| All your life people have said "Don't sweat the small | | | | repairs and treating blisters |
| stuff." That's usually good advice. But in lightweight | | | | 30 Potable Aqua Tabs - 0.3 oz - In amber 1-dram |
| backpacking it's a great idea to "sweat the small | | | | bottle, 1.1 oz if in original bottle |
| stuff." | | | | Light Nylon Cord - 0.2 oz - For repair or general use, |
| You can trim the most weight from the larger items | | | | 25 ft. in 3x5" ziplock |
| you carry such as your tent, sleeping bag, and the | | | | Gerber Micro Knife - 0.4 oz - Very light, high quality |
| backpack itself. Then you move on to the sleeping | | | | 2 Princeton Pulsar IIs - 0.4 oz - Enough light for camp |
| pad, rainwear, and cooking gear. But don't stop there. | | | | use, includes a backup |
| All the remaining little items add up, too. If you | | | | Extra Set of Batteries - 0.2 oz - Extra set for both. |
| ruthlessly trim them, you can carry significantly less | | | | Insures many hours of light |
| weight. You'll enjoy the freedom, and you can | | | | Favorite scriptures - 0.1 oz - 40 years in wilderness, |
| maintain comfort. In some ways you'll have more | | | | must pack light! |
| comfort, not just from weight savings, but because | | | | There it is. That's 27 items of gear that weigh less |
| of the smaller size and simplicity of the gear. | | | | than 6 ounces! You can do it and enjoy the freedom, |
| Remember that every lightweight technique is an | | | | too. |
| option. Pick and choose what works for you. Every | | | | You can reduce the weight of other small pieces of |
| backpacker is different. Do it your way. | | | | gear, too. For garbage the large re-sealable 10 |
| Have you ever been ready to leave for a | | | | ½" x 12" bags found in supermarkets work |
| backpacking trip and grabbed something at the last | | | | great and they weigh only 4/10s of an ounce. If you |
| minute? Maybe you packed a flashlight or extra shirt | | | | need sunglasses, start looking for the lightest, |
| that weighed 6 ounces. That seems pretty light. It | | | | frameless quality pair you can find and then make |
| surely wasn't going to ruin your hike. Not by itself | | | | them the ones you always leave in your backpack. |
| anyway. But in lightweight backpacking the thing to | | | | For your map, take only what you need, but don't |
| remember is that every single item adds up. | | | | trim the legends or emergency "escape routes." |
| In my backpack I carry a sandwich size ziplock bag | | | | Some car keys can be hollowed out. I drilled almost |
| that weighs less than 6 ounces - and it holds 27 | | | | half the weight out of mine. I attached some bright |
| items. That's 27 pieces of gear that weigh the same | | | | mylar (from balloons) so the key can be spotted |
| as many hiker's flashlight. Read through the list and | | | | easily if dropped. Take some cash, at least one credit |
| see how you can trim weight and enjoy a lighter, | | | | card, and your driver's license, but leave your wallet |
| simpler backpack. | | | | and most of its contents home. It's dead weight. |
| Compass - 0.1 oz - It's the tiny insert portion of a | | | | Don't skimp too much on toilet paper, but do place it |
| keychain compass | | | | in a ziplock bag. And be sure to use white, |
| Whistle - 0.1 oz - Tiny cylinder-shaped aluminum style | | | | non-scented. A super light emergency blanket can |
| Mirror - 0.2 oz - For signaling & grooming. acrylic, | | | | give you protection for only 1.8 ounces. Your first aid |
| trimmed small | | | | kit can be quite complete and very light. You can |
| Comb - 0.1 oz - Cut in half of course! | | | | start with a "mini kit" and throw away the plastic |
| Book Matches - 0.3 oz - 2 full regular books | | | | pouch it comes in. Place the contents in a ziplock bag |
| Safety Matches - 0.3 oz - Some wind & | | | | and with the weight savings from tossing the original |
| waterproof in a 2x3" ziplock bag | | | | container you can actually add more emergency |
| Soap, Biodegradable - 0.3 oz - For body & | | | | items or things you use most. Those can include |
| dishes, small amount in 1/4 oz. container | | | | items such as butterfly bandages, a roll of light |
| Sunscreen - 0.3 oz - Liquid style, small amount in 1/4 | | | | surgical tape, extra packages of triple antibiotic |
| oz. container | | | | ointment, or extra moleskin. You can pack a lot of |
| Pen - 0.1 oz. - Thick style refill will work | | | | first aid in two ounces. |
| Paper - 0.2 oz - A few "sheets" in 3x5" ziplock--fire | | | | Most people want some kind of pillow, but |
| starter too! | | | | experiment with light ones. Your clothing in a stuff |
| 5 Rubber Bands - 0.2 oz - Extras for repair, wraps air | | | | bag might work. Part of your pack might work. I use |
| mattress, etc... | | | | a small piece of foam that weighs 7/10s of an ounce |
| Toothbrush - 0.1 oz - Trim handle, then drill holes for | | | | and add clothing underneath for more loft. |
| fun! | | | | Some hikers won't leave home without a camera. |
| Tooth Powder - 0.1 oz - Lighter than toothpaste... | | | | There are lots of lightweight options for cameras. |
| Floss - 0.1 oz - In a 3x5" ziplock, great for repairs too | | | | There are backpackers who consider deodorant a |
| SPF Lip Balm - 0.2 oz - Look for a thinner, lighter | | | | must. Arrid makes a cream that can be placed in a |
| brand than usual | | | | small, plastic container. If you need reading glasses, |
| Benadryl Cream - 0.4 oz - Added to first aid kit, | | | | look at the very narrow kind. They're probably half |
| relieves bug bites a little | | | | the weight of your regular pair. For your medications, |
| 20 Ibuprofen - 0.2 oz - Backpacker pain reliever of | | | | use small ziplock bags if your meds don't need to be |
| choice in 2x3" ziplock | | | | in super, airtight containers. |
| 12 Aspirin - 0.1 oz - Extras for altitude headaches in | | | | When you "sweat the small stuff," you not only save |
| 2x3" ziplock | | | | weight, you simplify your hiking techniques and save |
| 8 Loperamide - 0.1 oz - For diarrhea, trimmed and put | | | | bulk in your backpack. Cutting the weight of the little |
| in 2x3" ziplock | | | | things is one more way to help you float down the |
| 6, 1" Brass Safety Pins - 0.1 oz - For equipment | | | | trail. |