in their toothbrush.
How to reduce the weight of your pack: Lightening load on a Hike or Camping Trip
If you’re heading out with someone else, there are many items only one of you has to carry. Assuming you’re having lunch together, why not just take one stove? If camping, consider sharing a tent and splitting it evenly between you both—one can carry the flysheet and poles, the other carries the inner and pegs.
Jacket Pillow Hack: How to Create a Comfy and Lightweight Camping Pillow with Your Gear
Camping pillows are great; they’re comfortable and they pack down really small but they are a luxury item that can very easily be swapped for a drybag stuffed with some comfy clothes. A down jacket loosely packed into a drybag provides a comfortable experience that saves you precious weight and space in your pack. For bonus points, wrap the drybag in a baselayer for a bit of comfort next to skin.
Minimalist Camping: How to Cut Down on Weight by Leaving Personal Care Items Behind
Do you mind smelling? If you’re heading out for an overnight adventure, do you really need to take deodorant, shampoo or body wash? In fact, do you even need a toothbrush if it’s just one night? Consider ponging for a while and leave the luxuries at home! If you’re dead-set on smelling fresh, Sea to Summit produce a range of Wilderness products, from wipes to body wash. These are lighter and more environmentally-friendly than your average supermarket alternatives and will still eliminate some vital grams. You could even decant them into smaller containers if you’re feeling really obsessive.
Dehydrated food vs wet food
Technically not free, but you’re eating anyway so let us have this one. Dehydrated food is easy to carry, easy to store, lasts almost forever and is much lighter than wet food. All you have to do is add some boiling water to it, stir and let it sit for a few minutes. Plus, they’re a lot better than they used to be (gone are the days where they just tasted of powdered salt!). Granted, you will have to carry some additional water to add to your dehydrated meal, but if you’re near a water source then this isn’t an issue.
Go for Titanium
If you want to upgrade your cooking gear, titanium is where it’s at. It’s super lightweight but still tough as nails. Yes, it’s a bit of an investment, but your back will thank you when you’re miles into the trail and don’t feel like you’re hauling a kitchen with you. You can get titanium pots, cups, and even sporks—all of which will shave off weight without sacrificing your ability to whip up a warm meal at camp.
Replace Gear with Multipurpose Walking Poles
Walking poles are more than just a hiking tool—they can help you reduce the weight of your pack by replacing other gear! For instance, use your walking poles to pitch your tent or tarp instead of carrying tent poles. Many ultralight shelters are designed with this in mind, saving you the hassle of bringing extra tent parts.
They can also double as camera tripods. If your poles have camera-mount attachments, you don’t need to bring a separate tripod—just use your poles for those perfect landscape shots!
Do you need a clothesline? You don’t need to bring extra rope. Use your trekking poles as supports by tying some paracord between them and drying your clothes.
Use a Buff as Multi-Use Clothing
A buff is like the Swiss army knife of clothing! You can use it in so many ways—wrap it around your neck when it’s chilly, pull it over your head like a hat, use it as a headband to keep sweat out of your eyes, or even as a towel if you’re in a pinch. It’s tiny, weighs next to nothing, and replaces many other items.
Opt for a Hammock Instead of a Tent
If you’re hiking in areas with plenty of trees, why not trade in your tent for a hammock? They’re super light, pack down small, and you don’t have to worry about rocky or wet ground. Just string it up between two trees, toss a tarp over the top for rain protection, and you’ve got yourself a cosy little camp setup. Plus, there’s something magical about swaying gently in the breeze while you sleep!
Remove Redundant Clothes
When it comes to clothes, less is more! If you choose the right fabrics, like merino wool or synthetic, you can wear them for days without them smelling like a locker room. They also dry super-fast, so you can rinse them out during a break or at camp, and they’ll be good to go the next day. Pack one solid hiking outfit and maybe a lightweight set for lounging or sleeping, and you’re set!
Duct Tape Around the Water Bottle
Duct tape is a hiker’s best friend for all sorts of repairs, but carrying a full roll can add unnecessary bulk and weight to your pack. Instead of bringing the whole roll, you can take a few feet of it (depending on your needs) and wrap it around your water bottle or trekking poles. This way, it’s always right there when you need it without taking up extra room in your bag.
Reducing the weight of the pack itself!
Many packs have features that can be removed such as compression straps, rain covers, internal padding or even the lid itself (if it’s top-loading). Only remove these if you’re sure you won’t need them, or are mentally prepared to deal without them on a long walk, but this could remove hundreds of grams of weight from your pack itself.
With these tips and tricks, you should be well on your way to reducing the weight of your pack. You should enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Remember, the key is to be mindful of what you’re carrying. Bare in mind to to only bring the essentials. By packing smart and light, you’ll be able to hike further, explore more, and have a more enjoyable experience. So, go ahead and give these tips a try on your next outdoor adventure. See how much of a difference they can make!
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