Deluxe to Ultra-Light: Changing your mentality

I have loved hiking and backpacking for as long as I can remember. I owe many thanks to varied numbers of scouting leaders who taught me to love and appreciate nature. The one lesson I didn't learn was how to enjoy it in less than a 60 lb pack. Not until recently have I explored different classes of backpacking as defined by REI.

Deluxe, Lightweight, Ultra-Light, and Minimalist. After the last year, I think I can say I have made the transition from Deluxe to Ultra-Light but don't know if I will ever be able to become a full Minimalist. I have minimalist tendencies but don't think I could ever convert completely...

This is the beginning of a series of posts that will allow you to see that I was a fool for carrying so much weight and see how I can still fully enjoy backpacking in nature without having to carry boulders on my back, and also to show that less weight does not always signify less comfort. So without further ado, let's begin:

My first recommendation is not to go out and spend $1000 on new gear. Come up with a list of what you normally carry, or what you think you will need. If you have never backpacked before, or can't remember what your pack should contain, here are a couple of good links to a REI list and to the Backpacking.net site.

Everyone's first inclination is to first buy an ultra-light backpack and then get the rest of the ultra-light gear as finances permit. The problem than becomes that you have an ultra-light pack carrying deluxe weight gear. Discomfort will inevitably occur. Before emptying the bank account on new gear, it's important to mentally convert to a new way of thinking first. Here are a few simple steps that will help train your mind for the new ultra-light mentality.

Step One: Weigh your gear. If you don't own a digital scale, buy one or borrow one. You'll be surprised at how much little things actually weigh and just how quickly they begin to add up in your pack. And the old cliche does ring true: "ounces add up to pounds and pounds add up to pain on the trail."

Step Two: Decide where you can cut back. Maintain the things you need but evaluate the contents you are planning to bring. Do you really need a camping chair, cell phone (that won't work anyways), machete-sized pocket knifes, heavy winter snow jackets, or a full aerosol can of bug repellent, etc?

Step Three: Pack for your specific trip. If you have a 2 lb. first aid kit and you're only doing a 2-3 day hike, evaluate what you actually need in that first aid kit. Do you really need an instant cold compress? Or 150 different sized band-aids? Do you need the 5 lb., 0 degree mummy bag when you're only going to 4000 ft elevation with no chance for rain and average night temperatures in the 50 degree range? Why not go spend $9.99 at Wal-Mart on a 2 lb. fleece sleeping bag?

Step Four: After your hiking trip, pull everything out that you brought and determine if you needed it on the trek. You'll find things you thought you needed but then realized you never used and/or forgot you had even brought them.

Stay tuned for part II coming soon...