Ultralight Makeover: Redux Pt. 1

Recent issues of popular US backpacking magazine Backpacker have shown an increased awareness of ultralight hiking techniques and gear. While this awareness certainly hasn't challenged the predominance of heavy equipment and traditional methods, the presence of a Hyperlight Mountain Gear tarp and a FlyWeight packraft earlier this year was pleasantly surprising.

Imagine my joy, then, at this month's cover:

Have I crossed over into an alternative dimension? Has Hell frozen over? There, right on the front page, for heaven's sake: Ultralight Comfort: 12 Easy Ways to Shed Weight and Camp in Style.

I was naturally interested in what Backpacker's idea of ultralight was. It often seems that the magazine is crippled by corporate sponsorship as the gear suggestions nearly always come from the big names: Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, REI, the North Face, Arcteryx. Not that there's anything wrong with that: those companies make some great gear (albeit at the cost of brand-inflated prices – I'm looking at you, Arcteryx!). How would they fare at making an ultralight packing list from such brands? Could they get through the article ignore the entire ultralight cottage industry that has pretty much defined and established the niche market? I thought this would be an interesting opportunity to examine their recommendations and compare them to my own, and those of UL blogs, and hopefully generate some commentary from other bloggers also.

As offering a more in-depth look at  Backpacker's 12 steps would make this the post to end all posts, I'm splitting each step into a separate post, transforming it into an Ultralight Makeover Guide which will be presented over the coming months.

So without further ado, let's take a look at step one in their programme for going ultralight, and see what we can improve upon.

1. Admit you have a problem.
Backpacker says: Load up your pack for a summer weekend trip. If it weighs more than 15lbs (7kg), you have a problem.

Backpacking North says: Well, this is a fair start. Not really a tip, but it's fair to say that if your weekender weight is over 15lb, you probably fall into the heavyweight category. I think it's more than likely that most of the magazine's readership would be hiking with packs far in excess of 15lb – probably at least 30lb (14kg).

A 15lb/7kg load (assuming it includes food, fuel and water) is not particularly heavy. It falls into the category of lightweight packing:

> 20lb / 10kg = Heavyweight
12-20lb / 5-10kg = Lightweight
6-11lb / 3-5kg = Ultralight
< 6lb / 3kg = Super Ultralight

But beyond the figures, what does this all mean? In my opinion, not much. It doesn't really matter which category you fall into. Whether you end up lightweight or ultralight, it really doesn't matter. The ultimate goal is simply to lighten your load. It should be said that "super ultralighters" are extremely dedicated to the cause. To get that light takes a level of sacrifice in gear durability and comfort which you might not want to leap straight into. Better to take things one step at a time. As we'll see over the coming weeks, any attempt to lighten up requires a willingness to reconsider one's needs when backpacking. It necessitates cutting out luxury items (which are rarely, if ever, used), modifying techniques and the expectations you have of your gear. What it doesn't mean is putting yourself through an endurance test. There's no reason not to indulge yourself in something that you like to take along with you. Lightening you load means taking that platy full of whisky all that much easier.

So why go ultralight? As mentioned above, the basic point it to make your load lighter. With a lighter load you can hike faster, further and put less of a burden on your body. Not that you have to hike faster or further - the most important benefit in my opinion is the lessened burden on your body. A lighter load will make you less tired. You'll be more willing to pick up your pack again. You'll ache less. Perhaps most importantly, it'll be better for you in the long run. A light load facilitates hiking to a ripe old age.

A heavyweight hiker in Northern Minnesota. Note the additional side packs.
This was a two-night trip.

For me, the question is better put as why wouldn't you go lighter? Why would anyone want to haul a ton around on their back? Being in the wild shouldn't be an endurance test. I'd like to see a shift in people's mentality from boasting about how heavy their packs are, to how light they are. Backpacking shouldn't be about suffering – it should be about enjoying. With a light pack, you'll soon find you don't even notice the weight on your back, and consequently you are able to give your full attention to the wonders that surround you. It's quite a transformation.

Yours truly on the same trip.

But to get back to the issue of weight. Backpacker's 15lb/7kg cut off point is a fair enough value to set as a starting point for reducing your pack weight. For a summer weekender, where weather and conditions fall within a fairly predictable range, you should easily be able to get your load under 15lb. And if you can get it down to 10lb (5kg) that's even better.

But how?

The first thing you need to do is address the core weight of heavy loads: your "big three" – sleeping, shelter, and pack. And as this has been covered far better by others, let's turn to them and see what they have to say on the matter.

Others say: There are a ton of websites and books covering ultralight backpacking, each with its own variation on a theme regarding the right approach. One of the clearest and simplest I've seen was by Jörgen Johansson at Fjäderlätt. He espouses simple principle of 3 for 3 (or 343) that succinctly deals with reducing the weight of your "big three." Put simply, if you can get the total weight of your sleeping system, your shelter, and your pack down to 3kg (6.5lb) or less, you are well on your way to ultralight. 3 items for 3 kg. It's that simple.

Some sleeping bags alone weigh more than 2kg. Heavy, inefficient synthetic materials easily add up to a lot of weight. Tags, zips, hoods, and other bizzarre additions add even more. Before you know it, you're hauling around something enormous, about the same size, shape, and weight as one of these.

Many traditional hikers rely on the venerable tent for shelter. But add up the weight of those heavy materials, the numerous poles used to create the sculpted geodesic work of art, and the additional footprint/groundsheet (to protect those heavy materials) and soon you're looking at three or four kilos.

My Haglöfs Genius 21 dome tent. Great shelter. Weighs a ton. It's actually quite complicated to put up.
Although I have a smaller solo Hileberg tent, I used to often take this anyway for the "extra space".
When I look back at those times, I think "Was I mad?"

Then you dig out your pack – made of even more heavy-duty materials, with a floating suspension system, 24 pockets, and a bunch of plastic things that don't really seem to have a purpose – which itself weighs 2kg before you've even put anything inside it.

And then you realise; you have three items weighing around 7kg (15lb). And you haven't even packed your food and bottle of wine yet! Let along your stove and fuel. And your clothes. And all the gadgets.

But consider this: What if your sleeping system were to weigh 850g? Your shelter 700g? Your pack 450g? The total for your big three would be 2kg (4.5lb). A saving of 5kg (10.5lb). This is my typical summer 343 weight – and I am by no means a hardcore ultralighter. If I can do it, you can too.

My current "medium" light weight setup, as outlined above, weighs approx. 2kg for the big three.
I still have plenty of extra space. 

Ultralight backpacking is all about cutting back to the basics, refining your equipment, and asking what you really need – and that is what we'll be looking at in the weeks ahead.

Part 2 – Downsize your pack >>


Links and resources (general info on lightening your load):
Fjäderlätt 343
Backpacking Light – Probably the best online community resource for reviews, information, and tips.
Nordic Lightpacking – Nordic lightweight mafiosi, with plenty of tips and trip reports.
Ryan Jordan - Do a ultralight course! Like the site says "Explore your wild side (without having to drink your pee.)"
Plus many, many, many blogs. Check the blogroll on the right to get starterd.

Stores
UK - Ultralight Outdoor Gear
USA - Prolite Gear

Manufacturers of ultralight gear – where often the best equipment is to be found – will be linked as relevant in the upcoming Ultralight Makeover posts.

Used Gear
Europe: Nordic Lightpacking Gear Swap
USA: Backpacking Light Gear Swap

Videos
Ultralight A-Z by Hiking in Finland – Tired of reading? Hendrik Morkel has a project underway to make the first ever video A-Z of ultralight backpacking.

Magazines

Backpacker Magazine – I honestly don't recommend the website; it has one of the most godawful navigation systems ever devised. Content is hidden on pages which have no links apart from those printed in the magazine. I challenge you to find information on the current issue, for example – something you would expect a website for a magazine would emphasize. The magazine is okay, but tends to repeat itself each year. But hey, print is dead, right? Talking of which:

Books
Smarter Backpacking by Jörgen Johansson
Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking by Don Ladigin and Mike clelland
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping by Mike Clelland
Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking


Check out the rest of Ultralight Makeover Redux:


Part 1: Admit you have a problem
Part 2: Downsize your pack
Part 3: Ditch your dome
Part 4: Change your bedding
Part 5: Start cooking light
Part 6: Pay attention to the menu
Part 7: Carry less water
Part 8: Dress down
Part 9: Stay fresh with less
Part 10: Pack knowledge
Part 11: Go smart-tech
Part 12: Give your feet a break

Another kind of freedom

When I asked a friend, "Hey - do you want to paddle down Minnehaha Creek next Monday?", it didn't cross my mind for a second that next Monday was July 4th, America's great celebration of independence from the tea-guzzling evil British Empire - a day Americans normally spend burning the Union Jack and stomping furiously on hot cross buns.

Okay, not really. Well, not in Minnesota.

In any case, this was a big weekend - a major holiday in the land of the free (where most people don't have a lot of free time because they're holding down four jobs so they can pay off their debt, college fees, and healthcare bills - but hey, let's not quibble semantics). A pity, then, that political duelling in the state capitol resulted in a government shutdown, resulting in all state parks closing down during the busiest weekend of the year. My friend was worried that the put-ins on the creek would also be closed, but I was more concerned about the volume of water flowing through it. This year, the tiny river running through the heart of Minneapolis has had up to seven times its normal volume. I was concerned that my newbie packrafting skills would not be up to the speed of the creek as is passed through the swanky neighborhood of Edina, making its sharp twists and turns past the grandiose homes of the plastically-enhanced Minnesotan elite.

We went on a reconnoitre expedition in the morning to check the conditions, having heard that some bridges were impassable owing to high water. Fortunately, the water volume had reduced, and, apart from a few downed trees in the middle of some exciting class II rapids, it all looked pretty good. We decided to celebrate our freedom from the tyranny of state-owned park ownership, government shutdown be damned.

We weren't the only ones.

I was a little nervous while inflating the Denali Llama. I don't know why; it's a very tame river but it's also been a while since I've been on one, and this was the first time I'd taken the raft in any kind of current. As I  filled the cheerful blue raft with air, several children drifted by on inner tubes. Ian was a little concerned for their safety with the downed strainers, but I figured if a 10 year old can do this without a paddle, I have nothing to worry about. They seemed to be having a whale of a time. Of course in a tube you don't really have to worry about getting wet, as this is your default starting position, but I expected to get a good soaking anyway. It's all par for the course.

We set off, and immediately hit a series of rapids, fast turns, and strainers spanning the entire width of the creek! The kids in the inner tubes had either got out or somehow managed to negotiate their way past. I, on the other hand, had a quick lesson in trying to get over a downed tree while sitting in a raft being pulled in two directions at once (the wrong direction, and under the tree). But with a little effort and some gentle persuasion, I found a way past the obstacle, marvelling at the sturdiness of the Alpacka raft. I would probably have not got any further in a lesser, vinyl raft.

Fortunately, after the initial twisty-turny section, the creek calmed down a little and I was able to practise actually controlling the boat a little more. I got used to back-paddling to stay in place in the stream or slow down. I figured out that the lack of tracking can be problematic in a stream, and frequent rapid paddling is necessary across the current to avoid obstacles. The kayaks that swept by us occasionally had no problem maintaining a nice line, but without thigh-straps the packraft likes to spin around and go where the river wants to take you. It's fantastically maneuverable, but with that comes the price of unpredictability - at least in my inexperienced hands.

As we drifted downstream, I found myself enjoying the rapids, and looking forward to them. We're not talking major rapids here, but some nice 30cm waves that give enough of a thrill - enough to provide a brief moment of bander-snatchage as the stern was sucked back into a wave trough, and water spilled down behind my back and into the raft. Some rapid, determined paddling averted anything beyond a minor soaking, but the experience reiterated my belief that the new Alpacka stern designs would limit this a little more, and that, if I ever buy one of these, I will definitely get a fitted spray skirt! Going down anything even slightly more exciting than a basic class II without one would not be wise.

We stopped for a moment for a bite to eat, watching a couple of children drifting downstream using just their PFDs. They jumped out by us, ran up the river bank, and did it again, over and over, delighted. It was great to watch them enjoying themselves so much. When I was a boy, I was always a little afraid of water. I didn't learn to swim until I was 32, and always envied other children splashing around or playing  in the water. I'm no olympic medallist now, but I'm making up for lost time and opportunities.

One thing is certain though - paddling and photography do not mix. I took my iPhone in my Haglöfs Watatait case (thankfully, as otherwise I would now be without a phone), but a better option would be a GoPro Hero, helmet- or otherwise-mounted, and set to record either video or time-lapse images. Every time I got ready to take a photo the creek would turn and I'd have to quickly shove the camera somewhere safe. I tried shooting some video, but it looks more like the Blair Witch Project in a boat.

We stopped for a late lunch, which turned into a lengthy discussion of politics and whitewater rafting in Washington, before putting-in once again for the final stretch to Nokomis, where we had left the other car. I forgot to temper the raft at this point, so for the last couple of miles I endured a rather floppy and not very streamlined float along some flat water that took a lot of effort to paddle. My mistake. I wasn't supple enough to bend and use the inflation tube.

It was a beautiful afternoon, something I'd love to do again. There are so many rivers and creeks in Minnesota to explore, most of them gentle little things that drift along through bluffs and cottonwood-lined valleys. To have something like Minnehaha in the center of Minneapolis is something quite special though - a relaxing ride with a couple of fun runs, all for free.

That's my kind of freedom. Government shutdown be damned.