What is lightweight backpacking?
A common definition of “backpacking” is overnight human-powered wilderness travel. It is a combination of hiking and camping. Several years ago it was common to find traditional backpackers struggling to carry between 60 to 80 pounds, or even heavier loads. There is a direct relationship between the weight being carried and the distance that a backpacker can hike in a given day, and how comfortable the backpacker will be while covering that distance. As you do more backpacking or begin going on longer trips a natural progression will be toward packing lighter. If you frequently participate in backpacking you have probably considered carrying less weight. It follows, then, that a simple definition of lightweight backpacking is simply the art of carrying less weight while enjoying these activities. There are numerous ways to carry less weight while backpacking, and there is a difference between lightweight backpacking, and ultralight backpacking. The Lightweight Backpacking Philosophy we
