Only the bare Necessities
Before embarking on any backpacking journey, there many key decisions to be made, especially concerning what to pack. Usually the motto is better safe than sorry, but another important motto that any backpacker should remember is I will have to carry everything I pack on my back for miles at a time, uphill, and in poor climates. If you keep this in mind while packing, then hopefully you will only opt for the pure essentials and your backpack will not look like the example below.
The Vitues of Frugality and Technology
A backpack can either be your best friend offering shelter, entertainment and many other essential provisions, or it can be your worst enemy if packed too heavily. Therefore, it is important to carefully scrutinise everything you plan on taking with you. Will you actually need 8 pairs of pants? Should you bring all those heavy travel books, or instead save all your vital travel info on a much lighter USB stick? Fortunately, technology has allowed us to leave much of the weight behind, but still include all the useful features. Take the Grilliput for instance. On first glace it only looks like a lightweight metal rod, but in fact it is a fold out grill. This is a perfect example of how sacrificing weight does not necessarily mean sacrificing comfort.
However, as many backpackers will tell you, the increased comfort alone of not having to lug around a heavy backpack, is often enough to justify any sacrifice. Indeed, we believe in the philosophy that purports the person with the smallest, lightest weight and most inconspicuous backpack, is actually the wisest of all backpackers. Many other journeymen share our sentiments and the backpacking info site offers many good empirical examples of why this is true. The looming question is of course how to achieve the perfect balance of weight and necessity. The picture below offers a quality empirical example of what light packing should look like.
What Clothes to take and the Best Tent
Ultralight backpacking is not merely light backpacking, which all sane backpackers aspire to, but rather ultralight backpacking. We take the absolute bare minimum necessary to survive, because we feel that travelling and backpacking is much more enjoyable when one is truly free and bears no burdens. Preparation is key in selecting your backpacking supplies. Accordingly, taking along your entire wardrobe is a non-starter. Having a different outfit for every occasion is just not compatible with ultralight backpacking: Does this mean you always have to look like a dirty and exhausted vagabond? Of course not. Packing one change of dress clothes will take up little space if done correctly, but we recommend wearing only one pair of black shoes that can double as dress shoes if necessary; because taking an extra pair of shoes adds a lot of weight. Otherwise, climate dependent of course, it is advisable to take perhaps 2-3 sets of lightweight and easily washable shirts, trousers, underwear and socks. Regardless of where you are headed, taking at least one lightweight jacket is a good idea, because even deserts get cold at night.
Now we have gotten through the clothing question with plenty of space and weight to spare. The next essential piece of equipment for any backpacker is of course the tent. When choosing a tent always aim for the lightest weight and most manageable model available. Amazingly enough, many tents have been specially designed to weigh less, and use special plastic materials instead of heavy metal or aluminium. There are, of course, many more ways to achieve ultralight backpacking, but by employing the two previous tactics anyone is well on their way to unburdened and free travelling.
